11th January 2016

nigeria’s most informative newspaper no 16,411

MONDAY, 11 JANUARY, 2016

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Nigerian Tribune

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Nigerian Tribune

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Bakare to Buhari: 8 things you can do to move Nigeria forward •Advises him on power devolution •Implementation of 2014 Confab report —P4

Magu restructures EFCC, redeploys police officers —P6

Court's orders on Dasuki, Kanu must be obeyed, Falana tells FG —P6

CBN gov visits Dangote refinery, guarantees forex provision —P10

Dickson clinches Southern Ijaw, wins Bayelsa poll —P3 •Says, 'I won't celebrate because lives were lost' •Paramount ruler shot, Saraki condemns violence •Victory, triumph of people's will over brute force —PDP govs

PDP cries foul over alleged release of Jafaru Isa —P6

Policeman, Yahooboy killed in Lagos —P8

Bayelsa State governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson, celebrating with his wife, Rachael; acting national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and others, shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him winner of the state governorship election, on Sunday.

No Lassa fever in Oyo, Ministry of Health insists —P14

Anti-graft probe: Fear grips politicians, MDAs •As EFCC set for mass arrest •Comprehensive list of suspects ready •Operatives survey airports, hotels, other locations

—P4

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Monday, 11 January, 2016

INVESTITURE OF AMBASSADOR (DR) OLATOKUNBO AWOLOWO DOSUMU AS PATRONESS, CAN, REMO CHAPTER PHOTOS: D’TOYIN

From left, former governor of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Daniel; his wife, Olufunke; Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu and the chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran, during the new year thanksgiving and memorial service in honour of the Most Reverend Abraham Adebola Daniel, held at Abraham’s Tabernacle (Baptist International Worship Centre), Oba Erinwole Awolesi Road, G.R.A., Sagamu, Ogun State, on Sunday.

Bishop of Remo Anglican Diocese, Right Reverend Olusina Fape, presenting a copy of the Holy Bible to Ambassador Awolowo Dosumu, after her installation as Patroness, Remo chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

From left, Bishop Fape, Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu, Chief Daniel and Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran.

Chief Daniel, flanked by his wife, Olufunke and Olorogun Oskar Ibru, the Otunba Boyejo of Ijebuland.

Bishop Fape exchanging pleasantries with Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran.

Barrister Segun Awolowo flanked by his wife, Bola (right) and Chief (Mrs) Olamide Adegbenro.

From right, Senator Femi Okurounmu, Mr Dimeji Owofemi and Honurable Kayode Amusan.

The awardee, Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu flanked, from left, by Mrs Oluwemimo Anifowose, Barrister Segun Awolowo, Mrs Bola Awolowo, Iyanuoluwa Anifowose and Mr Kunle Awolowo.

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Monday, 11 January, 2016

Dickson clinches Southern Ijaw, wins Bayelsa poll

•Says, ‘I won’t celebrate because lives were lost’ •Paramount ruler shot, Saraki condemns violence •Victory, triumph of people’s will over brute force —PDP govs From Leon Usigbe, Ayodele Adesanmi and Austin Ebipade

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FTER weeks of tension, violence and bloodshed in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday night, declared Mr Seriake Dickson, governor of Bayelsa State and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner of the Bayelsa governorship poll.

INEC had declared the governorship election held on December 5 as inconclusive, after violence made it impossible to hold election in Southern Ijaw Local Government area said to be a PDP stronghold.

The electoral body had already announced the results of seven out of the eight local governments, with the incumbent governor and candidate of the PDP, Dickson, leading his main challenger, Sylva.

Declaring Dickson winner of the election on behalf of INEC, Zana Akpagu, the collation/returning officer, said the incumbent governor polled 134,998 votes, while his closest challenger, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 86,852 votes.

Before the declaration of the final result, Dickson was earlier declared winner of the rescheduled election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, having led with a total of 23,081 votes to defeat Sylva, who polled 10,216 votes.

The Collation Officer of Southern Ijaw, Dr Johnson Amabebe Dogana, said the council had 17 registration areas, with 120,827 as registered voters, while accredited voters stood at 35,594.

He noted that valid votes was 33,607; rejected votes, 927; total votes cast, 34,53, while there was no election in Koluama Ward 17, as election materials arrived late to the venue.

Speaking after the declaration, Fred Agbedi, PDP’s agent, said APC could not have won even in Brass, adding that the party is ready to prove it at the tribunal.

He stressed that the PDP was firmly on ground in

Bayelsa State and that the party would not entertain spurious claims from the APC and its agents.

The SDP, however, posited that the election was peaceful.

Prior to the declaration of final results, Dennis Otitio, agent of APC, had dissented, saying total votes cancelled were more than 53,000, while the difference between Dickson and Sylva was over 48,000 votes.

He argued that by law, there was no reason to declare a winner under the prevailing circumstance.

“What the returning officer should have done was to order for a rerun in the areas that were cancelled.

By law, they were not supposed to declare a winner, but they had gone ahead with that, in flagrant disregard for the electoral law.

“The thing was a sham.

It was designed from the beginning to rig APC out; it was designed from the beginning to make PDP win,” he said.

However, Fred Agbebi, the PDP agent, congratulated Dickson for winning and INEC for “doing its best.”

Asked to comment on the protestations of the APC agent, he said “that is very normal. They have lost an election; anybody who loses an election will certainly not be happy.

“But the next thing to do is for everyone to join hands with my governor to move the state forward.”

I won’t celebrate because lives were lost –Dickson

Bayelsa State governor, Honourable Dickson, thanked the electorate for their gallantry in ensuring his re-election for another four years, but said there would be no celebration because of the number of lives that had been lost.

The governor, in an emotion-laden statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel IworisoMarkson, released to journalists on Sunday night in Yenagoa, however, vowed that he would do everything possible to identify perpetrators and bring them to justice.

He promised to work to justify the mandate given to him, “as we tried to do in the first four years to almost universal acknowledgement and approbation.”

While extending a hand

of fellowship to his political opponents, Dickson said since election had been won and lost, the needs of Bayelsans, the challenge of improving their material condition remained and even more urgent.

“Sadly, however, the elections were conducted at the price of several lives lost and mayhem visited on many communities by mindless brigands clearly suborned by those who do not respect the democratic process and have equally scant regard for the sanctity of lives and property.

Unfortunately, we can’t celebrate because people have died.

“I want to assure you that we will do everything possible to identify the culprits and bring them to justice. I want to express my heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families of the innocent victims of the violence. The government will be undertaking a full accounting of what happened,” his statement read.

Paramount shot

ruler

The tension created by the supplementary election in Peremabiri community in Southern Ijaw council, it was gathered, resulted in the shooting of the paramount ruler of the community.

The paramount ruler was said to be in an unconscious state and had been taken to an undisclosed hospital in the state capital, Yenagoa.

Report has it that the ruler was allegedly shot by gangs of one of the ex-militants in the state.

It was gathered that the paramount ruler might have been shot for political reasons, as it was alleged that he is a staunch supporter of one of the parties in the election, however, another source said he was shot owing to existing communal feud between him and the ex-militant

leader in the community.

Saraki decries violence

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Sunday night, lamented the reports of violence and deaths trailing the rescheduled governorship election in Southern Ijaw Local Government area of Bayelsa.

Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, said it was unacceptable that an election meant to produce a governor for the state was turned into a theatre of warfare with attendant loss of lives and destruction of property.

He called on the security agencies already mobilised to the state to quickly restore peace, while urging them to ensure that the perpetrators of violence were identified, arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.

It’s a painful victory –PDP

The PDP congratulated the people of Bayelsa State for their support for its candidate, Governor Dickson, which led to his victory at the just-concluded governorship election in the state.

The party, however, said the victory was painful because of the number of those that were killed.

“It’s painful that this victory has come with so much pain because we lost dear ones. Those who died are our brothers. So many are yet in the hospitals nursing life threatening injuries because our opponents wanted to win at all cost. We wish to express our deepest condolences once again and to assure them that their death will not be in vain,” it stated.

The party’s position was contained in a statement by the director of publicity, Restoration Campaign Organisation, Jonathan

Obuebite, shortly after INEC declared the incumbent governor winner.

The party thanked the people for renewing Dickson’s mandate for another four years, attributing it to the “resilience and uncommon courage” of the people.

Fayose hails victory, salutes Bayelsa people

Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, hailed the re-election of Governor Dickson, describing it as a demonstration of the resolve of Bayelsa people to choose their own governor and resist imposition.

The governor, who described the people of Bayelsa as “worthy heroes of democracy that stood their ground against agents of darkness,” said Governor Dickson’s victory was another vindication of his prediction on 20 things to expect this year.

Fayose, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said it was shameful that several people were killed in an election in Bayelsa State with eight local government areas in which more than 20,000 security personnel, including soldiers, were deployed.

“I congratulate Governor Dickson for this sweet victory. I salute Bayelsa people for standing firm against terror. I sympathise with families of those that were murdered and I urge Nigerians to take note of the systematic destruction of democracy by the APC government in Abuja,” he said.

Dickson’s re-election victory for democracy –Wike

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has said the re-election of the Bayelsa State governor is a victory for democracy in the face of

unrelenting external forces.

In a congratulatory message to the Bayelsa State governor, following his reelection at the conclusion of the supplementary governorship election, Governor Wike said the will of the people of Bayelsa State had prevailed, as they resolved to remain with the PDP. A statement issued by the governor’s Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, pointed out that the people of Bayelsa State exhibited the true Niger Delta spirit which abhors oppression and injustice.

He said with the re-election of Governor Dickson, a clear message had been sent to those who always wanted electoral manipulation that they would never find accommodation in the geopolitical zone.

Ekweremadu felicitates with Dickson

Senate Deputy President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, congratulated Governor Dickson on his victory in the protracted governorship election.

Reacting to the final outcome of the polls, Senator Ekweremadu said Governor Dickson’s re-election against all odds was sweet and expected, given that Bayelsa State had witnessed splendid transformation under his government.

“It is a sweet victory, coming against all odds. It is a testimony to the performance and popularity of Governor Dickson and our great party, the PDP. “I commend the people of Bayelsa State for standing up to be counted and for protecting their democratic rights to freely choose their leaders. They have made a resounding statement to the effect that the state remains a PDP enclave and that they are committed to keeping it so,” he said.

8 students of NMC Academy killed in Kano crash Clement Idoko - Abuja NO fewer than eight students of National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Abuja, lost their lives on Sunday in a fatal road accident that occurred in Kano, involving a Toyota Hiace from Damaturu, Yobe State.

The driver of the vehicle

was also killed in the crash, while many other students sustained various degrees of injury.

Head, Media Relations and Strategy, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Bisi Kazeem, who confirmed the incident, said the vehicle, conveying about 20 students resum-

ing to school from Yobe State, had a tyre burst and crashed the occupants.

It was gathered that four of the students died on the spot while four others died later in an undisclosed hospital.

However, the Public Relations Officer of NMC, Mr Njoku Onyekachi, when

contacted, said only two students and the driver of the vehicle died in the incident.

He confirmed that the crash involved some students of the NMC International Model Science Academy, Abuja, who were resuming after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

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Anti-graft probe: Fear grips politicians, MDAs •Comprehensive list of suspects ready •Operatives survey airports, hotels, other locations for surveillance Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

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OTHER of all fears is now gripping politicians across the registered political parties over their alleged involvements in the illegal sharing of the $2.1 billion arms scam during the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan by his National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Nigerian Tribune gath-

ered that this followed the resolve of the Mallam Ibrahim Magu-led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to go after all the political parties’ leaders who collected “any money in whatever guise from anybody” on behalf of their political parties, with a view to retrieving such monies to the coffer er of the Federal Government and punish such people in accordance with the law of the land.

An informed source at the anti-graft agency headquarters in Abuja told the

Nigerian Tribune in confidence that the comprehensive list of those to be invited by the agency any time from today had been prepared and endorsed and being kept top secret by its leadership to avoid possible leakages to those involved.

“Our list is ready, we are inviting all those involved to come and state all what they know about the illegal sharing of the arms deal, they knew themselves, some of them have been co-operating with our operatives, we are not after anybody,

just come and return whatever you have taken, Federal Government is not a Father Christmas,” our source declared.

Our source also hinted that a full investigation into the financial activities of many of the Federal Government-owned parastatals and agencies under the former administration directed

by President Muhammadu Buhari, had commenced.

Top on the list of the agencies whose Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), either present or former to be inves-

tigated are Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNP), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), National Maritime Safety Authority (NIMASA), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), among others.

The source disclosed further that preliminary investigations had shown that several billions of naira were

Bakare to Buhari: What you can do to move Nigeria forward Bola Badmus - Lagos PASTOR and Founder of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has counselled that rather than President Muhammadu Buhari bemoaning the depletion of the country’s revenues or complain about how broke Nigeria is, he should apply what he called 3Ds approach to move the nation forward unlike the 2Ds approach being operated by his administration currently.

Bakare gave this advice on Sunday, in his ‘State of the Nation Broadcast,’ with the theme: ‘Roadmap to Successful Change,’ which he delivered to the congregation at the Latter Rain Assembly, End-Time Church in OgbaIkeja, Lagos.

The renowned pastor said the 2Ds being dwelled upon by the President included Deregulation and Diversification, but quickly observed that there was no way diversification policy could be pursued without devolution.

According to him, for the country to devolve effectively, it meant the geo-polity had to be restructured, while its forms of government had to be reviewed as well, declaring that Nigeria cannot afford to sweep devolution of

powers under the carpet.

“In conclusion, I have observed that this government has been laying emphasis on 2 Ds– Deregulation and Diversification. However, the diversification policy cannot be pursued without Devolution and to devolve effectively means to restructure the geo-polity and review our forms of government.

“Therefore, the government needs to update to 3Ds. We cannot afford to sweep devolution of powers under the carpet.

“To the government and people of Nigeria, I say “use the keys”! The bunch of keys in the parable of the mansion represents the power of government bestowed on it by the people – the power to give the nation the needed structural, cultural, institutional and constitutional change.

“Rather than bemoan the depletion of our revenues or complain about how broke the nation is, all we need do is use the keys to unlock the staggering potential of our great nation, to empower the various geopolitical zones to develop at their respective paces and to facilitate the emergence of viable federating units that can contribute meaningfully and diversely

to the common goal of building a great and prosperous nation.

“Mr President Sir, please, use the keys and make real the promise of change. There is no better time than now,” Bakare said.

The man of God, while noting that Nigeria was now a nation in transition that would predictably be followed by a revolution which would, in turn, be followed by a reformation that would eventually usher in the desired transformation of the nation, said a key outcome of this process would be the emergence of a true people’s constitution that would facilitate national integration and provide a suitable governmental framework for the Nigeria of everyone’s dreams.

“That promise of true federalism is contained in Article 14 of the Nigerian Charter for National Reconciliation and Integration, which was unanimously adopted and signed by the delegates to the 2014 National Conference, including myself, as the basis of our union,” Bakare said.

He, therefore, urged President Buhari not to ignore the report of the 2014 National Conference, saying God went ahead of him to pro-

Yoruba unity tops agenda at Ooni, Afenifere Renewal Group meeting Oluwole Ige - Osogbo THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, on Saturday hosted the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) at his palace, in Ile-Ife, where they discussed need to tackle seeming disunity among the Yoruba race.

Though the monarch met with the members of ARG behind closed doors, credible sources hinted the Nigerian

Tribune that topmost issue that dominated the meeting was the need restore unity among the Yorubas.

Oba Ogunwusi was said to have maintained that peace remained an important ingredient that could promote health and socio-economic growth, not only among the Yorubas, but also in the country, stressing that one of the major things he was to achieve during his reign was

unity, emphasising that it would be achieved by working with other leaders in Yorubaland.

He said: “I have been praying to God for unity among the Yoruba race and in Yorubaland as a whole, because our unity is germane to the progress of the world. Yorubas are gifted and will always make impact anywhere they go.” continues pg6

vide a navigational map with which he could begin to steer the ship of state to a safe destination.

He said President Buhari should do this, just as he adopted other reports, including the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) and the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which were conceived by the Goodluck Jonathanled administration.

“The Buhari-led government should embrace the report of the 2014 National Conference. That report may have been produced under a PDP government, but it is not a PDP document. It is a Nigerian people’s document.

All the delegates to the 2014 National Conference, East, West, North and South endorsed the report without a single vote on any issue,” Pastor Bakare said.

Speaking further, the pastor and founder of Latter Rain Assembly predicted higher grounds and greater heights for Nigeria in the new year, describing it as the year of restructuring when the country could begin to rebuild her structures towards a new political order characterized by true and viable federalism that would usher in a new economic order.

Recalling what he said in his previous address entitled: ‘Nigeria Beyond 2015,” Pastor Bakare asserted that one of the first fruits of this new economic order would be the emergence of Regional Economic Zones.

According to him, Nigeria would, in this regard, experience the rise of megacities across the six geopolitical zones, such that there would be six unique models of the Dubai experience.

“The Dubai model will integrate communities, districts, states and geopolitical zones around efficient governance, human capital development, infrastructural development, socio-cultural development, safety and security.

“Each of these “Dubais” will constitute an economic hub integrating the states within each geopolitical zone, such that at least six states will be integrated into a zonal hub; each of the current 36 states will, in turn, facilitate the rise of an economic hub integrating three senatorial districts; and each of the senatorial districts will, in turn, facilitate the emergence of an economic hub integrating the Local Government Areas within their delineation.

“Internal revenue generation and massive job creation will be the outcome so much so that the federating units, being empowered to harness the resources within their respective jurisdictions, will fund a regionally and globally influential and powerful federal government.

Such structural rearrangement, backed by good governance at all levels, will facilitate tremendous improvement in standard of living, bring our people out of poverty and facilitate the prosperity and wellbeing of Nigerians,” Bakare predicted.

allegedly diverted from the agencies of the Federal Government to fund the last general election.

For instance, an Abujabased constitutional lawyer, Chief Okoi Obono-Obila, was said to have petitioned the EFCC, detailing how NITDA allegedly opened an annex office located on Marte Street, behind CBN Quarters Area,11 Abuja, equipped with the state- ofthe-art gadgets to promote hate campaigns against President Buhari, in favour of the then ruling party of President Jonathan.

It was gathered that both the EFCC and the Department of the State Services (DSS) had already invited the NITDA management to explain what it knew about activities of the palatial annex and the involvement of the the top officials of the agency in partisan politics, as well as other alleged illegal award of contracts and recruitment of staff even after President Buhari assumed office and all the boards of MDAs were dissolved.

The source further hinted that several operatives of the agency had been deployed to the nation’s land borders, airports and other locations across the country to prevent some of the politicians and the heads of MDAs under probe from sneaking out of the country.

“Those are the little I can tell you now. I wish Nigerians can see the level which these looters have gone in diverting the nation’s resources into private pockets, they will appreciate Federal Government’s efforts at recovering the little they can, but mind you, no amount of blackmail will stop us,” the source said.

Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Ibrahim Magu, was sighted twice at the Presidential Villa last week, where he had gone for consultations on the activities of the commission.

Adeboye holds special Holy Ghost Service in Ibadan THE General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A Adeboye, will be in Ibadan on Wednesday, January 13, 2016, for a special Holy Ghost Service. The service with the theme ‘Divine Visitation’, will be held at the old sports complex, behind Faculties of Education and Arts, University of Ibadan and it will start at 4.00 p.m.

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Monday, 11 January, 2016

Court’s orders on Dasuki, Kanu must be obeyed, Falana tells FG

By Tunde Ogunesan

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EGAL icon, Femi Falana, has admonished the Federal Government to obey various court orders admitting bail conditions for the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd) and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mr Nnamdi Kanu.

Falana stated this in a statement credited to him by an online medium, Saharareporters and published on Sunday.

The human rights lawyer said the All Progressivs Congress (APC)-led Federal Government was voted in to correct most of the anomalies created by the 16 years rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was characterised by total contempt, when the constitution and laws of the Federal Repubic of Nigeria was breached with impunity, thus urging President Muhammadu Buhari to keep to his promise and abide by the rule of law.

Falana then warned President Buhari to caution and control the overzealousness of his security officers, who delight at keeping suspects at their pleasures.

He further urged the Federal Government to obey court orders in cases of the two suspects who were currently standing trials without further delay.

According to the statement, Falana said: “For 16 years that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in power, the Federal Government exhibited total contempt for the Rule of Law. The constitution and other laws were breached with impunity, while court orders were disobeyed on a regular basis.

“In the famous case of Attorney-General of Lagos State vs Attorney-General of the Federation (2005) 2 WRN 1 at 150, the Supreme Court held that ‘in our democracy, all governments of this country, as well as organisations and individuals must follow the due process and this, they can vindicate by resorting to the courts for redress in the event of any

grievance.

“One of the reasons Nigerians voted for the candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari during the last general election was his promise to fight corruption and end impunity in the country. Upon winning the election, President Buhari further pledged to abide by the Rule of Law. To that extent, he has a duty to ensure that all organs and officials of the government operate within the ambit of the law.

In particular, he should not allow overzealous security personnel to engage in any form of impunity, thereby exposing the government to unwarranted embarrassment.

“In July last year, the State Security Service (SSS) searched the private resi-

dence of former NSA, Colonel Dasuki (retd) at Abuja.

When Dasuki alleged that his house was illegally searched, I pointed out that the action of the SSS was justified, as there was a search warrant validly issued by a magistrates court in the Federal Capital Territory that authorised the search.

“He was eventually charged with money laundering and criminal diversion of huge sums of public fund before the Federal High Court and the Federal Capital Territory High Court at Abuja. Notwithstanding the gravity of the offences, both courts admitted him to bail, but after he had met the bail conditions, the SSS decided to rearrest him at the gate of Kuje Prisons on the ground

“Love and unity among Yoruba people will bring about many positive things. It is time for unity to return to Nigeria and we must all return to the source to achieve it, as if we forget our source we

“The SSS and other security agencies should, therefore, refrain from allowing corruption to fight back by playing into the hands of the criminal suspects who have committed crimes against humanity by diverting money earmarked for the procurement of arms and armament to fight the terrorists.”

On the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, Falana said “the order admitting the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mr Nnamdi Kanu to bail should also be complied with. If the Federal Government has other charges against both suspects, it should file them in the court. There is no provision for keeping criminal suspects at the pleasure of

security officials. Meanwhile, all valid and subsisting orders made by courts in favour of criminal suspects should be obeyed without further delay.

“To ensure that suspects are no longer held in custody in any part of Nigeria without any legal justification, section 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act has imposed a duty on each the chief judges to designate a Chief Magistrate and a judge of the High Court to visit all police stations and other detention centres within their jurisdiction, at least once a month. During such visits, appropriate directives shall be given, while any officer who detains any person illegally will be sanctioned,” he stated.

PDP cries foul over alleged release of Jafaru Isa Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Sunday, stated that the release of President Muhammadu Buhari’s associate and the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Brigadier-General Jafaru Isa (retd) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), barely eight hours after arrest, had vindicated its position that the Federal Government is not fighting corruption, but was on a clampdown mission on its leaders.

This came as the party lamented the continued detention of its spokesperson, Chief Olisa Metuh, who it said had not been charged to court since last Tuesday.

The PDP, in a statement signed by its national legal adviser, Mr Victor Kwon, on Sunday, said “there can be no clearer indication that the APC-led administration is on a manhunt against PDP leaders and has a personal grudge against Chief Metuh, ostensibly for his stance as opposition spokesperson, particularly his recent exchange with the government and the APC over their dictatorial activities.”

The party queried the ac-

tion of the EFCC in freeing Brigadier-General Isa, eight hours after his arrest last Wednesday night, while “Chief Metuh is still being detained even when the two are being investigated over same allegation of receiving funds from the office of the National Security Adviser.”

The statement read in part: “The release of Jafaru Isa, a known associate of the President and chieftain of the APC eight hours after his arrest while our spokesman remains in detention, even when the two are being investigated over same allegation, clearly shows that the President Buhariled APC government is not fighting corruption, but using the much hyped crusade as a cover to persecute PDP leaders and decimate the opposition, a project the EFCC has clearly yielded itself as a willing tool.

“We have information of the marching order from the Presidency for the immediate release of the president’s associate and that his issue is one of the major part reasons for the repeated visits of the EFCC chairman to the Presidential Villa within the period of his arrest. Of course, there is nothing hidden under the sun.

Yoruba unity tops agenda at Ooni, Afenifere Renewal Group meeting continued from pg4

that investigations have not been concluded in respect of other criminal allegations.

“The decision of the SSS to ignore the order admitting Colonel Dasuki to bail coupled, with the failure to re-arraign him on fresh charges is tantamount to impunity in every material respect. If the Federal Government was aggrieved by the order admitting Colonel Dasuki to bail, it should have challenged it in the Court of Appeal. Much as Nigerians are fully behind the Buhari-led administration in the patriotic move to recover the looted wealth of the nation, the Federal Government should be advised to ensure that the procedure for the loot recovery meets the tenets of the rule of law.

may go astray. To bring love, I have decided to work with leaders in Yorubaland,” Oba Ogunwusu remarked.

In his remark, head of ARG delegation, Mr Olawale Osun, said one of the focuses of the meeting was to look into how unity could return

to Yorubaland and the development of Yorubaland during Oba Ogunwusi’s tenure.

He tasked traditional rulers to work for the peace of Yorubas, both in the country and in diaspora, noting that peace should be their core responsibility.

“We ask, how can the EFCC now explain to the world that it is not corrupt and teleguided by the Federal Government to persecute PDP leaders? What happened to the illegal holding charge upon which it has detained the PDP spokesman beyond the limit stipulated by section 35(5a) of the constitution and in violation of his guaranteed personal liberty under the law?

“Are there now two separate sets of laws; one for PDP leaders and perceived foes of the President Buhari-led government, which

allows them to be detained beyond constitutional limits without being charged to court and another set for associates of the president and APC leaders, which guarantees them a slap in the back and immunity from investigation and prosecution and if arrested, an immediate release?”

“Is it really true that the fund Jafaru Isa was alleged to have received from the former NSA was traced near the corridors of those who today bestride power in the country? Furthermore, can the Federal Government

and the APC, now in all honest,y face the world and announce that this administration is, indeed, waging war against corruption?

“Can the EFCC explain what has happened to several petitions by Nigerians on corruption issues against many APC leaders, including those who as former governor looted funds belonging to their state? Are they now under immunity for the fact that they are in the APC and that most of the funds they looted where used to finance APC’s presidential campaign?”

Magu restructures EFCC, redeploys police officers Taiwo Adisa - Abuja CHAIRMAN of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has commenced a reorganisation of the commission with what sources called massive redeployment of some senior officials.

Sources close to the commission said those mostly affected were unit heads and senior police investigators, who were believed to have overstayed in the commission.

Pioneer chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, had at inception, instituted a policy, whereby investigators were drafted from the police on secondment.

The system had continued with the EFCC finding it a lot more convenient for its operations.

Sources said the commission was now almost self-sufficient, with its staff strength having set up a training institute some years back.

The telephone numbers of the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, was unavailable on Sunday, sources close to the commission said many of the police officers and some unit heads were being redeployed..

A source confirmed the situation thus: “The chair-

man of EFCC, Magu, has ordered the redeployment of majority of policemen serving on secondment at the commission.

“Mostly affected are the unit heads, who are being sent back to Force Headquarters. Some senior officers are also affected by the gale of redeployment.”

Ize-Iyamu denies diverting Jonathan’s rice in Edo Banji Aluko - Benin City A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Edo State and former Secretary to the State Government, Pastor Osagie Izeiyamu, has denied diverting rice brought to the state by the campaign organisation of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

A report (not Nigerian Tribune) had alleged that a governorship aspirant of the state superimposed his

own picture on that of Jonathan and shared the rice to his supporters as Christmas gifts.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu, who was the coordinator of Dr Jonathan’s Presidential Campaign in Edo State, in a reaction on Sunday, said despite clarifications made by the state chapter of the PDP on the issue, some people still “stuck to their mischief and insisted that their silly allegation must be investigated.”

7

news

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Nigeria in final stage of war against insurgency —Vice President Chris Agbambu And Adetola Bademosi-Abuja

T

he Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Sunday, restated that Nigeria is in the final stage of war against insurgency.

This is as the Zonal Cordinator of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), northwest, urged the present administration to allo-

cate 10 per cent of recovered funds to families of fallen heroes.

The Vice-President at the interdenominational service for the Armed Forces Remembrance day held at the National Christian Centre in Abuja, stated that the Boko Haram insurgents, unlike before, has been degraded.

Osinbajo, who com-

mended the efforts of troops in their fight to secure the country, stated, that the reputation of the Nigerian Army is noted both locally and internationally.

“The reputation of our Armed forces of courage and service is also known not only at home, but abroad and their contributions to several peace keeping missions from,

Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Dafur. At the end of last year, for instance, Nigeria had about 2,972 active in various United Nations (UN), Nigeria programmes.

“The armed forces represent one of the patriotic institutions in the land playing a leading role in our nation building efforts.

Their remarkable effort in particular at this time, in combating insurgency in the Northeast is deeply appreciated by the Nigerian people.” He stated While commending supports received internationally in the fight against ter-

rorism, the Vice-President, sought for its maintenance and more supports.

In his words, “Let me also acknowledge the support of our foreign partners in the fight against terrorists. We appreciate your contributions and encouragements and we are confident that you will maintain your backings and even step up your supports where needed as we enter what we believe as the final stage of the current insurgency in the Northeast.

“We know that Boko Haram insurgency in the North has now been degraded, the insurgents no

longer hold territories and can no longer launch daring attacks as they have done in the past.

“The government expresses the gratitude of our country to the military.

We are confident and we pray that with God on our side, the Armed forces of Nigeria will not only complete the work that they have started, especially the military offensive against insurgency, but that they will also in due course, continue to render services that they have rendered to our country, even better in the years to come.”

Okowa urges Nigerians to show love, kindness

From left, Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Goverment of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Ambassador Danjuma Sheni and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, during the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, inter-denominational church service, at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, on Sunday.

Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (second left); his deputy, Kingsley Otuaro (left); chairman, Nigeria Legion, Delta State, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Amereh (second right) and member, Delta State House of Assembly, Honourable Eriateke Ibori, during the inter-denominational thanksgiving service to mark the 2016 Armed Forces remembrance day celebration, in Asaba.

AN inter-denominational church service was on Sunday held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Asaba as part of the activities to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State calling on Nigerians to show love and kindness to one another.

According to the Governor, Nigeria was witnessing serious challenges that only love and kindness to one another can conquer, noting that Boko Haram was one of the challenges that Nigeria needs to wade through.

He emphasised that remembering the fallen heroes was important as “they died for Nigeria to remain as one; it is important that we remember their families in prayers.

“It is important that we remember the Supreme Being who died for us to live; Jesus Christ died for all of us to have salvation, so, there is the need to truly worship Him and trust Him as a nation,” Governor Okowa said, adding that, “only God can bring solution to our challenges.”

Governor Okowa used the occasion to challenge men of God to pray for Nigeria and remain the conscience of the nation by speaking the truth no matter whose ox is gored.

Reverend Olutomi Sodeinde in his sermon said, “Some people fought, laid down their lives for us to have a nation, but, we should allow the word of God to come into our lives for us to have life.”

Welfare of military personnel should be prioritised —Wike DapoFalade-PortHarcourt

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has advised that the welfare of families of slain and surviving retired military personnel should be given top priority by the relevant authorities.

He gave the advice while speaking during an interdenominational Church Service, held at the Saint Thomas Anglican Church, Port Harcourt, on Sunday, to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day. According to a statement issued by his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, Governor Wike said the nation needed to cater for all serving and retired military personnel who had sacrificed to protect others in the country.

He noted that it was important to always celebrate

the soldiers who lost their lives defending the nation, while others were pursuing their personal endeavours.

“If we see what happens in the North East, then we will always appreciate these military personnel anytime we see them.

“If you see people who have volunteered to join the security forces when others are scared of making the sacrifice, we need to pray for them,” he said.

The governor said that he was aware that the Federal Government was working hard to ensure that military pensioners were paid their entitlements as at when due.

He added that all pensioners deserved to be paid regularly, adding that in Rivers State, he had made the payment of pensioners and civil servants a top priority.

Pastor Adeboye storms OAU

From left, Rivers State deputy governor, Mrs Ipalibo Harry-Banigo; wife of Rivers State governor, Justice Suzzette Nyesom-Wike and Governor Nyesom Wike, at the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance day church service, in Port Harcourt, on Sunday. PHOTO: NAN

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye will on Thursday, January 14, 2016 conduct a special Holy Ghost service at the new crusade ground, beside All Souls Church, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. A release obtained from the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the University, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that the programme is designed as part of the annual thanksgiving and

special Holy Ghost service which the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Christian Mobilisation Committee organise to usher in the new year for the University community, Ile-Ife and its environs.

Accordingly, Pastor Adeboye will pray for the university, the management, staff, students and the entire university community, and also commit all activities for the year 2016 into the hand of God. The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor

Bamitale Omole, will lead other principal officers of the university, Provosts of Colleges, Deans of Faculties, Heads of Departments and other stakeholders to receive Pastor Adeboye.

Earlier same day, precisely by 10.00a.m, the entire university community will converge at the amphitheater of the Oduduwa Hall of the University for its annual non-denominational thanksgiving service with spiritual songs and special messages from the Bible.

8

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

9

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Lagosmetro

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

Lagos-Abeokuta expressway rehabilitation to be completed by April—Govt

Sales manager in Kirikiri over alleged N317m fraud

Bola Badmus

AyomideOwonibiOdekanyin

A commercial motorcycle rider arrested by officers of the Rapid Response Squad (RSS) for using the BRT lane on Ikorodu road. PHOTO: ALABA IGBAROOLA

25-year-old to die by hanging for stealing phones, wristwatches AyomideOwonibiOdekanyin

A

convicted armed robber, Rasak Ogedengbe, 25, has been sentenced to death by hanging.

Ogedengbe’s journey to the gallows began when he attacked the family of one Mr Chukwujekwu who just returned from church at Ejigbo and carted away some of their valuables, which included money, wrist watches and phones.

The victim had gone to report at Ejigbo police station when he saw Ogedenge in the police van after the suspect had already been arrested by the police.

The police searched the polythene bag with him and found some of the valuables stolen from the victim.

Ogedengbe did not produce any witness and also pleaded not guilty to the offence but the prosecution had called two witnesses to testify and all their evidence

were taken by the court.

While delivering her judgment, the presiding judge, Hon.Justice Olabisi Akinlade said that Ogedengbe was accused of criminal

THERE was palpable confusion in Agege area of Lagos State on Sunday afternoon when a police corporal attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Lagos State Police Command was shot death.

The death of the police officer was said to be reprisal by some hoodlums, who were protesting the shooting of two people, simply identified as Sulaimon and Segun by

the elements of armed robbery and conspiracy and therefore found Ogedengbe guilty of both offences.

He was therefore sentenced to death by hanging.

Igbo people not target of Oshodi demolition — Fashola’s ex-aide • As group backs govt’s decision on exercise Bola Badmus A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nkechi Chukwueke, has said that the demolition of the popular Owonifari Market in Oshodi area of Lagos State was not targeted at any particular tribe, especially the Igbo people.

Chukwueke said this on Sunday, even as he lauded the government of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for making the move in relocating

the traders to a better place nearby.

Chukwueke, who served as Special Assistant on Women Ethnic Group Mobilisation/ Empowerment to former Governor Babatunde Fashola said not only Igbo but traders from other ethnic groups were also affected in the exercise, pointing out that the exercise “was carried out in good faith and in accordance with the rule of law.”

She further urged Gover-

nor Ambode to focus on his task of ensuring a crime-free Lagos that would be conducive for all and sundry, saying, “I have told a lot of my people from the east that the exercise was carried out in good faith by the government to rid Lagos of crime, restore sanity to the area and ensure the master plan of Lagos State is not tampered with.

“From facts available, the state government gave enough notice to these trad-

he was shot.

The deceased officer, Sergeant James, was escaping with the ‘Yahoo boy’ when some hoodlums reportedly killed him and the internet fraudster.

A source at Amoo Street, where the incident happened, told the Nigerian Tribune that the internet fraudster was driving around the stadium when he was stopped by some street urchins.

The ‘Yahoo boy’, simply

identified as Obey, had reportedly called the policeman to come and rescue him when he could not satisfy the request of the angry hoodlums.

The deceased policeman was said to have shot into the crowd, hitting two of them in the process, before escaping with Obey in a car.

Some hoodlums were said to have chased the policeman and Obey on a motorbike and killed both of them.

Policeman, Yahoo boy killed in Agege Olalekan Olabulo -Lagos

conspiracy and armed robbery under Section 403 and 402 of the criminal code, law of Lagos State 2003.

She said that the prosecution has been able to prove

the deceased policeman.

The police in the state confirmed the death of the policeman but denied that he was killed in retaliation for killing two people.

The image maker in charge of the state police command, Joe Offor, insisted that the policeman did not commit suicide but shot in the head.

It was gathered that the deceased policeman had gone to the area to rescue an internet fraudster, popularly known as ‘yahoo boy,’ when

Nigerian Tribune

ers and even provided alternative market for them to relocate to but many of them refused to go because they believe they won’t make much sales if they go to the new place,” she said.

Meanwhile, the chairman, Conference 57 which is the umbrella body of executive secretaries of local government and local council development areas in Lagos State, Alabi Kolade David, has faulted those casting the governor over the demolition exercise.

David said those calling the governor names over the development were exhibiting ignorance and lack of foresight, declaring that the action was in line with the transformation plan of government for Oshodi.

The council boss described Oshodi as an international gateway to Lagos and indeed Nigeria, saying the demolition was a positive step towards transforming Lagos into a mega city compared to other cosmopolitan city-states of the world.

A warehouse manager, Okunuga Rasheed Olamide, who allegedly defrauded his employer of N317 million has been remanded in kirikiri.

It was gathered that Olamide was employed as a warehouse manager by a company called Purechem Manufacturing Limited where he was put in charge of the company’s various goods in terms of sales and supply to customers.

After his employment, Olamide allegedly started selling the company’s goods and making false entry into the company’s computer system’s account.

The company alleged that Olamide was preparing and generating false waybill of their goods as sales, but was secretly selling the goods without proper record.

The management discovered the fraud and probed the whole transaction conducted by Olamide.

During the audit, it was discovered that Olamide had allegedly defrauded the company to the tune of N317 million.

When confronted with the facts, he did not give satisfactory answers to what happened to the money.

He was handed over to the police where he allegedly made a confessional statement, claiming that he sold some goods on credit basis without informing the management.

He was charged before an Isolo Magistrate Court with stealing under the Criminal Code.

When he was arraigned, Olamide pleaded not guilty.

The presiding magistrate, Mrs Joy Ogbomoiko granted Olamide bail in the sum of N1million with two sureties in like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri pending when he will perfect his bail.

The matter has been adjourned till 26 January, 2016.

Police vehicles and Black Maria stationed at the entrance to the NURTW-controlled BRT bus garage located at Ojota, preventing the NURTW/BRT staff from operating after the Lagos State government suspended its licence from operating on Sunday. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa

The Lagos State government on Saturday renewed its commitment to speedily complete the on-going construction of drainage alignment and the bad portion of the Ile-Epo axis of the Lagos- Abeokuta Expressway, assuring that the project would be delivered by April 2016.

General Manager, Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), Ayotunde Sodeinde, said this during an inspection tour of the project site, disclosing that the drainage work with a stretch of about 840 meters and the bad portion of the roads which is about 1000 meters would soon be completed.

He said the corporation had already reconstructed 750 meters of the drainage while the remaining 100 meters would be completed by January 24, assuring that motorists currently having a harrowing experience while plying the road would soon heave a

NURTW/BRT buses: Commuters divided over

termination of agreement Bola Badmus Following the termination by the Lagos State government of its earlier agreement with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on the operation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along the Mile 12 to CMS corridor, commuters have been divided in their opinions of the implications of the move.

While some lauded the government for the courage exhibited in taking the step, others complained of the shortage of buses arising from the absence of the NURTW vehicles.

The pro-ban commuters described the move by the government as a right step in the right direction aimed at instilling confidence in the commuters who had lost hope of any succour.

They said they had lost hope that the government was going to give them any respite from the operators, who they noted were only driven by profit.

A commuter, who gave his name as Mr. Gordon Mojaye and a constant user

of the BRT, while lauding the state government for the bold step, recalled that he stopped using the BRT about three years ago when the services began to dwindle but had to come out on Thursday to use the new service following the information about the latest move by the government.

He enjoined the government to monitor the new operator to ensure that it did not breach the agreement signed with the regulatory agency, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

Miss Maria Adeyanju, another commuter, while also applauding the government on its latest effort, urged it to put stringent measures in place to make sure that transport operators do not frustrate the mass transit scheme.

The shortcomings of the NURTW as enumerated by the state government, included non-operation of stipulated frequency schedules and operation of buses at below 50 per cent fleet capacity contrary to the agreement.

The government said this had progressively resulted

in the operator’s inability to meet commuters’ expectation to provide good public transport services on the all-important BRT corridor.

However, the ban is reportedly taking a toll on commuters, as many passengers were reportedly stranded on the ever-busy Ikorodu-CMS route.

Some commuters on Sunday lamented the shortage

of buses on the routes which led to passengers scrambling to board the few available buses to the Lagos Island section of the state.

One of the passengers returning from the New Year break lamented that he was at the Ojota bus stop for hours without getting a bus.

According to him, “it is the survival of the fittest. You have to struggle with other

passengers before you can get a space in the buses. I hope government and the operator of 1st BRT will find a common ground in finding a lasting solution to the problems because of the suffering masses”.

Another passenger, Mrs Ify James, lamented that government did not make alternative provision to take care of fallout of the closure.

Illegal kiosks: Akiolu asks security agencies

to arrest name-droppers Bola Badmus

The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Aremu Akiolu I, at the weekend warned unscrupulous people using his name in the indiscriminate construction of kiosks on the highways and marketplaces within the Lagos Central Business District, Ebute Ero, Apongbon and other strategic places in the state to henceforth desist from such act or be made to face the full wrath of the law.

The monarch gave this warning in a statement issued from the palace, saying that he had observed for sometime the unwholesome

development and wished to put an end to it by alerting the general public.

He expressed strong belief that such conduct would undoubtedly obstruct free flow of traffic and aid crime and criminality in those areas.

He, therefore, alerted the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, Director of State Security Service, Adekunle Ajanaku, as well as the executive secretaries of Lagos Island Local Government and Lagos Island Local Council Development Authority to move against the perpetrators of the illegal act.

Others include the Area Commander, Area ‘A’ Lion

Building and all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) covering Lagos Island.

The monarch specifically asked the authorities “to ensure that people involved in the act are brought to book and assist the government in ensuring free flow of traffic in the affected areas.”

The statement added that Oba Akiolu also intended to send out his chiefs and others to ensure that sanity was restored on Lagos roads.

“Henceforth, anyone caught in using my name to commit this criminal act will face the full wrath of the law,” the statement quoted Oba Akiolu as saying.

sigh of relief as rehabilitation work on the road would be completed by April 2016.

Sodeinde said the rehabilitation work which commenced in October 2015 was put on hold until the six electric poles laid on the drainage alignment were relocated on December 31st, 2015.

The LSPWC boss, who recalled that the initial drainage system with a width of 0.6 meters was inadequate to contain the flow of flood water, said the agency had to reconstruct it to a size of 1.2 meters after which massive rehabilitation work commenced on the road.

He said the Lagos-Abeokuta road project was already a failed project right from inception, recalling that sometimes in 2013, a portion of the road along Ahmadiyah caved in, causing untold hardship to motorists.

He stressed that similar scenario was playing out at the Ile-Epo axis with inadequate drains to contain rainwater and other domestic discharge which in turn had a negative impact on the road.

Besides, Sodeinde recalled that sometimes during the inspection of the bad portion of Ile-Epo by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his team, they met an inadequate drainage, saying the governor swiftly reacted that the situation in that area was totally unacceptable and that the LSPWC should immediately move in and fix the road.

“We moved in around October ending and what we met here was a terrible state of the road with inadequate and blocked drains which hindered the flow of rainwater.

“Governor Ambode does not believe that a particular road is local, state or federal.

He believes so far those roads are being used by residents of Lagos State, all the roads must be fixed and motorable, and that was why the governor directed that we should move in immediately to fix the road despite the fact that it is a federal road,” he said.

businessnews New fuel price: NECA calls for privatisation of refineries 10

ByOlatundeDodondawaLagos

T

he Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called for the privatisation of the nation’s four refineries, following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

NECA, which serves as the voice of business in Nigeria, said it commended the bold pronouncement of the Federal Government on the discontinuation of the fuel subsidy policy dispensation.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, the Director–General of NECA, Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, stated that “the association expects immediate privatisation of the four refineries (Port Harcourt 1&2, Warri and Kaduna), a decisive action along an unambiguous and explicit policy statement that the subsidy regime has ended.

“A jointly agreed timeline and modalities with investors on the utilisation of the licenses already issued for the setting-up of private sector-owned refineries and the redefinition of the role of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) as an ombudsman to ensure compliance with products standards and fair competition that would guarantee reasonableness of products pricing.”

Furthermore, he argued that “Though the Federal Government had explained that the new dispensation will now be predicated on what it called ‘price modulation,’ I hope that at no time in the future will the issue of fuel subsidy and its financing surface again in government’s budget.”

Commenting further on the development, Mr Oshinowo stated that the Federal Government should now focus on the policy framework and incentives that will ensure that Nigeria is self-sufficient in the refining capacity to meet her energy need.

“The association urges the government not to delay any further in pursuing the foregoing action points,” he stated.

Nigerians have been divided on the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government as a way of providing permanent solution to the challenges of perennial fuel scarcity in Nigeria.

While labour unions like the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) kicked against removal of fuel subsidy, the private sector organisations like the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and other private sector practitioners supported the policy which is expected to usher in investment in the downstream sector.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Ibe Kachikwu, had announced that with the current price of crude oil, the subsidy element had been eliminated, but the price of petrol had not been deregulated, nor would it be deregulated come January.

“It will be adjusted within the modulating band of N87

per litre to N97 per litre in accordance with the international price of crude oil,” he explained.

With that statement, experts have argued that subsidy of petrol has been removed, but the made the statement to avoid labour unrest as witnessed in January, 2012, when the country was practically shut down to

protest subsidy removal.

Nigeria, which is the largest crude oil exporter in Africa, is the only member of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that relies mainly on importation of refined petroleum products for its domestic consumption which is put at 40 million litre per day.

Deputy Governor of CBN, Economic Policy, Sarah Alade; Group Executive Director, Dangote Group, Devackumar Edwin; CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, listening to the president of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, during the inspection of the Dangote Refinery and Fertilizer Plant, by the CBN officials on Sunday.

CBN gov visits Dangote Refinery, guarantees forex provisions ByOlatundeDodondawaLagos The Federal Government has assured the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical plants that it will provide necessary foreign exchange for the completion of its refineries and petrochemical plants.

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele stated on Sunday during a tour of the facility that foreign exchange support would be given to Dangote refinery for importation of equipment meant for the projects.

“We have to give him foreign exchange to import his equipment because he will need foreign exchange to import expected equipment. About two to three year ago, he came to the bank that he wanted to commence on petrochemical, fertiliser and refinery business.

“Today, the three projects are valued at about $14billion (N2.8 trillion), which Dangote is contributing 15 per cent,” he said.

Emefiele said that government needs to support

people like Dangote for his tremendous impact on the socio-economy growth of the country through his investments in the industry.

“You can imagine what will happen in the savings of foreign exchange by the time the fertiliser is completed in 2017 and the refinery is completed by 2018. We expect that by the time these projects are completed, it would not only service the needs of our domestic requirement.

It will also be exported to bring foreign exchange to

the bank in the tune of about $6billion annually,” he said.

While commenting on the project, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman, Dangote Group, commended the speed at which contractors are delivering on their mandate to meet deadline.

Dangote Petrochemical Company has said the refinery would commence commercial operations at the beginning of 2018.

Dangote said that the company is set to unveil the world ‘Largest Single Refinery,’ which will make

Nigeria self-sufficient in petroleum products, refining and also become a major exporter of such products.

The project, which is close to realisation would mark a turning point in Nigeria’s search for solution in meeting local refining need for white products.

“We have in place, a stateof-the-art technology and equipment to ensure the value chain, which consists of crude reception facility to the processing facility and they are adequately integrated,” he said.

Skye Bank loses 25% investment in 7 days KehindeAkinseinde-Jayeoba - Lagos Skye Bank Plc has over the last seven-day trade on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), lost 25 per cent of its investment amounting to a shave of N9.8 million.

On Friday, the quoted company closed trade at N1.18 kobo per share as against the N1.58 kobo it opened with on Monday, January 3, losing 40 kobo off its share price.

Skye Bank, during the week under review, made 309 deals with

24,945,280.66 volume of share worth N32.5 million.

Market Capitalisation of Skye Bank Plc as of date stands at N16.4 billion with its outstanding shares at 13.880 billion.

According to the financial times, Skye Bank Plc’s revenue presently stands at N127.8 billion, while its net income is N12.5 billion.

In early 2015, market operators that the Bank, having acquired Mainstreet Bank Limited and given the value of the acquisition, the stocks of Skye Bank, then at N2.66 kobo per share, offered an

attractive buy opportunity for investors.

However, the reverse was the case as of date, 1-year return stands at 46.36 per cent decline, having closed the year 2015 at N1.58 kobo per share price.

It is, however, worth noting that the Banking Industry under the Financial Sector of the Nigerian Bourse had, for some time, being on the lulls as evident in the fact that last week, none of the banking sector made the list of top 10 price gainers on the floor of the exchange.

Nigerian Tribune

AGF meets with World Bank budget support mission team The Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, has restated his commitment to continue with already instituted reforms aimed at improving public financial management in the Treasury Office.

Alhaji Idris gave this assurance recently, when he met with the team of Budget Support Mission from the World Bank at the Treasury House in Abuja, to discuss how to ensure the effective implementation of the 2016 Budget of the Federal Government.

Recalling the various technical and financial support the country had received from the World Bank over the years, the Accountant General of the Federation described the World Bank as a great partner whose role in promoting sound economic and fiscal policies in Nigeria and indeed the world, remains unparalleled.

According to Alhaji Idris, the office of the Accountant General of the Federation being on the driving seat for the implementation of the reforms in the public financial management, has made tremendous progress in their implementation.

Citing the transition from IPSAS cash basis to IPSAS accrual basis from January 2016, Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) which includes central personal cost monitoring has led to reduced cost of personnel, Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, (GIFMIS), which is a platform for e-payment and e-collection as well as the full scale Treasury Single Account (TSA) implementation as among the success stories of the Nigeria’s treasury.

He, noted with concern the challenges being faced with their implementation especially with regards to infrastructural and technical capacity, and expressed optimism that the World Bank will provide the needed support to surmounting them, whilst pledging the readiness of the Treasury Office to take the relationship to the next level.

Earlier at the meeting, the leader of the delegation, Ismaila Ceesay, who is the Lead Finacial Management Specialist at the World Bank Country office in Abuja, said they were at the office of the Accountant General of the Federation to review budget performance for the previous year and to provide technical support on the implementation of the proposed 2016 budget of the OAGF.

businessnews Marketers decry high level sharp practices at fuel depots 11

By Olatunde Dodondawa- Lagos

M

arketers have decried the spate of sharp practices at fuel depots and called on the Federal Government and its agencies like the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to arrest the development in other to ensure adequate fuel supply to Nigerians.

They posited that most private depot owners in Apapa are selling at between N95-105 per litre as against the recommended ex-depot price of N77 per litre.

According to a source who pleaded anonymity, “we cannot sell petrol at N86.50k per litre as directed by the federal government because most private depots in Apapa do not sell petrol to us at official ex-depot price of N77 per litre. Any marketer who wants to buy petrol would have to pay into a dedicated depot owner’s account at the rate between N95-N105 per litre and bring the receipt to the depot to pick ticket to load.

“No depot owner in Apapa issues receipt reflecting the amount sold in litre of petrol. He will only issue a waybill to enable truck driver to discharge the product at a designated place.”

He urged the Federal Government to take urgent step in arresting the situation and sanction any marketer who may be involved in the sharp practices.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune about the development on Sunday, the Zonal Public Relations Officer (PRO), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Western Zone, Alhaji Abdul Lateef Jaiyeola, stated that “as I speak with you, the product is being sold at the depot not less than N100 per litre instead of the official ex-depot price of N77 per litre. If the NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) tells you it has enough stock, it is a lie.

“I can assure you that the NNPC do not have enough product to go round. If they do, why can’t they embark on 24-7 loading? Why are they not pumping to Ibadan depot. The pipeline from Mosinmi to Ibadan depot is secured because there is no problem of pipeline vandalism across the network.

“Due to security challenges in Mosinmi-Ore depot, we can understand why there is no products at Ore but the Ibadan de-

Monday, 11 January, 2016

pot which is large enough to service the entire western states including Ilorin was not serviced. The only focused on Lagos and Mosinmi depots only.”

Jaiyeola argued that

except there is massive loading of products at the depots to marketers, the challenges of sharp practices by marketers by remain unresolved.

“If there is massive load-

ing of products, nobody will buy at above official ex-depot price of N77 per litre.

There won’t be hoarding or selling at recommended retail price of N86.50 per litre. Hoarding usually ties

down capital and our business relies on high turnover to make profit. Everyone that has product will be forced to sell if there is excess supply of products in circulation,” he said.

From left, Executive Director (Finance and administration) NICCON Insurance Plc, Mr Steve Ojo; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Managing Director, NICCON Insurance, Mr Bayode Samuel; and Executive Director (Marketing), Alhaji Kamal Hammed; during a visit by the management team of the company to the Minister in Abuja, on Friday.

NATCOMS calls on service providers to increase base station capacities The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers on Sunday called on service providers in the country to increase the capacities of their base stations to accommodate their subscriber base.

Chief ‘Deolu Ogunbanjo, the President of NATCOMS, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that increasing the capacities of the base stations entailed the building of more infrastructure by the operators.

Ogunbanjo said such would ease the current situation where all the networks were congested and the subscribers had to put up with poor quality services.

He said: “Currently, the entire network operators in the country are guilty of this.

“Even Etisalat that used to be slightly better, is now very congested and their subscribers are now complaining.

“For the operators to serve subscribers better, they have to understand that all subscribers on their networks must be served properly by way of ensuring that they provide enough

capacity.

“They have to provide more infrastructure in terms of capacity to accommodate their subscriber base.

“Poor quality of service is as a result of congestion on the networks.

“Britain is having about

70,000 base stations.

“Nigeria has below 25,000, which is grossly inadequate.”

According to Ogunbanjo, the subscriber base of telecoms companies in Nigeria easily outnumbers the infrastructure capacity of the telecoms operators.

He called on the Nigerian Communications Commission to suspend the issuance of any Subscriber Identification Module numbering plan to the network providers, as they presently did not have the capacity to accommodate such numbers.

Ocholi tasks resident doctors on industrial peace

By Soji-Eze Fagbemi- Abuja

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr James Ocholi (SAN), has called on resident doctors to support the Federal Government’s efforts at ensuring industrial peace and harmony in the health sector.

The minister said this while receiving an award of ‘Ambassador of Conscience and Notary Personality’ from the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter in his office.

Ocholi, reiterated the commitment of the admin-

istration of President Muhammadu Buhari in ensuring that there is industrial peace and harmony in the workplace, adding that the government would do everything to stop incessant strikes in the health sector.

He also emphasised that the present government is committed to the promotion of decent employment, as well as enhancement of the welfare of Nigerian workers.

The minister said the award will spur him to further contribute to the welfare of Nigerian workforce.

In his remarks, the president of the Association

of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, FCT chapter, Dr Isaac Olubanjo Akere, commended the minister’s contributions to humanity, and described his appointment as a step in the right direction.

He also commended President Buhari for appointing him as a minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Akere, believes that Ocholi will bring his wealth of experience in humanitarian services, especially in the legal profession to bear in discharge of his responsibility as a minister in the labour sector.

Nigerian Tribune

NCAA lifts sanction on Lubcon The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has lifted the sanction it imposed on Lubcon from supplying aviation fuel to domestic and foreign airlines at airports in Nigeria with immediate effect.

This was contained in a letter to Lubcon signed by the Director of Air-worthiness Standards, MR Benedict Adeyileka, on behalf of the Director General of NCAA. The letter said the suspension was lifted as a result of certification of Lubcon’s aviation fuel supply facilities by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA).

This certification was preceded by verification visits by top officials of the two regulatory agencies. These visits were found satisfactory.

The certification of the Lubcon Aviation Depot has resulted in the facility becoming one of the best in the industry. This is a confirmation of the enviable standards maintained by Lubcon.

Lubcon commends DPR and NCAA for their quality assurances meeting international specifications.

Lubcon being the first Oil & Gas Company in Nigeria to be ISO certified in the year 2002 and the winner of the 2015 National Productivity Order of Merit Award of the Federal Government of Nigeria, remains committed to the highest international quality standards which have remained its hallmark.

Over the years, Lubcon has become a key player in the oil and gas sector through the manufacturing, lifting, distribution and sales of petroleum and allied products.

The company has constantly applied the principles of productivity management in the course of running its operations for continuous improvement. Apart from being an ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) certified oil and Gas Company, Lubcon quality programme is designed to continuously seek to improve performance in order to meet customers’ expectations, and to delight them.

On the international sphere; Lubcon in 2012 received the Arch of Europe International Quality Award in Frankfurt, Germany. In 2014, Lubcon was elected as a corporate member of the British Safety Council, as well as a member of the Institute of Occupational Health & Safety, UK.

12

business

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

daily summary (equities) for Friday, 8 january, 2016

top 5 gainers

top 5 losers

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Monday, 11 January, 2016

14

news

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole (right), stressing a point on the outbreak of Lassa fever in some states. With him are the Chief Executive Officer, National Centre for Disease Control, Professor Abdulahi Nasidi (left) and the Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, in Abuja, on Friday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI.

Lassa fever: No established case in Oyo —Health ministry OYO State Ministry of Health has clarified that no single case of Lassa fever has been established in the state since last year when the first suspected case was subjected to clinical test at the Federal Ministry of Health’s reference laboratory in Lagos.

This was contained in a statement by the ministry’s acting Director of Public Health, Dr Taiwo Ladipo, on Sunday, where he insisted that the three suspected cases reported and diagnosed at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, had no feature of the disease.

He, however, cautioned citizens of the state against consumption of rodents and to avoid contact with the blood, urine and faeces of rats when killing them as a preventive measure against Lassa fever.

Ladipo said, “Two suspected cases of Lassa fever were reported by the UCH, Ibadan ,in 2015. Both cases, though, diagnosed at the institution, were not verified by the Federal Ministry of Health reference laboratory in Lagos.

Both cases had remarkable improvement and subsequently discharged home.

“The last case was reported by the UCH on December 18, 2015 and the ministry embarked on contact tracing of all potential contacts of the index case.

Seventy-two individuals from the referring hospital, UCH and the child’s community were observed for three weeks for any feature of the disease.

“At the end of this period, there were no features of the illness in all contacts.

The index case has since been discharged from the UCH.” As a safeguard measure, the director disclosed that an emergency preparedness team of stakeholders had met to prepare a re-

sponse protocol in case of any outbreak of the disease in any part of the state.

He listed those in the team as the state’s ministries of health, information, environment, agriculture, state Hospitals’ Management Board, Red Cross and Red Crescent, UCH, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital and State Emergency Management Authority.

In a similar vein, he said that sensitisation of clinicians from the public and private sectors had been carried out to increase physicians’ index of suspected cases and the need for prompt referrals.

To prevent an outbreak of the disease in the state, the director harped on the need for residents to take personal hygiene serious, with emphasis on periodic hands washing.

Ladipo said, “Food items should preferably be kept in sealable containers to prevent contamination with urine or faeces of rodents.

“There is the need for proper personal and household management of refuse. Indiscriminate dumping of refuse should be avoided as these are potential breeding grounds for vermins.

“Eating of rodents should be avoided. Also important is to prevent contact with blood, urine and faeces of rats even when killing them. Clearing of bushes and refuse to reduce hiding and breeding spaces for rats is also important.”

He advised residents with nonspecific symptoms such as fever, facial swelling, muscle fatigue, conjunctivitis and mucosal bleeding, as well as symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach ache, constipation, dysphagia , among others to report immediately at the nearest health institution.

Ladipo also advised physicians managing such health institutions to promptly refer such cases to the UCH if they suspected any trace of Lassa fever.

Bauchi has no case —Govt THE Permanent Secretary, Bauchi State Ministry of Health, Dr Saidu Gital, said on Sunday that no case of Lassa fever had been confirmed in the state.

Gital stated this while briefing newsmen in Bauchi, on the outbreak of the disease.

He said that although, the state had four suspected cases, three were diagnosed to be negative while laboratory result on one was pending.

"The fourth person accidentally came from Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State, but the result is being awaited," he said.

Gital disclosed that Bau-

chi usually had outbreak of the disease during the dry season, between November and March.

He said that the Federal Ministry of Health had supplied health personnel, protective equipment and Ribavirin tablets as well as injectable drugs for use when any case was confirmed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reported that the disease is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by Lassa virus.

It is transmitted through direct contact with secretion, including excreta of the vector, a type of rat, which can inhabit homes.

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Monday, 11 January, 2016

16

Monday, 11 January, 2016

17

INSIDE LAGOS

Monday, 11 January, 2016

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Alaba Igbaroola: 08155975474

sylvester okoruwa: 08115708541

From left, Member, Bameke/Bamishile Community Market Women Association, Funmilayo Saliu; Chairman, Bameke/Bamishile Community Landlord’s Association, Sulaimon Oyebamire; Community Affairs Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Emeka Mba and Human Resources Manager, Water Health Nigeria, Mary Tombri Sowemimo at the inauguration of the Coca-Cola sponsored Alimosho Water Health Centre at Bameke/Bamishile Community, Shasha, Lagos recently.

From left, the Creative Director, Rhodium Chef Global LLC, Mrs Idono Gbenro, the three finalists; Mr Dapo Lambo, Mrs Edna Ojuma, Miss Tobechi Ogu and the Head of Public Relations & Event, Tolaram Group, Mr. Temitope Ashiwaju, during the unveiling ceremony of the three finalists for the Season 2 of the Making of the Chef competition held recently at the company’s head office in Surulere, Lagos.

From left, Head Teacher, Community Primary School, Amumara, Imo; Mrs Amaefule Keziah; Pry. 4 Student of the school, Chiamaka Onwuegbuchulam, while receiving a pack containing toothpaste and toothbrush from Airtel’s Territory Sales Manager, Charles Alimikhena during the Airtel-Unilever Oral Health programme held in Imo State, recently.

From left, Mrs Akintilo Aramide, matron; Fidel Ogwuazor, President; Ademonsun, immediate past president, Fikayo Tunde-Ojo and Asst Governor, Bala Yesufu during the Ogudu GRA Rotary Club xmas donation to the less privilege of Little Saint, Lagos.

From left, Assistant Corp Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Ojota Zone, Mr Kehinde Hamzat; Executive Director Marketing, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr Benson Evbuomwan; Assistant Corp Commander, Mrs. Gloria Danfulani and Innovation and Consumer Insight Manager, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr Lanre Da-Silva, during the flag off of Honeywell/FRSC Ember Month Safety Awareness Campaign, at Ojota, Lagos, last week.

Actress and cast member, Hear Word, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett; Etisalat Nigeria’s Specialist, High Value Sponsorship & Events, Amaka Agu, Manager, High Value Sponsorship & Events, Opeyemi Lawal; Director/Producer, Hear Word, Ifeoma Fafunwa and Head, Events and Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani, at the grand performance of the 2015 edition of Hear Word sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria, in Lagos.

18 LETTERS TO THE

Monday, 11 January, 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.

Tackling child abuse in Nigeria

I

want to say that one of the challenges facing our country today is the issue of child abuse. The rate at which children are harassed, maltreated or neglected is alarming, and it requires all hands to be on deck to curb this menace.

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) and the Department for Children and Families (DCF) define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm or threat of harm to a child.

It is noteworthy that

child abuse can occur in a child’s home, school or community, and the major categories of child abuse include neglect, physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse and sexual abuse. Today, however, sexual abuse is becoming more rampant; we now hear of adult males raping minors.

Also, children are involved in trafficking, labouring, female genital mutilation, early marriages and violence and most of these are caused by marital strife, unemployment and financial difficulties, poverty, cultural practices and unwanted pregnancies among others.

Oil spillage and the effect on the Niger Delta Oil spill can be defined as the release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment especially marine areas due to human activity and it is a form of pollution. The term is usually applied to marine oil spills where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters, but spills may also occur on land.

The effects of oil spill have been evident in the Niger Delta since the 1970s. A major oil spill was the Ogoniland spill that affected farmlands and rivers, thus affecting the fishing and farming communities in the region. The case was only concluded 30 years later with the court fining the oil companies a sum of 26 million pounds. Even after the judgement, it was not until 2009 that Shell paid 9.6 million pounds.

The slow response of the government and Shell in rectifying the situation led to the activities of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). This group in annoyance sabotaged oil pipes and more spillage was caused. As far as MEND is concerned, this was a way of having revenge on the oil companies for the oil spillage.

Also in the early 90s, the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) under the leadership of Ken Saro Wiwa carried out peaceful protests all over the Niger Delta. Oth-

er spills were the August and December 2008 spills in Bodo in Ogoniland. The spills in Bodo were compared to the spills in Exxon Valdez in Alaska in 1989.

The effects of the spills are numerous and have created more environmental problems such as gas flaring, water pollution, land pollution and have also resulted in denying farmers and fishermen their means of livelihood.

In spite of the effects of the oil spill, there has been no effective clean-up of the region. It is clear that there is a double standard in the way oil companies and the federal government have addressed the oil spills in Nigeria.

The way the gulf incident was handled is far different from how Nigeria’s spills have been handled.

The British petroleum that was responsible for the oil rig explosion took full responsibility and there was no further exploration till the damage was rectified.

A contrast of this scenario obtains in Nigeria that has had more than 7,000 oil spills which have not been properly cleaned up.

The many spills in Nigeria are even more than those in the US which called for global response.

Odegbaro Elizabeth Ifeoluwa Is A Final Year Student Of International Relations, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State.

However, child abuse is a complex phenomenon with multiple effects. Child abuse can result in immediate adverse physical effects but it is also strongly associated with developmental issues and many chronic physical and psychological effects, including higher rates of chronic conditions, high risk health behaviours and shortened lifespan.

Nevertheless, it is high

time we proffered solutions to this evil menace.

Preventing child abuse is everyone’s responsibility.

Abolitionist Fredick Douglass said, “it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

Now, how does a community prevent child abuse? It has the courage to stand up and fight this dilemma.

A support group structure is, therefore, needed to re-inforce parenting

skills and closely monitor the child’s wellbeing.

Visiting home nurse or social worker visits are also required to observe and evaluate the progress of the child and his or her caretaking situation.

Moreover, children’s school programmes can provide children with a forum in which to role-play and learn to avoid potentially harmful scenarios.

Punishment should also be

metted out to people that are found guilty of child abuse so as to serve as a deterrent to others.

Government, therefore, should also intervene by minimising poverty, educating the people on its implications and formulating laws that will guard against any form of child abuse in the nearest future.

•Yetunde Soares, Lagos.

Now that subsidy has been removed THE price of crude oil has gone down drastically in the international market, and this is affecting Nigeria’s economy.

The recent increase in the exchange rate of the United States dollar against our currency is another issue and at the moment, the Naira is trading at about N270 to $1.

With all these, Nigeria’s economic outlook is so

bleak. President Muhammadu Buhari now needs to work harder than any of the country’s past presidents or Heads of State if we are to overcome this economic crisis. However, he has taken the bull by the horns by removing the fuel subsidy. This will generally allow the Federal Government to save some money to be used in developing other sectors of the economy. As an economist, the

solution to our problems is diversifying from crude oil to other areas of the economy.

In my own opinion, the first solution has been taken with the scrapping of the fuel subsidy regime. Before now, the country had dipped into its foreign reserves to take money to pay fuel importers as subsidy.

This fuel subsidy had really stagnated our growth.

I am happy that the labour

unions and majority of Nigerians now know why the subsidy regime had to go. Now, fuel importers will have no choice than to start planning how to build their own refineries if they want to remain in business.

With the end of the subsidy payments, the country will experience more growth now.

•Fidelis Agbor, Port Harcourt.

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editorial

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

LASG: Sealing off houses without toilets

T

HE Lagos State Government may have started to seal off houses without standard toilets, going by the information released by Mr Oluwatoyin Awosika, the Director of Public Enlightenment in the state’s Ministry of Information and Strategy. Mr Awosika told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the closure of such houses was to check “unwholesome practices” such as open defecation.

Interestingly, the state government, according to him is also embarking on public enlightenment to educate residents on the dangers of open defecation. However, it is not clear which process precedes the other. Is the state government sealing off the houses before educating the residents? Or are both processes going on contemporaneously?

To be sure, Lagos State like any other state in the country needs to stop the reproachful human behaviour that open defecation represents. Apart from the health hazards which it creates, with the potential of bringing serious epidemics, open defecation endorses other anti-social human behaviours like different hues and shades of sexual abuses.

It is even incredible but true, that Lagos with its pretentious claims to urbaneness and sophistication can still be dogged by the problem of open defecation.

Yet, open defecation is a universal human scourge that directly varies with many nations’ wealth and their population of the poor. Having been regrettably ignored over the years by successive local authorities, it has grown to become a monstrous challenge to many cities and rural human settlements globally.

Also, many residential houses in urban settings regularly present the challenges of inadequate toilets for tenants such that many of them ritually queue to obey nature’s calls. For the most parts, these facilities are strained to the limits of abuse such that they still constitute health hazards anyhow and an upgrade of these facilities is practically impossible, especially where the houses are crowded in a concrete jungle without the demolition of existing structures.

If newly developing areas seem to have solved these problems in the modern designs that are presented for approval from town planning authorities, what is to be done for the vast majority that still live in old and servicedeficient core areas of the cities? Previously, we observed that these areas actually have to be demolished to give way for urban renewal and the residents compensated and resettled elsewhere.

This could be politically daunting for many administrations that still need some kind of endorsement from many people who may not be comfortable with such a drastic move, but it is not impossible. We commend the Lagos State government for its bold move to stop open defecation in its tracks and we think that other states should borrow a leaf from its book, but we find its approach hasty and confusing.

If the state government seals off houses that do not have standard toilets, where does it expect the residents of such houses to live, let alone ease themselves? Is that move not literally turning them to the streets or under the bridges? That, to us, is counterproductive because open defecation will only become more intense and the people will definitely be resentful of the government’s policy. It may also be discovered that the houses that have violated the minimum requirements have obtained the approval of the town planning, in which case the government might have been implicated in the violation of its own rules. Sometimes greedy landlords use up all the spaces available in their houses, such that the spaces meant for toilets are converted to room spaces without consideration for the conveniences of tenants when nature calls.

In any event, usually, developmental social changes such as the repudiation of open defecation are always better organised through citizens’ participation and understanding. There should be a pilot experiment in which a group of houses are encouraged to be compliant so that the benefits of having standard conveniences can be showcased to the other reluctant residents.

We recall the case of India where the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, his native people being the worst hit, had to come out to lead the campaign against open defecation.

The leadership of the campaign entailed the hard chores of clearing solid human waste from abused ambiences in the literal sense of example being better than precept.

That may be impracticable in a place like Lagos, but public health workers can also lead the campaign that should precede the sanction. Eventually, sanction may be applied after compliance to the rule has been ensured and it will have to be on the individual caught violating the law, not by sealing off houses. Lagos is already bursting at the seams, so sealing off houses without standard toilets cannot be an option for such a crowded city, except chaos and anarchy are being endorsed.

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20

opinion

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Lasisi Olagunju

T

Lasgunju@yahoo.com (08111813053)

he historical Sango was the third Alaafin of Oyo and the second son of Oranmiyan. An intrepid crossbreed from a Nupe mother, his other name is Jakuta (one who fights his enemies with stones). In life and in death, Jakuta proved a worthy bearer of that granite name.

If you know how tempestuous lightning and thunder are, you would know who Sango was. He was thunder: fire in his eyes, flame in his mouth. Before him was his brother, Alaafin Ajaka, who was peaceable, peace-loving, lovable. But that wasn’t a period for uninteresting, tepid characters as Ajaka. Oyo wanted actions of fire and of war; Ajaka had neither in his spine. He lost the throne. Sango came and gave war in excess measure and a people hungry for actions of battle had their fill. The fiery King had his too. All got spoilt with the baleful morsels of war, war and more war...

Nigerians last year spoke with their votes. The country was tired of the corrupt PDP and its uninteresting Jonathan. Even PDP and Jonathan too appeared tired of ruling, at least they behaved so in the closing years of their reign.

When a king is tired of the throne, he has options: He either abdicates the throne, opens the calabash or he simply, through a combination of his actions and inactions, invites a rival to take over. The PDP did all. It took the people for granted. It took itself for granted. It took power for granted.

It became so rotten that the assault of its odious smell was no longer just for the outsider to perceive, it smelt its own decadence. And Nigeria simply stepped in and assisted that sick, inebriated party with euthanasia.

No nation wants tentative leaders. Meekness and feebleness may be acceptable in private living rooms but they are not kingly attributes. For leaders, certain private assets are public liabilities. Feebleness and goodness can be private virtues, but on the battlefield of public life, they are fatal vices. Beyond Sango and Ajaka, history has examples of varieties in royalties in other cultures. England had Edward 1 described as, perhaps, the greatest English king of the Middle Ages. But his father, King Henry 111 was recorded in history as “weak and indecisive...not a bad man–just a bad king.”

Imagine. A king is either a king or he leaves the public space.

And to be king is to know what is just, fit and right when and how it is right. Edward 1 was the warrior king that subdued all stiff-necked vassals. But after this worthy king, the same England had as king his son, Edward 11, for whom an adversary General had the (in)famous scornful statement: “I

The King and the spirit of Sango

am more afraid of the bones of the dead father than of the living son; and, by all the saints, it was more difficult to get a half a foot of the land from the old king than a whole kingdom from the son!” When a living king is compared with the dead bones of his ancestors, then there is an infernal problem. The feeble king can only have a parallel in Achebe’s Okonkwo and his son, Nwoye — “living fire begets cold, impotent ash...” I’m sorry, that was the PDP in its dying days.

But is being king all about fighting wars and blurring the line between massacre and cutting down the pitched enemy?

Success in life is a balanced diet of everything good and bad.

You’ve heard of doctors without borders who spread goodness and care where afflictions wreak havoc. Do you know there are rulers too who fight without borders? Some kings did that in history and they lost it. Sango’s football, golf and squash were war and more war. He lived it but didn’t know when the people wanted something else. He had to leave. When the self-loathing PDP willfully gave out power back to the people, the people rejoiced. But is euthanasia really a full stop, a coma or a semicolon in the narrative of the departed witch? You do not call

out the dance party because the village witch is dead. Has the village forgotten that the dead left offspring? Successors of the dead inherited the potency of excess death. Look at the APC, it came in last year at the centre, bearing, like Sango, the sceptre of justice and good governance. In Abuja, it is fulfilling one of its cardinal promises of fighting corruption.

It made several other promises. There are roads to build, power to give, rail lines to construct, the Federal Executive Council is not meeting and the rains will soon be here to halt all construction ideas. In four months’ time, the APC regime will be one year old in Aso Rock and that will be 25 per cent of its tenure gone. It is also in charge in more than half of Nigeria’s 36 states. In all the places where the APC is ruling, is there any suggestion that the stench that killed the PDP is not oozing out of the unwashed sores of this new ruling party? Apart from having devastation strewn everywhere in the name of construction, can you ask unpaid public service workers, ‘how market?’ Ask big and petty traders rudely rendered idle and debt-ridden through wicked policies. Ponder as the person next door asks himself how and where the next meal would come from — in a land that has a king! Ah! PDP did not die in just one day. It chose death in installments. It started losing it the moment power got into its glass of wine. It went down slowly as it stopped seeing the people as the source of the power in its name. The people relate with power the way they relate with madmen. No one lets a madman hear one’s footsteps when one wants to depart from his back. In the case of the former ruling party, the sounds were loud enough but it was far gone in excess of everything to hear anything.

And has the APC and its symbols learnt any lesson from their victim? Should I answer that question? Lessons learnt?

None. At least none yet. History is meant to be repeated before lessons are learnt. Before fiery Sango, there was cold Ajaka. With Sango, the people who initially felt they got back their pride, soon saw there was fire home and abroad as friends and enemies got burnt in kingly rages that knew no borders. Moderation was lacking in official reactions to everything and a nostalgic people shifted once again to their past. That is why after Sango, Oyo had again Ajaka as their king. Everyone had learnt lessons: Sango learnt his own and moved out forever to Koso. Oyo learnt its own and looked for moderation in royalty. Ajaka learnt his own and came back to the throne, a king in name and carriage. The throne of success is a mosaic of moderation.

That ban on forex hawkers

By Fred Nwaozor

Foreign exchange, otherwise known as forex, can be described as the system for dealing in the currencies of other countries, or the conversion of one country’s currency into that of another.

Recently, it was widely reported that the Central Bank of Nigeria had ordered the immediate closure of Bureaux de Change branches nationwide, stating that branch operations were no longer allowed in the subsector. It was learnt that a 90-day ultimatum was issued to the affected institutions. This directive was contained in the revised guidelines for the BDCs as released by the apex bank.

In addition, the CBN categorically disclosed that henceforth hawking of foreign exchange on the streets and other open places, which is currently invariably not unusual in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, which had “endured for over three decades”, would no longer be accommodated or tolerated. It stated that from January 1, 2016, street trading in the dollar, among other currencies, would be non-permissible, disclosing that violation of such a directive would attract a severe penalty.

The CBN further directed that it shall be a ground for the revocation of licences if any street trader in foreign currencies is found to have any business relationship with a licensed BDC. Similarly, the guidelines entitled “Revised operational guidelines for Bureaux De Change in Nigeria”, prescribed that for a BDC to be considered valid in 2016, it must meet the financial requirement of depositing a minimum of N71.45m with the CBN. It is noteworthy that since inception, the CBN has taken full responsibility over nurturing the money and capital markets. In consequence to this, it introduced Treasury bills in 1960, treasury certificates in 1968, and facilitated the establishment of the Lagos Stock Exchange in 1961.

It went further to institute the Capital Issue Committee now known and addressed as the Securities and Exchange Commission in the early 1970s.

The CBN undertakes monetary policies in order to

maintain Nigeria’s external reserves to safeguard the international value of the legal currency, to promote and maintain the monetary stability and a sound cum efficient financial system in Nigeria, to act as banker and financial adviser to the Federal Government and finally, to act as lender of last resort to commercial banks.

Since the establishment of the apex bank in1958, it is worth noting that ab initio, the governors of the bank implemented their respective policies as regards the monetary system of Nigeria’s financial industry. The ninth CBN governor, Prof Charles Soludo, introduced one of the most controversial policies in the history of the bank – the banking consolidation, and it worked efficiently.

Subsequently, Mallam Lamido Sanusi (now the Emir of Kano) came up with his “cashless policy.”

The current CBN boss, Mr Godwin Emefiele, assumed duty as the 11th governor of the apex bank amidst tough challenges. When he assumed duty, on Tuesday June 3, 2014 precisely, he wasn’t meant to be informed that all eyes were on him regarding reshaping and restoring the unstable and “drowsy” Nigerian economy, which is undoubtedly spearheaded by the CBN. Frankly, Emefiele’s appointment came at a moment Nigeria’s financial industry was undergoing severe tension following the uncertainties that trailed the nation’s currency, the naira. Presently, analysts and financial experts are of the view that enormous, drastic and fearless efforts are required towards driving the country’s economy to

greater heights.

When Emefiele came on board, he disclosed his preparedness to uplift Nigeria’s economy. Thus he stated most of the policies he intended to pursue vigorously, which included the determination of the apex bank to reduce high interest rates found in commercial banks as well as ensuring exchange rate stability with a view to reawakening and raising the value of the naira.

Going by the tempo he is presently employing towards actualising the former – reduction of high interest rates - it’s apparent that soonest the nation’s banking sector would not just be juicy but would be one to be reckoned with worldwide.

For instance, six years after consistent increase in lending rates, the Monetary Policy Committee of the CBN on Tuesday November 24, 2015 resolved to reduce the benchmark interest rate otherwise known as the Monetary Policy Rate from 13 per cent to 11 per cent. It also reduced the Cash Reserve Ratio from 25 per cent to 20 per cent. This was in addition to its determination to ensure that by 2016 as directed, there would be zero naira Commission on Turnover currently experienced by current account holders in Nigeria.

In the same vein, the CBN’s recent ban on the BDC branches as well as forex hawkers is unarguably an indication that Emefiele is prepared to actualise the latter – exchange rate stability. Everyone comprehends the fact that proliferation of illicit foreign exchange markets/units across the federation remains one of the major banes, if not the most, to Nigeria’s exchange rate which of course contributes tremendously in crippling the country’s economy. Suffice to say that it is high time this was eradicated.

Indeed, it’s only a dogged and sincere approach that would holistically make Nigeria’s exchange rate stable on a regular basis. Initiating a policy is different from its implementation; hence, the CBN governor is expected to take the bull by the horns towards ensuring that this worthwhile policy that would surely stand the test of time if duly implemented is well handled without much ado.

•Nwaozor wrote in via frednwaozor@gmail.com.

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Monday, 11 January, 2016

tribune

business

Group Business Editor Sulaimon Olanrewaju

m:08055001708 e:lanresulaimon@yahoo.com t:@lanresulaimon

M

onday 4th January, 2016, the first working day of the year heralded the arrival of Ms Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund ( IMF) to the Nigerian shore.

On a hot afternoon, her private jet with registration number ZS PNP landed at the ever busy Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja to the warm embrace of the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, along with the top officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the apex bank.

That would not be the first time the IMF boss would be coming to Nigeria since her ascent to the IMF board. In 2011, Ms Lagarde came to Nigeria first before going to any other African nation during her maiden visit to Africa, however, at that time Nigeria was just coming out of commodity price collapse and the banking sector crisis. Today, the situation has changed, Nigeria has not only emerged as the largest economy in the whole of Africa but it is at the same time managing the crises arising from the dip in the price of crude oil at the global level and the decision of the United States of America to lift its 40-year ban on exporting crude oil.

During her four-day visit to Nigeria, the IMF boss held consultations with President Mohammadu Buhari, the CBN and banking community, the National Assembly members and a host of others critical for the development of Nigerian economy. Her speeches at the various meetings were all geared towards making the Nigerian economy stronger in spite of the challenges.

Speaking at the National Assembly, Lagarde identified key developments that had taken place in Nigeria since her last visit. She said, “today, I would like to offer my perspective on your story and punctuate it with three R’s: Resolve, Resilience and Restraint.”

Global economic transitions and implications for Nigeria and the region According to Lagarde, for more than a decade, growth in Sub-Saharan Africa was driven by an extraordinary combination of improved policies, stronger institutions, high commodity prices and high capital inflows, disclosing that the region has now entered a different phase, where commodity prices and capital flows are far less supportive.

“We are in the process of updating our forecasts, but broadly the IMF staff estimates that regional economic growth dropped from 5 per cent in 2014 to about 3.8 per cent last year, with only a modest recovery expected in 2016.

“There is a similar picture at the global level—modest growth last

Nigerian Tribune

Nigeria could be exporting tomato paste — a staple of Nigerian cuisine — on a large scale, but it imports about half of what it needs. This is why Nigeria needs to build more roads and better rail networks, so that more farmers can bring their crops to market.

Christine Lagarde’s Visit:

What next for the Nigerian economy? year, with only a slight acceleration expected in 2016. Emerging markets, which propelled global growth after the 2008 global financial crisis, have slowed; advanced economies are still recovering from the impact of that crisis; and financial markets remain volatile,” she stressed.

At the regional and global level, she said, growth is affected by three major economic transitions which include China’s move to a new growth model, the prospect of commodity prices remaining lower for longer and the increasing divergence in monetary policy in major economies, especially since the recent rise in U.S. interest rates.

Over the medium term, the IMF boss said oil prices are likely to remain much lower than the 201013 average of more than $100 a barrel because of the huge oversupply in global oil markets.

“Think of the shale oil boom in

the United States and some historically large producers such as Iraq and Iran coming back to the market. Other factors include OPEC’s strategic behavior and the drop in global demand for oil, especially in emerging economies,” she stressed.

Dwindling oil prices and Nigerian economy According to her, lower oil prices have sharply reduced Nigeria’s export earnings and government revenues. Both are likely to remain at depressed levels, reducing the space for policy interventions to address Nigeria’s social and infrastructure needs.

She said private sector investment will also be affected as investor confidence about the outlook remained weak while financing is likely to become more difficult and more costly for everyone More broadly, she disclosed that “Sub-Saharan Africa is also facing

spillovers from geopolitical factors, including the fight against Boko Haram. The threat of terrorism is very real and never far from our minds. Having been in Paris during the November attacks, I know firsthand, the sorrow that so many Nigerians carry in their hearts.

“In this region, terrorism not only takes a human toll but it also makes public finances more fragile. How? By widening budget deficits. Revenues are lower, including from lower growth and spending needs higher, including for security and for supporting those impacted by the violence. One immediate downside is higher financing needs that can crowd out other essential public spending.”

How policy makers can manage the near-term vulnerabilities: Identifying the progress made in recent years, she said Nigerians have created a large and diversified economy that has grown by

about 7 per cent a year over the last decade. However, she said the outlook remained gloomy as only a modest growth is expected in 2016 over the very low 3.2 per cent recorded in 2015 “For a country with a rapidly increasing population, this means almost no real economic growth in per capita terms.” she stated.

On top of the slowdown, Ms Lagarde said vulnerabilities had increased while the ability to manage shocks is restricted by low fiscal savings and reserves, pointing out further that the weakening oil sector could stress balance sheets and put pressure on the banking system.

“Reduced confidence and lower capital spending also impact the non-oil corporate sector. Unfortunately, this sector looks less resilient today than during the downturn of 2008-09. Companies that have increased their leverage and US-dollar debt in recent years may now come under pressure as they face rising interest rates and a stronger dollar,” she observed.

What can policymakers do?

Ms Lagarde, who demanded a fundamental change in the way government operates as immediate priority, stated that the new reality of low oil prices and low oil revenues meant that the fiscal challenge facing government is no longer about how to divide the proceeds of Nigeria’s oil wealth, but what needs to be done so that Nigeria can deliver to its people the public services they deserve— be it in education, health or infrastructure.

“This means that hard decisions will need to be taken on revenue, expenditure, debt and investment going forward. My policy refrain is this: “Act with resolve—by stepping up revenue mobilization. The first step is to broaden the tax base and reduce leakages by improving compliance and enhancing collection efficiency. At the same time, public finances can be bolstered Continues pg22

tribunebusiness Will Nigeria heed IMF’s counsel?

22

Monday, 11 January, 2016

tion.

The first step, she said is in broadening the tax base and reducing leakages by improving compliance and enhancing collection efficiency, stressing that public finances can be bolstered further to meet the huge expenditure needs.

Continues from pg21

further to meet the huge expenditure needs.

For example, the current VAT rate is among the lowest in the world and well below the rates in other ECOWAS members—so some increase should be considered.

“Build resilience—by making careful decisions on borrowing. Nigeria’s debt is relatively low at about 12 per cent of GDP. But it weighs heavily on the public purse. Already, about 35 kobo of every naira collected by the federal government is used to service outstanding public debt.

“Exercise restraint—by focusing on the quality and efficiency of every naira spent.

This is critically important. As more people pay taxes there will, rightly, be increasing pressure to demonstrate that those tax payments are producing improvements in public service delivery.”

Expatiating further, she said on capital expenditure, the focus must be on high-impact and high value-added projects like power, integrated transport (roads, rail, air, and ports) and housing.

On recurrent expenditure, she said efforts should be made to streamline the cost of government and improve efficiency of public service delivery across the federal and sub-national governments.

She said, “Transfers and tax expenditures should also be addressed. For example, continuing the move already begun by the government in the 2016 budget to eliminate resources allocated to fuel subsidies would allow more targeted spending, including on innovative social programs for the most needy.”

Fuel subsidy must go Ms Lagarde said fuel subsidies are hard to defend as it not only harm the planet, but rarely help the poor.

According to her, IMF research shows that more than 40 per cent of fuel price subsidies in developing countries accrue to the richest 20 per cent of households, while only 7 per cent of the benefits go to the poorest 20 per cent.

Moreover she said, “the experience in Nigeria of administering fuel subsidies suggested that it is time for a change—think of the regular accusations of corruption and think of the many Nigerians who spend hours in queues trying to get gas so that they can go about their everyday business.”

Challenges facing Nigeria’s state and local government According to Lagarde, these sub-national governments which account for the bulk of social spending have only limited tools to manage the impact of declining oil revenues To mitigate the challenges, she recommended better management of the smaller purse, while building capacity to increase internally generated revenue.

The IMF, she disclosed can help in that regard by providing technical assistance on public financial management. Citing the Kaduna State Government as example, she said “We can explore how to support states’ efforts to undertake budget reform.”

Strengthening Nigeria’s external position: Ms Lagarde saw the strengthening of Nigeria’s external position as another immediate policy priority given the structure of the economy. According to her, the massive fall in oil prices which is expected to continue has changed the medium term foundations for economic resilience.

To be clear, she said the goal of achieving external competitiveness requires a package of policies including business-friendly monetary policy, flexible exchange rate and disciplined fiscal policies, as well as implementing structural reforms.

“Additional exchange rate flexibility, both up or down can help soften the impact of

Nigerian Tribune

Kemi Adeosun, Finance Minister external shocks, make output and employment less volatile, and help build external reserves. It can also help avoid the need for costly foreign exchange restrictions which should, in any case, remain temporary. And going forward, improved competitiveness from improved exchange rate flexibility and other reforms will facilitate the needed diversification of the exports base and, ultimately, growth,” she said.

How policy makers can achieve more inclusive and sustainable growth Lagarde noted that Nigeria is already, in many ways, a 21st-century economy due to the boom in mobile communications “in a country where more than 140 million cell phones are in use, the vibrant, home-grown film industry that has become the world’s second-largest by output and the growing number of innovative startups—from fashion to software development—that are promoting Brand Nigeria.”

However, she said huge structural challenges remained despite the many initiatives that are ongoing as poverty and inequality still remain high, especially in some parts of the country.

“Women account for about 42 per cent of the total labor force which is comparatively low and their literacy rates are well below that of men. Maternal mortality is relatively high because of limited access to health care.

Many women and children are dying every day simply because they cannot get to medi-

At the global level, it is estimated that the cost of corruption is equivalent to more than 5 per cent of world GDP, with over US$ 1 trillion paid in bribes each year.

cal facilities fast enough,” she observed.

What are the key policy priorities for Nigeria?

She said the government must invest in quality infrastructure, make the banks work, and improve governance.

According to her, the investment in quality infrastructure will significantly improve transportation networks and power delivery (i.e., generation, transmission, and distribution).

“For example, Nigeria could be exporting tomato paste—a staple of Nigerian cuisine— on a large scale, but it imports about half of what it needs. This is why Nigeria needs to build more roads and better rail networks, so that more farmers can bring their crops to market.” she stressed.

Likewise, she said more investment is needed in energy infrastructure in a country where too many businesses and households regard their backup generators as their main power source.

The second priority, which is making the banks work will, according to her, build resilience by fostering a sound banking system and help channel more savings into productive investments, especially in quality infrastructure.

To be sure, she said Nigeria’s banks are generally well-capitalized and more resilient than during the downturn of 2008-09.

However, she stressed further that they are beginning to feel the impact of the growing vulnerabilities in the corporate sector with the result being rising non-performing loans, which will need to be carefully monitored and managed.

Ms Lagarde said the call for improved governance would boost the fight against corruption which not only corrodes public trust but also destroys confidence and diminishes the potential for strong economic growth.

“At the global level, it is estimated that the cost of corruption is equivalent to more than 5 per cent of world GDP, with over US$ 1 trillion paid in bribes each year,” she stated.

Highlighting ways policymakers in Nigeria can manage the near-term vulnerabilities, Lagarde said the government must act with resolve by stepping up revenue mobiliza-

The doubting Thomases Encouraging as the development recipe of Ms Lagarde for the Nigerian economy seems to be, many Nigerians still doubted the sincerity of the Bretton Wood institution in Nigeria.

One of these prominent Nigerians is the Group Managing Director, Energy Group, Jimoh Ibrahim, who wasted no time in calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of the IMF chief’s visit to Nigeria.

Jimoh, who described the IMF visit as an economic bait that would not pay off for the country urged the Nigerian President to learn from the mistakes of Nigeria’s former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babagida, when he literally handed over the economy to IMF by taking specific loans which eventually turned out not to be in the interest of the Nigerian economy.

A don and Head of Department of Economics, University of Benin, Prof. Anthony Monye-Elmina, is in the same league with Dr. Ibrahim. According to him, IMF’s visit to any country had an undisclosed factor, which could be detrimental as he urged the government and Nigerians not to be carried away by the IMF’s explanations that it was not in the country to negotiate aids.

Also, Dr Celestine Agoziem of the Department of History and International Studies, Lagos State University, Ojo, who observed that in diplomacy a lot of decisions are taken underground, disclosed that Bretton Woods institutions were in the habit of entering into agreements that were self-centered, to the detriment of the other party.

Agoziem, who said the IMF has no policy that will make its counterpart self-reliant, stated that “They always come with the notion that their host doesn’t need loan, but in the long run they will need it. It is either loan or devaluations.”

Does Nigeria need IMF? Christine Lagarde, at the meeting with President Buhari, disclosed that “A team of economists from the IMF would be engaging the financial authority in Nigeria to review the economic policies.”

The big question is does Nigeria need IMF to move forward? Analysts are of the opinion that Nigeria indeed does not require the services of the Fund.

IMF not in Nigeria to negotiate loans Christine Lagarde, while expressing confidence in the way the Buhari administration is running the Nigerian economy pointed out that the Fund is not in Nigeria to negotiate any loan with the government She said: “First, let me make it clear that I’m not here, nor is my team, in this country to negotiate a loan with conditionalities. We are not into programme negotiations.”

Noting that what Nigeria needs most is fiscal discipline, implementation and good leadership to serve the country well for sustainability, Ms Lagarde said her team had excellent discussions with President Buhari on the challenges emanating from oil price reduction, the necessity to apply fiscal discipline and responding to the population’s needs.

Although President Buhari had pointedly told the IMF team that Nigeria would look inwards to overcome her economic challenges, the question is can we believe Lagarde in her insistence that she was not in Nigeria to negotiate loan if we take a second look at the assertion of Dr Celestine Agoziem who observed that in diplomacy, a lot of decisions were taken underground.

23

Nigerian Tribune

Monday, 11 January, 2016

+ entrepreneurship

anchor Ruth Olurounbi

m:0811 695 4637 e:ruth.olurounbi@tribuneonlineng.com t:@Olurounbi

Tacking unemployment through entrepreneurship

Is Nigeria getting it right?

By Ruth Olurounbi

L

ast week, Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, signed into law the N25 billion Employment Trust Fund (ETF) bill, which had been forwarded to

the State House of Assembly for approval, since November 2015 to tackle high rate of unemployment in the state.

According to the wording of the ETF law, this officially means that unemployed people in the state, who are looking to

start a business, could now do so by accessing the fund, which media reports say may charge one per cent interest rate to take care of administrative expenses.

The governor aims to, through the Ministry of Wealth Creation

quote You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them

looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. — Steve Jobs

+

and Employment, created in June 2015, not only take care of the menacing headaches of unemployment in his state, but also to help his people create wealth through entrepreneurship.

Continues on pg32

Why online video is the future of content marketing —P24

24

+ entrepreneurship

Women entrepreneurship, others for GEC2016

By Ruth Olurounbi As the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) 2016 draws closer, the organisers have said that women entrepreneurship, agriculture, early stage investment, among others will dominate conversation at the event scheduled to hold between March 14 and 17 in Medellin.

The organisers said the session on what’s next for women entrepreneurship will explore mentor-

ing and acceleration programmes to foster entrepreneurship among women as well as efforts to increase participation in science, technology, math and engineering fields fueling high-impact entrepreneurship, as communities and countries increasingly encourage entrepreneurs who create jobs, women remain a largely untapped source for large-scale economic growth.

As for early-stage investors, who are planning to make the event,

the session on what’s next for early investing will explore issues such as trends in angel investing, the rapid rise of crowdfunding, cross-border impact investing, policies to promote early stage investment and more, the organisers said, as the session on agric technology will offer growing opportunities for entrepreneurs around the world, as it explores emerging opportunities in AgTech and promising new startups that are making a positive impact around the world.

Why online video is the future of content marketing

V

ideo is taking content marketing by storm, but you’ll have to do more than just make one to realise its full potential.

If it were five years in the future, would you be reading this article or would you be watching it? As online video continues its inimitable rise, it’s an interesting question to ponder.

By 2017, video will account for 69% of all consumer internet traffic, according to Cisco.

Video-on-demand traffic alone will have almost trebled. Leafing through a swathe of statistics on the subject, I’m hard pressed to find any indicator that doesn’t suggest rapid growth.

With online video quickly becoming a key means for people to satisfy their information and entertainment needs, small businesses that fail to include it in their internet marketing strategies will do so at their peril.

Video is the future of content marketing. That is, if it’s not the here and now. Various studies show more than half of companies are already making use of the medium – a figure that’s predicted to rise as more and more realise the possibilities. Nielsen claims 64% of marketers expect video to dominate their strategies in the near future. It’s not difficult to see why.

When it comes to potential

25

Monday, 11 January, 2016

reach, video is peerless. YouTube receives more than one billion unique visitors every month – that’s more than any other channel, apart from Facebook.

One in three Britons view at least one online video a week – that’s a weekly audience of more than 20 million people in the UK alone.

Video can give you access to all this. Video done well can give you a slice of it. What other form of content can do the same?

The success stories of videos that have gone viral are legend. A recent campaign from Volkswagen, for example, saw a trio of its videos viewed a combined 155 million times. If such numbers seem out of reach for companies without 12-figure revenue streams, they at least demonstrate video’s inherent shareability. Engage viewers and they will share the video with others. They will spend longer on your website and more time interacting with your brand. For any social media campaign, any SEO exercise, video is without doubt one of the best tools in the kit.

It is naturally engaging and, in an age of information overload, it’s vital for small businesses to offer content that is easy to digest; if not, consumers will simply move on. Video does this very well. If a picture paints 1,000 words then one minute of video is worth 1.8 million, so say Forrester’s researchers. Little wonder then that

Axonn Research found seven in 10 people view brands in a more positive light after watching interesting video content from them.

But is video really possible for small businesses? Absolutely. Production costs have fallen significantly in recent years and you no longer need to be a technical whiz to work out how to use it. Apps such as Twitter’s Vine, with its six-second maximum clip length, have dramatically increased the opportunity for businesses on a limited budget to get stuck in.

Nevertheless, if you’re to realise a decent return on your investment, you will need to bear the following in mind.

Always consider the audience you are trying to reach and ensure the video is relevant to them.

If it’s not the most appropriate means of getting your message across, you are probably wasting your time.

Do not neglect social media and be sure to promote across multiple channels. If you want to fully realise video’s potential, you must make it easy for users to find and share it. Don’t neglect mobile either. Ooyala has claimed a tenth of all video plays happen on mobiles and tablets, and it’s an increasingly important segment, with mobile phones holding 41% more share of video consumption at the end of June 2013 than at the start of that year.

Funding, yes! But is it enough?

Continues from pg23

It will be recalled that the last administration, through programmes like YOUWIN and partnerships with banks, created a new funding mechanism for the country’s SMEs. The partnership with commercial banks across the country, for instance, the then Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, said was to “fashion out a new funding mechanism that will give SMEs increased access to cheap funds.”

At a meeting held in Abuja, attended by the Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), and representatives of commercial banks, Aganga said the initiative was aimed at “removing barriers militating against banks’ lending to MSMEs as part of renewed efforts to increase their capacity to create jobs, generate wealth and transform the country’s economy.”

Aganga said the Ministry of Trade and Investment’s vision was to increase the contribution of SMEs to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 10 per cent to 30 per cent and increase export earnings through SMEs from three per cent to 25 per cent. To achieve this, he said, it was important to “remove the barriers inhibiting them from lending to SMEs at a reduced interest rate.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in August 2014, began the disbursement of N220 billion to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which it said “are critical to the development of any economy as they possess great potential for employment generation, improvement of local technology, output diversification, development of indigenous entrepreneurship and forward integration with large-scale industries.”

Last year, 2015, a N2 billion Graduate Entrepreneurship Fund (GEF), a joint effort by the Bank of Industry (BoI) and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was also launched to tackle the high rate of graduate unemployment in Nigeria.

The recurring theme behind launching the funding initiative by the government was to help Nigeria, which Rasheed Olaoluwa, Managing Director, BoI, said has failed to match the growth of the working population with job creation.

The viable solution, the government, as well as stakeholders in the economy, saw was to encourage entrepreneurship among the young people, while at the same time, help the existing small businesses grow.

The CBN, in fact, considered funding the SMEs critical to the development of the Nigerian economy so much so that it not only mandated

commercial banks to lower their risk rating for the SMEs in December 2015, it also threatened to pull their Cash Reserves Ratio (CRR) refunds.

“We need the support of the commercial banks to lower the risk acceptance level for SMEs. If they refuse, we will take the money they should have got through the CRR and lend them out to the SMEs. We cannot continue to give you so that you can go and buy treasury bills,” Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor said.

The SMEs, in CBN’s views, possess great potential for employment generation, improvement of local technology, output diversification, development of indigenous entrepreneurship and forward integration with large-scale industries, thus, very critical to the country’s national and economic development.

Although the government’s provision of funding to the SMEs has been looked upon very favourably by many stakeholders, some, especially the SMEs are wondering if the government is not neglecting factors that are, along with funding, very crucial to the growth and development of the SMEs sector.

As the CBN, along with other researchers and organisations has said, there has been gross under performance of Nigeria’s SME subsector, but, as investors in the SMEs space have intimated, the sector the government is trying to redeem can only go so far if it remains challenged by the same unresolved issues.

Rasheed Olaoluwa, Managing Director, Bank of Industries

Government’s role in entrepreneurship development Although the SMEs have the potential for developing the country’s economy, 90 per cent of enterprises in the world make up the private sector and account for 50 to 60 per cent of employment, according to the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and with Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) putting the total number of SMEs in Nigeria to about 20 million; analysts are of the view that flooding the system with too much easy money will be counterproductive.

Analysts and players in the SMEs sector, therefore, streamlined the role of the government in entrepreneurship as that of a facilitator, enabler, supporter and developer.

Therefore, the government is encouraged to foster the growth of entrepreneurial ecosystems, among others; recommending that governments’ focus should be on “building the ecosystem on local conditions.”

are factors that determine entrepreneurship’s, and if you will, SMEs growth and they include infrastructure, technology and collective efficiency. Therefore, governments are encouraged to engage in the sector through policy development and advocacy, that is, remove barriers that hinder growth and development; training and capability development, (sector productivity and competitiveness); incubation, access to finance and market access.

Dr Olanrewaju Towry-Coker, giving a speech at the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC)’s alumni lecture on Infrastructure, key challenge for SMEs, observed that the provision of economic and social infrastructure can expand the productive capacity of the Nigerian economy by creating enabling environments for SMEs in the economy, thereby encouraging economic development.

According to him, studies have shown that “no matter how novel the policies or incentives to drive the industrial sector are, if the infrastructural problems are not fixed, the policy objective of accelerating the growth of the industrial sector may not be realised.

“The significance of infrastructure in the process of economic growth has long been established. Infrastructure has been seen as the basic requirement for business establishment and survival. The costs of acquiring infrastructures are significantly enormous for SMEs to bear and therefore, government intervention is inevitable.

However, the depth of impact, the degree of impact or relationship coefficient has not been established...”

Government’s role as a facilitator As most researches show, there

Government’s role as a supporter and developer Aside poor funding and lack of access to mod-

Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor ern technology, according to those who invest in the sector, unfriendly business environment and low managerial skills are the bane of entrepreneurship development in Nigeria, and until these issues are resolved, there is a limit to what funding can do to not only develop the sector, but to accelerate its growth at the same time.

Much critical to entrepreneurship development in Nigeria, as the issue of funding, is the need for capacity development, which some analysts view as the infrastructure needed for economic growth in the country. The argument is that, according to Olawale Famuyide, CEO, Ark Solutions, if 10 out of 20 million SMEs in Nigeria only need funding, what happens to the other 10 million who do not have access to infrastructure such as the aforementioned capacity development?

The Enterprise Development Centre (EDC),

No matter how novel the policies or incentives to drive the industrial sector are, if the infrastructural problems are not fixed, the policy objective of accelerating the growth of the industrial sector may not be realised.

a not for profit organisation, for instance, is involved in providing capacity building programs and a variety of wrap around services such as advisory services, mentoring, experts-in-residence, network meetings, access to market and information and implementation of organisational plans, among others. This is an area the government can look into in replicating this across the country.

The government’s role as an enabler Tony Elumelu, who propounded the Africapitalism philosophy, insists that one of government’s roles is to engage the private sector from the start, by creating friendly business environment for its private sector. By engaging the private sector, the government plays an indirect role as a facilitator, and not a manager.

Tomi Orioke, a banker turned entrepreneur, said that for government to take on its responsibility as an enabler, it must institute businessfriendly laws and a functional, streamlined court system that helps defend small business owners.

He advised the government to, among others, avoid regulations that entrench special business interests which could discourage innovation, while also calling on the government to “really work on protecting intellectual property” in the country.

Review funds disbursed There is a need to review the funding earmarked for the SMEs to determine the effectiveness of the programme. In reviewing the disbursed funding to SMEs, critical issues as to how many SMEs have accessed the funding (from commercial banks), do the numbers meet up with the expected target, if they are not, what are the issues impeding this and what are the

possible solution to the challenge have to be addressed.

For instance, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) once lamented that its members in the South-East and South-South were yet to access the N220bn SMEs fund. Charles Beke, Chairman of MAN in the Rivers/Bayelsa states said in a press briefing that: “Unfortunately, our investigation shows that many of the SMEs in the South-South and South-East regions of this country have not accessed this very important fund meant to help bring a bigger industrial base in our country.”

Trust In the course of writing this article, SMEs owners who spoke with Entrepreneurship+ expressed distrust for the government, with respect to its “interventions and initiatives” aimed at boosting growth and development. Some small business owners in Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states said they felt that the funding was structured for large businesses, rather than small business owners. Tajudeen Olawole, who operates a fruits business in Oyo State said all he needed was N100,000 to grow his business.

“When I tried to access the so-called funding, the interest rates on the loan were much more than what my business could handle,” he said.

Tope Ajao, co-founder, LeadPath Nigeria, speaking on the issue of trust for the government, advised that “since people don’t trust govt yet, they (the government) should just stop at regulation right now.”

He asked that the government develops a framework with all stakeholders in mind and it will work. “Designing a framework is a hard work. That’s what they should focus on. Regulation is hard work especially if you want to do it well.

That’s what they should be focused on. The institution will look at it end to end and engage all stakeholders - go to the remote areas, ask them questions. Test the hypothesis on a small scale beforehand fine tune it, and then implement. Someone needs to interview them. Ask these questions for them to clarify.

That will even make people trust them more and if there’s something that’s not covered; they can quickly go back to the drawing board.”

Have at least an entrepreneur as an adviser or consultant In formulating policies and programmes for SMEs development, it is advisable that the government involves entrepreneurs in decision making and framework designs.

According to Ajao, the government needs to recruit professionals and entrepreneurs who have firsthand/ hands on knowledge of the industry and their need, for the sake of effective and efficient policies that will drive growth.

Ajao added, “very often we design solutions based on our vague and huge assumptions they don’t work at the end of the day.”

26

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

corporatefocus Mobil, Total record slow-down in profit growth Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

T

wo of the major downstream players in Nigerian Oil and Gas sector, Mobil Oil Nigeria (MON) Plc, the downstream subsidiary of ExxonMobil in Nigeria, and Total Nigeria Plc, a downstream subsidiary of French oil giant, Total, recorded sharp slow-down in profit during the third quarter of 2015 (Q3 2015) as the global economic downturn takes its toll on the Nigerian economy.

The management of the two companies recorded 18 per cent and 12 per cent of gross margin respectively indicating a fair result considering the economic challenges and uncertainties in the downstream policy of the Nigerian government. The gross margin is the share of net sales that was recorded as gross profit which stood at N8,208,041,000 for Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc while Total Nigeria Plc recorded N19,193,289,000 as gross profit representing 12.05 per cent of its net sales.

MON recorded an operating margin of N3,345,542,000 representing 7.38 per cent of net sales, while Total recorded an operating profit of N3,117,725,000 representing 1.95 per cent of its net sales.

However, MON recorded a net profit margin of 8.05 per cent which stood at

The management of the two companies recorded 18 per cent and 12 per cent of gross margin respectively indicating a fair result considering the economic challenges and uncertainties in the downstream policy of the Nigerian government.

N3,649,589,000 while Total Nigeria Plc recorded N2,132,919,000 representing 1.34 per cent of its net sales.

However, the competition in the market may have forced the management of both companies to expend so much on advertisement, administrative matters, selling costs and finance charges which affected the net profit of the companies.

MON recorded an administrative and selling expenses of N6,228,347,000 with finance cost of N113,842,000. The finance cost is used to service the debt exposure of the company which stood at N35,227,899,000.

On its part, Total Nigeria recorded an administrative and selling expenses of N16,882,831,000 while its finance cost was N1,249,897,000.

What resulted into the above huge cost of finance its the companies’ high debtequity ratio.

The debt-equity ratio indicates the relative proportion of shareholders equity and debt used to finance the company’ assets.

While MON recorded a debt-equity ratio of 1.15 with its outstanding totaling N35billion as against its shareholders’ equity contribution of N30.5billion, Total Nigeria recorded 5.19 debt-equity ratio with its debt outstanding totaling N63.

9billion as against its shareholders’ equity contribution of N12.3billion.

By implications, it means a highly geared company like Total Nigeria will record a lower net profit because of finance costs.

Compare a net profit of 1.34 per cent of sales with a net profit of 8.05 per cent of sales as in the case of Total and MON respectively.

Despite the poor run of profits, both companies were relatively liquid with MON recording a current ratio of 0.92 while Total Nigeria Plc recorded current ratio of 0.83. With these ratios, both companies were able to meet their short term financial obligations to their creditors.

However, the Return on Asset (ROA) of MON stood at 7.3 per cent while that of Total Nigeria Plc stood at 2.8 per cent.

ROA is the ratio of annual net income to average total assets of a firm during a financial year.

The Return on Equity (ROE) of MON 11.9 per cent while that of Total Nigeria Plc stood at 17.3 per cent. ROE measures

Alex Vovk, MD, Total Nigeria

Tunji Oyebanji, CEO, Mobil Oil Nigeria Ltd

the ability of a firm to generate profit from its shareholders investments in the company.

In conclusion, despite the huge leverage ratio of Total Nigeria Plc, its poor net profit margin and operating margin, it was able to generate higher ROE of 17.3 per cent when compared with MON’s 11.9 per cent ROE. Both companies were able to manage their liquidity efficiently and must have earned the trust of their suppliers who

may be willing to supply raw materials to the companies based on their records.

Investors may choose either of the companies’ shares because they performed fairly in the Q3, 2015 under review.

Their share prices as of the last trading on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange were N148.5 per share of Total Nigeria Plc and N152 per share of Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc. The table shows a graphic representations of MON and Total Nigeria financials.

Mobil Oil Nigeria Return on Asset (ROA) 3,649,589,000/50,038,009,000=7.3%

Total Nigeria Plc 2,132,919,000/76,308,028,000=2.8%

Return on Equity (ROE) 3,649,589,000/30568,943,000=11.9%.

2,132,910,000/12,327,957,000=17.3%

Debt-Equity ratio 35,227,899,000/30,567,943,000=1.15

63,980,072,000/12,327,957,000=5.18

Current ratio 11,448,488,000/12,439,914,000=0.92

50,359,226,000/60,716,019,000=0.82

Net profit margin 3,649,589,000/45,326,443=8.05%

2,132,919,000/159,299,273,000=1.34%

Gross profit margin 8,208,041,000/45,326,443,000=18.1%

19,193,289,000/159,299,273,000=12.05%

Operating margin 3,345,542,000/45,326,443,000=7.38%

3,117,725,000/159,299,273,000=1.95%

27

Monday, 11 January, 2016

moneymarket

Review of forex policy likely, as Naira appreciates 0.4% Stories by Chima Nwokoji - Lagos

W

ith rising emphasis on further flexibility in management of the Naira, financial experts have predicted that the Apex Bank may review its current position on the pricing of the currency going forward.

This is even as the Naira appreciated by 0.4 per cent on Friday afternoon as it exchanged for N277 against the dollar from N278 it traded for previously.

“With the visit of the IMF Boss during the week, where emphasis was laid on further flexibility in the management of the currency. We believe the Apex Bank may review its current position on the pricing of the Naira going forward,”experts at Afrinvest has predicted.

The Nigerian Naira appreciated marginally against the US Dollar following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s sale of $15.5million to over 1,500 Bureaux de Change (BDC) operators during the week.

Akin Dawodu, MD, Citi Bank Nigeria However, the Naira closed at N197 to the dollar at the official interbank window.

However,traders at the parallel

market expressed concern that in spite of the resumption of forex auction to Bureaux de Change operators, the scarcity of the US Dollar was still exCBN Rates as at 1/7/2016 erting pressures on Currency Buying Central Selling (NGN) the Naira.

(NGN) The change in the US DOLLAR 196 196.5 197 strength of the Naira POUNDS STERLING 285.9861 286.7138 286.7138 against the US DolEURO 212.8364 213.3794 213.9223 lar comes after an SWISS FRANC 195.7651 196.2645 196.7639 0.8 per cent drop in YEN 1.6681 1.6723 1.6766 the value of the local CFA 0.3056 0.3156 0.3256 currency on MonWAUA 270.7026 271.3931 272.0837 day.

YUAN/RENMINBI 29.7953 29.8716 29.8716 Market traders RIYAL 52.1762 52.3093 52.4424 were hopeful that DANISH KRONA 28.5989 28.6716 28.6716 the Naira could reSDR 271.3228 272.015 272.7071 bound in 2016 if the central bank conFGN Bonds CBN Bills tinues to enforce its Date of Auction 5/15/2003 Date of Auction 12/9/2015 current policies on Security Type CBN Certificate Security Type FGN Bonds the foreign exchange Tenor 3 Year Tenor 91 market.

Maturing On 5 Year Maturing On 91 Meanwhile, Ni2/13/2020 2/13/2020 11/13/2003 180 geria’s foreign 2/14/2024 15 Amt Offered (N mn) 82227 reserves fell by Amt Offered (N mn) 30 37767 Subscriptions (N mn) $112million in 86.81 Subscriptions (N Tot. Successful (N just five days to mn) mn) $28.69billion.

30.00 Tot. Successful (N 17019 Net Sales (N mn) mn) Between January Range of Bid Rates Net Sales (N mn) 4-5, data from the 9.0000 - 15.5400 Successful Bid Rates Range of Bid Rates CBN showed that the Successful Bid Rates 9.0000 - 10.9520 0 Marginal Rate country lost $20milMarginal Rate 11 Amtoffered 50000 lion, dropping from $28.978million to NITTY NIBBOR $28.958million. AcTenor Rate (%) Tenor Rate (%) Change (%) cording CBN, the 1M 1.9268 -1.24 ▼ O/N 1.2917 -0.71 ▼ 2M 4.4026 -0.89 ▼ External reserves de3M 5.6613 -0.47 ▼ clined by 15.79 per1M 8.1071 -0.18 ▼ 6M 7.6692 0.07 ▲ cent year-on-year to 3M 9.2819 9.70 9M 8.9165 -0.03 ▼ about $29.070bil6M 10.8948 -0.27 ▼ 12M 9.0066 -0.18 ▼ lionn on December Yield change NIFEX 31, 2015 compared Offer Change Spot($/N) Bid 07-Apr-16 4.00 4.04 -0.20 3.50 3.53 -0.20 (%) to $34.52billionn a 14-Jul-16 7.56 7.86 0.17 7.06 7.32 0.17 199.0000 199.1000 0.00 15-Dec-16 7.57 8.14 -0.42 7.07 year ago.

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Chima Nwokoji

m:08032637535 e:chimatitus@yahoo.com

weeklyreview Money Market Review System liquidity opened the year at about N1.1trillion on Monday.

Consequently, money market rates - Open Buy Back (OBB) and Overnight (O/N) - and average Nigeria Interbank Offered Rates (NIBOR) ended at 0.5 per cent, 1.0 per cent and 7.9 per cent respectively on Monday.

Contrary to general expectations stemming from the last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of 2015 that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would leave system liquidity at robust levels to spur lending to the real sector after due approval, the CBN resumed the year with a contractionary stance.

Dealers at an investment banking and research company, Afrinvest West Africa Limited said the apex bank opened its Open Market Operations (OMO) mop up exercise during the week. This started on Tuesday with an OMO auction which wiped out N167.

0billion off the market. Thus, liquidity levels closed slightly lower, pushing OBB and O/N rates higher to 0.9 per cent and 1.3 per cent accordingly. Similarly, provisioning for CBN special foreign exchange (FX) intervention took place on Wednesday to further shrink liquidity levels to N470.5billion. Consequently, money market rates climbed to 1.1 per cent (OBB) and 1.6 per cent (O/N). On Thursday, the Apex Bank conducted yet another OMO auction that pushed liquidity even lower and OBB and O/N rates higher to 1.7 per cent and 2.3 per cent a piece.

The Treasury Bills market witnessed some form of activity on all trading days in the week. However, the OMO auctions held by the CBN during the week triggered bearish sentiments across instruments in the Treasury Bills market. Also, as the Debt Management Office (DMO) embarked on its first Primary Market Auction (PMA) worth N136.2billion on Wednesday, average yields rose to their week’s high at 6.7 per cent. Consequently, after opening at an average of 5.9per cent on Monday, average yields closed the week at 6.3per cent.

Foreign Exchange Market Developments in the currency market remained unchanged as the local unit traded within tight bands on all trading days last week.

According to Afrinvest, since mid-December last year, the CBN has kept its official exchange rate unchanged at N197.00/US$1.00.

Against the above, interbank market rate held steady at N199.10/ US$1.00 during the week. Notwithstanding this, “we however note that electronic transactions with the naira master cards, exchange at rates far higher than the approved interbank rate,” one dealer said.

Bureau De Change (BDC) and parallel market spread compared to the official market rates continued to widen considerably.

Compared to the N197.00/US$1.00 peg of the local currency, on Monday, rates at the BDC segment of the market was as high as N265.00/US$1.00. Irrespective of the dollar sales to BDCs on Wednesday, the rate depreciated N1.00 to close at N266.00/ US$1.00 and further depreciated N14.00 to N280.00/US$1.00 on Thursday as huge dollar demands remain unmet.

Similarly, in the first 4 trading days of the week, external reserves had declined 0.5 per cent year to date (YTD) to US$28.9billion as inflows continue at a lower rate relative to outflows given lower oil prices of US$32.00/per barrel (Brent).

With the visit of the IMF Boss during the week, where emphasis was laid on further flexibility in the management of the currency, “We believe the Apex Bank may review its current position on the pricing of the Naira going forward,” said Afrinvest.

Bond Market The performance of the Nigerian bond market was majorly bearish last week as investors free up liquidity to meet up with the speculated bond auction scheduled for this week, together with increased mopped up exercise and FX intervention provisioning observed during the week.

As a result, average yields closed the week at 10.7 per cent from an average of 9.8 per cent on Monday.

The general sell-offs in the market was noticed across all bond tenors on all trading days in the week. As noted above, the bearish sentiments can be attributable to the decline in liquidity levels given the series of CBN OMO mop-ups that took place during the week and the N136.2billion worth of Treasury Bills auction that took place on Thursday. Consequently, the price on all instruments rose across board with the highest price decline of N2.72 recorded in the JUNE 2019 instrument which closed at N113.69.

28

tribunebusiness

I

n an economy where the buzz word in the financial system is ‘too much money’ (excess liquidity), the obvious expectation is that critical sectors crying for investible funds have been fully fed.

The Nigerian economy is characterized by high unemployment, low capacity utilization and high cost of production. It is expected that monetary and fiscal authorities would as a matter of priority, make policies that will help increase loanable funds to the manufacturing sector; funds that will stimulate effective demand, raise industrial capacity utilization and increase prospects for more employment. Such funds would get idle plants operational, produce more goods for home demand and export. Unfortunately, the opposite is the case.

Yet economists insist that the country‘s idle manufacturing plants need fresh injected capital for development to full capacity. It is the views of many analysts, and justifiably shared by many patriots that the theory of excess liquidity requiring mopping through the sale of Treasury Bills to avoid inflation has been one of the areas financial institutions are using to starve the productive sector of the much talked about funds. Also, most analysts are concerned that instead of available funds to be easily accessible by the real sector, the lending and borrowing windows provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Deposit Money Banks continue to be another impediment.

Under this lingering and vexed question of surplus funds to the money market in an economy whose real sector is virtually starved of funds for development, the CBN has been accused of reaping from net interest spread. Net interest spread refers to the difference in borrowing and lending rates of financial institutions (such as banks) in nominal terms.

Contributors to loanable funds’ scarcity For instance, official records reveal that between October 2014 and September 2015, the CBN lent a total sum of N6.86trillion to Nigerian banks at 15 per cent interest rate.

In the same period, it accepted total depos-

Nigerian Tribune

Starving productive sectors of funds in a regime of excess liquidity

Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor

Chima Nwokoji -Lagos

Monday, 11 January, 2016

its of N24.77 trillion ‘idle funds’ from the banks and paid them 11per cent interest, thereby earning the 4 per cent difference on every transaction.

In the same vein, the central bank sold open market operation (OMO) bills worth N189.99 billion ($950 million) last week in a bid to reduce liquidity in the market and curb pressure on the forex market, causing cost of fund among banks to spike initially.

OMO is an instrument which the CBN uses to borrow money from banks if it feels that there is too much money in circulation.

Godwin Emefiele, the present CBN governor, even frowns at this worrying situation.

At a press briefing after the MPC meeting in November 2015, he disdainfully noted that: “We have discovered that, instead of banks to deploy their liquidity to the real sector to create credit, (and) stimulate growth, what the banks do is to dump their money on CBN and earn 11 per cent FOR DOING NOTHING.” Perhaps, this discovery led to its reduction from 11 to 4 per cent to discourage the situation.

This means that the central bank has decided to pay under the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF), 4 per cent as interest on such deposit placements as against 11 per cent it had hitherto paid. Financial experts said commercial banks, through the Standing Lending Facility (SLF), borrow from the CBN while they access the SDF to place deposit with the CBN. The CBN currently charges banks 13 per cent (15 per cent previously).

In the eyes of a renowned economist, Henry Boyo, it makes no business sense for government to borrow at even 1 per cent if such loans are ultimately simply kept idle from productive use. He said central banks in successful economies now, conversely, charge a token fee from banks to warehouse their excess funds.

Existing rule in Nigeria is that banks and discount houses will only be paid the 4 per cent interest rate on the first N7.5 billion deposited with CBN under SDF, whereas larger balances will not be “remunerated.”

In view of the above situation, the CBN has been churning out policies and using various tools to manage inflation, maintain sta-

bility of the exchange and above all, achieve its mandate, but the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, has predicted in his latest monthly economic views, presented at the Lagos Business School recently that unless the impact of various monetary and fiscal policies introduced by policy makers in Nigeria begin to trickle down to the economic agents early, the country may record massive job cuts in both the banking and public sectors

by June this year.

Rewane, in the report indicated that unless the impacts of the initiatives are felt in the economy, “Commercial banks will commence massive staff retrenchment in second quarter of 2016, state governments will also retrench sharply in quarter of 2016. The stock market index will decline further till second quarter of 2016 and corporate earnings for the fourth quarter of 2015 will be weak. Inflation will spike to 11 per cent in the first quarter of 2016 before falling to nine per cent in the third quarter of 2016.”

Boyo said the same CBN that says it wants the industrial sector to grow is the same one killing it, because in trying to cover the mess of the excess liquidity, it forces itself into the money market to remove what it called the excess of naira that it created. In the process, it ensures that nobody can access the money and if they access it, they will fail in whatever enterprise they are engaged in because the cost of paying back will be too much he said.

According to Boyo, it is very fundamental to understand that banks don’t print money although they make it available for people to spend.

It makes no business sense for government to borrow at even 1 per cent if such loans are ultimately simply kept idle from productive use.

Explaining further, he said, “If a bank has N1 as its cash base, that is its cash reserve, and can keep, for example, a 10 per cent cash ratio. It means that if it has N1, it can lend out 9 additional naira to make N10. The question is, where does it get the N9? When people come to borrow the additional N9, it goes to the Central Bank to get it at a cheaper rate of interest so it can lend at a higher rate of interest. Unfortunately, the banks do not get the funds as cheaply as they anticipated (currently 13 per cent) and they in turn lend to corporate and individual borrowers.”

Some analysts have suggested that surplus money constitutes the greatest impediment to the creation of more jobs to enhance the quality of economic and social welfare of the people.

Stopping excess liquidity from coming into the system First of all Boyo suggested, “we have to wean them (banks) from the surplus money that they have been enjoying. It is from the excess liquidity that high interest rate begins, low exchange rate begins, unemployment begins, fuel subsidy begins, increase in debts of government also begins, all starting from excess liquidity created by the CBN conversion or substitution of dollar for naira.

“The best way to stop excess liquidity is to tell the CBN that the Constitution does not give you the mandate to substitute naira allocations for dollar revenue,” the economists said.

Economists at FSDH Merchant Bank Limited in their MPC Watch, argued that “the excess liquidity in the system has depressed the yields on fixed income securities.”

The average excess liquidity in the system in the last three months was about N700billion. “Our analysis shows that the current liquidity in the system will go if banks increase lending by 10 per cent. The gross loans of Nigerian banks stood at about N14 trillion as at full year 2014. A 10 per cent increase in the gross loans of the banks will lead to a loan creation of about N1.4 trillion.

This will completely take out the excess liquidity from the system. A reduction in rate without addressing the fundamental issues in the economy may not stimulate lending.”

Analysts at FSDH stated.

29

Monday, 11 January, 2016

capitalmarket

anchor Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba

m:08057336640 e:kehinde_07@yahoo.com

Nigerian stocks shave N1.7bn in a week Stories by Kehinde Akinseinde -Jayeoba with Agency Reports

T

he first week trade in year 2016 on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) had been on a bearish trend aside Thursday’s trade that recorded 0.31 per cent uplift.

Last week, N1.695 billion was lost as a turnover of 899.604 million shares worth N7.669 billion in 14,164 deals were traded by investors on the Nigerian Bourse. This was in contrast to a total of 2.965 billion shares valued at N9.364 billion that exchanged hands in the preceding week in 7,174 deals.

The Financial Services Industry, measured by volume, led the activity chart with 764.790 million shares valued at N4.858 billion traded in 8,904 deals; thus contributing 85.01 per cent and 63.34 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Conglomerates Industry followed with 40.164 million shares worth N100.471 million in 626 deals.

The third place was taken by the Consumer Goods Industry with a turnover of 40.006 million shares

worth N1.707 billion in 2,116 deals.

Trading in the top three equities were Access Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc. Measured by volume, they accounted for 339.027 million shares worth N2.800 billion in 3,116 deals, contributing 37.69 per cent and 36.51 per cent to the total equity turnover volume

and value respectively The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalisation depreciated by 5.63 per cent to close the week at 27,028.39 and N9.296 trillion respectively.

Similarly, all other Indices finished lower during the week, with the exception of the NSE Industrial Goods Index that rose by 0.45

Herbert-Wigwe, Access Bank Group MD

Nigerian Tribune

per cent to close at 2,176.44.

Seventeen equities appreciated in price during last week trade, lower than 42 equities of the previous week. Fifty equities depreciated in price, higher 22 equities of the previous week, while 123 equities remained unchanged, lower than 126 equities recorded in the previous week.

Choice stock of the week OKOMU Oil Palm Company Plc, in a week gained N5.95 to the N30.30 per share it traded to close at N36.25, representing 19.64 per cent increase in the share price of the company.

Last week Okomuoil traded 5,052,323 volumes of shares, worth N164.2 million in 224 deals. The quoted company falls under the crop production of the Agriculture sector of the Nigerian Bourse.

Phillips Oduoza, UBA MD

African Securities Exchanges recorded lull in 2015 Many investors are not looking forward with much enthusiasm to 2016, and United States Dollars-based investors had a hard year in Africa in 2015. Out of all the African markets, which list returns in USD, only the regional market Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières SA (BRVM), had a positive return, with a six per cent gain over the year to 31 Dec 2015, according to the figures published by Ryan Hoover who writes in investinginafrica.net.

Performance in all the other markets listed was bad, partly as African currencies crashed against the USD, driven down by deteriorating exports as commodity prices fell. The best of the rest for USD investors were the Namibian and Botswana bourses with -4.3 per cent and -5.9 per cent respectively, better than Johannesburg at -27.9.5 per cent.

Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) came seventh on the table with a year to year loss of 23.80 per cent.

The All-Shares Index of the Nigerian Bourse lost 6014.90 points or 17.36 per cent to close for the year 2015 at 28,642.25 from the 34,657.15 it opened the year with.

The market capitalisation, which opened for the year at N11.478 trillion, lost N1.628 trillion to close at N9.850 trillion on Dec 31, 2015 due to huge price losses by some blue chips.

Zambia’s kwacha declined hard and the Lusaka Stock Exchange offered USD a 46.1 per cent fall, slightly worse than Rwanda (-43.2 per cent) and Zimbabwe (-29.4

per cent).

Samuel Kerosi of Kenyan Wall Street looks at performance to local currency investors and points out that only three were up by the measure of their indices: BRVM Composite Index was up 18.5 per cent, the Botswana Domestic Companies index climbed 11.6 per cent and the JSE All Share Index was up 2.4 per cent for the year.

Zimbabwe Stock Exchange is priced in USD and was the worst-performing market in Africa despite not having currency decline, as companies struggle to cope both as they cannot devalue to stay competitive with imports and in the continuing political difficulties.

Kerosi points out that 25 companies in Zimbabwe have negative

earnings per share, and six of the top 10 saw market capitalisation down, with Econet Wireless, a great telecoms company, down by 64 per cent in 2015. He is impressed with Botswana’s Sechaba Breweries, an investment-holding company with 60 per cent of the shares in Kgalagadi Breweries (Pty) Ltd., joint shareholder with SABMiller Botswana.

SEC summons BGL Securities over N2.9bn The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), has invited BGL Securities Ltd, BGL Assets Mgt LTD and their sponsored individual to appear before the Administrative Proceedings Committee (APC) of the commission.

According to the notice on SEC official website, the invitation became imperative as a result of the receipt of 10 new complaints, with total monetary value of over N2.9 billion, against them, received between May 20, 2015 and November 10, 2015 from various investors.

SEC said investors had alleged several violations of the Investments and Securities Act 2007,

SEC Rules and Regulations as well as the Code of Conduct for Capital Market Operators, which include, but not limited to “performance of a capital market function without due registration; promoting and marketing products not registered by the commission; failure/refusal to resolve clients’ complaints.”

Others are failure to file statutory returns and furnishing the commission with false and misleading information.”

Therefore, having notified the respondents of their invitation to appear before the SEC-APC, the commission asked them to file their defence ahead of the hearing slated to hold on Wednesday,

February 3, 2016, during which the respondents would be given fair-hearing on each of the allegations.

It will be recalled that the SEC in May, 2015 came down heavily on BGL, one of Nigeria’s leading investment banking groups, with the suspension of the BGL Group and its subsidiaries from all capital market activities.

SEC said its decisions were based on the report of a detailed investigation into the various complaints received from investors against subsidiaries of BGL Group.

SEC had in April 2015 intervened in the operations of BGL Group Plc by suspending its

board and setting up an interim management board for the group.

The interim management board, headed by a former president of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr Oladipo Aina, was mandated to conduct full investigation into the operations of BGL Group. Other members of the interim board were Mr Abubakar Ambursa, Mrs Hafsat Rufai, Ms Temitayo Siyanbola and Ms Tonne Ladipo-Ajayi.

Based on the report of the investigation, SEC announced the suspension of BGL Asset Management Limited, BGL Capital Limited and BGL Securities Limited from all capital market activities.

30

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

labour Oshiomhole, Ngige, Ocholi parley to reposition labour sector

By Soji-Eze Fagbemi- Abuja

E

do State Governor and former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr James Ocholi, have held a crucial meeting aimed at repositioning the labour sector for effective and efficient service delivery and workforce.

Oshiomhole and the ministers appraised the situation in the labour sector in the last few years, and how this most important factor in the chain of production can be improved to the benefit of the nation and Nigerian people.

Governor Oshiomhole commended the appointment of Senator Ngige, an experienced and accomplished politician as a Minister of Labour and Employment, describing it as a round peg in a round hole.

According to the governor, the purpose of the visit was to reflect on salient issues that are germane to the welfare of the citizens of the country.

He noted that the President Muhmmadu Buhari led government has made it clear that the primary purpose of governance is the welfare of the people and the only way to deliver public welfare is to pay attention to job creation.

The former NLC president also stated that the Ministry of Labour and Employment is very key to the President Buhari Government, and should be properly utilised to drive the administration’s agenda, which is to prioritise better welfare for Nigerian workers and Nigerians in general.

Oshiomhole, therefore, emphasised the critical role of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in job creation, workers protection, maintenance of industrial peace and harmony in the country, and generation of data for both employed and unemployed people.

“This ministry in the past years was noted for registration and placement of unemployed Nigerians in various job centres across the country, thereby generating reliable data of unemployed youths, as well as carring out regular trade test, doing proper grading of skilled and semi-skilled workers, and producing competent man-power through vocational training, without necessarily attending higher institution.

“I believe that this is one area that we have neglected over the years and giving the commitment of the present administration to job creation, we need to re-establish those units in all the states of the federation, possibly in every local government area, so that people who are qualified and willing to work could register,” he said.

He also noted that “it will also give an opportunity to those who registered to acquire trainings and also enrol in one form of apprenticeship or the other.”

Governor Adams bemoaned the influx of expatriates in disguise into the country, while urging the minister to liaise with his

Ngige counterpart in the Ministry of Interior to review the issuance of expatriate quotas.

The governor added, “As you go round the country, you will find unskilled expatriates doing the job skilled Nigerians can do. This is unacceptable. I want to urge you to liaise with your counterpart in the Internal Affairs Ministry to revisit the process of issuance of expatriate quotas.”

He said it was unacceptable for prisoners to come to Nigeria in the name of expatriate to do the jobs Nigerians can effectively handle.

In his own remarks, Senator Ngige prom-

We are determined to turn things around and ensure that the ministry performs its primary role as the focal agency of government in charge of employment generation as well as ensure workers’ safety and health at work places.

ised to reposition the Ministry of Labour and Employment for employment generation and effective workers’ protection.

While responding to the observations made by Governor Oshiomhole, Ngige frowned at the present situation of things in the labour sector, and assured that the ministry would work hard to achieve the purpose of the present government.

This, according to him, will be achieved through provision of labour market information, vocational skills acquisition and other programmes of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The Ministry of Labour and Employment has capable departments to promote good labour administration, promote decent jobs for unemployed Nigerians and provide occupational safety and health protection services.

“We are determined to turn things around and ensure that the ministry performs its primary role as the focal agency of government in charge of employment generation as well as ensure workers’ safety and health at work places,” he said.

He also expressed worries about the absence of data on both employed and unemployed people in the country, and lamented that the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation does not have the data on the number of workers in the federal civil service.

The minister explained that he had contacted the office of the Head of Service and the Federal Civil Service Commission after his appointment to know the numbers of the civil servants in the federal workforce, but to his surprise, the data was not available.

“I thank you, Comrade Oshiomhole for your observation on the implementation of unemployed programmes. The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) is a government organ established for job creations and generations. It is also empowered to have a statistic and data base for unemployed people in Nigeria and even the employed.

“But my experience is that since I came on board, I have made contacts with the office of the Head of Civil Service, so that we could know the number of civil servants that are employed in the Nigeria civil service, but the records were not there. I thought I was mistaken, so I approached them at the Federal Civil Service Commission, and they also said that they rely on the ministry to declare vacancies, so that they will know the number of people that are employed.

“So, things are upside down. We don’t need to blame them. It is the ministry that will push out and have that record. We need data base.”

The minister described the unemployment situation in Nigeria as horrendous and alarming, and said that the situation calls for a national emergency.

“The unemployment situation in Nigeria is horrendous, it is alarming. It is a national emergency.”

He, however, expressed satisfaction that President Buhari has promised to tackle the issue of unemployment and added that the Ministry of Labour and Employment is going to roll out a number of programmes to tackle employment.

On government’s plan to pay N5,000 monthly to unemployed youths, the minister explained that the N5,000 payment to the vulnerable and unemployed, is conditional, and is for those who want to learn a trade.

“It is not that you will lie down in your house and we will come and give you N5,000. The N5,000 is the minimum baseline, you can get N10,000, depending on what you are involved in,” he added.

He said the massive job creation would come through well thought out programmes such as Graduate Teachers Conversion Programme, Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS), Vocational Skills Acquisition and Upgrading, and Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT) for the vulnerable persons, including market women.

The minister also explained that subsidy was not included in the 2016 budget Appropriation, because “there is no subsidy to be done,” adding that “if the time comes for subsidy to be done, there is a provision in the appropriation for it. If there is the need to do subsidy, government knows what to do. It shall be done.”

Also speaking, the Minister of State, Mr James Ocholi, said the present administration will leave no stone unturned in order to ensure that the scourge of unemployment is reduced to its barest minimum. He emphasised that the ministry is well positioned to champion the fight against unemployment.

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Monday, 11 January, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor taiadis@yahoo.com

Macklink

N53m advocacy visits: How I benefitted —Macklink

have a free and fair election before, during and after the A former member of the Revenue election; that he wouldn’t want any crisis, and he needed Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation prominent people to go and do that advocacy. Also, that he was not sending us as a campaign team to anybody but Commission (RMFAC), Chief John for us to speak to these prominent emirs so that Macklink, is one of the elders from the rather two things could be achieved. Number one was for us to North named as among the beneficia- have peaceful election- before, during and after the elecTwo, he wants a situation whereby whoever wins will ries of N53 million for advocacy visits tion. be allowed to peacefully take over. Chief Anenih said he allegedly collected by Alhaji Tanko called to make clear our reference point (as our mandate).

That was our mandate and he told us that Alhaji YakasYakassai from a Peoples Democratic who was our chairman, would be liaising with him for Party (PDP) leader, Chief Tony Anenih sai, logistics in terms of wherever we were going to do. in the raging alleged arms saga. In We had that election in April; the idea is for us to go this interview with ISAAC SHOBAYO, Chief Macklink gives account of his role as a member of the committee In fact, Gombe State was our of Northern Elders on advocacy visit.

Excerpts: last point of call. We went

Y

our name was mentioned as one of the beneficiaries of N53 million collected by Alhaji Tanko Yakassi, the former Special Adviser to Second Republic President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, from Chief Tony Anenih.

What actually transpired; did you collect such money?

Let me say early in January 2015, I was summoned to Chief Anenih’s House in Abuja that there was as assignment. It was Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, who told me, and I went to Abuja with eight other respected Nigerians. Chief Anenih told us that the then President Goodluck Jonathan wanted us to go round the Northern states to meet prominent emirs and chiefs, specifically chairmen of traditional councils of the various states and of course other prominent emirs; to appeal to them by way of advocacy on the need for peace as we were going into election to

there to see the emir and the governor. The next day, Boko Haram invaded Gombe. It was the police that escorted us out of the state capital to Bauchi State. It was a risky job but we felt it was good we did it, and that was why we gave it the best of our abilities.

round before the election. We got cracking, we planned our programme and we sent the programme to him. We came out with a time-table of movement. We were to go to 19 states. However at our first meeting, we said because of the security situation in the North-East, we would not go to Borno and Yobe states but all other states in the North.

We planned a programme to visit all states in the north.

I recall the first the day we met Chief Anenih, he told us that there was no money but he would tried to raise some money pending when the Presidency would reimburse him so that we can carry on with the work. That was it!

There was never a time to the best of my knowledge that money contained like in a bag was given to the committee that ‘here is the money that would take you round the 19 states’ but rather, the money was given in piecemeal as we moved from one state to another. If we were to go to Adamawa State from Abuja, they would calculate the cost of air ticket, accommodation and any logistics for our stay there. Believe me, none of us, maybe of course Alhaji Tanko and I don’t think he himself knows the source of the money. I think all he knew was that Chief Anenih would provide fund for our movement. Of course, a job is given to us; fund has to be provided for us to do the work.

Our first trip was on the 14th January. We took a flight to Sokoto. The members were Alhaji Yakassai, who was our chairman; we had Senator Abubakar Sodangi , Alhaji Sule Yaji, Alhaji Suleiman Lawal Kauru, Dr Luka Bahago; Ambasador M.A. Anka, Mr Bitrus Gwada and Chief John Manlink from Plateau. We had another member from Bauchi State but after attending the second meeting, he gave personal reasons that he could not continue with the committee’s work. But, there was no replacement for him and we continued with the job.

We started the journey on January 14, 2015 in Sokoto and Kebbi. On that day, we had an appointment and saw the Sultan of Sokoto. From there, we moved to Kebbi and saw the Emir of Gwandu. We came back to Sokoto Continues on pg34

32 politics&policy

Monday, 11 January, 2016

The template PDP handed over to APC —Ndoma-Egba

A former Senate Majority Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party until the wee days of the last administration. He was the conscience of the Senate when he served in the Red chamber. In this interview with Group Politics Editor, TAIWO ADISA gave reasons for the continuous drifting of top politicians from the PDP, declaring that the former ruling party had provided enough tips for the APC on what should not be done in power. He also declared that the political landscape of the South-South was already being redesigned, as well as his fears for the Judiciary while also x-raying the legislature and the polity generally Excerpts: ing parties. So, what is the PDP doing wrong?

I think essentially, the lesson is not only for the PDP. It’s for every political party.

The first lesson is that impunity is not sustainable anywhere. The second is that the strength of the party is guaranteed by only internal democracy because you cannot give to the country what you do not have. If you do not have democracy, you cannot give to the rest of the country what you do not have.

So, the basic lessons are that processes and the systems are very important for the viability of a political party. Secondly, internal democracy is the only assurance that any political party will have for its sustainability and future survival.

Y

OU were the Senate Leader in the Seventh Senate.

Months ago, you caught the defection bug and joined the governing APC. How is the PDP, which you left behind viewing your defection?

I wouldn’t know because I have had very little political contacts with them. But to say I defected in my case is not exactly accurate because, constructively, I was evicted from the PDP about three years ago. So, I was just standing by the roadside and I moved into APC from the roadside. Therefore, you would not call that defection. If you have been constructively evicted, then you will not say you defected.

Ndoma-Egba learn the ropes in the new era?

I didn’t move to APC to make demands. I joined the party to make my contributions and I believe that it is the nature of the contributions that I make that will determine their reaction. But I’m not claiming any special privileges.

that, they do not appreciate the nuances of my own circumstances. As I said, for three years, I was out there in the cold. But that is not the issue. How come the biggest beneficiaries of the PDP are those who are the most aggrieved; which means there must be something about the conduct. The biggest privilege anybody can enjoy as a member of the party is being given the ticket to run as President of that country. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was a product of that party – this is common knowledge – tore his card. The second biggest position you can get is that of the Vice President. Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar left. We had Chief Audu Ogbeh as national chairman. We had Senator Barnabas Gemade, who was also a former national chairman, yet they left, five serving Governors left in one fell swoop. The Speaker of the House of Representatives – the number four citizen left. So, what is it that is being done within the PDP that evokes this kind of response?

Are they not looking at it as if they have lost a big fish – somebody who has been there from the beginning of the party and whether you are ungrateful to the party and all that?

I read in the papers that the state chairman of PDP (in Cross River State) regrets that I had to leave; that my leaving was as a result of their actions. But the important thing is that I am now in another platform to carry on with my political life.

People see the South-South as an area somewhat impregnable for the APC ; as a zone for the PDP. How do you hope to weather through this challenge?

Let me say that the APC is populated by internally displaced politicians from the PDP. If you look at the traffic, the traffic is out of PDP and not into the PDP, which means that in spite of the recent experiences, lessons have not been learnt because the traffic is continuous. So, whether we can still claim that the South-South is the fortress of the PDP, only time will tell. But there is massive hemorrhaging right now in the PDP, which means that those who are increasing the numbers in the APC are PDP stalwarts who are disaffected.

For me, when people say you benefitted so much from the PDP and you are leaving; is it not a mark of ingratitude and all of

How are you settling down in the APC with the usual problem of founder/joiner and the other problems?

No, we are not having that issue in the APC in my state at least. They have been very welcoming. The pressure actually for me to join the APC started a long time ago. It’s like every other person foresaw the problem I eventually had with the PDP and they led all sorts of delegations to me. So, it’s something they expected long before the elections.

APC is populated by internally displaced politicians from the PDP. If you look at the traffic, the traffic is out of PDP and not into the PDP, which means that in spite of the recent experiences, lessons have not been learnt because the traffic is continuous.

Do they now see you as a leader in the party or somebody who needs to

Having been in politics for some years now, I think you should be able to diagnose what really the problem is with the PDP to serve as a lesson, probably to the party and for upcom-

You still have a strong structure to contend with in your state. The governor is of the PDP and the political structure of the state is in the hands of the PDP. How do you intend to popularise your new party, probably to show a good fortune when Local Government elections are coming, as well as the by elections?

It was assumed before the last elections that Cross River State was a one-party state and that party was the PDP. If you remember prior to the elections, there were congresses that we won and it took them 24 days of being on the ground, deploying state resources to reverse that. After that, those who were affected as a result of the reversal of these congresses now moved to the Labour Party.

Till today, the outcome of the result is subject to debate. Unfortunately, the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal in respect of those cases didn’t go to the merit of the cases. They terminated them on the basis of technicalities. So, till tomorrow, there are people who believe that those who are walking around with mandates are pretending to those mandates. It’s a debatable issue. But the issue that is beyond debate is that what came out of the elections last year was that, for once, there was a credible, virile and viable opposition to the PDP. So, today, it is no longer valid to say that Cross River State is a one-party state. Yes, the governor is of the PDP stock. But the structure that gave the PDP the power, are those structures still there? A substantial part of the structure has left. So, as far as I’m concerned, the seeming strength of the PDP in Cross River State today is nominal.

Even with the governor in place?

The governor alone does not make a party.

I give you an example; take in the last two weeks in the governor’s Local Government; Venatius Ikem who is a former national publicity secretary of the PDP left. He’s from the governor’s Local Government. But he left the PDP to join the APC; Goddy Jeddy Agba, a former gubernatorial aspirant and former General Manager of NNPC, is from the governor’s Local Government; he left the PDP to join the APC. Dr Peter Agbai, an elder statesman and former Federal Commissioner for Education under Obasanjo’s government when he was a military Head continues I pg33

33 politics&policy

Monday, 11 January, 2016

‘My worry over our electoral process’ very strong legacy?

Let us say that the legislature has to be assessed against the background of our post-colonial history. We’ve had several incidences of military intervention and in each intervention; the first casualty was the legislature. So, the legislature has never had any opportunity for consistent development or growth. Its growth has been episodic.

Each time you have an episode of democracy, they start from – as the lawyers will say – de novo. After the next military intervention, you will go back and start de novo.

The legislature never had that opportunity of consistent development.

Now that we are not seeing the military, we are now seeing another aspect of the problem that even a change of government from one party to another comes in with its own contradictions. If we go back to 1999 when PDP won, the legislature was unstable because the PDP was new in power. You had these constant musical chairs, change in leadership and all of that. Now, we have the APC in power after 16 years of PDP and it’s as if we are going back to where we started in 1999. So, the problem therefore is not just the military. I think that Political and Social Scientists must begin to anticipate that each time there is a change of power even from one party to another, it will impart on the legislative arm. So, we must begin to think of ways of strengthening the legislature to respond to those changes.

continued from pg32

of State, left from the governor’s Local Government. Honourable Paul Ada, a two-time member of the House of Representatives, an immediate past Cross Rivers State representative in NDDC from the governor’s Local Government, left. We are talking of just the governor’s Local Government. Senator Bassey Etuk, who is a known mobiliser, has left to APC. Even His Excellency, Clement Ebri, a one-time governor of Cross River State, who has been apolitical for a very long time, recently declared for APC. So, you can see not just the quantity of traffic but also the quality of traffic that is moving. None of these people is a small fry.

What could be the driving force for all these defections? Is it the usual quest for power or just wanting to belong?

No. A political party should be the platform for fair competition; it should be the platform for an honest contest of views and positions; it should be the platform for resolving contending issues. But the PDP lost that characteristic of late. A political party should be owned by its members. In PDP, it became that only Governors are important.

So, the will of the people became totally irrelevant and people will find an opportunity to ventilate their views. It’s not a question of gravitating because a party is in power. Even if that were an attraction, the current internal environment in the PDP has made that movement even more urgent.

Looking at all the forces coalescing, not just in Cross River State but across the country in the APC, don’t you have a fear of sustainability of internal democracy in that party?

I have said it before and I will repeat myself; the good news for APC is that at least with PDP handing over a template to them of what should not be done, it is for the APC to remain eternally vigilant and make sure that they are not sucked into such scenario, having seen the PDP for 16 years.

In recent times, we’ve received some conflicting signals from the judiciary, which is your immediate environment. Somebody passed a comment the other time whether it is even advisable to study Law because of the propensity for conflicting judgments.

Whereas the Law rests on precedents and settled matters but the conflicting signals are becoming rampant such that the Chief Justice of Nigeria passed some comments recently. Are you feeling concerned about some of these developments, particularly the election tribunals and court of appeal?

Let me say that the beauty of law has always been its certainty. Everybody should be certain what the law is and if you see the way law is structured, it is to achieve that certainty and that is why you have the hierarchy of courts, so that if you have conflicting decisions, they are resolved at the apex court and then it now becomes the law, as it were. Regrettably, because of constitutional provisions, there are certain aspects that will remain at the Court of Appeal. If you take National Assembly elections for instance, the Court of Appeal is the apex court and we are beginning to see conflicting decisions of the Court of Appeal, which is a really troubling situation, especially in those cases where the likelihood of those issues getting to the Supreme Court are very slim.

For the governorship, yes, they will eventu-

Ndoma-Egba

I think essentially, the lesson is not only for the PDP. It’s for every political party. The first lesson is that impunity is not sustainable anywhere.

ally get to the Supreme Court. So, hopefully, some of the issues that are conflicting at the Court of Appeal level will be resolved at the National Assembly.

The greater concern actually, is the judicialisation of our electoral process. That is the greater worry for me. How come the judiciary has become so massively involved in our electoral processes they have now more or less become the umpire? Electoral process in Nigeria and Africa is a very contentious process and to drag the judiciary into it where the judiciary is expected to play major role is to judicialise the process and then make the judiciary so vulnerable to political manipulations. For me, it’s a major concern.

We must begin to figure out how to get our electoral processes to work in such a way that the exposure of the judiciary to the electoral process is minimal so that you do not scandalise the judiciary. Elections are not the only issues that go before the judiciary; but the moment the judiciary is scandalised, it means that it loses even its cohesion in our democratic process. For me, that is the bigger concern.

Can amendments to the Electoral Act resolve those concerns?

The law itself, whether it’s the constitution or legislation will not be the only way out because our attitude is even more important than the laws. If you take our laws for instance, the law has provided substan-

tially for every situation that we still contest today. So, it is more of an attitudinal thing.

How do we democratise our political ethics in such a way that we begin to insulate the judiciary? Take the United States; the judiciary is brought in very minimally. But the moment the judiciary pronounces, no matter how disagreeable its judgment is to you, you accept it without comment. But, what is our experience? The Court of Appeal gives a ruling and people carry placards and begin to demonstrate in a matter that you still have recourse to the Supreme Court. That is what is really troubling me.

In the 6th and 7th Senate, it did a lot on the Electoral Act, which made it look as if the major problems had been taken care of by legislating that the people should be the source of power and not the courts…

One of the amendments we took, you know the party used to have the final say about who the candidate was. We now said look, even though you have the final say, these are the processes that must be followed. Then, we were worried about the overbearing position of the INEC. But it looks like we took the power from the INEC and gave it to the judiciary.

Looking back at the legislature and the things coming out of the 8th Senate, will you say you bequeathed a

The 8th Assembly ran into turbulence, particularly the Senate when it came on board with regards to the issue of Rules and all that. Some Senators went to court, which was the first time it was happening. As somebody, who has been in the leadership, how do you think such challenges are best handled?

The Rules make provisions for how they are to be amended. If you recall, a few months just before the end of the Seventh Senate, Senator Eta Enang, who was Chairman, Rules and Business, brought comprehensive proposals for the amendment of the Rules.

I was his vice chairman and that was done because we know and we believe that it’s the Senate plenary that should amend its own Rules. The only thing that will give stability to the legislative arm of government is openness and transparency. Whatever you want to do, let it be done with everybody participating. The moment you try to hide under a canopy to do anything, it will generate problems. Parliament is one institution that is designed to function in the open. Everything about Parliament is designed to be open.

Will you say the current Senate is living up to the standard you left?

You know the circumstances are different. First of all, we now see an admixture in leadership. Even in leadership, you see a minority party being present. It’s something that we have never experienced. We now know that it’s a possibility; but what the implications of this possibility and the complications that will arise from it is still evolving.

Are you looking at any political contest in the near future, having joined a new party?

That is in God’s hands because if you follow my life, I’ve never said I want to be this.

God has always guided my steps. But I remain active politics to create alternatives for my people; I remain in politics to help guide the political choices they make. I remain in politics to help enshrine certain values – the values of competition; the values of freedom continues I pg34

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politics&politics

Monday, 11 January, 2016

‘We acted as patriotic citizens’ all success of thw war against corruption, as some individuals have suggested that the war should be holistic to avoid controversy?

If government is suspicious about any money, they should be able to trace it into the account of individuals; the account and the banks are there. But if it is in the course of working for government, I don’t think an eyebrow should be raised. My advice is that it is good to prosecute the anti-corruption war. Already, our economy is battered and the only way we can get it back on track is for the president and the other agents of government to do the right thing and be sure of what they are doing so that innocent people do not suffer.

Continued from pg31

to take the next flight back to Abuja. On January 19, we took a trip by road to Nasarawa State; then on January 20, we took a trip to Kogi State. On January 22, we went to Niger; on January 23, we were in Plateau State, we met with the Christian Association of Nigeria, the then state governor, Jonah Jang and his deputy. From there, we moved to the Gbong Gwom palace and later addressed the Jama’tu Nasir Islam.

At what point did the issue of monetary term actually come in because the bone of contention now is that the chairman of your committee, Alhaji Yakasai said he collected a certain amount of money from Chief Anenih for the committee comprising eight of you as members?

Anytime we are traveling, like for instance we are going to Ilorin, Alhaji Yakasai will go and meet the principal and he would provide the logistics for us to travel. If it is by road, money for fueling and if it is by air, there would be flight tickets. If we were to spend a night, there would be cost of hotel accommodation. Nobody gave us money in ‘Bacco bags.’ As we moved, money was only provided for the logistics.

In the course of your movement, did you ask for the source of the funding?

There was no reason we should ask for the source when Chief Anienh had told us that his link man would be Alhaji Yakassai. Nobody mentioned any name like Colonel Dasuki to us to the best of my knowledge. All I knew was that Chief Anenih invited us and gave us a mandate and told us that he would be liaising with Alhaji Yakasai as far as our logistics were concerned. That is all I knew. And anytime we were to move, he would go and meet Chief Anienh for our movement. That was how we moved to the places we visited.

As a PDP stalwart are you satisfied with the method of the current anti- corruption crusade?

The crusade is necessary if Nigeria is to move forward. I support the crusade but I want to strongly believe that it is not going to be by chasing everybody for corruption but to make sure that they are all proven cases. The country will move forward if corruption is properly tackled. What surprises me is that government gave us a work to do and we embarked on the work. It is just like civil servants in the ministry or a minister you gave him a job to do, or permanent secretary. Will anyone ask where the money for the assignment is coming from? We did that work in good faith and the going around had a positive impact.

There was stability during and after the election. I was satisfied that we did a good job. We did not look at the issue of money; all we wanted was how we can get to the various places we visited. In fact, Gombe State was our last point of call. We went there to see the emir and the governor. The next day, Boko Haram invaded Gombe. It was the police that escorted us out of the state capital to Bauchi State. It was a risky job but we felt it was good we did it and that was why we gave it the best of our abilities.

As for me, I just assumed since it was the government that gave us the assignment; It must have a way of providing the fund. We cannot go into asking who gave the money.

Before we finished, we gave an interim report. When we finished the job, we gave a full report. That is all I knew.

In terms of allowance and honorarium, how much were you given?

We were given our allowances just like in any government assignment. The allowances were mainly logistics, travelling and cost of hotel accommodation. Like in Kano, we stayed for two days in an hotel and at the end of the day, what we collected was N400, 000 for two days.

Was it per individual or collectively?

It was for the whole team, not per individual; so that is the position.

But, some people are alleging witch hunting in the fight against corruption?

You asked me a question, I said the crusade is good but what surprises me is that government gave us a job and do people expected us to do the job without logistics?.

The government has the right to ask questions but the important thing for us is to answer. However, I strongly believe and I am convinced that we did a good job as pa-

Macklink triotic citizens of this country.

What is your advice towards achieving the over-

As an economist, what is your view on the prevailing economic situation in the country?

Government has taken some measures. One of them is that there will be organisation in the NNPC. I can recall when I was at the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission, the then chairman, Hamman Tukur kept hammering on the issue of NNPC and subsidy. We went to a great length to ensure that the issue of subsidy was resolved once and for all . But I am happy that the present Federal Government said it is going to re organise the NNPC because we run a mono-economy. Once the price of oil crashes, it will automatically affect the economy. I understand that the price of oil is now $38 per barrel; that means the economy is seriously being affected. This is the period for state governments to look inwards so that they don’t just depend on the monthly Federal Allocation. What is happening to the oil sector is a global thing; it is not peculiar to Nigeria. In Plateau State, the government needs to look at the solid mineral and agricultural sectors.

‘My take on anti-corruption war’ Continued from pg33

of ideas, free speech. I was a commissioner under the military dispensation and in those days, with a military Governor sitting there, you could talk and bang the table and disagree with the military governor. But today where we have elected Governors, you dare not disagree with an elected Governor. So, I don’t know whether we are moving forward or backwards. I remember a particular incident as a commissioner when there was a hotly debated issue and a commissioner banged the table and said, ‘Your Excellency, in this matter, somebody will die and I know that I’m not the one to die.’ So the governor said: ‘is it me who will die?’ He said maybe and everybody burst into laughter. I remember another incident where we were to meet the community and the governor said let us go as government and analyse their positions. A particular commissioner insisted that he did not agree with government’s position because he was a member of that community and that he will stand with his people and the governor said: ‘I don’t have a problem with that; it’s just that if you do that, then you will have to go with your people.’ When the people came, the commissioner truly went to sit with his people and as they were leaving, he just dropped his resignation letter. But I’m confused now. We have democratic processes, but the democratic content is reducing by the day.

Some people will say that the situation you painted perhaps is a function of what the polity has got to contend with. In 1999, we had an exmilitary man. Now, we are back to another exmilitary man. Could that be responsible?

I think the culture of sycophancy is increasing. It’s the people who are misleading the governors into the power.

I give you an example of a governor that was sworn in on May 29 this year. Two or three months later, the mother died and the whole state was saying the Mother of the State. In two months, she has become the mother of the State. So, it is our own sycophancy that is being elevated and it is the elevation of our sycophancy that is misleading the governors into thinking they are now gods and at the end of the day, they leave totally unhappy and with a lot of regrets because we have misled them.

The current government has declared war on corruption and incidentally a number of PDP members are being dragged into the net. There

are questions of the government not sticking to the Rule of Law and all that. How do you think the war can be prosecuted without infractions on the rights of individuals?

We are a constitutional government and the government is very clear. The judiciary has a role to play and that role must be respected in whatever fight. When the President was canvassing for votes, he made it clear that he was going to fight corruption. So, he is the one that has been mandated by the people to drive his vision. Now his responsibility is to get the other arms of government to key into that vision and that responsibility can only be exercised through persuasion. In selling that vision to the judiciary, the judiciary itself has its own internal processes to respond to developments in the polity. But it remains an independent arm. The rule of law must be respected and obeyed, no matter how urgent you want to carry out your vision.

A lot of people say the fight is one-sided; only PDP members are being accused. What do you say to that?

I will not reach any conclusion. But, we should go back to even when PDP was in power. Who were those who were taken to EFCC? If I haven’t done anything, why should you take me anywhere? The courts are still there for you to go and establish your innocence. The fact that you have been taken to EFCC is not itself proof of guilt.

It’s just the beginning of a process where you will be expected to establish your innocence.

I’m sure you did due diligence before you actually joined the APC, because the government of President Muhammadu Buhari was almost in place when you defected. Is that a show of your trust that he has the capacity to deliver?

When President Buhari was military Head of State, I was a commissioner in those days of 19 States, it was one government. So, it is not just about belief because I have experienced his capacity first hand. But essentially, for me, I still have political life and I must live my political life. There are only two people who can retire me from politics, the first is God and the second is myself. No other human being, whether he is Governor or any other person can come and tell me I have retired you. I’m still actively involved in politics to make the point to the gods of yesterday that their power does not extend to retiring me from fulfilling my destiny.

35

Monday, 11 January, 2016 Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 081 118 450 48

features

Lassa fever

A growing national malady

A patient being treated. PHOTO: WGBHNEWS.ORG

From Bauchi to Nasarawa, Niger to Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Plateau, Gombe and Oyo, no one can guarantee where and when the Lassa virus would halt its spread. With death toll reaching about 40 and 86 cases reported, this year’s Lassa fever outbreak is regarded as the highest since 2012 when 112 people died. SADE OGUNTOLA writes on the need to step up enlightenment, the challenges involved in fighting the spread of the virus and the implications if unchecked.

L

ASSA fever, which was first documented in 1969 when a small outbreak of a mysterious disease claimed the lives of two missionary nurses serving in the town of Lassa in Nigeria, has since been a recurring event. Most of the cases passed unnoticed because the index of suspicion has remained low.

The recent Niger outbreak was unnoticed for several weeks and killed several people before detection. The deaths dating back to August 2015 only came to light about three to four months after.

In January 2013, an outbreak of Lassa fever in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State in north central Nigeria which claimed several lives similarly created panic among inhabitants of Makurdi town in particular and Benue State in general.

Reports from Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health indicate that Lassa fever outbreaks occur very frequently in different parts of Nigeria.

It has been reported in more than 23 of the 36 states of Nigeria. Ebonyi, Edo, Nasarawa and Plateau States are the most frequently affected. In recent times, frequent outbreaks have also been observed in Adamawa and Taraba States.

The pattern of Lassa fever outbreaks in Nigeria over the years shows a worrying trend where outbreaks are increasingly becoming more frequent with widening geographical spread. Moreover, most of the infections pass unnoticed because physicians often find distinguishing it from other fevers like malaria or typhoid very difficult.

On many occasions, patients infected with

Lassa fever are admitted into wards, given healthcare for several days and sometime die without a suspicion of the underlying danger. These patients are nursed together with other patients often without necessary precaution.

The missed diagnosis increases the case fatality rate among those infected with Lassa fever as well as the chances of transmitting infection to close contacts and healthcare workers.

A survey on public awareness of Lassa fever among 380 residents of Okada, Ogbese and Utese, all rural communities in Edo State, for instance reported a total of 28 (7.4%) participants to have heard of Lassa fever.

In the 2015 edition, of the International Journal of Health Promotion and Educa-

tion, researchers found that television was the most popular source of Lassa fever awareness in all communities studied.

Among participants who reported to have heard of Lassa fever, vehicles of transmission of disease mentioned included mosquito bites (32.1%), dog bites (25%) and eating of rat-contaminated food (7.1%). Sleeping under mosquito bed nets and intake of herbal concoction were the principal modes of prevention of Lassa fever reported by respondents.

Micheal Asuzu, a professor of Public Health & Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, said although the incidence of Lassa fever is more in the northern part of Nigeria, the missed Continues pg36

36

features

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Primary health centres ill-equipped to detect occurrence —Expert

Professor Isaac Adewole, Minister of Health

Lassa fever cell Continued from pg35

diagnosis is indicative of Nigeria’s dysfunctional health system.

“Many primary healthcare centres are manned by auxiliary staffs, nurses and doctors do not come, as such they cannot quickly recognise things like Lassa fever. And so they are unable to refer such cases quickly to bigger hospitals,” he said Asuzu also added that part of the problem started with the closing up of infectious disease hospitals, where such cases should have been promptly referred since they also have facilities for isolation and treatment.

Although Lassa fever occurs more in dry season because of bush burning in preparedness for farming activities, poor storage of food items and cooking items at home and hygiene, the expert said “we have enough community health physicians that can provide oversight community consultancy in Nigeria even if it is once a week to improve knowledge and skills at the primary healthcare level. All this will support ensuring health for all and of course diseases such as Lassa fever are controlled.”

In August 2012, an investigated case of Lassa fever treated in a tertiary hospital at Ibadan turned out to be due to contamination from the bakery where he worked. The Lassa fever outbreak investigation at the bakery found evidence of rat infestation in the home and bakery surroundings, suggesting that the possible mode of transmission was rodent to human.

Sun-drying provides ample opportunity for rodents to run over the food item, depositing their waste as they do so. Professor Asuzu mentioned kitchen utensils that were not commonly stored away from the reach of rodents.

Meanwhile, uncovered utensils provide a means for deposition of infected rodent urine and contamination of food.

But Dr Adedoyin Ogundoyin, a public health expert, linked death causalities from Lassa fever to people’s level of immunity.

The 20 per cent of people exposed to Lassa fever virus that come down with severe symptoms of the disease, she said while speaking on a television programme, may have had a lowered immunity, which makes

them more susceptible.

Dr Ogundoyin said the need for heath workers to know what Lassa fever entails is also important, adding that “just as we made quite a lot of noise about Ebola, so it should be for Lassa fever. If they are treating fever and it seems not to be going, they need to think of Lassa fever.”

Project Director, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Professor Abdusalam Nasidi, while saying that Lassa fever can only be diagnosed with laboratory tests, said its early symptoms that are similar to that of many other diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever, flu and hemorrhagic fever were the reasons for the wrong diagnosis.

However, he said Lassa fever should be the first infection to consider when a person comes down with fever and bleeding from openings of the body such as the mouth, nose and eye in a Lassa fever endemic area.

Such bleeding, he pointed out, could also be from the vagina outside of the menstrual period of a woman.

Currently, Lassa fever endemic states include Bauchi, Nassarawa, Gombe, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Oyo, Edo and Plateau.

He pointed out that bleeding was a feature of the late stage of Lassa fever, adding that its early unusual atypical symptoms include fever, aches and pain.

Nasidi, however, assured that Lassa fever, although an infectious disease, cannot be contacted by merely touching or shaking the hand of an infected person as it was in the case of Ebola.

“Those who acquired the infection must

Lassa fever, although an infectious disease, cannot be contacted by merely touching or shaking the hand of an infected person as it was in the case of Ebola.

have acquired large volume of the virus before they became sick, say through contact with body fluids of an infected person like saliva, blood or urine,” he said.

According to him, a person with fever should see a doctor if symptoms persist after two days of anti-malarial drugs usage, as it could also be due to Lassa fever when within the Lassa fever endemic environment.

“Such must immediately look for the specific drug for Lassa fever and take it. Surveys in the last 20 years have shown that the drug is effective against Lassa fever when taken six days into the disease. If you take the drug after wards, chances of survival are lower,” he added.

Nasidi added that the efficacy of the drug that is specific for Lassa fever in reducing death was why the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole asked that it be repositioned in all states that are endemic.

Also, he said that awareness creation on the disease has been beefed up just as work was on to identify the immediate and remote causes of the new infection, as well as map and monitor the virus.

Speaking further, he stated that “our healthcare system is becoming resilient and that is the way we responded to Ebola disease. We must sensitise all healthcare workers in Nigeria to know how to handle the disease.”

Nonetheless, Professor Isaac Adewole said that “It is not the outbreak that is unusual; what is unusual is the large number of deaths recorded so far and these deaths came largely from three states: Kano, Bauchi and Niger.”

This, Adewole blamed on the government, individuals and health personnel, calling it a national embarrassment.

“Under this administration, our philosophy is that every death will count and every life will also count. What we should have done in Niger State is that once a death is noticed, the medical officer should have been notified.

“We are going to investigate the case, look at lessons learnt from this unusual situation so that it does not repeat itself and if there is need to punish anybody we shall not hesitate to do so,” he said.

“Once you are infected and it is treated,

Professor Abdulsalam Nasidi

Professor Micheal Asuzu you will survive it. That is why its fatality is not 100 per cent. And when you look at its fatality over the years, it is under five per cent.

“It is only this year that we have recorded this huge number of death. And that is why we call it a national embarrassment. But that embarrassment has stopped.”

Adewole, speaking on Saturday morning on Radiolink said “We have not recorded any death over the last 24 hours, so we are happy. That is not to say it has stopped because it is too early to say it is over.”

Also, he assured that Lassa fever treatment is free for all suspected cases, assuring that the ministry will make it a regular event by June 2016 to start warning Nigerians that the dry season is approaching and as such people should be on guard against Lassa fever.

37 news

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Agric, not crude oil, holds prospect for Africa —Oyedepo Biola Azeez-Ilorin

T

he Chancellor, L a n d m a r k University, Omu Aran, Kwara State, Bishop David Oyedepo, has said that agriculture, and not crude oil, holds the greatest prospect and promise for the African continent.

Speaking on a topic, “Marketing Agriculture to Secure the Destiny of a Nation”, during the sixth matriculation ceremony of 513 students of the institution in Omu Aran at the weekend, Bishop Oyedepo said that the current falling price of oil at the global market and its attendant devastating effect on the economy of oil dependent nations, best demonstrated his assertion.

“With the all share index and market capitalisation dropping, excess crude account shrinking, foreign reserve dropping and the Naira band being devalued, it is obvious that the economic outlook for Africa’s largest economy appears to be gloomy occasioned by the fall in oil prices,” he said.

The chancellor, who said that economic diversification held great potential to increase Africa’s resilience and fortune, added that the path to unlocking prosperity in Africa lies in promoting

Ekiti: 141 fire incidents claimed 5 in 2015 Five lives and properties worth about N213.72 million were lost to 141 fire incidents recorded in Ekiti State between January and December, 2015.

The state Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports Development, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi who made this known to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, however, disclosed that the State fire Services Department was able to save 29 lives and properties worth about N3.0583 billion, during the same period.

Ogunsuyi put the figure of special services and accidents recorded during the year at 21, noting that as usual, higher numbers of incidents were recorded during the dry season, particularly in the months of January and December.

The Commissioner said that according to available data, 41 fire calls were recorded in January while 23 occurred in December, 2015.

He noted that apart from the month of May when 11 fire incidents were recorded, other months recorded between four and 10.

effective agribusiness strategies.

Bishop Oyedepo said that the nation should see agriculture as a key sector that could improve food security in the country, added that Nigeria has a land area of 98.3 million hectares, with 74 million hectares of it good for farming, but less than half being explored.

“The population involved in farming is 60 to 70 per cent.

Agriculture’s contribution to GDP is also 41.5 per cent. Output of food per capital is among the lowest in sub-Sahara Africa.

Crops, livestock and fish have potentials for providing food and nutrition. So, we should see agriculture as a key sector that can improve food security in Nigeria,” he said.

He also disclosed that Landmark University was prepared to spearhead agrarian revolution in the country through teaching, research and entrepreneurial drive, adding that many experts had agreed that the economic development prospects of Africa depended on an efficient and sustainable agricultural productivity.

“Landmark University is here as a demonstration of a credible platform for practical exploits in assuring food security in Africa.

We are here to contribute phenomenally to the process of restoration of the dignity of our nation. An agricultural revolution is known to occur when people begin to domesticate plants and animals, thereby ensuring a continuous and sustainable agro-supply which is always synonymous with inventing new facilities,” he said.

Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor AIZE Obayan, said

the university could feed the nation with its achievement in production and marketing of Brown Rice.

“We started out with a research effort in the FADAMA area of the Landmark University Research Farm with just one hectare and we actually cultivated the land and planted in September and

by November we are already harvesting and most of us from the harvest had our Christmas and New Year rice from the FADAMA Rice Plantation and it is the Brown variant,” Professor Obyan said.

Nigerian Tribune

Kidnappers release ex-minister’s wife

By Tunde Ogunesan

WIFE of the former Minister of Police Affairs, Chief (Mrs) Mujidat Otolola Adesiyan, who was abducted last week Wednesday, regained her freedom on Sunday morning unhurt.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that she was releaded by her abductors on Saturday and had joined her family by Sunday morning.

Mrs Adesiyan was, last week, abducted by four men who drove to her shop very close to Bodija market, in Ibadan.

Her abductors, who came in a white Toyota Hilux truck, it was gathered, claimed to be officers investigating fraud from Abuja, on the disguise that her husband was in their custody.

She was told to come along with them to verify some facts.

Prof Foluke Ogunleye for burial

Officers of the Nigeria police with naval personnel inspecting the mt Camille vessel intercepted by the Nigerian Navy hip, Delta, with about 4,000 metric tonnes of product suspected to be crude oil, in Warri, Delta State, on Sunday. Nan

Navy hands over 11 oil theft suspects to IG Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

Authorities of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS DELTA) have handed over 11 crew members of the MT CAMILLE arrested by operatives of the naval base to the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) for further investigations and

prosecution.

The suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Police on Sunday, by Commander Shehu Tasiu, Base Operation Officer (BOO), on behalf of his boss, Commodore Raimi Mohammed.

The IGP representatives were led by Assistant Commissioner of Police

(ACP), Shawulu DanMamman of the Special Investigation Panel (SIP).

Dan-Mamman took time to inspect the MT CAMILLE vessel and the 11 suspects currently under the custody of the navy in Warri.

The names of the suspects were given as Mr Adeola Oladimeji (Captain), Sonny

Obasanjo to bag M.A Theology, as noun holds 5th convocation Naza Okoli - Lagos

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is among the thousands of students that will graduate at the 5th Convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), a statement issued by the school, at the weekend, has said.

Obasanjo, whose government resuscitated the university in 2002, will be graduating with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Christian Theology.

The two-day event according to the statement, will take place at NOUN’s permanent site at 91 Cadastral Zone, Nnamdi Azikiwe Expreesway, Jadi, Abuja, on Friday, January 15, and Sat-

urday, January 16, 2016.

According to the statement signed by the Director, Media and Information of NOUN, Dr Ronke Ogunmakin, a convocation lecture entitled “Open and Distance Education and Socio-Economic Development” will be delivered by Professor Nuhu Yaqub, the Vice Chancellor, Sokoto State University, on Friday, January 15 at 10 00 a.m. The lecture will be chaired by Professor Sulaiman Elias Bogoro, the Executive Secretary of TETFUND. “Saturday, 16th January, 2016, will feature the conferment of certificates, diplomas, Bachelor’s Degrees, Post- graduate Diplomas, master’s and honorary doc-

torate degrees on thousands of graduates of this great institution, who have been found worthy in character and learning and other deserving individuals,” it stated further.

Other lined up activities at the event include the inauguration of the Senate Building of the university, a Specialist Hospital sponsored by TETFUND, and facilities for the School of Health Sciences. The convocation will also witness the installation of the first Chancellor of the university, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Ambassador Lawrence Okolio Chikezie, Agubuzu of Olo Kingdom, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Joseph (Chief Engr), Olaoluwa Temitope (Chief Officer), Onyeaku Kelvin (Second Engr), Lukman Dare (Bosun), Sesi Ibrahim (Welder).

Others are Mr Nkocha Ameachi (Chief Cook), Anayo Chukwu (AB), Ekuma Emmanuel (Oiler), Urchie Lucky (Oiler) and Nwoke Jesse (Cadet).

Commander Tasiu said the vessel and its occupants were intercepted on November 14, 2015 by naval personnel while on routine patrol along Forcados offshore, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta.

Tasiu added that the vessel was laden with about 4,000 metric tonnes of a liquid suspected to be crude oil.

He noted that “The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OBULA on November 14, 2015, while on routine patrol, sighted MT CAMILLE fully loaded and positioned at Forcados offshore.

According to him, “The Captain of the vessel was subsequently interrogated to ascertain if he had valid documents for the cargo, but could not produce any,” and was consequently arrested with 11 crew members.

The earthly remains of a don of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), who died in an auto crash on December 26, 2015, will be committed to mother earth on Friday.

Professor Foluke Ogunleye (Nee Adesina) former Head of Department, Dramatic Arts, in the Faculty of Arts, passed on in an accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. She was aged 53.

A funeral programme announced by the Ogunleye and Adesina families indicate that funeral obsequies begin on Wednesday, January 13, with an Artists’ Night billed for the Pit Theatre, OAU, by 8.p.m.

Lying-in-state holds at the Dramatic Arts Department, on Thursday, at 10.a.m, followed by commendation service at the All Souls Chapel, near the university gate. The corpse then moves to her home in New Bodija, Ibadan, where a service of songs holds at 5.p.m.

Funeral service is billed for Friday, 10.a.m, at the Deeper Life Bible Church, New Gbagi, Ibaban, and interment follows immediately after.

Professor Ogunleye is survivied by husband, children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters.

Professor Ogunleye

38

news

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Stop harassing our members with state apparatus, S/West PDP warns FG JacobSegunOlatunji-Abuja

T

he leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West, at the weekend, warned the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to desist from harassing its leaders and members, nationwide, with state apparatus, in the overall interest of the growing democracy in the country In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Sunday, by the South-West Zonal Chairman of the Party, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, the party lamented the recent clamp down on its leaders including a one-time acting national chairman of the party and currently its

acting Chairman BOT, Dr Haliru Bello Mohammed; former Chairman of BOT, Chief Tony Anenih; High Chief Raymond Dokpesi and of late the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh.

In the statement, the South-West Zone of the Party demanded the unconditional release of Chief Metuh or in the alternative to charge him to court, saying that “holding our National Publicity Secretary by the agents of the APCled Federal Government behind the bar since last week, to us, is abduction.

We are under a democratic government, but APC wants to take us back to the dark days of the military.

“The APC-led Federal Government is out to silence the opposition

through the misuse of state apparatus. We will resist this. PDP was in power for 16 years and such a thing never happened.

We should not truncate the nascent democracy through our selfish inter-

est. Nigeria is greater than any individual or a political party,” the statement declared.

It then appealed to well meaning Nigerians and the international community to prevail on President

Muhammadu Buhari to allow democracy to grow in the country so that the efforts of the past heroes at establishing lasting democracy in Nigeria will not be wasted.”

It also appealed to the

members of the party nationwide to remain calm and continue to unite so that they would be able to flush out the APC-led Federal Government, come 2019 general elections.

Ogun SDP distances self from N100m collected by Falae OlayinkaOlukoya-Abeokuta

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ogun State has distanced itself from the sum of N100 million collected by its national chairman, Chief Olu Falae, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as election campaign fund in the build-up to the 2015 presidential election.

It will be recalled that Falae had admitted collecting the said amount of money from the chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, as campaign fund to support the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Falae maintained his stance on the collection and that the money was distributed to the state branches of the party for onward distribution to other levels of the party.

The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation said the monies were received through the party’s account and that the monies were distributed to other respective branches.

In a statement signed by the state party chairman and publicity secretary, Chief Olu Agemo and Clement Adeniyi respectively, the party said it was not notified of or involved in any negotiation to partner with the PDP or any other political party for the purpose of winning the election.

The party claimed that an advertorial was published in the Nigerian Tribune of Monday, April 20, 2015, to state categorically that the party did not receive any form of fund from the presidency

for campaign and election purposes.

The state officers also submitted that the party was never informed by the national secretariat of the SDP of the decision to adopt Jonathan or any other candidate as the party’s

The couple, Ademola and Temitope Adesina flanked by the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (right) and the bride’s parent, Wole and Omolara Olanipekun, at the traditional wedding held at the weekend, in Lagos.

Buhari’s anti-graft war’ll not fail, Soyinka assures Bola Badmus-Lagos

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has assured that the anti-graft war embarked upon by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration will not fail, even as he admitted the fact that corruption would always fight back.

Soyinka’s assurance was contained in a statement made available at the weekend by Mr Segun Adeyemi, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, when the

minister paid a visit to the Nobel Laureate in his office, at the Freedom Park, in Lagos.

Soyinka, while answering questions from the reporters who accompanied the minister on the visit, said he was sure that the Federal Government’s ongoing anti-corruption fight would succeed, but warned against complacency, as he noted corruption would always fight back.

“We are not where we were (in the fight against corruption) before this administration took over, but

(the government should realise that) corruption will always fight back,” he said, noting that those already in the cesspit of corruption would be in the forefront of such a counter-battle.

According to him, never before, not even during the country’s civil war, was the money meant to buy arms for the military to defend the country and protect the citizenry shared by a few people.

Earlier, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Mohammed, had

Lawmaker tasks Ajimobi, Alaafin on gang violence in Oyo

By Wale Akinselure

Lawmaker representing Oyo East/Oyo West State Constituency, Honourable Muideen Olagunju, has noted that the intervention of the state Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III is expedient to stem incidences of gang violence in Oyo town.

Speaking against the backdrop of a recent clash between Ilaka and Akesan gangs in Oyo town, Olagunju, who was accompanied to Tribune House, Ibadan, by a group “Oyo

Global Forum”, charged Ajimobi and Alaafin to utilise the security information at their disposal to prevent further upsurge of violence in the town.

He decried that it had become a norm for the gang groups to hold the town to ransom at will.

Pathetic, according to Olagunju is the brazenness with which the gang carry out these attacks whereby gang members feel invincible.

Quoting investigations, he attributed the trend of gangs in the town to high rate of unemployed youths, who had become

disengaged after being used as political thugs for elections.

Olagunju charged Ajimobi to usefully engage the youths on the need to depart from criminality to being responsible citizens.

“We plead with Governor Ajimobi to expedite action on useful engagement of youths to have a departure from criminality to being responsible citizens. Also, is the non regulation of the use of hard drugs and heavy consumption of alcohol among our youths in every nook and crannies of the state.”

expressed the Federal Government’s resolve to make the National Theatre what it should be- a magnet for the creative arts.

The minister assured that the national monument would not be sold, but would be brought up to standard through a Public-

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He disclosed that he was currently studying the PPP proposal with a view to ensuring that the government and people of the country got a good deal from it, saying the visit was to enable him to drink from Soyinka’s cup of wisdom.

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I, formerly Ogheni Oghenekevwe now OGHENEKEVWE JEAN PETER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Abiola Musbau now ADIGUN ABIOLA MUSBAUDEEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Dr. Miss Owolabi Olabisi Julianah now DR. MRS OLANIYAN OLABISI JULIANAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME & DATE OF BIRTH I, Kazeem Lamidi Babatunde am the same person as Kazeem Ahmed Babatunde. Now I wish to be known and addressed as AHMMED KAZEEM BABATUNDE and my date of birth is 12/12/1975. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Omoike Osezele Ailohi now AYODEJI OSEZELE AILOHI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Fajugbagbe Kehinde Aderonke now ODEYALE KEHINDE ADERONKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Atunbi Folashade Abigael now MRS. FALADE FOLASHADE ABIGAEL. All former documents remain valid.

Ogun State SUBEB and general public take note.

THIS BOX IS FOR SALE CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Igbe Rita Msaan now PETER IGBE RITA MSAAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Olalekan Ogundipe now KAREEM NASIRU AREMU. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Yemi Oluwaseun Ogundiran now MRS OPEYEMI OLUWASEUN AKINLEYE. All former documents remain valid.

University College Hospital, Ibadan, Access Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Aremu Olayemi Sunday now AMOO OLAYEMI SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Olasunkanmi Sunday Olayinka now ADEYINKA SANMI OLUWAFEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeyeri Banke Christianah now MRS FATUWASE BANKE CHRISTIANAH. All former documents remain valid.

Diamond Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Ojo Sarah Abosede now MRS AKINDUNNI SARAH ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Komolafe Jumoke Christianah am the same person as Komolafe Olajumoke O. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as KOMOLAFE JUMOKE CHRISTIANAH. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akinwale Toyin Deborah now MRS ADEYEYE TOYIN DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

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I, formerly Mrs. Beatrice Oluyemisi Oyewole Olaniyan now MRS. BEATRICE OLUYEMISI OYELAMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Awosemo Iretiayo Seyi now MRS OGUNGBEMI IRETIAYO SEYI. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State College of Education, IkereEkiti and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ogudu Patrick Ohiolei now OHIOOSAWEME PATRICK OMOJUWON. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Babatunde Bola Agnes of Royals Compound, Okuku now MISS BABATUNDE BOLA TOMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. UBA and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Aminu Omolade Sidikat now ILIASU OMOLADE SIDIKAT AMINU. All former documents remain valid. UBA, Ijumu Local Government and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, AGBOOLA LAWRENCE OLUKUNLE am the same person as BAMIGBOYE LAWRENCE OLUKUNLE and AGBOOLA LAWRENCE OLUKUNLE OLURANTI. All documents bearing these names are mine and remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Fadahunsi Folashade I. now MRS ADERIBIGBE FOLASHADE I. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Alonge Gbenga Iyiola now EWENLA SANMI STEPHEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Olonimoyo Oluwaseun Glory now MRS ADELOLA GLORY OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Alaka A. Jelilat now MRS AKINWALE ADUKE JELILAT. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Ms Adegbite Olajumoke Oyetola now MRS ADEGBITE-LAWAL OLAJUMOKE OYETOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ojo Oluwatosin Peter now OJO OLUWATOSIN OLAMIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Adeleke Rukayat Bukky now MRS OLANREWAJU RUKAYAT BUKKY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oseni Kemi Abidemi now MRS ADESANYA OLUWAKEMI ABIDEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Yusuff Hammed Olatunji now ADEMOLA HAMMED ADEBAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Omowon Taibatu now MRS MUILI TAIBATU AMOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Yetunde Olasunbo Mogaji now YETUNDE OLASUNBO OWOLABI. All former documents remain valid. Authority concern and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Anthony Afemike Ebigie am the same person as Anthony Ebighe.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ANTHONY AFEMIKE EBIGIE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adefunke Margaret Adebayo now MRS ADEFUNKE MARGARET OKEZIE. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Taye Olayinka Sobogun now OLAYINKA SOFOLAHAN. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Miss Ibironke Ogunnusi now MRS IBIRONKE OGUNNUSI OMORHIRHI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Olatunji Kehinde Olubodun now OLUBODUN KEHINDE OLUBUKOLA. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Blessing Okon Umoh now KATE OKON UMOH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, JOHN OKEREKE OGONNAYA SAMUEL wish to confirm that I am the same bearing JOHN OKEREKE OGONNAYA and JOHN SAMUEL OKEREKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajao Omolara Funmilola now MRS ISAFIADE OMOLARA FUNMILOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Osiobe Blessing Uwomano now MRS ADEDOKUN BLESSING UWOMANO. All former documents remain valid.

University College Hospital, Ibadan and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Alao Taiwo Adekunle now OLAWALE MICHEAL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Atiye Taye Mary now MRS AJAYI OLAYINKA TAYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Solomon Oluyemi now OJO OLUYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME

I, Ezenwa Ayas Bright am the same person bearing Ezenwa Athinatius Chukwuakunye. Now I wish to be known and addressed as EZENWA AYAS BRIGHT. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Chinomso Onyinyechi Nwosu now SUNDAY ONYINYECHI NWOSU. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Sarumi Folashade Jemina now OLAWUNI FOLASHADE JEMINA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Sunday Arinze Emmanuel am the same person bearing Ejim Arinze Emmanuel. Now I wish to be known and addressed as SUNDAY ARINZE EMMANUEL. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Farotimi Abike Roseline now OLATUNJI ABIKE ROSELINE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Mebitaghan Rita Onome Efe now MRS BOSOMO RITA ONOME. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME I, Okeke Ogechukwu that my name was wrongly spelt as Okeke Ogechi. Now I wish to be known and addressed as OKEKE OGECHUKWU. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Iyegbu Innocent Onyeka now AWULOR ONYEKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olaifa Olatundun Bukola now MRS KOMOLAFE OLATUNDUN OLUWABUKOLA. All former documents remain valid.

Nigeria Police Force and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Gbeminiyi Olawale Obileye Farinde now MR GBEMINIYI OLAWALE OBILEYE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adeniji Lukman Omoniyi now ADENIJI OMONIYI AROWOLO. All former documents remain valid. Ibadan North East Local Government Education Authority (SUBEB) and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Temitope Ajoke Afolaranmi now TEMITOPE AJOKE ADEYEMO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Abiodun Bukola Grace now ANIMASHAUN BUKOLA GRACE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ayobami Jesupitan Morufat now AYOBAMI OLAORE MORUFAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Alabi Elizabeth Oludoyin now MRS ADEWUYI ELIZABETH OLUDOYIN. All former documents remain valid.

Iresa-Adu Local Government Education Authority and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Abolade Titilayo Aduke now MRS CHRISTIANA ADUKE TITILAYO OYADIJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Adeniyi Afolabi Emmanuel now EMMANUEL SUNDAY AMURE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Alade Abudu now TUDUO MATTHIAS KERE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olabode Omoyeni Temitope now MRS MAKINDE OMOYENI TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. Ikeja Electricity Company, Lagos and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akinyemi Olunike Blessing now MRS GBADEGESIN OLUNIKE BLESSING. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Isola Kazeem Akanmu Olatoye now ISOLA MARK OLATOYE MAYOR. All former documents remain valid. CEDAR MFB LTD, CIBN, ICAN and general public take note.

I, formerly Olumide Clementina Avwerute now ADEYEMI CLEMENTINA AVWERUTE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Taiwo Busola Kehinde am the same person as Taiwo Kenny.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as TAIWO BUSOLA KEHINDE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olufunke Ogunsanya now MRS OLUFUNKE TEMIDAYO OYELEYE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ukulor Isaiah Ebimiewei now UKULOR ISAIAH WOLO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Obadimeji Christianah Taiwo now MRS KOLAWOLE CHRISTIANAH TAIWO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Daniel Alidu now UGBURO PRINCE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adegboye Fausat Adedayo now MRS LAMIDI FAUSAT ADEDAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ademuyiwa Ifeoluwa Oluwatoyin am same person as Mrs Jimmy Ifeoluwa Oluwatoyin now wish to be addressed as MRS KOMOLAFE IFEOLUWA OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Bolorunde Omotoyosi Omowunmi now MRS AKINMADE OMOTOYOSI OMOWUNMI BOLORUNDE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ikani Eleojo Gloria now MRS GLORIA ELEJO ITODO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Taiwo Dauda now MISS DAINI TOSIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

news FG denies payment of money to influence Bayelsa guber rerun

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DapoFalade-PortHarcourt

F

ederal Government has denied knowledge of payment of an undisclosed huge amount of money to a major ex-militant leader by one of the governorship candidates to influence the governorship re-run election, held in Bayelsa State, last Saturday.

Special adviser to the President on Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh, made this known while

Monday, 11 January, 2016

speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, at the weekend, saying the information was baseless and untrue.

He however disclosed that the government had promised a fair deal to the Niger Delta ex-militants, in line with the amnesty programme, adding that the present peace in the region must be sustained by all stakeholders.

“I am not aware that a major ex-militant leader was paid a huge amount of money by a governorship candidate,” he said.

He said the direct payment of the N65,000 monthly stipends of the ex-militants, last week, became necessary following the refusal of banks to pay them.

“What I do know is that this exercise became necessary when the banks refused to pay those captured in the amnesty programme to make a very credible and tangible arrangement.

“This exercise is just for this period, immediately after this period the banking system will continue. This exercise will continue from

the banks because there were some ambiguities.

“The bankers advised that they will not allow their premises to be used; that the ex-agitators damaged their bank facilities.

“This exercise will allow for effective biometric verification and to ensure that their names tally with the biometric numbers. This is to ensure credibility and sustainability,” Boroh said.

He said the amnesty programme had helped to sustain peace in the region, disclosing that there were

plans to partner with other stakeholders to keep the vision of amnesty alive.

“The amnesty programme is to sustain the peace in Niger Delta; to sustain the peace which ex-agitators have been sustaining.

“The amnesty programme is to ensure total peace, total security, training for the ex-agitators; empowerment for them; employment, then engagement and later reintegration to allow for development.

“I want to continue to sustain that peace in order to allow for NDDC, the Niger Delta Ministry, governors in the Niger Delta region and the Ministry of Agriculture to continue their work in boosting agriculture in the Niger Delta, all for development. We are in partnership with other stakeholders and international body to achieve our vision,” he said.

We will ensure independence of LGs —Fayose

From right, wife of the Enugu State governor, Mrs Monica Ugwuanyi; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Reverend Matthew Kukah; Bishop Calistus Onaga of Enugu Catholic Diocese; Bishop Emeritus of Enugu Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend (Dr) Anthony Gbuji; former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo and his wife, Patricia, during the thanksgiving mass to mark Nwobodo’s wedding in Catholic Church, at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Ogui, Enugu State.

Bishop Kukah decries restiveness in Nigeria

Attributes it to inequality Jude Ossai - Enugu BISHOP of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend Matthew Kukah, has decried the on-growing restiveness in the country, saying that it is as a result of disparity between the public office holders and the people.

Most Reverend Kukah made this known on Sunday, while participating in a thanksgiving mass to mark re-wedding of ex-Governor Jim Nwobodo at Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu.

In a homily during the holy mass which also coincided with the service to mark the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance /Appeal Fund Week, Bishop Kukah also warned the Catholic faithful not to be overexcited that they have gained where the Anglicans lost, adding that there was no gain and loss in the matter.

The cleric appealed to all Christians to close ranks and endeavour to achieve success in evangelism

which is the most important Christian goal. Bishop Kukah commended the Anglican Church for nurturing Chief Jim Nwobodo from birth till the time he joined the Catholic Church.

He added that Senator Nwobodo’s entry into the

Catholic Church was a home coming, recalling that all Christian churches pulled out from the Catholic Church, because of the protest from the then Rev Fr Martin Luther. He warned that people should not judge others but allow

judgement for God. The Bishop expressed happiness that since the enthronement of Pope Francis and the emergence of his down-to-earth simplicity and freshness that the Catholic Church has continued to grow.

IMF boss’ visit to Nigeria unfruitful —Adegboruwa ByYejideGbenga-Ogundare Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, on Sunday, described as unfruitful; the recent visit of the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms Christine Lagarde to Nigeria, adding that she turned her face from germane issues while she concentrated on economic issues and not matters that had to do with the rule of law.

Adegboruwa, in a statement, stated that it was unfair that she came and left without using her sta-

tus and the opportunity it afforded her to improve on the situation of hapless Nigerians as a woman.

According to the statement, “ it is totally uncharitable and a throw back on democracy and good governance for Lagarde to have visited Nigeria and departed so unceremoniously without using the opportunity of her visit, her status and indeed her influence, to bear on the emerging despotic regime of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari. Such state visits, when undertaken to pat dictators on their wicked backs, could serve to

enslave the hapless people that they govern.

“On Monday, January 4, 2016, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Ms Christine Lagarde, commenced a four-day official visit to Nigeria. The expectation was that she would take advantage of the opportunity of her visit, to hammer in and emphasise the rich and much cherished culture of French liberty and freedom, but alas, that did not happen at all, as the IMF boss concentrated purely on the economic advantage of her visit.”

Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has given the assurance that his administration will ensure independence of local governments, so that they can really function as a tier of government.

The governor said anything short of that would mean whatever is done at that level is mere window dressing.

He spoke in Ado-Ekiti, at the weekend, during his maiden meeting with the newly-inaugurated elected council chairmen in the state.

According to a statement on Sunday, by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor said local government system should be truly allowed to function in accordance with the constitution for democratic gains to get down to the people in the grassroots.

Responding to various questions and observations from the council chairmen, Fayose advised them to settle down and study the situations in their councils and start work.

“Time is not anybody’s friend, so we have to note that. However, I will advise you to first study the situation in your individual councils. You must be ready to learn and take advice. The state government will collaborate with you where necessary.”

Nigerian Tribune

Four suspects in police net over death of farmer Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure Men of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested four men in Ondo town in Ondo West Local Government Area of the state over the killing of a 48-year-old man identified as Lawrence Akinsiyinu.

The suspects, who include Ismaila Faith, 32; Ajakaye Babatunde, 27; Ojo Segun, 30 and Daniel Samuel, 25 and who were said to be forest guards and commercial motorcyclist operators, were alleged to have beaten Akinsiyinu to death.

It was gathered that the deceased, who was coming from the farm took to his heel when he sighted the four men who were said to be officials of Anti Forestry Encroachment task Force in the state.

The officials who were curious to know the reasons for running away pursued him with their motorcycle and apprehended him and beat him to coma in the process.

Akinsiyinu was rushed to a private hospital in Ajue village, which was about three kilometres to his home, while doctors battled to save his life but was later pronounced dead.

Rivers: Group threatens to shut down Total E&P over sacked workers Uduakabasi Patrick - Port Harcourt A Youth group in Rivers State known as Niger Delta Youth Movement has threatened that it would shut down oil giant Total E&P operations, if the management failed to reinstate over 46 indigenous workers sacked by the company.

The group disclosed this at the weekend, in Port Harcourt. According to the group, it would shutdown Total’s operations in Egi Kingdom, Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government area if the sacked workers were not called back to their place of duty.

Speaking was the leader of the group, Comrade Malt Ekene, who said the sacked workers and their family were currently going through tough times, stressing that it was a sign of disrespect by Total to the host community and the Niger Delta Movement.

He maintained that rather than relieving people of their jobs, more people, especially youths of Egi land should be employed to reduce the rate of criminality and insecurity in the area.

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news

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Buhari, Dangote, govs, others for S.L. Akintola’s 50th memorial remembrance

FRSC signage production plant ready for commissioning soon —Oyeyemi Clement Idoko-Abuja

THE Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has disclosed that the signage production plant being established by the corps at Gwagawalada in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, would soon be ready for commissioning.

Investigation into road crashes by the FRSC had revealed that inadequate traffic signage on most of the nation’s highways accounted for high volume of road carnages in the country.

Oyeyemi, who expressed the determination of FRSC to complete and commission the plant as soon as possible, said when fully operational, the signage from the plant would resolve the present shortage of traffic signage on most highways in the country.

The Corps Marshal, in company of members of the management team of the corps, during the weekend, paid a familiarisation tour to the site preparatory to its commissioning, where he also expressed satisfaction with the level of work done.

He stressed that the plant was part of the FRSC’s practical demonstration of its resolve to tackle the threats which road traffic crashes pose to road users with lack of traffic signage being a major causative factor.

In order to ensure smooth commissioning, the Corps Marshal directed the head of the centre to take all necessary measures that could meet the targets of the commissioning as scheduled.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola (left) presenting a gift to the celebrant, former president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Hassan Sunmonu and his wife.

Titilayo, during a dinner in honour of Comrade Sunmonu on his 75th birthday anniversary at the Government House, Osogbo, Osun State, at the weekend.

Count me out of Faleke, Audu’s son’s ordeal —Bello Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

T

he Kogi State governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Sunday, distanced himself from the arrest of his deputy governor-elect, Honourable James Faleke and Mohammed Audu by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Bello, in a statement signed by one of his media aides, Jude Salau, said he knew nothing about the arrest of the duo.

He said at no time did he write any petition against Faleke and Audu to the DSS based on which they were allegedly arrested.

The statement read, “The allegation that I sent a petition to the DSS is an absolute falsehood and nothing can be farther from the truth.

“I did not send any petition to the security department to invite Honourable Faleke.

The insinuations that I might have written a petition to push for their invitation is absolute falsehood. Nothing can be farther from the truth.”

He noted that the DSS had proven to be a highly professional body under its present leadership and therefore could not be pushed around by any single individual or group.

“We should all strive to

part of the reconciliatory moves and peace building efforts that we have initiated ahead of our January 27 inauguration.

“As we count down towards this historic inauguration of our changed government, our focus remains the enactment of a responsive and responsible leadership to Kogi citizens who have reposed their trust in their party.

“We are determined to deliver dividends of democracy to our persevering and patriotic people at the fastest speed. A new Kogi is here: peace, harmony and all round development,” the governor-elect stated.

PDP debunks defection claim by Oke Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure

The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has debunked claims by the rival All Progressives Congress (APC)

in the state that its members have decamped to APC. The state publicity secretary of the party, Honourable Banji Okunomo, who made this denial while re-

Ogun gets tough against violators of environmental sanitation law The Ogun State government has said it would henceforth strictly enforce environmental sanitation law, particularly against anyone who indiscriminately dumps refuse on road medians and in drainages.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Adedayo Adeneye, made this known in Ota when he and his counterparts, Mr Bolaji Oyeleye (Environment) and Chief Jide Ojuko (Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs) paid an inspec-

support the independence of our security agencies from politicisation as agencies of government related to law enforcement and judiciary must be seen as impartial in our collective desire to build a strong democracy.

He urged the members of All Progressives Congress (APC) and the people of the state in general to continually seek amicable resolution of issues in the interest of our state.

“Honourable Faleke is a respected member of APC, who has made his own contribution to the success of our party, instigating his arrest cannot be a

tion visit to the Ota market, recently reopened after it was sealed by the state government, which accused the market men and women of not maintaining a clean environment.

Adeneye, while addressing the traders, also expressed displeasure at the disregard by the residents of Ota and Toll Gate areas to the directive of the government that they should maintain a clean environment always.

The commissioner frowned at the attitude of

the traders and deplored the filthy state of the area despite the recent drastic action taken by the government.

He maintained that government was committed to maintaining a clean environment and in this regard, had no option than to strictly enforce the relevant laws.

Adeneye lamented that less than 24 hours after the market was reopened, the area has again returned to its filthy state, characterised by indiscriminate refuse dumping.

acting to comments credited to the former governorship candidate of PDP in the 2012 gubernatorial election in the state, Chief Olusola Oke, that some top members of the PDP had concluded plans to decamp to APC soon, described the statement as an illusion.

Okunomo stated that “claim by Chief Oke of the APC that some of its members and leaders are planning to decamp to the APC was designed to make people believe that the party is waxing stronger in the state while they are yet to recover from the emotional trauma of the last state Assembly election.”

Okunomo noted that the movement of some leaders of the party to APC after the last presidential election had no effect on the PDP in the state, saying the party bounced back to

reckoning by winning 21 out of the 26 seats at the state House of Assembly.

The publicity secretary stated that rather than admit that the party was not strong enough in the state to win election, Oke embarked on spreading falsehood saying, “It shows their number is not sufficient enough to defeat PDP.” Okunomo, who charged the PDP members and the people of the state to disregard such claim by the APC, said Oke and some others defected to APC because of their morbid ambition which he said could not be realised in PDP. He said “no amount of migration of some selfish politicians out of PDP will ever affect the party because the people of the state who contributed to the electoral victory of the PDP remain with the party.

President Mohammadu Buhari, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, governors and other dignitaries are to grace the 50th remembrance of former Premier in the Western Nigeria, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola.

The memorial of the former Premier between 1959 and 1962, who was murdered on January 15, 1966 during Nigeria’s first military coup, which resulted in the assassination of many leading politicians, mostly members of the Northern People’s Congress, will come up on Thursday, January 14 and Friday, 15, 2016 in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

The chairman, Planning Committee for the memorial remembrance, Mr Yemi Adedokun, made this known on Sunday, during memorial and thanksgiving service by the family of the late Icon at First Baptist Church, Okelerin, Ogbomoso.

Adedokun added that captains of industries, traditional rulers, top political notches and crème de crème of the society, including business and political associates of the late sage and family, are expected to grace the occasion.

Remain calm, NSCDC appeals to Oyo residents

By Tunde Ogunesan

THE State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State, John Oyedokun Adewoye, has urged the residents of the state not to be apprehensive of threat to the security and peace of the state.

Adewoye stated this in an interview with some journalists at the weekend, in lieu of the perception of an impending relocation of criminals to the state due to the planned deployment of Close Circuit Camera (CCC) gadget in strategic places by the Lagos State government.

It will be recalled that the Lagos State government recently announced its readiness to deploy the CCC towards making the entire state unsafe for criminals and those with criminal tendencies. This development, however, has been causing apprehension in the neighbouring states, owing to the feelings that the development would lead to forceful relocation of criminals from Lagos State to the neighbouring states.

news $2.1 bn arms deal: SERAP writes Jonathan, demands explanation 42

S

ocio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has sent an open letter to former President Goodluck Jonathan seeking explanations from him on “what you knew or had reason to know on the apparent diversion and sharing of over $2 billion meant for purchase of arms to fight Boko Haram.”

The letter dated January 8,2016 and signed by SERAP executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, reads in part: “SERAP is sending you this open letter to seek explanations from you, as former President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, on what you knew, or had reason to know on the apparent diversion and sharing of the over $2 billion meant to purchase arms to empower Nigerian soldiers to fight Boko Haram.

“SERAP considers that there is enough material in the public domain to suggest that over $2 billion meant for purchase of arms to equip Ni-

Debtor gov has no moral right to remain in office —Isa Aremu BIOLA Azeez - Ilorin A top labour leader in the country, Mr Issa Aremu, has said that any governor who could not pay workers their monthly salary as at when due has no moral right to remain in office.

Speaking on the occasion of his 55th birthday in Ilorin, at the weekend, Aremu asked state governors who owe their workers to immediately resign their appointments.

The labour leader, who asked labour leaders at all levels and the impoverished workers to sack debtor- governor, also said that they (labour leaders) should vacate their positions if they could not.

"Non-payment of salaries amount to 'economicide' that is unacceptable . 'Economicide' means deliberate strangulation of the working people through a denial of wage incomes that has led to untimely death of workers, withdrawal of their children from schools and mass poverty," he said.

"Senators should emulate President Muhammadu Buhari and toe the path of prudence and selflessness."

He commended President Buhari over the 2016 appropriation bill.

"If the spirit and content of the 2016 budget is fully implemented, Nigeria is undoubtedly on the match to economic recovery and renaissance once again."

Monday, 11 January, 2016

gerian soldiers fighting Boko Haram in the North East, was diverted and shared among high-ranking government and party officials under your watch as President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces.

“SERAP and indeed, Nigerians reserve the right to pur-

sue justice through appropriate national and international accountability mechanisms to ensure that everyone involved in this heinous crime is brought to justice in accordance with international standards of fairness.”

“Is it correct to suggest that the budget of over $2 billion

to purchase arms for Nigerian soldiers fighting Boko Haram in the North-East, was authorised by you or your office? In other words, did your former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd) seek your approval to collect from the Central Bank of Nigeria

(CBN), the over $2 billion meant for purchase of arms for Nigerian soldiers?”

“If so, Nigerians would like to hear from you whether the apparent diversion and sharing of our commonwealth by your former NSA was expressly or implicitly authorised by you.

From left, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82Divsion Enugu, Major-General Atarhiru Ibraham; Garrison Commander, 2 Brigade Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Opurum; Commander, 2 Brigade Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Brigadier-General Steveson Olabanji and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, testing a surveillance camera, in Port Harcourt, on Sunday. PHOTO:Nan.

Group cautions Buhari, military against approach to Shiite's crisis Barely a month of violent clash between the soldiers in the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Major- General T.Y. Brutai and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria(IMN),popularly called “Shitte” in Kaduna State, a human rights group under the aegis of Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice(CHRSJ), has

cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the authorities of the Nigerian army, against the approach to the crisis.

It, however, called for unconditional and immediate release of the leader of the Shittee movement, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his over 700 followers that were arrested by the Nigerian army during the violent

clash.

The group also called for the release of the corpse of members that were killed by men of the Nigerian army during the clash for proper burial in line with Islamic tradition.

Similarly, it called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), to release the National Publicity Secretary of

Support anti-corruption war, cleric tells Nigerians Biola Azeez - Ilorin As President Muhammadu Buhari intensifies effort in his fight against corruption, the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, has urged the president not to be stampeded into taking rash action.

Speaking at the official opening and dedication of ultra-modern Cathedral of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Ilorin District Headquarters, at the weekend, the Spiritual Father and chairman of the church, Most Reverend Samuel Abidoye, urged Nigerians to support the President’s anti-corruption war for sustainable development of the country and its people.

“As far as I am concerned,

President Buhari has started well. Initially, they wanted to rush him but he refused to be stampeded into taking rash actions. When you don’t rush, you will not make mistake. The way he is handling the anti-graft war, I enjoin Nigerians to be patient with him. He has something to offer Nigerians in trying to stop corruption which is all pervasive.

See the mind-boggling revelations; see how much has been frittered away. While some are stealing billions, some cannot afford three square meals and some don’t even have food to eat.

“Many are unemployed yet, they shared the money meant for the purchase of arms and ammunition to fight the Boko Haram insurgents. It is very

bad. My advice to political office holders is to always remember the people that are suffering in our midst. They should remember the unemployed.

He is doing something good; let’s give him time. Let Nigerians wait for him and see what he will come up with”, he said.

Also speaking, the leader in charge, Ilorin district of the church, Special Apostle Joseph Daniel, said politics is not a dirty game, adding that it is the politicians that are bad thus, giving its practice a bad name.

“Politics is very good when you do it honestly; that is looking after the community.

When you are not corrupt and you don’t misbehave it is very good."

the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Chief Olisah Metuh, on the allegation of N1.4 billion of the $2.1billion arms deals purportedly and allegedly traced to his account.

In a statement issued and signed by the CHRSJ’s executive chairman Mr Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman, which a copy was made available to newsmen in Lagos, on Sunday, maintained that the illegal continued detention of Metuh in EFCC’s cell without charging him to court of competent jurisdiction, was an affront of gross violation of Metus’s fundamental human rights as stipulated in the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights ( ACHPR ) and United Nations International Instruments on Human Rights,describing the EFCC action as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional which was contrary to the section 36(5) of the amended 1999 Constitution that “every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty”.

AfDB earmarks $300m for Nigerian youths in agriculture Collins Nnabuife - Abuja The African Development Bank has said that Nigerian youths in the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will soon access $300 million provided by the bank to encourage youths in agriculture.

This was disclosed by the Director of Agricultural and Agro- Allied Industries, African Development Bank, Dr Chudi Ojukwu, when he and his counterpart from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), visited the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, at the ministry’s headquarters, Abuja.

He explained that a total of $300 million would be accessed to cover the three -year project which would bring young graduates together and train them for 18 months as entrepreneur farmers.

According to him, the initiative would create 250,000 jobs, the beneficiaries would be trained at various incubation centres on all aspects of value chains, with each beneficiary of the project supported with about US$75,000.

Group condemns invasion of former Customs chief's residence Collins Nnabuife - Abuja A civil society group, the Concerned Citizens for Constitutional Democracy (CCCD), has said that the country is gradually sliding into a dictatorial system of government with the rising wave of arrest of people and the neglect of rule of law under the guise of fighting corruption.

The CCCD, in a statement issued on Sunday, condemned the invasion of the residence of former Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Abdulahi Dikko.

The statement signed by CCCG national president, Anthony Kolawole, said it was apparent that the siege laid to Dikko’s house by the EFCC was for evidence fishing.

He said Nigerians would expect that the EFCC would have carried out its investigation and would have facts and credible evidence to work with and not invade residence of alleged suspects who have not been invited for any questioning.

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communitynews

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Shaare community sends SOS to Buhari, IG over attacks

by Olalekan Olabulo

T

he people of Shaare community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have raised the alarm over what they described as constant attack on their community by the Nupes from a neighbouring community.

The Kwara community members have, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police and the Kwara State governor to urgently intervene to save them from further attacks.

The people stated that public and private properties in the town had been vandalised and set on fire by the Nupes, over claims of ownership of a piece of land located between the two communities.

The President of Shaare Patriotic Movement, Professor Abdul Fatai Jimoh, stated that the attack on the community was as a result of the decision of the headmaster of the Community Local Government Education Authority Primary School to clear the school premises of bush, which had constituting security threat to the pupils of the school.

According to him, the headmaster had discussed the issue with the management of the school, members of Shaare Descendants Union and the Shaare Traditional Council, before going ahead with the clearing of the bush, having earlier received the go-ahead from the chairman of the local government area.

Professor Jimoh continued: “On October 26, 2006, volunteers started clearing the bush and in the process, some Nupe

youths from Tsaragi, a neighbouring community appeared and tried to stop them, claiming that

the area belongs to them.

“The workers and the headmaster of the school were chased away by the

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has presented N2,650,000 compensation to victims of last year’s communal clash between Agbarere and Ita Ajia communities in Ilorin metropolis.

It will be recalled the vehicles and houses, were destroyed by hoodlums, during the crisis.

The Director-General of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Constituency Office, Honourable Abdulwahab Issa, who personally handed over the

Another resident, Kazzem Olajide, told Community News that there had been several attacks

The Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Oba Adebola Ajakaye (right), presenting certificate of chieftancy to Aare Bobaselu, Chief Idris Olayinka, during Oluyin’s 10th coronation anniversary thanksgiving service at Babamoboni Anglican Church, Iyin-Ekiti, recently.

Ogunpa Market redevelopment commences The planned re-design and re-development of the popular Ogunpa Market, Ibadan, by the Oyo State government through Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement will commence on Monday (today).

The project is expected to accommodate more than 1,000 shops, as well as modern social infrastructure.

The development followed a meeting between stakeholders and the state government at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Ibadan, on Friday.

It will be recalled that government’s resolve to

transform the market through a PPP arrangement had generated tension among the traders and other stakeholders.

Some of the traders had expressed the fear that since the project would be executed by a private developer, they might not be able to afford the cost of the shops, which they said might be exorbitant.

Besides, they were worried that the original traders in the market might be shut out upon completion, while the completed shops might be allocated to influential people who presently had no stake in the market.

The fears were, however,

Saraki compensates victims of communal clash biola azeez-ilorin

Tsaragi youths , who were armed with sticks, stones, cutlasses, swords and guns.

money on Thursday, said N50,000 was approved to be given to each of the 28 victims whose vehicles were destroyed at Ita-Ajia and 25 at Agbarere.

He recalled that Dr. Saraki had presented N500,000 for the renovation of each of the five houses that were destroyed in Agbarere during the incident on April 25, 2015 and gave another N500,000 to victims when he personally visited the scene a fortnight later.

He also gave N500,000 for the renovation of each of damaged buildings in Ita-Ajia and presented

another N500,000 to the victims when he visited the area.

Speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, Alhaji Funsho Issa, the Chief of Staff to the Chairman of Ilorin East Local Government Area, who was also a victim, thanked the president of the Senate for the gesture and prayed God to continue to assist him.

He praised his sense of leadership and commended him for always standing by his people at all times.

It will be recalled that the Kwara State government had set up a special security squad that tracked the perpetrators of the crisis.

assuaged at the meeting, which was attended by representatives of the state government; the Chairman, Oyo State Market Advisory Council, Alhaji Dauda Oladapo; his deputy, Mrs. Abake Lawal; and other market leaders.

Other stakeholders at the parley were representatives of the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; Department of State Service; Ogunpa Market; and the Chairman of the state branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde.

A former Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Mr. Segun Abolarinwa, who represented the governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, at the meeting, assured the stakeholders that the interest of the traders would be adequately taken care of.

According to him, the government decided to adopt the PPP model for the development of the market following the current economic realities that had made such partnership inevitable.

He said, “At least 1,000 shops are being planned to replace the existing Ogunpa market. The project is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

It is in line with the vision of the governor to transform the state.

“I want to assure stake-

holders that no underhand dealings will be permitted in the course of the project and in the allocation of shops. No individual will be allowed to acquire multiple shops to the detriment of others.

“We followed due process by calling for bids in newspaper publications and we selected three out of the bidders. The developer we eventually chose has a track record of achievements.”

The governor said that the Market Advisory Council and the executive members of Ogunpa Market Traders Association would be involved in the alloca-

on Shaare community, while a school, a church, a mission house and some vehicles had been destroyed and set ablaze by rampaging Nupe warriors.

He called on the state governor to call the people of Tsaragi to order and urged the Inspector General of Police and the President to order full scale investigations into the matter.

The Sole Administrator of the United Missionary Church of Africa in Shaare, Reverend Samuel Babatunde Kolapo, described the attack as the price that the community has to pay for trying to safeguard children and women from kidnappers and rapists.

The cleric was said to have lost all his properties and educational certificates in the arson.

He, however, called for an urgent and comprehensive investigation into the matter by President buhari and the Inspector General of Police.

tion of the shops upon completion.

He added that all necessary enumeration had been done and that no trader would be allowed to have more than one shop.

He further explained that the meeting was aimed at creating a forum to rub minds with the traders and to address all grey areas and douse tension concerning the redevelopment of the market.

Earlier, the NURTW boss had requested that a modern bus terminus be provided in the new market for ease of logistics, instead of a car park.

200 benefit from Sure-P, NACA medical programme in Osogbo, Olorunda Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

NO fewer than 200 residents of Osogbo and Olorunda communities have benefited from the free medical programme organised by the National Action Committee on Aids (NACA) in collaboration with the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P).

During the exercise, drugs were given to all the participants, just as household equipment, including soap, detergents and disinfectants were also presented to them.

The Executive Secretary

of Olorunda Local Government Area, Mr Okunade Samanja, while speaking at the kick-off of the oneweek programme, tasked the people to care for their health, stressing that this is the only way a healthy living could be guaranteed.

He also enjoined residents of Osogbo to undergo medical check-up from time to time.

A beneficiary of the free medical service, Mr Wasiu Bello, lauded NACA and SURE-P for the gesture, saying the programme afforded him the opportunity to know his health status.

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Monday, 11 January, 2016

foreig naffairs

08116954632 with seyi gesinde foreignn ewseditor@gmail.com

Indian teen gang-raped, shot, dumped in well

A

n Indian teenager held captive for two weeks by a gang of men said in an interview broadcast on Sunday that she was repeatedly raped before being shot twice and dumped in a well on the outskirts of New Delhi.

The victim, reportedly aged 14, was allegedly abducted on November 22 while walking to a market in western Delhi, in the latest case of sexual violence in the Indian capital.

Speaking of her ordeal to the NDTV news network, the teenager said she was held in a “dark room” where three attackers took turns to rape her over a two-week period, the AFP reported.

“After a fortnight of repeated abuse, one night they said they will let me go. They put me in the car and drove to a store to buy alcohol and then parked the car near a well,” the girl said in the interview.

“They told me they will let me go but as I took a few steps back, they fired two shots. The first bullet hit my bone. I didn’t feel a thing, my body just went numb. But after the second one I fainted.”

She woke shivering and wet inside the well where she said she had been left for dead.

“When I regained consciousness... I could see a bullet in my chest, so I just yanked it out,” she said, showing a wound on her chest.

Nearby villagers pulled her out on December 6 after hearing her screams, before she was rushed to hospital.

Several men have been arrested over the attack, according to local media reports.

Zuma wants more blacks in boardrooms, gears up for local polls South Africa’s private sector must change faster to give blacks a larger stake in business, President Jacob Zuma told a rally on Saturday, urging the ruling party to help create more jobs in a local government election year.

Since coming to power in 1994 at the end of white minority rule, Reuters said the ruling African National Congress party has changed the complexion of the civil service, the military and state-owned companies, helping many who were ex-

“I want the rapists to be hanged. No one should go through what I did,” she said.

New Delhi is grappling with a grim litany of sexual attacks against women that have sparked outrage in India and abroad.

PHOTO: AFP.

cluded from the mainstream economy under apartheid to create a solid black middle class.

But Africa’s most industrialised economy is struggling - its currency this week hit a record low of 16.315 to the dollar, the World Bank has forecast growth to reach only 1.4 percent this year from the government’s estimated 1.5 percent and unemployment stands at 25 percent - the ANC forecasts a tough test from the opposition at the municipal polls.

Francis lays out case for mercy in 1st book as pope Pope Francis lays out his case for emphasising the merciful face of the Catholic Church in his first book as pontiff, saying God never tires of forgiving and actually prefers the sinners who repent over self-righteous moralizers who don’t.

“The Name of God Is Mercy,” a 100-page conversation with Italian journalist Andrea Tornielli, is being published this week in 86 countries to help kick-start Francis’ Holy Year of Mercy. A copy was provided in advance to The Associated Press on Sunday.

In the book, The Associated Press said Francis condemns what he calls the “scholars of law” — the doctrinaire-minded rig-

otherNEWS

orists who throughout the history of the church have challenged Jesus’ message of unconditional love and mercy for even the most wretched of sinners. He says often these self-righteous Christians are hypocrites themselves, using the law to hide their own “deep wounds.”

“These are men who live

Pope Francis

attached to the letter of the law but who neglect love; men who only know how to close doors and draw boundaries,” Francis is quoted as saying.

Francis has rankled many conservatives with his frequent dismissals of theo-

logical and legalistic arguments stressing doctrine over his more pastoral message of welcome and mercy for society’s most marginal.

The clash in approaches has been particularly evident in recent church debates over marriage and divorce.

...Parliament meets after more than 3-years absence Egypt’s new parliament held its opening session on Sunday, state television reported, more than three years after a court dissolved the old Islamist-dominated chamber, Reuters reported.

The body is expected to choose a speaker on its first day back, and now has 15

days to approve hundreds of laws issued by executive decree during the period when it was suspended.

Egypt’s last parliament was elected in 2011-12 in the country’s first free vote following a popular uprising that ended autocrat Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule.

Hundreds of Congolese troops withdraw from CAR force Hundreds of peacekeepers from Democratic Republic of Congo on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic will withdraw, a spokesman has said after they failed an internal assessment.

The historically turbulent former French colony suffered an intensification of

violence in 2013 when mostly Muslim rebels known as Seleka seized power in a coup, Reuters said.

Since then, militias drawn from the Christian majority have launched reprisal attacks and thousands of people have been killed and around a million displaced despite efforts by U.N. and

French peacekeepers to restore order.

“It is confirmed that the Congolese unit will withdraw from MINUSCA,” said Vladimir Monteiro, spokesman for the U.N. mission in Central African Republic.

“The contingent will leave and not be replaced.”

Asked about whether the

South African President Jacob Zuma

withdrawal could jeopardise security, Monteiro declined to give an immediate comment, saying a further announcement would be made next week.

In August, three Congolese peacekeepers in Central African Republic were accused of raping three female civilians, including one minor.

A DR Congo soldier from the African peacekeeping forces stands near closed shops in Bangui. PHOTO: REUTERS.

But a court dissolved that parliament in mid-2012 after ruling that the election laws at the time were unconstitutional.

A year later, Mubarak’s elected successor, Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, was himself overthrown by the army led

by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The new parliament, which will be dominated by an alliance loyal to now President Sisi, has 568 elected members plus another 28 appointed directly by him.

The new assembly was chosen in elections that critics said were undermined by a security crackdown on Islamist and other opposition groups.

Mexico: Drug lord located after interview with US actor

Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman is made to face the press as he is escorted to a helicopter in handcuffs

by Mexican soldiers and marines at a federal hangar in Mexico City, Mexico, on Friday. PHOTO: AP.

The recapture of drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman took a surprise, Hollywood twist when a Mexican official said security forces located the world’s most-wanted trafficker thanks to a secret interview with United States actor Sean

Penn.

The Associated Press said Penn’s interview with Guzman, who has twice escaped from Mexican maximum security prisons, appeared late Saturday on the website of Rolling Stone magazine.

It was purportedly held

at an undisclosed hideout in northern Mexico in late 2015, several months before Guzman’s recapture Friday in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, after six months on the run.

In the interview, Guzman defends his work at the head of the world’s

biggest drug trafficking organisation. When asked if he is to blame for high addiction rates, he responds: “No, that is false, because the day I don’t exist, it’s not going to decrease in any way at all.

Drug trafficking? That’s false.”

A boy rides a bike in front of the parliament building in Cairo. PHOTO: REUTERS.

45

foreig naffairs

otherNEWS Iran warns of reciprocal measures in US visa row Iran’s parliament speaker said on Sunday that new United States visa regulations amounted to “harassment” and reciprocal steps would be taken if the plans are implemented, AFP reported.

The rules, approved by Congress last month, would bar people from 38 mainly European countries from travelling to the United States without a visa if they have visited Iran, Iraq, Syria or Sudan since 2011.

Dual nationals of those countries would also be banned from using the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP).

“Recently some US representatives have put some plans together which can only be referred to as harassment,” parliament speaker Ali Larijani told lawmakers.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani

Cairo, Red Sea attacks deal new blows to Egypt Armed men shot dead a police officer and a soldier in their car on the outskirts of Cairo on Saturday, Egypt’s state news agency said, a day after suspected militants armed with knives wounded three European tourists in a Red Sea resort.

According to Reuters, Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Cairo attack in a statement posted on messaging service Telegram.

Tourism Minister Hisham Zaazou said the government would announce additional security measures to safeguard tourists after Friday’s attack, which wounded two Austrians and a Swede in the resort of Hurghada.

Tourism is critical to the Egyptian economy as a source of hard currency, but has been ravaged by years of political turmoil since the revolution that ousted veteran president Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

Monday, 11 January, 2016

Netanyahu to lead Arabs against Obama’s bid to succeed Ban Ki-moon —Report

I

sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will rally moderate Arab governments to sabotage Obama’s plan to succeed Ban Ki-moon as United Nations chief, a report has said.

According to the Kuwaiti newspaper, Al-Jarida, Netanyahu will make real his plan when the South Korean diplomat ends his term as United Nations secretarygeneral on December 31 of this year.

The newspaper said it would be a payback for Obama when he as US president brushed aside Israeli objections and went ahead with the P5+1 nuclear agreement with Iran.

Now, it said Netanyahu is reportedly planning some personal payback.

Al-Jarida quoted sources as saying that Obama has already discussed the issue of running for secretarygeneral with Democrats, Republicans, and Jewish officials in the US. The sources said that once Netanyahu got wind of Obama’s plans, the prime minister began to make efforts to submarine what

he has referred to as “the Obama project.”

“Wasn’t eight years of having Obama in office enough?”

Netanyahu is quoted in the Kuwaiti daily as telling as-

sociates. “Eight years during which he ignored Israel? And now he wants to be in a position that is liable to cause us hardships in the international arena.”

President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu huddle during their joint news conference in Jerusalem on March 20, 2013. PHOTO: AP.

dent Israel has had to deal with and the worst president for the Middle East and its allies, the moderate Arab states,” a Netanyahu aide is quoted as saying.

A source close to Netanyahu did not deny to Al-Jarida that the premier is aiming to “torpedo the Obama project,” noting that “his presidency was characterised by (Washington’s) moving closer to the Muslim Brotherhood, toppling the regime of Hosni Mubarak, and attempts to ally itself with political Islam.”

“Obama’s term is ending with him forging an alliance with Iran, coming to an agreement with it on its nuclear programme which in the end will result in a similar scenario that took place with North Korea,” the aide said.

N/Korea leader defends hydrogen bomb test A long-range United States military bomber flew over South Korea on Sunday, in an apparent response to North Korea over its latest nuclear weapons test, VOA reported.

The B-52 bomber, which is

capable of carrying nuclear weapons, was seen flying over Osan Air Base, located 72 kilometers south of the border that separates the two Koreas, before heading back to its home base on nearby Guam.

US warplane flies over S/Korea in show of force to North North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un on Sunday justified what he claimed was his country’s first hydrogen bomb test as self-defence to prevent nuclear war with the United States, in his first comments since the explosion, the AFP reported.

The test was “a self-defensive step for reliably defending the peace on the Korean Peninsula and the regional security from the danger of nuclear war caused by the US-led imperialists,” Kim was quoted as saying.

“It is the legitimate right of a sovereign state and a fair action that nobody can criticise,” he added, according to

The newspaper cited the widely acknowledged fact that personal ties between Netanyahu and Obama are frayed.

“Obama is the worst presi-

the official Korean Central powers, includNews Agency (KCNA). ing the North’s The North regularly accuses key ally China, the US and its ally South Ko- and the UN rea of warmongering.

Security CounKim’s comments came dur- cil has said it ing a visit to the Ministry of will roll out People’s Armed Forces to new measures congratulate them on the to punish the “successful” detonation, maverick state.

KCNA said, without giving the date of the visit.

They echo an official commentary published late Friday, which cited toppled leaders Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Moamer Kadhafi in Libya as examples of what happens when countries forsake their nuclear ambitions. North Korean Leader The test has angered world Kim Jong-un

The bomber was accompanied by two fighter planes from the U.S. and South Korea.

U.S. Navy Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, issued a statement calling the flight a demonstration of the ironA United States Air Force B-52 flies over Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek.

clad U.S. commitment to our allies in South Korea, in Japan, and to the defense of the American homeland.”

Lieutenant-General Terrence O’Shaughnessy, the deputy commander of the joint United States-South Korean military command, told reporters after the flight that the U.S. “remains steadfast” in the defense of South Korea “and to maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula, to include extended deterrence provided by our conventional forces and our nuclear umbrella.”

The U.S. also sent a long-range bomber over South Korea in 2013, shortly after the North carried out its third nuclear test.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency says the United States is considering deploying a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the waters off the Korean peninsula.

France pays tribute to 2015 terrorism victims in silent ceremony

French President Francois Hollande (c), Prime Minister Manuel Valls (right) and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo (left) attend a ceremony at Place de la Republique square to pay tribute to the victims of last year’s shooting at the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in Paris, France, January 10.

France honoured the victims of Islamist militant attacks last year in a thinly attended silent ceremony on Sunday, almost a year to the day when more than a million people marched in Paris to protest killings at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

President Francois Hollande and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo laid a wreath by the statue of Marianne, symbol of the French republic, in central Paris. The statue has become a shrine to the 17 victims of the January 2015 attacks on Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish deli, and to the 130 people shot dead by militants on Nov. 13 at a concert, and in bars and restaurants in Paris.

“To the victims of the terrorist attacks in

January and November ... In this place, the people of France pay their respect,” read a metal plaque unveiled by Hollande and Hidalgo under a newly planted memorial oak tree on Place de la Republique in eastern Paris. The huge square in eastern Paris, the focal point of the January 2015 march attended by dozens of world leaders walking arm in arm, was relatively empty during the ceremony.

Hidalgo invited Parisians to come to the square with candles from 1700 Paris time (1600 GMT) and said the Marianne statue - covered with flowers, candles and pictures of the victims - will be permanently lit from now on.

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Monday, 11 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Glo League

kick-off shifted again

By Nurudeen Alimi

Ronaldo

Messi

FIFA Ballon d’Or 2016:

Ronaldo, Messi, others know fate today

By Nurudeen Alimi

P

ORTUGAL and Real Madrid Football Club of Spain’s player, Christiano Ronaldo, Argentina and Barcelona Football Club of Spain’s play maker, Lionel Messi and other nominees for the 2016 World Player of the year award will know their fate today as the world of football will celebrate the brightest and best from the world’s most popular sport at the FIFA Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland.

The FIFA Ballon d’Or

awards recognise excellence and achievement in football, on and off the pitch, bringing together top figures from the game and showcasing highlights from the past 12 months.

The best player in men’s football will receive the FIFA Ballon d’Or, while the best player in women’s football will be honoured with the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year trophy.

The top coaches of the year in men’s and women’s football will collect awards for their achievements and the scorer of the best goal of the year – voted for by football fans via FIFA.com – will

Pre-CHAN Friendly: Eagles face Cote d’Ivoire today NIGERIA’S Super Eagles will play their final CHAN warm-up with a friendly match against Cote d’Ivoire today at their training base in Pretoria, South Africa.

Both teams are preparing for the CHAN, which kicks off in Kigali, Rwanda, on Saturday.

Cote d’Ivoire were held to a 1-1 draw

by Guinea in a test game on Friday in South Africa, while Nigeria also drew 1-1 with another CHAN-bound

team, Angola, earlier last week.

Kick-off time for today’s test game has been put at 4pm Nigerian time at the Tuks University Stadium in Pretoria.

Injured strikers, Tunde Adeniji and Chisom Chikatara as well as skipper Chima Akas have returned to full training and could all play a role in today’s game.

The Eagles will depart South Africa for Rwanda on Friday, January 15.

receive the FIFA Puskas award.

An organisation, team or individual that has inspired others with a special gesture of sportsmanship in football will take home the FIFA Fair Play

award. The stand-out players of the year will be selected in the FIFA FIFPro World XI, and the FIFA Presidential Award will be given for outstanding service to the game.

THE earlier scheduled January 31, 2016 date for the kick-off of the 2015/2016 Globacom Premier League season has again been shifted due to the 2016 CHAN which begins in Rwanda next week.

The CHAN will parade players who feature in their home leagues and it will start on Saturday and end on February 7 with Nigeria making its second appearance in Rwanda.

Officials also said the pre-season Super 4 will now be staged between January 20 and 24, but a venue has yet to be decided as several state governments including that of Akwa Ibom have indicated interests to bankroll the competition.

Cash crunch affecting the clubs, who are mostly owned by state governments, is one of the reasons behind a shift in the January 31 big kick-off.

A cross section of players in the country’s premier league has also kicked against the original start date for the competition, arguing that clubs clear outstanding payments to them as well as putting in place mechanisms for clubs not to again fail to pay them as and when due.

Enyimba are defending champions after they won their seventh championship in November.

Bayelsa United , FC Taraba, Sharks and Kwara United have been relegated, while Niger Tornadoes, Plateau United, MFM FC and Ikorodu FC won promotion from the lower Nigeria National League (NNL).

Federer

Federer loses in Australia MILOS RAONIC beat Roger Federer 6-4 6-4 to win the Brisbane International.

The 25-year-old Canadian lost to 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer in three sets in last year’s final.

But Raonic produced an impressive display at the Pat Rafter Arena on Sunday to clinch his eighth tour title.

Federer, who has been suf-

fering with flu, said: “I’d like to congratulate Milos on a great start. This year you deserve it, well played and good luck at the Aussie Open.”

The Swiss world number three added: “I was a bit sick but we made it to the final.”

Raonic, who is ranked 14th in the world, had only beaten Federer once in their previous 10 encounters.

He said after his victory: “Hopefully we have a better year this year than the last. I hope in 2016 we learn to love each other a little bit more and the world becomes a safer place.”

The Brisbane tournament helps players prepare for the Australian Open - the first Grand Slam of the year which starts on 18 January.

47

Monday, 11 January, 2016

INVESTITURE OF AMBASSADOR (DR) OLATOKUNBO AWOLOWO DOSUMU AS PATRONESS, CAN, REMO CHAPTER PHOTOS: D’TOYIN

The Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo, with Olori Omowumi.

The Alakene of Ikenne, Oba Adeyinka Onakade and his Olori, Oluyemisi

Mrs Kemi Aderemi (right) and Mrs Ayotola Ayodeji Iranola.

Presiding Bishop, Christ Life Church, Bishop Francis’ Wale Oke (left) and Bishop Micheal Adewale.

Chief (Mrs) Yemi Borisade (right) and Mrs Oluwemimo Anifowose.

Olorogun Sunny Kuku (left) and Otunba Fatai Arowolo.

Mr Femi Osibona and his wife, Bisi.

Prince Emmanuel Osibona and Chief (Mrs) Mercy Owolana.

SIDELINES

NO 16,411

MONDAY, 11 JANUARY, 2016

I

can’t remember when I stayed glued to my television to watch a Nigerian president (or head of state) throughout the long or short duration of his presidential (or executive) chat. I never in the past watched anyone of them from the beginning to the end of any chat or address or broadcast to the Nigerian people whom, in varying degrees, they never treated with dearness or love or charity. I never allowed my pretty self and mind to be in the apron strings or clutches of any Nigerian president (or head of state) mainly on account of the disgusting deceitfulness spewing from his tongue. I was particularly averse to those who never “let arms yield to the gown.”

In other words, I loathed those who never allowed military power to be subordinated to civil authority. I never allowed my dear mind to be in their clutches.

But in the evening of last Wednesday, 30th day of our horrible December of 2015 now gone and gone forever, I broke my rule and deliberately offended my ageless tradition. I watched to the very end President Buhari’s maiden presidential chat that is already ruffling a lot of feathers in some quarters.

Clearly, the soldier and gentlemanofficer shone forth in the mannerism of our president. But throughout the media chat he positively put himself in a condition of compos sui (master of himself). In a Nigeria of big democratic government and powerful corporations run by big minds, many persons may not agree with his temperament but many persons there equally are, who will not declaim what I wish to call the W.C. Henley note in the offerings of President Buhari. What is the Henley note – and who was Henley? Henley (1849-1903) was an English poet who will always remain famous to our philosophical and aesthetic minds mainly on account of his following noteworthy poetic note: I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

Throughout the media chat, I saw President Buhari in the above light. He is the practical democrat, the soldier- or ex-soldier-democrat whose vision for his country is not that of a philosopher-king, but that of an honest and practical man of

N150

A man whose mother had four sets of twins has himself produced triplets after having three kids. The father of the triplets said he never thought he could follow in his mother’s footsteps and was worried when the news came forth. Well, sometimes, big gifts come with little headaches.

in&out with Tony Afejuku

08055213059

Buhari’s democratic mind power who is in a hurry to save his country from the pangs of rash conspirators against the undiluted sovereignty and unity of Nigeria. In an answer relating to a “rebellious” outlaw and his gang, President Buhari democratically quipped thus: “Technically, if you see the kinds of atrocities these people are believed to have committed against the country, if they are given the opportunity, they will jump bail.

And the one you call Kanu...… Do you know he brought equipment into this country and was broadcasting Radio Biafra? Which kind of government do you think should harbour that kind of person? There is a treasonable felony suit against him and I hope the court will listen to the case.”

Buhari’s passion for his country is the passion of his presidency for Nigeria. He and his presidency will not allow the likes of one Kanu and his gang of conspirators to decimate Nigeria. Buhari, democratically, and carefully, is handling the case of the atrocities “people believed” Kanu “to have committed against the country”. This explains why the “treasonable felony suit against him” is in court. In times past, Buhari would have sent Kanu to a “military” tribunal and the matter would have since been given a summary dispatch. And we must remember that Buhari fought as a war commander in the 60s to keep Nigeria one.

Those who claim that Buhari is not obeying the rule of law on this matter and other pertinently related ones should

Generally speaking, Buhari – with his laughter of laughter we were seeing for the first time ever - prevailed in that maiden media chat

probably think again. By the way, our judiciary people, are they transparently above board? I fully agree with those who have argued that an accused is innocent until proven guilty of an offence, crime or of any felony. Buhari hopes that the court will do just this. (Throughout the chat, and throughout the time he took to answer the aforementioned question in impeccable English, he never betrayed any emotion of distrust towards our judiciary-less judiciary). But that some accused persons have been re-arrested after meeting certain bail conditions should not be interpreted (or misinterpreted) as an evidence of Buhari’s undemocratic disobedience of our

country’s rule of law. What the presidency knows, many of us, including our judiciaryless judiciary, do not know. And whether we like it or not, on this matter we ought to allow President Buhari to savour his presidential and democratic fate which only himself is the master of. Or do you want to be the master of his fate and captain of his soul at the same time? Rightly, he won’t allow you.

And I must hereby ask: Mr. Raymond Dokpesi, was he ever re-arrested after meeting his bail conditions? The answer is a readily resounding capital NO! Thus the cheap and bad belle blackmail and campaign of calumny against Buhari must stop.

And what do I say with respect to Buhari’s response to a question on the Chibok girls?

The president was democratically frank – in fact brutally honest to own up to his presidency’s failure of intelligence to locate the whereabouts of the lost maidens who are maidens no more. And he does not know when they will be delivered – what a president with a democratically honest mind!

Generally speaking, Buhari – with his laughter of laughter we were seeing for the first time ever - prevailed in that maiden media chat. I am looking forward to his next if he will ever honour us with it – soonest or soonest, soonest. What do I mean? I mean exactly what I mean – with Henley on my mind.

Man City suspends Iheanacho’s new deal

By Nurudeen Alimi MANCHESTER City Football Club of England has suspended talks for a new contract for Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho due to a legal tussle involving the player’s representatives.

It was gathered that US-based First Eleven Management, who secured Iheanacho his first City deal, had asked the Football Association arbitration to cancel a new management contract, which Iheanacho has signed with UK-based Stellar Group.

This tussle could well boil over to a civil court battle between the two high-profile agents.

“Talks over a new contract for Kelechi have

been suspended until the FA arbitration decides on who his agents are. First Eleven who first managed him have asked for the FA to cancel a new management contract the player has entered with Stellar Group,” a top source informed.

“It is only after the decision by arbitration that the situation will be a lot clearer. But even then, this could go all the way to the courtroom the way things are going.”

But on the pitch, youngster Iheanacho has continued to improve his stocks after he scored in Manchester City’s 3-0 spanking of Norwich City Saturday night in an FA Cup tie.

The 19-year-old striker started his second official game and scored in the 31st minute to give City a 2-0 lead.

Iheanacho

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