11th February 2016 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,434

THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY, 2016

FG moves against mass sack in oil sector

•Holds crucial meeting with Shell, Chevron, Agip, NNPC, NUPENG, PENGASSAN, others today —P10

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Arms deal: Why we can't probe ex-service chiefs —COAS —P4

@nigeriantribune

Bello gives Kogi LG financial autonomy —P43

Nigerian Tribune

N150

Reps uncover massive fraud at TCN

•We awarded N895m contract verbally —Director of Procurement —P12

2 female bombers kill 58 in Borno refugee camp

—P16

•Injure 78

•Military shuts markets in Borno, Yobe

Protests rock UI, UNILAG, Yabatech —Pg8,42,43

Traffic: Lagos mobile court convicts 41 in 24 hrs —P9

Catholic faithful celebrating Ash Wednesday at Saints Joachim and Anne Catholic Church, Lagos, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN

Olubadan: Seriki line files motion to stop Adetunji's coronation —P42

Attacks on judiciary misguided —CJN, NBA •NBA must not allow corruption to kill Nigeria —EFCC boss

—P6

newsanalysis

President Buhari

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Finance

Udo Udoma, Minister of National Planning

Rats, errors and 2016 budget of controversy The controversies dogging the 2016 budget appear endless, as fresh confusion keeps unfolding by the day, writes Group Politics Editor, TAIWO ADISA.

ATS and Mafia. These are two strange elements when you are talking of the Budget of a federation. Rats feast on human activities and environment but the Mafia is constituted by human beings. Somehow, the two characters have, alongside other ills, combined to batter the Nigerian budget 2016 to a state of ridicule. It was a Presidency source that first revealed that a “Budget Mafia” had hijacked the 2016 budget and that the government was investigating the gang and its modus operandi. A day after the media feasted on that story, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, announced that rats had infested the budget and had injected some unknown items into the otherwise sacred document. Prof Adewole, who spoke while appearing before the Senate Committee on Health for a budget defence session of his ministry, told the senators that he was unaware of the details of the budget document being considered by the senators, adding that some rats might have injected unwanted items into the document. Though Adewole might have spoken like a true professional, what he meant with reference to rats was quite clear to the senators. Rats, some of them of the size of rabbits, operate freely on the ceilings of the National Assembly late evenings. And since the budget defence took place late in the day, the story of rats that constantly caused commotions on the ceilings could not be lost on the lawmakers. The senators would have thought, “perhaps, the same type of rats operate in the over 600 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that prepare and operate the budget.” But then, in a season of Lassa fever, reference to rats can be scary. The former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan told his ‘senatorial’ audience on Monday that the Health Ministry proposal being considered by the Senate was “foreign” and unknown to him. He said that

the proposal drawn up by his ministry, which was submitted to the Budget Office of the Federation, had been “doctored” and that “foreign” proposals have been presented to the Senate. His submissions have gone to highlight the depth of controversy and inconsistencies the 2016 budget has suffered. It has further gone to strengthen the argument that perhaps, the only option open to the administration is to withdraw the beleaguered document and replace it with a clean budget copy. Adewole had said: “We have to look into the details of the budget and re-submit it to the committee,” adding that “This was not what we submitted. We’ll submit another one. We don’t want anything foreign to creep into that budget. What we submitted is not there.” While responding to a question on why the allocation to the State House Clinic was higher than all the Teaching Hospitals put together, Adewole called for caution, saying: “The State House clinic is not under the Ministry of Health. I hope it’s not the same rats that changed things in our budget that changed it.” But that would not be the first time the budget docu-

This was not what we submitted. We’ll submit another one. We don’t want anything foreign to creep into that budget. What we submitted is not there.

ment was running into troubled waters. In fact, the only smooth sail the budget has had so far remains the process of its presentation. Contrary to the rivalry that existed between the executive and the legislature in the recent past, the legislature bent over backwards and accommodated the President’s proposal that they should delay their holiday in order that they could receive the budget proposal on December 22, 2015. Other than that, controversy has been the name of the budget. Exactly a week before Adewole dropped the bombshell, the Senate Committee on Education, headed by Senator Aliyu Wamakko, had uncovered a strange allocation of N10 billion to the Ministry of Education’s personnel cost. Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwuka, could not explain how the strange figures crept into the budget of his Ministry and he only passed the microphone to the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Yemi Esan to give the senators the desired explanation. Senate Chief Whip, Senator Shola Adeyeye, who raised the question, asked the minister to explain how the personnel budget for parastatals under the ministry jumped from N88 billion in 2015 to N98 billion in 2016. In her explanations, the permanent secretary could not hide her helplessness, saying that the budget figures were variants that depend on numbers of staff. She said: “The variants depend on the number of people that still exist on the IPPIS. So, it’s an automatic thing. As people retire, automatically, the balance comes down. So, if they are not replaced by new staff, then we will have this variant. So, it’s not that we lost some money. If during the year, a number of people have retired, then the balance at the end of the year will be reduced. “This is just an aggregation of all the parastatals. So, we will look at it and see which ones because it’s offhand now, I don’t know which ones had the increase or if there is a marginal increase across board. Because what we have done here is to put together all the parastatals. But, we can look at the details and find out which ones are increasing. Having this was not something that was imposed on the universities or polytechnics. They were Continues on pg3

newsanalysis

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Once upon a budget... Continued from pg2

the ones that submitted their personnel cost. It is not an imposition. It is what each university submits that we collate and put together.” Long before the controversies broke out as to who owned the figures contained in the 2016 budget, the document had been fundamentally battered by its own strange controversies. As early as the first week of January 2016, reports had emanated that the Federal Government was planning to withdraw the document from the National Assembly. Though the government denied the story, even as the National Assembly was on recess at the time, it happened that the Senate later discovered that connivance between some technocrats in the National Assembly and some Presidency hands led to a secret withdrawal of the budget and perhaps, that was when the activities of the “rats” and “foreign bodies” referred to by Adewole took place. The missing budget “saga” which erupted in the second week of January as a result of the alleged collusion upped the ante of confusion around the budget. The Senate, immediately after resumption from the end of year recess, held an executive session, where it emerged that the 2016 budget was “missing.” Notwithstanding the long list of denials, including a show on the floor of the House of Representatives, which tended to disown the claims, a report of the Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee of the Senate presided over by Senator Sam Anyanwu later confirmed that the budget was actually “doctored.” The report named the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, as the alleged culprit but the senator told newsmen that he would not join issues with the Senate. Eventually, the Senate decided to “move on” and resume the consideration of the budget as “presented” by President Muhammadu Buhari. But at that point, it was difficult to discern which one was presented by Buhari. The lawmakers had only the “doctored” budget copy and they were compelled to work on the same. President Buhari was to put a seal of officialdom on the alleged doctored budget when he wrote a letter dated January 15, 2016, indicating that he had made some changes in the budget and that the National Assembly should work with the “corrected” version. But the controversies remain endless. On the heels of the revelations by Adewole are more embarrassing discoveries. On Tuesday, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani Uguru, announced that the ministry’s budget was also doctored. He told the Senate Committee on Niger Delta that they should not have anything to do with the controversial budget. Uguru, who appeared before the Senate, said that the budget of his ministry was fraught with “errors and contradictions.” He told the Senator Peter Nwabaoshi-led committee that the figures submitted to the National Assembly as the estimates for the Ministry of Niger Delta were “fraught with errors and contradictions.” He asked the Committee to suspend consideration of the budget proposal until a comprehensive review is undertaken. Again, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigadier General Paul T Boroh (retd), in a letter submitted to the Senate Committee on Niger Delta, said that the ministry’s budget before the Senate would only kill

Goje, Chairman Appropriation Committee the Presidential Amnesty Programme as the budget was slashed from the proposed N64 billion to N20 billion. The Special Adviser said: “In view of the foregoing, I urge you most sincerely to consider an upward review from the proposed N20 billion to N64,824,488,493.27 billion for the sustenance and re-integration of ex-agitators in the Presidential Amnesty Programme for the 2016 fiscal year.” He stated that whereas the sum of N63.06 billion was appropriated for the Amnesty programme in 2015, only N20 billion was allotted to the programme in 2016. He said that N44.8 billion was the difference between the proposed figure and the amount in the budget document. Also on Tuesday, former governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transport, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, was questioned in the Senate for including projects said to be 99 percent completed under the previous administration in his ministry’s budget for 2016. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who raised the query, asked the minister to explain why projects already completed by the previous administration would find their way into the new budget. The Senate Committee stated that the Transport Ministry included some projects contained in the first phase of the airport remodelling in the 2016 budget, whereas many of the projects were already 99 per cent completed. The remodelling of the nation’s airports was commenced by former President Goodluck Jonathan, when Senator Stella Oduah was minister. To cap the seemingly endless controversies over the budget, the National Assembly said on Tuesday that its deadline for passing the budget fixed for February 25 can no longer be met. Chairmen of the Appropriation Committees in the two chambers, Senator Danjuma Goje and Honourable Abdumumin Jibril, who addressed

Uzodinma, Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation a joint press conference in the National Assembly, said the plan to pass the 2016 budget this February had run into a hitch. They stated that the budget document had been discovered to be full of “errors and padding.” The lawmakers said that it became imperative to explain to Nigerians that the Committees of the National Assembly had been having a tough time sifting through the errors and padding injected into the budget. Senator Goje told newsmen: “We are here in connection with the ongoing processing of the 2016 budget defence and because these two committees are the ones saddled with the production of the final copies of the budget that would be passed by the two houses for onward submission to Mr President for his asset and subsequent implementation.” He further said: “We want to remove all ambiguities; we want to remove all padding. We want to produce a budget that is

Also on Tuesday, former governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transport, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, was questioned in the Senate for including projects said to be 99 percent completed under the previous administration in his ministry’s budget for 2016.

in line with the constitutional provision. During the budget defence, a lot of issues based on the padding of the budget arising from over-bloated overhead and in some instances cases of over-bloated personnel cost. But generally there have been a lot of issues. “In, summary the timetable for the passage of the budget is no longer realistic because appropriation committees of both chambers of the National Assembly need additional time to be able to do a thorough job for the 2016 budget.” He added: “Again in terms of capital expenditure, there are complaints coming from different quarters arising from the imbalance from the capital allocation and of course disagreement among the ministers and the civil servants in the various ministries that we have witnessed during the period of budget defence. These all together form enough bases for us to sit down and ensure that a thorough job is done before the budget is passed.” Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Honourable Jibril also told newsmen that the two chambers have discovered imbalances and inconsistencies in the budget that have made its passage difficult. He said: “Because of the observed instances that are being reported from the beginning of the budget submission, there are a lot of controversies surrounding the budget, we feel that we have to come here, interact with you, make some clarifications so that Nigerians will know the correct situation of things regarding the 2016 budget. “We designed a timetable for the consideration and passage of the budget and that particular timetable that we will pass the budget was on February 25, 2016. But as you are all aware, a lot of issues have come up and gladly so even the Executive arm of government have also come out to accept the fact that there has been a lot of errors in the budget.”

news

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

2016 budget: Police allocation grossly inadequate —Reps •Promises to re-establish police formations in North-East •As IGP begs for intervention Jacob Segun Olatunji And Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

HE House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs, on Wednesday, expressed deep concern over the N18 billion allocated to the Nigeria Police in this year’s budget considering the rising violent crimes in the country, describing it as grossly inadequate. The committee, chaired by Honourable Dauda Jika, expressed this when the Minister of Interior, General Abdulrhaman Dambazau (rtd), led the Permanent Secretary, the Inspector General of Police(IGP)Solomon Arase,the Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Sir Mike Okiro and other top police officers to defend this year’s police budget before the committee in Abuja. It noted with concern that if something urgent was not done to address the matter,the security of the entire country would be in jeopardy with the increasing waves of violece crimes, such as terrorism, kidnapping,armed robbery, the insurgency in the NorthEast,the Niger Delta militants and a host of others. Speaking on the allocation to the police, a member of the committee, Honourable E J Agbonayima, declared that “this is where the lawmakers as the representatives of the people have to come in, we can not work with this budget,police can not get the desired result of securing the nation, they are not magicians.” “If we want the desired results from the police,we need to go an extra mile to provide for their needs. The entire country is now under security threat, we must find solution to the changes,” he stated. On his own, Honourable Oni Johnson stressed the need to handle the issue of inadequate funding of the police dispassionately in the national interest,” this matter is like going to the farm without a cutllas. It is like sending the police to the war front without the necessary tools.” “We are talking of security of lives and properties of the people and we appear not ready to back this up with adequate funding, my position is that if there is any magic we can do as lawmakers to make the police work for the country and achieve the needed results, we have to do it now. There is insecurity everywhere, it is even ridiculous to see in a section of the budget where N4million

was allocated for ICT, can this procure computers alone for the force,” he lamented. Other members of the committee lamented the NPF’s predicaments and their increasing responsibilities and assured that the committee would look critically into the presentation of the IGP with a view to addressing all the problems and challenges facing the force for efficient services to the nation. Earlier, the Inspector General of Police, had solicited the intervention

of the committee through adequate budget provision for Force operations, most importantly now that the Force had been saddled with the responsibility of re-establishing police authorities in the North-East, as all the police infrastructure in the zone had been damaged by the Boko Haram insurgents. The IGP stated that the police would be moving to the North-East to re establish their authorities in the zone and that it would be like a peace keeping mission which would require a

lot of resources, including “accommodation for the officers and men,payment of allowances,if we don’t pay their allowances,there will be another problem because this will give room for professional misconduct.” “Right away,we are moving 32 units of Mobile Police Force (MPF). They are on ground in Borno State.The DIG in charge of Operations just returned from the NorthEast for scooping.We have identified where to house the personnel,we acquired trucks for their operations,we bought

tents,mattress and beds,we have gotten a caterer that will cater for their feeding and others,all these require money,we are still owing contractors over N28billion.I am appealing to this committee to look into our issue critically with a view to addressing the problems adequately,” he pleaded. While restating that the N18billion allocated for the NPF “does not reflect the responsibilities and requirement from the police,”Arase lamented that the money allocated for the fuelling and main-

tenance of the 317,515 vehicles and motorcycles in the fleet of the NPF in this year’s budget could only last for three months. The Permanent Secretary of Interior, Mr Bassey Okon Akpanyung, in his submission, pleaded with the committee to provide intervention fund for the police which would domicile in the ministry,saying that the budget provision for the police in the current year was too tight, and as such, it would be impossible for the ministry to finance the police adequately.

Arms deal: Military handicap in loot recovery —COAS Jacob Segun Olatunji And Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

THE Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, on Wednesday, said the Nigerian Military was handicapped in recovering the alleged looted money running into several billions of naira meant for the purchase of arms and ammunitions for the military from the former Service Chiefs, as all of them had retired from the service. General Buratai stated this on Wednesday, when he led other top Army officers for the defence of the 2016 Army Budget before the House of Representatives Committee on Army in Abuja. According to him, “all the Service chiefs and those involved in the procurement were retired, so we are limited on the extent we can investigate them.”

He explained that if those involved were still to be in the service, they would all have been court marshaled in order to ensure the total recovery of the alleged looted funds. The immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh and others are currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged diversion of money meant for the phase of arms and ammunitions and as well procuring substandard equipment for the military. This came just as Buratai also blamed the nonrelease of funds by the Federal Government for the recent spate of killings in parts of Borno State and other north-eastern states, saying it had affected the operational strategies of the Army, in its efforts to win the war

against insurgency in the country. He said, to sustain the ongoing war against insurgency, there was need for the government to intervene in military funding so as to beef up the Army’s operational strategies. The COAS, however, pointed out that the Accountant-General of the Federation, who visited him before the proceeding to National Assembly for the budget defence, confirmed that some funds had been released to the coffers of the Nigerian Army. According to him, “If we can get N520 billion today, you can be sure of getting highly-motivated troops that their families are being taking care of.” Buratai, who noted that the sum of N160 billion approved by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning for the Nigerian Army in this year’s budget was inadequate compared

with the sum of N520 billion requested by the Army authorities.. Reacting, the committee, chaired by Honourable Rima Shawulu, canvassed for the immediate review of the procurement of arms and ammunitions for the Nigerian Army and all the security agencies operating in the country It stated that this was to prevent future occurrences of the lingering controversies over the purchase of arms and ammunitions and alleged purchase of substandard arms involving some top military officers. The committee expressed deep concerns over the sorry state of the facilities in the 30 military formations and barracks visited recently during the familiarisation tour conducted by the committee. It also complained about the sum of $15 million allegedly seized by the South

when he cannot perform.’’ The Senator also stated that the minister had to reconsider some of the roads given zero allocation in the 2016 budget because of their link to major cities in the country. He assured that the committee would work on the budget proposal in order for funds to be made available and adequately allocated. He said: “I appreciate your effort and concern Minister, but we have to know what you are spending every year on the road and how to generate funds and see how we can achieve success.’’ Fashola, in his response, explained that not all the contractors who were mobilised had zero performance, adding that “it is important to take the assessment that the committee has made on mobili-

sation into context in my document, contract performance is not zero. He stated further: “My understanding here is that going by the entire contract sum of N9.9 billion, by law, the contractors should get at least 15 per cent to move to site. “The part where we have zero performance in the document, if a contractor was supposed to get N1.5million and he got N500 million, he cannot be mobilised. We will check and get back to you.’’ Fashola said the sum of N10 billion was budgeted for work on the Abuja-Lokoja road in the 2016 budget, adding that the sum of N16 billion was earmarked for Kano-Maiduguri road, while the rehabilitation of Apapa-Oshodi road would gulp N5 billion, among others.

11 road contractors shunned sites after collecting N4bn Taiwo Adisa And Ayodele Adesanmi-Abuja

THE Senate Committee on Works said, on Wednesday, that no fewer than 11 road contractors collected mobilisation fees running into N4 billion, but refused to mobilise to site. The committee, headed by Senator Kabiru Gaya, told the Minister of Works, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, during a budget defence session that he must make efforts to immediately identify the contractors who collected various sums as mobilisation fees and refused to mobilise to zites. Senator Gaya, chairman of the committee, who disclosed this during the budget defence of the Ministry of Works in Abuja, insisted that the Senate would not accept the development.

He said the minister must immediately give feedback to the Senate committee on the details and circumstances surrounding the development. He stated that while the contractors collected mobilisation fees, they refused to move to site to start work. The Senator said: “11 contractors have collected mobilisation fees and there is zero implementation, some collected N500 million and one of the contractors collected N1 billion. “For instance, in the case of dualisation of Otukpo township road, N1 billion was paid to the contractors. “Minister, you need to check that and give us details in the next meeting. There is no point giving a contractor mobilisation fee

African government from some Nigerians, which was yet to be repatriated to the country, seven months after. The committee, in addition, queried the delay in the release of the Supplementary budget of N3,196,089,405 for salaries of Nigerian Army, including N1,987,056,478 for 72 recruitment, N768,637,124 for 62 regular combatants and N440,395,803 for 22 direct short service. According to the chairman of the committee, “In all, we visited and related with officers in about 30 formations in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The findings are sobering and a rethinking of the way we do things. “It is sobering that the officers and men who have dedicated their lives to fighting to keep us safe live in such scandalous accommodation. It is also shocking that the decay and rot in the system had been left unchecked and our soldiers fighting without required equipment.” he stated. “The controversies over the purchase of arms and ammunitions or alleged purchase of inferior or substandard arms call for an urgent review of our processes. Indeed, as several scholars, leaders and generals have repeatedly affirmed, war is too important to be left in the hands of generals,” he said.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

6 news

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Attacks on judiciary misguided —CJN, NBA NBA must not allow corruption to kill Nigeria —Magu Sunday Ejike and Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja

HE recent attacks on the judiciary by politicians over alleged suspicious judgments have been condemned by the bar and the bench. The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed and the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Augustine Alegeh, during the the valedictory court session held in honour of a retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Muhammad Muntaka-Coomassie, who retired as a justice of the Supreme Court, on Wednesday, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70 years in Abuja, said the allegations were not true. The CJN noted that the judiciary was only dutybound to act according to the dictates of the law and not one made by critics. Judgments of the Supreme Court on the dispute over the governorship elections in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Delta, Ebonyi and other states recently drew criticism with some politicians outrightly alleging that the decisions were questionable and corruptinduced. According to him, “the Nigerian judiciary, though constantly striving to redress the wrongs and tilt balance in favour of that which is right, has recently had to face the backlash of misguided opinions fashioned without due consideration of the law.” Also speaking at the event, president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Augustine Alegeh, condemned the recent criticism of the judiciary in the fight against corruption. According to Alegeh, “the NBA condemns, in its entirety, the generalisation and/or categorisation of the Judiciary as being corrupt and an impediment to the zero corruption policy of the present administration.” He further noted that although their were bad eggs in the system, the categorisation of the entire judiciary as corrupt was a strong misconception and an attempt to intimidate the judiciary, which would not be tolerated. Alegeh, however, warned the few bad eggs in the system to desist from further causing embarrassment to

the judiciary, adding also that the association would henceforth, petition any judicial officer involved in or suspected to be involved in any corrupt or fraudulent transaction to the appropriate quarters for action. The NBA boss expressed concern over the issue of conflicting decisions of some lower courts, stressing that the failure of any court to adhere to laid down rules should be taken as a serious misconduct, for which there should be sanction. He further called on the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to make effective the provision of the section 230 (2) (b) of the Constitution, by increasing the number of judges of the Supreme Court from 15 to complete its constitutional quota of 21. In his speech, Justice Muntaka-Coomassie, called on the legislative arm of the government to closely monitor the decisions of the Supreme Court, with a view to making laws that would holistically encompass such decisions of the apex court. Muntaka-Coomassie, who solicited mutual respect and working relationship between the legislature and the judiciary, further said there should be amendment of the constitution to stop interlocutory appeals from coming to the Supreme Court. While calling for proper funding of the judiciary, he lamented that the underfunding of the judiciary had “negatively impacted on the infrastructure and personnel within the system. It reduces productivity, increases frustration and deflates morale.” He said retired justices should be accorded the benefit of annual medical treatment, locally and abroad and that retired justices of the court should be given money to build their own houses to avoid the embarrassment of living as tenants after reaching the pinacle of their career in service. Speaking on behalf of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, described Muntaka-Coomassie as a defender of human rights and a proponent of strict adherence to the rule of law. Meanwhile, the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, on Wednesday, told the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that it must not allow corruption to kill Ni-

geria, even as he said some members of the association were not fit to be ministers in the temple of Justice. Speaking while receiving the national executive members of NBA, who paid a courtesy visit on him, in his office, in Abuja, Magu noted that corruption was probably the greatest problem facing the country as of today, declaring that it had to be nipped in the bud and timely too. According to the anti-corruption czar, war against economic and financial crimes was being fought on many flanks, including fraud, corruption and money laundering, saying inputs of professionals, like lawyers, bankers and journalists were being felt in all. While saying that law enforcement agencies, like the judiciary, comprising the Bar and the Bench, was a critical link in justice delivery system of any society, Magu stated that both law enforcement agencies and the judiciary could not afford to pull in divergent directions in the interest of the society, though they operated independent of one another. While lamenting that some lawyers were pushing the positions that the fight against corruption was being one-sided, biased and unfair, the Economic Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) acting chairman declared that crimes had no political affiliation,

submitting that “the victims of crimes, such as money laundering, embezzlement, diversion of funds and fraud are the ordinary Nigerians, even you and I. “Furthermore, is it a defence in law to say that one individual indicted of any of these crimes should not be prosecuted because another individual who is perceived to be corrupt has not yet been prosecuted? As officers in the temple of Justice, I enjoin you all to join in the campaign against corruption.” According to Magu, the interest of the society was not served each time lawyers took tainted briefs and also facilitated commission of crimes. “It is you who said justice should be a three-way street: Justice to the victim; justice to the perpetrator of the crime and justice to the society. But society is not served when prominent members of the Bar, not only take clearly tainted briefs, but even facilitate the commission of crimes by knowingly supplying the technical know-how and later helping in the dispersal of the proceeds of crime,” Magu declared. He stated that EFCC had great respect for members

of the Bar and Bench and regarded NBA highly for all the sacrifices of its members, submitting, however, that there were some lawyers not fit to be ministers in the temple of Justice. “There are lawyers within the fold of NBA who ought not to be among your noble ranks. Those people are not fit to be called ministers, rather, they are vandals in the temple of Justice,” the EFCC boss declared. Magu noted that so much was expected from NBA, as a self-regulating professional association, in ensuring that all its members attained the highest possible professional heights, not judged by how many briefs they had or how fat those briefs were, but by how much professional integrity and patriotism they infused into their practice. He, therefore, expressed

hope that both EFCC and NBA were “on the same page with President Muhammadu Buhari and majority of Nigerians on the war against corruption. Therefore, let us join forces to ‘kill corruption before it kills Nigeria’.” Earlier, the NBA President, Augustine Alegeh, had told the EFCC boss that they were in his office not to discuss the arrest of Ricky Tarfa, but to hold discussions with the anticorruption agency on the war against corruption and other related issues. Alegeh submitted that both the EFCC and NBA needed to synergise for the war against corruption in the country to be won. The NBA executives later went into a closed-door meeting with the EFCC chairman and the management team.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Lagosmetro YABATECH students protest death of final year student She was a sickler —Management

Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

Naza Okoli -Lagos

TUDENTS of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) on Wednesday crippled activities at the college in protest of the death of a final-year Office Technology Management HND II student, Miss Dazan Charity Oluwabukola. Speaking to Lagos Metro, one of the protesting students, Akinola Emmanuel, said Dazan died due to negligence on the part of the officials at the school’s Medical Centre. He said: “She fell sick around midnight, and she was rushed to our Medical Centre. There, she was asked to pay N35, 000 before they would attend to her. Imagine that! From the breakdown of our school fees, every student pays N3, 000 for health care. So what was the N35, 000 requested for? It was gathered that Dazan died at the Medical Centre in the early hours of Wednesday. “Before she died, she told us not to call her mother,” one of the students who conveyed her to the Medical Centre said. “She said ‘I’m dying, don’t call my mother; call only my sister.” When Lagos Metro arrived at the College at 12 noon on Wednesday, Dazan’s body was still at the Medical Centre. The campus gates were locked by the protesters, who sang solidarity songs and displayed various placards. The students, who said their union had been suspended by the college management for more than a session, also used the opportunity to call for the immediate restoration of the student body. However, the Public Relations Officer of the College, Mr Charles One, who spoke to Lagos Metro in his office, said the deceased was as “a sickler”

Students of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), protesting death of their colleague, Miss Dazan Oluwabukola, on Wednesday. “It is unfortunate that this happened,” he said, adding that, “she was a sickler. She was admitted at the Medical Centre on Monday, and

was discharged later in the day. In the middle of the night her condition deteriorated and she was rushed back to the centre. She was

about to be taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, when she died.” Meanwhile the campus gates remained shut, even

after 3:00 p.m, as the protesters moved to the office of the Rector, who was said to be away on an assignment at Abuja.

Businessman jailed 7 years for issuing dud cheque Another granted bail for similar charge Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin A businessman Sayyu Aliyu Zakari was on Tuesday sentenced to seven years imprisonment for stealing 9,000 cartons of Dangote spaghetti. The stolen spaghetti was worth N18, 180,000.00 and belonged to a company Michelle Edmund Ventures. Zakari and his company, Alrander Limited, it was gathered on August 13, 2013 issued Fidelity Bank dud cheques for the sum of N9, 180,000.00 which was meant to be payment for the goods procured. The cheques were not honoured at the bank on grounds of lack of sufficient fund. Zakari was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and was charged before an Ikeja High Court where he pleaded not guilty.

Delivering the judgment on Tuesday, Justice Jose found him guilty and sentenced Zakari to five years imprisonment on the charge of stealing. His company was also ordered to pay a fine of N1million. Meanwhile, a 52-yearold businessman, Vincent Ikomi, who issued two dud cheques has been granted N50, 000 bail.

The accused, it was gathered, issued two fake postdated bank cheques of N1.1 million, which bounced when they were tendered at a bank for lack of insufficient funds. He was also accused of disregarding the written agreement reached between him and one Bernard Ighoraye. Ikomi’s offences contra-

Money launderers forfeit N1.65b, jailed two years

vene the provisions of sections 166 (D) and 319 (a) (b) of the criminal code of Lagos State 2011. Ikomi however, pleaded not guilty when he was charged before an Ejigbo Magistrate Court. The Magistrate, Mrs J.O Adeyemi, therefore granted him bail of N50,000 and adjourned the case till Feb 22, for mention.

TWO men who were arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, while attempting to smuggle $5,424,270 out of the country in October last year, have been convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment. The men, Ojukwu Nnamdi Rowland and Ngene Linus Chibuike were handed over to operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), after failing to declare the money to the Nigerian Customs Service. Rowland was caught in possession of $2,917,272 during his outbound clearance for a journey to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Chibuike, on the other hand, was nabbed for falsely declaring the sum of $11,500 out of the sum of $2,506,998 he had in his possession during an outbound clearance for a journey to China also enroute Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Both men were handed over to EFCC operatives and they were arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court.

Notorious Oshodi thug remanded 30 days for murder, arson Gbemi Solaja MUTIU Fadipe, popularly known as Asotuntun, 34, has been fingered as the brain behind most of the crimes in Oshodi area. According to detectives from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, (SCIID), Panti-Yaba, of Lagos state Police Command, alleged that Fadipe

and others now at large, had on September 30, 2015, at about 8:30 p.m., at 45, Mosaku Street, Oshodi, conspired among themselves and killed one Adekunle Mamora, 46, by shooting him on the head with a gun. He was also alleged to have set ablaze shops belonging to Alhaji Wasiu Aregbe, Olayinka Sowunmi, Ikechukwu Oranta, Sarah

Alamu, John Idulagbe, and Jerome Bernard. The total goods allegedly destroyed by the accused the police claimed worth over N8 million. He was arraigned before an Ebute Metta Magistrate Court which did not take his plea. Consequently, the prosecutor urged the court to remand him in prison for the first 30 days to enable the

Director of Public Prosecution, (DPP), issue an advice on the matter. The presiding Magistrate, A. O. Ariyo, (Miss), ordered that the Fadipe be remanded at Ikoyi Prison for the first 30 days. She also ordered the prosecutor to duplicate the accused’s case file and forward it to DPP for an advice, while adjourned the matter till April 7.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By Lanre Adewole

08037863902 | olanreade@yahoo.com

2,380 acres land acquisition: Community files N10bn suit against Lafarge, others Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare A community under the aegis of the WAPCO Sagamu Works Land Owners’ Association has instituted a N10.5 billion suit against Lafarge Africa Plc, Chief Solomon Onafowokan and three others, over alleged acquisition of over 2,380 acres of their land. The community through its lawyer, Babatunde Oshilaja, is also asking the court to give an order mandating that the defendants pay an additional N50 million being annual tributary/rent for the occupation and use of the claimants’ limestone extracted from the land. The claimants, Abibu Sotunminu, Lasisi Adunmo,

Ganiyu Sunmola, Alhaji Yekeen Oyeyemi and 35 others have in suit delineated HCS241/2015 urged the court for a declaration that the transfer or takeover of about 2380 acres of their land situated between Sagamu-Lagos Road and Sagamu-Ode Remo Road is invalid null and void. Those joined as defendants alongside Lafarge are the Sagamu Community Development Committee as second defendant, Olotu-Omoba Michael Oyedele as third defendant, Asiwaju Solomon Onafowokan as the fourth defendant and Eso-E Micro-Finance Bank Limited as the fifth defendant respectively. The claimants who filed

the suit for themselves and on behalf of over 2000 members of WAPCO Sagamu Works Land Owners’ Association are seeking for an order of the court declaring that its yearly budgetary financial allocations from Lafarge which is the first defendant should be paid directly to them and not through the Sagamu Community Development Committee. The Motion is supported by a 36-paragrapgh statement on oath deposed to by Alhaji Yekeen Oyeyemi, in which he stated that the purported acquisition of their land on the pretext that it would be used for public use turned out to be for private commercial use,

adding that the purported acquisition of their land was fraudulent in that Lafarge Africa Plc is extracting limestone resources of the land for private profit. However, Asiwaju Solomon Onafowokan and Eso-E Micro-Finance Bank Limited in their Notice of Preliminary Objection filed by their lawyer, Michael Lana challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit on the grounds that there is no reasonable cause of action against the all the defendants except Sagamu Community Development Committee, arguing that the committee is not a juristic person and that proper parties are not before the court.

60-year-old man in trouble for receiving stolen goods Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin A 60-year-old man and two others have landed in trouble for allegedly stealing textile materials worth N5.6 million. Chukwudalu Okeke 45 and Awakan Tajudeen 35, stole the items at 5, Taiwo Street, Lagos Island. Salisu Salisu, 60, allegedly received the stolen textile materials valued at N6.5 million, which belonged to one Nwafor Jude. When they were caught by the police, Tajudeen allegedly had in his possession a suede lace material. The Police further accused them of conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace. They, however, pleaded

Falana lauds traffic mobile court initiative

Bankers arrested for allegedly withdrawing from customer’s account Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin HUMAN Rights Activist, Femi Falana has lauded Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for taking the bold initiative to inaugurate the Special Offences Mobile Court. The State Government launched the initiative last week to summarily deal with growing cases of traffic and environmental abuses. Falana said the action of the governor was a progressive development which would enforce discipline and sanity on Lagos roads, as well as the environment. The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem had stated during the inauguration of the Mobile Court that the development was one of the ways through which Governor Ambode aimed to broaden the pathway that guaranteed citizens’ access to justice, and at the same time ensure the preservation of civility in the society.

not guilty when they were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate Court. The presiding A.O. Magistrate Sholadoye granted them bail in the sum of N600, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum. She stated that one of the sureties must be a civil servant, while the other must be a blood relation. She also ordered that the investigating Police officer (IPO) must bring the exhibits that were recovered on the next adjourned date. She adjourned the matter till March 23, for mention.

Arrested traffic and environmental offenders at Agege Local Government.

Mobile Court convicts 41 in 24 hours, acquits 6 6 okada, marwa riders for trial today THE newly inaugurated Lagos State Mobile Court has convicted 41 traffic and environmental offenders out of 52 arrested by the State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force). The Mobile Court, which sat on Tuesday at open space simultaneously at Apapa, Oshodi and Agege local government areas, had in its convoy, magistrates, lawyers, representatives from the office of the

Public Defenders (OPD), registrars, cashier, policemen, black-maria and towing vehicles. The magistrates are Nurudeen Layeni (Agege Local Government), Olalekan Aka-Bashorun (Apapa Local Government) and Magistrate Patrick Nwaka (Oshodi Local Government). The State Task Force disclosed this in a statement made available to Lagos Metro by its Public Af-

fairs Officer, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, saying the 41 were convicted for offences punishable under “Section 10 (1) (a) of Street Trading and Illegal Markets Prohibition Law of 2003” and were made to pay various fines as an options to 3- 6 months imprisonment. Taofik, however, said that two motorcyclists and four tricycle revenue collectors that were also prosecuted had their cases struck out for lack of proper docu-

mentary evidences. He disclosed that the remaining five (5) prosecuted tricycle operators had their case adjourned till Thursday, February 11, to enable prosecuting counsel, Jimoh Quadri, produce and tender videos and pictures of exact location of arrest from the (IPO), DSP Wilson Alaba, that led the operations from the Lagos State Task Force as evidence to guide the court proceedings.

A female business manager has denied conniving with her colleague to withdraw money from a customer’s account. Oyetade Bukky, 38, who works with an old generation bank in Ikotun Egbe branch, was arrested alongside her colleague Lawrence Ojo, 57, who works in the Efurun, Delta State branch of the bank. They allegedly withdrew N80, 000 and another N5 million from the account of a customer of the bank, Animashaun Olalekan, without authorisation. Oyetade was said to have used her position as the Business Manager at the Ikotun Egbe branch of the bank to forge the identity card and signatures of the complainant to withdraw N80, 000 from his account without his consent. Ojo on the other hand who was also the Business Manager with the Efurun, Delta State, branch of the bank used the same fraudulent method to withdraw the sum of N5 million from the complainant’s account domiciled at the Kakawa, Lagos Island, branch of the bank without authorisation and converted the money to his personal use.

businessnews

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

FG moves against mass sack in oil and gas sector Holds crucial meeting with Shell, Chevron, NNPC, others today Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja

HE Federal Government has taken a decision to forestall mass sack in the oil and gas sector as being contemplated by major oils companies; with a very crucial meeting to be held today with all major oil companies, Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and the trade unions in the sector. Nigerian Tribune gathered late last night that the crucial meeting will involve major International Oil Companies (IOCs) such as Shell, Agip, Mobil producing, Chevron, Addax and Total and others; while the NNPC, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the contractors in the oil and gas sector and other relevant stakeholders in the industries, will also be in attendance, Shell Petroleum alone had threatened to sack 10,000 workers, blaming the drop in the international oil price for the decision. But in a bid to halt the plan, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said last week that the Federal Govnment would be holding crucial meeting with the oil companies and other stakeholders in the industry. Already, the minister held a fact finding closed door meeting with the leadership of NUPENG and PENGASSAN and the contractors in the sector late on Tuesday night, before fixing today’s meeting with all the international oil companies, NNPC, PENGASSAN, NUPENG, and the contractors. At the meeting with the labour leaders and the contractor, Ngige reiterated the zero tolerance of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to job losses in the oil and gas or any other sector of the economy. He stated that any threat to industrial harmony must be nipped in the bud. The minister said: “We all know that the backbone of the Nigerian economy for now is still the oil and gas. As the Minister of Labour and Employment, I am committed to forestalling any issue that could bring industrial unrest in the sector or threaten job security in the country. “I wish to put on record that the Buhari administration has zero tolerance for any form of job loss. If the oil and gas sector or any other sector for that matter cannot

create new jobs, they must go the extra mile to retain the existing ones. Any job loss has multiple adverse effects on the population.” “I have before me, petitions which border on industrial and employment relations – retrenchment, casualisation, redundancy as well as unfair treatment of Nigerians in the employ of the oil majors. I have therefore summoned this meeting for us to properly ventilate the issues and make a way for a speedy resolution, after which we shall hold stakeholders’ summit.” Speaking on the issue of expatriate quota, Ngige said the

ministry was already in liaison with the Ministry of Interior to check the abuse of the nation’s Immigration/Labour Laws and promised that the displacement of qualified Nigerians by foreigners would soon become a thing of the past. At the meeting with the unions was also the Minister of State, Chief James Ocholi (SAN) who harped on the proactiveness of the ministry to the sustenance of the industrial peace and harmony and stressed that the economic realities on the ground have made any job cut very unpalatable in view of its negative consequences

to Nigerians. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Dr. Clement Iloh in his contribution regretted that the Oil and Gas Guidelines have become obsolete and should therefore be enhanced through the promulgation of a Ministerial Regulations so as to boost stability and sanity in the industry. He further said that many recruiters in the sector are yet to register or update their recruiter’s license, urging them to comply. The President of NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese warned that the

drop in the international price of oil was not a tenable reason for the continued enslavement of Nigerian workers through contract staffing and casualization. He argued that nowhere in the world are workers subjected to harsh and unfriendly labour environment as done by the oil majors in Nigeria. Also, the National President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Francis Johnson called for the urgent passage of the Petroleum Industrial Bill as a road map to the maintenance of peace and harmony in the oil and gas sector.

Chairman of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Dr Olatunde Ayeni, CON (right), presents a gift to the Kwara State governor, Dr Abdufattah Ahmed, when the former paid a visit to the governor, on Wednesday.

IBEDC requires N30bn to procure pre-paid metres Biola Azeez -Ilorin THE Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) says it needs about N30 billion to procure prepaid meters for electricity consumers in its area of business operation. Speaking after meeting with Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State and the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, on advocacy visit on planned tariff increase by the electricity company, the chairman, IBEDC, Tunde Ayeni, enjoined electricity consumers to ensure regular payment of bills to ensure provision of more pre-paid meters in its area of coverage. Ayeni, who called for public understanding and cooperation, said that the company needs more resources to stabilise the company for future quality service delivery. He also appealed to consumers to be patient with the company in its efforts to reposition the electricity company, saying that the

business transactions with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) was based on 30 per cent equity and 70 per cent debt acquisition. He said the existing transaction between the company and the BPE could not allow the company to source for such huge fund to buy meters for its consumers from banls, adding that the company required resource base to match up

with the current trend in business. Also speaking, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who said that the nation needs adequate supply of electricity supply to move forward, added that Nigeria must create alternative means of power generation or strengthen its existing capacity to move on. The governor, who said that the most important el-

ement to move the nation’s economy is electricity, called for improved collaboration and relationship between the consumers and providers in the sector. He said the company should improve efforts at meeting high demand of electricity by the people with commensurate supply, adding that they should also improve on collection process.

Tuns Farm creates 20,000 jobs, targets 500,000 day-old chicks By Wale Olapade TUNS Farms Nigeria Ltd, one of the leading producers of broilers in Nigeria, has reiterated its commitment to grow the nation economy in a bid to sustain Osun Broilers Out-growers Production Scheme (OBOPS). Speaking at an interactive session with poultry farmers, Chairman of Tuns Farms Ltd, who is also the Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Olatunde Badmus, explained that government participation in

the meat programme which was launched by the state government in December 2011 had ended, but the programme would continue based on the agreement between Tuns Farm and Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN). Badmus said farmers recorded a huge economic feat through this scheme like no agricultural intervention programme in the country. “The state government partnered with Tuns Farm Nigeria Limited and the Poultry Association of Ni-

geria (PAN), to jumpstart and promote broiler production, empower poultry farmers and create jobs under the Osun Broilers Outgrowers Production Scheme (OBOPS),” he said. While advising farmers not to be frightened about the future of the programme, Badmus said the company has considered the financials and assured the farmers that the usual profit margin would not be reduced inasmuch as farmers ensure good management of their farms.

Nigerian Tribune

Ubah, firm sue AMCON over alleged breach of judgment terms Sunday Ejike - Abuja OIL magnate, Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah, and his company, Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited, have sued the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) and its Managing Director, Ahmed Lawan Kuru, over their alleged violation of terms of a consent judgment they all entered in 2013 over Capital Oil’s N81 billion debt. In a fresh motion for committal brought against AMCON and Kuru before a Federal High Court, Abuja, Ubah and his company said as a way of resolving the dispute between them and AMCON over N81 billion debt owed to banks and business associates, parties entered into a consent judgment in 2012. Part of the terms of judgment allows AMCON to run Capital Oil for two years, pay out all its debt, manage it out of risks and inject N16 billion into the company to enhance its liquidity. Ubah and Capital Oil further stated that after they had met their terms of the judgment, which saw Ubah handing assets valued at N78billion to AMCON, the company has failed to meet its terms of the judgment and was allegedly plotting to appoint a receiver manager for Capital Oil with the intention of winding it up. “In spite of the return of the 1st applicant (Capital oil) to the 2nd applicant (Ubah) as Managing Director pursauant to the consent judgment in suit No;FHC/L/ CS/891/14 the 1st alleged contemnor continued to fail and or neglected to provide trading finance in the sum of N16 billion to the 1st applicant, which had the effect of practically incapacitating the 1st applicant’s ability to trade in petroleum products. “Despite the consent judgment this court and the pendency of suit Nos: FHC/ ABJ/CS/514/2015 and FHC/ABJ/CS/420/2015 the alleged contemnors have concluded plans to take steps to interfere with the management and business of the 1st applicant including by appointing or proceeding to apply to court for the purpose of appointment of a receiver for the 1st applicant, dealing in or taking possession of the 1st applicant’s property, attaching and freezing the 1st applicant’s bank accounts and or commencing winding up proceedings against the first applicant. “The action of the alleged contemnors amount to a criminal contempt of court as they are calculated to flout the purpose of the afore stated judgment of this court, hold the court up in odium, trample upon the dignity and majesty of this court,” Ubah stated.

businessnews Industrial crisis looms in NAMA 11

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

As unions issue 21 days ultimatum to management Shola Adekola- Lagos

N imminent industrial crisis looms at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) as aviation unions under the aegis of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria(ATSSSAN),the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations civil Service Technical and Recreational services Employees (AUPCTRE) have given the management of the agency a 21-day ultimatum to commence full implementation of all the agreed terms in the new conditions of service. The unions gave the ultimatum in a letter titled, “Vehement Resolve of the Joint Unions to Protest Non –Approval of NAMA COS” addressed to the Managing Director of NAMA and signed by the Acting General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye, Comrade Omotaje Olawale for ATSSSAN, Modiu Bello for AUPCTRE and made available to aviation journalists. The unions declared that at a joint meeting by NAMA employees who are members of our Unions’ ATSSSAN, AUPCTRE and NUATE, the session expressed utmost dismay and dissatisfaction at the alleged wicked insensitivity of the agency’s management to the welfare of staff and belligerent refusal

to conclude for approval, the implementation of a new Conditions of Service of staff for NAMA despite concerted efforts in that regard. The unions accused the NAMA management of taken for granted the maturity and social responsibility that its members have been displaying to ensure that the agency continues to discharge its duties and responsibilities, meeting up with global aviation standards. They added that the management has been dithering on the full execution of the

reviewed COS, which lapsed since 2012, adding that a review which ought to take place every two years but that the management has failed to review it. According to the unions: “Management feels comfortable that several workers shall be left behind at the same sordid social and economic conditions of 2012, when every sane person knows the global economic downturn, high exchange rate and inflation has eaten deep into the take home pay of workers.”

The aviation unions stated that based on these fact, the joint unions platform has un-equivocally resolved as follows; “that within 21 after receipt of this letter, management should commence full implementation of all the agreed terms in the new Conditions of Service, management should immediately invite the unions to agree on modalities to pay for the arrears of salaries and allowance of staff which should have accrued to them since the extant COS lapsed in 2012.”

The unions warned that if the management failed to comply with the demands, that they and their members shall be at liberty to deploy any legitimate arsenal in their custody to compel the management to perform its obligations to workers in tandem with extant laws. “We are now at a cross road and we cannot but step up the tempos to enhance the welfare of our members no matter whose ox is gored because we are confident that the heaven shall not fall when justice is done.”

From left, Chief Executive Officer, David Vann; Head of Sales, Devendra Singh, and Head, Marketing, Mike Ogor, all of Spectranet 4G LTE, after a media chat on the growth of Spectranet in Nigeria, held at Protea Hotel, on Wednesday, in Lagos. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Equities market Efficiency unit devises strategies to manage procurement costs Says N825bn spent on travel allowances, stationery, others in 3 years adds N53bn Kehinde Akinseinde-JayeobaLagos

TRADING on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed positive on Wednesday as volatility of the stocks market persist to leverage previous day lose. Market capitalisation increased by N53.069 billion naira as it closed at N8.3 trillion naira, representing 0.64 per cent appreciation in the value of stocks. Also the benchmark indices improved as the All Share Index appreciated to 24,135.40 basis points after adding 154.31 points or 0.64 per cent. On the price movement, FCMB Holdings Plc led the gainers’ table as it made 7.78 per cent increase in the value of it’s share price to close at 97 kobo per share. Okomu Oil Palm Plc also appreciated by 5.04 per cent or N1.41 kobo as it closed trade at N29.40 per share. Mobil Oil Plc continued previous day gain to close at N159.60 kobo, having added N7.60 kobo.

Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba-Lagos

IN furtherance of its commitment to re-prioritise spending and cut cost on recurrent expenditure, the Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance has said it is planning to introduce detailed price guidelines to ensure value for money in procurement by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). To reduce the incidence of cash, the deployment of Ministerial Debit Cards is being piloted. The unit, which carried out an extensive and detailed review of the overhead expenditure data of the government for the period 2012 to 2014, found that the overhead spending pattern was concentrated on a limited number of items including travel, maintenance, local and international training, welfare and office stationery/computer consumable. Speaking at a media in-

teraction in Lagos on Wednesday, the Head of the Efficiency Unit, Patience Oniha, said “the Cumulative Expenditure on these five items was N825 billion, representing 61 per cent of the cumulative total overhead expenditure of N1,353 billion for 2012 to 2014. “This means that the average amount expended annually on these five items during this period was N275 billion. The estimate for 2015 shows a continuation of this trend.” Overhead spending exceeded allocations to capital in all the years reviewed. In relation to procurement, which has been identified as a major source of potential savings for government, the unit said it has prepared a list of good and services which are regularly procured by MDAs. “By pooling the demand of MDAs, there will be opportunities to leverage the resultant bargaining power

and secure price discounts and other benefits from suppliers. This strategy will deliver savings and reduce the administrative costs inherent in the current procurement process, which is rather fragmented,” she said. She recalled that “developed countries such as the USA, UK, Canada and Hong Kong have used this strategy successfully to manage their expenditure. “Within Nigeria, large and diversified private sector organisations manage their procurement in a similar manner. “As a country, Nigeria should be no exception, more so when resources need to be managed tightly to promote spending on capital projects such as infrastructure.” She disclosed that the unit has initiated discussions with suppliers of air travel services for the purpose of price negotiation. This expenditure area was prioritised because

local and international travel represented the single largest overhead expenditure item in the period under review, with an average of N83 billion spent annually. This presents a potential savings opportunity of N4.14 billion annually at an estimated price discount of five per cent. The unit also said it has identified honoraria and sitting allowances as another expenditure items as potential for cost savings. This was one of the top eight expenditure areas with an average of almost N13 billion spent annually, she said. Oniha assured that, with the support of the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, she is confident that the Unit will pursue the implementation of its recommendations to deliver cost savings to government, while it continues its engagement with stakeholders in order to achieve its objectives.

Nigerian Tribune

Spectranet bemoans impact of forex on business

Launches Port Harcourt services Tola Adenubi - Lagos

ONE of Nigeria’s internet services providers, Spectranet 4G LTE has bemoaned the impact of the exchange rate of the naira against the dollar in the foreign exchange market on businesses in the country. This is even as the firm launched its services in Port Harcourt, aside its presence in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan. Speaking with newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday during a media chat, the Chief Executive Officer, Spectranet, David Venn, stated that the reality of the current exchange rate means that firms like Spectranet would have to pay back its debts in double to foreign partners. According to him, “when I came into this country about a year ago, the exchange rate of the naira to the dollar was around N160. For a company like ours that has debt to pay having borrowed money in dollars from our foreign partners, what this means is that we have to pay back double what we have borrowed. “That is the reality and this is not good for business. We will surely look for a way out of this situation but it does not help the growth of business.” He also explained that the firm is set to expand its coverage area around the country by targeting places like Kano. In his words, “We have just launched our Port Harcourt services after successfully going live in major cities like Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan. Kano surely is our next port of call due to its market size and strategic location to the Northern part of the country. However, it’s one step at a time. We hope to also target rural areas based on proximity to this major cities that we have begun operations. “Areas that are close to places like Lagos will surely come under our services very soon. But business has been very much on the high side for us. Take for example; do you know that the cost of a submarine cable from Lagos to Ibadan is the same price with a submarine cable from Lagos to London? “The cables are very expensive but these are things we have to live with.”

12 news

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Reps uncover massive fraud at TCN

We awarded N895m contract verbally —Director of Procurement Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja

HE House of Representatives Committee on Power has queried the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) over alleged mismanagement of about N1.2 billion. The money allegedly mismanaged by TCN was in two tranches, which included award of N400 million contract to zonal offices of TCN without due process and verbal award of N895 million by the management. The Director of Procurement claimed that the N895 million contract was awarded verbally without following due process. The director also told the committee that the contract had other issues as it was split. He equally said when the issues on the N895 million contract were raised, Manitoba Hydro International (MHI) team that managed contractor for TCN said it was in charge of the project, adding that the TCN tender board then directed that the contract should be reawarded. According to her, “when the contract was awarded, I raised the issue at the management level and they told me to keep quiet. “I raised it with the board,

they advised that they should go and do the needful. I then reminded my colleagues that we should be careful of what they are doing, as they could be recalled five years along the line to account for their action. I never knew that it will come soon. We are being called upon now to account

for our action.” To this end, the committee chairman, Honourable Daniel Effiong, directed the head of procurement of TCN to do a report on the matter, while promising that the matter would be reported to the appropriate government agencies for further action.

On the controversial N400 million contract, the director told the House committee that the contract was awarded through the zonal offices of TCN, saying that they were paid the money despite the fact that they were only entitled to N2 million threshold.

The Director of Project told the committee that though the contract was awarded two years ago, it was cancelled and re-awarded to the regional managers to handle, due to the failure of the initial contractor. She also claimed that the regional managers were

asked to refund the money again, after a petition was raised against the contract. To this end, the Minister of State for Power, Alhaji Mustapha Shehuri, pleaded with the committee, saying that the ministry would set up an investigative committee to investigate the allegations.

FG admits error in 2016 budget

•As Lai Mohammed disowns N389m budgetary allocation for computer •Poor implementation of past budget, bane of economy —Saraki Taiwo Adisa, Ayodele Adesanmi and Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja

THE Federal Government, on Wednesday, admitted that although the 2016 budget proposals submitted to the National Assembly (NASS) by President Mohammadu Buhari were well structured and targeted at reviving the economy, notwithstanding the fall in the oil price. It, however, said its details were developed using the Zero Based Budget (ZBB) which, it said, was not errorproof, adding that it was a new concept to budget officers, away from the traditional envelop process. It said the budget staff in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, as well as those handling budget

issues in all Ministries and Extra Ministerial Agencies (MDAs) were still grappling to master the technicalities in the ZBB template In a statement, the director in charge of information in the ministry, Charles Dafe, said some errors were not unexpected in the changeover to the new ZBB approach, noting that it was the reason the ministry arranged for the proposals to be placed on the website to expose them to public scrutiny. Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, disowned a budgetary allocation of N398 million contained in the 2016 budget of his ministry for purchase of computers. Speaking during a budget

defence session in the Senate, he said the ministry was not responsible for the proposal seeking the approval of the sum of N398 million for the purchase of computers. While appearing before the Senate Committee on Information, headed by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, he said the ministry’s budget was tampered with. He disowned the sum of N230 million meant for purchase of computers by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and another N168 million proposed for the purchase of computers in the Film and Video Cen-

sus Board (NFVCB.) Shocked by the proposals, the minister said: “No, that is not possible. That was definitely not what was proposed, this cannot be.” When one of his team members told the sitting that the sum of N5 million was actually earmarked for purchase of computers in the NFVCB, Senator Abaribe said: “the difference between N5 million and N168 million is huge.” Abaribe then asked that the ministry get its documents together and return with an amended budget. In another development, the Senate President, Dr Bu-

kola Saraki, on Wednesday, said poor implementation of past budgets had been the bane of the economy, leading to abandoned projects and wastages. Saraki, speaking during the National Assembly’s interactive session with civil society organisations (CSOs) on the 2016 budget in the Senate New wing, said in response to the unacceptable trend, the eighth National Assembly had decided to step up its oversight functions, to ensure that funds are spent “how,” “where” and on “what” they were earmarked for.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

14 news

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

A section of Majerita Hotel, Adeoyo, Ring Road, Ibadan, that got burnt on Tuesday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU.

Fire guts Majerita, ex lawmakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hotel By Tunde Ogunesan

section of M a j e r i t a Hotel, owned by a former member of the House of Representatives, Babatunde Oduyoye, on New Adeoyo Hospital Road, Ibadan, on Tuesday, went up in flames, leaving valuables worth millions of Naira destroyed. Nigerian Tribune reliably

gathered that the fire was caused by an ember which landed on the thatched roof of one of the bars at the swimming pool side in the hotel. The fire, which razed the main bar of the hotel, also affected two local bar joints, suya sports and roofs of adjoining structures to the hotel. It was gathered that the ember was blown to the thatched roof of one of the

bars from a bush adjacent to the hotel and another four-flat building, which also had one of its flats affected by the fire. One of the workers, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune, said the fire started around 12 noon on Tuesday, adding that they battled to save the situation for over two hours before men of the state fire service came to their rescue.

EDC worker electrocuted while rescuing colleague Olalekan Olabulo -Lagos A member of staff of Eko Distribution Company (EDC) died on Wednesday while another was severely injured while trying to fix

a faulty power system at Isolo area of Lagos State. The deceased official was identified as Ayoade Aloma, while the injured was identified as Ilesanmi Oyebode.

The electricity officials when the incident happened. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

The dead EDC official was reportedly trying to save his colleague, who was at the verge of being electrocuted when both of them got entangled in a stream of live electricity cables. The image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmus, confirmed the incident to the Nigerian Tribune, adding that Ilesanmi, as of Wednesday evening, was still being attended to at the hospital. It was gathered that the two EDC officials had gone to Isolo to effect some repairs on some of the electric poles in the community. One of them was said to have mounted the ladder and was fixing the electric cable, when suddenly he was electrocuted. Aloma, who was reportedly holding the ladder for his colleague, quickly climbed it in an attempt to rescue him. The two EDC staff members were electrocuted, leading to confusion among residents of the area. They had thought the two EDC staffers had died until it was confirmed at the hospital that Oyebode was still alive.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

16 news

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Boko Haram: Military shuts markets in Borno, Yobe Chris Agbambu - Abuja

HE military has announced that some markets identified to be engaging in illegal trade with Boko Haram members in Borno and Yobe states will be closed. It said any breach of the order would be dealt with accordingly, as it had placed its General Officers Commanding and other commanders on order to ensure compliance with the directive. Acting Director in charge of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, who announced this, noted that all manners of illegal commercial activities, such as trading and smuggling, especially during late hours, all aimed at sustaining terrorism and insurgency, were carried out in the markets. He said the activity was more prevalent in some towns and villages within the North-East, especially in Borno and Yobe states. According to him, the unpatriotic and selfish elements had clandestinely been aiding the terrorists with logistics and other supplies, through smuggling and other forms of illicit trading, thus sustaining them, while the merchants of death made money from it. Usman disclosed that despite the successes being made by the military in the war against terror, a crop of black sheep amongst the military were bent on tarnishing the image of the Nigerian Army. He stated that two of Explosive Ordinance Device personnel attached to 143 Battalion, 13NA/ 70/10183 Sapper Eric Nwokorie and 13NA/70/10263 Sapper Macauley Fortune were arrested at Yola park with some unauthorised military items. The items, he said, included one Smoke grenade, 2,136 live rounds of 7.62 (Special) ammunition, 50 live rounds of 7.6mm (NATO) ammunition, five magazines of AK 47 rifles, and two Browning Machine Gun live rounds of ammunitions. Others included an axe, a cutlass, a Jack knife, nine jungle hats, 11 pairs of camouflage (nine desert and three woodland green), four Military pullovers, one black beret, one green beret, a pair of number 7 dress, two general guty belt, 12 Army Tshirts, two rain coats, two water bottles, a pair of rain boot and five pairs of desert boots. He said: “It has come to the knowledge of the Nigeri-

an Army that while concerted efforts are being made to finally clear all remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East in particular and the country generally, some unscrupulous elements in the society had been thwarting that effort for pecuniary gains. “The Nigerian military and, indeed, the Nigerian Army, is highly concerned about these unpatriotic acts. The Nigerian Army is, therefore, taking some drastic steps to curtail illicit trading with the terrorists. “Troops of 7 Brigade Quick Reaction Force (QRF), Multinational Joint Task Force, on Wednesday, inflicted casualties on Boko Haram terrorists, thus causing a major setback to the insurgents. “This feat was achieved when the troops staged an ambush against the terrorists at Kekeno, Kukawa Local Government Area of the state.

“During the operation, the gallant troops killed five suspected Boko Haram terrorists, recovered one Toyota Buffalo vehicle, three AK47 rifles, two knives, a horse and other locally fabricated weapons. The insurgents were believed to be on a retaliatory mission, following the killing of a suspected Boko Haram Ameer during an ambush by our troops at Kekeno. “In another development, troops of 118 Task Force Battalion patrolling Mile 90-Kekeno general area, have killed one suspected Boko Haram terrorist and captured two other insurgents. “Similarly, troops of Army Headquarters Special Forces on patrol to Yale came across Boko Haram terrorists camp at Bulagana, cleared the camp and rescued 40 civilians held hostage. Unfortunately, a soldier sustained gunshot

wounds during the operation. He had since been evacuated and is responding to treatment. “In the same vein, 151 Task Force Battalion of 21 Brigade, while on patrol, encountered Boko Haram terrorists at Budumri village, during which they killed 25 Boko Haram terrorists and arrested eight other terrorists. “The troops also rescued 103 civilians held hostage by the terrorists. They also recovered one Golf car and quite a number of motorcycles and bicycles. The troops also cleared terrorists camp at Bolungu village. The same unit also rescued 181 people and captured eight Boko Haram terrorists. “Among those rescued were 18 men, 90 women and 77 children. The screening and profiling of those rescued was ongoing before their movement to IDP camps, while those arrested

are being interrogated. “The attention of the Nigerian Army has also been drawn to a set of 250 protesting dismissed soldiers in Nigerian Union of journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Kaduna, pleading through the media to be reabsorbed into the Nigerian Army. “The protesting soldiers were those soldiers dismissed last week by the Nigerian Army over gross acts of indiscipline, cowardice and absence without leave. They were part of the 2,023 dismissed soldiers last year who were earlier reinstated into the service by the present Chief of Army Staff. “However, these set of soldiers (205) absconded for more than one week when they were told that they were to move to North-East on January 6. “They started coming back when they realised that others were moved to units other than the theatre of op-

erations in the North-East. Please, note that all efforts were made to make all the reinstated soldiers comfortable and integrate them back into the system. “The protesting soldiers are the few who are recalcitrant to military duties and discipline. They are simply not interested in Army job, but want to earn salary. No one should listen to them, as they are not patriotic at all. “It should be noted that the Nigerian Army had been tolerant and patient with their acts of indiscipline and unprofessional conduct. This was based on the understanding of their circumstances and conditions. “Efforts have been made to retrain, integrate and give them sense of belonging. However, the attitude of some of them had left so much to be desired and would not be tolerated anymore, hence their dismissal from service.”

2 female bombers kill 58 in Borno refugee camp James Bwala - Maiduguri, with Agency report TWO female suicide bombers blew themselves up in a northeast Nigerian refugee camp, killing no fewer than 58 people, health and rescue officials said on Wednesday. A third woman bomber was arrested and had given officials information about other planned bombings that helped them increase security at the camp, said

an official of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency. Some 78 people are being treated for wounds from the twin explosions that occurred Tuesday morning in a camp of some 50,000 people, driven from their homes by the Boko Haram Islamic uprising, according to health workers in Maiduguri. The emergency management official said 51 bodies

Sunday Ejike -Abuja

tion proceedings initiated against Kashamu by the immediate past AGF, Mohammed Adoke on May 28, 2015 for lacking in merit. Kashamu, in his fresh application, alleged that the respondents, having failed to obtain the consent of any court to extradite him, have now resorted to, “subterranean, perhaps invidious

were buried on Wednesday in Dikwa, scene of the carnage, which is 85 kilometres (53 miles) northeast of Maiduguri. Health workers said five bodies were brought to the main hospital in Maiduguri. The officials said poor cell phone service delayed news of the attack. Boko Haram’s six-yearold Islamic insurgency had killed 20,000 people, made

2.5 million homeless and spread across Nigeria’s borders. Governor Midjiyawa Bakari of neighboring Cameroon’s Far North province said two suicide bombers believed to have come from Nigeria on Wednesday, killed 10 people and injured 40 attending a wake in a border village, including children. Attacks in Chad and Niger also are blamed on Boko Ha-

ram. Since troops from Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon last year drove the Islamic extremists from towns and villages, where they had announced an Islamic caliphate and ruled with their strict interpretation of Islamic law, the insurgents had taken to attacking soft targets, such as mosques and market places, where many people gather.

Another court restrains AGF, NDLEA from arresting Kashamu A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, restrained the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and its immediate past chairman, Ahmadu Giade, from taking steps to arrest Senator Buruji Kashamu, representing Ogun East senatorial district at the National Assembly. The trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, gave the order while ruling on an ex parte motion filed in the suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/479/2015 by Kashamu. Kolawole, who had granted a similar order on Monday, which he said would last upon his ruling on Wednesday, extending the order till the determination of a motion on notice filed by Kashamu, seeking the committal of the AGF, NDLEA and Giade to prison for allegedly disobeying the court’s earlier order made on July 1, 2015. Justice Kolawole had, last year, dismissed an extradi-

steps to circumvent the judicial process in order to achieve their ultimate goal of abducting him and shipping him, under the cover of judicial darkness, to the United States on allegation on which British courts had exonerated him.” The judge, who expressed dismay over the allegation said, he hoped it was not true

because such development was capable of casting the country in bad light. He, however, expressed confidence in the capacity of the current Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to prevent such incident from happening under his watch. “Let me confess that when I read through the applicant’s

depositions, my sincere hope and prayer is that the allegations are not true. Otherwise, the facts are so sordid that it would expose the Nigerian state, perhaps as a banana republic, where just anything goes,” he said. Justice Kolawole adjourned till February 24 for hearing of the motion on notice.

Family remembers Colonel Ibrahim Taiwo Biola Azeez, Ilorin THE family of late Colonel Ibrahim Taiwo, the former military governor of Kwara state, has organised a twoday programme to commemorate 40th anniversary of his assassination. Speaking with one of the children of the late military chief in Ogbomoso, Colonel Ahmed Taiwo, said there would be a prayer service at the burial site of the late governor in Ogbomoso on Friday. “We are going to have prayer and remembrance drill/parade at the grave side on Friday. On Saturday,

there would be a golf tournament in Ilorin, involving top golfers because he was an avid golfer”, he said. “The Kwara state governor is expected to grace the occasion or he may be represented. And I must say here that Kwara people in particularly had showed very much love. I think they liked him a lot and showed love. Once they know who you are and you are identified as his child, they show you so much love. In fact, we started the planning with the government. But things are financially difficult in the state now. So, we have to bear the burden. I

know they could have done much more. “The army is giving him full memorial rememberance ceremony. And from there we’ll have reception here in the hotel hall (Nest Hotel owned by Col Taiwo). “The next day, we’ll have a golf tournament in Ilorin. And that’s because he actually founded the golf course in Ilorin. It’s no coincidence that it’s next to Government House, Ilorin and from the story ‘am getting, he was the one that actually and physically designed and supervised the construction until his death. So that would be like almost a founder’s day

celebration at the Golf Club in Ilorin. Quite a big one because we’ve invited golfers from all around. He was an avid golfer. “We’ll also be looking at what we can do for education growth because that’s one of his areas of interest and love. Already we’ve instituted one or two scholarships in his name where schorlarships had been given. It had always been there in his memory. We just, may be, formalise it or make it more official. That’s what we are thinking. Nothing too loud. The profession again won’t call for anything loud”, he said.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016 With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

1. From left, Chief Abiola Ogundokun; former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi; Chief John Fasawe and Alhaji Lateef Gbaamosi, during the visit of former president to Iwo, last week. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

3. From left, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah; Global Head, Policy and Public Affairs, Diageo, Mr Richard Burn and the Head, Policy and Public Affairs, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Michael Onuoha, during an advocacy visit to the Ministry in Abuja.

5. Femi Fatoye, Akindele Gbenga, the promoter and Managing Director, MALE INTEGRATED Services, Micheal Ale, Coach Itsewah Austin and Peter Oreoluwa, duing the briefing on Strong Men Body versus Builder Competition by MALE Integrated Services, recently.

7. Chief Alaba Lawson and the GMD/CEO, Odua Investment Company Limited, Mr Adewale Raji, at Ogun State 40th anniversary ceremony, held in Abeokuta.

2. From left, FRSC Operations, Abuja Adei A. Abu, Chief Femi Adekanmbi, Ondo State Commissioner for Special Duties, Prince Rotimi Ibidapo, the donor of FRSC building complex, and S.G Maitizumahs, Zonal Commander, FRSC, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti, during the official donation and commissioning of FRSC building complex, Owo Unit, by Prince Ibidapo.

4. Cross section of some of the old students in a group photograph, during the inauguration of 15 water closet toilets for students and staff of Ibadan City Academy, by the 1978/83 sets, at the weekend.

6. From right, chairman on the occasion, Mr P.S.O. Taiwo; the bride’s father, Dr Olakunle Fajemirokun, Mrs Stephania Adelaja, the bride, Salewa Rita; her husband, Mr Micheal Kayode Adelaja and Mrs Oyeronke Fajemirokun, at the wedding reception held at Kakanfo-Inn, after the church service St Luke’s Church, Molete, Ibadan, on Saturday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU

8. From left, Oba Adewale Akanbi, Oba Saheed Elegushi and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, at an occasion.

9. Professor Emeritus David Ijalaye (SAN) and Chief (Mrs) E.A. ljalaye with their two grandchildren, Wole Oke and Dayo Ijalaye, during their call to the Nigerian Bar, in Abuja,recently.

For bookings, contact ’Laolu Afolabi on 08054681741 or Tommy Adegbite on 08116954631

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

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yournews

Between private and public schools

•For the love of nectar. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

Still on youth unemployment

VERY youth in Nigeria today dreads the time he or she will leave school and join the labour market. It is no longer about going to school and graduating or learning a trade, but about how to face the reality of graduating and joining the brigade of the unemployed with no hope of a better tomorrow. Nigeria has a large population of young people, and over 50 per cent of these youth are without jobs or stable economic income. But while the developed countries are taking the threat seriously and restructuring their education and social security systems to suppress its growth and escape the high disastrous retrenchments, Nigeria seems not to be doing enough. The youth unemployment crisis is not new, what is new is the incred-

ible proportional increase it has reached in the recent time. Unemployment in the country is promoting gangsterism among the youth. Most youths now engage in violence, armed robbery, kidnapping, car snatching, illegal bunkering and fuel sales, and illegal importation of

have died from explosions trying to scoop petrol from broken oil pipelines or overturned oil tankers. The role of the Nigerian government must include the formulation of policies and laws that will help improve the economic and social wellbeing of its citizens. There is the need to create jobs through small enterprises and poverty

alleviation schemes. Other solutions such as providing centres where youths can acquire skills free of charge should be encourages. It is particularly important for politicians who are in government to start operating skills acquisition centres in their constituencies. •Adeosun Aishat, 08169949232

Economy: Let’s be patient with Buhari PERMIT me to use this opportunity to urge Nigerians to be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari. After less than a year in government, some Nigerians have been demanding that the president perform magic to solve the country’s woes immediately, but this is not possible. Even when a person is sick, and he starts getting treatment, it

Attention, Governor Ambode PERMIT me to use this widely-read newspaper of yours to call on the governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and the water corporation to, as a matter of urgency, address the issue of water scarcity that is affecting some areas for some weeks

arms, most of which have reached alarming levels in several Nigerian cities. In the South-South zone, for example, youths have formed different gangs engaged in kidnapping, blowing up of oil pipelines, raping, oil bunkering and operation of illegal refineries, and other criminal activities. Hundreds of jobless and poor youths

now. This is causing untold hardship for people and there is a saying that ‘No water, no life.’ As a result of this, urgent intervention is needed to solve this problem, as a listening governor, I know

is not the same day that he will be healed of the sickness. The same thing goes for Nigeria. We need to be patient, and with time,

we will know where we are headed under this administration. The president is taking over a bruised economy, and we should learn

to give him all the support he needs to turn things around. Idayat Kassim, 08094309160

No to increase in electricity tariff MR Babatunde Raji Fashola should look for ways to improve the epileptic power situation in the country instead of supporting an increase in

Mr Ambode will do something fast about this problem. I, therefore, want to urge all Lagosians to continue to support the governor in order to achieve success. •Oloyo Toyin, 09054551759

tariff. Nigerians are suffering as a result of the economic crisis, and making them pay more for electricity is just so wicked. This is not the contract the people had with the All Progressives Congress (APC) when it was campaigning for their votes. As it is now, it is like Nigerians have deliberately brought the hardship on themselves by voting for the APC. President Muhammadu Buhari should, therefore,

not burden Nigerians more with this electricity tariff. •Jimoh Mumin, 08034435211

MANY people tend to attribute the low academic standard mostly obtainable in our public schools as against the private ones to the lack of motivation among the teachers. I have seen many private schools paying their teachers as low as N6,000 per month, including those with first degrees and Masters, compared to the teachers collecting between N33,000 and N38,000 in public schools, and despite this disparity in salaries, teachers in the private schools still perform better. So I keep wondering why our public schools are in the state they are in today. •Bagudu Mohammed, 07034943575

On sporting facilities in Ondo I want to appeal to the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, to complete the ultra-modern stadium in Akure, as well as other sporting facilities in the state before the end of his tenure. Completing the stadium is important because Sunshine Stars need a comfortable base in order to prosecute its matches. One of the things that attract fans to the stadium is the beautiful structure; when the stadium is beautiful, and the pitch wellplanned, then it won’t take long before fans start trooping enmasse to watch matches. I, therefore, hope the governor can do something fast about this before he leaves office. •Bamidele Akindele, 08172741878

Forgetting white collar jobs IT is high time unemployed graduates looked beyond white collar jobs and focus on skills that will make them self-employed. I want to suggest small scale businesses like tailoring, barbing, dry cleaning, rentals, shoe making, carpentry, and many more.

These are businesses that will make them employers of labour, especially with the education they acquired. With the economic situation of things, unemployment will become more terrible. •Femi Dada, 08167587147

editorial

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Rebuilding the North-East

ENERAL Theophilus Danjuma (retd), chairman of Victim Support Fund, a fund set up to assist internally displaced persons in the country, has said that it would cost over N2 trillion to carry out shortterm intervention to reconstruct the North-East geopolitical zone that has been ravaged by the activities of Boko Haram. The former Defence Minister made the remark at the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja, during the opening ceremony of the annual National Security Seminar organised by the alumni association of the institution. He went further to state that rebuilding of the North-East would require cooperation and pooling of resources by the most affected states. Reconstruction of the region, he noted, would involve massive reconstruction of physical infrastructure, return and re-integration of the displaced people, meanignful restoration of life to those affected, and peace building. In the meantime, while counter-terrorism operations are still ongoing, the provision of humanitarian assistance in terms of basic food, shelter and medical services remains a priority for both the Federal Government and other actors involved in the process. There is no doubt that the reconstruction effort in the North-East would gulp a colossal sum given the destructive activities of Boko Haram which have gone on for many years. Indeed, the social and economic dimensions of reconstruction include re-establishing the functional components of society beyond the reintegration of displaced populations and repairing physical infrastructure, such as building homes, roads and bridges, restoring water, electricity and fuel supplies, and repairing schools, markets and hospitals. They also include recruiting personnel and providing the training necessary for operations and maintenance, building administrative and governance capacities, establishing functional financial infrastructure and economic restructuring, and ensuring social wellbeing, including the health care needs of the population. The government must work with the affected communities to ensure food security, provision of basic social services and rebuilding of the education system. Happily, a â&#x20AC;&#x153;North East Marshall Planâ&#x20AC;? (NEMAP) with immediate and long-term programme funding has been developed, with a Federal Government funding of N200 billion. International support groups are also expected to provide assistance. The short-term component is the North East Emergency Assistance and Economic Stabilisation Programme designed to deliver restorative and palliative

services to displaced people, vulnerable persons and the most affected households in need of assistance. We encourage the government to be committed to developing the North-East. Failure to do this will mean spending more on basic security. We also call on wealthy Nigerians, including established philanthropists like Theophilus Danjuma and Aliko Dangote, to contribute to the funds for executing the rehabilitation and reintegration programme. The greatest hedge against Boko Haram is making life meaningful for residents of the region. As the process of rehabilitation goes on, it is important to recall that the poverty level in the NorthEast is to a large extent attributable to the poor governance that characterised the region for over four decades preceding the emergence of the Boko Haram insurgency. Public education and health institutions have been run down due to poor finance, corruption and ineptitude. Governance in the country in general and the north-eastern states in particular must be reformed to address poverty. Nigeria has considerable levels of income inequality; the population constituting the highest 20 per cent hold about 54 per cent of the national wealth. Income share held by the lowest 20 per cent was 4 per cent in 2010. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) National Poverty Index report 2012, about 112 million Nigerians, or 67.1 per cent of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total population of 167 million, lived below the poverty level; that is, below US$1.00-US$1.25 per day. The 2012 report indicated that the incidence of poverty in Nigeria worsened between 2004 and 2010. Furthermore, the report indicated that the number of Nigerians living below the poverty line rose from 68.7m to 112.5m (63.7 per cent rise in poverty incidence) during the period, while the population rose from 139.2m to 158.6m (13.9 per cent rise in population) over the same period. Recent statistics are in the same direction.Thus, despite its growing economy, the proportion of Nigerians living in poverty is increasing. It is not an accident that the poorest zone in the country has become the hotbed of Boko Haram insurgency. According to the NBC, over half of all children in the northern part of the country are stunted. While 41 per cent of all children under five are classified as stunted, 23 per cent are severely stunted. The North-West region has the highest level of stunting with 56 per cent, followed by the North East with 42 per cent and the North Central with 29 per cent. Greater efforts are needed to drastically reduce these high levels of poverty and stunting in the North as part of the reconstruction programme.

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opinion

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Let’s open Adolf Hitler’s poisonous book By Tunji Ajibade

DOLF Hitler led Germany from 1933 to 1945. He wrote a book called, Mein Kampf (My Struggle). Some dismiss it as poison. We know though that certain poisons have their positive uses. So, I wonder if Hitler’s book is of any use to us, especially a generation that hungers for war. In any case, no book is valueless. I reason the way any writer would. More disclosures: I love books. Books with brightly-designed covers are my weakness. I like spreading them on the floor around me; the scattered formation holds an attraction for me. I imagine they are part of the aesthetics in any setting; they make a room beautiful. When I have them, I’m curious to know what they contain, of course. Only consummate readers get my point. Why should I think a book by Hitler is worth any consideration other than sending it to the junkyard? At a stage, the imminent release of the book had made headlines around the world. Media houses invited citizens and experts to make comments on what threats they thought Hitler’s Mein Kampf constituted to the current generation. I don’t think anything inanimate is dangerous in itself, rather its owner makes of it. When a team of German scholars added more pages to Hitler’s book and released it in January, one motive they pointed to was to get people to read Hitler’s mind 70 years after he died. It’s good to learn how other people’s minds work, a reason I enjoy sounding people out, getting to know what they believe. It makes for better assessment, for informed opinion. Some have, however, dismissed the German scholars’ effort; they would rather do without a copy of the annotated book. I had read books that detailed how Hitler rose to power, and the atrocities his administration committed. My conclusion was that only a man destined for a thing could get as many lucky breaks as he got in his lifetime. Hitler staged a coup and was imprisoned. He escaped death too. His was no easy path. He was a strong man with a wrong mindset who nevertheless rose to power. This calls attention to the danger of sending people with the wrong orientation into offices. It’s a reason I worry when I read people who give expression to ethnic, religious biases that are filled with hate. Such hold skewed views; supposedly educated people whose opinion of others is neither balanced nor realistic. Yet they feel justified. They are volatile fuel if they hold positions of power. They would wreak havoc like Hitler did. This German leader nursed hatred for people, for other races.

He held unbalanced view on so many issues as seen in the book he wrote in 1924, years before he came to power. He became the leader of one of the most prosperous European nations by the standard of his time. That was a loaded gun in the hands of an unbalanced mind. Hitler’s thoughts were enough signposts for what followed in WW2. His type is bewildering prospect for any nation. Basically, Hitler’s Mein Kampf speaks about his youth, early days in the Nazi Party, his future plans for Germany, and his ideas on politics and race. The race aspect gives a picture of his mind about fellow humans more than any other. He divides humans into categories based on physical appearance; he establishes higher and lower orders, or types of humans – the Germanic man with his fair skin, blonde hair and blue eyes sits at the top. Hitler calls him an Aryan, adding that the Aryan is the supreme form of human, or master race. Others that are the racially inferior, according to Hitler, are Jews and the Slavic peoples i.e. the Czechs, Poles, and Russians. As for blacks, they could not have been better than animals in Hitler’s imagination. So, when the African-American, Jesse Owen, won the 100 metre Olympic gold medal in Munich in 1936, Hitler refused to give him a handshake. In his book, Hitler notes that “…it (Nazi philosophy) by no means believes in an equality of races, but along with their difference, it recognises their higher or lesser value and feels itself obligated to promote the victory of the better and stronger, and demand the subordination of the inferior and weaker in accordance with the eternal will that dominates this universe.” He also goes on to note that the Aryan is culturally superior: “All the human culture, all the results of art, science, and technology that we see before us today, are almost exclusively the creative product of the Aryan… Hence, it is no accident that the first cultures arose in places where the Aryan, in his encounters with

lower peoples, subjugated them and bent them to his will. They then became the first technical instrument in the service of a developing culture,” Hitler had theorises. Hitler states further that it’s beneficial for conquered inferior races to be so conquered. That’s because they have to come in contact with Aryans and pick lessons from them. But they can only benefit if the Aryans remain the master and do not intermarry with inferior conquered peoples. He says the Jews have conspired to ensure that the master race is prevented from assuming its rightful position as rulers of the world. (It’s a main reason he hates them). This, the Jews do by contaminating Aryan racial and cultural purity and inventing forms of government in which the Aryan comes to believe in equality; that way, the Aryans fail to recognise their racial superiority. He sees the struggle for world domination as an ongoing racial, cultural, and political battle between Aryans and Jews. “The mightiest counterpart to the Aryan is represented by the Jew,” Hitler asserts. He posits that Jews conduct an international conspiracy to control world finances, control the press, invent liberal democracy as well as Marxism. On several pages, Hitler refers to Jews as maggot, repulsive, monsters, foreign, liars, sly and without any true culture. Hitler’s conspiracy idea, and the notion of “competition” for world domination between Jews and Aryans would become widespread beliefs in Nazi Germany and were taught to schoolchildren. Hitler’s racial attitude towards the Jews would be shared to varying degrees by millions of Germans and people from occupied countries. His book also provides an explanation for the military conquests later embarked upon by Germany, and as he explains, since the Aryans were the master race, they were entitled to acquire more land for themselves. The book’s first edition in 1925 didn’t sell much. Those who had been expecting it to be an insider’s take on a rebellion that got Hitler imprisoned were disappointed, as what they got were hundreds of pages of wandering, sometimes incomprehensible sentences. Hitler had sent a warning ahead before he arrived office, but no one paid attention. The world soon paid for the negligence. I have always maintained that it is unhealthy for any individual to hate fellow humans on the bases of religion, race or ethnicity. To me, the annotated book is, therefore, usable for many generations, any generation that chooses to forget the horrors of war, and thereby thirst for war. •Ajibade is a public affairs analyst.

Diversification: Looking beyond the national cake By Olapeju Olasunkanmi

BEFORE the current economic downturn, the Nigerian economy had experienced unprecedented growth. From the low 2.8 percent growth rate and a GDP of 74 billion dollars in 1999, the economy soared in leaps and bounds as a result of improved crude oil sales, and the success stories in the telecommunications and services industries, following the liberalisation of the economy. As of the last quarter of 2014, the economy grew at seven percent, with the GDP reaching 574 billion dollars. Nigeria became the largest economy in Africa, and the 21st in the world, in nominal terms. While the reality of the growth must be admitted, it lacks inclusiveness. Nigeria is a paradox: a better economy does not equate a financially-buoyant people. The increase in resources had further deepened the challenge of fair distribution. Nigeria still performs poorly says the new World Bank relative poverty estimate, which is 33.1 percent. This represents a drastic but surprising improvement from the more popular previous estimate of 60 percent. This new figure, still locates Nigeria below the poverty line. It reminds one that Nigeria remains one of the most unequal countries—with the inequality spanning the social, economic, political, and cultural—in the world. From the National Bureau of Statistics data for the first quarter of 2015, it is evident that while 6.5 percent of men in the labour force were unemployed, and 13.9 percent, underemployed; 8.9 percent of women in the labour force were unemployed and 19.6 percent, underemployed. Another UNESCO report, quoting from the NBS, reveals that Nigeria’s adult literacy spectrum runs variably across states (Lagos 92 percent and Borno 14.5 percent), regions (urban 74.6 percent and rural 48.7 percent), and gender (male 65.1 percent and female 48.6 percent). However,

most studies on inequality agree that all dimensions of inequality are skewed against the poor. The poor are the most vulnerable of Nigeria’s multifaceted socio-economic challenges. The insurgency in the North-East affords a learning curve as it shows the connection between poverty and vulnerability. Daily, unemployed youths are recruited into terrorist groups with promises of money. It is, therefore, expedient that in addressing inequality of whatever thematic expression, there has to be a systematic approach to poverty alleviation. Corruption is a bane towards equality, and should be fought to a standstill. Nigerians must support the Muhammadu Buhari administration in clearing the Augean stable. However, tackling corruption alone will not leapfrog a nation from poverty to equitable prosperity. The economy has to be opened up. All vistas for unleashing potentials and creating new centres of development must be fully explored to raise revenues, create new capacities and facilitate new people-oriented investments. It is important for all hands to be on deck. But first, we have to diversify this economy. Diversification means looking beyond oil. The Federal Government needs to show its managerial creativity. Diversification also means looking beyond the national cake at the centre. It is time for states to become proactive, inward-looking, leverage on their comparative ad-

vantages. Nations are as developed as the size of their budgets, global statistics show. A country like Norway with a little above five million people allocates over 200 billion dollars for its people, yet generates above 280 billion dollars as revenue; Nigeria currently allocates about 30 billion dollars as total expenditure, and runs a deficit budget for its 170 million population. But how can budgets and revenues be ramped up? How can citizens latch onto programmes that can improve their lives? What actions need to be taken to close the increasing income gap between classes? How can these be done in Nigeria, especially when the future looks bleaker with reducing oil prices? It may not be easy but actions must be swift. The Federal Government should invest in massive development programmes in the areas of critical infrastructure development. Nigeria’s land laws need to be reformed to make lands more accessible for commercial farming. Agriculture should be used as a strategy for mass employment and wealth transfer to the poor citizens. And no, it is not enough to make policies, they must be executed and they must positively affect the farmers in the most rural communities. This will raise their purchasing power and create multi-sectoral ripple-effect in a manner that is assuring of inclusive development. Education is important. Girl-child literacy should be improved by providing opportunities for the over 10 million out-of-school children through access to quality public education. Adult literacy must be emphasised. Government needs to do more than mere lip service to education. Parents need to do more than enrolling their children in public schools. The success of Nigeria in building an inclusively prosperous economy will represent a growth pole for Africa. •Olasunkanmi is a chartered city planner.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Femi Olukunle Coordinating Editor 08158610216,

Customs boss warns officers against compromising integrity of e-customs Saliu Gbadamosi-Abuja

FCT minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, disposing garbage into one of the mobile refuse collectors in Kwali Area Council, during the flag-off of the FCT Household and Community Sanitation Exercise in the council.

FCTA okays reward for cleanest community, area council Christian Okeke-Abuja

he Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration has approved special reward for the cleanest area council and community in the territory. Under the arrangement, chairman of the cleanest council would not only be recogniSed, but would enjoy certain privileges even at national level. Also, traditional ruler of the cleanest community would also be adequately rewarded. Details of the planned reward were not obtained as at the time of this report, but it was gathered that the administration would support the entire Area Councils both financially and with quality policies to drive the sanitation project. Disclosing this during the flagging-off exercise of the household and community sanitation exercise in Kwali, the headquarters of Kwali Area Council of the FCT, the minister, Muhammadu Bello, noted that his administration considered the policy of reward and punishment as it concerned environmental sanitation so as to encourage the residents to proactively clean their immediate environment. He noted that the issues of improved personal hygiene and removal of environmental nuisances in the area councils

and satellite towns remained on the front burner of the current administration. Bello called on all the residents to imbibe the change agenda of the Federal Government while noting that the community-based approach to environmental sanitation would lead to a more realistic and sustainable results in maintaining the

environment. Earlier, the chairman of Kwali Area Council, Mr Ibrahim Daniel, urged the FCT Administration to complete the Kwaita road which had remained under construction since 2004 as well as the Kwali township roads.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd), has warned that any act calculated to distort and compromise the integrity of e-Customs will not be tolerated and will be met with appropriate sanctions. He assured that compliant stakeholders and operatives who distinguished themselves in the deployment and transparent use of e-Customs to enhance revenue and national security would be encouraged and rewarded. Ali, who spoke in Abuja, noted that the deployment of e-Customs had boosted Customs’ role of providing connectivity between nations divided by artificial borders, and noted that collection of revenue and interception of harmful imports had been made easier with the help of technology. He expressed satisfaction that the Service played leading role in the deployment of technology for collaboration and efficiency. According to him, the platforms had been tested and acknowledged by stakeholders as effective tools for progressive engagement since their deployment in 2013. He, however, warned Customs operatives and other stakeholders not to abuse and corrupt the system Also speaking on the initiative, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said with the current dwindling resources from the sale of oil, there was need for the country’s revenue generating agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC), to be patriotic with a view to helping the country come out of the current economic doldrums. He noted that with the current free fall of price of oil in international market, the Customs was one of the organisations and agencies that the country could turn to in terms of revenue generation.

Crew 1. Christian Okeke chidiabujatribune@ yahoo.com 08030947856 2. Clement Idoko idokoajiga@yahoo. co.uk 08034412281

FCT minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, clearing some refuse in Kwali Area Council, during the flag-off of FCT Household and Community Sanitation Exercise in Abuja.

Directors grumble Health ministry as minister blames prioritises cancer them over poor treatment —Pg.22 infrastructure —Pg.22

3. Kolawole Daniel kolawoledaniels@yahoo.co.uk 08030763782 4. Adetola Bademosi gloriaadetola@ gmail.com 08182214290 5. Collins Nnabuife chideraacollins@yahoo.com 08039521408 Abuja Xtra email & GSM: abujaxtra@ gmail.com 08054501406

abujaxtra

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Directors grumble as minister blames them over poor infrastructure Christian Okeke-Abuja

ome directors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration have grumbled over the action of Minister of FCT, Mallam Muhammadu Bello, who blamed them for poor state of infrastructure in Abuja The minister had expressed visible anger over state of infrastructure in the territory when he undertook a tour of the capital city. He lamented that the city had become an eyesore over what he described as the failure of officials at the FCT administration to work as a team. The minister specifically expressed anger over the state of Millennium Park and the Unity Fountain, all in Maitama. Bello noted that the two infrastructures were supposed to serve as tourist attractions, but lamented that the monuments were left to degenerate. “A typical example is this place where we are now. This is the Millennium Park. This is supposed to be the flagship of this beautiful city. Even if it is government owned or it is concessioned out to somebody, at the end of the day, it is our responsibility to keep this park nice, neat and beautiful,” he said. He said: “Somebody must be responsible. If the man in charge of Parks and Recreation does not see the need to do these fences, shouldn’t somebody in FCDA, Transport or Tourism departments think that something is wrong here. “That’s the mistake I think we need to correct. We cannot be working in isolation. We cannot continue to manage the city like this. “Starting from next week, there will be weekly management meeting where all the heads and assistants of the mandate

secretariats, departments and agencies, including the FCDA and all heads of the units under the leadership of the FCT Permanent Secretary, on my delegated authority, must meet “And whenever I have opportunity, I will sit with you, but you have to sit down and tell yourselves the truth, and look at the issues and use all God-given powers and experience to decide how we can move forward, but definitely we cannot run this city like this. “Basically, in the last 40 years, the focus of all FCT administrators has been to build, build and build. At 40, the city has reached some level of development and I think now what should happen is that while we are completing the build-build, we must also maintain- maintain and provide services. “Whatever we have already, it is our duty as citizens and government officials to make sure that they operate effectively and are properly maintained so that ultimately, the infrastructure would really give us the service that we require,” he said. However, some of the directors later dismissed the action of the minister in blaming them for the poor state of infrastructure, saying that the minister should have blamed himself and the permanent secretary, Babatope Ajakaiye, for not making adequate funds available to take care of pressing needs. One of the directors was overheard saying, “All this shouting will not work. He thinks we do not know what we are doing. “How does he want us to work when they will not release money? Since they came on board, have they not failed to make money available for things to work properly?

From left, Development Consultant, Alliance for Credible Election, Mrs Ene Obi; Executive Director, Patner for Electoral Reform, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu and Acting General Secretary, Alliance for Credible Election, Nigeria, Mrs Mma Odi during the Final Monitoring and Evaluation Meeting on Electoral Credibility and Good Governance in Nigeria in Abuja recently.

From left, FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr Wilson Inalegwu; Director, Human Right Commission, Malam Idris Bawa and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Femi Adele during CLEEN Foundation and the Nigeria Police Force one-day sensitisation workshop on Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Abuja recently. Photo: Sunday Osunrayi.

Cultural sector getting a boost from China —Minister Collins Nnabuife-Abuja Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that the current intercultural relationship between Nigeria and China has helped to boost Nigeria’s cultural sector.

Health ministry prioritises cancer treatment Soji-Eze Fagbemi -Abuja Cancer treatment has been declared as one of the priority projects of the Federal

Ministry of Health. The ministry has also initiated a process that would culminate in the transformation of National Cancer Control Pro-

Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole and the Deputy Chair, House Committee on Health Services, Honourable Muhammed Usman, during 2016 World Cancer Day in Abuja.

gramme into National Agency. Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, while speaking at the commemoration of 2016 World Cancer Day in Abuja, noted that the National Agency for Cancer Control would provide leadership and technical direction for control of the disease in the country. He stated that it would be a multi-disciplinary centre involving all health care personnel, basic and social scientists, including public health experts. The Agency, according to him, would drive a comprehensive cancer treatment, including palliative care, research and teaching whilst paying attention to the needs of the individual cancer patient.

He said that the robust relationship and intercultural understanding had equally led to the achievement of concrete developments between the two countries leading to the establishment of cultural centres in Beijing and Abuja. The minister disclosed this at an occasion to mark 45 years of Nigeria and China diplomatic relations and celebration of 2016 Chinese New Year. Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Ayotunde Adesugba, the minister noted that the cultural centres had provided opportunities for further exchange of cultural heritage and investment in cultural products. Alhaji Mohammed disclosed that China had been a strategic partner in the capacity building of cultural officers. According to him, the cumulative effect of the partnership has been the deepening of bilateral ties in the 45 years of the diplomatic relations. He said: “The training of young Nigerian acrobats in 2013 as well as the facilitation of Masters degrees for some officers of the ministry readily comes to mind.”

Commission adopts digital option to market artefacts Collins Nnabuife-Abuja The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) has embarked on a partnership with Diasfunds Africa Limited to digitally market Nigerian artefacts. The initiative is with a goal to generate funds and promote the country’s cultural heritage. Already, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with Diasfunds to make it possible for images of Nigerian artefacts to be watched from homes and offices. Speaking at the event, the Director General of the commission, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah, said that the MoU accommodated the development, establishment and administration of the African Cultural Heritage Digital Museum including the exhibi-

tion of images of the artefacts, marketing, promotion and use of the images and revenue generation from the said images. According to him, the proposed virtual museum is the first of its kind in Africa. The NCMM DG noted that the MoU would establish the respective rights and obligations of the commission and Diasfunds Africa Limited. He said: “Regarding the African Heritage Digital Museum which shall be ready and inaugurated on May 18, 2016 which is the international Museum Day, users of the images in museum shall pay per click. “Revenues thus raised shall be shared by the parties. With this, users from the entire globe, particularly from nations of the West shall start paying us for the remnant of what the British looted in 1897,” he said.

From left, Founder, DiasFunds Africa Ltd, Obinali Egele exchanging Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Director General, National Commission for Museum and Monument, Malam Yusuff Abdulahi Usman while Director, Administration and Supply, Barrister Emeka Omoegbu looks on with interest during the signing of the MoU for Digital Images Museum between the Commission and DiasFunds Africa in Abuja recently. Photo: Sunday Osunrayi.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

education

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

Unease over education ministers’ ‘slow pace’

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of Mallam Adamu Adamu as the Minister of Education, and Professor Anthony Anwuka as the Minister of State for Education raised a lot of expectations among many Nigerians given their pedigree. Many saw the duo as a perfect match to move the education sector to the next level in line with the president’s determination to fix the sector. But stakeholders have begun to express divergent views over the perceived slow pace of the two ministers. While some have expressed fears that the two men may not make any difference in addressing the multiple challenges in the sector, others argue that they need time to avoid the pitfalls and policy somersault of the past. Many believe that more than 80 days in office, there appears to be no policy direction from the ministers as regards which way they want to go in reforming the sector. Chief executives of agencies in the ministry are still waiting for the government’s policy direction. Tribune Education investigation revealed that activities have been slowed down in many of the agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education owing to this apparent lack of direction. One of the heads of the agencies under the ministry told Tribune Education: “We are still waiting to have proper direction in that regard; but that is not to say that our activities are grounded. The good thing is that the president has interest in the reforms of the education sector. You could see that from the allocation to the education sector in 2016 budget proposal. The president has also announced that over 500,0000 teachers will be recruited in order to address the challenge of acute shortage of teachers in the country. We will key into whatever direction the new government wants us to go,” the source said. However, while not discounting the pedigree of the two ministers, the National Coordinator of Education Rights Initiatives (ERI), Mr John Udah, expressed surprise that up till date none of them has told Nigerians what to expect in the next four years in terms of addressing the rot in the sector. “Every man on the street knows the many challenges that confront the education sector today; and if appointed ministers want to take a whole year to understudy the issues in the sector, then something is wrong. “We expect that they would have hit the ground running soon after they were inaugurated by the president,” he said. Some of these issues include decayed infrastructure, implementation of agreement reached with various staff unions by the federal government, funding, poor quality of teachers, poor remuneration and welfare of teachers and systemic corruption, among others. Tribune Education gathered that only a few of the heads of the agencies have so far briefed the ministers on their activities, and no familiarization visit to any of the agencies has been made. It is believed that such familiarisation visit would have afforded the ministers opportunity to see for themselves the real challenges

Adamu

Anwukah

CLEMENT IDOKO, writes on the expectations of Nigerians on the two Ministers of Education and need to step up efforts to reposition the sector. faced by the organisations, and how to tackle them. Nonetheless, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, made it clear in one or two occasions that he was sent by President Buhari to the education sector to tackle the endemic corruption in the system. This he demonstrated when on December 11, 2015 he inaugurated 10 panels to investigate allegations bordering on irregularities, fraud, sexual harassment, among others, in 10 tertiary institutions across the country. One of the critical issues that stakeholders expect the minister to also address is the N1.3 trillion intervention fund to Nigerian universities pledged by the last administration of former President Jonathan. Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have already placed a demand on the president to honour the agreement and pay the outstanding balance of the N1.3 trillion earmarked for implementation of the universities’ Needs Assessment report. The Zonal Coordinator of Ibadan zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and chairman, University of Ibadan chapter of the union, Professor Segun Ajiboye, had appealed to Buhari to pay about N660 billion of the intervention fund owed public universities. Ajiboye noted that though the N369.6 billion budgeted for the education sector is meant to cater for all levels of education in the country, the president failed to speak on any issue relating to how his administration plans to fulfill the agreement it reached with the union. According to Professor Ajiboye, “the owed money was part of the unpaid intervention fund for 2014 – N220 billion, 2015 – N220 billion and 2016 – N220 billion, which was part of the N1.3 trillion intervention FGN/

ASUU agreement signed in 2013. “When you consider the agreed intervention fund in 2013, it was N1.3 trillion; but has the Federal Government kept to that promise? It only released N200 billion in 2013 after the six months strike and since then, nothing has been injected into the system.” The National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Michael Alogba Olukoya, however, told Tribune Education that the ministers need time to study the situation on the ground in order to make informed decision. “We are in touch with the ministers and I think they want to avoid the mistakes of the past and not that they are not working, though I’m not speaking for them,” he added. Olukoya, has, however, warned the federal government not to politicise the promised recruitment of 500,000 teachers across the country. He applauded the Federal Government for the move but urged that only professionals should be employed in order to continue to develop the primary and secondary education. He said: “The intention of the Federal Government is laudable and consistent with the demand of the Nigeria Union of Teachers for the employment of more professional teachers to address the long identified problem of shortage of manpower in the nation’s basic education and secondary school system. “It would be recalled that the National Executive Council of the union at its meeting of 16th December, 2015 insisted that this planned policy of the Federal Government should only accommodate professionals (graduate teachers and NCE holders) and not quacks and personnel who have not been duly trained as teachers, no matter

their qualifications. “NUT will support the federal government in the actualisation of this policy, but (we) wish to caution the government against the temptation of using this policy as a means of compensation for political patronage as it was the practice in the past.” Tribune Education recalls that when President Buhari presented the 2016 budget recently, he mentioned a few initiatives that were supposed to improve the quality of education in Nigeria. One was to recruit 500,000 unemployed graduates and NCE holders as teachers and deploy them to mostly rural areas to solve the lingering problem of unemployment. Many have seen this emergency measure as laudable, considering that there is a global shortage of teachers, especially at the basic level. A 2014 study by UNESCO posited that the world needed four million teachers by 2015 and 12 million by 2020. This lack of qualified teachers is worse in sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria is one of the badly hit cases with studies indicating that the country needs to spend $1.8 billion to shore up her teaching force. Nigeria doubtlessly needs teachers urgently. If the Federal Government will indeed work with state and local governments to train and deploy those teachers, then they can ensure that they meet the needs of localities at the required levels. The president had also announced the desire of his administration to introduce school feeding in primary schools as one way to encourage school enrolment and retention. The details of these policy statements are supposed to have been worked out by the Federal Ministry of Education. But stakeholders are still waiting, and it appears their patience is wearing thin.

education Many people still have wrong impression about ODL

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Professor Ibrahim Olatunde Salawu, a specialist in teacher education and distance learning, is the Dean School of Education at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). In this interview with NAZA OKOLI, he speaks of the progress and problems of distance learning in the country among other issues.

2013 study put the teacher-pupil ratio in primary and secondary schools in Nigeria at approximately one to 70. Are teachers in danger of extinction in Nigeria? No, the reality is that we don’t have enough teachers in schools. That doesn’t translate into not having teachers at all. We have a good number of teachers that have been trained at all levels, but they are roaming about the streets, unemployed. I think one would need to also use this opportunity to note that if we want the best in this country in terms of quality education, then teaching should be made attractive to the best brains. You would want to ask: how many of our prospective university students opt for Education – as their first choice of programme? The Federal Government recently said it would deploy unem-

ployed graduates to schools as teachers – as a way of addressing both the issue of unemployment and scarcity of teachers. Do you think this is a step in the right direction? If truly they are going to be trained, then I would say it is a good policy. Nine months is enough to train somebody who had acquired his or her first degree in any field other than education for the person to acquire postgraduate diploma in education. For the nine months to be successfully and judiciously utilised, however, it should not be a kind of crash programme. For example, here at NOUN, we can work with government to organise a nine-month intensive programme that would lead to the award of Post-Graduate Diploma in Education to these individuals. By the time government does that, we can have the assurance that these people are competent.

It is a matter of general concern that no Nigerian university is among the top 500 in the world. Why is it so difficult for our universities to make the list? If it is in terms of academic standard, I can tell you authoritatively that up to 10 universities in Nigeria can make the list. But it’s because there are other things that are attached to it. For example, they talk about the school’s presence on the web. So, if you take that as one of the criteria, then Nigerian universities

won’t be rated highly. But that is not to say that if you subject a Nigerian university student and another student from any other university in the world to the same test the Nigerian student cannot perform. There are many things to it. For example, consider the teacher-student ratio in our universities; consider innovation, facilities, research, and so on. In fact, it should be a thing of surprise that we have even managed to cope in the current condition.

Distance learning appears to be gaining a lot of popularity in recent times, both in Nigeria, and globally. What is responsible for this? I think distance education is gaining popularity because of some obvious factors. In the first place, it is becoming clear that conventional universities, even when they are willing, cannot admit every qualified candidate who seeks admission. And then people’s interest in acquiring education has soared. Equally almost every nation in the world has subscribed to educational egalitarianism – the philosophy of giving education to every citizen irrespective of class, race, religion. Some even offer free education. So if you are to open the university ‘gate’ to everyone, you should also think of a way to accommodate them all. Again, practitioners of distance education have worked hard to break a lot of barriers. Hitherto, there were some programmes that people thought should be a “no go area” for distance education, like law. But all that is changing now. It is a case of modernisation at war with tradition.

But despite the popularity of Open Distance Learning, it still faces credibility problems. There is still the feeling that it is not thor-

ough enough, despite repeated assurances. I think it is expected. Like any innovation, it is bound to be resisted, especially by those who are used to the old way of doing things. For example, ODL recognises that the learners have some potential in them, and that they are to be assisted in maximising their own potential in shaping their own lives. That is why we say ODL is student-driven. Attendance of lectures is not compulsory, because we allow our students to work and learn at the same time. It is a system that recognises that a family woman has her domestic responsibilities, and that those responsibilities should not deprive her of a chance to acquire an education. So, it is this that people see and then think that it is not thorough. In Nigeria, the National Youth Service programme is an issue. Because those who go to NOUN do not serve, people then think it means the education we offer here is inferior. But that is erroneous. NOUN graduates are not in any way inferior to graduates from any conventional university in Nigeria. After all, there is only one body that is saddled with the responsibility of managing quality in universities, and that is the NUC. And all our programmes are accredited by the NUC.

‘No doubt, our products will find spaces in the labour market’ Mr Iyiola Eyitayo is the Rector of the Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa, Oyo State. In this interview with TUNDE ADEGBOLA, he speaks on his recent appointment as the substantive Rector of the institution and other education issues. Excerpts: YOUR confirmation as substantive rector of the Ibarapa Polytechnic came by surprise, how do you feel? For what God has done in my life, I feel great, happy and overwhelmed with joy. It was a rare opportunity that the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, appointed me the pioneer Rector of the Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa. May Almighty God continue to grant him more wisdom in good health? How will that elevation enhance your performance? As a pioneer Rector, the assignments ahead are enormous, so, whatever foundation my management team lays will determine what would be built on it. In view of this, the confirmation of my appointment is an encouragement to put more effort

in developing the institution. Within 16 months in acting capacity, we were able to build a 250-seater capacity lecture hall with four offices; we also constructed a central administration building, while the construction of Information and Communication Centre (ICT)building is ongoing, just to mention a few. How far have you gone on admission process in the school? Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has enlisted our institution and this gives us opportunity to admit students on our own terms. We are giving admissions to qualified candidates, who applied to the institution for 2015/2016 session. We are going to produce the first set of graduates of the institution in 2016/2017. What are your plans

Iyiola Eyitayo, Rector, Ibarapa Poly

to step up drive for internally generated revenue in the school? The scope of our business ventures has been widened. Our pure water factory has been restructured to improve the institution internally generated revenue (IGR). Plan is underway to collaborate with other higher institutions of learning to have exchange programmes. We have invited National Board of Technical Studies (NBTE), Abuja to come for resource accreditation of our newly floated courses both at ND/HND level. This would go a long way to improve and increase the source of IGR for the institution. What are you putting in place to improve the quality of education of your students since employers are saying that most of the available graduates are unemployable? You see, more emphasis had been laid on theoretical aspects of courses in our tertiary institutions in Nigeria. However, here in Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa, we are

placing premium on practical aspects of their trainings so that they can deliver perfectly when they get to the labour market and they can also be employers of labour. What efforts are you making in preparing the students to become employers of labour after graduation? The entrepreneurial nature of this institution would greatly help our students to find themselves a place in the labour market. For example, the students of Civil Engineering Department recently constructed a 60.5metre-lined drainage to improve the drainage system of the institution. Moreover, Mechanical Engineering Department students recently assembled ergonomic hospital bed for the institution’s health care. Also, the logo of the institution was designed by the students of the Fine Arts Department. They also painted the front view of the institution. No doubt, our products will definitely find themselves spaces in the labour market. I can vouch for them.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016 25 education FG reiterates commitment to teaching, learning of French Language Clement Idoko, Abuja

HE Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to promoting the teaching and learning of French Language in Nigeria, especially at the basic education level. Nigeria had adopted French Language as the second official language of communication in Nigeria but the challenge has been on how to encourage more Nigerians to learn the language. The Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwukah, however, said French language is so strategic for Nigeria, which is surrounded by French-speaking neighbours, and that for effective communication on the international scene, efforts must be sustained to ensure that Nigerians are able to speak, read and write the language. He said shortage of teachers in the subject at basic and post-basic levels is a major challenge in achieving the desired result, and called on the French government to continue to support Nigeria through training and retraining of its French teachers. Professor Anwukah, however, acknowledged the tremendous assistance by the French government, including support for the French Language Village, Badagry, Lagos. The minister, who recently returned from a Conference of Ministers of Education in London, said that at that meeting, delegates from the Francophone countries dwelt extensively on how their citizens could understand the English Language, and that the English-speaking countries must also make concerted efforts to speak French. According to him, French Language Clinics have been established in six Federal Government Colleges to further enhance the study of the language by the Nigerian government. Earlier, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys Daver, had restated the resolve of his home government to continue to support programmes aimed at advancing the study of French in Nigeria. Shortly after the courtesy call by the French Ambassador, the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwukah proceeded to perform the flag-off ceremony of the French Language Clinic at the Federal Government College, Apo, where he was conducted round the facility by the deputy director in charge of foreign languages, Mrs Elizabeth Itodo. The French Ambassador was represented by the Edu-

cation Attache in the Embassy, Mr Daniel Rignault, who reaffirmed the determination of the French government to support Nigeria as earlier declared by the am-

bassador. Director of Basic and Secondary Education in the ministry, Mrs Anne Okonkwo, said that in recognition of the important place of

French as an international language, the federal government declared it as Nigeria’s second official language and has done everything to promote its understanding.

She said that the Ministry got some appropriation in the 2015 budget which enabled it to establish the six French Language Clinics in six Federal Government

Colleges, to start with. The Benefiting schools are Federal Government Colleges Bauchi, Warri, Enugu, Kaduna as well as Federal Government Girls’ College Ikirun. The Director and Principal of Federal Government Boys College Apo, Dr. Jonathan Mbaaka, thanked the Federal Government on behalf of all other benefiting institutions and assured that the best use of the clinics would be made.

FCE Pankshin gets acting provost From Isaac Shobayo—Jos

YABATECH rector, Dr Margaret Kudirat Ladipo, in warm handshake with representative of the Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Dr Joshua Umeiekwem, during the matriculation into the School of Technical Education, YABATECH, recently.

Teachers and students of TAAS group of schools, Apata Ibadan, during their excursion to Tribune House recently.

EKSU honorary degrees no more for moneybags —Pro-chancellor

Sam Nwaoko, Ado-Ekiti THE Pro-chancellor and Chairman of Council of the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti (EKSU), Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, says that honorary degrees of the institution will no longer be conferred based on the depth of awardees’ pocket, so as to retain the dignity and current enviable status of the university. Adeyeye, a former Minister of State for Works, also urged the Federal Government to create enabling environment for universities to be self-sustaining financially, saying underfunding, reliance on oil and preponderance of political interference have been affecting the quality of tertiary institutions in the country. Adeyeye, who addressed newsmen in the institution as part of EKSU’s summit on how to shore up its Internally Generated Reve-

nue, said degrees, especially honoris causa, should ordinarily be for people of integrity in the society. “Many people after getting honorary degrees would make promises to the institution but won’t fulfill them. From now, no fraudulent person will be honoured with degree in the university. Our focus won’t be on money again, but on integrity,” he said. Expressing confidence that EKSU could be financially self-sustaining when the bakery, block, water and ICT industries and other business ventures are well positioned, Adeyeye regretted that Nigerian universities’ ranking began to nosedive globally the moment there was administrative laxity. “University of Ibadan was ranked sixth among the commonwealth universities in the 70s. This shows that it was better than many of the universities

in Britain, Australia and other advanced countries within that fold. “The trend changed dramatically because those who topped the class were being retained. But today, anybody can get his way into the academics as a lecturer due to political interference – and his is killing the system,” he la-

mented. Adeyeye clarified that the IGR policy, which will involve introduction of new innovations to make money, does not contradict the vision of Governor Ayodele Fayose, saying such move would complement the financial drives of the present government.

FOLLOWING the exit of the provost of the Federal College of Education, Pankshin, Plateau State, Professor David Wonang, Dr. Ezima Kalu has been appointed as the acting provost of the college pending the appointment of a substantive provost. Until his appointment by an expanded college management, Dr Kalu was the Director, Entrepreneurship, of the college. He was a formerly the Head of Department, School of Vocational and Technical Education and the most senior lecturer of the college. During the handing over ceremony at the Governing Board Chamber, Kalu expressed surprise over his appointment. “This appointment came to me as a surprise; more so that I neither applied for it nor dreamt of becoming a provost of this college. Thanks be to God who counted me worthy,” he said. Professor Wonang thanked members of the college for their support and cooperation throughout his tenure and appealed to the college staff and students to give the acting provost the desired cooperation and support for him to succeed in the task before him.

Coalition rejects appointment of provost by Oshiomhole by officials of the Ministry of Banji Aluko, Benin City

THE appointment by Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Professor M. O. Omo-Ojuigo as the substantive provost of the Edo State-owned College of Education, Igueben, has been rejected by the Coalition of Unions of Stateowned Tertiary Institutions in Edo State. The coalition stated that the appointment was done in error as it negates the model set by the National

Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) for the appointment of a provost. The unions, in a letter sent to Governor Oshiomhole and signed by its president, Comrade Fred Omonuwa; and general secretary, Comrade Imhenrion Martin, announced their rejection of the appointment. Notable among the reasons for the rejection is that Professor Omo-Ojugo is above 65 years of age. They also contented that the roles played

Education and members of the governing council in the appointment are questionable. “It is our belief that the Comrade Governor was wrongly advised on the appointment, given the governor’s penchant for strict compliance to laws. “We have duly notified our national bodies of the unions that make up the coalition for their information and necessary action,” the letter reads.

interview

Thursday,11 February, 2016

Teaching is not for every Tom Dick and Harry —Proprietress,NickdelSchools Recently, Moret Comprehensive College, Ibadan, one of the Nickdel group of schools, launched a book authored by one of its students, Miss Eniola Olaniyan. The proprietress of the schools, Chief (Mrs) Modupe Adeleke, in this interview with KEHINDE ADIO, speaks on her experience in education management, challenges facing education in Nigeria, among other issues. Excerpts

HAT is your comment on the challenges facing primary and secondary education development in Nigeria today? Weather primary, secondary or tertiary, the stakeholders – students, parents, teachers, government and the society – are the architects of the problems. There’s nothing wrong with the Nigerian educational system, curriculum or syllabus. Management and failure of all stakeholders to work together as a team is our challenge in Nigeria. For instance, students are no longer ready to learn. Nigerian students seem to prefer the easy way of life. This was not so in Nigeria of yesteryear. Reading culture has disappeared. What we

now have is truancy, violence, cultism. We have lost integrity to all these vices. It is sad to note that parents as major stakeholders are no longer good role models to their children. When parents slack in their responsibility, there is no way they can bring up children that will do well. These days, parents do not have time for their wards. Similarly, government does not give education the priority it deserves. Government does not vote sufficient money to education development. While government should develop a policy that can promote qualitative education in the society, it should also introduce incentives for functional private schools to thrive. It is high time government reviewed excess tax policy on private schools. It is very discouraging.

Chief Mrs Adeleke

How can these education stakeholders come together to reform the system? There are a lot of things that they can do. For instance, there is no government that can provide quality education singlehanded. Parents must be involved in the financing aspect of their children’s education. On the issue of teachers, teaching profession is syn-

CRUTECH bemoans encroachment on land by host community Seeks government’s help Anthony Ubong, Calabar

THE Alumni Association of the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) has condemned in strong terms the encroachment on the university’s land by its host community. This followed a recent protest by staff and students of the university. Speaking to Tribune Education in Calabar on Monday, the national president of the association, Mr. Eyam Abeng, who described the situation as “shocking

and embarrassing” called on the state government to urgently intervene. Abeng lamented that the host community is taking advantage of government’s lack of attention to the university, noting that they would not have had the courage to invade the institution’s land during its polytechnic era. He expressed displeasure on why people would claim ownership of government’s land, adding that

JABU don canvasses increased funding for varsities IF the Federal Government will deliver on its mandate to boost science and technology, it must be prepared to empower Nigerian universities. Professor Peter Adeniyi made the call at the 6th Convocation Lecture of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, the first entrepreneurial university in Nigeria. Referring to the manifesto of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) that a greater proportion of expenditure on university education would be devoted to science and technology with

more spaces allocated to science-oriented courses, Professor Adeniyi said the first step is to empower all the universities, including privately owned ones. He emphasised need for both federal and state governments to establish, through legislation, special science and technology scholarship in order to encourage the youth. Adeniyi also noted that Nigerian universities have passed through many years of great challenges, especially the private universities, but have not relented in their efforts.

by the Land Use Act, land belongs to government and the university is owned by the government. Therefore, he argued, there is no justification for the action of the invaders. Abeng assured students and staff of the university that the alumni would not sit back and watch “unscrupulous elements” tamper with either the land or any property of the university. “(We are) very upset because the host community is supposed to be strategic and progressive partners to the university, and not invaders. I’ve visited the quarters to ascertain the level of damage these unscrupulous elements have done by illegally claiming ownership of CRUTECH’s land,” he said. “I also want to use this opportunity to assure the management of the university, staff and students that they are not in this fight alone. The alumni will as a matter of fact use every available means within the ambit of the law to reclaim the already trespassed land, while moving expediently to stop further encroachment,” he added. Abeng appealed to Governor Ben Ayade to set up a special patrol team to beef up security in the institution.

onymous with the services of priesthood. Teaching job is not for every Dick and Harry, but for the few who have the love for education and love for the children. When a teacher loves education, he/ she will put his/her best in it. You have about five secondary schools as well as primary schools in the country. How do

you manage them to provide qualitative education? Yes, we have five good standard secondary schools spread across the South-West in the country, apart from the primary schools we have in Osun and Lagos states. I am a trained teacher. I started my teaching career as a classroom teacher and rose to the level of principal for many years before I retired into school business, having acquired the teaching and administrative skills. All our schools are on their permanent sites, built under conducive learning environment with boarding and sport facilities and modern infrastructure, teaching aids and experienced graduate teachers. I am just one of the co-founders of Nickdel Schools in Nigeria. The founders’ vision and mission in school venture is to raise young boys and girls, irrespective of their background, religion and tribe, who will contribute constructively to nation building, through qualitative primary and secondary education. If education foundation, primary and secondary is solid, then, every other thing will follow. In view of this, we raised fund to establish child- friendly schools in the country where we can monitor them effectively.

We site our schools where there is high demand for qualitative education in the state. The aim is to give qualitative education and make them accessible to all and sundry in Nigeria. To run a functional academic, moral-based and resultoriented schools will require provision of teaching aid, conducive learning environment, adequate and trained teachers, with effective monitoring and supervision. This is how we have been running all our schools. One of your students launched a book recently. What can you say about the school’s academic and moral status? We do not compromise academic excellence in all our schools. Our teaching facilities with all other academic incentives can produce geniuses in all fields of life. The girl that launched a playbook is a science student; yet, we encouraged them to develop reading culture. Our students have won several academic awards at state and national levels. Today, we have many of our graduates in Medicine, Engineering, Arts, Social Sciences and Science fields, and even in sports, home and abroad.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Group Business Editor Sulaimon Olanrewaju

aviation

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

anchor Shola Adekola

m:0803 365 4818 e:sholanig@yahoo.com

Why we throw open free premium lounges to Economy passengers —Sesby’s CEO Economy class passengers in Nigeria will from now enjoy better services as they can now have free access to premium lounge services across three airports at Abuja, Lagos and Port-Harcourt, thanks to Sesby’ Travels, a Nigerian travel firm. The Chief Executive of Sesby’s Travels, Adeola Sesby Banjo, in this interview dropped the hint and other new packages for travellers. Excerpts:

HAT informed your decision to introduce travel insurance for travellers considering the fact that many people are not too keen on that package? Sickness is not predetermined unless it is a preexisting condition. If it is preexisting, you don’t take insurance for that. In a situation where someone travels maybe to New York and took ill on arrival, or probably an accident or anything happens, the insurance company will take care of such person. What are the financial implication and the synergy between you and the insurance firm? Sesby is bearing the cost. It is a way of giving back to our customers for their loyalty to us over the years. We are looking at what to give to them in return. We have relationship with insurance companies. We are doing this in partnership with Mutual Benefits Assurance, and it covers passengers on all classes of tickets. If you buy a ticket, you are covered. If you make a trip for instance on 10 February to London and return on 15 February, you are covered from 10 February to 15 February; from the start of the trip to the finish. What informed this decision is because we looked at it critically, it is only the Shengen countries that grant medical insurance and it is only there that travellers are covered. So we thought about extending this to people travelling to other countries outside the Shenghen countries. Nigerians are widely travelled and we came up with the idea that everybody that has chosen to travel with Sesby’s Travels will be covered for the period of their travelling to any parts of the world. Usually, only business and first Class passengers enjoy access to premium class lounges, why are you throw-

ing this open to economy class passengers which are a rarity all over the world? Yes for economy class passengers, their tickets still come with premium class services. The first and premium class tickets come with lounge services. Ordinarily, the economy ticket does not come with lounge services. So, we have chosen to give it to our customers. Our airports are not too friendly for passengers, so we thought of how do we make their travelling seamless? Just as the airlines have thrown open the lounge services to first and business class passengers, Sesby’s Travels has also decided to throw open premium lounge services to our economy passengers. This service is for those travelling through Nigerian airports. We are starting with Nigeria for now. We are starting with Lagos,

Abuja and Port-Harcourt. At the moment, we are working with the lounges in Nigeria and at the same time, we are working on the arrival lounges, so that when they come in the morning and they want to use the lounge to shower, which is still very possible. The arrival will be applicable to all our customers whether they travel in first, business or economy class. This is a partnership between us and some companies. It is going to be opened to our customers so that when they arrive, while trying to sort out their luggage, they can just chill in the lounge to have tea, coffee and little snack. On Meet and Greet Service Meet and greet is not a free service anywhere in the world. It is paid for separately by the traveler of the traveler’s company. What

Adeola Sesby Banjo Sesby’s Travels is doing is to make sure this Meet and Greet service is given as complimentary to First and Business class passengers, just the same way passengers are entitled to Business class lounges and

the First class passengers too, just as it is not seen on their tickets. It is kind of exclusive to Sesby’s Travels. No any travel agent has that. No airline today has that. It is the first of its kind for travellers.

Boeing selects FUTA student for internship in America Stories by Shola Adekola - Lagos OLADUNNI Ogunnubi, a final year student of Transport Management Technology of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) has been selected

by the American aircraft manufacturing giant, Boeing Company International to participate in its 2016 Internship programme in the United States of America. Ogunnubi who is expected to spend between six and twelve

months in the Company’s headquarters in Seattle, Washington was said to have been selected based on the strength of her academic results and her sterling performance during the electronically conducted oral interview with the

Lufthansa splits into two, shakes up mgt LUFTHANSA AG has shaken up its management as part of a push to save 500 million euros ($543 million) by consolidating operations under two airline divisions. Sadiq Gillani, former head of strategy across the group, will move to the Eurowings discount arm with responsibility for de-

veloping its network and fleet while he will be succeeded in his old role by William Willms, who previously worked in finance at the company’s maintenance unit. Wolfgang Kohlhagen, who was in charge of Lufthansa’s Frankfurt-based cabin crew during

their most disruptive strike ever in November, takes charge of health management, to be replaced by Kai Duve, the former head of internal audit. Raimund Mueller becomes chief pilot after previously running Munich flights, with incumbent Werner Knorr returning to the cockpit.

EXPO 2016: Wheelchair for passengers with reduced mobility for show SPECIAL Mobility transport systems will present the new transport wheelchair Caddy3 designed for assisting passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) at the coming Passenger Terminal EXPO 2016 in Cologne, Germany. The event is slated for March

15th, 16th and 17th, 2016. The Caddy3 wheelchair is a strong, low maintenance chair which is available with a rack for cabin luggage, and can be connected with each other Caddy3 units. In addition, the company will showcase its efficient, cost sav-

ing electronic powered wheelchair concept The Caddy e-Move, launched in 2015, which can be connected to the wheelchair Caddy3. The wheelchair can turn around 360 degrees and can carry up to 3 passengers or collect empty wheelchairs in a row.

Selection Board of Boeing, USA. The programme is designed by the Boeing to offer opportunities to emerging leaders in the commercial aviation industry and position them for greater responsibilities in the future. Selected undergraduates students are exposed to the field of transport Engineering and management through an all-round experience in Boeing Aircraft Industry. It is also meant to serve as a veritable source of providing international job engagement for outstanding students. The highly competitive internship programme draws applications from different parts of the World. Commenting on the development, the Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Professor Adebiyi Daramola, described it as another testimony to the excellent quality of students of the institution. According to him, Ogunnubi has once again shown that FUTA is producing outstanding students due to the high quality of its academic programmes.

aviation

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

VAA, British Council, Zenith, Samsung hunt for young Nigerian entrepreneurs

crucial moment With Shola Adekola

0803 365 4818

Bristow incident: Why NCAA should be more proactive THE entire aviation sector was for the greater part of last Wednesday brought under serious tension when the news filtered in that one of the Sikorsky -S- 76C series in the fleet of Bristow Helicopters in Nigeria carrying eleven people including nine passengers and two crew plunged into the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos. According to information later gathered from the relevant authorities, the affected helicopter marked 5N-BQJ which departed ERHA Platform enroute Lagos had crisis which made the pilot to ditch the plane into the Atlantic Ocean, a situation which saved the lives of all the people on board. The high tension the sector and even the whole country was subjected to was however reduced when it was discovered that no live was lost for it would have been the worst way to begin the new year. Since last week’s incident, key players in the sector have been reacting to it differently but one general position is that all seems not to be too well with the company in question. This group premised their position on the fact that this latest incident came few months after a similar aircraft type belonging to the same airline crashed around Oworonshoki area of Lagos killing six of the occupants on board. Besides the two, the airline according to Group Captain John Ojikutu, a member of Aviation Round Table (ART), was alleged to be involved in many other incidents which involved: 5N-BIQ, August 2007, 5N-BKJ, Nov 2009: 5N-BGS &5N-BDD collision on December 2009, 5N -BFU, April 2010, 5N-BMM July 2011: 5N-BOA , February 2013, there was one last year August and today another. “These nine accidents involved ten aircraft from one operator. How would NCAA explain these to the public when safety recommendations were made for each accident report? Were there no considerations to conduct surveys instead of audits on the operator.” The latest incident has sparked a serious debate amongst all stakeholders who have raised questions on what could have led to the incessant incidents the airline has recorded. While no one is trying to jump into conclusion since an investigation is already on going, it is obvious, however, that people are worried and eager to hear from the investigators what has gone wrong. Even though the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has acted swiftly by suspending all the Sikorsky aircraft type in the airline’s fleet to give room for investigation, it is however not too good that the regulatory body is not proactive in most cases. Why wait for so long before embarking on a comprehensive audit of the airline or could it be that the NCAA did not have in its record the series of incidents the airline had suffered in the recent past. Now that it has chosen to audit the airline, there is also the need to extend such Audit to other domestic airlines many of which are presently owing their workers. Above all, just like the request of many key players, these incessant accidents need special surveys on the operations , maintenance and crew licensing of Bristow and other airlines which must not only be an audit. Looking at the series of incidents the airline has experienced, it is necessary for the regulatory authority to really beam searchlight on its fleet and ask questions without any restriction. There is equally the need to extend the searchlight to other domestic airlines as some of them are having one crisis or the other ranging from labour matters to internal wrangling. The need to take this urgent step is to prevent any careless major disaster which may consume the NCAA as the regulatory authority.

Nigerian Tribune

Virgin Atlantic’s boss, Sir Richard Branson hosting a launch party for the airline’s new uniforms.

Nigeria contributes 15 mln to 3.5 bn global traffic Stories by Shola Adekola - Lagos

HE International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has said that preliminary figures compiled by its team and released recently show the total number of passengers carried on scheduled services rose to 3.5 billion in 2015, a 6.4 per cent increase over last year. Out of the huge figure, Nigeria contributed a little over 15 million to the traffic. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), a total of 3,710,618 passengers travelled through Nigeria’s airports in the opening quarter of 2015, representing a decline of 453,144 passengers or 10.88 per cent from the preceding quarter, bucking the upward trend observed throughout 2014. The series peaked in Q4 of 2014, with 4,163,762 passengers travelling, up 227,744 or 5.59 per cent from Q3 of the same year. According to NBS, the lower number of air passenger travellers in Q2 largely resulted in the overall decline in air passenger traffic which stood at 3,423,077 passengers in Q2 compared to 3,710,618 pas-

sengers in the previous quarter. For third quarter, passenger traffic stood at 3.8 million while fourth quarter report is yet to be released. The fourth quarter traffic could be as high as four million going by the huge travel demands in the yuletide. The number of departures, according to the global aviation regulatory body reached approximately 34 million globally, and world passenger traffic, expressed in terms of total scheduled revenue passenger-kilometres (RPKs), posted an increase of 6.8 per cent with approximately 6,562 billion RPKs being performed. It stated that the aviation industry, composed of some 1,400 commercial airlines, 4,130 airports and 173 Air Navigation Services Providers (ANSPs), continued to play a critical role over 2015 in fostering the growth of tourism and trade. According to ICAO, over half of the world’s 1.1 billion tourists are transported by air today, while aircraft carry 35 per cent of world trade by value. International scheduled

passenger traffic expressed in terms of RPKs grew by 6.7 per cent in 2015, up from the 6.0 per cent recorded in 2014. According to the report, European traffic increased by 5.5 per cent and accounted for the largest share of international RPKs at 37 per cent. The Asia/Pacific, meanwhile, had the second largest share with 28 per cent and grew by 8.2 per cent. The Middle East region moved 14 per cent of world RPKs and recorded growth of 12.1 per cent compared to 2014, while North America, also with a 14 per cent RPK share, recorded 3.3 per cent growth. Carriers in Latin America and the Caribbean managed 4 per cent of world RPK traffic and recorded 7.9 per cent growth, and Africa, with a 3 per cent share, grew at a rate of 0.6 per cent. In terms of domestic scheduled air services, overall markets grew by 6.9 per cent in 2015. North America, the world’s largest domestic market with 43 per cent share of the world domestic scheduled traffic, experienced around 4.7 per cent growth in 2015.

Air Cote D’Ivoire commences flights to Abuja IN an effort to further expand its rapidly growing network and quickly establish itself as the leading carrier in the West and Central African Sub Region, Air Cote D’Ivoire (HF) has concluded plans to connect Nigeria’s Federal Capital, Abuja to its hub airport in Abidjan. According to a statement by the airline, the service between the two strategic destinations is expected to commence effective Monday,February 15, 2016. This is coming on the heels of its launch last month of the delivery of a new Dash 8-Q400 aircraft which is one of the three new aircraft expected to join the carrier’s young fleet this year.

A total of three weekly flights will be operated between both destinations in a two class configuration of 7 seats in Business Class and 60 seats in Economy class. According to the airline; “The flights will depart from Abuja on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 09:20am and arrive in Abidjan at 11: 05am.They will depart from Abidjan at 7:25pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays to arrive in Abuja at 11:15pm. The above flights will be in addition to its current five flights weekly from Lagos.” Speaking on the development; the airline’e Country Manager in Nigeria, Mr. Moustapha Fofana said: “We

thank our customers and partners for their massive support since commencement of our operations into Lagos a year ago. We have been listening to and working assiduously with our travel partners in order to meet the business and leisure needs of our esteemed customers. “ Connecting the city of Abuja through direct flights to Abidjan will not only open the region to seamless connectivity in the spirit of the Yamoussoukro Decision, but it will also go a long way to foster closer relations between Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire, offer greater choice to customers, and significantly reduce travel time for passengers.”

The British Council, Virgin Atlantic, Zenith Bank and Samsung have launched the second Enterprise Challenge competition to find Nigeria’s young entrepreneurs. The competition is designed to test the business skills of young Nigerian entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 35 years. It will take place in three task cycles over an intensive four week period. Recognising that skill and knowledge acquisition are critical components to developing successful entrepreneurs and their ventures, the Enterprise Challenge has introduced a ‘Boot Camp’ style event delivered by The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship. The three-day event was designed to provide a core grounding in business principals in theory and practice just as it also explored synergies within local and global business contexts and promote networking opportunities for the top candidates with established, successful Nigerian entrepreneurs. Made up of three tasks, the competition provided a platform for young, brilliant entrepreneurial minds to further develop their business skills and bring their innovative ideas to the fore for possible future development.

Valentine: BA/Airtel spoil customers with 30% fares discount JOINT customers of both British Airways and Airtel traveling in the ‘love month’ of February will get up to 30 per cent off flight fares to London, the United States and Canada. This was announced at the event marking the coming together of the British flag carrier, British Airways with Nigeria’s leading telecommunications company, Airtel to offer huge discount on any of BA flights to their joint customers. According to BA, the offer which is its newly launched campaign is totally focused on the joint customers of both British Airways and Airtel. While the discount which is applicable on all return flights, is available for bookings on British Airways World Traveler, World Traveler Plus and Club World classes between February 1st and 29th, 2016, passengers however have the unique opportunity of returning at their chosen time up to the end of 2016.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

anchor

maritime

Tola Adenubi

m:07068476673 e:adenubiadetola@yahoo.com

Much ado about N1trn railway contracts The House of Representative Ad hoc Committee has commenced investigation on the award of contracts for the rehabilitation of rail tracks, procurement/ rehabilitation of coaches and locomotives worth over N1 trillion. In this report, TOLA ADENUBI looks at how the contracts accumulated that much.

HE Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has come under scrutiny in recent weeks following allegation that there were flawed processes in the agreements of several railway contracts which run into about N1 trillion of tax payer’s money. Many of these contracts were approved in 2011 in the wake of the election of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and remain largely unconcluded due to funding issues according to the NRC management. The contracts, dubbed the 25 years Railway Strategic Plan, were divided into two segments. A list of contracts under the first segment currently threatening to swallow the NRC management includes: N5.6 billion Telecom & Signalling Contract This contract was awarded in 2011 to Ansaldo A3 & O Limited because the Federal Government wanted to upgrade signalling equipment along the nation’s Eastern rail network from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. The contract was expected to cover a distance of 1,657 kilometres and was expected to be completed by December 2013. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved for the contract the sum of N5.6 billion. However, five years after, the contract is yet to be completed and is being investigated for flawed processes during contractual agreements. The contract was only 45 per cent completed in 2015 despite being 25 per cent completed as at 2013. N19.9 billion Telecom-Eastern Line Contract The need to improve telecommunication network along the Eastern line, which cuts across Port Harcourt, Umuahia, Enugu and Makurdi precipitated the award of this contract to Eser Contracting W.A. This contract in particular has generated much rancour as the National Assembly lawmakers have accused the Managing Director of the NRC, Adeseyi Sijuwade of being related to one of the directors of the company, Aderemi Sijuwade.

Again, this particular contract is covered in mystery as the name of the contractor during the bidding process was stated as Eser Contracting W.A, even though what the lawmakers have with them states Eser Nigeria Limited. The FEC approved the sum of N19.9 billion for Eser Contracting W.A to complete the 463 kilometres between Port Harcourt, Umuahia, Enugu and Makurdi. The contract is also yet to be completed as only 85 per cent of the job has been done. N24.5 billion Track–Eastern Line Contract The motive behind this contract was to connect Makurdi–Lafia– Kuru–Spur to Jos–Kafachan and Kaduna. The FEC approved this 554 kilometres contract in 2011 to CGGC for the sum of N24.5 billion. Although considerable success has been recorded on this contract and it’s now 85 percent completed, compared to the 32 percent completion stage the contract was back in 2013, the Federal lawmakers seem not to be too comfortable with the amount approved and the manner of approval. N23.7 billion Track–Eastern Line Contract If this contract had been completed, it would have connected Kuru – Bauchi – Gombe and Maiduguri through railway connection. The 640 kilometres contract was approved in 2011 too but has stagnated with only 47 per cent completion stage met as at 2015. The contract which was awarded at the sum of N23.7 billion to Lingo has experienced slow completion rate despite being 15 per cent completed as at 2013. N3.2 billion Track in the North The track embarked upon to connect Zaria–Funtua–usau and Kaura Namoda is also one of the contract threatening to swallow the NRC management. Awarded same time with others to Duluidas at the sum of N3.2 billion, the 221 kilometres contract is one of a few that has seen better fortune as regards rate of completion. The contract is 90 per cent

From left, Ayo Egbetola, Manager, Dangote Ports Operations; Dr Taiwo Afolabi, Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group; Captain Joshua Oyewumi, Managing Director, Dangote Ports Operations; Mr Markus Brinkmann, Managing Director, SIFAX Shipping Company Limited and Mr Jide Kafidipe, Manager, Cargo Services, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), a subsidiary of SIFAX Group, during a tour of SAHCOL’s warehouse facilities by Dangote Group. completed even though it was only 41 per cent completed as at 2013. It is also being investigated by the lawmakers over flawed processes during the contractual agreement. For the second part of the contracts awarded under the 25 years Railway Strategic Plan, these contracts were labelled modernisation programmes and were mostly construction of Standard Gauge Lines. They include: N33.1 billion Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Contract This 274 kilometres standard gauge contract was awarded for the sum of N33.1 billion to Julius Berger Plc while TEAM Nig Ltd acted as the contract consultant. Out of the money approved for the contract, N23.7 billion was paid to the contractor. The project was expected to be completed by end of 2015, but it has not been completed. $874 million Abuja-Kaduna Contract This 187 kilometres standard gauge contract was awarded at the sum of $874 million to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd (CCECC) Nigeria Ltd. Out of the amount approved for the contract; N60.21 billion was paid to the contractor to commence work. although the contract is over 85 per cent completed, the

amount approved fr the job in Dollars has left lawmakers dazzled at the procurement process. $1.530 billion Lagos-Ibadan Contract Like the Abuja to Kaduna standard gauge line contract, the Lagos to Ibadan standard gauge line contract was also approved for in Dollars to CCECC Nigeria Ltd at the sum of 1.530 billion US Dollars. The contract is yet to commence due to ongoing funding efforts between the Federal Ministry of Finance and the China Exim Bank. This contract has also left many of the lawmakers worried over its procurement process. Workers’ reactions The manner in which many of the contracts negotiation was carried out has left railway workers asking questions on the transparency of the bidding processes. Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune in an exclusive chat, the Secretary General of the Nigerian Union of Railway Workers (NURW), Mr Olusegun Esan, the association bemoaned the way and manner contracts were negotiated on behalf of the NRC by the FEC and the Federal Ministry of Transport without recourse to the workers. In his words, “We at the NURW are not happy with the way and manner these contracts were negotiated without the workers be-

ing carried along. We are not party to any contract negotiation that has taken place in the railway corporation in the past. “What we are seeing happening now is result of long years of contract negotiation by the FEC and the Federal Ministry of Transport on behalf of the NRC without adequate consideration for the corporation. “It is disheartening when the major beneficiary of such contract, the NRC, is not involved when contract deliberations are being discussed in Abuja. The result is what we are now seeing on the pages of newspapers. How many of the processes leading to award of contracts were flawed. That is what ks happening now.” The workers also exonerated the current management of the NRC from blame as regards the contract negotiations. “Those contracts wqere decided at the FEC and Federal Ministry of Transportation level. They are the ones that appointed the MD, so there was nothing he could do during contract negotiation,” Esan stated. It will be recalled that some former members of the NRC Board and the corporations Managing Director have been summoned by lawmakers in the lower chamber of the National Assembly over the mess these contracts have generated.

maritime Capacity: UASC benefitting Nigeria’s Shippers Council —Hassan Bello 30

Stories by Tola Adenubi - Lagos The Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello, has stated that the membership of the Union of African Shippers Council (UASC) has rubbed off positively on the capacity development of the agency. Speaking with Nigerian Tribune in an exclusive interview in Accra, Ghana, Bello explained that the forum has afforded the agency the opportunity to send its workers on training programme abroad. According to him, “Nigeria is an active member of the UASC and the nation has benefitted by participating in UASC activities, especially in capacity building. We have signed training agreement with TEUF that is the French Shippers Council’s organisation of shippers. Capacity building is very important in this business of ours that is trade across borders. “Nigeria is also a beneficiary to negotiation and advocacy of what is called the global shippers forum. This forum looks at charges generally and tries at international level to engage carriers in determining, moderating and reducing transportation cost. “Nigeria is a beneficiary of all this through her membership of the UASC. In time past, we have had UASC officials coming to Nigeria to intervene in certain issues.” On training programme being put together by the Shippers Council, Bello stated that the agency has

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

maritime seminars for judges as well as for journalists. “At the Shippers Council, we treat the judges the same way we treat the journalists because they are all stakeholders. We have maritime seminars for judges because we don’t want disputes

brought before judges to hang on for a very long time without resolution. “This is one area investor’s look at before investing in your economy. They want to know how prompt you resolve dispute in admiralty claims and others before they put their money down

ers, there is need for them to demonstrate greater commitment to higher ethical conduct, and higher standard of practise. Indeed, professionalism, reliability and public accountability are three of the most valuable assets of the maritime journalists,” he said.

Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund still intact —NIMASA DG DIRECTOR-GENERAL of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Jauro, has dispelled insinuations that the account of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) has been depleted.

The CVFF is a pool of fund collected from ships involved in coastal operation. It is warehoused by NIMASA to be borrowed by Nigerian ship-owners for vessel acquisition through selected banks known as Primary Lending Institu-

Customs promises to fix faulty scanners at ports BARRING any last minute change, the Nigeria Customs Service may soon engage the services of maintenance experts to fix the faulty scanners at the nation’s seaports and possibly acquire new ones. The move follows incessant complaints from clearing agents and freight forwarders over the poor state of the scanning machines, which had been a major challenge not only to importers and agents but also to Customs officers who had to resort to 100 percent physical examination of containers at the port. The Technical Director in charge of scanning at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, Assistant Controller Paul Ekpenyong, while speaking on the conditions of the scanners at a stakeholders

for business. For journalists, the quality of reporting could influence the destination of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). “Professional groups prove their relevance through the contribution they make to societal development. For maritime media practition-

meeting in Lagos recently, confirmed that only the fixed scanner was in good condition while the mobile scanner had “packed up.” He, however, expressed optimism that all the faulty scanners at the ports and border posts would soon be made functional, as the Customs Comptroller-General had directed concerned unit heads to submit detailed report on the status of all the scanners in the port. “We have just finished an assignment he (Comptroller-General) gave to us to assess the status of all the scanners in the country and we have already submitted the report. “Hopefully, plans are on the way to engage those that will put all the scanners back on track.” Zonal Coordinator in charge of Zone ‘A,’ Assistant

Comptroller Charles Edike, while addressing reporters recently in Lagos had also said that the NCS was making efforts to ensure that the scanners are working and the obsolete ones replaced. “The CGC is already discussing on acquiring new scanners with some people and I am sure that in a short while all of that will be sorted out. “When the service providers were leaving, they gave us rotten scanners. They were bad. Customs does not have any agreement with the manufacturers, it was the service providers that had agreement with them, and so Customs was not able to meet the manufacturers to come and do the servicing. “But currently efforts are being made to get all the scanners in place,” he said.

tions (PLIs). Jauro told members of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport during their visit to the agency recently that the fund, which had grown to over N51 billion (about $255 million) remains intact. He also disclosed that NIMASA remitted $140.8 million (N42.22 billion) into the Federation Account in five years. Jauro said the agency collected $270 million revenue from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas vessels in 2015, however explained that the remittance was not inclusive of the N4,985,000,000 and $39,025,017 operating surplus for last year which was also remitted to the Federation Account. He told the Senate Committee headed by Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, that so far, only statutory revenue disbursements of the agency, which include a 25 per cent maritime fund and five per cent development for the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron had been undertaken. The NIMASA DG observed that N450 million was remitted to government coffers in

2011, N6, 441, 383, 583 in 2012; N13, 833,431,883 in 2013; N9,732,349,682 in 2014 and N11,770,978,562 in 2015. Jauro said that the agency had registered no fewer than 1,975 vessels in its ship registry; adding that the agency was now dutifully discharging all the functions it is statutorily saddled with, especially the responsibility of shipping development and regulatory matters relating to merchant shipping and seafarers. He listed other responsibilities as including: administration and regulation of shipping licenses, administration, regulation and certification of seafarers, establishment of maritime training and safety standards, regulation of safety of shipping as regards the construction of ships and navigation, provision of maritime search and rescue services He said that NIMASA provides direction and ensure compliance with vessels security measures, carry out air and coastal surveillance and control and prevent maritime pollution among others.

Nigerian Tribune

IMO backs African Maritime Journalists Association THE International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Media Office has welcomed the establishment of the African Maritime Journalists Association (AMJA), with a pledged to collaborate with the new association to advance the fortune of the maritime industry in Africa. IMO’s Media and Communications Officer, Natasha Brown, in a congratulatory message, thanked the promoters of the AMJA for bring its formation to the attention of the global maritime agency. She assured that her office would endeavour to keep the association and its members, abreast of news and information related to IMO activities. In her remarks, she said “please let me know the best way for IMO to provide information to the journalists and how we can help in ensuring you have the latest news from IMO. We are happy to add individual emails to our press briefing list, so they receive our press briefings in their mail boxes,” she added. The IMO, a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN), is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. The organisation provides technical assistance to developing countries in maritime matters, among its other responsibilities. Meanwhile, the Association has equally been commended by two leading maritime institutions in the continent. Messages of commendation were received from Mrs. Mfon Ekong Usoro, Secretary General of the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central African Region (Abuja MoU) and Ms. Funmi Folorunso, Secretary General of the African Ship-owners’ Associations. Following a resolution adopted at the inaugural African Maritime Journalists Conference (AMJOC), held 29 and 30 January 2016, in Accra, on the need to establish a continent-wide association or forum for maritime journalists in Africa, delegates resolved and endorsed the formation of the African Maritime Journalists Association. Therefore, a four member executive committee was elected to drive the objectives and benefits of the conference across the continent, at regional and national levels.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

With Adewale Oshodi tribunearts@yahoo.com 08054005323

‘Why I wrote the book on Yoruba ancestry’

I said earlier that I travelled to Israel eight times in the course of the research, and I was able to gather facts in the Holy land. I also studied the Bible thoroughly, particularly where the Yehhuba people were sent out of Israel because they would not abandon their gods (Ifa) for the God of Israel. With what I was able to gather in Israel, and with what the Bible tells us about the people who were chased away from the Holy land, then there is a truth that the Yoruba people actually descended from Israel. When I was going to Israel yearly, people thought I was going on pilgrimage, but I was on a mission to discover the link between the Yoruba and the Israelis.

Dr Olapade Agoro recently published a book on the history of the Yoruba race. In this interview with ADEWALE OSHODI, he speaks on what prompted him to write the book, and what many people don’t know about the Yoruba race. EXCERPTS:

HAT prompted you to write the book, Yoruba — translatable Yehhuba – Factual of a Peoples Anthropogenesis? I was born a royal prince of Owa Atapami royal stool; people don’t know that my ancestors came from Igbo Atapa, IleIfe, where the Ade Are, the major Yoruba crown, is kept. So while growing up, I had seen a lot of my ancestral artefacts, and I kept wondering where the Yoruba race descended from. So when I became the Owa ‘Tapa of Itapa Ijesa, I became restless and wanted to find out more about the ancestry of the race. It would interest you to know that I visited Israel about eight times, Ethiopia, Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic in the course of the research. I even went to Nupeland in Niger State, and many other places, so as to retrace the root of the Yoruba. It’s been a very stressful exercise spanning about 20 years, but it has been so interesting, particularly of the discoveries made. Now that you have concluded the research and published the book, what do you intend to achieve with it? A race that does not know its history is not worth respecting; we know that IleIfe is our original source, but we should be able to be precise on where the people originated from. I have been able to add my voice to the research earlier carried out on the ancestry of the Yoruba people and I hope my book will be able to spur others into further research on the subject. A popular Yoruba commentator even once said nobody can actually trace the history of the Yoruba people, and that the word ‘Yoruba’ has no meaning. I have been able to debunk that, particularly with Biblical references. Yoruba is Yehhuba in Hebrew, and the Hodaviah is Oduduwa who was sent away with his people from the land of Israel because they would not stop worshipping Ifa (Ivah), the Yoruba traditional religion. It is not a coincidence that Lamurudu, the father of Oduduwa, was King Nimrod in the Bible. Another good point is that some of our words are similar, both in meaning and spelling. You said you went to Israel, Ghana, Togo, and even some cities in Nigeria in the course of the re-

You are a politician, a traditional ruler, a religious leader, a writer; how are you coping with all these? I can only say it is God who has been sustaining me; I am not a super human being, but His grace has been sufficient for me. Just recently, I was settling a land dispute in my domain, which had gone to the law enforcement agents. I had to wade in so that it would be resolved amicably. I am also a politician, a businessman, a writer, and I allocate enough time for all these. So it is only God who has been sustaining me.

•Dr Olapade Agoro search; what did you find in these places you went to? According to my research, Yoruba is the largest race in Africa; when I got to Ethiopia, I discovered that we share a lot of similarities with the people there. Even in South Sudan, I can authoritatively say that they took more from our culture. Same for the Atapami people of Togo, and in Ghana, the Adangbe people are our people. Adangbe in Yoruba means we are living alone. Even in Nigeria, I have been able to know that the town, Onitsha actually means Oonirisa. Onitsha is just a corrupted form of Oonirisa, and that means some Igbos can also trace their ancestry

to Yorubaland. Even Abuja, our Federal Capital Territory (FCT) actually means ‘Abuda’, that is shortcut in Yoruba, even Bwari is Igba Ori (the calabash on the head). So our race is just so large, but due to centuries of separation, some have been able to develop their languages out of the main Yoruba being spoken in the South West. You were able to say that the Hodaviah in the Bible is Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race, and that his father, Lamurudu is the Biblical King Nimrod; how sure are you of these facts?

Focus on women in Emecheta’s Kehinde BOOK REVIEW

A review of Buchi Emecheta’s 1994 novel, Kehinde. THE challenges women face in the society is the focus of Buchi Emecheta’s book, Kehinde. Kehinde moves to England to live the life of her dreams with her husband, Albert. Some years later, they have two children, and she works in a bank in London, whereas her husband works as a mere salesman. Twenty years later, her husband finally decides to heed his sister’s insistent advice to return to Nigeria and establish a business, since the country’s economy is thriving. By this time, Kehinde is pregnant with the couple’s third child. Considering the fact that Kehinde is the breadwinner of the family, her husband talks her into getting an abortion,

as he is absolutely not looking forward to the expenses and drawbacks of a newly-born baby. Moreover, his wife is about to get promoted, which makes her income essential in the relocation back to Nigeria. Albert returns to Nigeria first, and then the children follow. He asks his wife to stay back and sell the house before returning. Two years later, Kehinde returns to Nigeria only to find her husband has a second wife. Beautiful, young, educated, pregnant and carrying a toddler, Kehinde feels like an idiot, cheated and defeated. In this book, Buchi Emecheta has written about the many problems affecting African women and Africans in the Diaspora as a whole. How much should we take in the name of culture and tradition? And how much are we willing to sacrifice for the sake of marriage and family?

So what is it about the Yoruba Heritage Centre that you are coming up with? I am devoting myself fully to the study of the Yoruba culture now; our culture is just so large and many people are missing the key issues. With the Centre, interested people will be able to come to learn about the culture and tradition of the people. For example, the crown, being the symbol of the Yoruba king, should not be worn outside the king’s domain. The crown is a sign of authority which is only confined to the king’s domain. However, how many kings know this? Another thing is that two kings cannot wear their traditional crowns at the same time at an event, or even two kings sleeping under the same roof. These are the things we will be studying at the Yoruba Heritage Centre, and anybody who is interested in knowing more about the culture and tradition of the people can come to the Centre. Since 1999, you have been struggling to become the president of Nigeria, but during the last general election, you didn’t offer your candidature, what is the reason for this? There is time for everything; I am very busy now, promoting the Yoruba cultural heritage. I am now doing everything possible to feed the world with what they need to know about the Yoruba race. Some people call the Ooni of Ife an Oba; the Ooni is not an Oba but a god. He is the representative of the Yoruba gods on earth. We need to be clear about all these, and this is part of what I will be teaching the world about the Yoruba race.

arts&review

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Discovering talents at children’s art exhibition festival

HERE is always a place in history for men and women of content. People who occupy a space in life for transformation, whose paradigm is so intrinsic to their mental process and philosophy that you are hardly aware of their existence and significance, until you try to communicate with another world with a different thought process. Dr. Leroy Hood, a world renown scientist, inventor ,entrepreneur and visionary, whose discoveries have permanently changed the course of biology, and revolutionised the understanding of genetics, life, and human health was once quoted, “Don’t underestimate the power of your vision to change the world. Whether that world is your office, your community, an industry or a global movement, you need to have a core belief that what you contribute can fundamentally change the paradigm or way of thinking about problems.” This prelude was aptly articulated recently at the close of an exhibition organ-

•The children also performed stage plays ised by Alternative Arts Friendly Initiative Network (AAFIN) in collaboration with Alliance Francaise, Ibadan recently. It is an annual Children Art Exhibition

Festival where the arts are used as tools to bring a change to our world. This is a platform where art, education and philosophy collaborate and engage in robust

The search for God’s battle axes in this end-time A review of Olohirere Ezomo’s book, God’s Battle Axe. OLOHIRERE Ezomo’s concept of the battle axe is definitely not the normal, physical axe which one can use to attack one’s enemy. She is simply explaining the men and women God is raising at this end-time to fight the devil, who is desirous of having more people join his camp. Therefore, the book focuses on people who would be willing battle axes of God in this end-time ‘war.’ In the first chapter, the author, using Jeremiah 51: 20-21, which says: “You are my war club, my weapon for battle. With you, I shatter nations; with you, I destroy kingdoms; with you, I shatter horse and rider; with you, I shatter chariot and driver,” describe a battle axe as a person God is using as an ar-

rowhead in waging His ‘war.’ She, therefore, goes on to describe the roles of the battle axe as, to break nations in pieces and to destroy the kingdom of darkness, to take the battle to the gate of the enemy, to declare and ensure the will of God, to possess the land for Christ and to drive revival on the land. The next chapter focuses on why we need battle axes. According to the author, there has never been a time when God needs vessels He can equip as His battle axes as much as now, because the spirit of God has spoken through prophecies and visions that God is raising an end-time army. As a result, God is calling His people for the task ahead. In the third chapter, the author looks at the lives of Ezra and Ruth in the Bible. She focuses on how both characters lived their lives for God, and how today’s Christians can also follow suit. The fourth chapter dwells on how to

sustain one’s effectiveness for the task ahead. Ezomo highlights certain essential virtues Christians must possess in order to be found worthy of the task. They are: purity, brokenness, diligence and sensitivity. Each of these are explained thoroughly in the book. In the last chapter, the author asks who would be ready to become a battle axe for God, especially at this end-time. She explains that God has never forced man to make any decision. Rather, He places options before us and gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us into making the right decisions. She further takes us to the Book of Isaiah 6:8 which says: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us,’ and I said, ‘Here am I, Send me!” It is this question God is asking believers again through the author. He needs people as His battle axes for the endtime war.

Egypt yet to buy-back ancient statue EGYPT is yet to raise money to buy back an ancient statue from Britain. Last year, an Egyptian government minister had called on the citizens of his country to raise the £15.76m needed to buy the ancient statue sold by a UK museum. Northampton Borough Council sold the Sekhemka statue to an overseas buyer in July 2014, but the British government put a temporary export ban on it. Antiquities minister Mamdouh elDamaty said Egypt should buy the statue. The UK Department for Media, Culture and Sport said it could not comment on this development. A spokeswoman said: “In view of the Sekhemka statue’s significance, the UK government has provided an exceptional extension to the initial deferral period in the hope that it can be saved for the nation. “This export bar could be further extended until 29 March if a serious intention to raise funds to purchase the

statue is made.” Arts Council England says “it’s possible” a new buyer within the UK may be found. The 4,000 year-old statue dates from the same period as the construction of the Giza pyramids. It left Egypt in 1849, bought by the second Marquis of Northampton, Spencer Compton, whose son gave the statue to Northampton Museum. The council said the temporary bar had “no impact” on the sale of the statue, sold at auction to fund an extension of the town’s museum and art gallery. The current owner’s identity and location have not been released. Mr el-Damaty said the British export ban would expire soon, meaning it could end up in a private collection unless Egypt could buy it. Egypt, home to a massive wealth of ancient antiquities, banned their sale in 1983. “What this museum is doing is considered an ethical crime against hu-

man and Egyptian heritage,” Mr elDamaty said. He said this was the first known sale of an Egyptian antiquity from a museum, adding that Egypt had halted all dealings with the museum in protest of the sale. The UK government is trying to find a local buyer to be able to keep the statue inside the United Kingdom.

discussion toward instilling the much desired values which is missing in the sociocultural and political fabric of our society. This fifth anniversary edition of heART4LIFE, as usual, is an assertion to critically dissect, assess and analyse our environmental façade through the children creative arts presentations. It afforded the children to get inspired with theme, network with media and methods, and participate in the building process of their society. AAFIN provides this context in which children learn how to express their uninhibited thoughts and emotions, use their imaginations, explore materials and develop their creativity. The tag, heART4LIFE, is formed out of three significant words; heart, art and life. The heART subject to tremendous control is the core of our being, part of man, where emotions and desires dwell. Life issues that we encounter are not external but internal. Therefore, in his welcome address at the exhibition, the convener, Bamidele Adegboyega, enthused thus, ”A good art programme such as this, increases self-understanding, strengthens selfconcepts and confidence, and provides decision making opportunities and physical coordination. If children are exploring, thinking, experimenting and trying new ideas, then, creativity has chance to blossom. Through the arts, the child learns how to interpret, criticise and use visual information to communicate. Such are the works displayed by the students from diverse cultural orientation to dissect our virtues and vices.” In the works displayed, we can see the world through the incredible windows of the children’s minds. Displaying these works, however, infuses self-worth in the children, which validate their creativity and that adults value them. In the words of Engineer Fawole Ganiyu Taiwo, a former Special Adviser on Youth and Sport to Senator Ajimobi of Oyo State, “A forum such as this occupies the mind of children, engages them creatively rather than being idle and menace to their environment.” The theme for this exhibition: Core Values, Cure Vices is clearly developed to bring to the fore the pedestal of our societal moral conscience. The world we live in terms of its social value system is sinking, requesting for a total re-engineering. Circumvention of moral standards has become an acceptable norm, rather cheap with conscious effort, which frustrates due process and rendered compliance expensive. The heART4LIFE workshop which was held in 2014, paved way for this didactic exhibition, follows the footpath of notable art workshops organised in the 40s and 60s by art enthusiasts and passionate art teachers, most especially Europeans. In the art works displayed, the children examined the socio-political landscape of the country, highlighting at the past and current social ills staring at our conscience. They question integrity with series of poetic images, vivid phrases, simplicity of motifs in brilliant colours and beautiful ambience. The children envisioned a different future and actively take parts in its construction with the fast pace of change occurring in Nigeria of today, which has become a mantra.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016 Editor:

health YOU&EYE

Sade Oguntola sadeboguntola@yahoo.com 0805 506 9260

SEX,SEXUALITY&YOUR HEALTH

How cornea transplant changed my life —Akana, retired engineer

INSIDE

Deformity in children at birth may be attributed to Zika virus

Page 36

When it is wrong to eat bitter kola

Page 37

Sexual problems in women

Page 37

FGM: Preserving culture or destroying womanhood? Page 38

HEALTH QUOTE

NATURALHEALTH

Chief Emma Akana

By Sade Oguntola

OR Chief Emma Akana, a retired engineer with ITT, nothing was more pleasing than the opportunity again to be able to walk around without being assisted, drive around and go out with his friends a bit more. Akana’s eye problem started with cataract and glaucoma. Despite the surgery to correct the failing sight due to cataract, his ability to see clearly was impeded by a cornea problem. His doctor’s prescription then was for him to have a cornea transplant. For a person that needs to be assisted to move around, unable to read or drive, the cornea transplant changed his life. “It changed my life; I became active again in all sense. Imagine having to lean on someone to walk around. But after the operation, my sight was restored,” retorted Chief Akana. Being able to read even fine prints without glasses, he said ensure that he could receive and read Short Message Service (SMS) messages. Mr Dickson Akinbanjo, a 75-year-old retired military officer’s poor sight also took him to several eye experts. Despite two previous eye surgeries, he was also referred to Eye Bank in Lagos because his cornea was bad. Although Akinbanjo’s cornea was replaced through surgery in 2013, his testimony was “I now see well.”

To restore sight to damaged eyes, doctors often need to transplant the cornea from a donor’s dead body. The cornea is the clear front part of the eye, which lets in light and helps focus images on the retina. When it is damaged, as a result of injury or disease, a person’s sight deteriorates, sometimes to the point of blindness. Doctors have since 1905, discovered that corneal blindness can be cured by removing the damaged cornea and replacing it with a healthy one through a transplant. These transplants were however rarely done because donor corneas were not readily available. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the cornea have a brief shelf-life. What was needed was a system for collecting eye donations, processing and distribution to doctors for transplant surgeries. People could pledge their eyes before death, leaving a legacy of sight. In Nigeria, the national health bill gives a backing to obtaining corneas for restoring sights. According to the WHO, four per cent of the world’s 39 million blind people suffer from corneal opacity (the scarring or clouding over of the cornea) while another three per cent suffer from trachoma, a bacterial infection that results in damage to the cornea Dr Mosunmola Faderin, a consultant ophthalmologist and Medical Director, Eye bank, speaking at an Eye bank media conference in Lagos, said corneas harvested were of immense use in restoring sight to people with preventable

blindness due to bad corneas. Interestingly, age is not a barrier to who can donate cornea. Even when the cornea has been assaulted, say from an injury, it could still be used in some instance. However the use of cornea transplantation in restoring sight is faced with many challenges. Topmost of these challenges are cornea donation and funds. Also, cultural beliefs, religion and taboos are hindering the take off of the cornea donation culture. “Cornea transplants were first carried out in the late 60’s and early 70’s in Nigeria with corneas obtained from abroad. But many of the challenges faced back then such as the cost of the procedure and availability of corneas from donor is still prevalent,” said Dr Faderin. For instance, there are months that the Eye Bank cannot pay its staff salary. The place is understaffed. “So it is not only corneas that we are asking for, we are also asking people for monetary donations to keep the place going,” Dr Faderin said. Ironically, cornea blindness disables a lot of people and there are about 160 people on the Eye bank’s waiting list for corneas to restore their sight. So, the need for a system for collecting eye donations, processing and distribution to doctors for transplant surgeries is imperative. Moreover cost and compliance to doctors’ instructions on medications to ensure the grafted cornea is not lost to infection, are factors. Processing fee for corneas is between 1,000 and 2,500 dollars, depending on its expiry date. In a private hospital, the cost of the transplant for an eye is about N690, 000. This is aside other costs such as that for anaesthesia, when it is a child. Are all blind persons legible for cornea transplant? Dr Faderin said persons blind from such conditions as glaucoma, complication of diabetes and hypertension on the eye cannot by cornea transplant have their sight restored. Chairman, Board of Trustees, Eye Bank, Chief Dr Olaseinde Akinsete, who described the organisation as a nongovernmental voluntary organisation sponsored by the Ophthalmology Society of Nigeria and the Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind, said it was pathetic that not many cornea grafting operations have been done in Nigeria. Worse still, very few Nigerians have donated their eyes or cornea for corneal grafting to restore sight to cornea blinded Nigerians. However, despite the challenges, he said till date 98 cornea transplant operations, with a success rate that is over 90 per cent, were organised at a great cost by the Eye Bank in Ikeja. Given that there are over 1.5 million Nigerians that are blind, and 30 per cent were due to cornea blindness, he urged people to imagine the joy that such people will have even if 80 to 90 per cent of them could have their sight restored through cornea transplant, and so support this course.

Time And health are two precious assets that we don’t recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted. —Denis Waitley

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Dr. Ben Ajayi 0805 400 5447

If I had two million dollars

EARLY all children are fascinated by birds because of their ability to fly. I remember as a child I felt there was no reason why I couldn’t fly. After several attempts at jumping up, hoping to stay up there but finding my feet back on the ground each time, it dawned on me that I could not defy what I was later to learn in physics was the force of gravity. Everything that goes up must come down. When the teenage Jamaican singer Millicent Small released her song in the 60’s, “If I had the wings of a dove, I would fly,” it was an instant hit because every child and adult probably secretly nursed the ambition to fly. This ambition to fly had resulted in the development of various inventions such as the aeroplane and the various space-crafts. Millie’s song re-echoed in my ears as I sat down reflecting on some of the events and contacts in the last few days. Suddenly, I started singing to myself, “If I had the wings of a dove, I would fly; fly away; over the mountains and over the seas.” Wait a minute! I was actually in a flight! I flew for 12 hours over the mountains and over the Atlantic sea to Atlanta. Then another 3 hours from Atlanta to Mexico. I not only flew, I ate, slept, woke up, walked and stretched my legs during the flights. My primary goal was to attend the meeting of the World Ophthalmology Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico. What a beautiful and orderly city! There were over 10,000 ophthalmologists from all over the world.

The conference centre was impressive. There were halls that could host about 40 events simultaneously and a large exhibition space where numerous items of ophthalmic equipment and instruments were displayed. Throughout my stay, there was no interruption of electricity for one second, either at the Conference Centre or in my hotel. There were no deafening noise of generators and threatening okadas, weaving their way from one side of the road to another, totally ignoring traffic rules and natural common sense rules of self-preservation. “Why can’t we hold a meeting like this in Nigeria,” asked Professor Sebastian Nwosu Six years ago, we had been approached to bid for the hosting right for this conference. We declined. In late 2014, we received a letter asking us to express interest in hosting WOC 2020. The requirements were simple. We should provide a state-of-the-art facilities that will accommodate about 7,000 at the opening ceremony; five halls with a capacity for 1000 people for concurrent large sessions; smaller seminar rooms that could hold about 50 people for 35 concurrent sessions; a suitable registration area for 15,000 to 20,000 registrants; 12,000 square metres of contiguous exhibition space on one level close to meeting rooms and within the (convention facility) and provide Free WiFi access in all meeting rooms and public areas of the convention and hotels participating in the WOC official block.

These were daunting challenges for Nigeria, the giant of Africa. We had no such centre in the whole country and consequently conceded the hosting right for WOC 2020 to South Africa! Given the resources at our disposal, Nigeria could really fly but the statistics show that we are fluttering like a hen when we can soar to the heights of an eagle. As desirable as it is for us to have such a state-of-the-art facilities and hotel complex to host a meeting such as WOC, I feel we should leave that to the private sector. If the private companies believe it is a profitable business they would invest in it. The government, however, needs to work on our infrastructure. The most pressing need right now is an uninterrupted power supply. Then water must flow from our taps. Our government must also ensure security of life and property in order to set the stage for prosperity for our people. One more thing is provision of health facilities for our people. The overall health care situation is horrible. It was once said that, “Our hospitals have become mere consulting clinics.” Many government hospitals are worse than that now! It is becoming increasingly obvious that our governments cannot cope. Patients with acute emergencies are doomed and those with chronic illnesses have greater challenges apart from monetary. Cancer patients rot while waiting for treatment because the centres have broken down. Children with ordinary cataracts cannot be

you-and-eye@gmail.com

operated because there is a dearth of anaesthetists and relevant equipment. The result is that the more than 2000-year-old method of couching of cataracts is now being visited on children! The traditional healers and charlatans are having a field day. Tradomedical centres are overflowing with patients with fractures and other illnesses. The Department of Public Health are challenged to evaluate the outcomes of these interventions. Recently, I had a dream. I was the beneficiary of $2million. I can’t remember where it came from. I spent the $2million on a new Cancer Centre. I was stunned by the massive influx of cancer patients to the cancer centre - over 500 every month. I saved Nigeria over Nsix billion which would have been spent on cancer treatment in one year. Have we really sat down to cost what we are losing because of lack of regular electricity? How much do we spend on overseas medical treatment? I am not an economist, but common sense tells me that one of the easiest ways to ensure that our outflow of capital is equal to our inflow is to make sure that the amount spent by our people on simple things such as health care, education, holiday trips etc. is equal to the amount spent by foreigners coming into the country. It will help to improve the welfare of our people, stabilise our economy and prevent fluctuations in our currency. Only the private sector can do this. The government must encourage the development of a robust private sector.

Dr Abayomi Ajayi

ivf &you

info@nordicalagos.org

0700 6673422

Abortion after struggling with infertility —Rachael’s Story WE had been married eight years before I had my first child. I was 24 when I was taken to the altar, but as the years passed, I became really traumatised by the experience of infertility. We were under so much pressure to produce babies, right from even before we got married. When the babies didn’t come, tongues began to wag, but between my husband and I, we didn’t know who to blame because we were both educated and enlightened to know the facts of conception. By the time we settled for assisted reproduction, I was in my early 30s and beginning to put on some weight. My doctor warned me about the negative consequences of overweight to conception. Rachael, she said to me one day, after I went for my gynaecology check, why don’t you try IVF? I had heard about IVF. But as far as I was concerned, it wasn’t for us. My impression about IVF had always been that it was too expensive and too complicated. I didn’t want to get involved in such a very emotionally tasking process. That was the truth, because my belief then was that if I did IVF and it didn’t work, then I would have run out of options. IVF is like the last chance. But my husband and I went on to have the procedure not once, not twice, but thrice. I had good egg retrieval, and I came out of the first round with two embryos. The fertility specialist put them both back and I didn’t have anything to freeze. Luckily, one did catch and that was my first daughter. A year later, we decided to try again. It worked like a charm. We

had our second daughter. Yet again, we tried after another year. This time, again, I ended up with only two surviving embryos and nothing to freeze. Both of them caught. So I came out with twins, both boys. We had moved from zero children to four children within the space of three years. After that, my husband was very clear that he was done having children. I was put on the Pill, but then I didn’t really know if I was also done with pregnancy. I did not think if it mattered whether I wanted or did not want more children. It just didn’t occur to me either way. Then maybe a year later, after I had just weaned my twins and got my period back, I discovered that I was pregnant again. Incredible! I thought.

After more than eight years of infertility before my first child, unexpected pregnancy was so far off my radar that it took me a couple weeks to catch on.

Getting pregnant by accident was not in the least on my radar. After more than eight years of infertility before my first child, unexpected pregnancy was so far off my radar that it took me a couple of weeks to catch on. I wasn’t even thinking about pregnancy, and that is the honest to goodness truth. My period was unusually late and out of curiosity, I had taken a pregnancy test and quite unexpectedly, it was positive. While I was happy I could finally get pregnant naturally without needing IVF, I was unhappy that this pregnancy was coming when I really didn’t need it. In my heart of hearts, I felt this was one pregnancy too late. My mind was in a struggle. It took me a long time to come to a conclusion and summon courage to break the news to my husband. The day I told him, I waited until he’d had his dinner. After the twins and their sisters were in bed, I went downstairs to him in the living room as he sat before the TV. I knelt down before him, and looked down on the floor. I couldn’t look him in the face because I didn’t want him to see the fear in my eyes as I dropped my bombshell. Just two words - I’m pregnant. The words were out of my mouth even before I could think about what I was going to say and how I was going to say it. Instinctively, he knew I was very serious and didn’t try to dismiss the issue. Continues next week

healthnews

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Road traffic accidents, leading cause of epilepsy —Expert By Sade Oguntola

neurologist, Dr Keji Komolafe has decried the unchecked cases of road traffic accidents from commercial motorcycle riders, saying it was becoming a leading cause of epilepsy in Nigeria. Komolafe, a consultant neurologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, spoke against the backdrop of the International Epilepsy Day campaign, in Ile-Ife The medical expert, who described epilepsy as a common neurological disease that affect over 50 million people globally, said such cases of epilepsy were preventable. According to her, “now we see epilepsy in a lot of young adults because of people falling off commercial bicycles, popularly called Okada. They were not wearing crash helmets. So, we need to need make people aware of this. ‘Properly worn helmets are said to reduce serious head injuries by 70 per cent and deaths almost by 40 per cent.” Komolafe, noting that epilepsy affects people of all ages, said among the other groups of people who could have epileptic seizures are patients affected by infections like meningitis, encephalitis, cerebral palsy and as an after-effect of stroke. According to her, ‘Epilepsy affects 0.5 to one per cent of population. But its prevalence in Nigeria varies between 5 and 37 per 1,000 population with lower figures for areas where there are good health care services with good antenatal and post natal services and childhood immunization.” The expert, however, declared that epilepsy is more common in developing countries because of factors such as poor immunisation, infection control and child delivery services. According to her, “if the labour is prolonged, the child’s head can be injured and the child will now start to have epilepsy seizures. Also, some infections in childhood like meningitis could also end up affecting their brain and epilepsy later in life. “ However, the expert said some cases of epilepsy were treatable, adding “it is treatable in 70 per cent of all cases if the case is detected early. In our clinic, when we treat them, after three years, they may not have seizures again. Sometimes, we even reduce the dose of their medication or stop its use, what is called remission. Afterwards, they will just be

coming for checkups. “However, if the child is left without treatment for a long time, such children end up with further brain damage. In fact, such children may develop memory impairment and a lot of other neurological problems.”

The expert, however, declared that people with epilepsy should not be stigmatised or discriminated against, saying the disease when treated should not prevent them achieving their goals in life, including given birth of babies.

According to her, “epileptic patients could live a healthy life like normal people. The disease has nothing to do with supernatural and demonic forces. “Women of childbearing age only need to seek the advice of an epilepsy and

gynaecology specialist when planning a family or when pregnant. This is because during pregnancy and childbirth a woman’s epilepsy particularly her seizure control -can change, sometimes requiring alterations to medication and dosage.”

From left, Dr Paul Zeitz, PEPFAR; Ms. Jeannine Scott, President US-Angola Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, CEO Fidson Healthcare Plc; Dr. Gloria Herndon, CEO GB Pharma Holdings; Dr. Anthony Wutoh, Provost Howard University; Dr. Estelle-Marie Heussen, COO GB Pharma Holdings afetre the duo signed an aggrement to ensure Fidson establish its foothold within the US, recently.

Experts call on Nigerians to embrace neo natal health By Sade Oguntola SOME health experts have called on Nigerians to embrace neonatal health/live saving commodities to reduce neonatal mortality rate in the country. They disclosed this at a Neonatal Commodities Advocacy Meeting held in Ibadan that embracing the neonatal commodities guarantees reduction in neonatal mortality. Dr James Femi, Officerin-Charge, Newborn Desk, Federal Ministry of Works (FMOH) said that the United Nation Commission on Life-Saving Commodities

for Women’s and Children’s health(UNCoLSC) has identified 15 commodities. He said that the key neonatal health commodities to be accelerated for broader use in Nigeria are Antenatal Corticosteroids, Injectable Antibiotics, Neonatal Resuscitation Devices and four per cent Chlorhexidine Gel Femi said that there was need to accelerate efforts towards adequate funding and effective application of live saving neonatal commodities for women and children’s health. He said that Antenatal Corticosteroids was used to accelerate foetal lung matu-

rity, saying it could only be administered by specialists. He said that Injectable Antibiotics, namely Gentamicin, Benzyl Penicillin and Ceftriaxone are used for neonatal sepsis (Bacteria infection). Femi said that the neonatal resuscitation device was a commodity adopted to help babies breathe, that is for birth asphyxia, while four per cent chlorhexidine gel was a gel used to rub the umbilical cord on the base, whole shaft and the tip. He said that the three major causes of neonatal mortality in Nigeria are preterm/ low birth weight (30 per cent), birth asphyxia (28 per

Cancer reduction requires joint efforts —Oyo state govt By Sade Oguntola OYO State government has underscored the need for joint efforts in reducing the global burden of cancer. The government said this in a release by Dr Yemisi Iyiola, Oyo State, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health to mark the 2016 World Cancer Day. He said it was desirable that all support be driven towards commitment; increasing strength and restoring hope to all people that are affected by cancer as well reduce chances of others becoming a victim. Iyiola, however, said it was significant that the day

be used to convey the message of commitment, love, strength and hope to prevent and possibly cure cancer as well as relieving the pain when the battle is lost be convey all the time. According to him, “the theme of the year’s World Cancer Day ‘we can, I can’, give room to all ages and race to empower themselves in taking action to reduce the impact of cancers on individuals, families and communities.” Iyiola, who remarked that 80,000 new cancers occur in Nigeria every year based on Ibadan Cancer Registry, declared the state government has put in place effec-

tive operating system and forge collaboration with other stakeholders to properly manage prevalent and evolving health issues such cancers. According to him, “people need to be aware of the facilities that are available for early diagnosis. With early diagnosis, there is a better chance of treatment and remission. That is the essence of getting enlightenment.” He, however, urged individuals, organisations and communities to avail themselves the opportunities that abound within the state to properly reaffirm their state of health.

cent) and infections (22 per cent), saying all accounted for 80 per cent neonatal deaths. Femi said that progress in addressing the high rate of neonatal mortality in the country was slow due to skills gap, poor referral network, inadequate training, poor policy implementation and inadequate supply of the commodities. “Current evidences have shown that optimal utilisation of live saving neonatal commodities will significantly reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality rate in Nigeria,’’ he said. Similarly, Mrs Deborah Jokodola, an Officer, FMOH said that there was need for strong advocacy on the use of the live-saving neonatal commodities She said that the role of the media was very essential in the dissemination of information and educating the people on the significance of the live saving neonatal commodities. Jokodola added that high rate of child survival would be possible with significant reduction in neonatal mortality. Earlier, Dr Lanre Abass, Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Agency, Oyo State said that the essence of the live-saving neonatal commodities was to address the various health issues from pregnancy to delivery.

UI inducts physiotherapy class of 2015 By Vera Onana

19 graduands from the Department of physiotherapy of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan were inducted into the physiotherapy profession for B. physiotherapy on Tuesday, 9 February, 2016. The ceremony of admission into the physiotherapy profession of the 2014/2015 graduands took place at the Paul Hendrickse Lecture Theatre of the College of Medicine, University College Hospital (UCH) premises, Ibadan. Speaking at the ceremony, the provost, College of Medicine, Professor Babatunde Lawal, who represented the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka, told the 19 inductees to “consider it a privilege to have been a product of the citadel.” He further charged them to be worthy ambassadors of the College of Medicine and the University where ever life takes them. Lawal added that it was the wish of the College of Medicine that they get the very best as they step out into the professional world. Head of Physiotherapy Department, Professor Kolapo Hamzat, while giving his address at the ceremony, enjoined the inductees to “be good to those who have made sacrifices for them to become graduates.” He established also that the young inductees have drunk from the same tap as great physiotherapists who preceded them and are making tremendous impact in the world. Hamzat took the opportunity as well to announce that the department will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in March, 2016 while stating that the inductees of 2015 are golden as their induction into the profession coincides with the year of the Department’s golden jubilee. The induction lecture was given by the Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy to the Oyo State government, Mr. Yomi Layinka. While delivering his address titled “Importance of Effective Communication in Health Care Service Delivery – Physiotherapy in Focus,” Layinka explained that communication has a profound effect on a patient’s safety. He also stressed that the training of health care professionals must be emphasised in the area of communication skills and that improvements in communication requires practise and diligence. Layinka reiterated that “the need for communication skills for health care providers is of uttermost now than it has ever been.”

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

healthpeople grown resistance to the active ingredients in these repellants.

Deformity in children at birth may be attributed to Zika virus

Since Aedes egypti is active in day time; will such methods of mosquito control as insecticide treated nets, aerosol repellents and sprays, help in its control? They work, but they may not be very effective if the mosquito does not come in contact with it. So, we should not rely solely upon them for control. From my 22 years experience of research on mosquitoes, I will say that we must adopt the integrated approach. The community must be engaged because they understand their locality better. We must empower them to be involved in most of these interventions, including the application of larvicides to the mosquito breeding sites. In addition, there is also the need for vector surveillance to understand the distribution patterns of mosquitoes. There is no data on such things as this for planning. The prevailing situation and the environment determines the mosquito population in an area. At the tributary of River Niger, for instance, you will discover that 90 per cent of mosquitoes there are anopheles. But at NIMER, you will find 80 per cent of culex, 10 per cent Aedes and less than five per cent of anopheles.

Dr Sam Awolola, the Head, Molecular Entomology and Vector Control Research Laboratory, Public Health Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, in this interview with SADE OGUNTOLA describes Nigeria’s different mosquito types, their control and public health implications. Excerpts:

HAT are the common types of mosquitoes in Nigeria? How prevalent are they? There are lots mosquitoes in Nigeria. A study back in the 1960’s indicated that there are over 100 types of mosquitoes in Nigeria. However, at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMER), studies are carried out on those species of public health importance. This includes the anopheles mosquitoes, which are of over 60 types. Of the 60 different types of anopheles mosquitoes, only 10 can transmit malaria. Anopheles mosquitos dwell mainly indoors and bite more at night time and as such can be controlled easily with insecticide treated mosquito nets. Others include the family of mosquitoes called culicine. These include three major groups of mosquitoes which are culex, Aedes and munsonine. All of which share similar characteristics. For instance, they bite animals and humans both day and night and can breed anywhere, including in clean and dirty water. They are container-breeders. However, they also have preferential breeding sites like septic tanks, blocked drainages and dirty environment. The Culex mosquitoes are very dull in colour. This mosquito that transmits elephantiasis breeds in thousands. One female at a time can produce about 300,000 to 400,000 eggs and all these eggs will be hatched if the environment is suitable. The body of Aedes has black and white stripes. It is of various subtypes. The most important ones in Nigeria are Aedes aegypti; Aedes abopytecsu (Asian tiger mosquito) and Aedes Africanus. They are of public health importance because they are involved in the transmission of viruses such as those that causes Dengue fever, yellow fever, West Nile and Zika fever. NIMER started years back as West Af-

rican Centre for Yellow fever research because of the population of Aedes mosquitoes in the 40’s. Yellow fever, dengue, Zika virus, and chichanguya; all viruses transmitted by Aedes mosquito have similar symptoms. The symptoms include fever, painful joints, rashes, red eyes and very high temperature, all of which mimics malaria. Moreover, many cases treated as malaria could be any of these viral infections. Unfortunately, dengue fever is seen to be more important because it can kill. This is why it is more prominent in communities than the Zika virus. Aedes mosquitoes have thick skin that is most times not permeable to insecticides. Importantly, mosquitoes generally can perceive odours from a distance and so can avoid odours that affect them. It is also the same reason they easily locate their prey. They have a strong sense of smell. The human sweat contains such things as ammonia and lactic acid that enables mosquitoes to pick out humans.

Yellow fever, dengue, Zika virus, and chichanguya; all viruses transmitted by Aedes mosquito have similar symptoms. The symptoms include fever, painful joints, rashes, red eyes and very high temperatures, and as such also mimic malaria.

However, some people are more attracted to mosquitoes than others based on the amounts of chemicals they produce. For instance, studies have shown that mosquitoes are more attracted to snorers than people who do not snore. Why does the population of mosquitoes go up at some time in the year? In hot seasons, the life cycle of a mosquito which normally takes between 10 and 15 days, drops to below 10 days. So instead of having about 100 mosquitoes at a time,one might be having between 500 and 1,000 mosquitoes. Sometime, people ask where do they breed. I tell them to look at their septic tanks; many have holes by their sides. Like the cockroaches that live in septic tanks, they also do. That is how they breed, so they are difficult to control because of the variety of niche they occupy. How about using repellents and insecticides to ensure they do not bite people? Our research at the NIMER has shown that there is a resistance to 90 per cent of all insecticides available for use. Resistance does not mean that the insecticide will not work completely. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it means that at least 80 per cent of the insects will survive even after applying the insecticide. More so, we also provided evidence why Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) should not be used for indoor spaying in Nigeria. In at least 24 states where we carried out tests, we documented high levels of DDT resistance that is not even seen in other insecticides in use in Nigeria. There are a high number of repellents in the market, but a lot of them, will also not work. A lot of mosquitoes have already

How about Aedes mosquitoes and the current Zika virus outbreak? Zika virus was first isolated as far back as 1959 in Nigeria using serology. So the Zika virus is not new. It has been with us; it is also in our population at the moment. But it is not a killer virus and something that does not kill does not matter to our government. I have seen children that have manifestation of Zika; is it the seizures you are talking about, is it the malfunctioning of the fore head or is it the dangling of the hands? The deformity in some of these babies could be as a result of the Zika virus’ infection although many attribute it to voodoo, Ogbanje and so on. Some of these children with congenital defects have died due to seizures. Ironically, a large percentage of what people tag malaria might actually be viral infections such as Zika disease. Of course, when clinicians characterise fever, the topmost three causes does not include malaria. Malaria is number four. Some people claim that the Zika virus outbreak was caused by the release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Brazil, is that possible? It is an approach that I believe is too risky because of the possibility of genetically modified mosquitoes changing its behaviour when it gets into the environment. Anything can happen to it. For instance, the books say that anopheles mosquitoes breed in clean water. But from research at NIMER and in some parts of Nigeria, they also breed in dirty water now. So it is an adaptation that you cannot predict. The spread of Zika virus lately could be as a result of many factors including global warming, changes in the behaviours of the mosquitoes as well as movement of people and goods.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

By Sade Oguntola

natural

ERBAL medicinal products are becoming increasingly popular. At the same time, the safety issues related to herbal drugs continue to be ignored by the public, neglected by manufacturers and legislative bodies as well as under-researched by the medical professions. One safety aspect that is of growing importance is that of herb-drug interactions, even though users of herbal medicines tend to believe that they are naturally safe. Experts are warning that even the commonly consumed bitter kola should not be taken along side with many drugs, including malaria medicines and common antibiotics. Expertsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; assessment of the risk associated with taking quinine sulphate or other malaria medicines that contain quinine in them such as Arthemisin Combination therapy (ACT) alongside bitter kola, found it causes a reduction in the amount of the quinine that will be available in the blood stream to kill malaria germs. ACT is currently the drug recommended by the Federal Ministry of Health for treating malaria, and some of them also contain quinine. Bitter kola seed is chewed habitually for social reasons, for oral hygiene and as a masticatory agent in Africa. It is believed to possess many useful medicinal properties. It is usually used to treat throat infections, cough and stomach upset as well as an antistress agent. In most parts of Nigeria, patients on antibiotic therapy and malaria medicines also chew bitter cola habitually or because of its traditionally acclaimed anti-infective properties. Drugs are essential components of medical therapy but concomitant consumption

health When it is wrong to eat bitter kola

Bitter Kola of other substances with drugs can cause unintended and unwanted outcomes which may lead to significant harm in some cases. The risk of drug interactions increases with number of drugs being taken by the patient. For example, the risk of interactions with six to 10 drugs may just be seven per cent but with 16 to 20 drugs, the risk may increase up to 40 per cent.

High risk patients, such as elderly patients taking three or more medications for chronic conditions are more susceptible to suffer from such interactions. Many of such patients also use herbs, fruits, vegetables and other nutrients due to their traditional and folk benefits. This trial to ascertain the effect of ingesting bitter kola on the possible effective of qui-

Sexual problems sex, sexuality &your health in women With Monica Taiwo

A sexual problem is something that keeps sex from being satisfying or positive. Most women have symptoms of a sexual problem at one time or the other. For some women, the symptoms are ongoing. Note that these symptoms are only a sexual problem if they bother you or cause crisis in your relationship. There is no normal level of sexual response because it is different for every woman. You may also find that what is normal at one stage of your life changes at another stage. For example, it is common for an exhausted nursing mother to have little interest in sex. And it is also common for both women and men to have lower sex drives as they grow older. Female sexuality is complicated. The most important issue is the need for closeness and intimacy. Women also have physical needs. When there is a problem in either the emotional or physical part of a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life, this can cause problems in her sex life. Some common causes of women sexual problems

include; emotional causes, strictly adult teenagers, adult & geriatric sexual well being such as stress and relationtaiwomonica@gmail.com 08187754992 (sms only) ship problems; depression or anxiety; a memory of connection with a partsexual abuse or rape; and ner? Do you and your unhappiness with the body. partner have the time Physical causes, such as and privacy to relax tohormonal problems, pain gether? Do you have painfrom an injury and condi- ful memories about sex or tions such as diabetes or intimacy? arthritis. Ageing, which can At this level, you need your cause changes in the vagina, doctor, preferably a gynecolosuch as dryness could be a gist, who will help you out by factor too. asking probably more questions. Taking certain medicines He or she, could do a physical exfor depression, blood pres- amination, and talk to you about sure, and diabetes may also possible causes. It could be hard cause sexual problems in or embarrassing to talk to your women. doctor about this, but this is necSome of the symptoms essary may include, having less deNote that treatment for a sire for sex, having trouble sexual problem depends on the feeling aroused, not being cause. It may include treating able to have an orgasm and a health problem, learning having pain during sex. how to talk openly with your The woman may also no- partner, and learning about tice a change in desire or things you can do at home. sexual satisfaction. When For example, you might take a this happens, it helps to warm bath to relax, have plenty look at what is and is not of foreplay before sex, or try difworking in your body and ferent positions during sex. in your life. Are you ill, or do It is important to feel comyou take a medicine that can fortable talking with your lower your sexual desire or doctor. The more you can response? Are you stressed tell your doctor, the more or often very tired? Do you he or she will be able to have a caring, respectful help you.

nine and other quinine containing malarial medicines involved 24 healthy Nigerian volunteers. These were experts at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria in conjunction with their international collaborators. The 2015 study was in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and included Igbinoba Sharon , Onyeji CO, Akanmu MA, Soyinka JO, Pullela SS, Cook JM, and Nathaniel TI. Previously demonstrated was the negative effect of ingesting kolanut alongside halofantrine, another antimalarial drug. Experts found that it causes a significant decrease in its effectiveness in treating malaria. According to the experts, report in the 2008 edition of the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, caution should be exerted when the drug is taken together with caffeine-containing nutrients. Ingesting bitter kola alongside antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, abroad spectrum antibiotic to treat conditions such as typhoid fever, experts have also cautioned on, saying it was better avoided. Studies in the laboratory showed the extract of bitter kola inhibit the antimicrobial properties of several antibiotics including gentamycin, tetracycline, co-trimoxazole, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AugmentinR) and penicillin G. Previously in 2007, studies in 10 healthy male volunteers, aged between 20 and 30 years suggested that bitter kola impairs the bioavailability of ofloxacin by a binding itself to some chemical constituents of bitter kola, thus reducing its antimicrobial effectiveness. Ofloxacin is an antibiotic used to treat common ailments like respiratory tract infections, upper and lower urinary tract infections and skin infections.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Victor Ogunyinka

health

m: +234-806 642 7323 e: ogunyinkavictor@gmail.com : @vogunyinka

A process of female circumcision

FGM:

Preserving culture or destroying womanhood?

Female Genital Mutilation is an agelong practice without trace, prevalent in Southwest and South-eastern parts of Nigeria, VICTOR OGUNYINKA writes on the dehumanising nature of the practice on the female gender.

“

O I enjoy sex? I’ve never thought about that and honestly, I don’t know if I do enjoy sex, but I think it is not in my place to enjoy sex. Whenever my husband says it’s time for sex, then, I must be ready to satisfy him.” This was the submission of Bose Adekanyin (not real names), a female genital mutilated survivor and mother of three. There has been unending debates as to whether or not Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C) should be practised. Practitioners see it as an inherited traditional practice that should be sustained regardless of modern trends and culture, but emerging facts about the practice have shown that FGM/C, because of its conventional practice, has been the cause of some health impediments among the girl-child and women. Comparing male circumcision to female mutilation, under which some practitioners have hidden, categorically showed that they are worlds apart. Circumcision is simply described as removal of part or the entire foreskin, while mutilation, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), is the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or any other injury to the female genital organ for non-medical reasons. Recently, the world marked its annual International Day for Zero Tolerance for FGM/C and overwhelming statistics showed that Nigeria is third largest country with the rate of Female Genital Mutilation practice, behind Egypt and Ethiopia. While giving an overview of the situation of FGM/C in Nigeria and its impact

Female Genital Mutilation Practitioners in Ile-Ife, Osun State. at Leisure Springs Hotel, Osogbo, Osun State, Mrs Maryam Enyiazu, Child Protection Specialist, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), revealed that Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ebonyi, Imo and Lagos are among the states with the highest numbers of practice. Mrs Enyiazu categorised the types of mutilation under four: “Clitoridectomy: partial or total removal of the clitoris; excision; infibulations: narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering or seal and the unclassified, which includes other harmful procedure for the female genitalia for no-medical purposes. “According to an information gathered by the National Demographic Health Survey in 2013 on Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria from women between ages 15 and 49, revealed that 27 per cent of women in that age group has been mutilated; 82 per cent had the practice before age five, it is most prevalent among Yoruba women (55 per cent) and Igbo women (45 per cent). “Eighty-seven per cent of girls between zero and 14 years of age and 50 per cent of women between ages 15 and 49 were cut by Traditional Birth Attendants and 12 per cent of girls were cut by medical

Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ebonyi, Imo and Lagos are among the states with the highest numbers of practi ce professionals,” she revealed. A trip to Ile-Ife in Osun State, where FGM is still an in-thing, paints a picture of a community righteously and ignorantly mutilating girls and women, with the aim of sustaining an age long practice solely to prevent the girl-child from promiscuity. While speaking to the acting head of circumcisers at New Market, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Chief Isaiah Fayomi, 83, explained that he practiced circumcision for both boys and girls for 60 years, but had to stop when the state government pronounced that the practised was a punishable offence. “When I was circumcised, we were seven that went through the knife in my family at the same time. I learnt this practice

from my father, but I had to stop when I learnt a law has been passed against it in Osun State. I stopped female mutilation about seven years ago. “When I do circumcision for people, it heals very fast and this has earned me fame in neighbouring communities; people come for me in the whole of Ile-Ife, Ipetu, Gbogan, Modakeke, Ikire; I am very fast and skilful and my wife is also very good at circumcision. “In truth, I’m in total support of putting an end to female mutilation and that is because I am better enlightened on the danger it portends. But I want to say it is a cultural and traditional practice, my father practised it and he also inherited it from my grandfather. There is this belief that if a woman is not circumcised, she is likely to be promiscuous and nobody wants her daughter to be promiscuous, so, they opt for mutilation to prevent them from promiscuity,” he said. Some of the myths gathered in the community for the practice of FGM include: for cultural aesthetics; some believe the genitals are ugly, that the clitoris has special powers that could damage the penis, that it is a rite of passage from girl to womanhood, it is sustaining a set value and rituals in a community, preservation of virginity until wedding night and it increases the chances of marriage as it is believed that uncircumcised girls are not likely to get married. Buttressing these beliefs and why it should be sustained, Babatunde Sadiat, a cloth merchant, in her forties, explained that though she is not a circumciser, but she is strongly in support of the practice for girls. “I have a younger sister, while growing up, she was always fondling with her genitals and I envisaged that if she wasn’t mutilated in time, she might end up running after boys. The moment we mutilated her, she stopped fondling with her genitals. “It is not good for one not to mutilate girls because there are organisms in the organ (clitoris), after mutilation, you’ll see the organisms and that is what tickles the girl-child. If it is not removed, she might be promiscuous. When they asked us to stop in Osun State, we went to another state to mutilate a girl and she was alright. If it is so bad, why didn’t they place a ban on male circumcision too?” Furthermore, the result of an opinion poll conducted nationwide on the Nigerian Tribune website in the cause of writing this report, to ascertain if respondents would marry a girl that is not mutilated, revealed that 68 per cent of the respondents would marry a girl that is not mutilated, 23 per cent of the respondents wouldn’t and 10 per cent are indifferent. Christiana Afayomi, wife of the chief circumciser, when asked about the precaution taken in order to prevent infecting babies with diseases during mutilation explained that though she has just one scissors to perform the countless ‘mutilation operations’, she sterilised her equipment by soaking in warm water before using on another baby. Some of the health complications attached to FGM/C, according to Enyiazu are,”trauma, HIV from unsterilised cutting, severe bleeding, low self-esteem, difficulties during sexual intercourse and urination, Vesico Vaginal Fistula among others.

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Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Native doctor escapes lynching for using women underwear, others for rituals Suzy Oruya - Onitsha

N Anambra State based native doctor, Francis Njoku N. Omeife, has reportedly escaped being lynched by irate mob for using women underwear, toy babies, hairs, shoes, cloths, among others as his ritual materials. His atrocities came to the limelight when a woman he has held spiritually hostage for over five years, Chinenye Offor, reported to her friend, Mrs Chioma Ijika, that she saw her pant among other women’s pants being used for ritual by the native doctor. Mrs Ijika immediately followed her friend to the native doctor’s house at No.1 Ezeakunne Street and saw her pants with others being displayed on some pots of concoctions. She immediately shouted and neighbours, mostly

women who stormed the place, to their utter disbelief, saw also their own pants and other households belonging to them which were displayed also. As they were trying to repossess their possessions, the native doctor started dragging the items with them and in the process youths in the area stormed the place and started hitting the doctor with clubs and machetes to lynch him. A group of boys believed to be members of the Move-

ment for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), stormed the place and stopped the mob from lynching him. The irate youths then set his belongings ablaze and banished him from Okpoko. In his defence, the native doctor confessed to newsmen that he used the items for rituals adding that he got his power from the water which he used to make a woman to menstruate without stopping. He added that he used the

pants, pictures and clothes to substitute those he could not physically get in touch with if he wanted to deal with them. Earlier, one of the victims, Chinenye Offor, disclosed that, “every time when I am paid salary, I would bring the money to him through his diabolical means without knowing. “He used me to do whatever thing he liked because I don’t know myself until now that he has been exposed and the charms burnt.

“My own underwear is also there and every time after seeing my menstruation it will continue and he knows when I am paid my salary. Three days to that time, he would tell me that he needed money to stop the spirit that was disturbing me and so he would collect my salary.” Also speaking, one Mr Ijika said his sister’s pant was among the ones he used for rituals and commended the youths and MASSOB for exposing the doctor’s devilish power.

Ondo, firm collaborate on N7bn waste project THE Ondo State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a waste management concern, Global Alliance, for an integrated Waste Management System in the state. The development, according to the state’s Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, is in line with the Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led administration’s resolve to ensure a cleaner and healthy environment. Mentioning part of the terms of operation in the agreement while briefing newsmen yesterday, he said it included: to emplace the management and operations of world-class integrated waste management system which emphasised efficient collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste. The commissioner said the partnering company is expected to invest a total sum of N7.1 billion in the project with intensive training and engagement of a number of indigenes of the state. Meanwhile, the state’s Waste Management Authority yesterday held a stakeholders meeting over the development. The Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Sola Ebiseni, informed the gathering that the project will be piloted in six local governments in the state which are Akure South, Ondo West, Odigbo, Okitipupa, Owo and Ikare.

From left, Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike; Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel and their Abia State counterparts, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, at the interdenominational thanksgiving service held for Governor Emmanuel, in Uyo, on Wednesday.

Ill-fated Bristow female pilot for honour March 15 Shola Adekola - Lagos

THE Managing Director of Bristow Helicopters, Mr Duncan Moore, has declared that the female pilot who flew the Sikorsky -S76C series helicopter in the fleet of the company which ditched into the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos last week with nine passengers and two crew was a female who has been pencilled down for an award at the International Women’s Day scheduled for March 15 this year This is just as Moore cautioned that it was too premature to conclude on why one of the Sikorsky S - 76c series in the airline’s fleet was ditched into the Atlantic Ocean when it developed fault. Moore who disclosed this when the national members of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) led by its president, Comrade Benjamin Okewu, paid him condolence visit, said it will take weeks or months of investigation to determine what led to the incident by the Accident Investigations Bureau (AIB).

He warned against speculation on the possible causes of the accident, saying the aircraft was certified to carry a total of 12 passengers and two crew members. He said the comprehensive risk assessment prior to releasing other aircraft type to service was completed. According to the Bristow boss, both the captain and the first officer were Nigerians, adding that both

pilots exceeded minimum customer and regulatory requirements being graduates of Bristow academy with several years of experience. The MD explained that names of passengers on board during the accident have been released to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and AIB, saying that the airline, as a matter of practice, does not disclose names of clients

onboard. He stated that Bristow has 16 Sikorsky S-76c aircraft operating in Africa, assuring of its commitment to safety with its Target Zero safety programme. According to him, Bristow has been operating in the country since 1969 supporting oil and gas industry and assured of cooperation with the AIB and NCAA in carrying out their investigations into the accident.

Man nabbed attempting to withdraw N8.5m from questionable account Shola Adekola - Lagos

A young man was on Tuesday evening apprehended at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, while attempting to withdraw N8.5 million from his account at the branch of a new generation bank. Unknown to him, his account had earlier been placed on alert by a government agency. According to information gathered, the young man ar-

rived the airport to withdraw the sum at the bank branch. At that point, when the Customer Service Manager contacted the main branch to verify the authenticity of the account and other details, the officer was informed that the account had problems associated with “fraud” for which there was an instruction that no amount should be withdrawn from the account. The bank official, following directives from the main branch that the young man

be apprehended, informed the young man to come upstairs but sensing danger, he took to his heels. A police officer on duty at the terminal, in collaboration with car hire operators, mobilised to apprehend him before officials of the government agency arrived the airport to take him away. Sources hinted that the young man’s name had been circulated before the incident for alleged fraudulent activities.

Nigerian Tribune

FG revisits Shagari estates Alphonsus Agborh - Asaba

THE Federal Government is set to secure all Shagari housing estates across the country where state governments or individuals or communities have seemingly encroached or taken over. Investigation in Delta State showed that though the beacons of the Federal Government were still in the estates in Warri, Kwale, Ogwashi-Uku etc, housing projects owned by government officials or wealthy individuals are now common features in the areas. While bushes have taken over the houses with unprecedented structural failures, some persons were bold to repair flats and have been living in them for years. Nigerian Tribune learnt that the Federal Government has frowned specifically at the way the state government and private developers have subtly applied the rules to take over the estate along Kwale-Ashaka road despite the federal beacon on it. Reacting to the issue, the state Commissioner for Housing, Joseph Ogeh, said though he saw documents relating to the housing projects, the state was not in any way making effort to take them over.

Group wants Kogi speaker to emerge from West Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

AS the agitation for the leadership of the Kogi State House of Assembly continues, the Concerned Citizen of Kogi State has called for a balance in the political posts. The group wants the post of the speaker to be zoned to the Western senatorial district of the state. The group based its agitation on the emergence of the new governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, from the central senatorial district where the incumbent speaker, Momoh Lawal, hails from. Besides, the coordinator of the group, Austin Oyenibi, said since the deputy governor, Simon Achuba, is from the Eastern Senatorial district, leaving the west out of the calculations. He said zoning the speakership to the West would be in the interest of peace, equity and fairness to all the three senatorial zones of the state.

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Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Riots: Court orders remand of 17 ABUAD undergraduates

FG to save N4.14bn yearly on travels

Sam Nwaoko- Ado-Ekiti

Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba - Lagos THE Federal Ministry of Finance has revealed that the government would save N4.14 billion from the Efficiency Unit on both local and international travels yearly, among others. Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, made the disclosure at the Efficiency Unit’s media roundtable, held in Lagos, on Wednesday. The minister, represented by Mrs Patience Oniha, Head of the Efficiency Unit, explained that the government would save N4.14 billion annually when price discount of five per cent were obtained on average annual expenditure of N83 billion on travels, according to negotiation with airlines. She noted that the government, being the largest purchasing power, needed to negotiate favourable terms from suppliers and increase transparency through the introduction of price guidelines.

AN Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court has ordered that 17 students of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) be remanded in prison custody following their arraignment on Wednesday. They were charged with rioting and arson on Wednesday. The police prosecutor, Mr Samuel Osobu told the court that the accused committed the offence on February 7, on ABUAD campus in Ado-Ekiti. He alleged that the accused, on the said date, unlawfully committed the offence of arson, by burning belongings of ABUAD security staff and burglary of boutique belonging to wife of the ABUAD founder. He added that the students also attempted to rob a branch of a new generation bank situated on the campus. According to him, the offence contravened Section 443(a), 411(2) and 403 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2016. The prosecution said he had forwarded the case file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution(DPP) for legal advice. The plea of the accused were not taken as their counsels, Mr Peter Ogunkile, Chris Omokhafe and eight others sought for a date of adjournment pending the advice of DPP. The case had been adjourned till February 12 for further hearing.

South African President, Jacob Zuma; Minister of Solid Minerals Development and head of the Nigerian delegation to Investing in African Mining INDABA Conference, Dr Kayode Fayemi and the Principal Partner, Anyiam-Osigwe and Co, Mr Kennedy Anyiam-Osigwe, during a meeting with the president in Cape Town, South Africa, on Tuesday.

Son kills step-mother’s lover over sex Anthony Ubong- Calabar

41-year- old man, King Akpanke has been arrested by the police in Calabar, for murdering his stepmother’s lover over sexual intercourse. The suspect, who confessed to committing the crime in an interview with newsmen, at the state police headquarters, on Wednes-

day, said he had on several occasions, before the incident, warned the young man to stop coming to his late father’s house, to have sexual intercourse with his step-mother. Akpanke said he had no initial intention of killing him, adding that he only acted in self-defence. “On that fateful day when we fought, he came to my house around 9 o’clock,

THE Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Wednesday, said it was investigating alleged abuse of the Abuja master plan by previous administrations since 1999. Committee chairman, Senator Dino Melaye, who stated this, added that the committee would specifically investigate the reasons behind the allocation of Maitama Hills and Mississippi Street in Abuja. Senator Melaye, briefing newsmen on the matter at the National Assembly, disclosed that the founding fathers of the FCT conceived and recommended a new capital desirable and possess adequate natural resources to provide a promising base for urban development among other recommendations.

very sorry because it was a mistake. The young man was having constant sexual intercourse with my late father’s wife. I warned him several times to stay off the house which belongs to my father, but he refused and he always comes there to have sex with her. He has been calling me all sorts of names like armed robber. He had always planned to kill me,”Akpanke said.

PDP BoT defies NWC, meets to replace Mohammed as chairman Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji -Abuja

THE Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has defied the National Working Committee (NWC) by going ahead to hold its scheduled meeting, on Wednesday, after it had been unilaterally

shifted to next week by the NWC. The scheduled meeting was supposed to be the second in the series of party organs’ meeting including the National Caucus and the National Executive Committee (NEC) earlier scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, towards resolv-

Senate to probe FCTA over abuse of Abuja master plan Ayo Adesanmi -Abuja

he abused me and nobody was there in the house. The house belongs to my late father and I am the third son of my father. I was the only person in the house, so when he started abusing me we fought, he brought a stick to hit me, but I went inside and brought a knife and stabbed him in the head. “So it was later discovered that he is dead. I am

He, however, informed that on the basis of this, the committee would not exempt all the former minister of FCT from investigation.

Among those to be investigated were Ibrahim Bunu, Mohammed Abba Gana, Nasir elRufai, Aliyu Moddibo, Adamu Aliero and Bala Mohammed.

Ondo: My guber ambition hinged on integrity —Abraham A gubernatorial aspirant of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo state, Dr Olusegun Abraham, has ruled out personal ambition as one the reasons he is in the race. He stressed this during the local government familiarisation tour he had in some parts of the state recently. Abraham, popularly referred to as “O Abraham” among the Ondo populace, while interacting with the leaders and members of his party during the tour of Ile-Oluji, assured of his self-

less intention to govern the state and lead his people into wholesome development and greatness, by employing his vast managerial experience alongside the values of integrity and most importantly, godliness. “I don’t need to lie to you my people. My promise of better governance is beyond a promise, it is my practice. I’ve always been practically passionate about the growth of this state and the general wellbeing of my dear Ondo people. It hurts me to see us wallow in poverty, it is even strange to our culture,” Abraham said.

ing the leadership crisis in the opposition party, but were moved to next week by the NWC. However, the BoT went ahead with its meeting at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, where it resolved to appoint the Secretary of the Board, Senator Walid Jibrin, to act as its chairman, pending the election of a substantive chairman. Jibrin’s appointment means that the former acting chairman of the board and former acting national chairman of the party, Dr Haliru Mohammed, has been replaced. Mohammed was appointed in May 2015 in acting capacity for an initial period of three months which was further extended. Addressing journalists at the national secretariat of the party, after the BoT meeting, Jibrin said since there was no further extension of Mohammed’s tenure, the BoT resolved that he should assume the post alongside his substantive post as the secretary, pending the conduct of new election to elect a new chairman. He also said the BoT went ahead with its meeting despite the NEC’s attempt to

Ambrose Alli varsity to hold renunciation session for cultists Banji Aluko-Benin City

postpone it because it was an independent body that could not be regulated by the NWC. He said the BoT had already called for the meeting and could not have called it off at the instance of the NWC, saying: “It is a special organ that regulates its procedure. We are not under any organ. We will still be attending the meeting of next week which is part of the series of meetings for the organs.” He said the next chairman might soon emerge, depending on the decision of the body in its next meeting. Jibrin revealed that Wednesday’s meeting received briefing from the North-East stakeholders on their effort to produce the next national chairman of the party. According to him, “the BoT has studied the action taken by the North-East to replace the national chairman. The North-East zone is going to shortlist members and bring to the national caucus, BoT and NEC next week. “We appreciate the NorthEast for doing what they have neglected to do since. Once they bring the person, we will accept. We are hopeful they can do it.”

CULTISTS in the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, have been given an ultimatum to renounce their membership latest by February 20, 2016, or face the consequences. A statement signed by the Dean of Students Affairs of the university, Professor Isaac Aigbedion, threatened to hand over all suspected cultists who failed to heed the call to law enforcement agencies. To this effect, a renunciation programme is scheduled to hold between February 17 and 19, 2016, at St. Patrick Catholic Church on the campus of the institution. According to the statement, the call became necessary due to the evil effects of cultism and the current stance of the university management and government on cultism. Aigbedion said, “it is the hope of the university management that such members of cult groups, if any, will take advantage of this clarion call to renounce their membership.” “The university will hand over all suspected cultists to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution as provided by the law, should such members fail to heed this call.”

Thursday, 11 February, 2016 41 news more Nigeria’s prisons are ‘Hitler Gas Chambers’ —Ikimi Be responsive, Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

ORRIED by the disclosure made by chairman of the Senate Committee

for Interior, Usman Bayero Nafada, on Tuesday, that N130 is spent per meal for each inmate in Nigerian Prisons, a human rights activist, Oghenejabor Iki-

mi, has likened the reformatory centres to the Gas Chambers of Hitler. Ikimi, who is the national coordinator for the Centre for the Vulnerable and the

Underprivileged (CENTREP), made this remark on Wednesday, in Warri, Delta State, during an exclusive interview with Nigerian Tribune.

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (left), with the chairman, Committee for Lagos at 50, Professor Wole Soyinka (second left), during the inauguration of Committee for Lagos at 50, at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, on Wednesday. With them are members of the committee, Dr Michael Olawole-Cole and Mrs Bolanle Austin Peters.

Soyinka, Gbadamosi to head Lagos at 50 committee •Celebration will highlight full splendour of Lagos —Ambode LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday, appointed Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and Mr Rasheed Gbadamosi, as cochairmen of the Lagos at 50 Planning Committee, just as he expressed optimism that the celebration would go a long way to showcase Lagos in its full splendour. The committee also has 10 others as members, including Hon Habeeb Fasinro, Chief Olawale Cole, Mrs Sarah Boulos, Mr Abimbola Obafunwa, Prof (Mrs) Senapon Bakare, Mrs Chika Balogun, Mr Folarin Coker, Prof Ademola Abass, Bolanle Austen Peter and Mrs Olufunmilayo Balogun as Secretary. Governor Ambode, while inaugurating the committee at the Lagos House, Ikeja, expressed confidence in their ability to deliver a world class celebration, adding that the opportunity of Lagos at 50, would afford the state to not only celebrate its past achievements, but to also showcase to the world its immense potentials for future growth and development. “Lagos State will be 50 years next year. 50 years is a significant landmark in the life of any individual, institution or state. For Lagos State, it has been an eventful 50 years which deserves to be fittingly celebrated,” he said. He said Lagos, despite being the smallest and oldest state in Nigeria, remains the only state that

has not been divided to create more states since its inception on May 27, 1967. The governor said that Lagos has maintained its status as the commercial capital of Nigeria and the most cosmopolitan state in the country where peoples of every tribe, race and creed reside peacefully with an excellent record of religious tolerance. “Lagos is a land of opportunities, offering all residents the chance to suc-

ceed in their vocations and endeavours. Lagos provides jobs to more people than any other state in Sub Saharan Africa. Lagos is that place where you have a chance to make it if you work hard. “Indeed, Lagos State has justified its creation. Apart from being the pacesetter and first among equals in the comity of states in the Nigerian Federation, Lagos State also occupies a noticeable position in

global affairs especially as the fastest growing mega city in the world. “With all these in mind, it is imperative that we celebrate Lagos at 50. In celebrating Lagos, we must showcase our cultural heritage. We must celebrate the language, arts, sights and sounds of Lagos. Celebrating Lagos is to celebrate Nigeria’s unity and progress because Lagos provides the cohesion that keeps Nigeria together,” he said.

Ikimi said the amount per meal for every inmate is far below N130 as claimed by Nafada on Tuesday, in Abuja. “The N130 is even distorted. It’s less than that. I go to prisons. The state of prisons is reminiscent to the Gas Chambers of Hitler. “That they (inmates) are even alive is a miracle. They’ve gone to the level of starvation. “Even if it is N130 being spent per meal, is it enough to feed a child let alone a full adult? “It’s not enough for a breakfast let alone to feed an inmate for a day. This means a meal is about N40 per inmate,” he lamented. The fiery activist decried a situation Nigerian prisons have transmuted into centres for recruiting and recycling of hardened criminals as against the reformatory role it should play. “The prison is supposed to be a reformatory centre, so what kind of human beings are we now reforming? “Or what kind of people are we recycling? These prison inmates are worse off when they come out of the prison. “You hear of criminal gangs being formed in prisons. So, prisons have become a recruiting ground for criminal gangs. We have a lot to do in our prisons,” he stated. He wondered why the present government is folding its arms, but expressed optimism that with the ongoing rigorous fight against corruption, the situation would be redressed.

Ekiti: Tope Aluko fights back, asks court to set aside arrest warrant on him Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

A former secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Dr Tope Aluko, has gone to court, seeking an order to set aside the warrant of arrest issued against him last week. His lawyers, Mr Niran Owoseni and Mr Wale Abimbola, told newsmen in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday, during a press conference that the court “might have made the order based on wrong representation.” They said the order was made without jurisdiction and described the warrant as “an abuse of court process.” A warrant was issued by an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court for the Commissioner of Police in the state to arrest and pros-

ecute Aluko for alleged perjury. The lawyers said they had approached the same court, asking it to set aside the order, claiming that Aluko “did not commit perjury simply because of newspaper publications,” saying “a mere speculation at this stage shouldn’t have been entertained in the first place.” He said the Ekiti State’s Director of Public Prosecution “got it all wrong on the matter,” saying that what he took to the court was “mere speculation” because they had charged him with perjury because they claimed that he gave evidence on oath, having testified during the tribunal. Owoseni, who addressed journalists said: “If you are saying he has perjured, are

you going to subject that perjury to what you have gleaned from the pages of newspapers? The evidence against Aluko as of today is the things they gleaned from the newspapers. They are relying on what they gleaned from newspapers. “Has that complied with what is envisaged by the provisions of the law? We are saying no.” He said for a court to be competent, precedence must be satisfied and “then the court has the right to issue the warrant wherever the person is but if the condition of the precedence is not satisfied, then the jurisdiction of Ekiti State court is restricted to the borders of Ekiti State.” He said “these alleged offensive statements were not made in Ekiti in the first place. They were made

in Lagos and probably somewhere else.” He said even if the statements were made in Ekiti, “do they satisfy the ingredients of the law with regards to the offence of perjury?” They also said there was no charge of perjury pending before the court before the order was made and therefore said, they had gone to court to seek its resolution of the matter. In the motion on notice filed by Owoseni, with number MAD/IICM/2016, Owoseni sought an order of the court “vacating and or setting aside the order of the honourable court issuing warrant of arrest against the first defendant, Dr Temitope Aluko, dated February 3, 2016 by his honour Adegboyega R.A., Chief Magistrate.”

accountable to society, IGP charges police Chris Agbambu-Abuja

AS part of the police policy thrust, anchored on training and retraining, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase has restated his commitment to make officers and men of the Nigeria Police more responsive and accountable for their actions and inactions. The IGP made the remarks at a one day capacity building workshop at designing indicators for the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) on February 9, 2016 at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. The workshop was organised by the office of the Vice-President and the Nigeria Police in collaboration with the Munk School of Global Affairs University of Toronto, Canada. The workshop is aimed at honing the skills of the officers and men of the CRU handling complaints of the members of the public as it affects the actions and inactions of policemen. The IGP urged the participants to identify those areas that usually bring conflicts between the police and members of the public with a view to resolving them.

Imo workers commence strike Joe Nwachukwu-Owerri

A full scale industrial action organised by the Imo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against Imo State government will commence on Monday, February 15, 2016 if negotiation between NLC and government fail to produce result. Already the labour and other trade unions in the state have commenced a three-day warning strike which started on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 to last till Friday, February 12, 2016. Reports gathered from Owerri, Imo State capital, said that the National President of Labour, Mr Ayuba Wabba, flew in from Abuja to Owerri on Tuesday, in preparation for the strike action. Meanwhile, the warning strike had started on Wednesday as proposed by the NLC in the state with all the ministries at the secretariat along Port Harcourt, Owerri road under lock and key.

south-westnews

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Olubadan: Seriki line files motion to stop Adetunji’s coronation By Tunde Ogunesan

HE Seriki line in the Olubadan chieftaincy has filed a motion restraining Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; the attorney general of the state and other high chiefs in Ibadanland from appointing or approving

the appointment of High Chief Saliu Adetunji as the next Olubadan of Ibadan. The motion, with suit No: I/149/16, was filed on Monday, February 8, by their lawyer, A.G. Adeniran, at the High Court of Justice, Oyo State, and was between four chiefs from the Seriki line and 11 others. The claimants, according to the copy of the applica-

tion, are Chief Adebayo Oyediji, Chief Olalekan Adisa Fakunle, Chief Rasidi Abinupagun, and Chief Gabriel Kofoworola, as claimants for themselves and on behalf of Seriki chiefs of Ibadanland, while the defendants are governor of Oyo State, the Attorney General of Oyo State, Chief Saliu Adetunji, Chief Lekan Balogun, Chief Ra-

sidi Ladoja, Chief Eddy Oyewole, Chief Kola-Daisi, Chief Owolabi Olakulehin, Chief Olufemi Olaifa, Chief Tajudeen Ajibola and Chief Solomon Adabale. The motion in notice is for interlocutory injunction “restraining the first (the Governor of Oyo State), second (Attorney General of Oyo State) and the fourth to 11 defendants from ap-

pointing or approving the appointment of the third defendants (Chief Saliu Adetunji) or any other person into or filing the vacancy now existing in the Olubadan of Ibadan chieftaincy pending the hearing and final determination of this suit” and “restraining the third defendant from presenting himself to the first, second, and fourth to eleventh defendants for appointment and/or approval of appointment as the Olubadan of Ibadan pending the hearing and final determination of this suit.” The application was supported by a 38-paragraph affidavit deposed to by the first claimant in the suit, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, and was received with an official stamp of the High Court Registry, Ibadan, on February 8.

Senator Adeyemi won’t defect to APC —Kogi PDP He will speak soon —Campaign DG Taiwo Adisa - Abuja

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi (right), with the Osile Oke Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, during Ooni’s visit to the monarch, at his palace, recently.

UI non-teaching staff protest, paralyse activities By Tunde Ogunesan

ADMINISTRATIVE and business activities were paralysed on Wednesday morning at the University of Ibadan as the non-teaching staff unions of the institution protested a shortfall in their salaries, and unpaid arrears of allowances. The workers comprised the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Senior Staff Union of Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT). The protesters locked the gates to the institution, thereby creating gridlock for workers who were to resume for duties at the state secretariat. The protests by NASU and SSANU, which was led by their chairmen, Segun Arojo and Wale Akinremi respectively, shut down internal transport system of the institution, forcing newly admitted students and lecturers going for examinations to trek to their destinations. Academic activities in the university, it was gathered, will resume formally next week while postgraduate examinations are still ongoing in some departments. The protesters are pro-

testing non-payment of staff of their staff school, non-payment of arrears and non-remittance of deductions to their cooperative societies and unions since December 2015 by the university authorities. A top management of the institution, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that the university had since November 2015, been receiving a shortfall from the Federal Government to the tune of N301 million. The source said while the wage bill of the university

stands at N932 million per month, it received N632 million in December and N782 million in January with a shortfall of about N500 million, which made remittance of deductions to unions and payment of arrears of allowances impossible. Speaking to journalists, SSANU chairman, Mr Wale Akinremi, stated that the protest was not only to protest delayed payment of salaries, but the nondemocratic nature of the university administration

over the situation of things on campus. Akinremi noted that the university administration had met with the unions and agreed to some agreements, which in the last few months, had not been attended to. As a representative of the people, Akinremi said all unions must be carried along on issues affecting their welfare, and urged the Federal Government to increase allocation to the premier university so as not to plunge it into crisis.

Man impregnates 13-yr-old step-daughter in Ondo Police declare him wanted Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure THE police in Ondo State command have declared a middle-aged man wanted for allegedly raping and impregnating his 13-year-old step-daughter, Odunayo, in Okitipupa town, Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state. The man, identified as Femi Orojo, who was said to have been married to the mother of the girl for about six years, took to his heels immediately the incident was blown open. According to the mother of the victim, Bunmi Joshua,

she discovered that Odunayo was five months pregnant, following her incessant sickness and expressed surprise. She said: “it was one of my neighbours who called my attention to it recently that my girl was pregnant and anytime I asked her about who was responsible for the pregnancy, she would be crying that if she said it, she would die. “I then took her to my pastor and after much pressure, she confessed that it was my husband. And when we took her to hospital, it was con-

firmed. “She told my pastor that when I was not around ,my husband entered into her room with a cutlass and threatened to kill her, if she did not allow him to sleep with her. “After forcing her to have sex with him, my child said he brought out a red handkerchief and warned her not to tell anybody or else, she would die. That is why she did not tell anyone.” Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph, said his men are on the trail of the man.

THE Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that former Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Smart Adeyemi, has no plan to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Messrs Idris Mola Imran and I.O Obanishe, Chairman and Secretary of the PDP in Ijumu Local Government of the state, who spoke on behalf of the party in a statement in Abuja, said that Adeyemi remains a strong pillar of the PDP. In the statement jointly signed by the duo, the party claimed that Senator Adeyemi remains a core leader of Kogi West Senatorial District even though some of his supporters have left the party in anger. The PDP chiefs said that Adeyemi has invested far more than any chieftain of the PDP in the welfare of the people including scholarships to students and social infrastructure development. “He (Adeyemi) cannot and will not leave this investment and all of his supporters behind to join the APC for no reason because he is noted for peace, progress and development,” the PDP chiefs said. But the state coordinator of Senator Smart Adeyemi Campaign Organisation, Honourable Fehinti Dada, said in a telephone interview that his boss would soon announce his position to the people.

Nigerian Tribune

Kogi senatorial rerun: 5 withdraw for PDP candidate Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

FIVE out of the six political parties cleared for the Kogi East senatorial rerun election have written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw their participation in the election and support the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Atai Aidoko. The candidates said apart from the INEC, they had written to their respective political parties to express their readiness to work with the PDP’s candidate. Addressing newsmen under the aegis of Forum of Contestants for Senate, Kogi East, the people said they took the decision to avoid unnecessary heat up in the political terrain of Igalaland. The parties include Aboh Samuel of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Nicholas Okpanachi of KOWA Party, Ibrahim Itodo of Labour Party (LP) and Victor Akubo of the United Progressive Party (UPP). Speaking through Akubo, the candidates said they stepped down for Aidoko, who represented the district between 2011 and 2015 in the interest of the entire Igalaland. They appealed to the people of the nine local government areas that made up the district to forget about grievances, acrimony and political divide and support Aidoko during the rerun election.

Kolade condoles with Odulana family, Ibadan people IMMEDIATE past Commissioner for Works in Oyo State, Honourable Bimbo Kolade, has condoled with the people of Ibadan, Odulana family especially former Commissioner for Information in the state, Prince Gbade Lana, on the glorious exit of Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade. Honourable Kolade described Oba Odulana as a peace lover whose reign witnessed unprecedented peace and development in his domain. He urged leaders to imbibe the legacy of the late Olubadan. He, however, noted that the late monarch could be said to have lived to a ripe old age, but his death was a loss to Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria in general as his elderly advice can no longer be sought in matters relating to development.

southwestnews

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Fire guts Dugbe market in Ibadan By Tunde Ogunesan

ROPERTY worth millions of Naira ,on Wednesday morning, destroyed in a fire outbreak which occurred at Oginni market, behind Wa-Zo-Bia catering service, Dugbe, Ibadan. The fire, according to sources, began around 12midnight, and affected 15 shops, with 13 of the shops completely burnt to ashes, while the remaining five shops were partially affected. The affected shops belonged to bags, clothes, foodstuff, electric materials and stock fish sellers.

It was gathered that it took the intervention of some of the traders around and men of the Oyo State Fire Service Corps to quench the outbreak. An eyewitness report informed that the fire had gone wild before the men of the fire service came around, but stated that they put up yoreman effort at putting it under control. According to the source, “when the fire service came with their truck, they quickly started applying water from the truck from the entrance by the side of former Afribank building (now Skye bank). As they were applying water, it was

as if they were applying fuel because of the harmattan.” The source said the shops in the area had not had electricity supply in the last few days. It was also gathered that the neighbouring food canteen had no traces of burning any materials while there was even a small stream separating the shops from the catering services apartment. One of the victims, Mr Kelvin Uwuji, who is also the chief task force officer of Dugbe market, in an emotion-laden interview with Nigerian Tribune shed light on how it all

happened and called on the government to come to their aid. He revealed that the good destroyed were worth over N12million, claiming that most of the traders had just renewed their stocks. He said: “I was among the traders here and my shop is among the shops burnt yesterday night. Around 12 midnight. I was called that Dugbe was already on fire, I could not put on a shirt and trouser when I rushed out with my family with no vehicle at that time. “On getting here, most of the shops were already on fire because most of them were built with planks. At

that point, we don’t know what to do, but we rushed down again to the police station at Ido Gate near us. It was the police who helped me to call the men of the state fire service. “It took more than two hours before they arrived, by then, the damage had been done. All our goods were burnt to ashes. Everything we have has gone with the fire. Nobody here could own a pin from the shops again. Most of the owners were not around and even if they were, we can’t enter the fire because the fire was so powerful. “By now and as you’re seeing us now, we have no kobo anywhere again. All our hope is our goods. We have nothing again. Now, we need government to help us. They should help us in way of re-building our shops, help us in the way of giving us money to start our business again.

Lent: Church advises Nigerians to challenge excesses of public officials

Scene of the burnt Dugbe market, opposite Oginni Shopping Complex, in Ibadan, on Wednesday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU

DSS official assaults UCH nurse over patients ...NNANM goes on 48 hrs strike By Sade Oguntola

THE peace at the University College Hospital (UCH) was, on Monday evening, truncated when a nurse at the hospital’s accident and emergency unit was said to have been assaulted by a Deputy Director at the DSS, over a misun-

derstanding on patients brought in dead. The nurse was said to have been slapped and her head knocked on the wall by the security operative, leading to the hospitals’ branch of the Nigerian Nurses and Midwives Association (NNANM) go-

ing on a 48-hour warning strike to demand an apology. The 48-hours strike which entered its second day on Wednesday, however, left some of the services at the hospital at its lowest ebb. Although, some old pa-

Bello gives Kogi LGs financial autonomy Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

THE governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Wednesday, abolished arbitrary deductions from the allocations of local governments in the state, thereby granting them financial autonomy. Alhaji Bello frowns on the various deductions from the councils’ allocations by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, saying state laws could not override the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Speaking during a meeting with the local government chairmen, the gover-

nor directed the ministry to submit its running cost to the office of the Governor and stop exploiting the local governments. A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Abdulmalik Abdulkarim, after the meeting, said Bello told the council chairmen to ensure pensioners and teachers were paid their pensions and salaries this month. The governor urged the chairmen to ensure council workers were promptly paid their full wages, warning against profligacy, saying the chairmen must account for every penny received from the Federa-

tion Account. He also tasked the chairmen to execute projects that would impact positively on the people of the state, reiterating his desire to visit local government areas to inaugurate projects. In his remarks, the chairman of Yagba West Local Government Area, F.G. Ibrahim, thanked the governor for his historic intervention at freeing local government areas from the jugular of financial restrictions. He canvassed for forensic audit of local government pensioners, advocating better supervision of teachers to ensure efficiency.

tients of the hospital at its outpatient clinics were seen waiting to be attended to by other health workers in the hospital, patients newly coming in or that requires to be booked newly for specialist care were turned back. UCH’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Temitope Alonge, reacting to the incidence, which he described as unfortunate, assured that the incidence had been resolved and that senior nurses had not joined the strike. He said: “We expect that they will have a congress today (Wednesday) and then call off this unfortunate 48-hours strike. It is totally unfortunate and apologies have been rendered to the nurses’ association.” Alonge said the hospital’s policy on patients brought in dead was what triggered off the misunderstanding, and not because the law enforcement agent and nurses wanted to be at each other’s throat.

AS Christians begin the 40-day Lenten period on Wednesday, Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide has advised Christians in the country to behave like the Biblical Prophet Elijah “who was bold and always spoke the truth to constituted authority.” The church said it was by speaking the truth and correcting the excesses of those in government that Nigeria would occupy its rightful place in the comity of nations. “Prophet Elijah never spared King Ahab. He was always telling the monarch the truth, even when it was not comfortable for him. President Muhammadu Buhari is the Commanderin-Chief in the country today. Without God’s backing, he will not occupy that seat, but because we are all human, Nigerians must rise against the excesses of some of those around him, which he may not be aware of, for this country to move forward,” said Senior Superintendent Gabriel F. Akinadewo (Omo Jesu II). Speaking during a special service to mark the beginning of the Lenten period, at the Restoration Parish, Akute, Ogun State, of the 51-year-old church, Akinadewo declared that, “even if Buhari means well for the country, some of those working with him may have other ideas.

UNILAG medical students protest, shut down main campus Naza Okoli-Lagos HUNDREDS of first-year students from the University of Lagos Medical School, on Wednesday, trooped to the main campus of the university at Akoka, to protest a recent decision of the management to review upwards the requirements for their promotion to second year. According to the protesters, the usual requirement for crossover to Medicine was a minimum score of 50 per cent each in Biological Science, Physical Science and Chemical Science. “To our surprise, just two weeks to our second semester examination, our Sub-dean called us for an emergency meeting,” said Popoola Kareem, one of the protesters. “They told us that the number of students who passed is high, so they now decided to say it’s those who made a CGPA of 4.11 or above who will progress to Medical School.” The protest, which began around 4.00 p.m reached its peak when the students shut down the main gate at 5.00p.m so that vehicles could neither leave nor enter the school premises. Meanwhile, the school management, in an official statement signed by the Head of the Information Unit, Mr T. O. Adebule, said the decision was in accordance with the guidelines given by the professional bodies for programmes at the Medical School. The statement read: “Senate, at its meeting held on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 had approved the implementation of the re-arrangement to conform with the professional bodies quota in order not to lose accreditation. This has regrettably meant that we have been only able to receive students into the College only up to the number the College of Medicine is allowed by the quota. “We recognise and regret that this has led to some students being unable to cross over into the College of Medicine or their course of choice. The statement further disclosed that affected candidates would be “allocated to appropriate programmes on the main campus at Akoka.”

44 news

Thursday, 11 February, 2016

Ondo LG poll: Count us out —SDP

CALEB varsity gets new VC

Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure THE Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ondo State, on Wednesday, distanced itself from the state local government election slated for April 23. The party, which stated this in Akure, Ondo State capital, at the end of its meeting, stated that the party had no confidence in the composition of the state electoral commission, saying the state electoral umpire had failed to convince the party of its neutrality in the election. The leadership of SDP also based its argument not to participate in the council poll on the belief that the election would be more of appointment exercise than an elective process. The SDP, in a communique signed by its state chairman, Chief Korede Duyile, said: “that SDP noted the preparations being made by the state government controlled electoral body, Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODSIEC) and resolved that no viable political party in the opposition will expect to take part in the election. “That even if any opposing party ventures to take part in the election and win majority of the votes, ODSIEC will only award few votes to such a party. “That the SDP has no confidence in the composition of the state ODSIEC, having been convinced that it cannot conduct free and fair polls. “That the party believes that as a principled political party, SDP is standing clear of the election, believing that it will be more of an appointment than an elective process.” The party, however, called its members and supporters across the 18 local government areas of the state to continue mobilising support for the party towards the forthcoming governorship election in the state in order to win convincingly.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal S. B. Abubakar (right), presenting a souvenir to the chairman, Innoson Motors, Mr Innocent Chuwkuma, during a visit to Air Marshal Abubakar, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

FG set to reposition civil service —Oyo-Ita Clement Idoko -Abuja

HE Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, has said the Federal Government would soon come up with more holistic reforms in order to reposition the service for much more effective service delivery. She noted that one of the key mission of the current administration was to restore the lost glory of the Federal Civil Service. Mrs Oyo-Ita, disclosed this in Abuja, during a reception organsed by a group of friends in her honour over her recent appointment as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation by President Muhammadu Buhari, a statement by the Assistant Director, Media Relations, Mr Mohammed Manga, said. She said as she settles down in office, she would continue to build on the brilliant ideas of her predecessors in order to move the service forward. The Head of Service said further that the reforms that

were to be initiated by government aimed at achieving financial accountability, value for money through capacity building and structured training programmes to equip civil servants with relevant skills to do their job diligently and efficiently. Other areas to be looked into, according to her, included personnel structure and Performance Manage-

THE National Population Commission (NPC) headquarters, Abuja, on Wednesday, was gutted by fire. The fire outbreak which affected the training unit on the ground floor of the complex, was reportedly caused by a faulty air conditioner. According to the Director, Public Affairs, Simon Otene, the technical staff of the commission, were un-

dergoing in-house capacity building training when the incident occurred. He disclosed that some office equipment and personal effects, were lost in the fire incident, adding that no causality was recorded as all the staff were effectively evacuated from the building. However, the quick intervention of the Fire Service Unit of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), brought

which is an avenue to enable civil servants own their homes. Present at the reception were the governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Mr David Lawal Babachir; Mr Ebere Okeke; Professor Abraham Afolabi; Alhaji Isa Bello Sali; and Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji.

Air chief extols Innoson’s contribution to combating insurgency Police arrest Chris Agbambu -Abuja THE Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, has extolled the courage of the management of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company for providing the needed technical support that has enabled the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to sustain its operations against the Boko Haram insurgents. The company, at a time when the NAF would have been forced to ground its

Fire guts NPC headquarters Adetola Bademosi-Abuja

ment System (PMS), where there would be reward for hardwork and effective service delivery and sanctions for poor performance. She assured that the current administration is committed to the future and welfare of workers and that is why government has recently inaugurated the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme,

AN erudite scholar, seasoned administrator and veteran communicator, Professor Ayandiji Daniel Aina, has been appointed as the third substantive vice chancellor of Caleb University, Lagos, According to a release issued by the registrar of the university, Mrs Folake Okor and made available to newsmen, Professor Aina, until his appointment, was the Provost, College of Management and Social Sciences, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State. The professor of Political Science and Public Communication, has formally taken over the vice chancellorship of the university from the acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Oludimu, following the expiration of the tenure of the substantive Vice Chancellor, Professor Ayodeji Olukoju. Professor Aina carved a monumental niche as President/Vice Chancellor of Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, between 2011 and 2013. Earlier, the renowned political scientist had impacted positively at Babcock University as the pioneer head of department of Political Science between 1999 and 2003 and successively as substantive Dean, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences between 2003 and 2006.

the fire under control. He said;”The commission wishes to commend the quick response of the Fire Service in bringing the situation under control. “The operational capacity of the commission to carry out its activities is not affected by the incident as it remains poised to pursue its constitutional mandate of providing demographic data for planning purposes.”

entire fleet of Alpha Jets due to lack of brake assembly, had helped to locally modify and overhaul the brake assembly of the MB-339 aircraft for adoption on the Alpha Jets. This ingenious effort by IVM is instrumental to the continued operation of the Alpha Jets, and had helped to save the day when help was not forthcoming from abroad. Abubakar stated that the contribution by IVM deserves national recognition and award, given the important role played by the Alpha Jet in the ongoing counter insurgency operations in the North-East. Director of Airforce Public Relations Group, Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, in a statement in Abuja, on Wednesday, said the collaboration between the NAF and IVM is in line with one of the key drivers of the CAS vision which is “strategic partnership with ministries, departments and agencies for enhanced research and development.”

The air chief noted that beyond the feat, the NAF is poised to exploit the possibilities of mass production of the Alpha Jet break and other parts locally by partnering with IVM, as well as other credible organisations, to build own capacity for enhanced selfreliance. The CAS, while receiving the Chairman IVM, Mr Innocent Chukwuma and his team members in his office, expressed the willingness by the NAF to expand the scope of existing research and development collaboration with IVM. Responding, the Chairman IVM expressed the readiness of his company to partner with the NAF to help manufacture locally, some of the spares needed to keep its aircraft operational. Mr Chukwuma noted that such synergy, as existing between the NAF and IVM, would help to reduce the dependence on foreign technologies while promoting self-reliance, as well as technological and economic development.

326 for criminal offences in Niger Adelowo Oladipo -Minna

POLICE in Niger State have announced the arrest of 326 suspected armed robbers, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and other bandits allegedly involved in major crimes in parts of the state. The state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar, stated this on Wednesday, at a media briefing held in his office at the state police command headquarters, Minna, adding that the command was able to record major achievements between January and now across the state, following constant raid of criminal hideouts and deployment of safer highway patrols. “We arrested these suspects between January and this month. At least, 100 of the suspects were arrested for electoral offences, while 202 other suspects, who were involved in major crimes, have been prosecuted in court,” he said.

Thursday, 11 February, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Ezeji quits after 20 yrs of football

Yobo (right) tackles an opponent during a friendly against the United States of America (USA) before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Lagos plans befitting testimonial game for Yobo

HE Lagos State government is set to host a befitting testimonial for former Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo where it expects players like Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, and a host of other global names to participate, Goal has learnt. Though the date has not been announced, the Yobo testimonial will be a celebration of the career of the former defender who was

the first to reach a century of caps for Nigeria, according to Mr Adeboye Anthony Adeyinka, Senior Special Assistant on Sports to the Lagos State governor. After a successful staging of the Lagos City Marathon last weekend, the Lagos State Government is starting to look at sports as a veritable way to market the metropolis, and what bigger way than football and Yobo?

“The match will be played in Lagos but it will not be a Lagos thing alone because Yobo played for Nigeria so it will also be a Federation event,” Adeyinka told Goal. Yobo had a distinguished career which took him to several countries and clubs. He played in Belgium, France, England and Turkey with varying degrees of success. Yobo led the Super Eagles to victory at the 2013 Africa

Cup of Nations (AFCON) before calling time on his international career after Nigeria’s second round elimination by France at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. “When he was playing in Nigeria, he was a respected person. When he played abroad he was never redcarded in any match. All his coaches will testify to what I have said and they will be invited to the testimonial,” said Adeyinka.

LMC increases club’s away win bonus to N500,000 By Niyi Alebiosu

ANY club that wins an away game in the 2016 Glo Premier League season scheduled to start next week will earn N500,000 from the League Management Company (LMC) as bonus. This was contained in the communique issued at the second Annual General Meeting of LMC held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. “The new bonus/incentive structure to be implemented by the LMC in the new season, includes payment of N500, 000 to any club that wins away from home, while an away draw will earn the visiting club N200, 000. This represents 100 per cent increase from the N250,

000 and N100, 000 paid respectively for the same results last season. “The financial incentives also include the payment of N250, 000 to a club whose home fixture is attended by 5000 fans and above while all the 20 clubs will receive a monthly stadium maintenance allowance of N200, 000.” The LMC also designed a measure to encourage clubs towards having an enduring youth football culture that will see them set up nursery clubs from where players will graduate to the senior squad and ensure a replenishment line for ageing players. “Towards this end, any

club that lists three players of 18 years and below with one of them having a playing time of up to 15 minutes will earn N100, 000, while when any of the three players is fielded for at least 45 minutes, the club will earn N200, 000.” Already, the regulation allows each club to register five youth players in their squad in addition to the regular 35 allowed. Such players are to wear jerseys number 36-40 to clearly indicate that they are youth players. LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko said the body will continue to introduce innovations that will accelerate positive changes in the domestic league to make it

not only appealing to sponsors but also create greater opportunities for social cohesion. “These are some of the innovations we have introduced to ensure a succession line for our football talents and we are also working on acquiring from FIFA, the software for the Domestic Transfer Matching System (DTMS) that will lead to the introduction of a central transfer accounting clearing system to ensure the operation of a robust and transparent transfer of players within the NPFL and specifically the eliminations of thirds party ownership and ensuring our clubs received their transfer revenues directly,” Dikko said.

FORMER Dolphins and Enyimba star, Victor Ezeji has announced his retirement from football after a career that spanned 20 seasons. The ex-Nigeria international began his career with Sharks in 1996, before moving to Dolphins and then Enyimba where he won the 2003 CAF Champions League. Following the club’s continental triumph, he left the People’s Elephant for Dolphins spending three seasons in Port Harcourt before moving to Tunisian outfit, Club Africain for a season. He returned to Nigeria with Sharks before having short stints with Sunshine Stars, Heartland and has decided to call it a day in football. An emotional Ezeji, who a d dressed the media at the SWAN secretariat, National Stadium Lagos on Wednesday, thanked his former clubs and the media for all the support they showed during his playing days, just as he said he is looking forward to going into insurance for footballers. “I am ending my career for good, without any form of injury,” said Ezeji “My ligaments are complete but I just have to say goodbye because I won’t be playing forever. “My appreciation goes to all the clubs I played for as

a player- I won’t forget how Barrister Chris Green discovered me at a very tender age, took me to Sharks for trial where I signed my first contract. “It has been a good drive for me though with some hills (to climb) but I’m glad I ended well bearing in mind that I played in the Nigerian topflight for 20 years. “For the media, I will say a big thank you because they made me who I am as a footballer. Whenever I felt I couldn’t go on, they gave me the courage to believe in myself.” Though not ruling out the possibility of going into coaching, scouting and any other field related to football, Ezeji said his priority now will be to carry on with his business of insuring players in the Nigerian league. “No law states that I can’t become a coach, scout or an analyst, but my target is to help insure players on the local scene. “I’m already in talks with players on this and this will help players have something to fall back on when injured or disabled as a result of playing,” he said.

Ezeji

Morocco names Renard as new coach HERVE Renard has been appointed as the new Morocco head coach, according to local media, le360Sport. Renard, it will be recalled, is among the coaches said to be eyeing Nigeria job as head coach, Sunday Oliseh has been under heavy criticisms following the dismal performance of the Super Eagles at the just-ended African Nations championship (CHAN) in Rwanda. Unemployed since his sacking by French Ligue 1 outfit Lille last November, the 47-year-old Renard has

reportedly replaced Baddou Zaki at the helm of the Atlas Lions. Winner of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia and with Cote d’Ivoire in 2015, Renard was linked with several African national teams including Cameroon and Nigeria. Top of their group F of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers with Cape Verde, which enjoys a better goal difference, Morocco will face the Blue Sharks in a double header next month.

tribunepools

DR. J.K POOLS – 07039275802

(6XX 8) 18–32–33–36 –40 Last week again, the usual two draws from the five games drew. Really the two games were numbers 17 and 22. The other week was on Nos 19 and 41. Again, please stop demanding for free games before your registration. At lease human being must learn to show appreciation. I now bet that I am now for those who have ready enrolled with N5, 000. The enrollment remain N5, 000 payable through Zenith Bank to Ekhomu John Acc. No. 2085795936. Before the increment as from March 31’ 2016. Again those who have the stakers to benefit from the Naps through text message. Now, stakers pick two bankers from 18-32-33-36, 40 and to the above bracket games. Goodluck says Dr JK Pools.

LUCKYMAN (49XXCBK) 08054352685 The beginning and the en d all well be well with mother well plus 2 certain sure draws send N1, 500 MTN Card never win now doubter will regret 49x 49x 49x 49

38 JACKPOT X39 THE LILIES 08086944309

Mark a draw between 38 Jackpot X 39 and call for 3 unfaking jackpot Xs cost N1, 500 MTN Card winning is wonderful win and win well 38 Jackpot X 39

2 PAIR 1 SIR-BRAKA 08078052128

2 Pair 1 must for a draw plus 3 unpable draws cost N2000 Glo Card call now and win on pools.

MISTER DRAW 08030415683

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE POOLS PAGE

THE WINNERS CHOICE GET A COPY AND WIN

M.B.A EXPERT (08104694618) PPAIR – 8XX 27.

Welcome to week 31, the first in the series of the much awaited 3 weeks operations from the stable of M.B.A. Expert in conjunction with DeMaikel compilers. Winning pools every week may spell doom for both stakers and week promoters as the latter may go bankrupt and the former having no pools to invest in. this is neither prediction nor an understatement. Meanwhile graph sequence this week favours the duo of Nos 08/27 an very strong pair from the RED colour computation with No 8 having a two-way formula number 27 in the colour had produces 4 draws from all the 6 weeks already in weeks 11/15 and 23/27 respectively. A 5th draw looks imminent. Reduction of dates to primary numbers equally lands on? Inspite of AWUF games in week 29 that failed, 3 sets of pair at 32xx 33f/ 41x/38x/41x altogether produced 3 over 6 repeated AWUF no get bone is in futility. Weeks 31, 32 and 33 Nap is sure. Good luck.

JOSEPH RESUMPTION (STAKERS CHOICE) 08167278061.

CHELSEA – MAN UTD= 03XXX. 17X 30X 47XXX= 03X FREE. Starting of our 2/2 year Additional Naps 2012 – 2014 and 2016. Wk. 13 – 2012 – 9 + 15= 27xxx 05x Wk. 27 – 2014 – 12 + 20= 32xxx 04x Week 30 – 2016 – 17 + 30= 47xxx 03x= 4/4 Have a funfilled valentine celebration on MORECAMB – OXFORD UTD. Week 32’ 2014 (5DRS) = X X X 5DRS Week 31’ 2016 - (8DRS) = X X X 8/9DRS Swansea position confirmed the Number of draws. 3 REASONS FOR THE NAP ASSURANCE. FIRSTLY – Morecambe – Oxford Utd on 39 SECONDLY – February wining statement. THIRDLY – Usual promoters week. but... Congratulations our Naps is as good/sure as a blank signed or approved cheque. Join the winners on the winning track to have a fulfilled Sunday outings on valentine. WIN – WIN – WIN. N50, 000= Goodluck.

OBINYAN PROMISES TO GLADDEN STAKERS

Stand still at the Emirates where leicaster city is bround to hold arsenar to a super draw plus 2 registered superdraws cost N2000 MTN Card win Big fortune on pools this wk 31.

The wizard of 1.2X and chairman /managing Director of king and George group of forecast papers. Prince Willy Ehi Obinyan has assured stakers that he was up to the task of dishing out draws. He also assured stakers of more rewarding harvest of draws this season. Africa’s number one bookmaker in pools compilation and computation has enjoined stakers to weekly buy his papers and rely effectively on the late News of his papers for regular winning. The papers are Pools telegraph, Zetters, Pools Guild, Shoot pointer, Murphy sports, the NEW DREAM and Final result.

SUNDERLAND SYSTEM 25. 26.

FAITHFUL INTERVENTION – 07082899957. THE TRUST MEN NAPS – 19X 29X 40XXX 22X

09038460009=15 NAP 16

New system set for wk 31. 32. 33= 3 wks operations 4. Special draws N6, 000 Wk 31 RED No Nap Nap Nap Nap with 15. 16 4. Special draws N6, 000 Wk 32 CUP No Cup Cup Cup Cup with Cup Cup Two Bankers N3000 WK 31 RED No Nap Nap pair Nap Nap Two Bankers N3000 WK 30 a week after CUP NO CUP CUP PAIR CUP CUP Two Bankers N3000 Wk 32 No CUP No Cup Cup pair Cup Cup Time to win Pool this wk 31RED. 4 special draws this wk 31 with play = 4/4. Correct hurry up to get your copy. Wk 31 No nap Nap Nap with 15. 16. Wk 32 Cup No Cup Cup Cup Cup with Cup Cup N6,000. Send MTN card to = 09038460009.

BIG BROSS 07053681965 AGAIN BANK 37X 37X WITH 2BKS AND 1 ALT

Yes! It was ¾ and 4/5 last wk 30 when my 2BKS: 17 & 30, my pair 11 & 27 and my 1alt. 29 got 4/5. Congratulations to the wise people that got the release. This wk 31 again bank 29 or 48 with 2BKS and 1 Alt that must give us ¾ and 4/5 again cost N10, 000= don’t Miss. This New Year opportunity. Good luck.

DR. JACKSON –

08156829811 (27 MUST 29) SOUTHAMPTON MUST SWANSEA. Records are kept by the wise, study by the learned, profitable to only the humble. Week 11 – 6x 22x 41xxx= 27x Week 31 – X X X= 27x 29 Southampton away and Swansea on coupon, confirmed the 2 fixed teams to promote the week Pre Cup Nap. Good win – N25, 000= 3 clients only.

SHADOW-(7 PAIR 8) 08087670776

Don’t be a loser in Pool staking, always patronize Shadow and win on Pool staking every week. This week 31 is a jackpot week for all my fans. Send to me N1,500 MTN recharge card and receive my 3 nap draws and 1 hot pair. Please don’t miss it.

MID-WEEK ASSERTS THAT LEAGUE TABLE

Are useful but... as we give 25/26.. 08087176217. Liverpool 2—2 Sunderland, Cardiff 0—0 M.K Dons. There were sure home bankers last week but were used to offset and wreck the joy of home-banker pundits. This is why Pools lovers wed expert guides on weekly basis. Let us take a good draw from the duo of 25 and 26 this week as they are scheduled for a good draw on forms. Add them to our 1BK which costs only N1,500, 2 draws N3,000 and 3 draws sell for N10,000 on 08087176217. Good luck!

EDITOR’S PLACE

05- 08

BLACKBURN – BLACKPOOL and BARNET. Congratulations our week of 0s (10 – 10) weeks Nap is now talk of the town. On – BLACKPOOL, BLACKBURN and BARNET= 19X 29X 40XXX. 22X We are now back to our usual Bi – Annual 2/2 years Naps 2012, 2014 and 2016. INVERNESS C.T and ABERDEEN Week 9 – 2012 – 7x 20x 37xxx – 47x 44 Week 24 – 2014 – 3x 24x 40xxx – 46x 42. Week 31 – 2016 – X X X – 45xx 48 Unlimited winning celebration at faithful pay point our intervention in pools is to make stakers forget their past. Your FAITH is your winning No, we operates on guided fixed matches on our foreign Expert advice/instruction. PANEL or NOT, DRAW IS DRAW N50, 000= Starters fee.

TRIPLE SPICE AGAIN ON 1BK WITH NO 27XX NOW OFFERS 11-12 (08035324990). Last week was again a good one for the fans of Triple Spice International as we were on song in the 1BK series with No 27xx. No more hiding place in the Pools promoters as we are set once more to dish out the golden goodies with reckless abandon. Doubters normally lick fingers while risk takers smile. Our 1BK still sells for N1,500, 2 draws cost N3,000 and 3 sure draws sell for N10,000 only on 08035324990. Be a regular winner!

HOPE NAPS & CO 08107128449 BANK NO 6 PAIR 44.

Hope do assures all stakers and fans of Thursday Tribune, that it is time to win pool now. 3 day draws without fear are here for you this week, make sure that you participate this week. Call Hope Nap & Co and pay to First Banks Plc. With account. No 3088328923 in person of Gbadebo Stephen A. while the week releases will be sent to you on phone. Belevive it is real pair No 6 & 44 No 6 & 44x No 6x 44 week 31 – week 31 week 31. O O O YES. You must win wk 31, 32 & wk 33. You must be happy each wk cost just N10, 000 make sure your payment is confirmed. Thanks, God bless, bye.

BEST BARGAIN INTERNATIONAL (08092621480) WK 31=4CBK, 6CBK

Another wonderful week is here and with Man City meeting Tottenham on coupon, we cannot talk of our time to make big money than now. This is a clarion call to all stakers to be part of the winning team this week 31 and stop wasting their money on useless keys that have not fetch them any money. With the power recently given to me by the Bookmakers and the Pools Panel, coupon Nos 4 must 6 play to continue our winning sequence. Interested stakers should call me on 08092621480 for us to discuss on usual token amount of money you have to pay for you to get the game. Only those who have direct link with the Bookmakers and the Pools Panel can dish out the draws. Check our record in the last four weeks and be part of history that is continuing in the current U.K. Football season.

THE CYRIL REMAINS UNBREAKABLE 08154836338.

Congratulations. Welcome to another Pre-Cup-Cup- After CUP winning weeks with reference tabnle on how draws are played on tabulations. In 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th a week to CUP (Pre-Cup NAP) Week 16 – 05x 19x 30xxx MAN UTD (A) 2x Week 20 – 07x 24x 38xxx MAN UTD (A) 4x Week 25 – 03x 18x 40xxx Bournmouth (A) 4x Week 28 – 09x 22x 44xxx Bournmouth (A) 7x NB=Weeks 16 & 20 = MAN UTD must be at away. The above tabulation table shown the first four Pre Cup Naps results with and a bonus banker on MAN UTD & Bournmouth at away. Our mission is to enrich only the wise stakers. Stay connected and win with the Indomitable Cyril Winning crew. Weeks 31 and 34 Pre-Cup Nap, CUP and after Nap starts now with N50,000= Don’t be left out. Welcome

NEW CURRENT INTERNATIONAL KEY = 09038633666 = 08166222529.

No 1xxx 2xxx = 4 special draws wk 31 N10,000. two bankers N5,000 4 special draws N10,000 Wk 31 No Nap Nap Nap Nap with 1. 2 4 special draws N10,000 wk 32 No Cup Cup Cup Cup with Cup. Cup 4 special draws N10,000 wk 33 No Nap Nap Nap Nap with Nap Nap Two bankers N5,000. Wk 31 RED Nap Nap pair Nap Nap Two bankers N5,000. Wk 32 Cup No Cup Cup pair Cup Cup KEY-Letter A.A. at home No 1. 2 meeting letter L.L at away No 1.2 to control L. 4 special draws this wk 31 RED cost N10,000, two bankers cost N5,000 following wk 32 F.A. Cup to control 4 special draws cost n10,000 Wk 31 RED No Nap Nap Nap Nap with 1.2. Wk 32 Cup No Cup Cup Cup Cup with Cup Cup. Send MTN card 09038633666= 08166222529.

Thursday, Feb. 11 - 17, 2016

MADAM HILLARY – 08163902330. 24 MUST 34.

SWINDON ON SAME DIGIT WITH LUTON. Swindon the Legue on sky Bet team on same digit with Leagu on sky bet team on same digit with Luton (Sky Bet two team) is scheduled for 3 weeks operation Nap in week 31, 32 and 33 with the above standing pair. The scheduled gazette on fixed matches breaks out a while silence. Your winning is SURE. Starting fee – N20, 000= now. Goodluck.

MAC-ANTHONY AGAIN CONGRATULATE

Lucky clients!!! Wk 29 drew on 15x 32x 42x paira 18f, 19x = 4/5 again . Week 30 drew on 9x 17x 29x pair 7F 47x = 4/5 0806-904-8857 (PAIR 29X 30X). The same KEY to operate again in wks 31 = RED. Wk 32 = Purple and Wk 33 = Brown. All must draw 3/3 plus pairs. Get my NAP @ N15,000 wkly. Pay @ UBA to Engr. Akam Michael; 2029382770. Stay blessed & connected.

DR. EKONDO 08034483290 BK 34XXXX DRAW

CONGRATULATION! Once again to those who heard my voice and believed it, the past two weeks has come and gone as I promised, check week 29 and week 30 Tribune and confirmed to the world thats draws are fixed with your N10,000 naira only. You would settle all your problem just call me and be connected.

HERITAGE NAP 08032428168

07 MUST 43 Stakers are in for another wonderful week of winning this week with the pair above which must play, with other gazette draws this weekend. Pay N25, 000 and get the game that will change your fortunes. Check your record, we have been dishing out the draws in recent week and this week will not be an exception.

PETER NAP – 08076546261 (9XX)

Congratulation, as the red colour system that got 9xx, 15xx, 17xx 3/3 in week 27 will get it again this week, my weekly release cost just N25, 000.00 pay to the saving acct. No: 3023114822 First Bank in person of Mr Onaolapo Peter A. meanwhile bank on No 8 to draw this week and promote another three draw next week. And call on 08067546261.

DOSA – 08072216644 8 PAIR 11

Join the winning team this week 31 by sending N1,500 MTN recharge card to Dosa and win with its 3 draws and a pair. No more story about it.

AKANDE BOAST OF DRAWS AGAIN

GOLDEN PAIR 4XX and 44XX 08025572554 It is another 2 Draws again this week 31 as we use to make it you can contact Akande Naps for other arrangement. For our 3 draws direct contact by reaching my bank account No. 6017037192. Keystone Bank Plc. In the name of Akande Ashatokun Bola Mustapha. Call me on 2 draws arrangements. Pair 4xx 44xx.

MADAM EMILIA – 08068523407

The winners choice of Pools stakers pairs for week 31 RED (22 and 23), (13 or 38) or (8 or 45). After this RED, there is (3) weeks consistent colour key movement system that guarantee your (3) NAP draws and a pair each week cost N10,000. It is a return match system that sets only once throughout the season, so don’t miss this opportunity for more information. Call 08068523407. Wishing you all best of luck.

SHOT-GUN (8 HOT 34)

08050614477/08168241902

We are set again for another winning week after our wonderful performance last week. The above pair must also supply this weekend with other fixed draws. The game costs N25, 000. The game will also ensure that stakers smile again to their banks on Monday. Stop losing your money, join the experts to win millions.

WEEK 31 STATUS EKO — 9, 18 LKO — 04 PPP — 16, 48 SUNDAY — 1, 2, 7. VOID — 45 TRIBUNE POOLS— THE FORTUNE PAGE.

NAP 18XX NAP 18XX NAP 18XX

MRS. HENRY 08170779623 & 08071554934 Attention! Attention!! Attention!!!

I am using this medium to inform all stakers that I have finally settled the issue I have with the club and hereby call on all stakers to win pool and laugh. Also this is a notice to those that win and refuse to abide with the agreement to refrain from doing so, in order for this problem not to continue. KEY Cross check Wk 23 & 31, ROCHDALE at week of play, Bank on QPR-FULHAM and two others. I am calling on all stakers to win pool in Wks 31, 32, 33 because these weeks will positively change their lives. Cost price for Wk 31 N30,000.00 (Thirty thousand naira only).

Call - 08170779623 & 08071554934

CRODON.K

KINGSTON

VEOVIL

TWO BANKER TWO BANKER TWO BANKER WK 30 N3,000 WK 30 N3,000 WK 30 N3,000 X15X X30X X19X X29X F16F X40X WK 31 RED WK 31 RED WK 31 RED NAP X NAP X NAP X NAP X NAP X NAP X 4 SPECIAL DRAWS WK 50 BLUE VOL 1 COST N25,000

SEND MTN CARD TO 08142362005

FORTUNE DONOR ON THE PROWL: WITH 3/5 ON 7F – 15XX – 27XX – 29XX/39

NOW GIVES 2 – 15 (08099111828). Some people read trends. Pls, go back to our write up last week. Judge for yourself. Don’t rely on league table position. Your winning is already assured Now! Get yours this week it is now only N20, 000.00 instead of the advertised N30, 000.00. Start calling for payment details on 0809111828. Help yourself. G O O D L U C K .

WERRIBEE.C

BALCATTA

MODBURY

TWO BANKER WK 30 N3,000

WK 31 RED NAP X NAP X

X17X X29X

X30X F31F

X40X X47X

SEND MTN CARD TO 08095602590

VIC DESTINY CHANGING LIVES!!!

CONGRATULATIONS. CALL 09099813819.

FOUR WKS OPERATION… WK 28 GOT 4/5. WK 29 GOT 4/5. WK 30 GOT 19X 22X 40X PAIR 47X 48X= 5/5. NOW WK 31 NAP NAP NAP= 5/5 @ N15,000. FOR ENQUIRIES CALL OR SMS. 0 9 0 9 9 8 1 3 8 1 9 . FINLAND

ONE BANKER WK 30 N1,500 X17X

WK 31 RED

TWO BANKERS COST N3,000. WK 30 NO 30X 40X 4 BANKERS. COST N10,000. SEND M.T.N

TO 09038633666

DENMARK

ONE BANKER WK 30 N1,500 X30X

WK 31 RED

TWO BANKERS COST N3,000. WK 30 NO 15X 29X 4 BANKERS. COST N10,000. SEND M.T.N

TO 09038633666

BARNET

ONE BANKER WK 30 N1,500 X40X

WK 31 RED

TWO BANKERS COST N3,000. WK 30 NO 19X 47X 4 BANKERS. COST N10,000. SEND M.T.N

TO 09038633666

HOPE – NAPS & CO – 08107128449 BANK NO 6 PAIR 44.

Don’t compromised your winning this week. On our PRE-CUP NAP winning operation to the 5th Round cup. Call Hope Nay for details. Payment to Gbadebo Stephen A. First Bank A/c. No 3088328923. Goodluck. AKIN MR AKIN. THE CURRENT CHAMPION. 07067202291.

MAGIC KINGDOM 08056753098/0708506012.

NAP NO 8XCBK PLUS (TWO) OTHERS Congratulations to al stakers that won with our last week free NAP on 3x 4x 28xxx. Sure Win. As promised the games are for all colours that started with blue colour last week (N25,000). Alln payment to Balogun Adesina Kamoru FCM Bank. A/C No-0279550010 or Wema Bank a/c no-0206965116 or G.T Bank acct No-0206965116. Don’t be a doubting Thomas. Win with others. GOODLUCK.

ZENITH NAP - 08146879314 14 MUST 13

CHARLTON ON EITHER DATE OF PLAY

Our long silence is at rest after the week 27 promoters show down. Reference weeks of confirmation 2015/2016 winning gazette. Week 9 - 06x 20x 31xxx - 12x 13. Week 14 - 13x 25x 37xxx - 17x 18 Week 22 - 07x 21x 43xxx - 12x 13 Week 22 - 03x 29x 41xxx - 16x 17 Week 31 - X X X - 13x 14 let take you to your finance Zenith, we are now at peak with our once a while release. Note - You can’t win Pools weekly. Zenith now on fixed/Scheduled winning programme - N50, 000 - Goodluck

3 OVERSEA COMPILERS = 08142362005= 11XX 12XX

Wk 30 BLUE No 9x 19x 40x with 11x 5F. Wk 31 RED No Nap Nap Nap Nap pair 11. 12. Wk 32 Cup No Cup Cup Cucp Cup pair Cup Cup Wk 33 PURPLE No Nap Nap Nap with Nap Nap = N7,500. Stakers try to get 3 Oversea Compilers 3 special draws this wk 40 Purple cost N7,500. Wk 36 No 23x 32x 34x with 20x 21x & Wk 37 No 9x 23x 35x with 2x 6x wk 38 No 13x 19x 40x with 34x 35x. Send MTN card = 08074333244.

HON. EMMANUEL EXCEL ON 8 & 11 DRAWS. 08102874949/07065292905. 3 weeks 19/20/21 and 29/30/31.

Again we are not going back on our mission to enrich stakers at the expense of PROMOTERS. Promoters seeking dialogue but ‘NO GOING BACK’. Now this is stakers harvest time. Our winning sequence is gave an outstanding winning account, controlled by W.W.Y = What else are you waiting for? Lets fetch water when its raining’. Week 19 — B/B- Burnley/Barnet and Wolves/Wycombe 11x 32x and 13x 31x = 4/4 Week 20 — C/C - Cardiff/Coventry and Sheff Wed/Sheff Utd 13x 24x and 11x 20x = 4/4 Week 21 — S/S - Southampton/Sheff Wed and Derby/Dundee 6x 22x and 22x 26x = 3/3 NAP. Week 29 - H/H - Halifax/Hearts and M/M = Milwall/Motherwell 32x 41 and 19x 42 = 4/4 Week 30 - F/F - Fulham/Fleetwood and C/C = Chelsea/Cardiff 17x 27 and 3x 15= 4/4 Nap Week 31 - X X and X = 3/3 NAP Be honoured with Hon. Emmanuel guaranteed NAPs – N50,000= Winners N250,000. Good luck.

tribunepools

IKECHUKWU & BROS – 08168157259.

10 FREE 08 (READ & WIN). Congratulations to all our clients both old and new. We are glad to inform you that we are now in partnership with other senior compilers (colleagues on fixed matches winning information. ‘Success is sweet’ Welcome to our winners world of success. Our week 31 sure Nap is sure with 3 draws and the above free pair on leeds and Dundee.

MANCITY SYSTEM F.A. CUP SYSTEM C 08135888720= 5 NAP 6

3 Wks operation wk 31. 32.33 4 Special draws N6, 000 Wk 31 RED No Nap Nap Nap with 5.6 4 Special draws N6, 000 Wk 32 No Nap Nap Nap Nap with 5.6 Two Bankers N3000 WK 31 RED No Nap Nap Nap pair Nap Nap Two Bankers N3000 WK 32 No CUP CUP PAIR CUP CUP Stakers try to get MANCITY. 4 SPECIAL Draws this Wk 31 No Nap Nap Nap Nap with 5.6. Two Bankers Wk 31 No Nap Nap with Nap Nap = 4/4.

DR B4 DR ARRIVER NAP – A BIG TREAT ON PROMOTERS –

081062748396 – (29XX 34)

LUTON – A.F.C. WIMBLEDON AGAIN ON 34 Weeks= 11 of 11 draws and week 31= 11drs. wk: 11 - 4x 27x 41xxx - 27x 34 wk: 31 - X X X - 27x 34. At new Dr B4 Dr. place our week 31 New Era 2016 winning sequence has no equal despite its overhead and the Naira value in exchange market. Bail out for all stakers with unpaid wages/salaries. Finance is wealth, welcome to the new Doctors winning palace where all our clients welfare is our pride N35, 000 goodluck.

022 CODE – 7 PAIR 9 08059580326 In order to make sure every Pool stakers win on Pools staking this week 31, I have reduce cost of my 3 nap draws and 1 hot pair to N5,000 cash. Use this great opportunity to win pool this week 31. Call me on my hot line above for my bank account number for payment. You are a winner if you buy my game this week 31.

KAMARK SUPER – 08186673842 11X 16X 18X 25X

SWANSEA vs CRYSTAL P on No 9. In week 30 still on course to control another 3 Naps this week 31. The 3 fixed direct draws cost N20, 000 while the permutation is N15, 000 – all interested stakers should pay to Mr S. B. Happy winning. Goodluck.

MGHTY INT NAP 08032300297

=10=26=29=32=42=

This week is a week to 5th F.A. Cup and we prepared all our darling fans/customers to the F.A. Cup. As a specialist of F.A. Cup played the above Nos to prepare you for it. Our past performances as proved us worthy and equal to the task. While waiting for next week game just be happy and ready. N50,000. Negotiable from MIGHTY INT NAP. Best of luck.

SIR MICHAEL NAP

13 PAIR 14 – 08130011263 Congratulation to all those that got my last week release as they won with 27x 28xx 29xx, 3/3, the pair 1f, 3xx making 4/5. Mean while another 3/3 and 4/5 this week cost just N15, 000. 00. Call for acct. no or mode of payment.

4MEMMBERS. 4 BANKERS

08162705220. 40 XX 41 4 bankers N6,000 Wk 30 blue No 4X 15X 17X 29X 4 bankers N6,000 Wk 31 RED No Nap Nap Nap Nap 4 bankers N6,000 Wk 32 Cup No Cup Cup Cup Cup 4 bankers N6,000 WK 33 No Nap Nap Nap Nap Stakers try to get 4 members 4 bankers. This wk 31 RED cost N6,000. KEY Plymouth. Portsmouth set at home No 40, 41 meeting letter M.B. at away to control 4 special draws this wk 31 RED cost N6,000 following wk 32 Cup.

AMOS INTRODUCTORY FREE WIN 08084077244. 05X 08X 14X 34X Starting of our 3 weeks operation Naps. Week 31 - FREE Week 32 - N100, 000 Week 33 - N250, 000 Make good use of this golden opportunity now. Goodluck

AMUKO & ASSOCIATES

07014686970. THE CUP MANAGER

We only operates in cup weeks. Confirmed 5th round cup awaits you next week. Happy valentine.

PLEIAD DE MAXWELL – 09099968585 WATFORD = WESTBROM = 05XX 06 REVENGE IS SWEET = ARSENAL?

Thursday, Feb. 11 - 17, 2016 MODUPE (08033566694) 08- 13- 29. 2drs Call for your special NAP.

Arsenal the Gunners on visit to the deadly attack of Leicester on Saturday. Despite their 5 goals to two (2-5) at Leicester in week 11 played on 26th September 2015. With Leicester current form I enjoined the Aresene Wenger boys to learn from the damage done on Man City at home last Saturday that placed the favoured team to 4th position on the League table. Liverpool defeat at West Ham on Thursday frustrated their teaming fans, hope they might get over the shock before their visit to the points spoiler at Villa Park this Saturday. Bournmouth/Stoke match is good for at least a draw, their first meeting ended 2—1 in favour of Stoke at home now its the turn of Bournmouth to claim the 3 point at stake but the Stoke wanted to stroke them. A draw is likely. Crystal P and Watford, a match to watch critically Watford defeated last week at (Tottenham). The Spurs defeated gave them extra last week on 47, 48, 49 add to readers dividend. Sunderland, Norwich, Man City, Swansea are teams to tip for likely draws. Contact De Maxwell draw clinic for your discharged after Surgery, fixed draws. TOKEN MANAGER.

VICTORIOUS VICTOR08126994034 (08X 34X)

08102874949/07065292905. 3 weeks 19/20/21 and 29/30/31.

WEEK 30 — 22X 28X 40XXX — 9XX =4/4 Norwich away No 1 winning records 2 weeks remaining at hand (watch out) wk 33. Our weeks 31 and 32 Naps is to prepare you for our 3rd round Norwich away 1 scheduled 4 times seasoned NAP. Reference to our last week publication in week 19, 30, 33 and 40 — 2014/2015. Week 19 — 13x 29x 32xxx — 9x 39 Newport Week 30 — 22x 28x 40xx — 9x 40 Newport. Portvale Home 30 = Wks 30 & 31. Week 30 – Portvale vs Coventry = ‘C’ = 3xxx 15x Week 31 – Portvale vs Fleetwood = ‘F’ 6xxx 15x Welcome once again to the Wisdon winning place. The millionaires forum. N50,000. Good luck.

HON. EMMANUEL EXCEL ON 8 & 11 DRAWS.

MR. SOLUTION (SILENT LEADER) 08072974729. 4TH ROUND WEEK 29 WIN = 11X 32X 42XXX

PORTVALE! PORTVALE!! PORTVALE!!! Portvale Home 30 – Blue and RED coloured coupon with reference to weeks 6 and 7 and now 30 and 31 promotes in another 2 weeks winning show down. Week 6 – 07x 22x 39xxx – 29x 30 Week 7 – 02x 25x 37xxx – 29-30x = 11 drs. Congrats in another 2 weeks sure win. Week 30 — 09x 27x 48x – 29x 30x = 5/5 Week 31 — X X X - 29x 30 We have solution to your no winning condition. HE who feels it knows it. Join the solution resort mission team on special 2 weeks Naps (30 and 31) N50,000 and N250,000. Good luck.

NAZAR MASTER REMAINS SOLID

The leading Pools company in Oyo State and environs, Nazar Master Pools Company Limited, Ibadan has again reiterated that it was unshaken by the amount of winnings on its odds in the current U.K. Football season. The Pools company made this known in a statement made available to TRIBUNE POOLS during the week. According to NAZAR Master, “we are happy that stakers have continue to win on our odds. We are assuring them that we are up to the task of paying winnings as and when due, no matter the amount involved. Stakers and other stakeholders should continue to bet on our odds so that they could settle all dues. Nazar Master management wishes all, Happy Valentine.

NEW – SOLOMON – RESORT – 09091111800. 20 WISE 39 (WK. 30= 3X 19X 48XXX 9X)

ROTHERHAM and BIRMINHAM= R + B R + B= 18 + 2= 20 PAIR 39. The only permanent thing in life is ‘CHANGE’ so our new Experts gave us a new name during our sojourn to United Kingdom the home of pools Betting football and the sit of the Pools Panel Association. (P.P.A). Your confirmed winning resumes from week 30 and other stipulated and directed weeks of winning. Stay with the New Solomon Resort team where we celebrates our client. You are a celebrity with us act wisely. N50, 000= The Wise men choice.

AKIN MR AKIN THE NEWEST HAPPENING IN POOLS HISTORY= 07067202291.

19X 29X 40XXX 09X 28XX – 5/5. 09X 22X 40XXX 29X 30XX – 5/5 Congratulations in either way you won with 5/5 is our consine. Never mind some promoters paid half payment in some states that was why we tagged it 2 in one Experts winning solution. Swansea, Swindon and Blackbourn, Blackpool and Barnet. Insipite of numbers 29 and 40 placed among the Panelled games on Saturday yet we excelled on 2 two games (nos) DRAW is DRAW – S.S.B.B.B= 5/5 NAPS. CRYSTAL. P. MUST WATFORD – KEY Winning & staking Hint= since 2012 to 2015. Week 31 always fall on cup week. So take a wise directive from re known Expert (Akin Mr Akin). Week 31 - 2013 – 8drs Week 31 – 2014 – 8drs Week 31 – 2015 – 6drs Week 31 – 2016 - ? drs. Unit no of draws. Another promising week for stakers inspite of the annual shock draws. Invest – N100, 00 and win Millions. Goodluck.

REAL PROFF & THE POOLS PANEL SCHEDULED. = 07069009601=13X 14

BRISTOL. C. – IPSWICH. CHARLTON – CARDIFF Pools winning is on confirmed/directed instructions on computation & compilation with reference(9Drs) Week 16= IPSWICH VS CARDIFF NO 14XXX (11 drs) Week 24 – BRISTOL. C. VS CHARLTON NO 13XXX Week 31 – BRISTO. C. VS IPSWICH – NO 13. WEEK 31 – CHARLTON VS CARDIFF – NO 14. The 2 home teams in weeks 16 and 24 and the 2 away teams in week 16 and 24. Is the KEY to our week 31 FIXED win. Our new winning source made us REAL. No excuse for failure, WINNERS CELEBRATES, N50, 000 Real Proff Nap. In preparation for the 5th round cup at N500, 000

MADAM DE MADAM (WINNING GALORE) 08023329191. (31XX 08).

WEEK 30 – 15X 27X 30XX 09XXX = 44. Glory be to God on our week 25, 28 and 30 fixed NAPS that made winning easy for our clients/members. 10—10 WEEKS NAP for WK 31 Week 11 — 06x 22x 38xx — 8x Week 21 — 04x 27x 48xx — 31x Week 31 — X X X — 8xx 31. Week 41 — X X X — 8xx 31. Madam welcome Nap is scheduled for 3 weeks starting from this week on the above case study as reference. Madam nap is now in partnership with reputable Panel Director/draw gazett chairman. Women are not set to rule the Pools world as new ordained Women Pool Proprietorship at Havald in United Kingdom. So our 3 weeks slated fixed matches is given to compliment both our old & new clients. N50,000. Call our media man (Mr Joshua) for your winning details. Good luck.

EMIRATE FLY ON SONG AT SUNDAY MATCHES. ON 3X 27X 30X 48X 08087104491 (05X 08) CRYSTAL P MUST NORWICH = 05XX 08 THE 2 TEAMS MEETING LETTER ‘W’ = WATFORD AND WESTHAM FOR A BARREN DRAW. - 10 - 10WEEKS WINNING ASSURANCE. WEEK 11 — 8X 13X 36XXX — WESTHAM 06X WEEK 21 — 10X 22X 48XXX — WESTHAM 04X WEEK 31 — X X X — WESTHAM/WATFORD. W.W. ALTERNATE WIN AFFAIR AND 3 FIXED MATCHES FOR OUR CLIENTS ON BOARD WINNING DELIGHT. N25,000 BOARDING FEE.

FREE WK=30=NAP=15X 29X 48XXX 04. Congrats all my last week callers that won with our 4/4 fixed NAPS. The above winning open the door to our other 3 weeks Naps as promised. GET VICTORIOUS tdoday. Again our wk 30 NAP was absolutely FREE to all callers, Wk 31 NAP cost N50,000 Week 32-N150,000 and wk 33 N500,000. Join the wise stakers and GET VICTORIOUS. Welcome & Good luck.

WISDOM NAPS — 07088103080 (06XX 15)

SAM AYO-(08XX 14)

08109152433

Congrats your Ever green Sam is back on stage to fulfill his earlier promised on 3 undisputed draws in weeks 30, 31 & 32. Cal for details for the above sure pair. Good luck.

INNOCENT NAP (08095602590) 29XX 30XX

4 special draws N6, 000 Wk 31 RED No Nap Nap Nap Nap pair 29. 30 4 special draws N6,000 Wk 32 Cup No Cup Cup Cup pair Cup Cup Two bankers N3,000 wk 31 RED No Nap Nap pair Nap Nap Two bankers N3,000 wk 32 No Cup Cup pair Cup Cup KEY letter P.P. at Home No 29. 30 To control 4 special draws cost N6,000. Two bankers cost N3,000 wk 31 RED No Nap Nap Nap Nap pair 29. 30. Wk 32 Cup No Cup Cup Cup Cup pair Cup Cup. Send MTN card 08095602590 the game will be sent to you by text message = 08095602590.

MR. A GEORGE – 08036224198

WK 31. 7, 37, 45 (NAP) PAIR 5 OR 23 Weeks 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 will be on sale at N35, 000 each week with (3) NAP draws and a pair with guarantee beyond imagination. If you have what it takes, contact me in person or pay through the bank account number, 2028316301, Assam George (UBA), address: No 160, Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.

FOCUS UNBEATABLE PAIR 19X 21X

PHONE 08079171744. Our operation started last week 30 with Nap 16f 17x 29x pair 2f 8f cut to drew this wk 31 Nap Nap Nap=3/3 must draw cost N20,000 each. The arrival of money is the departure of failure and hardship. Pls don’t stay back.

WEEK 29 XRAY

Indeed magic at Magic Kingdom with his NAP that got all, Mr Solution the stakers friend got his 2 free bankers, consistent Dr Ekondo excelled on one banker series, Akin Mr Akin the Rave of the moment got its 2 bankers correctly, Fortune Donor donation got pass mark on his free permutation, what a kind gesture to stakers! Our Experts gave good account of their unrelented efforts to enrich their clients and friends. Olacity, Triple Spice, Hope, Sir Braka, Big Bross, Mighty Nap, BestBargan, The Cyril, Mac Anthony, Akande, Sam Ayo, Dr B4 Dr, Heritage, Sir Micheal, Joseph Resumption, Midweek, Wisdom, Madams of Mr Joshua, Solomon Resort, Dosa, and Mr Assurance (Njoroge). added to stakers winning dividends. The outcome of our last week meeting resulted to our compilers overwhelming. More winnings is assured smile on stakers faces promised our Pools page compilers. Please appreciate them, draws are like gold, you have to dig dip and dip to get, it’s never found on Earth surface. Welcome.

WEEK 31 STATUS EKO — 9, 18 LKO — 04 PPP — 16, 48 SUNDAY — 1, 2, 7. VOID — 45

LOVE BEST = N4000 TWO

WK 29 CUP X19X X42X PAIR X11X F12F

BANKERS WK 30 X15X X29X PAIR X19X X20X

MOVE FORWARD = N4000

N4,000 TWO

WK 31 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

WK 29 CUP X29X X32X PAIR X41X X42X

BANKERS WK 30 X19X X29X PAIR X19 X10X

N4,000

WK 31 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

4 SPECIAL DRAWS N25, 000 WK 30 NO 15X 19X 28X 29X = 4/4 SEND MTN CARD = 08135888720.

PRAGMATISM= 07036539499/ 07059758040

OUR WINNINGS IN NIGERIA AND ENGLAND (U.K) WEEK 31 – NAP= 07X 12X 27XXX CALL PERM = 01X 07X 09X 27X 34X 07036539499 NEXT WEEK 32 AND 33 COST N100, 000. 07059758040 READ POOLS TELEGRAPH FOR FULL DETAILS.

AMUKO OPERATES ONLY IN CUP WEEKS. BE PREPARED. 07014686970.

DRAW COMMANDER TWO BANKERS N3,000 VOL I

BEST ENGLISH MAGIC TWO BANKERS N3,000 VOL I

WK 31 WK 31 WK 32 WK 32 WK 30 VOL I WK 30 VOL I NAP NAP NAP NAP X19X X17X NAP NAP NAP NAP X40X X29X PAIR PAIR PAIR PAIR PAIR PAIR NAP NAP NAP NAP F8F X04X NAP NAP NAP NAP X9X F05F 3 WEEKS OPERATIONS. WEEKS 30, 31, 32 = 4 SPECIAL DRAWS N25,000 WEEK 31 VOL 2 N25,000. WK 30 NO 17X 19X 29X 40X= 4/4 SEND MTN CARD TO 08095602590.

NJOROGE MR ASSURANCE (READ & WIN) 08177474535 (CONFIRMED)

RECORDS ARE KEPT BY THE WISE. CHECK YOUR RECORDS FOR CONFIRMATION= 2 -2 years (Bi-Annual Win). Wolves at home on bar No 22. With the cutting of Numbers 10, 22, 33 and 44 on Bar. Wk. 25’ 2014 – 29x 31x 32xxx 1-16x = 10drs. Wk 31’ 2016 – X X X xxx 16-29 = 10drs. Same digit on Number 10 to confirm the number of draws. At Njoroge our PRIDE is you. And our priority is your winning. Please we only transact business with matured men of integrity. Please stay off the card & post payment clients. Stricty on cash, N50, 000 – one customer to Winning Assurance family. Welcome & Goodluck.

TRIBUNE POOLS— THE FORTUNE PAGE.

SIDELINES

NO 16, 434

N150

THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY, 2016

“Both the ICPC and the EFCC have powers not only to investigate but also to prosecute. …if the prosecutor becomes involved in the investigation of a case, then the prosecutor may become committed to a particular line of inquiry and loose objectivity in assessing that case.”

have I have in the last five articles of this series identified reasons why lawyers and judges should not take the blame alone in what many see as the slow pace of justice delivery particularly in relation to criminal cases in Nigeria. This week I intend to identify steps which can be taken by government to improve justice delivery rather blaming lawyers and the judiciary alone.

SEPARATION OF INVESTIGATIVE AND PROSECUTORIAL FUNCTIONS The first problem which I have identified is in the fusion of investigative and prosecutorial powers in both the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). Section 12 of the EFCC Act Cap E1 provides for the establishment of special units of the Commission including the Legal and Prosecution Unit. By virtue of Section 13(2) the said Legal and Prosecution Unit is saddled with the power of prosecution of offenders under the Act. For the avoidance of doubt the said Section reads as follows: “(2) The Legal and Prosecution Unit shall be charged with the responsibility for – (a) Prosecuting offenders under this Act; (b) xxxxxxxxx (c) xxxxxxxxx (d) xxxxxxxxx In a similar manner, Section 6(a) of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act 2000 in the following words also confers investigative and prosecutorial powers on the ICPC: “6. It shall be the duty of the Commission (a) Where reasonable grounds exist for suspecting that any person has conspired to commit or has attempted to commit or has committed an offence under this Act or any other law prohibiting corruption, to receive and investigate any report of the conspiracy to commit, attempt to commit or the commission of such offence and, in appropriate cases, to prosecute the offenders; The effect of the above is that both the ICPC and the EFCC have powers not only to investigate but also to prosecute. However,

OFR, CON, SAN, LL.D, D.Litt

A commercial driver believed to have been attacked by epilepsy, reportedly killed a beggar and injured three other persons while conveying passengers within the Kaduna metropolis. Perhaps, if one may ask, is there any way passengers can identify an epilepsy patient on the wheels, having obtained driving licence in the first instance?

afeonthursday

aareafe@gmail.com

Justice: Loss of public confidence - Separation of investigative and prosecutorial functions (6) it is a well-documented fact that the powers of investigation and prosecution do not always go well together. Where an investigator is also expected to prosecute, there is a danger that he may not be objective in his investigation and that his eventual decision to prosecute may not be the product of a well thought out process. The need to appear to be working and thereby prosecute at all costs may outweigh considerations such as the adequacy of investigations and evidence garnered against a suspect. It was this very consideration that led to the establishment of the Crown Prosecution Service in England. In 1978 faced with problems not too dissimilar from those being encountered by Nigeria at the moment, a Royal Commission of Criminal Procedure was set up in England. The reports of the Commission published in 1981 came up with three main criticisms of the system at that time. These were: (i) The Police should not investigate offences and decide whether to prosecute. The officer who investigated the case could not be relied on to make a fair decision whether to prosecute. (ii) Different police forces around the country used different standards to decide whether to prosecute. (iii) The Police were allowing too many weak cases to come to court. This led to a high percentage of Judge directed acquittals. Explaining the rationale behind the findings of the Commission, Dr. Destina Kyprianou in an article titled ‘Comparative Analysis of Prosecution System (Part II): The Role of Prosecution Services in Investigation and Prosecution Principles and Polices” stated as follows: “The maintenance of an investigator-

prosecutor divide was central to the report which led to the establishment of the Crown Prosecution Service…The investigator-prosecutor divide was premised on the belief that if the prosecutor becomes involved in the investigation of a case, then the prosecutor may become committed to a particular line of inquiry and loose objectivity in assessing that case.” I believe the criticism made by the Royal Commission in England are also applicable to Nigeria. Whilst Nigeria has one Police force in theory, the reality of the matter is that the functions of that Force have been greatly eroded by several law enforcement agencies such as the EFCC, ICPC, NDLEA, FRSC to name a few. Therefore, the situation of different police forces using different standards to prosecute is also now applicable to Nigeria. By fusing investigative and prosecutorial powers in the EFCC and the ICPC, the lawmaker has in my view placed an unnecessary burden on both bodies. In stating this I am not unmindful of the fact that by the provisions of Section 12(1)(a) of the EFCC Act that the General and Assets Investigation Unit is also created separate from the Legal and Prosecution Unit. However, by the general provisions of the Act, both units are still under the Commission and are subject to the control and direction of the Chairman of the Commission. I believe a system in which the law enforcement agencies are limited to investigative duties will greatly aid the performance of their roles in the criminal justice system. A system can be developed in which they will seek guidance from the office of the public prosecutor at any stage of the investigation where such advice or guidance is needed. This is particularly more so in modern times where the

commission of such crimes as money laundering have gained much sophistication as to require legal advice in the investigation of persons suspected to have committed them. This explains why the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in the United States of America does not prosecute persons suspected to have committed crimes. A statement on its website reads as follows: Although the FBI is responsible for investigating possible violations of federal law, the FBI does not give an opinion or decide if an individual will be prosecuted. The federal prosecutors employed by the Department of Justice or the U.S. Attorneys offices are responsible for making this decision and for conducting the prosecution of the case. If a possible violation of federal law under the jurisdiction of the FBI has occurred, the Bureau will conduct an investigation. The information and evidence gathered in the course of that investigation are then presented to the appropriate U.S. Attorney or Department of Justice official, who will determine whether or not prosecution or further action is warranted. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, evidence is either returned or retained for court.” I believe that Nigeria can adopt a similar system. To make it effective, the government can increase the offices of the Federal Directorate of Public Prosecution to cover existing police and law enforcement boundaries as exist in Nigeria at the moment. In addition to the efficiency which this would bring to the investigative duties of agencies such as EFCC and ICPC, it will also create more job opportunities for Nigerians. Next week I will discuss more measures that can be adopted including the establishment of a dedicated body of Public Prosecutors. To be continued…

Giggs should succeed Van Gaal —Ferdinand RIO Ferdinand believes Manchester United should appoint Ryan Giggs as manager when Louis van Gaal leaves the club. United, it will be recalled, crashed out in the group stage of the Champions League and are placed fifth on the Premier League table. Ferdinand, who spent 12 years at Old Trafford, however, admitted Jose Mourinho could offer an alternative solution. “Short-term, Mourinho looks like a good fit. He is used to success. He is a winner, a proven

winner,” the former defender told Goal. “But I think for the long run, I would sway for Giggsy because he understands the philosophy of the club and knows it. I think a big part of it would be the element of youth. Young guys join Manchester United knowing that they are going to get a chance and that needs to continue. So whoever goes in, that’s a big part. “I am interested to see the decision the club make.”

Although Ferdinand now sees Giggs as a potential United manager, he admitted that he didn’t always think he would move into coaching. “Not at first. I didn’t know [he wanted to be a coach] but the later he went in his career, the more interested he seemed to be in coaching and doing his badges,” said Ferdinand. “So towards the end of his career, I saw him being involved in some capacity.”

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 11/2/2016.

Giggs