13th October, 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,610 THURSDAY, 13 OCTOBER, 2016 www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

@nigeriantribune

TODAY'S SPECIAL

5 sweet benefits of taking bitters MANY nutritionists and other health experts believe that far too many modern industrialised humans are deficient in bitter substances, which, in part, contributes to our epic rise in digestive-related illnesses, inflammatory conditions, immune challenges, diabetes, and more.

In a recent article by the Wall Street Journal, “One study found that only five to eight per cent of the calories we eat are bitter. But the compounds that make foods taste bitter (carotenoids in sweet potatoes and spinach, flavonoids in

cranberries and kale, polyphenols in wine) also make them good for us. Consider the initial taste shock of bitter foods such as cranberries, cocoa and kale to be positive, rather than negative.

Bitter = healthful Here are a few of the health benefits of bitter foods.

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Putin orders all Russians abroad to —P37 return home •As he prepares for World War III

War on corruption: We will step on more toes —FG Continues pg4

—P2

•Freed judges spend 10 hours with DSS •Midnight raid of judges' homes lamentable, brought despondency to judiciary —Afe Babalola

EFCC declares Goodie Ibru wanted —P8

FG lines up more witnesses against Badeh —P4

7 feared dead as Shi'ite holds procession in Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto —P4

8 killed, 15 injured as bomb hits Maiduguri —P4 motor park

Reps to FG: Declare state of emergency on kidnapping •Isheri landlord kidnappers gang leader arrested in hotel with girlfriend —P4,6 •Lagos govt confirms release of 4 students, teachers

2 news War on corruption: We will step on more toes —FG

Thursday, 13 October, 2016

Clement Idoko -Abuja

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HE Federal Government has expressed its readiness to step on more toes in the process of fight against corruption which has destroyed the fabric of the nation, while also justifying the recent arrest of some judges by the officials of the Directorate of State Service (DSS).

Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who defended the action of the DSS, reiterated that in the process of fighting corruption, government would certainly step on very sensitive toes.

Mohammed, while fielding questions from State House correspondents, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over

by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said all proper procedures were complied with before the arrest, saying it was not an attempt to humiliate the judiciary as wrongly perceived in some quarters.

According to him, the current administration of President Buhari was not afraid to crack down on anybody or group, provided the due process of law was followed.

According to the minister, judges could be arrested since they had no immunity, adding that search warrant was also properly executed.

Mohammed further explained that the National Judicial Council (NJC) was not

the only authority that could look into complaints against judges or discipline them.

According to him, there was a difference between when a judge was accused of professional misconduct and the present situation, which

GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has described as “wicked propaganda,” the news making the rounds that he slapped a judge in the state, as an

Orubebe wants Appeal Court to set aside his conviction Sunday Ejike -Abuja A former Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has asked the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) which ordered forfeiture of his property at Plot 2057 Asokoro District, Abuja.

The tribunal had, in a judgment delivered last month, found Orubebe guilty as charged and punished in accordance with Section 23 of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Act. In the notice of appeal filed by his lawyer, Mr Selekeowei Larry, the former minister raised three grounds of appeal, arguing, among others, that the tribunal misdirected itself in reaching its decision that was not supported by evidence led by the prosecution.

because the president wanted somebody from one part of the country to be the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

“I think the Federal Government is being careful with handling of this particular issue. I want to state

clearly that this government believes very much in separation of powers, has a lot of respect for the judiciary and for obvious reasons, not just because the constitution says so, but I think probably this is one cabinet that has the

Some judges declared false assets —DSS source Chris Agbambu –Abuja

A new dimension has emerged over the arrest of judges last weekend, as the Directorate of State Services (DSS) revealed that some judges filled different forms of Code of Conduct with different information.

A source at the DSS disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune that this was revealed as they were investigating

all the properties linked to the judges.

“We discovered a judge filling three different forms with different information, either in terms of assets declared or even personal information like age,” he said.

The source disclosed that a particular judge filled three different forms with different information, but assured that the service would do a thorough job on the in-

vestigation.

According to the source, “we have officially written to the National Judicial Council (NJC) about what has happened and we expect the NJC to take some decisions about the affected judges this week.”

The DSS noted that once that was done, they would arraign the judges in court.

“For now, more facts in the form of petitions are trick-

ling in about the judges. It is like everyone who has had cause to go to court for one reason or the other has been a victim.

“More facts are trickling in and we cannot ignore them.

It is our statutory responsibility to investigate painstakingly every complaint.

Some victims have even indicated their readiness to testify in court,” the source noted.

day.

Since they were granted administrative bail Sunday night, the DSS had insisted that they report daily at its headquarters in Abuja.

Their appearance on Wednesday and the decision to keep them throughout the working hours led to the can-

cellation of a planned meeting between the judges and Senate Commitee on Judiciary and Human Rights.

With the DSS already demanding their indefinite suspension by the National Judicial Council (NJC), the daily report at the Service was seen as a way of achiev-

ing what the council had refused to grant the Service.

The meeting with the senators was put off when the judges were not released at the DSS headquarters.

The judges, including two serving justices of the Supreme Court, are to report at the headquarters again today.

Nigerian Tribune also gathered that Chief Justice of Nigeria-nominee, Justice Walter Onnoghen, will soon go through security screening at the DSS. He has been recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari as the next CJN by the NJC at its emergency meeting on Tuesday.

There was no continuation of the meeting on Wednesday.

The planned security screening for the CJN-nominee is said to be the tradition and any adverse outcome could affect his appointment chances.

Only his name was sent to Buhari, without any standby nominee in case of rejection by Buhari.

Meanwhile the crisis over the judges’ arrest has forced a shift in the final interview of the shortlisted candidate for the position of NJC secretary.

The interview by a panel set up by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), earlier fixed for Wednesday, had now been postponed till October 18.

Freed judges spend 10hrs with DSS Lanre Adewole -Abuja

DESPITE being on administrative bail, seven senior judges who were arrested over alleged bribe-for-judgement spent close to 10 hours at the head office of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) on Wednes-

Midnight raid of judges homes lamentable, brought despondency to judiciary —Afe Babalola Sam Nwaoko -Ado Ekiti

LEGAL luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief

Again, Fayose slams arrest of judges, says ‘I never slapped a judge’ Sam Nwaoko -Ado Ekiti

borders on the issue of corruption.

He explained that it was unfortunate that people brought in issues that were completely irrelevant to the matter, including saying that the purpose of the arrest was

aftermath of his condemnation of the arrest of judges by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Governor Fayose, who stated this at the foundation laying ceremony and kick-off ceremony of the construction of a new judiciary complex in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Wednesday, described the rumour as “propaganda” by people he said twisted everything he did or said.

The governor also used the occasion to reiterate his condemnation of the invasion of the living quarters of the judges and their arrest, last weekend and described the development as unfortunate and a “bad omen.”

Fayose said the Federal Government should stop labelling others as thieves and corrupt, saying “even if the affected judges stole the whole world, due process must be followed in bringing them to justice.”

According to him, “we are embarking on this project because we know the judiciary as an arm of government deserves respect and due recognition and judicial officers must also be given the necessary support and provided with the wherewithal to work with.”

Afe Babalola, has decried the invasion of the homes of some judges in the country, saying “for this, there is despondency and loss of confidence in the judiciary.”

Afe Babalola, who spoke at the foundation laying ceremony of the new Ekiti State judiciary complex, on Wednesday, said “I’m sad over the attack on the judges.

These people are not criminals, but you went to their house in the midnight and released them in the morning. That means they are available. So, why invade their homes?”

According to him, “Nigeria operates a democratic system of government which, anywhere in the world, places emphasis on separation of powers among the three arms of government.

“Each arm is independent of the other and of these, the judiciary enjoys primacy of importance when it comes to the use of autonomy and dependence as judiciary, which is not free from political interference, will bring about the demise of a nation perhaps faster than corruption itself or any other vices.”

He reiterated that “world over, one of the widely accepted means of guaranteeing such independence of judiciary lies in the establishment of a judiciary council.

“The motivating concern for adoption of councils was ensuring independence of judiciary after product of democratic rule. To enrich independence of judiciary, most countries enshrined

judicial council in their constitutions and we did so.

“Ordinarily, if these people had facts that people were corrupt, they should approach the judicial council.

Give the facts to them, then what will happen is that they will investigate the matter and then do what the law say they should do; that is give the matter to the police.

“How can you, I repeat, how can you arrest a sitting judge and give him to police to go to a magistrate to try him? You never try a sitting judge anywhere in the world.

The first thing to do first of all is to remove him. When you arrest a masquerade, you first of all remove the cover on his face before you try him in a law court. That’s the proper thing.”

Speaking on the new judicial complex, he commended Governor Ayodele Fayose for the initiative and charged him to work hard to complete the project before the completion of his tenure.

highest number of lawyers as ministers.

“As at the last count, about 11 or 12 council members are lawyers and we have female lawyers also in the cabinet.

Until death robbed us of James Ocholi, we had five SANs in our cabinet and I think this is unique. Therefore you can understand the kind of respect we have for the judiciary.

“Also, look at Mr President himself, three times of four times he sought to be president, three times it was thwarted and all the three times he took his case to the judiciary, so I can say clearly that this administration has a lot of respect for the judiciary. I think I stand by what Mallam Garba Shehu said that ‘please do not confuse the fight against corruption as a fight against judiciary, what the government is concerned and passionate about is to fight corruption.’

“Again, they have tried to muddle issues by trying to say that the NJC is the only authority that can attend to complain and discipline, the answer once again is no.

“There is a difference when a judge is accused of professional misconduct, which is quite different from what is happening now. If you suspect anybody, including governors who have immunity, they are still subject to investigations.

“I want to make it clear, this government has the highest respect for the judiciary and two, we are not in anyway trying to ridicule the judiciary. Three, we are not painting the whole of the judges with the same brush but we also have a duty to fight corruption at whatever level and, in doing so, we will do so within the ambit of the law,” he said.

He recalled the incident in Ghana in 2015, saying “32 judges were caught on tape by journalists asking for bribe, 22 of them were dismissed in one day in Ghana.

Yes, it’s true that what is happening today has probably never happened at this level before, but frankly speaking and with all due respect, we do not intend to humiliate any judge. We have no intention to humiliate the judiciary. We have done what we did within the ambits of the law.”

FEC approves N700m to complete federal secretariats Clement Idoko -Abuja

THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N700 million for the completion of abandoned federal secretariats in Anambra, Bayelsa, Gombe, Nasarawa, Osun and Zamfara states.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, while addressing journalists after the FEC meeting, on Wednesday.

He said fund for the completion of the secretariat projects, which were abandoned since 2012, were captured in the 2016 budget.

According to Fashola, the projects, when completed, would provide office spaces to staff of the Federal Government deployed in the affected states.

He disclosed that the council also approved the completion of the abandoned 10 megawatts wind

farm power project in Katsina State.

On his part, Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said the council approved an outline business case for Industrial Port Development in Badagry, Lagos State.

He said the council also approved the relocation of simulator from Lagos to Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State, for training of pilots and engineers.

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Thursday, 13 October, 2016

5 sweet benefits of taking bitters Continued from front page

1. Helps to absorb nutrients While bitterness is often perceived as unpleasant, the interaction between bitter constituents in foods and our bitter taste receptors stimulate the production of gastric acid in the stomach. This helps prime the stomach for the food it is about to encounter. “Bitter foods and herbs help to stimulate digestive juices and support food digestion,” says professional dietitian Nicole Dube of Halifax, N.S. “Bitter foods help stimulate our taste receptors on the tongue, which subsequently stimulates enzyme production and bile flow. The better your food is digested, the more nutrients you will absorb from your food. It doesn’t matter what you eat, if you can’t absorb it, it won’t be of much benefit to you.”

2. Balances taste buds and controls

that sweet tooth The more bitter greens we eat, the more bitter greens we want.

“We all have different sensory levels. It depends on genetics, what you’ve trained your body to like, what your mother ate when you were in utero or what your heritage is,” says Theresa Albert, a Toronto-based registered nutritionist and founder of the website, My Friend in Food. In Ayurvedic tradition, bitter foods are thought to reduce food cravings and aid in weight loss. In TCM, bitter foods are prized for ‘removing heat’ in the body – could that speak to their very modern ‘anti-inflammatory’ benefits?

3. Cleanses the body Bitter roots and veggies contain fiber to help sweep wastes through the digestive tract. Bitter foods also contain sulfur-based compounds which support the natural detoxification pathways in the liver; helping

it to do what it is meant to do – keep your body clean and clear.

“We’re just starting to discover the benefits of greens,” says Albert, who explained that centuries ago, in ancient Chinese and Hindu diets, culinary traditions regularly included bitter foods.

4. Stimulates metabolism Bitter foods and herbs like green tea have been shown to boost metabolism.

Drinking green tea is one of the easiest ways to rev up your metabolism. A study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that green teaextract increases the metabolism by four per cent over a 24-hour period. Green tea has also been shown to inhibit fat absorption—the movement of glucose into fat cells, support healthy glucose levels after eating a meal, prevent insulin spikes which prevents fat storage, and

reduce appetite. People that choose sweet foods over bitter foods are also at risk for metabolic syndrome.

5. Fights free radicals and stimulates immune function Recent studies have shown that bitter foods, including dark chocolate, can help fight free radicals in the body. Of course, bitter foods are usually nutrient dense.

Bitter foods pack plenty of nutrition into each bite. For instance, beta-carotene for healthy skin; folate for a healthy nervous system; vitamin K for healthy blood clotting and phyto-chemicals for healthy inflammation response, managing cholesterol, balance hormones, detoxify the blood and metabolizes fats. Many greens are also mineral rich; gentle cooking will help make those minerals more bioavailable to the human body.

Courtesy: www.naturesunshine.com

8 killed, 15 injured as bomb hits Maiduguri motor park •Troops kill 2 Boko Haram terrorists Kayode Bodunrin -Maiduguri, with Agency Report

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HE Police in Borno State, on Wednesday, confirmed the killing of five persons after a suspected female suicide bomber detonated her explosives near Muna garage, in Maiduguri.

Mr Victor Isuku, the spokesman of the state police command, confirmed the incident in a statement.

“Please be informed that at about 0830 today (Wednesday), there was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion on board a Golf 1 motor vehicle with reg.

No JERE 349 XA, body S/ No RTEAN 7179 taxi colour.

“The car was carrying five people, four females and a male driver,” Isuku said.

He said the explosion occurred around Muna garrage on Maiduguri / Gamboru Ngala Road.

“The explosion occurred when the taxi was attempting to join the convoy of other vehicles heading to Gamboru town.

“All the four female passengers and the male driver died in the explosion,” Isuku said.

He said the bomber was suspected to have been picked by the driver on the road.

“The suicide bomber who is reasonably believed to be one of the female casualties, was picked on the road,” Isuku said.

He, however, said the explosion did not affect other vehicles on the queues as everybody rushed out after the explosion.

In another development, a total of eight persons lost their lives and 15 others injured in the explosion that occurred on Wednesday morning, at Muna motor park, Maiduguri, Borno State. The rescue team of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) promptly

responded to the incident and evacuated the injured persons and the corpses to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the Borno State Specialist Hospital.

According to a press release signed by the agency’s media and public relations officer, Sani Datti, and made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday, the explosion occurred outside the park, located on the outskirts of the town, which used by motorists that carry passengers to the Dikwa, Gamboru Ngala axis of the state.

The injured persons taken to the hospitals are currently being attended to. Security

has also been beefed up at the scene of the explosion.

Meanwhile, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have killed two Boko Haram terrorists while on clearance patrol at Ladin Buta and Juwano villages in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.

The acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, said in a statement late Tuesday, that the troops engaged the remnants of the terrorists, who were believed to be terrorising the residents through wanton killings, kidnappings and armed robberies.

“During the exchange of fire, two Boko Haram

terrorists were gunned down by the troops, while some escaped with gunshot wounds.”

The patrol team also recovered two AK-47 rifles with magazine, two fabricated 7.62mm

(Special) ammunition, two mobile telephone handsets and a torchlight from the terrorists,” he said.

FG lines up more witnesses against Badeh Sunday Ejike -Abuja

THE Federal Government, on Wednesday, told Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja, that it had four additional witnesses to prove the allegation of money laundering slammed against the former Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited.

The Economic and

Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), prosecuting Badeh and the firm, on behalf of the Federal Government, finished leading the sixth prosecution witness, Air Commodore Mohammed Lawal Sini, in evidence on Wednesday, after which the witness was cross-examined by counsel for the first and second defendants, Chief Akin Olujimi and Sam Ologorisa respectively.

Already, the prosecution

had called six witnesses, who had given evidence in the 10-count charge preferred against Badeh and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited.

Specifically, Badeh is standing trial for allegedly abusing his office, by using the dollar equivalent of N1.4 billion removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to purchase properties in choice areas of Abuja between January and December, 2013.

Reps to FG: Declare state of emergency on kidnapping Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja

THE House of Representatives, on Wednesday, urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the increasing waves of kidnapping now rocking the nation.

The House also resolved that there should be a provision in the 2017 budget to purchase hitech equipment to fight kidnappers to a standstill.

It urged the Federal Government to urgently convene a security summit that would include all security agencies, all GSM service providers, the House committees on National Intelligence, Army, Airforce, Navy, Police and Communications to fashion an effective response to the kidnapping phenomenon.

The House resolutions followed the adoption of a motion on matter of urgent national importance moved by Honourable Babatunde Kolawole, where he informed the House that, in the last 10 years, the incidence of kidnapping

for ransom in the country had escalated to a very disturbing level.

The lawmaker equally raised the fears about alleged connivance of security agents with kidnappers in carrying out these dastardly acts, adding that “kidnapping in the country has reached a point where no one is safe

anymore.”

He lamented that the situation had reached such a dangerous dimension, saying “school children are no longer safe following the recent kidnapping of three female students from Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodu, Lagos State, and the recent

kidnap of two principals and students of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Épe, Lagos.”

While calling for the need to check the trend, he said “Nigeria is now seen as the kidnap capital of the world having risen from 475 reported cases in 2011, 500 in 2012 to currently over 1,

500 cases annually.”

These records, he said, no doubt affected the tourism and investment potentials of Nigeria.

Minority Leader, Honourable Leo Ogor, also called on security agencies to live up to expectation and ensure that kidnapping was nipped in the bud.

Legislative aides protest in Abuja Over unpaid N1.5bn salaries, allowances Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja

LEGISLATIVE aides from both chambers of the National Assembly (NASS), on Wednesday, converged on the lobby of the premises and staged a peaceful protest against its management over their salary arrears and unpaid allowances for months running to over N1.5 billion.

It was gathered that the legislative aides, who abandoned their various offices, started gathering at the NASS lobby from 8.00a.m and were chanting solidarity songs to press home their demand for prompt payment of their arrears.

The protest, however, delayed the resumption of the plenary in both chambers, as the presiding officers, the Senate President and the Speaker delayed their movements for a while for security reasons.

Some of the protesting aides explained to newsmen that they resorted to the protest after failed promises made by the management of the National Assembly to pay up owed salaries and entitlements.

They, however, warned that their next protest would be targeted at the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara,

should the management refuse to honour its promises of settling the arrears.

One of the legislative aides, who simply identified himself as Kingsley, told newsmen that many of their colleagues had endured different forms of hardship.

Another of the aggrieved staff, Yusuf Sherrif Modu, accused the management of paying permanent staff and neglecting legislative aides.

However, President of the National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASSLAF), Comrade Samule Melaye, who confirmed that some of his members were still being owed salaries and allowances, said he only

heard about the protest after it had been held.

According to him, “I am not against what they are protesting about. But there is always the need to follow due process in anything we want to do and I believe that as a stakeholder, I should have been informed about the protest.”

He further explained that the official position of the National Assembly was that, soon, payments would be made to cover all monies owed legislative aides.

When called, Director of Information of the National Assembly, Isyiaku Dibal, promised to call back, but no response from his end as of press time.

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Metro...

Nigerian Tribune

crime, security, court

Isheri landlords’ kidnap gang leader arrested in hotel Chris Agbambu – Abuja

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HE suspected gang leader of the kidnappers of Isheri landlords, Natai Okunna alias “Osama”, has been arrested in a hotel in Sapele, Delta State with his girlfriend.

Detectives had told Metro that five suspects connected with the kidnap were arrested in Lagos, Ondo and Delta states.

Natai was said to have confessed that he collected N1.6 million as his own share of ransom paid, out of which he bought a second-hand Toyota Highlander Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) for N1.4 million, before his arrest while enjoying himself with his girlfriend with the remaining N200,000.

It will be recalled that some residents of an estate in Isheri area of Lagos state were kidnapped on September 27 but were subsequently released by their abductors.

One of the suspects, James Kegbe alias JJ, who claimed he got N1.2 million as his own share, was also arrested in Ore, Ondo State.

He reportedly confessed that he bought two engines for cutting wood at

the cost of N900,000, used N180,000 to pay his children’s school fees and the rest for domestic care.

Others who were junior members of the gang got N200,000 and N250,000 each.

The Force spokesman, DCP Don Awunnah, said that the feat was achieved following the efforts of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from the office of the Inspector General of Police which launched an onslaught on the kidnappers.

He said that the hoodlums

were eventually arrested as a result of due diligence and intelligence-led policing exhibited by members of the Force and the zeal shown by public spirited citizens to rid our society of crime.

He gave the names of the suspects as Natei Okunna ‘M’ (gang leader), James Kegbe a.k.a JJ, ThankGod Segede and Trust Bourdilon.

According to Awunnah, the suspects were arrested at different locations where they had gone

to spend their share of the ransom, and, in the course of investigation, volunteered confessional statements admitting their involvement in

the kidnap incident.

The force spokesman said that the Inspector General of Police has restated the commitment of the Nige-

ria Police Force to fighting crime, especially reducing the prevalent scourge of kidnapping to a tolerable level.

3 cable vandals bag 11-year jail term

By Oluwatoyin Malik THREE vandals who were arraigned in court by the Oyo State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been convicted with a jail term of 11 years on a four-count charge.

The judgment was delivered

by Honourable Justice Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court 1, Ibadan Judicial Division.

In a statement signed by the state Public Relations Officer, Oluwole Olusegun, Metro learnt that the accused persons – Olatunji Olawale (32), Idi Muhammed (32)

Some of the suspects arrested by Cross River Police Command. PHOTO: ANTHONY

and Nura Mohammed (32) – were charged to court in 2014 over vandalism of cables which belonged to the defunct Nigeria Telecommunications (NITEL).

The four-count charges were conspiracy, unlawful tampering with telephone cables, wilful destruction of telephone cables and stealing of telecommunication cables valued at N326,950.

Reacting to the judgement on Wednesday while addressing 102 officers at a crisis management workshop at the command headquarters in Ibadan, the state commandant, Mr John Adewoye commended the investigating officer and the state command lawyers for the feat achieved through the conviction.

Charging other officers and men to emulate the performance, Mr Adewoye restated his commitment to ridding the state of vandals and criminals, just as he declared zero tolerance for crime and criminality.

How abducted Epe students, teachers were released From Bola Badmus And Olalekan Olabulo MORE insights have emerged on how kidnappers released victims of last week’s abduction incident at the Lagos State Junior and Senior Model College, Igbonla Epe. The victims also said that the were not maltreated by the abductors and that they were well-fed during their five days with the kidnappers.

One of the released students also said that the two students, who were immediately rescued after the abduction last Thursday, struggled with the abductors before they were let go.

Metro gathered from one of the relatives that the abductors deceived the anxious relatives for more than four hours, before the victims

were released .

It was further gathered that they were released along the same route through which they were taken away, while their relatives were waiting in another part of Epe where the abductors had instructed them to go and wait.

A member of one of the families, who spoke with Metro under the condition of anonymity said “we held a meeting and we have been advised not to say anything on this issue again.”

He continued that “they were actually released late on Tuesday night, about four hours after we had expected them.”

The family member also said that the abductors took the hostages to the school where they were abducted last week.

“We were waiting at that place for more than four hours before we received the news from the school that the children and their teachers had been taken to the school,” the family member said.

One of the students said “we were not asaulted by the kidnappers. They treated us nicely. They did not beat us.

We thought that they were going to rape the only female among us but they did not.

When she was sick, they gave her some drugs. It was because of her that they released us in time.”

Father of one of the abducted students, Mr Adebisi Oluwafemi said “ my son told me that they were not molested by the kidnappers.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State government on Wednesday

has given an assurance that it would spare nothing until it rids the state of criminal elements, just as it confirmed the release of the four pupils and teachers of the Lagos State Model College (Senior and Junior) Igbonla in Epe who were kidnapped by suspected Ijaw militants on October 6, 2016.

This is just as the government also disclosed that the rescued children had undergone medical check-up after which they were reunited with their families.

The government said this in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde.

“The Lagos State Government today welcomed the release of the school pupils, Vice-Principal and Head

teacher of Igbonla Model College, Epe, who were kidnapped by suspected Ijaw militants on Thursday October 6, 2016.

“The children are doing well; they have been taken through medical checkup and have been safely reunited with their families,” the commissioner said.

Ayorinde, while restating the government’s determination to protect lives and property, however, urged residents to be more vigilant, security conscious and report all suspected persons and objects seen within their neighbourhood to the appropriate security agencies.

According to Ayorinde, “The determination of the government to ensure 24hour security of the state is

evident in the huge investment in the equipment and welfare of security agencies, especially the police.”

He, however, said that government had taken adequate steps to stem the tide of kidnapping in the state, noting that in line with the directive of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, plans had been concluded to commence the demolition of illegal structures erected across the state waterfronts and creeks.

“Often times, the incidence of kidnapping are perpetrated through the waterways and as such, these illegal structures provide a leeway for these criminal elements to plan and execute their nefarious activities.

This step, we believe, will go a long way to address this menace.”

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Nigerian Tribune

Edited By Oluwatoyin Malik

08116954633, 08078891950 e-mail: tribunecrimedesk@gmail.com

Police arrest armed robbers, kidnapper in Ogun Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta THREE people have been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for armed robbery and kidnapping.

Those arrested were Abibu, Kamorudeen and Olalekan (surnames withheld), who were said to have been terrorising residents of Ijebu-Ode and Sagamu in Ogun State.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, revealed that the suspects were arrested by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives at Ipoji area of Sagamu, following a tip-off.

Items recovered from them included two pump action riffles, one double

The Ogun armed robbery

7 feared dead as Shi’ite holds procession in Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto From Kola Oyelere and Muhammad Sabiu with Agency Reports PANDEMONIUM broke out in the ancient city of Kano, on Wednesday, as hundreds of youths attacked El-Zakyzaky (Shi’ite) members during their procession along the streets to observe the Ashoura, which marked the tenth day of Muharram, that coincides with the first month of the Islamic calendar of Muslims worldwide.

Also, a similar occurrence was experienced on Zango Road, in Tudun Wada area of Kaduna metropolis Wednesday morning, leading to the death of three people.

Eyewitness told Metro that trouble began when some youths in the area barricaded the popular Zango Road, Kaduna, apparently to stop procession by members of the disbanded shi’ite group.

However, prompt intervention of the police averted what could have been a bloody clash between the angry youths and the Shi’ites in Kano.

It was gathered that trouble started when the Shi’ites, in their thousands, allegedly blocked major roads in the

city during a procession, despite its ban by the police.

An eyewitness, one Muhammed Audu, said as early as 7.30 a. m, the Shi’ite members came from neighbouring states and converged at the popular abattoir situated at the centre of the city.

He disclosed that the Shi’ites were preparing to proceed to their designated Fagge mosque, close to Fagge Police Station and the Local Government Secretariat where they usually observed the Ashoura, when a confrontation ensued between them and some angry youths.

Audu added that residents started hurling missiles on them to register their displeasure over the conduct of their procession.

Metro further gathered that the residents were angry because Shi’ites were blocking their business premises, depriving them of right to carry on their businesses.

Confirming the incident, the Kano State Police Command image maker, DSP Magaji Musa Majiya, told Metro that “our men were promptly drafted to strategic places, following anticipated procession by the

Shi’ites to observe Ashoura.”

He said if not for the quick intervention of the police, who were deployed to the scene to save the situation, it could have been deadly.

In Kaduna, a source disclosed that “there were solidarity protests by members of the movement in Katsina, Kano and Sokoto states.

“This morning, we heard it from some of their members that they were coming out en masse to block the road.

“So we mobilised and decided to block the road.

Some of them were adamant, as they came out of their houses and thus pandemonium broke, leading to the death of three people from their side, while some youths set the house of one of the shi’ite leaders ablaze.”

Commenting on the fracas, the police image maker in Kaduna State, ASP Aliyu Usman, said the police were on top of the situation.

On the number of deaths, he said the police were yet to ascertain the number of those killed, but was quick to add that 10 people were arrested.

3 killed, 2 policemen injured in Police/ Shi’ites’ clash in Funtua The police in Katsina

State said no fewer than three persons died during a clash between policemen and Shi’ites in Funtua Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, stated this during a news briefing on Wednesday in Funtua.

Abdullahi said that two policemen were also injured during the clash.

According to him, the police had arrested 46 people, comprising men and women for participating in the unlawful procession.

He said the incident occurred when members of the Shi’ite group attempted to burn the Police Area Commander’s office in the town during the procession.

The commissioner also said that members of the group opened fire on policemen using dane guns, which he said, compelled the police to retaliate, killing three persons.

According to him, one of the sect members killed wore a mobile police uniform.

The commissioner said that the police recovered five dane guns, sticks, cutlasses, among other locally

made weapons from members of the group.

Police confirm killing of suspected Shi’ite member in Sokoto The Sokoto State Police Command, on Wednesday confirmed that hoodlums killed a Shiite member in Tudun Wada, in Sokoto North Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Deputy Commissioner of Police, Alkasim Sunusi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Sokoto.

He said that the deceased was attacked on his way to a procession of the sect.

Sunusi said that the victim was “seriously beaten and killed, while his Toyota Avensis vehicle with registration number BRK 144 CM was burnt by the hoodlums.”

He said that some members of the sect also engaged members of the public in a violent confrontation at Tamaje area of Sokoto South Local Government.

Sunusi said that three motor cycles belonging to the sect members were burnt, while one person was arrested with cutlass.

barrel gun, one English barrel gun and three locally-made single barrel guns.

The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, had directed that the suspects be investigated with the view to apprehending other members of the gang, who were at large.

The Commissioner of Police also appealed to members of the public to always give police timely and useful information in order to rid the state of crime and criminality.

Angry youths set police station ablaze in Benue Johnson Babajide - Makurdi THE death of middle-aged man and commercial motorcycle rider, identified as Gabriel Saa, early Wednesday triggered protest leading to the razing of a police station in Awajir, Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.

In the process, many property, including a police station were said to have been destroyed by the angry youths.

Metro learnt that trouble started when a police patrol team had engaged some youths in the area in a running battle over collection of illegal toll in the area and in the midst of the confusion, a bullet was fired from one of the guns of the policemen, killing a motorcyclist who was riding at the time.

According to the source, “the young man was not part of those who had issues with the police; he was just riding past the area when the gunshot was fired and he was killed instantly.”

Confirming the report, state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Moses Yamu, regretted the death of the motorcyclist, stating that the trigger of a police riffle was pulled by one of the youths who engaged the police in a scuffle.

Yamu disclosed that the death of the young man infuriated the youths of the community, who marched to the Awajir police station, setting it ablaze.

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Confusion as FG sacks 22 directors at FAAN •Demotes general managers Shola Adekola-Lagos

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HERE was confusion at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), on Wednesday evening, when the news filtered in that over 22 directors and general managers at the organisation, have been relieved of their jobs.

While all the directors, except one, have been asked to go, some general managers were demoted, even as others whose appointments were faulted were also asked to go.

According to the information gathered Wednesday evening, officials from the Ministry of Transport, stormed the organisation

to effect the exercise.

Prior to the exercise, a letter was earlier issued from the Ministry of Transport for the demotion of some of the workers.

The government is said to be worried that FAAN’s overhead cost is about N800 million monthly.

The demotion exercise and the sack at FAAN , was as a result of a petition written to the then Ministry of Aviation by unions, who complained that some personnel were unjustly placed in the agency.

The petition led to the formation of a committee headed by the Head of Servic(HoS), Winniefred Oyo-Ita, while the president, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Benjamin Okewu, was a member.

The committee, which carried out ‘Operation show your certificate’, in the course of the exercise, discovered that some workers, who were brought into the system, did not have the required

certificates and experience to hold critical positions they were given.

After the exercise, it was gathered that the committee recommended “proper placement of staff in FAAN, ” and also found out that some of them had no letters of employment.

Also on the card, is the plan by the government to reduce the number of directorates in the aviation agencies in its restructuring exercise.

Some workers spoken to across the agencies, who

confirmed the development, however ,expressed the fears that this may be the beginning of a problem in the sector under the current administration .

As at the time of filing this report, though, the sack letters have been prepared but information gathered indicated that the officials will start distributing the letters from today( Thursday.)

It will be recalled that the sack ought to have taken place earlier in June, but was suddenly suspended .

NAPPS tasks govt on qualitative education

By Rita Okonoboh THE National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Oyo State, has tasked government at all levels on providing qualitative education for the citizens.

The charge was given on Wednesday when NAPPS visited Oluyole Cheshire Home, Ibadan, as part of activities marking the eleventh anniversary of the organisation.

The president, NAPPS, in the state, Mrs Elizabeth Akobi, on the occasion , urged government to prioritise education at all levels, stating that “any government that fails to educate its citizens has failed. At the state level, Oyo State is known as the pacesetter state, and as such, we would advise the government to keep up that status in giving our citizens such quality education so that we would not lose the value that our predecessors and past leaders have handed over to us. We have been trying and pulling our weight in the ministry in contributing our quota to educational development in the state and Nigeria in general.”

The vice president I of NAPPS, Pastor Kayode Adeyemi, on the occasion , noted the efforts of NAPPS over the years, stating “we know we are yet to reach the height, but we are not where we used to be Although, government has been trying in its efforts, I would advise government at all levels that in-as-much-as there is the desire to provide free education, it could come at subsidised rates, such that parents pay some charges and from that, the system can be properly managed and we can compete favourably with global standards.”

From right, general secretary, Mr A.O. Udele; vice-president I, Pastor K.A. Adeyemi; president, Mrs E.O. Akobi; treasurer, Mrs R.A. Afon; financial secretary, Mrs C.T. Osasona; welfare officer, Mrs J.A. Oguntoye and the assistant secretary, Mr O.A. Adubola, all of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Oyo State , during a visit to Oluyole Cheshire Home, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday.

2.3 million Nigerians undergoing HIV testing, treatment —IHVN THE Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) says more than 2.3 million Nigerians are undergoing HIV testing and treatment in parts of the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of the institute, Dr Patrick Dakum, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News

Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday, in Abuja.

The statement was signed by Mr Dennis Mordi, the Communication Manager of IHVN. Dakum said that more people were being tested and placed on anti-retroviral treatment in nine priority local government areas

in Benue, Nasarawa and the FCT, Abuja.

According to him, more than 2.3 million people have been provided with HIV testing services, out of which over 25,000 people tested positive to HIV. The chief executive officer added that more than 23,000 people living with

Bakassi people unsettled 14yrs after, Ita- Giwa laments FORMER presidential adviser on National Assembly Matters and the political leader of the Bakassi people, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has again, reminded the Federal Government that it is now 14 years that they were ceded, yet, unsettled in Dayspring Island, where they were duly registered and voted.

In a statement she personally signed on Tuesday, Ita Giwa, pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari ,to restore their identity, pride and dignity by properly resettling them so that Bakassi children can have access to basic needs of life like water, food as well as basic education, among others.

She urged the Federal

Government not to ignore the warning of the United Nations threatening to declare individuals, communities like Bakassi, whose legal frameworks and documents that ceded them is yet to be fully consummated as stateless.

However, in the event that the Bakassi people is declared countryless, the implication is that they may chose to secede or declare a Republic of Bakassi as an independent state.

This is an option that the former presidential adviser is not considering at all, hence, she has been calming the nerves of her people because of her passion and the love for the entity called Nigeria.

Ita Giwa painted a gloomy

picture of living condition in the Bakassi camp, adding that a child born 14 years ago when Bakassi was ceded , has never had access to any home, no school to attend and no health care facility.

The statement reads in parts:”October 10 ,2016, makes it the 14th year that my people lost their homes and heritage. It’s being a story of neglect, suffering and distressing conditions among my people.

“The population is increasing on daily basis, yet no commensurate facilities to cater for their welfare. There is no food, water and shelter. My interventions and the support of few others, is not adequate to impact positively on them.

HIV have been placed on treatment.

Dakum said that the IHVN is currently working in eight local government areas to achieve epidemic control as part of the 9090-90 strategy of reaching 90 per cent of people in communities with high burden of HIV, with HIV testing services.

This “includes giving quality treatment to 90 per cent of those identified as HIV positive and ensuring viral suppression in at least 90 per cent of those being treated.

“The significance of achieving epidemic control is that new infections are not as high as people who are being placed on treatment,’’ he said.

He pledged that IHVN would continue to support the maintenance of treatment for current patients in the other local government areas within its funding.

He said that epidemic control has resulted in the reduction of the burden of HIV in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

“600 people in Obi LGA living with HIV were newly placed on HIV treatment out of the 773 people that tested positive to HIV.

EFCC declares Goodie Ibru wanted Saliu Gbadamosi-Abuja

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, declared the chairman, Sheraton Hotel, Mr Goodie Minabo Ibru, wanted.

According to a notice on the anti-corruption commission’s official Facebook account, signed by its Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, the 74-year-old Ibru, was being wanted in connection with an alleged case of conspiracy, capital market fraud, stealing, diversion of funds and money laundering.

The notice stated that Ibru allegedly diverted billions of Naira and assets of Ikeja Hotels Plc, owner of Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, Federal Palace Hotel and Capital Hotel, owners of Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, to his personal benefit.

It described Ibru as being 5’11ft tall, dark in complexion and a native of AgbaraOtoh in Delta State, adding that he speaks English, Yoruba and Urhobo, fluently.

The commission said that the last known address of the wanted Ibru was No 5 Ogalade Close/Sheraton, Ikeja.

It, therefore, urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact any of EFCC’s offices in Lagos, Kano, Gombe, Abuja, Ibadan, Enugu and PortHarcourt.

Abandoned baby

EMMANUELA Amosun, a newly born girl, was deliberately abandoned by her mother immediately after she was given birth to.

The subject’s mother abandoned the neonate at God’s Hope Hospital, Adigbe, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on September 4, 2016, at about 16.40hrs, under the pretence that she was going to bring her mother-in-law from Panseke in Abeokuta. Since then, she never showed up and all effort to trace her whereabouts proved abortive.

Anyone with useful information about the whereabout of her parents/ relatives of the subject’s mother, should, please, contact the nearest police station or the Director of Social Welfare Services, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Adebisi Aminat Adenike now MRS KAREEM AMINAT ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

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Thursday, 13 October, 2016

UCH resident doctors begin 5-day warning strike

By Sade Oguntola

I

NDUSTRIAL action by doctors under the aegis of Association of Resident Doctors, University College Hospital (UCH), on Wednesday, disrupted activities at the hospital, a situation many patients described as unexpected.

The doctors, who embarked on a five-day warning strike, claimed that the hospital’s management demoted its entire members unjustly and grossly underpaid them.

President, ARD, Dr Luqman Ogunjimi, speaking on the warning strike, described the hospital’s action as illegal, stating “this action by the hospital management is deliberate and against industrial harmony.”

According to him, “at our congress, the act of the hospital management was exhaustively deliberated upon and considered to be against the ideal of industrial harmony and at best, a violation of the ideal of any organisation and labour laws.”

He assured that its mem-

bers had interest of the patients coming to the hospital at heart, and as such retained its services at core sections of the hospital such as the emergency and intensive care units.

The ARD president threatened that the doctors would proceed on indefinite strike in case the

hospital management refuses to resolve the gross underpayment.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Temitope Alonge, in a reaction, described the strike as illegal and assured that the strike would not in any way affect the smooth running of the system.

The visibly angry CMD maintained that there was no cause whatsoever for the action of the resident doctors because, according to him, he replied to a letter by the doctors on the same issue.

He insisted that before any strike could be declared; there would have

By Wale Akinselure

Cathy Echeozo, Deputy Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.; Tokunbo Martins, Director, Banking Supervision Department, CBN; Tokunbo Abiru, Group Managing Director/CEO, Skye Bank Plc and Yinka Sanni, Chief Executive officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank, after a meeting of the Bankers’ Committee, in Lagos, on Wednesday.

•No regret focusing resources on education —Aregbesola A former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, on Wednesday, identified the military takeover of missionary schools as the major cause of immorality among students of public schools in Nigeria.

He described missionary schools as institutions for moral virtues and discipline, lamenting that taken over of schools from the missionaries by past military government was equivalent to expunging morality from the lives of the Nigerian children.

Akande, who was the former interim national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) made this observation at the commissioning of a block of 10 classrooms built in his honour by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Osun Northeast Diocese, Otan Aiyegbaju, Osun State.

According to Akande, “Whether in Islamic Madaris or in any evangelical learning centres, all missionary schools were known to Nigerians as institutions for moral instructions. Therefore, taken over schools from missionaries is equivalent to an attempt to expunge morality from the lives of the Nigerian children.”

Governor Rauf Aregbesola, at the occasion, said

mechanisms was in place to ensure no disruption of services.

On the contentious issue, which he admitted had become a recurring decimal in the affairs of teaching hospitals and medical centres owned by the Federal Government across the country, he explained that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, had at July this year intervened in the matter on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Oyo enters N8bn MoU for Agbowo complex renovation

Takeover of missionary schools bred immorality in Nigerian students —Akande Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

been break-down of dialogue between the two parties and necessary notice given on the declaration of strike, arguing that, in this case, none of such had occurred.

Alonge, declaring that the timing of the strike was wrong in view of the examination going on involving other resident doctors from other West African countries, assured members of public not to exercise worry over the ugly development as necessary

that his government had no regret whatsoever committing the largest chunk of the state’s resources to changing the face of education.

He said his government was preparing the state’s future leaders for the next 25 years in what the government wants them to be

in a new world order.

In his remarks, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, said religion remains a veritable tool for the promotion of peaceful cohabitation and tolerance in the society.

Okoh, who frowned at religious crises in some parts of the country, expressed hope that with a Christian faith building a school in honour of a Muslim statesman, Nigeria would soon get out of religious vendetta.

THE Oyo State government has entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Agbowo Mall infrastructure Development Company Limited, that will see the commission of about N8 billion to the renovation of the Agbowo shopping complex, Ibadan.

This came to the fore at the signing of the MOU involving the two parties at the office of secretary to the state government, Secretariat, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

The initiative, according to Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olalekan Alli, was in line with the resolve of the state government to transform moribund commercial structures in the state into modern outfits.

Alli said some priority would be given to current occupants of the shopping complex during the re-allocation of the shops upon

Abuja to host 2016 Glo-CAF awards THE capital city of Nigeria, Abuja, will again host the 2016 gala event of the prestigious GloCAF Awards on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at the International Conference Centre, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed.

Abuja is hosting the awards for the third time, having hosted the inaugural edition in 2005 and the 2015 edition.

In a press statement, Africa’s highest football body, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), said “the 2016 Glo-CAF Awards will be held in the city of Abuja, Nigeria and the new African Footballer of the Year, the greatest African football legends and 15 winners in other categories will be unveiled during the gala night.”

Other categories include African Player of The Year (Based in Africa), National Team of The Year, Club of The Year and Coach of The

Year.

Also to be unveiled are Most Promising Talent, Women’s National Team of The Year, Woman Player of The Year, Referee of The Year, African Legend, CAF Fair Play Award, Platinum Award – which is usually reserved for the President of the host country, Africa Finest XI and Youth Player of The Year.

Gabonese international and Borussia Dortmund of Germany winger, PierreEmerick Aubameyang of Gabon is the current African champion, having won the last edition while the 2015 African Player of the Year – Based in Africa - is Mbwana Ally Samatta of Tanzania.

The annual award sponsored by Nigerian telecommunication giant, Globacom is expected to congregate top football celebrities and government officials across Africa, the statement said.

Since 2005 when Globa-

com took over the sponsorship, the awards gala has been held in several cities across Africa. Accra, Ghana hosted the 2006 edition, while the event moved to Lome, Togo, in 2007. Nigeria’s commercial nerve center, Lagos, hosted the

event in 2008 before it moved back to Accra in 2009. The 2010 edition of the award took place in Cairo, Egypt, while Accra hosted the event back-toback in 2011 and 2012. Lagos again hosted the 2013 and 2014 editions.

completion of the project.

“We are trying to shift our strategy from direct applications in our developmental projects to collaborate with investors to redevelop all the moribund outfits fully owned by the government and managed by the Housing Corporation. We believe that we have to do things in modern fashion to ensure that people have access to international facilities in their buying and selling activities in line with the government’s agenda in ensuring the elimination of street trading.”

“The idea is to redevelop and remodel shopping centres of this nature. This will enable the masses to flow along with their counterparts in the developed country. The previous occupants of the various outlets of the shopping complex are here with us and we appreciate their support and understanding. We assure them that they will be given priority during allocations after the completion of the project,” Alli said.

In an interview, General Manager, Oyo State Housing Corporation, Mr Samuel Adekunle said the government had given occupants of the complex two weeks ultimatum to vacate the premises in order for work to commence.

State govts should legislate against land grabbing —Women surveyors

By Wale Akinselure

WOMEN surveyors have noted the need for state governments to come up with laws against land grabbing.

The surveyors, gathered on the platform of Womenin-Surveying (WIS) for its South West regional meeting, in Ibadan, on Wednesday, said the promulgation of laws against land grabbing would check the activities of unscrupulous land acquirers and extortionists.

The group specially commended the Lagos

State government for the promulgation of the Land grabbing Prohibition Law 2016.

In her remarks, National Coordinator, WIS, Mrs Elizabeth Adekunle, decried that the continued non-involvement of surveyors in several construction and environmental control projects by Nigerians was reason for reported incidences of building collapse and environmental disasters.

She consequently urged Nigerians to patronise only qualified surveyors for

their building projects to prevent disasters.

WIS members from Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states, in their various contributions urged relevant ministries of state governments to only approve building plans with authenticated survey plans.

Western Coordinator, WIS, Mrs Omolara Ajidahun, asserted that the Nigeria Institute of Surveyors (NIS) was committed to curbing quackery in the surveying profession.

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Nigerian Tribune

Recession: Intels, Eastern seaports operator sacks image maker, 350 others Tola Adenubi-Lagos

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HE terminal concessionaire operating the Onne and Warri ports at Nigeria’s Eastern seaports have sacked another 350 of its workforce, including the company’s Public Relations Manager, Isidore Sambo. This is even as tension is currently mounting among other unaffected workers due to rumours of another impending sack.

When the Nigerian Tribune contacted the sacked spokesperson of the company; Isidore Sambo to confirm the report, he not only confirmed it, but he also added that he was among those who were laid-off about two weeks ago.

According to the former Intels spokesman, “As I am speaking to you, I am in my house. I have been sacked.

The company is downsising due to the current state of the nations economy.”

He however lamented that having served Intels for 11 years, his sack negates the ‘last-in-first-out’ proviso.

“They have been sacking for the past two weeks.

How could they just remove their Public Relations Manager and the Nigerian Content Management department that have worked with them for over 10 years?

“I have worked at INTELS for 11 years. I don’t know the latest number that was sacked, but I know that it’s quite a number of us. I am no longer their Public Relations Officer.

“The company is facing a lot of challenges, it is because of the economic challenges and it has nothing to do with LADOL. The situation is biting hard on everyone” he said.

When asked if the firm has appointed another person has the spokesperson, Isidore replied that, “I don’t know anything about

INTELS again please.”

This is the second time this year that the wave of mass sack is sweeping through INTELS. It was reported in April that the company had approved the sack of 500 workers comprising both Nigerian and expatriates workers.

The sacked spokesperson; Sambo had at that time

CHEVRON Nigeria Limited has said that its company had spent over $25 million since 2004 in Nigeria’s Educational system in providing scholarships, building classrooms, buying textbooks and supplies.

The company disclosed this figure at the Exhibition/Prize-Giving ceremony of the eleventh edition of the 2016 National Art Competition for Nigerian Secondary Schools in Asaba, Delta State.

In his address, the General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited Mr. Deji Haastrup said that power of art lies in the way it propel imagination in the human mind.

According him, an artist brings to life what has already been created in the

the Company’s spokesman has been affected. What that simply implies is that nobody is safe around here. Everyday I come to the office; I see it as my last because INTELS is really going through hard times right now.

“The sack letters are flying and I just hope somebody does not die of high

blood pressure in the office these days,” he stated.

Efforts to get the Media Consultants of the firm, Emmanuel Ugoji and Paul Ibe proved abortive as text messages and calls made to their mobile phones were not responded to as at the time of filing in this report.

NAMA saves N1.5bn engaging indigenous engineers Shola Adekola - Lagos

Chairman, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, John Aboh receives African Leadership Award from the President of Malawi, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika. They are flanked

by Victoria Aboh (left) and Gertrude Mutharika (right) during the 2016 International Forum on African Leadership organised by African Leadership Magazine in Regis Hotel, New York, U.S.A.

CBN says Nigerian banks are well capitalised Chima Nwokoji-Lagos

THE Central Bank of Nigeria has denied reports that three banks are in dire conditions and seven others are undercapitalized, saying the reports are false, even as it threatens to bar bank customers who flout the CBN international spending limit on naira

mastercard.

Breifing journalists on Wednesday at the end of the Bankers committee meeting in lagos, Director of Banking Supervision of the CBN, Tokunbo Martins stated that the banks in the country are strong enough to absorb the losses that may arise from the non performing loans.

International rating

CSR: Chevron spends $25m on Nigeria’s education system Alpphonsus Agborh-Asaba

confirmed to our correspondent that the sack was due to lull in shipping activities.

A staff of the company who preferred not to have his name in print expressed shock at the sack of the company’s Spokesman.

“We were all shocked when news filtered in that

mind; this requires deep thinking and extensive imagination skill.

“The National Art Competition is, for us, an enduring investment in education and our contribution yo the growth and sustenance of creative arts in Nigeria by nurturing the interest of students in the related courses.

It is also an investment aimed at improving the lives of our young star now and in the future even as we continue to inculcate in them the virtue of healthy competition. This is how we reward the winner with scholarship” he explained Mr Deji who delighted over the theme this year’s edition “Waste in Wealth” in order to stimulate the creative and problem solving goldmine in their kidartists, noting that this also in line with their commit-

ment, as a company, to continue to undertake activities that would create wealth for Nigerians and contribute to the growth of the economy.

agency, Moody’s and analysts at Dubai based investment firm Arqaam Capital in thier reports on Monday said Nigeria’s banking industry is experiencing a “full-blown financial crisis” with some banks facing insolvency.

Non performing loans in the industry had risen from 5.3 per cent as at the end of December 2015 to 11.7 per cent at the end of June, way above the regulatory ceiling of 5 percent, according to the Financial Stability Report issued by the apex bank.

Martins while dispelling fears on the rising level of NPLs in the industry said

the banks have the capital base to absorb losses from the NPLs. “That certain banks are undercapitalised is certainly not true. That is not to say that the banking sector is not feeling the economic headwinds like every other jurisdiction.

So non performing loans at 11 per cent is not what we need to focus on.

“What we need to focus on is whether the banks have the capacity to absorb all the losses that will arise from those loans and the answer is, yes they do.

They have very strong capital buffers,” he said.

Recession: CIA boss applauds FG’s decision to engage experts Kasali Qudus-Lagos

THE recent decision of the federal government to engage professionals in its bid to take the nation out of its present economic doldrums, by instituting a consultative forum with a team of economic and financial experts across the country, has been commended by the nation’s Chartered Institute of Administration (CIA).

Speaking at a press briefing, held in Lagos, recently, the President of the body, Dr George

Chima noted that the Federal Government deserved such commendation; since it heeded the calls from different quarters on the need to engage experts, as a way of getting the nation out of its current economic drawback.

“The Economic Management Team headed by the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo needs to be applauded for heeding the advice of engaging the experts on how to address the challenges facing the country’s economy. We believe decisions and policies

from the team would go a long way in boosting businesses, increase employment and provide succour to the poor and the disadvantaged,” he said.

Chima expressed optimism that a time would come aspiring political office holders would be mandated to undertake professional administration competency training that would enable them imbibe ethics and standards, essential for accountability, probity and transparency.

A total of N1. 5b has been saved by the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for engaging the services of indigenous engineers for the maintenance of its facilities across the airports in the past two years.

The acting managing director of NAMA, Emmanuel Anasi who disclosed this while briefing members of the House committee on Aviation led by Honourable Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said the money was saved following the disengagement of manufacturers of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria TRACON which led to the the maintenance of its facilities by indigenous engineers.

According to the acting managing director, the installers of the facility left two years ago having trained their Nigerian counterparts on the radar maintenance.

Commending the ingenuity of the engineers, Anasi disclosed that the agency needed more funds to enable it upgrade the TRACON system to meet the International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO standards and systems migrate to new technology aimed at harmonising its activities.

According Anasi, nothing was wrong with the TRACON but explained that some of the systems were not included when the radar was installed.

Noting that well equipped facilities will further reduce work load on the Air Traffic Controllers,the NAMA boss said the country’s Airspace remained very safe and working towards improving the system.

He announced that a team of NAMA engineers were presently in Maiduguri working on the voice communication to enhance communication between the pilot and Controllers.

12

businessnews

Thursday, 13 October, 2016

Airlines decry low passenger traffic, high cost of fuel

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OME domestic airlines in Nigeria have decried “continuous decline in passenger traffic’’ and increasing cost of aviation fuel also known as Jet A1.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, Mr Abdullahi Saroke, Deputy Station Manager, Azman Air, said that many airlines were currently not having good in the business.

Saroke said that the price of fuel had increased by 100 per cent while the patronage had decreased by 30 per cent in recent time.

He added that the airlines that usually had its seats fully occupied in flight were now struggling to have up to 75 per cent of their seats booked and boarded.

According to him, it has not been easy for most airlines to cope with this situation occasioned by the current recession, including scarcity of dollar and high cost of fuel.

“As at January/ February, we were buying fuel at the rate of N115 and N120 per litre but as it stands today, a litre is sold at N220 in Lagos and N230 in Abuja.

“In places like far North such as Yola and Maiduguri, it sold at N250 per litre if you are able to get it.

“This has made it extremely difficult for the airlines to cope but for now, we will continue to manage the situation and fly because you cannot park the aircraft on ground.

“This is because in airline business it is only when you take off and land that you make money.

“What we simply do in Azman is to cancel some flights or try to reduce those

frequencies, especially for Mondays and Tuesdays out of Abuja because those are low traffic days.

“So we try to see how we can merge flights to remain afloat to be able to break even,’’ Saroke said.

He said that the situation was also part of the reasons for the suspension of flight

by Aero Contractor and the temporal shut down of operation by First Nation airline in September.

He added that if the situation lingered further, it could lead to loss of jobs in the industry, stressing that no airline would continue to pay salaries if they were not making profit.

dressing the challenges confronting airlines in the country, especially the domestic ones.

Sareko explained that the increase in the cost of ticket by the airlines did not commensurate with cost of operation, saying that the increment was about 30 per cent.

From left: Senator Udo Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning; President Muhamadu Buhari, and Olapeju Ibekwe, Head, Branding, Sterling Bank Plc, at the 2016 Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

Saraki: Tax laws ’ll be examined to improve ease of doing business Ayodele Adesanmi-Abuja

THE President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday said Senate will work to streamline Nigeria’s multiple taxation system to improve the ease of doing business in the country.

Saraki who spoke at a dialogue at the 22nd Edition of the Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, said this while answering questions from the audience, adding

that Nigeria’s corporate taxation system needed to be reformed and revamped to get the country out of the economic recession.

“With 37 million small and medium scale enterprises providing about 95 percent of our jobs, as we promote ‘Made in Nigeria’, we must also use our legislative powers to amend the taxation laws,” he said, “To get out of this recession, we must provide a business-friendly environ-

Skye Bank CEO, Abiru, charges entrepreneurs on capacity building THE Group Managing Director and Chief Executive of Skye Bank Plc., Tokunbo Abiru, has charged entrepreneurs on the importance of capacity building to the success of their enterprise.

Abiru noted this while speaking as a panelist in the on-going Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja titled “Driving SME Growth for MADE IN NIGERIA Products & Services”. He highlighted key issues that capacity building offers, stressing its importance for business owners.

According to the Skye Bank CEO, business owners should seek to have contextual understanding of their business ideas by engaging in extensive research; building managerial skills and capacity

According to the manager, no airline can continue to manage its entire work force for too long if the situation persists as they may look for a way to cut cost which may affect jobs in the long run.

He urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps towards ad-

before approaching financial institutions for the required funding.

On the role of government, in the SME space, he further explained that “in order to ensure the accelerated growth of SMEs in Nigeria, government must play a frontal role in the provision of massive infrastructures like power, roads to enhance movement of goods and services across the country to optimize national productivity,” noting that “the environment should be conducive for businesses to thrive.”

“When we patronise locally made goods, we are invariably contributing to enhanced operations of local manufacturers and entrepreneurs; create more jobs; improve quality of products

and ultimately stimulate local consumption that impact the local economy.”

ment,” he said “Earlier this year, when in the Senate we started the ‘Made in Nigeria’ campaign, we knew how important it was, but even we did not foresee how far it would go,” he said. “To promote the patronage of our domestic businesses, the Senate has gone as far as amending the Public Procurement Act to compel government ministries, departments and agencies to key into this initiative.

“It is our hope that Nigerian businesses can begin to benefit from the over N2 trillion in government expenditure in the 2016 budget,” he continued, “So that we can reduce the demand on foreign exchange

while simultaneously creating employment, moving towards self sufficiency, increasing our GDP and boosting our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).”

Saraki also stated that the anti-recession Bills that the Senate has scheduled for passage by December ending include: the Petroleum Industry Bill; the National Development Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill; the Nigerian Ports and Habours Authority Act (Amendment) Bill; the National Road Fund (Establishment) Bill; the National Transport Commission Act of 2001; the Warehouse Receipts Act (Amendment) Bill.

Steel sector lost over 4,000 jobs in 2 years Olatunde DodondawaLagos

THERE are indications that between 2014 and present, more than 4,000 workers have lost their jobs and many companies closed down due to the economic hardship experienced in the sector.

Speaking at the Steel and Engineering Workers’ Union of Nigeria (SEWUN) 2016 Annual Industrial Relations Workshop in Benin, Edo State, the President of the Union, Comrade Elijah Adigun, said there is no company within the steel sector that

has not engaged in one form of staff downsizing or the other.

He stressed that the only reason advanced for the redundancy exercise is the scarcity of forex to import raw materials.

According to him, “You will recall that in my address last year, I reported happenings within our sector in terms of failure of privatization programme by the Federal Government who sold governments shares in these industries to non-core investors thereby rendering the very essence of privatization totally useless. As

we speak, non of the government agencies sold has made any progress.

“Today the situation is made worse by lack of forex to import raw materials, forcing many companies to either embark on redundancy exercise or total factory shut down.

“The unemployment situation is seriously bad yet the government is appealing that they share ourpains as if that will bring food to the table. What we need now is massive job creation and not empty slogan that appeals to nobody.”

Nigerian Tribune

‘Dearth of technical knowhow, huge challenge to exportation in Nigeria’ Akin Adewakun-Lagos

AN expert in export business development training and Chief Executive Officer of Thy Global Investment Limited, Abdul-Azeez Ismail, has identified paucity of technical know-how and lack of proper documentation as some of the challenges facing export business in Nigeria.

Ismail made this observation, in Lagos, at an interactive session, designed to intimate the media on the company’s forthcoming workshop, meant to train agric produce exporters and prospective ones, on effective exportation of goods from Nigeria to other countries around the world.

He said a lot of investors had not been able to break through in the business of exportation; since they still grappled with dearth of technical know-how, unstructured documentation, getting reliable buyers, managing the buyers, sourcing quality products and managing the payment style, plaguing the business.

FATE foundation holds alumni conference Nov 16 Gbemi Solaja-Lagos

FATE foundation, not -for -profit organisation promoting entrepreneurial and enterprise development among Nigerians, will hold its alumni conference on November 16, 2016.

The conference tagged the road to sustainable growth for Nigerian entrepreneur,” will hold at the Banquet Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja Lagos.

The Chairman, Board of Directors, First Bank of Nigeria, Ibukun Awosika is expected to speak on the conference theme, among other speakers.

The Chairman, Alumni Conference Planning Committee, Ibrahim Salau, said the conference was timely because of the role of SMEs in a thriving economy.

According to him, the foundation wants to ensure that Nigerian entrepreneurs remain competitive despite challenging environment , adding that the recession is also an opportunity for development.

SMEs could be the plank off reccession.

13

editorial Governors and sale of national assets Thursday, 13 October, 2016

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HE support of the National Economic Council (NEC) made up mostly of the governors of the 36 states in the country for the proposal to sell major assets of Nigeria in order to raise revenue for the government to enable it to weather the storm of the current economic recession speaks to a pattern of behaviour on the part of the governors since the return to democracy in 1999.

We have since come to see some disagreement among the governors with respect to the sale of these national assets, with the Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola and the Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, disagreeing on the propriety or otherwise of the sale. It is important, however, to note that this disagreement and its public presentation was after the official endorsement of the proposed sale by all the governors through the NEC. The import of this is that whatever the governors came to do after the initial endorsement would be more of an afterthought as the position was already indicated with the endorsement. And we point to the fact that the endorsement again represents an enduring characteristic of the governors, in not having disagreement among themselves where issues of national importance are concerned: governors are almost always found on the part of themselves and against the people on critical issues.

We are aware of the argument of former President Olusegun Obasanjo about the opposition of the governors to his idea of effecting saving from the monies accruing to the Federation Account. The same attitude was repeated by the governors under the watch of late President Umaru Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan. And what was significant was that in all this, the governors did not betray party affiliation or ethnic or regional identities. They were all united and did not disagree among themselves to the extent that what was at stake was how to get funds for them from the Federation Account.

To be sure, the point was not to justify the Federal Government taking decision alone on funds that are jointly owned as the governors would definitely have a point in not accepting the bullying attitude of the Federal Government.

But not accepting the need for saving would be different from insisting on saving under conditions agreed to by the joint owners of the funds. Unfortunately, what we get from the governors was the predilection to simply expend all the resources available without any thought as to the future and the imperative of saving for the rainy day. Here we find that

Nigerian Tribune

the governors were more concerned about the funds that would be available to them to fritter away rather than the future of their States and the country, which would be really about the people and what would benefit them in the long run.

This trend, therefore, mirrors something that is a characteristic of the entire political class in Nigeria as we have called attention to the fact that the governors operate as one in this regard with the governors representing all the political parties and shades of the political class. When it is about not looking out for the people of the country, the political class operates as one. They are all the same in all the political parties when it is about selling the people short and looking after only their own interests. This, they have done and exhibited again with respect to the proposed sale of national assets.

It is noteworthy that there are more Nigerians who have spoken out against the proposed sale, including even the Senate which passed a resolution to that effect. And it is on this kind of issue that the governors would have no objection preferring to endorse the sale as a united front. We could not even see any of them objecting at the NEC meeting where the endorsement was effected. This kind of leadership that is denoted by the governors since 1999 gives the indication that perhaps the true growth and development of the country would have to be sought beyond the capabilities of the present political class. For when we have a political class that is incapable of radiating and manifesting national interest and is only able to pursue parochial personal interests, the country is indeed in dire straits.

This is a leadership that is always looking at the immediate rather than the long term interest, concerned more with the here and now instead of producing a wholesome vision about the present and the future, such that it is interested in selling national assets because of the deficit in the 2016 budget.

Yet, this leadership would not tell Nigerians what would be left to plug future deficits as if some people did not build up the present assets they are so eager to sell. We can only hope that Nigerians now see their leaders, in all the political parties, as represented by the governors, for what they truly are and must take their own destiny into their own hands by demanding higher level of responsibility from those who want to be leaders in order for the country to have a chance at true development. Evidently, such would seem to require going beyond the present leadership in all its ramifications.

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Thursday, 13 October, 2016

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Gov Okowa, complete OgwuashiUkwu library

Towards a better Nigeria POLITICAL office holders must justify people’s confidence in them by striving to fulfill their promises, especially the ones they made during the campaign period.

The reason for this is because this is the only way that the change of government can make meaning to Nigerians.

The fundamental issues affecting this country, such as insecurity, corruption, unemployment and poor power supply, should be given prompt attention.

Our leaders should know that the political consciousness of the people is now high and they will no longer vote for those who cannot add value to their lives.

Consequently, Nigerian political leaders should turn from their wicked ways, so as not to incur the wrath of God. Clearly, Nigerian politicians do a lot of things which God hates.

They tell lies under oath, trust in deceitful works and so on. They make promises and break them and worship gods, hence, they should turn a new leaf in order to avoid God’s punishment.

The leaders and the followers should go back to the scriptures for God to reveal His glory in all of us, with a divine comfort. Also,

I want to appeal to the Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyin Okowa, to help us see to the completion of the Ogwuashi-Ukwu library.

Work on this library has been on for the past 16 years, and it is necessary the government realises the importance of the library to the development of the society.

When completed, this library will keep many of our youths busy, thereby taking them away from unproductive ventures.

As someone who appreciates education, I hope the governor can quickly complete this library once and for all.

•Feyi Akeeb Kareem, 08052212361

Customs should stop destroying seized foods THE rice and frozen foods being seized by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) from smugglers should no longer be burnt or buried, but be distributed free of charge among poor Nigerians.

I particularly want to suggest that such seized products are given to the internally displaced persons who are currently suffering from malnutrition as a result of lack of food in the northern part of the country.

It is no longer news that there are millions of Nigerians who have fallen below the poverty line as a result of the economic crisis facing the country, and identifying these people and giving them the products seized from smugglers will make more sense than burning or burying them.

Apart from internally displaced persons, Customs officers can also donate the seized products to motherless babies’ homes and orphanages. This is not the time for Nigeria to be wasting food.

•Eli Angulu, 08033438892

•Here’s an international drummer. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

Still on legislators’ jumbo pay

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HE huge salaries and allowances which Nigerian legislators earn is really infuriating Nigerians, especially at a time when things are hard economically for the majority of the citizens.

It is so unfortunate that Nigeria tops the whole world in the salaries and allowances it pays to its legislators, even in the light of the dwindling fortunes of the economy.

President Muhammadu Buhari should, therefore, make it one of his priorities to reduce the enormous cost of governance in the country, and the obvious place to start is with the legislators.

In the spirit of change,

for which the nation massively voted last year, the President should work with the leadership of the National Assembly to agree on a new, more reasonable, less insane pay scale and allowances for our ‘honourables.’

It is funny that Nigeria’s federal legislators earn more than the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Leader of the American Congress.

Also, our lawmakers earn more than the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, and the United States President, Barack Obama, and this is a nation where more than 80 per cent of the people live on less than one dollar a day; where university graduates

can’t find jobs, and civil servants don’t get paid for several months.

It is important that the funds being used to service the legislature should be diverted to the people

who have suffered enough over the years. Political office holders should not earn more than the civil servants.

•Balogun E. Funsho, 07034444976

our religious leaders should speak and preach the true messages of God to their followers.

Nigerians should re-dedicate themselves to the service of God and humanity.

The difficult situations facing the country demands a lot of sacrifice from the collective efforts of both the leaders and the led.

•Prophet Oladipupo Funmilade-Joel, 08033733470.

Our problems not beyond redemption NIGERIA’s problems are not beyond redemption; however, the real challenge we are facing is that of leadership.

It is unfortunate that we have been on the same spot for too long, and all we get from our political leaders are just empty promises.

We need leaders who know what it takes for the economy to thrive.

Today, the citizens are suffering as a result of past government’s failure to take certain steps, but one must commend the present government for the steps it is taking towards correcting the mistakes of the past.

Having said this, I hope that this current administration will focus on boosting the economy, which is currently suffering as a result of the fall in the price of crude oil in the global market. The government should work towards reducing imports, while boosting exports.

•Dise Young, 07068212015

Why FG should implement GEJ’s confab report THE truth is that this country is structurally and politically defective; the ongoing bombings of oil installations, the cry for secession by the Igbo people, as well as the Fulani herdsmen’s attacks on farmers in the Southern part of the country reveal why it is important for the Federal Government to implement the national confab report which we had during for-

mer President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure.

This is the best time for the confab report to be implemented, as it documents how each region wants to be governed in the country.

If the Federal Government agrees to this, then it will go a long way in solving the myriad of problems facing the country today.

I hope President Muhammadu Buhari can give

members of the National Assembly the go-ahead to implement the confab report.

This government was elected on a popular movement, and it is, therefore, necessary for it to hearken to the yearnings of Nigerians on how we want to be governed.

•Jimoh Mumin, 08034435211

opinion Restructuring the civil service 15

Thursday, 13 October, 2016

By Femi Babatunde

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IME it was when the nation’s civil service could boast of the finest traditions of service. Not anymore. It is a shadow of its old self today. As an institution, it is now largely enmeshed, rather ashamedly, in a cesspool of corruption, incompetence, nepotism, and all the similar negatives adjectives you could get. Ever heard the sobriquet ‘Evil servants’? That is how far we have come!

It is very regrettable that while the more serious nations of the world are busy entrenching dynamic institutions that would advance national interests, our leaders seem to have perpetually chosen the pathway to mediocrity in nationbuilding.

Globally, the civil service as a fundamental institution of government provides the solid foundation upon which societal yearnings, aspirations, dreams and vision are realised. It is that statutory enclave volunteered by the people to coordinate the day-to-day running of the people’s commonwealth.

Unlike the political class whose operation and place in government is tenured, the civil service enjoys the rare thrust of permanence that enables it provide administrative stability.

Hence, the progress of nations is tied to the operations of the institution of the civil service. It should not be surprising that many of the leading nations and economies of the world have some of their brightest brains retained in the civil service with work ethics that naturally wire them to truly serve the people.

It is, indeed, worrisome that in this era of vaunted ‘change’, the civil service is still a loose, uninspired institution in need of urgent reform. For without this, it cannot provide the requisite intellectual and moral base upon which the evolving dream of a greater nation can be built. But do those in authority realise the centrality of an urgent revolutionary reform in the civil service?

Nigeria is what it is today because of the active connivance of the civil servants and the often clueless political class to rape the commonwealth of the state. Anyone familiar with the bureaucracy of the civil service would know that it is absolutely impossible to consistently thrive in plundering the

nation without some civil servants actively showing the way!

As it has been severally argued, the incursion of the military regime in Nigeria meted a great damage to the patriotic spirit the Nigerian civil service was known for.

However, one could also safely argue that the return to civil rule in Nigeria since 1999 has not in an anyway left the civil service better. It has even left it worse, I would submit – so much that the service today has become most unattractive to some of our brightest brains, as it was decades earlier. As a matter of fact, the reason many citizens associate with many agencies and ministries of government today is that they are one bunch of necessary evil. To carry out even the most minor transactions in some offices without greasing the palms of attendants, is almost unthinkable. Bribery has become a lifestyle in many offices supposedly established to serve the interests of the public. You don’t need to be told that the rest of the world has since left us to our own ways in a wholly digitally-driven knowledge economy!

The estimation of civil servants by the political class is rather unfortunate. For them, the civil service is only a tool for political advantage during elections and thereafter. In many instances, civil servants are used by unscrupulous politicians to advance their flawed interests. Of course, they also serve as compasses when it is necessary to steal and also cleverly cover the tracks.

In many states of the federation, and even at the federal level, it is disheartening to note that merit has given way to ‘man-know-manism.’ What you get in the system is no longer what you deserve, but how well positioned and aligned with the political party in power. Promotion, in many instances, is now a herculean task that only the ‘connected’ can pull.

The non-partisan code is only a reality on the pages of paper and without relevance in practice. For those at the federal level, your ethnicity, not your competence and track record is a determining factor, at least not with the federal character doctrine.

The age-long saying that a labourer deserves his reward no longer holds true in our case. And that is why workers are owed several months of salary in many states. The economic recession has only worsened things.

The result is that the defining attribute of service for the good of the nation is now being jettisoned by many a civil servant. They seem to have discovered that it does not make much sense, after all, serving the nation when it consistently fails to meet one’s needs. You should not be surprised to know that several civil servants today are ‘proud’ saboteurs of government programmes and activities.

In many of the states where salaries are not paid, people hardly go to work regularly, knowing their salaries will not be paid anyway, or at least, not any time soon. And when the salaries are eventually paid, as the labour unions consistently demand, even when no work is done, the country is the biggest loser. But really, which society actually progresses this way when money is paid for the work not done? Where is the dignity of labour in this? What we seem to be entrenching by the day is the culture of waste, impunity and laziness.

I am convinced that it is high time we all demanded for the complete overhaul and restructuring of the nation’s civil service in its entirety. A state of emergency on this must be declared forthwith. Any reform embarked upon by the government at this point that leaves the operation of the civil service out is only a charade.

•Babatunde wrote in from Osogbo.

Education isn’t cheap

By Akintokunbo Adejumo

THE decline in government funding of higher education, the economic downturn, the long decades of unforgivable neglect, along with rapidly rising costs of the different services and products that universities have to provide, have led to steady increases in students and parents outlays over the last two or three decades. There are no indications that costs will go down, neither are there signals that one day, university education will be free – as called for by many segments of the society.

According to some studies, the major cost drivers are academic and administrative salaries, the rise in the costs of municipal services, including electricity, water, the cost of powering laboratories, libraries and other teaching and learning amenities, and maintenance of infrastructure. The impact of rising costs has also been felt from the naira-dollar exchange rates on the cost of library holdings, as a result of most books and materials for libraries being bought from dollar-denominated countries.

In Nigeria and many other African countries, higher education is recognised as a public good and is, therefore, expectedly and understandably highly subsidised by the state.

However, increases in student fees have had adverse consequences on students’ ability to access higher education.

While Nigerians find higher education in the country expensive, the cost of university education is comparatively low compared with international institutions. Viewed in dollar terms and the falling naira value, Nigeria’s degrees will be perceived as much cheaper in comparison.

There is no doubt that universities are very expensive to run, especially in developing countries such as Nigeria. In most cases, close to 65 per cent of costs are associated with highly qualified and experienced staff, while a further major cost is the provision and maintenance of the university’s domain.

I grew up in the 60s and 70s. I went to four secondary schools in the old Western Nigeria, where the standard of

education was so high, no matter where the location of the school, urban or rural. I ended up with a good School leaving certificate result that enabled me to, and got an opportunity to go to the University of Ibadan, through passing the entrance “Preliminary” examination, thereby, bypassing the old Advanced Level certificate, where I got both an undergraduate degree, and many other unquantifiable skills, experience, abilities and most importantly, a very sophisticated outlook in life, dignity in labour and an expansive view of the world.

On the way, I received students’ loans, grants and state bursaries, and now, I can hardly say I was disenfranchised, but I used that freedom this great country gave me.

This now brings me to my initial lines of thought. I have always been one of those who criticise the high fees charged by private universities in Nigeria, especially the ones owned by the Pentecostal and other religious organisations. But another look at this convinced me they are not entirely wrong.

Most of the criticism directed at them had been that the members of the congregation, who actually funded the universities through tithes, contributions, Sunday collections, among others, are usually the ones who cannot afford to send their own children to these schools, supposedly owned by them. Another is that the heads of those churches are exploiting the congregation in the process, diverting funds to themselves.

While I agree with the evidences above, the fact remains that establishing and maintaining those universities were always not going to be cheap. When I attended university in Nigeria, there were only about six universities, all owned and 100 per cent funded by the Federal Government. These uni-

versities were established and built when Nigeria was still “good,” most of them immediately after independence and during the oil boom era; the people who established them were committed and sincere Nigerians; money was available and international cooperation and collaboration was easily sought and available, and Nigeria was not as corrupt and degenerate as we have now.

Then with the creation of more states in Nigeria, come the proliferation of state-owned universities, which, because of our innate political immaturity, often fall victim of discontinuity of government, even during the military tenures. A new governor comes in, jealous of his predecessor, and refuses to continue funding of the state-owned universities and other institutions.

So, when the Federal Government decided to liberalise the education sector, the churches and other religious organisations started their own venture into the education, or rather, tertiary education sector.

Ordinarily, this would have been greatly commendable. In fact, it is still commendable, as they are complementing the efforts of the Federal and state governments in the education sector; but, being Nigerians, their motives have not been entirely holistic or altruistic. It has been full of hypocrisy and self-promotion. However, as I mentioned above, I have now tended to be a bit sympathetic to their situation.

Establishing and maintaining an institution of higher learning (and in fact even primary and secondary schools) in Nigeria is not cheap, and is no mean task. Even the conditions they have to meet before they are granted the licence to establish are usually very daunting.

University education is not cheap, and these Pentecostal and other religious operators must be spared some criticism and flagellation. However, one would have suggested that the way out for them to avoid the scathing criticism that their own congregation are not able to afford sending their children to schools that were built with their money, is to give financial concessions to them in terms of reducing fees for members.

•Adejumo lives in the United Kingdom.

16

Thursday, 13 October, 2016

maka nd’igbo

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

Day AIFA moved reading culture crusade to Nsukka Jude Ossai - Enugu

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HE importance of reading cannot be over-emphasised.

Scholars have often stressed on the importance of reading because there is no way one can become a scholar without reading. Prominent people who have made it in life today

made it because they paid attention to reading and reading good books in and out of school walls.

Last Saturday, a Non- Governmnet al Organization (NGO) called AIFA moved its crusade of culture revival to the university town of Nsukka in Enugu State.

It was a day many people who attended the

occasion will not forget in a hurry largely because of its sweet memory.

During the epoch ceremony, six students and three teachers from Nsukka cutural zone were given awards for their outstanding performances in the reading world.

Speaking at the award ceremony held

at Adada House, Old GRA, Nsukka, Professor Pat Ngwu of the Department of Adult Education & Extra-Mural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, described AIFA as a society that aimed at social and personal growth through promoting and supporting the culture of reading. He said that AIFA Reading Society believed that good education encouraged reading because education is one of the most powerful tools in eradicating poverty and improving the living standards of people.

Ngwu, who delivered a keynote speech at the award ceremony entitled, "the importance of reading culture in the society," said that reading was one of man's ingenious discoveries or inventions, pointing out that reading was one skill that not only opened up several social spaces and opportunities for man from which he made choices but also prepared one for the future in a nearly perfect predictive trajectory.

The don urged students and pupils to read extensively because it would open vistas of opportunities for them, noting that the first thing taught in school was reading which would eventually enable one to write.

Describing reading as a cornerstone for a child's success in school and indeed throughout life, Ngwu encouraged reading which he said was the world's longest kept secret.

Yuletide: Anambra Erosion: Excitement as new map brings succour to Enugu communities CP, Okaula issued Red card Jude Ossai - Enugu to kidnappers Officials of AIFA at the crusade for reading culture.

PRIOR to the recent intervention by the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Agency Project (NEWMAP), the people of Nsude and Ajali communities near 9th Mile Corner, Enugu, were gripped with fear and agony following gully erosion that has eaten deep into the landscape of the area.

Today, the misery of the residents of the two communities over the natural calamity has turned into joy as they can now heave a sigh of relief courtesy of the Enugu State Government in conjunction with the World Bank assisted project (NEWMAP) whose efforts are yielding positive results.

Suzy Oruya - Onitsha

Erosion site at Ajalli Water Works.

Addressing newsmen shortly after inspecting the erosion prone areas at 9th Mile Corner and Nsude, the Project Co-

Hope rises for 2000 Enugu recruited teachers Jude Ossai - Enugu HOPE for reversal of the annulment of the recent recruitment of 2000 teachers by the Enugu State House of Assembly gets brighter as Commissioner for Education, Enugu State, Professor Uche Eze, on Tuesday, stoutly defended the recruitment exercise done by the State Universal Basic Education Board ( ENSUBEB).

In short, he said that although no process of that nature was error free, but in his estimation, the exercise had 70 per cent success and urged that the rest of the process be allowed to continue.

Professor Eze said that the exercise went well and that he supervised every process

of the recruitment.

It will be recalled that last month, the Enugu State House of Assembly resolved that the recruitment exercise aimed at employing about 2000 primary school teachers be nullified because irregularities were noticed during the recruitment exercise.

Sequel to the perceived irregularities, the House had invited the Chairman of ESUBEB, Chief Ikeje Asogwa to appear before it and when not satisfied with his explanation, went ahead to invite the commissioner of the supervising ministry, Ministry of Education, Professor Uche, to come and explain the role of his ministry during the exercise.

ordinator of NEWMAP, Enugu State, Mrs Agatha Lechukwu, recalled that 9th mile corner and Ajali Water Works Gully Erosion site were the first priority sites approved by Enugu State government for NEWMAP intervention, stressing that erosion posed severe threat to the pipeline and twin-tank reservoir supplying water to Enugu metropolis.

Mrs Lechukwu said that NEWMAP had taken control of erosion menace in the two communities, 9th Mile Corner and Ajali Water Works, adding that about 493 beneficiaries participated in 50 per cent of N20,000 000.00 disbursed for alternative livelihood of "Community Interest Groups" (CIGS).

According to her, efforts were being made to control the two major gullies at 9th Mile Corner and Ajali Water Works gully, pointing out that they had posed serious threats to people's residential, agricultural and commercial lands.

THE Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Sam Okaula, has appealed to sons and daughters of the state to prepare their coming back to enjoy their Christmas holiday freely as he has declared Anambra "no go area for criminals."

Okaula, who said this during his familiasation tour to Fegge Divisional Police station in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State, noted that he would not allow those who had decided to make life unbearable for innocent members of the state to have peace just as he advised criminals to relocate out of the state or face the wrath of law.

He vowed to deal with any of his officer or men, complying with the men of the underworld, saying that he ran an open policy.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Fegge Onitsha, SP Rabiu Garba, during his address, counted some of the achievements recorded since his assumption of office in February, 2015, saying that due to the heterogeneity of the community in fegge, it attracts all manners of social milieu with kidnapping and armed robbery being the order of the day.

Rabiu maintained that through proactive measures and control, extensive anti-crime patrols, intelligence gathering and surveillance duties, the area had been made relatively free from crime.

17

Thursday, 13 October, 2016 With Adewale Oshodi tribunearts@yahoo.com 08054005323

POEM Feast for the few

•A scene in the play

MAGI: Highlighting child abuse through drama

O

NE of the most popular ways of drawing public attention to an issue is through drama performances, and this is what members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Oyo State Drama Club did when they highlighted the issue of child abuse in the country during a stage performance recently.

The event, organised by the Mother and Girl-Child Protection Initiative (MAGI), a non-governmental organisation based in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was aimed at sensitising school girls and parents to the risk girls are exposed to everyday as they go about their normal lives.

The performance by the corps members focused on Chichi, an orphaned girl who was taken to her late parents’ relatives in Lagos. Instead of Chichi to be supported to acquire education, her new family turned her into a domestic help, and while other children of the house went to school, Chichi was at home doing domestic chores.

Several times, her uncle’s wife beat her whenever she failed to do any work, or whenever she became tired after working for long hours.

While Chichi’s case was going on, Deborah, who stayed with her mother, was also experiencing another form of child abuse, as she sold bread for her mother in a bid to earn a living for the family to survive on.

On several occasions, Deborah met men who made passes at her while hawking bread, and despite telling her mother about such concerns, she (the mother) waved her off, saying she should only be focused on selling her bread.

One day, Deborah’s fears became real when she was abducted and was repeatedly raped by a group of boys while hawking bread. However, when news got to her mother that her daughter had been raped, all

she was after was whether her bread had not been stolen by those who raped her daughter.

The play by the corps members highlighted the problem facing the society as far as child abuse is concerned, and the founder of MAGI, Alhaja Adijat Titilade Malik, in her opening remarks on the occasion, said the event was aimed at sensitising young school girls and parents on the dangers of child abuse, as well as how to go about preventing such.

Alhaja Malik commended its partnership with several female professional organisations like the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA), among other organisations in their collaboration towards ending violence against women and the girl-child.

The founder of the organisation, thereafter, highlighted her success stories in her efforts towards empowering the womenfolk in the country.

Also in her remarks on the occasion, Chief (Mrs) Folake Solake (SAN) cited several sections of the Nigerian constitution where it is against the law to abuse the girl-child, or be violent against women.

Chief Solanke, who was the chairperson at the event, then commended MAGI for the good work it is doing by protecting the womenfolk, and particularly, the girl-child.

One of the speakers on the occasion, Mrs Funso Adegbola, explained that child abuse is an art that is detrimental to the welfare of the child, stating that the rights of children are also human rights.

Mrs Adegbola said one of the basic rights of a child is access to education, “and an educated child is hard to enslave.

“We must ensure that our children get education, especially at a time when over 10 million Nigerian children are out of school.

“We must also continue to work against

those practices that degrade our female children, like female genital mutilation, sexual abuse, child marriage, exposure to harm through hawking, among others,” Mrs Adegbola said.

At the end of the event, stakeholders in the area of protection of the girl-child charged the Federal and state governments to strengthen social welfare in the country, as well as the security agencies so that the rights of the girlchild can be protected at all times.

There is a feast In that greedy mansion Costly meal worth of which Could cure this sickly economy Plenteous meal enough for the masses Sorry, it is feast for the few.

There is a feast In that greedy mansion Blessed feast for sacred lords Fewer lords making mad rush At mountainous cake like Monkeys rushing at free bananas Lord, will you watch them finish this cake?

Mountainous cake for many generations Now bulldozed by very few lords.

There is always a feast In that greedy mansion Royal feast causing strife Physical strife, spiritual strife Killer feast, cankerworm to this economy Lord, won’t you stop this wasteful feast?

Sumptuous feast biting the famished masses Like the fangs of ants Shocking feast only for the few Leaving uncountable masses to salivate To grope for avenger of damage Done them in that brutal, greedy mansion But my people, will you watch them Raze this mountainous cake?

—Emmanuel Ikuoye, Lagos.

Africa Book Club suspends monthly short story competition THE Africa Book Club has suspended its short story competition for lack of sponsors.

While the competition was on, it recognised stories set in, or about Africa by writers across the continent and in the Diaspora.

The club’s goal for this competition, which was in line with its mission, is to promote African literature and increase knowledge of Africa through supporting creative writing.

For writers, the platform was an opportunity to showcase their works and be discovered.

Most of the accepted works celebrated Africa’s diversity and rich story telling traditions, which reflected life on the continent, to childhood memoirs and travel stories.

Every month, winners got $100 prize money. In addition to the monthly winner’s prize, there were also three runners-up prizes of $25 each.

However, writers will have to wait for the club to find sponsors for the short story competition, with one writer describing the development as a set-back for African literature.

According to Deji Salam, such competitions help in promoting African literature, as well as projecting the works of African writers.

“I hope a sponsor can be found as soon as possible, so that literature can continue to thrive on the continent,” Salam said.

African pottery festival returns to Cote D’Ivoire

THE biennial African pottery festival will return to Cote D’Ivoire in 2018, according to one of the organisers of the festival, Hamadou Sankey.

The festival, which is popular among West African potters, had been hosted for the past two editions in Burkina Faso, but the 2018 edition will be going back to Cote D’Ivoire, the country that first hosted the festival when it opened in 2000.

“It is expected that the festival will continue to provide potters with the opportunity to showcase their creativity,” Sankey said.

18

arts&review

Thursday, 13 October, 2016

Book Review: Comparing Kabana Republic and Nigeria

By Edmund Obilo THE novel “Kabana Republic: The Land of Hurricane” is the story of a land in conflict with itself. It is the story of a land of want and despondency, suffering from myriads of under-development fundamentals that made it prostrate.

The story revolves around a young man called Oladiti Adeoyor, mainly addressed as Ladi in the novel. The life of Ladi is an expression of the seemingly hopeful future that awaits a hard working indigent student.

Boldly walking into a future he saw as an undergraduate, Ladi is confronted with the reality of a society that eats its future with the brazen actions of the past and present.

The author narrates in clear, simple and sober language the agony Ladi goes through in getting university education. From a poor home, he shrugged-off the inadequacies that ordinarily would have discouraged him from continuing his university education. With a strong will and the assistance of friends and relations, he is able to surmount the huddles on his educational path.

Another phase in the life of Ladi, starts when he is posted to Achara for the compulsory national service known as NYSS in the novel. At the NYSS camp, he again experiences the selfish disposition of a state in her dealings with her citizens. The meals served are poor. The author suggested that the officials of NYSS must have short changed the graduates by expropriating some of the amount meant for feeding. Ladi experience firsthand the stratification, which allows some to get favour at the expense of others.

Favour is dispensed to those who have connections and money, while the helpless are expected to accept their condition without complaint. Complaining attracts severe consequences in the camp and Ladi is not prepared to confront the system.

The young Ladi is eventually posted to teach in a village school where he performs meritoriously and is given the state meritorious award at passing out. For such a hard worker, what is left was for the Kabanian state is to provide him the succour needed

for better life, but this is not to be. On returning home from his youth service, he is plunged into the labour market. He is underemployed and poorly paid, while struggling with life. His consolation is pain and anguish.

He later turns to politics and is schemed out and left in the cold. In his frustration with Kabana, he and others pick up arms against the state.

They are militants, but they are also revolutionaries. On that fateful day, they storm Tarka Hill, the official residence of the Governor-General of the country and kidnap him, causing a state of emergency in the process.

This is their own way of saying enough is enough to the negligence, arbitrariness, deceit and corruption of the political class.

Of course, the state swings into action to rescue the Governor-General. Ladi and his men are later sold out by one of their own; they are then brought before the law. Charged for treasonable felony, death is the penalty, but by a stroke of faith, the unexpected happens. The conflict and its resolution happen almost instantaneously. It is sharp, perhaps the author was very impatient and wanted to end the novel after a strenuous period of writing.

The point is that providence may have intervened to save Ladi and his men. The kidnapped Governor- General, shows magnanimity by pardoning Ladi and others, blaming the state for causing the condition that allows young men to take up arms against the state. For this failing, the Governor-General, Sir Godfrey Idolor, resigns as the leader of Kabana, but not without insisting on the younger generation taking power

RUN students set BOJA theatre ablaze with Crossroads

By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare ACTIVITIES for the eighth convocation of the Redeemer’s University got a new lease when the convocation play entitled, “The Crossroads” hit the stage of the BOJA Arts Theatre within the school premises. It was, indeed, a night of glamour as the cast and crew held the audience spell bound through the 30 minutes duration that the play lasted.

There was no divided attention as “The Crossroads,” written by Eunice UwadinmaIdemudia, and directed by an accomplished artiste and lecturer in the department of Theatre Arts at the university, Susan Bukky Badeji, took a lifelike quality on stage.

The audience, made up of the Vice-chancellor, his wife and other principal officials, invited university guests, staff, parents, graduating students and undergraduate students of the university, had a memorable dramatic experience.

The costumes, delivery, lightning and all effects gave the stage performance a screen- like feeling, and the cast exhibited professionalism that reflected that they were trained by the best available. Indeed, professionals present lauded the department for putting up a production of international standards.

The cast of the play, who were students of the Theatre Arts department, include Adebowale Adedayo, Miracle a. Ebieri, Kemi Ademilua, Anuoluwapo Osinubi, Naomi Emu, Onome Alade, Minka Okim, John Madueke, Kayode Salawu, Tomi Atilola, Ella Ogundipe, Ebunoluwa Idowu, Adeboye Osuntunji, Imoje afeisume, Emmanuel Merit Onuama, Favour Abon, juwon Oloruntoba, Samuel Oladipo and Uche Ebuka.

Susan Bukky Badeji, the Artistic Director, led an accomplished crew consisting of Kunle Abogunloko, Damilola Babarinde, john Iwuh Eunice Uwadinma Idemudia, Peter Bello, Juwon Oloruntoba, Anjola Ad-

eniji and Daniel Oladipo, as well as a number of accomplished orchestra voices under the supervision of the Head of Theatre Arts department, Prof. Ahmed Yerima.

The story is hinged on the life of a ‘born again’ graduate of the Redeemer’s University, Grace, who on completion of her youth service, found herself at a crossroad of life amidst many choices. Unknown to her, her mother had promised her hand in marriage to Chief Osondu, her late father’s wealthy friend.

Soon, they all found themselves caught in

a web of intrigue, rivalry, secrets and envy, a situation that was made worse by Grace’s arch rival, Chinyere, and her clandestine plots, while the sudden appearance of another dramatic character, Nnemeka, added to the already tense situation.

“The Crossroads” was filled with humour, suspense and melody; gripping the audience in its web from beginning to end. It, indeed, showcased the talent of the students as accomplished theatre practitioners that have benefitted so much under the tutelage of some of the best hands in the industry.

to fix the rot created by politicians like him.

This period of hope sees Ladi becoming the Deputy Governor-General after the former deputy is elevated to the position of Governor-General. The sweet way the story ends is what really makes the novel fictional.

In “Kabana Republic: The land of Hurricane,” life is brutish and rusty. Poverty works on four legs. The police is a tool of oppression, and corruption is the name of the game. Kabana Republic lacks adequate infrastructure.

Its roads are in a terrible state. Its hospitals are valleys of death. The land is infected with criminal activities with its politicians having unpardonable criminal disposition. It’s a land of law breakers. There is no justice in Kabana Republic. There are no opportunities in the land. No adequate electricity. Kabana Republic is truly a land of hurricane.

Kabana Republic is the story of Nigeria.

Though the author, Marufh Bello, was subtle in identifying Nigeria as the place under review, he was hard in describing the elements that define the sucking Nigerian state. Though he disguised NYSC as NYSS, we know what he meant. Erekusu in the novel, to me is Lagos, I don’t know what the author thinks.

This work, though fictional, can be described as an “essayic” form of writing a story.

The cases are obvious day-to-day occurrences. The issues addressed made me oscillate around reading a newspaper feature article and reading a fictional story. I got worried by the long monologue of Ladi’s lamentation, sometimes spanning over fifteen pages.

From page 107-125, Ladi talked to himself.

This, to me, was too long and made it seem as if I was reading an article. This is a style on its own, which the author can improve on in subsequent works.

Ladi, found love during his service year, but the author chose to ignore this captivating side of the novel to my detriment. I expected more of this aspect to serve as comfort and relief for the tragedy that Kabana represents.

I am not happy with the way the author handled the love story of Dooshima and Ladi.

The author tickled and abandoned me.

I also noticed that the author was not proficient in the Igbo language. About 100 pages of the story of 167 pages happened in Igbo land of Kabana Republic. The first Igbo word was used on page 65 for what you can call an Igbo land story.

Clearly, the author has a mastery of the Yoruba language. This shows in its usage whenever Ladi came home. This is connected to the author’s background — being a Yoruba man. I suggest that in subsequent works, the author should consult widely with the people of the areas of focus in his writings. That is not to say that attempts were not made to use the Igbo language, but it came late in the novel. This is one of the challenges writers encounter especially when writing on cultures they are not too conversant with. As a journalist, I have observed such limitations in my works.

The use of Latin and poems in the work is commendable. They were like interventions that circulate the cool breeze of beauty. The reason the work can also be described as a poetic piece, expressing cultural relevance as in the Oriki rendered by the mother of Ladi.

The work is simple to read; it is fluid and thought-provoking. It is the lamentation of Ladi and the consciousness to evolve radical changes in a moribund state.

Therefore, “Kabana Republic: The Land of Hurricane,” is an addition to Nigeria’s collection of revolutionary literature; powerful in its message and subsequent in its effect. In the book is the stone against oppression. The author was only being magnanimous by not naming the book “Nigeria: The Land of Hurricane.”

•Obilo, a broadcast journalist, is based in Ibadan.

19

Thursday, 13 October, 2016

education

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

Poor performance: Niger gov threatens to stop paying students’ fees

•Says state owing WAEC, NECO N500m Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

G

O V E R N O R Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has disclosed that

his administration is still owing both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) the sum of N500

million, being examinations fees for the 2015/2016 final year students in the state’s public secondary schools.

As a result, he said his administration might have to

review its earlier policy on the payment of final year Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination fees for final year students in the state’s public secondary

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu (right) in a handshake with the Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, Major-General M. T. Liman, at then ND’s convocation lecture, where a multi-purpose hall was named after him, recently.

We have trained over 700,000 teachers— NTI Muhammad Sabiu, Kaduna DIRECTOR-GENERAL and Chief Executive of the National Teachers Institute (NTI), Professor Garba Dahuwa Azare, says the institute has trained over 700,000 teachers in the country since its inception.

He made this known on

Tuesday in Kaduna during the flag-off of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) Monitoring and Evaluation of NTI programmes at the NorthWest in Kaduna.

Professor Azare said the institute had over the years emphasized on how to improve on both the quality of

teacher education as well as students’ learning.

He said the monitoring and evaluation embarked upon by the NCCE to assess its programmes on Distance Learning was a welcome development that would end the insinuation about the credibility of the certificates issued by the NTI.

NDA names auditorium after INEC boss Muhammed Sabiu- Kaduna NIGERIA Defence Academy (NDA) has named its multipurpose auditorium after the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Yakubu Mahmood.

The Commandant of the academy, Major-General, M. T. Liman, stated this during the unveiling ceremony recently held at the NDA’s permanent site in Kaduna.

According to him, the management of NDA decided to name its multipurpose auditorium after Professor Yakubu for his contribution while he was a lecturer.

General Liman said the INEC boss, who was a lecturer in the academy, rose to become its provost, and proposed N10 million as against

the N160 million proposed by others for the establishment of the school.

Responding, Professor Yakubu thanked the academy for the honour done to him, saying, “I was the acting provost of NDA during the time of General Alex Akale. Then, the minister and chairman of NDA governing board came; and during our meeting, asked ‘why is it that NDA, unlike other universities, doesn’t give honorary doctoral degrees?’

“General Akale looked at me and said, ‘Professor Yakubu, any reply?’ So, I said ‘sir, in NDA, we don’t give what we don’t have. We don’t have a postgraduate school; so, we cannot give honorary doctorates’.

“Few weeks later, the minister asked me to come and

look at the proposal for the NDA postgraduate school. I got there and saw a proposal of N160 million. The minster said it was beautiful, but there was no money. So, I quickly told him, with maximum of N10 million, we can start a postgraduate school.

“Other professors who submitted proposals were looking at me that, look at this NDA-made professor proposing N10 million for a postgraduate school. The Commandant too did not believe me.

But I told him that postgraduate school does not have to be very big. Once you admit students, they will go to their various departments.

“That was how we started it during the 40th anniversary of the academy in 2004. Today, the NDA Postgraduate School is one of the best in the country.”

Azare further affirmed that even before the exercise, it had its own mechanisms it put in place to ensure the survival of the distance learning programme as a matter of priority.

Such mechanisms, he said, include the screening of students’ credentials, issuance of course books to registered students, conduct of preteaching practice seminars and micro-teaching before teaching practice, among others.

In his own remarks, the Executive Secretary of the NCCE, Professor Bappah Aliyu Muhammad, said the commission was charged with the responsibility of regulating and supervising teacher education at the sub-degree level in Nigeria.

“It is against this background that the NCCE is carrying out the exercise in all NCE- awarding institutions with the view to finding out how they are keeping faith with the implementation of policies and programmes.

He dispelled the insinuation that the exercise was a form of witch-hunt, saying the template for the exercise is very transparent and easy to understand.

schools owing to their poor performances ‎in recent times.

The governor made the statements during an unscheduled inspection tour of ongoing renovation works at the Hon. Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi Science Secondary School, Kutigi, in Lavun Local Government of the state.

Governor Bello stated that the total commitment of his administration towards the payment for final year public examinations conducted by both WAEC and NECO in the state’s public secondary schools in the last academic session was N800 million.

He said the state government has so far paid about N300 million to both WAEC and NECO out of the total sum, and had held meetings with the two public examination bodies with a view to rescheduling the remaining outstanding debt of N500 million so that the affected students could access their results.

“The government needs to review the policy because as it stands now, majority of the students are not coming out with good results at the end of their final year examinations,” he said.

Instead of continuing to pay such huge sums of

money, he said the money could be channeled towards renovation of schools, provision of learning materials and laboratory equipment, building of world standard classrooms, as well as making the teachers’ quarters habitable.

“We must review the policy, because at the moment, we are still owing WAEC and NECO almost N500 million for paying for students that cannot have up to five credits in their final year exams.

“Basically we are throwing away money; we should rather stop the payment of the final year examinations fees and invest the money in schools facilities, so that with time, we will get a return on our investments in the education sector in terms of improved students’ performance academically and conducive teaching environment for their teachers,” he said.

Tribune Education learnt that the Science Secondary School in Kutigi is among the six schools picked by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in the state to be turned to a Model School.

Two other secondary schools were also taken each from the three senatorial districts of the state.

JAFAS condemns stoppage of subventions to Oyo tertiary institutions

By Modupe George THE Joint Action Forum of Tertiary Institutions (JAFAS) in Oyo State has condemned the decision of the Oyo State government to stop all forms of subventions to state-owned tertiary institutions.

This was contained in a communique issued and co-signed by chairmen and secretaries of the concerned institutions at the end of the meeting held at Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, on Sunday, 9 October, 2016.

At the meeting, having carefully deliberated on the pros and cons of the decision, JAFAS members resolved that “the position of the government on the stoppage of the subventions to tertiary institution is unacceptable

and that the status quo ante be maintained.”

The communique stated further that “the state House of Assembly should consider the negative implications of the decision of the executives with particular reference to the laws establishing these institutions and the approved and signed Appropriation Bill for 2016 fiscal year.”

The document also stated “that members of the public should be aware that this ‘commodification’ of education as being proposed by the Oyo State government is the surest way of producing an army of illiterates, who are surely going to be thrown out of school as a result of their parents’ inability to pay school fees, which could be as high as N350,000 per student in a session.”

education FUNAI, French govt sign MoU on joint postgraduate scholarship 20

Clement Nnachi - Abakaliki

A

UTHORITIES of the Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo in Ebonyi State and the government of France have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on joint scholarship programme for postgraduate studies.

The vice chancellor of the university, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba, made the disclosure at the weekend while addressing ‘young academics’ of the institution on the need to take advantage of the partnership to obtain their master and doctoral degrees in acclaimed

Thursday, 13 October, 2016

French universities.

“True academics are only those who are irrevocably committed to productiondriven research geared towards providing solutions to many challenges facing society,” he reiterated.

He explained that the ‘FUNAI/FRANCO Joint Scholarship Partnership programme’ is an opportunity for every academic

in the university to gain international exposure in the area of their research interest, adding that learning French language in the process would also make them bilingual, which would be an added advantage in the present globalized economy.

Professor Nwajiuba stressed that for FUNAI to actualise its vision of

world-class status, academics should strive to be proficient and master a second language like French, German and Chinese, which he said would make them access research grants for their doctoral, post-doctoral and fellowship programmes from different universities around the world.

Earlier in his contribu-

tion, the French ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys Gauer, noted that Nigeria and France have had a long and fruitful history of partnerships, and pledged to continue promoting the bilateral ties through their embassy and other agencies in the country.

“Having taken a cursory look at the vision and academic activities of the uni-

‘Teachers, special people in world’

By Pelumi Fadairo

Colleges’ PROs laud FG’s 3-year strategic plan THE Committee of Public Relations Officers of Colleges of Education (COPRECOE) has applauded the new three-year education strategic plan recently presented by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, calling on all relevant authorities in the sector to key into it towards achieving quality teacher education in Nigeria.

This was part of a communiqué issued at the end of the committee’s 20th Annual General Meeting held in Abuja between 26 and 29 September, 2016.

The event was themed ‘The Role of Public Relations Executives in Curbing Corruption in Colleges of Education in Nigeria’.

It also congratulated the new Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Professor Bappah Aliyu Mohammadu, on his appointment, and expressed confidence in his ability to propel NCCE and, indeed, teacher education to greater heights.

In the communiqué signed by the national chairman of the committee, Mr Bola Adesina, COPRECOE also acknowledged the support of all provosts of colleges of education towards the success of its programmes, but appealed to those that had been preventing their PROs from attending the annual general meetings to sponsor their officials to subsequent editions.

It also appealed to the federal government to quickly find a solution to the current economic recession in the country to salvage the nation’s economy from total collapse.

versity under the leadership of Professor Nwajiuba, the French government has agreed to collaborate with the Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo in training its young academics to acquire their master and doctoral degrees in French universities.”

Retail Sales Manager, Airtel Nigeria, Adebisi Femi-Oderinde; pupils from Chrisland School, Lagos, Obi Princess and ChimunsoIsebo; and Miss Bunmi Oshinowo, teacher, Chrisland School, during the educational visit of Chrisland School to Airtel Expo Centre, Lagos, last Wednesday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Stakeholders highlight benefits of ICT to academia

By Rita Okonoboh THE General Chair, Application of ICT to Teaching, Research and Administration (AICCTRA), Dr Ayodeji Oluwatope, has highlighted the benefits of ICT to education, stating that the organisation, in the past ten years had been able to bring to bear the interaction between the academia and the ICT industry.

He stated this at the 10th AICTTRA International Conference on ICT Applications, a three-day event which held from Tuesday, October 4th till Thursday, October 6th, 2016 at the Centre of Excellence in Software Engineering, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State, with the theme, “Towards National Security and Development – The ICT Perspective,” and featured experts and delegates from across the country, who had plenary discussions on security challenges and ICT as the solution and tool for educational and national development.

“We have been able to establish the fact that we can encourage and motivate colleagues to showcase their research output in the area of ICT in the last 10 years. We picked the theme because security is a major issue in

the country at the moment, in terms of physical, health, job security, food security, among others. So, we want to look at the aspect of using ICT to address security challenges and to engender national development,” Oluwatope stated.

The keynote speaker, the Director, Information Technology and Media Services, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr Oluwaseyitanfunmi Osunade, in his view on how ICT has reshaped

Nigeria, noted that “the first thing is to get knowledge and that has been consistent with AICTTRA over the past ten years, which is quite commendable. They have been able to focus on application within the teaching and learning environment where most academics are. However, there are challenges affecting the development of ICT but with time, these things will change.”

On his take on how gov-

ernment can use ICT to tackle security challenges, Dr Osunade recommended “unique identification for each person. For instance, in other countries, when you want to open a bank account, all you need is a government-issued identity card.

In Nigeria, it’s a different ball game. However, once you’re able to uniquely identify a person, it is easy to trace criminals and that will solve a lot of problems as regards security challenges.”

Tackle rot in education sector, Ondo ASUSS urges govt Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure TEACHERS in Ondo State have called government at all levels to tackle the rot and decadence bedeviling Nigeria’s education sector.

The call was made through the Ondo State chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Mr Dayo Adebiyi, during the celebration of the World Teachers Day and the foundation laying ceremony of the union’s secretariat in Igbatoro Road, Akure, the state capital.

Speaking on the theme ‘Valuing Teacher, Increasing His Status’, Adebiyi said it (theme) served as a challenge to leaders of

thought and world political and economic leaders.

“The theme of this year’s celebration is very well and carefully selected because of the complexity of the status of teaching and its nuances to people in different climes and cultures.

“In most developed countries of the world, teaching is regarded as a noble profession; treated and held with high regard.

In these areas, education occupies a pride of place and teaching profession belongs to the highest echelon of the societal strata,” he noted.

He, however, called for the upgrade of the teaching profession, saying that the minimum entry re-

quirement into the education courses in the nation’s higher institutions should be reviewed upward.

“Apart from the minimum academic requirement from institutions of higher learning, professional registration and certification should also be made mandatory before anyone could be employed to undertake teaching job in any school or institution in the country.

He also advocated that the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) should be repositioned and strengthened in order to achieve the goals it was set up to achieve, rather than being a ‘toothless bull dog’,” he said further.

THE proprietress of Laurella International Group of Schools, Mrs Wuraola Ajibola Ogunmefun has described teachers all over the world as special people, who contribute to the growth of others and help them become champions.

She stated this last week at a special programme organised in honour of the teachers of the school to mark the 2016 Teachers Day. At the event, teachers of the schools, both from the primary and the secondary arms celebrated the day in unique way as they took the place of students, while the pupils\students acted as teachers, presiding over the school’s activities for the day.

Explaining why teachers should be specially celebrated on the day in the school, Mrs Ogunmefun said teachers are meant to be honoured and appreciated at every opportunity because they go out of their ways to mould lives, thereby building the nations stressing also that, ‘teaching is beyond the four walls of a classroom.’

‘I am a mother and a teacher, so, I feel the pains every teacher and at the same time carry the thoughts of always seeing them joyous at heart. I really love to see them happy.

So, today is their day, their efforts should be celebrated and recognised, “she noted.

She appreciated the Federal Government for setting a day aside for teachers to be celebrated in the country, noting that “bankers don’t have special day, neither do organisations set any day aside to celebrate their workers. But teachers are not ordinary people, we are unique.

The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Tinuke Dadeowo, in her remarks appreciated the school proprietress, saying “having an understanding boss is the best thing in the teaching profession’ as she wished all the teachers in the school “Happy Teachers Day” and prayed that God would continue to crown their efforts with success.

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Thursday, 13 October, 2016

‘It’s more difficult to earn a degree through ODL’ Professor Victor Akin Adisa is the Director, Ibadan Study Centre, National Open University of Nigeria.

In this interview with MODUPE GEORGE, he spoke about the activities of NOUN, uniqueness of the Open and Distance Learning as well as its shortcomings. Excerpts:

sion that the conventional university could and would not be able to cope and admit qualified candidates and therefore, came up with the idea of how to be able to increase access to quality education. This was how the idea of Open University came about. It first came up sometimes in 1982\83 during the regime of President Shehu Shagari, but when President Obasanjo came on board, it was resuscitated and that was when it was re-christened National Open University of Nigeria. The word ‘open’ means the door of the university is opened; admissions are now flexible; you don‘t have to lobby or know anyone, and the day you apply is the day you get your letter of admission. There is no way the conventional universities can cope with huge population of qualified students in the country.

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HAT is the rationale behind the new i-NOUN idea?

Actually the platform is already in existence; it’s also known as iLearning. There is a portal through which students interact with their facilitators.

NOUN does not engage the services of lecturers. It is an Open and Distance Learning institution, where the learner is physically separated from the lecturer. Here, we do not talk about space, lecture theatre or classroom, but facilitation. You can read on your own, but you have to flesh up what you have read from another source or expert.

In other words, the facilitators and the assistants gather students into study groups; he doesn’t lecture them. What he does is to discuss certain grey areas in their studies that may be difficult for them. We call it facilitation.

Isn’t this system of learning complex?

We have what we call course materials, which the university makes available to students, and they are in form of hard or soft copies. Students can also go to our website to download the course materials; but even if you are a genius, you may still find some grey areas such as Mathematics, Logics, Physics, Computer and so on where you need assistance. This is where the facilitators come in.

How would you grade the effectiveness of your website in line with this mode of learning?

It’s just because of the level of infrastructural development in Nigeria. For instance, I have an uncle, who visited his daughter in US and his daughter told him and said: “Daddy, please, I want to go to class and I will be back

Professor Adisa in three hours’ time.” So, he waited in the sitting room, but he noticed his daughter did not leave the house. After three hours, she came to him and said: “Daddy, I’m through with my interaction. Then, the father said: “You didn’t leave the house; how come you told me you were going to class?” She said: “I did everything in my room. I interacted with my lecturer through video conferencing.”

That is the ultimate where the infrastructure is adequate, internet doesn’t fail and the broadband is excellent. But I must admit that we are not yet there.

Is Nigeria ready for this mold of education?

If we say we are not ready, the question is ‘when are we going to be ready’? We have to start somewhere. When the history of education is written in Nigeria, the name of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s will be written in gold. He was the one who prompted the idea of Open University and he said he did not care whether we have infrastructure

or material or not. He said just go and admit students for the next two years. There was really no foundation, but if the university didn’t start that time, I’m sure it would have taken another 10 to 20 years to start it.

Compared to the conventional mode of learning, don’t you think ODL has lots of disadvantages?

A good product does not need much advertisement; and that is what we inculcate into our students. The basic truth is that, it is more difficult to earn a degree through the ODL. If you don’t create enough time to read your course materials, there is no way you will pass.

With the influx of young people into the university, don’t you think the aim has been defeated?

The university is actually established for the working class, and that is why our motto is ‘Work and Learn’; but the 1977 National Policy on Education, came to the conclu-

How do you sift the bad from the good and inculcate discipline?

Basically, that is why we have study centres. We have some (candidates) who are really bad, and some have been expelled. We have a programme called ‘Orientation,’ and it is compulsory for all new intakes. We also have students’ fora, where we meet them twice or three times in a semester. Another thing is that we try to be role models. Basically, the policy at this study centre is that no matter who you are, if you are not properly dressed you would not be allowed to sit for examinations.

What is the management doing about the continued fight on the discrimination of graduates of NOUN by National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Nigerian Law School?

The agitation from our students and the university that our students should be mobilised for NYSC is an issue that is ongoing; it has not been effected. Meanwhile, our students are issued exclusion letters, not exemption letters, for employment purposes.

It is not discrimination per se from NYSC. The issue has to do with perception on whether our programmes are run on parttime basis. Our own programmes are not part-time. If they were (part-time), the NUC would not accredit our programmes. As I speak, all our programmes are accredited, except Law, where we have issues with the Council of Legal Education.

College, academic staff bicker over union membership

By Laolu Harolds FOR the past two months, members of the academic staff of the College of Agriculture, Moore Plantation, Ibadan, Oyo State, have continued to shun classes over what they term “illegal suspension” of four of their colleagues.

Four lecturers of the college: Mr Olufemi Jokanola, the chairman of the local branch of the Academic Staff of Polytechnics; Mr Eyitayo Oluade, the secretary; Mr Awogbade Aderemi, auditor; and Mrs Adenike Adekunle, the Public Relations Officer, were suspended indefinitely, without pay, on August 15, 2016 for alleged gross misconduct.

They were suspended, Tribune Education gathered, for acting as officials of and on behalf of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), a union the management of the college has refused to recognise.

The aggrieved lecturers and their other colleagues see this as repression on the part of the authorities, insisting that they have a right to choose which union they want to belong to.

Tribune Education recalls that the development sparked off a peaceful protest early August by students and lecturers in the college. That crisis has remained unresolved, as majority of lecturers in the college have refused to return to class, insisting that the school management must lift the suspension.

There have also been accusations and counter-accusations by the lecturers and the school management.

Mr Jokanola and Mr Femi Olaoye (treasurer) had told Tribune Education in separate interviews that they were being victimised for opting to join ASUP, against management’s wish for them to belong to the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutes (ASURI).

They also accused the provost, Dr. Babajide Adelekan, of frustrating their members through arbitrary issuance of queries, denial of promotion and other acts of repression.

A case is currently pending at the Industrial Court, Tribune Education gathered, where the lecturers are attempting to assert their right of association, and the next hearing comes up in December.

The four lecturers suspended, they said, were singled out for punishment because they were the ones who signed the court papers in their capacities as ASUP executives.

But the Provost of the college, who spoke with Tribune Education last week in company with the registrar, Mr Abimbade Abass, insisted that the lecturers indeed violated the rules governing the institution, and that the system had to move against them.

A letter dated August 13, 2016, addressed to provosts of colleges of agriculture and signed by one Mr Edeki John Enesi (an Assistant Director) on behalf of the executive secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), clearly disapproves the colleges’ staff from associating with ASUP. Part of the letter (which apparently was in response to an earlier correspondence from the college on the issue) reads: “The freedom to associate means associating with the right union; and in this case, Academic Staff Union of Research Institutes (ASURI).

“Consequently, associating with the

Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics is not approved and not allowed to operate in the Federal Colleges of Agriculture nationwide.”

Still, an earlier letter from ARCN dated May 15, 2015 to provosts of colleges of agriculture, signed by one S. I. Galadanci (a deputy director) made available to Tribune Education also stated clearly that members of staff in all colleges under the purview of the ARCN are bound by the conditions and scheme of service of Federal Research Institutes, Colleges of Agriculture and Allied Institutions.”

Dr Adelekan told Tribune Education that despite making these official positions known to the aggrieved lecturers (who he insisted constitute only about half of the academic staff) have constituted a law to themselves, holding meetings, disrupting lectures and disrespecting constituted authorities.

He said that these warring lecturers once insulted members of a disciplinary panel (including a former provost of the college) set up to hear their case; have continued to hold meetings on the platform of ASUP, in flagrant disobedience to ARCN’s orders not to belong to the union.

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Thursday, 13 October, 2016

Chevron spends N6bn on scholarship in 10 years Ebenezer Adurokiya Warri

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whopping N6 billion has been spent on scholarship awards in 10 years, oil and giant, Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL) has disclosed.

No fewer than 15,000 students, the company added, have benefited from its educational support programmes across the country.

General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA) CNL, Mr Deji Haastrup, disclosed these

Foundation criticises FG’s inconsistent education policy

in Asaba, Delta State during the 11th edition of National Arts Competition/Arts Exhibition and Prize Giving Ceremony organised by NNPC/ Chevron Joint Venture in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to Mr Haastrup, the beneficiaries included those in Agbami Medical and Engineering Scholarship Scheme which is funded by Star Deep Water Petroleum Ltd, a company owned by CNL and other co-ventures in the Agbami Field.

He added that the company had donated 27 laboratories as well as 13 Hybrid Libraries to various schools across Nigeria.

Haastrup revealed that Delta State was the first state to receive a fully-equipped modern science laboratory from Chevron.

Chevron’s support towards educational development, according to him, has brought about 64 per cent increase in West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) enrolment.

Mr Haastrup said this has led to an improved average performance of students supported by the company from 18 per cent in 2013 to 44 per cent in 2014.

He pointed out that every year, the number of entry into the Art competition keeps increasing due to the general acceptance by Nige-

rians, noting that the 2016 edition of the competition tagged: “Waste to Wealth” was part of Chevron’s strategies towards boosting the country’s economy.

On his part, chief host of the event, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, represented by his deputy, Mr Kingsley Otuaro remarked that Chevron’s educational policy was in conformity with Delta State government’s SMART agenda.

He commended the company for championing education and other development programmes for the welfare of their host communities.

The Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management

Services (NAPIMS), Mr Dafe Sejebor, assured Chevron of his company’s continuous support in making sure the National Arts Competition for Nigeria Secondary School Students continues to succeed.

The NAPIMS boss, who was represented by Corporation’s Deputy Manager, Community Relation’s ‘B’, Mrs Clementina Arubi, lauded CNL for sustaining the programme.

She underscored the vital role played by the Delta State Ministry of Higher and Basic Education, the Federal Ministry of Education as well as management and teachers of various schools for their supports.

Biola Azeez-Ilorin FOUNDER, Sunday Babalola Education Foundation, Kwara state, Engineer Adebayo Babalola, has argued that inconsistencies and frequent policy summersaults of the Federal Government are injurious to the nation’s educational growth.

Speaking at presentation ceremony of scholarships to 250 pupils and students of primary and post-primary institutions in the Irepodun local government area of the state at the weekend, Engineer Sunday Babalola said that frequent changes in government policies was not the best for the country.

"While it is necessary to fine-tune policies, given contemporary developments and demands; frequent changes in government policies, merely because a new administration is onboard and may want to seek public recognition, cannot be said to be the best for our country.

The current confusion about admission of candidates to tertiary institutions as a result of the abrogation of admission policies of the last administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in my view, would have been avoided.

"In my opinion, an order had been existing in the admission process of our tertiary institutions while some checks had been made to some observed lapses in the conduct of examination by the Joint and Matriculation Board, through Post JAMB examination by individual tertiary institutions.

"So, disrupting that order and process by the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as announced by the Honourable Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu may not be viewed as the best option", he said.

From left, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ikorodu branch, Comrade Lateef Oduguwa; Mr Amadu Olugbemiga; Alhaja Sherifat Ogunniyi (receiving a plaque for Teachers' Pride Award); Principal, Ayangbunrin High School, Ikorodu, Mr Adedoyin Obasan; Alhaji Lukman Erogbogbo and Mr Olusegun Bisiriyu during the World Teachers' Day celebration organised by the Ikorodu branch of the NUT, last week.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 20 winners from different schools across the country emerged and were presented with awards.

The overall winner for Senior Secondary School category was Azike Chioma Anita, while Atakere Oritsemeyiwa Edith emerged winner in the category of the Junior Secondary School.

Corps members charged to establish smallscale industries Kola Oyelere-Kano THREE corps members out of 2,279 Batch B\Stream One corps members serving in Kano since 2015 who were officially passed out, have received Kano’s State merit award for distinguishing themselves in the oneyear mandatory service to the nation.

This was just as another eight got certificates of recognition for distinguishing themselves by embarking on developmental projects which positively impacted lives at their host communities.

The State Coordinator, NYSC, Kano State, Malam Abdullahi Yusuf Baba, who made this known while addressing the corps members during the passing out ceremony also tasked the youth to be employers of labour through the establishment small scale industries.

Mission schools should be returned to save education sector —IADC Principal

By Modupe George GOVERNMENTS have been urged to consider the important role the church is playing in providing qualitative education to the masses in the country and return missions schools to their owners.

Principal of Ijebu Anglican Diocesan College (IADC), Igan-Ipabi, Venerable S.B, Omosanya, who gave this advice, stated that Anglican Communion ventured into the education system in the country to salvage the falling standard of education and infrastructure, and lack of moral training in the young ones.

Venerable Omosanya made this remark last Wednesday at the school’s health talk programme tagged ‘Dentistry Check-up,’ which was part of the activities marking the 20th anniversary of the school.

The one week-long event, which held from Tuesday, October 4 till Friday, October 7, 2016 featured general cleaning of the community, dentistry check-up, novelty match\cultural day and

thanksgiving-respectively.

The principal expressed gratitude to God for 20 years of existence, saying, “we are happy to be marking our 20 years of existence and we have every reason to thank God. Given the general situation in the country, he said that 20th anniversary didn’t call for much celebration, but that, “20 years in the life of any organisation is not a “child’s play,” adding that some started sometimes like IADC and today, they have gone under.”

He noted: “That we are still existing and not only existing, but going stronger year by year, we are very grateful to Him and that is why we want to go to church on Friday to offer our thanksgiving to God for his faithfulness and goodness in our lives over the years, over our proprietors, past and present; over our students past and present; their parents, and of course over all that we have been able to do with the help of God. “For the past 20 years we have been able to sustain the vision of the founder Bishop

A. S. O. Olowoyo, and by the grace of God, we have touched and moulded many lives, some of whom gained admission to great universities, home and abroad and others who are occupying key positions in the society.”

While commenting on the issue of returning schools to missions, he said: “We have seen that the government has failed in this. In actual fact, it appears that everything the government touches goes sour; almost everything, including education. Almost everything the government ventures into, one way or the other, is turned into nobody’s business and is not properly handled.

“If that can be allowed in other aspects of our lives it cannot be allowed in education because education is the foundation of the future of any society. Any country that wants to make it must have a strong educational system.

So, some of this are the shortcomings that the church feels it should correct.”

“As you can see from the Ijebu Diocesan Communion, the vision of the found-

ing father is to have a school where the students will have a proper moral religious training, coupled with qualitative education, which the students would need in different aspects of life. Our charges are highly affordable. In fact, for many years, the church subsidised the school fees so that parents could afford it,” Venerable Omosanya stated further.

Dr Akinboro Ebunoluwa, a graduate of Dentistry from the University of Ibadan, who is a product of the school and the facilitator of the ‘Dentistry Check-up,’ while speaking on the programme, said the passion to impact on her alma mater, after 10 years of leaving the school, was the rationale behind the health programme.

She said: “It has always been on my mind for quite a while to carry out a general examination for students and staff of the school, just to give back to my school and as my contribution to the 20th anniversary. We had a health talk earlier in the day in the hall, where we educated the students on

their health.”

Ebunoluwa, who came in the company of another old student of the school, Dr Awokoya Motolani and other 11 dentists, described the mission as God-given, and that it was just a tip of the iceberg, compared with the virtues the school impacted on her.

She said: “I learnt a lot while I was here, because I changed over from a public school. I learnt leadership from here; how to lead a set of people without being afraid and timid and then living in the hostel taught me tolerance because you are exposed to living with people from different backgrounds and behaviours.

Then, in the school, we had teachers who were like our fathers and mothers and they inculcated discipline in us.”

She encouraged other old students to also find a way of giving back to the school, saying, “remember where you are coming from, remember the people who had influenced your lives and not just your parents.”

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Thursday, 13 October, 2016 Editor:

health

Sade Oguntola sadeboguntola@yahoo.com 0805 506 9260

Bipolar disorder:

Not the same as moodswings Life has its bundle of ups and downs. We fall, we rise and in no time, we move on, but some people stay down much longer and this undulation, is their every day life. VERA ONANA unveils with expert opinion the highs and lows of living with a serious mental condition that is largely under reported in Nigeria and how it may be managed.

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N average woman experiences mood swings that are associated with the menstrual cycle. For most women, when it is that time of the month, they act differently. However, mood swings are not attributed to only hormonal women. Every human being experiences a little bit of sadness and some happiness time after time.

In life, everyone has good days and bad days, ups and downs. School, jobs, parenting and relationships can be confusing and frustrating. Things can be great one minute, but in the next, they get awful. This can feel overwhelming.

Undulating between sadness and happiness is a normal part of living but when these feelings linger, it may be much more than just normal mood swings.

According to mental health experts, bipolar disorder, a serious mental condition, which is characterised by alternating periods of elation and depression is very prevalent but sadly highly under-reported especially in Africa, Nigeria inclusive. “It’s really as prevalent here as anywhere else in the world.

Studies in Nigeria actually show a prevalence of about one in a thousand but this is very likely an underestimate,” says mental health specialist.

Consequently, it may be often erroneously considered to be the same as mood swings.

In a bid to set things straight, Dr Ayomide Adebayo, a mental health consultant, started by defining bipolar disorder. “The full name for bipolar is bipolar affective disorder — “bipolar” for “two poles” or “double extremes”; “affective” is an oldish word for “mood.” So another way to think of it is something like, “twosided mood disorder.

“Bipolar disorder is not the same as mood swings. This is a very common misconception, but it’s easy to understand why it happens. The most striking thing about bipolar disorder is the extreme mood changes. Most people hearing this for the first time try to relate it to their own experience of mood swings. So, they assume they either have bipolar or that bipolar must be some kind of extreme mood swing,

but it’s not.”

He added however that normal mood swings may be differentiated from bipolar disorder.

“The difference is like with most mental illnesses: the problem has to be serious enough to be causing the person or those who care about them significant distress and also enough to affect their ability to function in their usual day to day roles. If mood swings don’t prevent a person from getting out of bed, living a relatively normal life, or don’t cause too much distress to them, it may not be bipolar.

“Also, the duration of either the extremely high mood (mania) or low mood (depression) matters. A longer time frame spanning into days, weeks means more than just mood swings.”

According to mental health professionals, mania or depression is characterised by dif-

ferent symptoms. In a mania (high) episode, persons suffering from bipolar disorder tend to feel excited, impulsive, euphoric, and full of energy. During manic episodes, such people may engage in spending sprees, have unprotected sex, use drugs, sleep less, make big plans, have big ideas and lots of projects, get aggressive, make spur-of-the-moment or bad decisions and drive fast.

On the other hand, depression is often characterised by deep sadness, hopelessness, loss of energy, lack of interest in activities that were once enjoyed, periods of too little or too much sleep and suicidal thoughts.

Dr Ayomide added that though bipolar disorder is genetic, it is not hereditary.

“Bipolar has a very strong genetic basis.

But is it hereditary? No. People often mix

If mood swings don’t prevent a person from getting out of bed, living a relatively normal life, or don’t cause too much distress to them, it may not be bipolar disorder

up the two: genetic simply means that genes are involved, that is, there’s some kind of transfer. But we use “hereditary” to describe transfer of traits from parent to child, the way you get, say your nose, from your parents. But the transfer of bipolar disorder isn’t that simple. One person might have it and the only other affected person in the family is some second cousin somewhere.”

Speaking on how best to handle the condition, the mental health expert stated that “cure and management are two words I don’t like. Cure sounds good, except it makes anything that’s not a “cure” look like one is settling for less, when in fact, people go on to live fulfilling lives while living with various health conditions.

“For bipolar and other mental health problems we don’t talk so much about cures. We focus more on what the person’s life is like and how much they’re able to live it in ways that are fulfilling. Some call that ‘management,’ we call it ‘recovery’. A person living with bipolar disorder if adequately empowered can live a full life.”

He added that for children, managing the condition is just like it is done in adults. Professional care must be sort and prescribed medications must be taken. There are the regular antidepressants for the depressive aspect and then there are also “mood stabilisers” for the manic side.

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Thursday, 13 October, 2016

Dr. Ben Ajayi 0805 400 5447

‘Sweet Mother, I no go forget you for sparing me the agonies of blindness...’

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The Yoruba take marriage very seriously and this can be seen from the traditional wedding ceremony. It is unique and never something to be hurried. The ceremony is a colourful and prayerful display, full of fun and fanfare. Marriage in Yoruba land is between the families of the bride and groom. Hence both the groom and the bride take the backstage until towards the end of the show.

Traditionally, a man cannot approach his future in-laws to ask for the hand of their daughter in marriage. He tells the most senior member of his family who would send an intermediary to the parents of the bride. The families of the parents of the bride would also respond through their own emissary. Thus at the ceremony, the two emissaries act as the spokespersons of the two families and perform the roles of the Master of Ceremony.

Modernisation and technology have largely influenced the ceremony but, the theme has remained essentially the same. The message to the groom is clear, “We are giving our daughter through your family to you. Take good care of her.” Yoruba people love singing and dancing.

Beautiful songs and scintillating dances are usually interspersed prominently during the ceremony. “Sweet Mother,” is one of today’s

most popular songs at the event. Isn’t it amazing that it is in Pidgin English, not Yoruba, but all, literate and illiterate, understand the lyrics.

It is a song of appreciation and gratitude for all a mother has done from pregnancy through childbirth to adulthood. It talks about the sacrifices of a mother. “Sweet mother I no go forget you for the suffer wey you suffer for me. When

It is a song of appreciation and gratitude for all a mother has done from pregnancy through childbirth to adulthood

I dey cry, my mother go carry me--she go say, ‘my pikin’, wetin you dey cry ye, ye.

“Stop! Stop! M;ke you no cry again oh. When I wan sleep, my mother go pet me, she go lie me well well for bed; she cover me cloth, sing me to sleep; sleep sleep my pikin oh. When I dey hungry, my mother go run up and down, she go find me something wey I go chop oh. If I no eat, my mother nogo eat; if I no sleep my mother no go sleep; she no dey tire……” Truly it is an auspicious occasion to remember and say thank you publicly to a good and loving mother. And everyone sings along and dances without any inhibitions.

However many of those singing and dancing are oblivious to the fact that mothering starts even before pregnancy; that a would-be mother’s lifestyle or health status may determine the future health status of her child. Certain medications, over indulgence in alcohol or cigarette smoking may lead to having children with abnormalities.

If a mother is infected by the rubella virus during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, the new born child may have multiple congenital abnormalities involving the eyes, heart, ears and other organs.

Similarly, a pregnant mother who is infected with the parasite called Toxoplasma gondii

your mental

you-and-eye@gmail.com

from ingestion of inadequately cooked meat (such as suya) containing cysts of the parasite may give birth to a child with severe abnormalities. It may also cause an infection in the child while within the womb. Such children may be born with severe visual impairment and future recurrent infections in adulthood. There would have been more children born with congenital abnormalities but fortunately, nature has a way of limiting this. Quite often when the defect is severe, the pregnancy is terminated leading to spontaneous abortion.

It’s important to be aware that some sexually-transmitted diseases can affect the eye.

Herpes can cause inflammation and scarring of the cornea, inflammation inside the eye, and glaucoma, among other problems. Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea can be passed to newborns during birth or be spread to the eyes at any age through touch. Syphilis is a systemic infection and eye involvement is rising in some areas.

HIV/AIDS and related opportunistic infections which include toxoplasmosis and CMV retinitis can be devastating to the eyes of a newborn or young adult. .

May I add another line to the lyrics, “Sweet Mother, I no go forget you for sparing me the agonies of blindness through your actions or inactions.”

health you &

With: Jibril Abdulmalik (Consultant Psychiatrist) jabdulmalik@gmail.com

Dignity in mental health: Psychological first aid for all The World Mental Health day is observed every 10th of October and this year’s theme is the title of today’s article.

It aims to draw attention to the concepts of dignity in mental health, as well as the provision of basic support in the form of psychological first aid. But why are these concepts important?

What is a crisis?

Circumstances which overcome our usual abilities to cope may be described as a crisis. Every community and everyone can experience disasters/crisis. These can occur in ways that affect entire communities or individuals.

A). Community: Some crisis affects entire societies and communities, leaving hundreds, thousands and sometimes millions of people affected. These include: • Wars and terrorism attacks such as the Boko Haram insurgency which has killed thousands in north-eastern Nigeria and displaced millions of citizens. The Syrian war and humanitarian crisis is also another example.

• Natural disasters such as Hurricane Matthew currently affecting Haiti and parts of America; Hurricane Katrina; earthquakes e.t.c.

• Disease outbreaks such as the Ebola virus which affected millions in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

B). Individual: Some crisis affects individual members or their families only.

Examples include kidnap of a family member – with uncertainty over whether such a member will come back alive or not; rape, armed robbery e.t.c.

What can we do?

Considering that these crisis situations can arise at any time and affect any of us OR affect people we know, are we helpless or is there something we can do? What can be the impact of our little actions?

How about those of us without any health training or mental health experience? We CAN certainly do something.

Firstly, we can promote the DIGNITY of every human being who is facing major challenges or disasters. Even if they are now refugees or people without homes and living in camps as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Secondly, we are all familiar with the Medical First Aid Box, which carries basic medical supplies in schools, homes and so on for providing quick relief when there is a cut or injury. Psychological First Aid

(PFA) is a similar concept that refers to the quick and immediate help we can offer to people who are emotionally hurt from disasters in their communities or their individual lives. A mother/parent whose child has been kidnapped from school for example, is likely to be hurting emotionally…and as neighbours, friends or colleagues at work, we can provide some PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID. You don’t need to be a psychiatrist or psychologist to do this.

How do you deliver Psychological First Aid? • Show empathy, concern and let them know you care.

• Comfort them and help them to feel calm.

• Provide practical care and support .

• Assess their needs and concerns, so you know what needs to be taken care of.

• Help people to address basic needs (for example, food and water, need for information) • Listen, and allow them to express their feelings – only IF they want to, but do not put them under pressure to talk .

• Help people connect to information, services and available social support ser-

vices.

• Protect them from further harm – for example stories are making the rounds of IDPs in camps being abused or deprived of basic supplies and other entitlements.

Conclusion: The human ability to show empathy, concern and offer support is of tremendous benefit to persons who are undergoing difficult challenges. It is reassuring to know that others care about our wellbeing, because we are social beings, and it is our nature. We can all do something by providing PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID, if and whenever the need arises. Let’s spread this message.

Summary: • Every community and individual can face crisis.

• Human dignity should be preserved when such crisis occur.

• Each of us may be the closest person to an affected person at some point in time.

• Psychological first aid does not require any special training or qualification.

• Psychological First Aid (PFA) simply means expressing support, showing concern, listening to their needs, and helping them to feel safe again.

25

healthnews

Thursday, 13 October, 2016

Nothing like ordinary malaria — Expert

By Sade Oguntola

D

irector, Centre for Malaria Care, University of Ilorin, Professor Olugbenga Mokuolu has asked that people refrain from saying “ordinary malaria”, saying the disease was being trivialised even though it is often fatal and can lead to death.

Mokuolu, a paediatrician, spoke during a dinner with media health editors in Lagos with the theme “Media health Editors as Advocates to Malaria Elimination in Nigeria.” It was organised by Society For Family Health (SFH).

The expert stated that malaria is a killer disease and that it ought to be recognised as such by all individuals.

According to him, “A condition that kills cannot be addressed as ordinary.

The way you dress up a condition is the way you will address it. It should be recognised as a killer disease.

“That an adult living in an area where malaria is endemic will not have severe malaria should not make us reduce our appreciation of the severity of malaria particularly among children who are not previously protected.”

Mokuolu, who stated that the germ, plasmodium falciparum accounts for about 98 per cent of all ma-

laria cases, said that a third of global deaths from malaria still occur in Nigeria.

However, he declared that remarkable progress has been achieved in reducing malaria cases and deaths, stating “burden of malaria in University of Ilorin has reduced significantly from 33 per cent to seven per cent of admissions in our emergency paediatric clinic and deaths from 36 per cent to six per cent now.”

He, however, cautioned that fever, the chief symptom of malaria was not

limited to the disease and as such malaria must be confirmed by a test before any treatment is proffered.

According to him, the fight against malaria in Africa also requires multiple approaches, adding that there is hope that malaria can also be eliminated in Africa very soon.

In achieving malaria control, he declared that the gap in funding has to be met to ensure that malaria interventions are for all and can reach all.

According to him, “we see a scenario in which

the malaria programme for complete comprehensive interventions requires something in the excess of the 250 million to 300 million US dollars.”

Managing Director, SFH, Mr Bright Ekeremadu urged for media collaboration to ensure a reduction in malaria burden to pre-elimination levels and to bring malaria related deaths to zero by 2020 Ekeremadu, reiterating the need for media to equip itself with right and correct information of malaria, said that in the last five

years, over 54million long lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) have been distributed in Nigeria as part of the universal LLIN campaigns to protect 29million households as well as access to free and or highly subsidised Artemisin-based Combination therapies.

He, however, stated that huge information gap and appropriate knowledge about diagnosis, treatment and prevention of malaria still exist in the country, hence the need for continuous engagement of mass communication practitioners.

Members of Hospice and Palliative Centre, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, in a group picture with the Chief Medical Director, UCH,Professor Temitope Alonge; at a press conference marking The World Hospice and Palliative Care Day Themed: “Living &Dying in pain it doses not have to Happen”; in Ibadan on Friday

Ensure availability of pain medication, FG told Towards a pain-free world, the Federal Government has been called on to ensure that opioids necessary for the control of moderate to severe pain are always available.

Professor Simbo AmanorBoadu, Head, Hospice and Palliative care Department, University College Hospital (UCH), gave the call at a media chat by the hospital to mark the 2016 World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. Amanor-Boadu stated that 90 per cent of people living with life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, chronic heart, kidney and liver diseases and sickle cell anaemia at some time of their illness have pain which impact negatively on their quality of life.

The expert, stating that the major focus of palliative care was to improve the quality of life of these patients’ lifethreatening illnesses, said towards the end of their life, more than 50 per cent of them will have severe pain that will require to be relieved.

The don, who described opioids like morphine as major medications in the management of moderate and severe pain, said pain relief is exceptionally poor in developing

countries, Nigeria inclusive.

According to her, “A survey of pain management in Nigeria between 2012 and 2013

by Treat The Pain Organisation stated that of the 71,571 patients dying from cancer, 80 per cent had moderate to severe pain. In that period, Nigeria imported only enough medication to treat 493 people. Living and dying in pain does not have to happen.”

Even as the hospital has been providing palliative care to 1200 patients alone this year, she appealed to Nigerians for donation and funding in order that the service could be extended to others outside the hospital.

Earlier, UCH’s Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr Adefemi Afolabi stated that breast cancer had remained a challenge because patients mostly report late to the hospital.

Although awareness on breast cancer is increasing in the community, he said its cost of treatment was still high and as such the need for government to make cancer treatment part of the health insurance scheme.

According to Afolabi, an increased investment in cancer

treatment was important to also curtail medical tourism.

He stated, “this is one way the government could instill confidence into Nigerians that cancer is not a death sentence.”

Afolabi also urged for increased media support for early cancer detection, declaring the earlier a cancer is detected, the better its treatment

outcome.

Meanwhile, UCH’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Temitope Alonge stressed the need for a monitoring mechanism to check abuse of opioids among relative of patients.

In ensuring continuous availability of opioids for pain management in people living with life-threatening illnesses he suggested Nigeria also go-

ing to production of opioids tablets like India.

Having to rely on its importation when more complex drugs are produced in Nigeria, he said was not good, adding “we can encourage our pharmacognosy department to do it. Some herbs have opioid agonistic activity, whose analgesic effect is almost as strong as morphine.”

Expert challenge husbands on fore play for early lump detection In a bid to ensure early detection of breast cancer, married women have been told to ask their husbands as part of foreplay to always massage and feel their breast properly to help pick out any abnormality that could occur in it.

Professor Temitope Alonge, Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Ibadan, who gave the charge at a media chat, said it was a measure that can ensure early detection of breast cancer, the leading cancer in women.

According to Professor Alonge, massaging or feeling the breast during foreplay

would afford the husband know better the shape and looks of his wife’s breast and as such be able to notice any lump or changes.

He declared: “he can feel it better than she can and because you have gotten used to your breast and you may not know when the lump has developed.”

Alonge, however, added that unmarried women and younger girls should imbibe breast examination regularly a week after their menses.

The don announcing efforts by the hospital to ensure adequate cancer treatment in the

hospital stated that the hospital was acquiring a Brachytherapy machine to take care of prostate and endocervical cancers.

The machine, which will later be upgraded to treat breast cancer, he said was being acquired as a backup for the hospitals fault radiotherapy machine that the hospital was having challenges repairing.

In addition, he declared that the Federal Ministry of Health was also to provide a high energy linear accelerator as a lifeline for the hospital’s cancer treatment services.

‘Increasing cases of heart problems worrisome’ Yinka Oladoyinbo Lokoja The Kogi State Governor’s wife, Rashida Bello, has expressed worries over the increasing rate of heart failure and other heart-related diseases in the country.

She said there was the need for government at various levels to initiate policies and programmes through which people could be sensitised in order to reduce the menace in the society.

Mrs Bello who spoke in Lokoja at a programme organised to mark the World Heart Day with the theme: "Power Your Life", also tasked the people, particularly women, to eat heathy diet and engage in regular exercises to prevent heart related disease.

According to her, the call was imperative because of the death of over one million people annually arising from heart related diseases.

She said her pet project, the Kogi Women and Advancement Foundation (KOWYAF) would collaborate with international organisations like the WHO and other indigenous organisations to encourage Kogi people to eat and live well.

According to her, "It is not enough for the state government to provide health care facilities, it is also of great importance that the people live a healthy life style by eating right and engaging in body building exercises to prevent heart related diseases and other dangerous ailments.

"Our world is threatened by heart diseases and cardiovascular complications.

The World Health Foundation has attributed the death of over one million people to heart related diseases. That is why we and the government must premise on preventing deadly heart diseases by sensitising the people on the need to steer clear of unhealthy diets that can trigger high blood pressure, high cholesterol and glucose levels which are capable of shortening the lifespan of people, or depriving them of the ability to go about their daily activities as individuals and as members of a larger society".

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Haruna Saka, urged people of the state to always check their body mass index (BMI) and avoid lifestyles of smoking, alcohol intake and other factors that could expose them to cardiovascular diseases.

26

Thursday, 13 October, 2016

Coffee, tomato support healthy hearts —Study

natural

health

By Sade Oguntola

E

NSURING a healthy heart is far easier than can be imagined. Experts looking at heart healthy foods have indicated that a diet that includes coffee and tomatoes support a healthy heart.

In a new study, experts indicated that tomato is rich in nutrients that are effective against heart disease. The study indicated that consumption of tomato can help inhibit a key process that leads to the thickening of the artery wall, which is typical of heart disease.

This also further asserts that whole food extracts are more effective than single ingredients – such as lycopene.

The study commissioned by Lycored also noted beneficial changes in glucose, insulin and triglyceride responses after a high-fat meal. While the study doesn’t reveal anything unexpected, the approach is of notable interest as the researchers use whole food extracts.

Previous research suggested lycopene alone was not as effective as whole tomatoes or complex tomato extracts in improving cardiovascular risk factors associated with oxidative stress.

Dr Karin Hermoni, category manager at, Lycored stated: “The use of a whole food extract from the tomato as a method of addressing the oxidation of LDL, the most dangerous form of cholesterol, and improving the metabolic picture following a meal, is a new concept.”

Atherosclerosis is a condition of the arteries, where fatty material is deposited onto the inner arterial wall.

In a randomised, double-blind, placebocontrolled test, 146 healthy normal weight

Coffee individuals were daily given a dose of Lycored’s Cardiomato product or a placebo for two weeks.

For the study, the treatment capsules were standardised for the levels of several phytonutrients such as lycopene and phytosterols in a 1:1 ratio (15 mg), as well as tocopherols and other tomato carotenoids such as phytoene, phytofluene (4 mg), and beta-carotene (0.5 mg).

Oxidised LDL (OxLDL) – particles that accumulate in the body leading to artery cell wall thickening or atherosclerosis –glucose, insulin, and triglyceride (TG) responses were measured for eight hours after ingestion of a high-fat meal (850 kcal; 50 per cent of energy from fat; standardised in lycopene) before and at the end of intervention.

According to Hermoni: “The outcomes of the study in general tell us the benefits of this whole food supplement in management of post meal stress.

“One of the strengths of this study is that it was done with healthy subjects. That means everyone can benefit even young healthy individuals that want to promote healthy ageing in the years to come. This trend of a beneficial effect might be even stronger over time.”

Previous research has suggested a beneficial relationship between tomato consumption and lycopene levels with risk of some chronic cardiovascular diseases.

Lycopene is thought to be the prime bioactive carotenoid in tomatoes that is responsible for these health benefits. However, other precursor carotenoids such as phytoene and

phytofluene are also present in large quantities and more likely exhibit potent bioactivity too.

Meanwhile, experts also say that taking between two and five cups of coffee per day benefits the heart and blood vessels.

The report, commissioned by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC), suggests that taking between two and five cups of coffee per day may reduce risk of death from cardiovascular diseases by just over a fifth.

Coffee naturally contains a variety of compounds including caffeine, antioxidants and diterpenes. These compounds not only give coffee its distinctive flavour but also the positive effects on health.

Populations worldwide and degree of protection also differed as findings suggested that two cups of coffee per day may offer the greatest protection in a Japanese population, whilst three cups may provide the greatest protection in populations in the UK. In particular, a handful of studies were included that review the effects of coffee consumption in specific patient groups. This includes a meta-analysis of studies in heart attack patients that noted a favourable association between habitual coffee consumption and mortality risk.

A study of 75 patients with hypertension was also included, which suggested that drinking coffee was associated with higher blood pressure compared to those who did not drink coffee.

The effect was greatest in those who drank three or more cups of coffee per day.

Research carried out by The Women’s Health Initiative concluded that caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee were not risk factors for high blood pressure in postmenopausal women.

Excessive giving, sex warning signs of mental illness-Expert IN marking the World Mental Health day, a mental health expert, Dr Victor Makanjuola has said that mental illnesses are more common and that even in some individuals, excessive giving and sex sometimes are warning signs of bipolar disorder, a type of mental illness.

Dr Makanjuola, a consultant psychiatrist said this at a media sensitisation workshop on mental health with the theme “Mental Health and the Media in Nigeria: Changing the Negative perception.” It was to flag off the 2016 World Mental Health day celebration in Ibadan.

Makanjuola, who remarked that the society was fixated on who is mentally ill, stated that financial reckless or sexual recklessness in some individuals may possibly be suggestive of an abnormal state of mind.

According to her, “If you meet a girl and in less than 24 hours, you are having sex together, you may see yourself as being lucky. But you may also be sleeping with a girl with mania.

“Naturally, most of us need a period of courting before sex. But social inhibition is lost in maniacs; if they like what you suggest to them, they go for it immediately.”

The expert disclosed that maniacs are also unduly generous during an episode of the illness and as such giving excessive beyond their means, irrespective of any guise, could also be a sign of a mental illness.

He, however, stated that a diagnosis of maniac is only made when there are other symptoms such as excessive happiness,

excitement, irritability, restlessness, increased energy, less need for sleep, racing thoughts, high sex drive, and a tendency to make grand and unattainable plans.

According to the expert, mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions or disorders that can affect one’s mood, perception or feelings, thinking and behaviour, adding that “one in eight of every Nigerian may experience mental disorder in their life time”.

Makanjuola, noting that persons with mental illnesses have higher mortality rates compared to others in the society, said many myths still surround mental disorders.

According to him, “That there’s no hope for people with mental illnesses is a myth.

There are more treatments, services, and community support systems than ever before, and more are in the works. People with mental illnesses lead active, productive lives.

“It is not true that people with mental illnesses are violent and unpredictable. The vast majority of people with mental health conditions are no more violent than anyone else.

“Also, many people think that once people develop mental illnesses, they will never recover. Studies show that most people with mental illnesses get better, and many recover completely.”

Dr Jibril Abdulmalik, also a consultant psychiatrist said there are many treatment options for mentally ill patients, adding that people should not hesitate to seek medical help.

The expert, who said mental disorders are just like other chronic diseases such as diabetes and HIV, cautioned against unorthodox treatment of mentally disorders, saying many unwholesome practices go

on in trado-spiritual homes.

According to him, “all that is required is regular long term compliance with medications and regular follow-up to clinics to ensure continued well being.”

From Left: Director, Centre for Malaria Care, University of Ilorin, Professor Olugbenga Mokuolu; Kate Henshaw and Managing Director, Society for Family Health (SFH), Mr Bright Ekeremadu during a dinner with media health editors in Lagos, recently.

27

Thursday, 13 October, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

with Shola Adekola

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

crucial moment

International agency re-certifies NAHCO Stories by Shola Adekola

T

HE Nigerian Aviation Handling Company PLC (NAHCO Aviance) has gained another international recognition with the recertification of its operations by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) safety audit.

The re-certification which runs till June 12, 2018, has replaced the one which expired June this year.

IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations Program (ISAGO) is an audit programme for ground handling companies serving airlines at airports, which is built around a set of harmonised, globally recognised standards.

The current certification clears NAHCO in major operational disciplines including Organisation and Management (ORM); Load Control (LOD); Passenger and Baggage Handling (PAB); Aircraft Handling and Loading (HDL); Aircraft Ground Movement (AGM) and Cargo and Mail Handling (CGM).

The company got different certifications for its Lagos and Abuja operations.

Speaking on the development, the Chief Operating Officer for NAHCO, Mr Yahaya Hassan, said “We are glad we have achieved

this again. Our excellent processes and procedures endear us to world leaders in aviation.”

According to Yahaya

Delta, only airline to offer Wi-Fi on African/US routes DELTA Air Lines has completed the roll-out of Wi-Fi on its international fleet to enable all customers flying on its nonstop services from Africa to Atlanta and New York-JFK stay connec-

ted at 30,000 feet.

The final Boeing 777, one of a number serving South Africa, has now been equipped and is back in service.

The development marked

Peacock Travels raises bar of service delivery NIGERIA’S fastest-growing travel management company, Peacock Travels and Tours, a subsidiary of the Peacock Group has launched four new products aimed at raising the bar of service delivery in the travel management industry in the country.

The four new products launched are Peacock Special Discounted Student Promo Fares, Peacock Lounge Pass for Economy Class Passengers, Peacock Cargo Services and Peacock Holy Pilgrimage to Israel.

The Peacock Special Student Promo Fares is meant for high school, undergraduate and post graduate students aged between 12 and 30 years. Youths under the age of 26 and post graduate students above 30 years are also eligible.

The development came just as the company has rewarded over 550 of its trade partners and customers in the South-West, South East

Hassan who led the process of the re-certification, NAHCO’s Kano operation is next in line for ISAGO certification.

and South-South geopolitical zones of the country.

The rewards to its partners were meant to show the travel firm’s appreciation to its loyal and esteemed trade partners and customers for their patronage in 2015.

The company’s reward programme came barely four months after the Lagos edition in which over 200 trade partners were rewarded with various gift items.

Over 80 travel agencies won in the star prize cat-

egories in Lagos.

The Chairman, Peacock Group, Aare Segun Philips, had during the Lagos Agency Forum in April, promised that the event would be held in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

In the three geopolitical zones of South-West, South-East and SouthSouth, a total of 26 return free tickets to various destinations including London, United States and Doha were given to the trade partners.

a new milestone for the airline with flights from Lagos, Accra, Dakar and Johannesburg offering on-demand Wi-Fi throughout the aircraft.

Commenting, Delta’s Sales Director for Africa, the Middle East and India, Jimmy Eichelgruen said “We know that Wi-Fi is an important part of the travel experience, especially for those flying for business.

“With Wi-Fi available in every cabin, all our customers can stay in touch with events on the ground throughout their journey.

We hope our customers will enjoy this enhanced experience the next time they fly Delta.”

Delta’s Wi-Fi is powered by high-speed, Ku-Band satellite technology and provided by Gogo.

RwandAir introduces new A330-200 on Lagos-Kigali route AS a way of further enhancing its operations between the Lagos and Kigali route, RwandAir has introduced its newly acquired 330-200 aircraft on the route, with promises to give customers better services.

The plane which touched down early in the week at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, has a configuration of 20 Busi-

ness Class; 21 Premiere Economy and 203 Economy Class, totalling 244.

On ground to receive the aircraft was the Rwandan High Commissioner in Nigeria, Ambassador Stanislas Kamanzi in the company of the airline’s Country Manager in Nigera, Ms Ibiyemi Odusi.

The new aircraft which flew in passengers from

Kigali, the capital of the East African country into Lagos, is the latest addition in the fleet of nine airplanes of the carrier.

Odusi said the arrival of the Airbus 330-200 is one of the steps taken by the airline to consolidate on the Nigerian route with attractive packages that would make the carrier the preferred choice by passengers.

0803 365 4818

With Shola Adekola

Why ICAO should unanimously re-elect Aliu again EVERYTHING may look dicey for the country’s aviation sector in view of the various challenges confronting it which has been aggravated by the ongoing economic recession.

Despite these and many other factors, one thing that is very obvious is that Nigeria can boast of brilliant professionals in the sector who are capable of turning things around in any assignment given around the world.

Besides the local politics dragging the sector backward intermittently, which is though not peculiar to Nigeria, the global community still holds the country in high esteem.

This was what played out few weeks ago in far away Montreal, Canada, where for the first time in fell swoop, over 152 nations unanimously voted for Nigeria to secure a seat on the council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for another three years.

For the countries to have pitched their tents with Nigeria, shows that they realise that the country has what it take to excel against all odds.

It is no news that the present leadership of the ICAO is the Nigerian born, Dr Bernard Aliu, who is carrying the flag of the country high through the brilliant ideas he has brought to bear in running the council.

There is no doubt that the re-election of Nigeria into the ICAO council by the 152 nations must have been made possible with the pedigree of Aliu and the hope in Nigeria.

Now that the tempo is very high, it has become imperative for the Federal Government to further showcase Nigeria’s ability to excel in the face of challenges by rallying round Aliu to win the re-election into the ICAO number one seat come November.

The good news is that Nigeria’s Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has started well during his recent visit to Canada, while the election into the ICAO Council took place.

Sirika, apart from fully been on ground to witness the election of Nigeria into the ICAO Council, he was also able to convince the gathering on the role of Nigeria in raising the bar in the sub region.

There is no doubt that the election of Nigeria into the ICAO Council is a sign of good things to come in November, as this will surely set the pace for the re-election of Aliu for a second term.

From all records, Aliu deserves a second term in view of his professionalism and doggedness in ensuring Africa as a continent is well carried along by other nations that made up the global aviation body.

Africa surely deserves to be given a second chance through the re-election of Aliu who has shown that there are many Africans who if given opportunities can do more than expected.

Therefore, time has come for Africa to repeat what it did at the first election of Aliu in 2014 by unanimously returning him to the exalted position for another three years.

When Africa speaks with one voice, the other parts of the world will have no choice but realise that Africa also deserves a better chance in global aviation.

While Africa especially Nigeria is optimistic that Aliu will be re-elected come November because of his success in the first term, one obvious thing is that for 152 nations to come together to vote for Nigeria, aviation is though global, but again a small family where your race, colour, culture is immaterial while whatever happens to one affects others.

Absolutely, Nigeria has all what is needed to make its aviation sector one of the most effective and efficient with the brains it has, this is another opportunity for the government to also look inward by prioritising the sector for the purpose of urgently repositioning it.

28

Thursday, 13 October, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

with Tola Adenubi

m:07068476673 e:adenubiadetola@yahoo.com

Intrigue, blackmail, strife tears terminal operators apart

•P&CHS RoRo operations inefficient —Operators •Inefficiency claims cheap blackmail —P&CHS Stories by Tola Adenubi - Lagos

I

NVESTIGATIONS have revealed that some super agents, apparently on the payroll of some terminal operators have been going around the ports, telling customers and prospective clients that Ports & Cargo Handling Services (P&CHS), a subsidiary of Sifax Group, lacks the required experience and efficiency to handle Roll-On-Roll-Off (RoRo) cargoes at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos. This is even as the management of P&CHS acknowledged the gang up, stating that its inefficiency claims in RoRo operations by some people amount to cheap blackmail.

In an exclusive chat with the Nigerian Tribune, a clearing agent who simply identified himself as Alloy Ezechukwu stated that news making the rounds is that P&CHS, a new entrant in RoRo port operations currently lacks the required experience to handle such services.

According to him, “Some agents, who we see as leaders in this profession based on the fact that they have been involved in clearing procedures for years, have been telling us that we should advise our clients not to take our RoRo cargoes to P&CHS. “Their argument is based on the fact that P&CHS is relatively new in RoRo port operations and might not have the required expertise to handle volumes of cargoes.”

When asked if he thinks such information is being sponsored, he explained that “I cannot say if the agents spreading the news are being paid to do that, although I know that some terminal operators were not comfortable with the entrant of P&CHS into RoRo port operations.”

Responding to claims of inefficiency in handling RoRo services, Acting Managing Director of P&CHS, Mohammed Danaro Bulangu explained that he is aware of various antics of some terminal operators aimed at running down the Sifax Group subsidiaries’ RoRo capabilities.

“We are aware of all what they are doing. We met with them at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) when they first raised objections to our RoRo operations.

They went to the extent to tell the NPA that they are the only ones that can handle RoRo operations.

“We know they have been using some customers to blackmail us, but we don’t care about that because our efficiency will avail us of all this.

“How can you say an operator is

inefficient when that operator can discharge over 1500 vehicles in less than 24 hours? At P&CHS, we discharge over N1,500 vehicles in

less than 24 hours. Some of these vehicles were even pulled out from the ship. What can be more efficient than that?

“Maybe people should start asking them how many days does it take them to discharge 1500 vehicles, inclusive of accidented ve-

From left, Director, Central and West Africa, Norwegian Seafood Council, Mr Trond Rostvelt; Mr John Babatunde, Mrs Olabisi Adepegba, both Deputy Directors, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Director, East Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Tromso Company, Norway, Mr Borge Gronbech, during an interactive session between Nigeria Seafood Exporters and Norwegian Seafoods Council, organised by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture in Lagos recently.

hicles.

“What are they calling efficiency?

Our turn-around time for the shipping companies is fantastic. We are doing everything possible to ensure customers satisfaction.

“We are members of the same association, which is the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN). The problem is the downturn in activities at the ports. Everybody is trying to get enough businesses to break even.

“Now that the downturn is here, that is why they are offended that we have started doing RoRo. If they have enough vessels to handle, then they will not be going about to blackmail others. So the main issue lies in the recession. If not, nobody will be fighting anybody over RoRo operations.

“What we have done is within our agreement. NPA has confirmed that we have not gone out of the agreement. We are matured businesspeople and will not go behind to stab anybody over competition for RoRo cargoes.”

Shipping: Banks should plough back $5bn indigenous ship-owners debt A former Chairman of the Nigerian Ship-owners Association (NISA), Chief Isaac Jolapamo, has explained that over $5 billion debt owed banks by indigenous shipping companies should be ploughed back into the system. This is even as the former NISA helmsman explained that over 50 per cent indig-

enous ship owning businesses have packed up.

Speaking to Nigerian Tribune on the sidelines of the Federal Ministry of Transportation/Union of African Shippers Council validation colloquium on the United Nations convention on contracts held in Abuja on Wednesday, Chief

Isaac Jolapamo explained that micro-finance banks cannot fund core maritime businesses.

According to him, “Over $5 billion bad debt owed by indigenous ship-owners is trapped in Nigerian banks.

“But instead of holding on to such money, the banks ought to have

No more DN on false declarations, Egbudin warn importers AREA Controller, Apapa command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Willy Egbudin, has again warned importers who deliberately falsify their declarations with the intent of short changing the government that the Service would no longer raise debit notes (DN) for goods that have been identified as falsely declared.

In a chat with newsmen in his office, Egbudin said that the command has since commenced implementation of the Comptroller General’s directive that

no debit notes be issued for such goods.

He said some unscrupulous importers had taken advantage of Customs leniency to raise debits notes for goods that have been falsely declared but pointed out that going forward, such goods would be impounded as stipulated in the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA).

He however explained that circumstances that would warrant issuing DN would only be when a particular item have not been not properly classified or under-

valued.

He said “We won’t raise DN on false declaration. We would only give DN when there is wrong classification, under valuation and under declaration. Perhaps we have been treating the importers with kid gloves that is why they are doing what they like.

“We have also been educating the importers too that whatever your entry is saying what matters is your SGD, declare what you know is there. If it is alcohol declare the exact number and don’t say it is something else,” he said.

ploughed it back into the system.

That is partly part of the reason why Nigerian banks don’t understand funding of shipping businesses.

“If such debts are ploughed back into the system, it will make the system work again. But it is a pity that the banks are not experienced in funding maritime assets, and that is why the indigenous ship-owners are in a precarious state presently.

“Even when ship-owners get a new ship, there is hardly anything to do with it profitably. That is why Nigeria will remain a shipping service nation where the agencies of government only collect monies from foreign vessels that come into our ports.”

When reminded that a MicroFinance bank was recently established in Nigerian maritime sector, he explained that, “Micro-Finance banks cannot fund core maritime businesses. Such banks can only fund businesses on the periphery of the maritime sector, not the core shipping related businesses.”

NPA to introduce tenancy for agencies at ports AS part of measures to generate additional revenue, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is considering renting out all spaces hitherto occupied by Government and private agencies at the nation’s seaports.

NPA’s Executive Director in charge of Marine and Operations, Dr Sokonte Davies who gave this indication in Lagos explained that as the Port area is a

commercial entity, “all tenants should be ready to pay for rent at the rate to be determined by the Management of NPA.” The Executive Director, according to a statement issued by General Manager, Public Affairs, Chief Michael Ajayi spoke while on familiarization tour of locations in Lagos Ports Complex (LPC).

He explained that the payment

for the rent, as it concerns government agencies, would only apply to those who have budgetary provision for such rents in the Ports.

He implored operators within the Port to improve the sanitary conditions at their operational areas, whilst assuring that the Management of the Organization would provide them with requisite enabling environment

towards ensuring efficient operation at the Port to make their working condition conducive.

He assured operators within Lagos Pilotage district that the Management of NPA would strive to meet the needs of Shipping Companies and Terminal Operators within the Pilotage district but urged them to fulfil their financial obligation to the Organisation assiduously.

29

south-westnews

Thursday, 13 October, 2016

Mafo, Ajayi emerge running mates for Jegede, Akeredolu Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

F

ORMER Commissioner for Information in Ondo State, Mr John Ola Mafo, has been picked as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) running mate to Mr Eyitayo Jegede for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Subsequently, the PDP in the state, on Wednesday, forwarded the name of Mafo to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to beat the deadline set by the electoral umpire on withdrawal and substitution of candidates,

which lapsed yesterday.

Disclosing this in Akure, the state capital, the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Honourable Banji Okunomo, said the credentials of Mafo qualified him for the position.

According to Okunomo, the decision to pick Mafo was taken by the highest decision body of the PDP in the state, saying: “at the highest decision making body of Ondo State PDP today, the party resolved on the choice of Ola Mafo as the deputy governorship candidate of the party.

“The party took this farreaching decision after

considering all factors that would lead to its victory at the poll.

“The party weighed a number of options including the credentials of Ola Mafo which ranged from being a former chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area of the state and former Commissioner for Information.

Okunomo said that the choice of Mafo, a native of Zion Pepe, was based on equity and political balance.

Similarly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) submitted the name of former House of Representatives

member, Agboola Ajayi, as the running mate for the party’s candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu.

The Publicity Secretary of the party, Abayomi Adesanya, who disclosed this, said Ajayi was picked as the deputy governorship candidate because of his connection to the people at the grassroots and his ability to mobilise.

However, a source within the party disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune that Ajayi beats two other prospective candidates to the slot after the party leadership considered and weighed options before

Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, addressing local government workers in the state, during a rally organised to appreciate his government, in Akure, on Wednesday.

Ondo NULGE organises rally to appreciate Mimiko Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure MEMBERS of the Ondo State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), on Wednesday, staged a solidarity rally in Akure, the state capital, to appreciate the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, on his unprecedented support to the welfare of local government workers in the state.

The local government workers, who trooped out from the 18 local government areas of the state, passed a vote of confidence on the Mimiko-led administration for being sensitive and taking actions towards the plight of the local government workers.

Speaking doing the rally, the Public Relations Officer of the union, Victor Omodara, appreciated Mimiko for reabsorbing over 900 local government

workers that were affected by the 2013 screening exercise in the state.

He said “we also commended the governor for the approval of the full implementation of local government scheme of service that enables heads of local government administration attain grade Level 17.”

Omodara noted that de-

spite the dwindling economic situation in the country, promotions have been regular for all categories of workers in the state that are due for promotions.

Responding, Governor Mimiko thanked members of the union for their unalloyed support for his administration, noting that the only way to en-

sure the continuity of the good relationship between government and the union is to vote for Mr Eyitayo Jegede in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

Dr Mimiko assured the workers that his administration would not relent in promoting the welfare of workers no matter the financial situation of the state.

Jegede assures Ondo youths of brighter future GUBERNATORIAL candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, has promised to make youths in the state employers of labour instead of job hunters if elected.

The PDP candidate, who assured youths in the state brighter future, said his government would give

priority to their empowerment.

Jegede gave the assurance in Akure yesterday, when the state government rewarded the 300 athletes who made the state proud at the 2012 National Sports Festival, held in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Jegede said if elected, his government would encourage youths to look in the

direction of becoming selfemployed and economically fit to accommodate others in their respective businesses.

According to him, “the time has come for us to make our youths realise their potentials, that they can be useful for themselves and be responsible for the financial fortune of others if given the right environment to thrive.

them.

According to him, Ajayi’s ticket was considered to appeal to the sentiment of the new entrants into APC, in order to give then sense of belonging.

Akinmade builds block of classroom for alma mater ONDO State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has called on well-meaning Nigerians to always give back to the society that produced them as government alone cannot provide needed amenities in the society.

Mimiko gave the charge at the inauguration ceremony of a four-classroom block donated by the Commissioner for Information, Honourable Kayode Akinmade, to his alma-mater, Omoluorogbo Grammar School, Oke-Aro, in Akure South Local Government Area of the state.

The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Kola Ademujimi, said the gesture was an eloquent testimony of a caring heart programme emplaced in the state by the present government.

Speaking at the event, the donor, Akinmade noted that the initiative was to thank God for His grace and opportunity as a little boy who was in the school a couple of years back and to particularly serve as a model, to mentor and inspire the young ones.

Akinmade challenged the students to set for themselves goals and work towards achieving them with commitment, determination and faith in God. Commissioner for Education, Architect Jide Adejuyigbe, who was in attendance alongside other state executive council members, such as Chief Yele Ogundipe, (Finance), Gboye Adegbenro (Works), Mr Femi Adekanmbi (Special Duties, Culture and Tourism), Mr Dayo Awude (Youths and Sports), Tunde Atere (Natural Resources) among others, described Akinmade as a gift to mankind and his alma mater.

In his goodwill message, the president of the old students association of the school, Elder Paul Obaje, informed the gathering that the association had resolved to rise up to various needs of the school as he promised timely completion of renovation work ongoing at the school hall.

Nigerian Tribune

Buhari needs prayers to succeed —Cleric THE general overseer of Christ Apostolic Church, Orioke Koseunti, Odo Eja area, Ring Road, Osogbo, Osun State, Prophet Z.O Agboola, has advocated for prayers from Nigerians for President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to succeed.

Prophet Agboola stated this in Osogbo while fielding questions from newsmen in preparation for his nine-day power crusade with the theme ‘Freedom of a giant from the bondage of the world and hell fire’, holding from Thursday, October 20 to October 29, 2016.

Speaking on the economic recession in the country, the clergymen said the situation is calling on all to move closer to God and forsake sinful ways.

He said, “We cannot put the blame of economic recession on any government, what Nigerians must realise is that God is not happy with us because we have forsaken Him. “

Ibadan North East LG boss commends Ajimobi CHAIRMAN of Ibadan North East Local Government Area, Honourable Olalekan Afuye, has commended Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led government for living up to its claim of being sensitive to people’s yearnings by approving the payment of teachers’ salaries, retirees’ pensions and gratuity.

Afuye noted that despite the dwindling statutory allocation, Ajimobi-led administration could still put smile on the faces of pensioners and teachers by approving the whooping sum of N6.2 billion for teachers’ salaries for June, July and August 2016 and N880 million for retirees’ pension and N250 million naira for gratuity.

According to the chairman, “this is an attestation to the fact that the present administration in Oyo State is ready to fulfil its electioneering promises to the people of the state.”

While appealing for the understanding and patience of the people, Honourable Afuye disclosed that the state government is doing its best to block all the leakages in government financial transactions.

He, therefore, enjoined the people to rally round the state government in its campaign against corruption.

politicsnews Party leaders pledge to deepen internal democracy 30

Christian Okeke - Abuja

L

EADERS of political parties in the country, on Wednesday, in Abuja, pledged to work towards deepening internal democracy in their respective parties.

They noted that such

APGA crisis: Reconciliation in view as Obiano wades in

Thursday, 13 October, 2016

a move was necessary to achieve good governance and national development.

The leadership of the parties reviewed the curriculum of the Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre (PPLPDC) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and resolved to work to improve the gains

of democracy in the country.

Speaking at the event, the acting Director General of NIPSS, Jonathan Mela Juma, noted that the Federal Government was committed to deepening democratic value in the country.

He urged the participants to collaborate with NIPSS to perfect the curriculum, particularly in

the event of issues that arose from the 2015 elections.

Also speaking, the Director of Research of the institute, Professor Habu Galadima, said the PPLPDC was set up to strengthen capacity building of the parties to entrench democracy.

He said that the centre might might equally consider training of

inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) leadership at state level so as to achieve set goals.

In his contribution, the national chairman of Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, stressed the importance of citizen’s participation in political process, as well as need for a vibrant opposition in the country.

CHRISTIAN OKEKE - ABUJA

ANAMBRA State governor and chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Willie Obiano, has waded into the leadership crisis rocking the party.

A fresh crisis hit the party after some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja passed a vote-of-no confidence on the national chairman, Ike Oye, and that they had suspended him, alongside two other national officers.

The officers are the deputy national chairman (North), Alhaji Abubakar Adamu and the deputy national chairman (South), Uchenna Okogbuo.

They were accused of gross misconduct, including giving the party’s candidature tickets to nonAPGA members without recourse to the constitutional provisions on applying for waiver through the NWC in violation of Article 24 (8) (a) (b); running the party without an approved budget against Article 12 (1) (9) and suspension of Edo State Executive Committee without approval or ratification by the NWC, outside seven other offences.

The national vice chairman (South East), Ozo Nwabueze Okafor, was consequently appointed by the disaffected NWC members as interim chairman.

However, Nigerian Tribune gathered that the governor met with the aggrieved NWC members in Awka, on Wednesday.

A member of the NWC, who spoke with Nigerian Tribune, said Obiamo, at the meeting, pleaded with them to allow him to handle the matter.

The member said, “We respected him as leader of our party and chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT).”

All Progressives Congress (APC) national Vice chairman (North-West), Inuwa Abdul-Kadir (centre) receiving the report of the four-member fact finding committee chaired by Senator Mohammed Magoro (left) set up by the APC National leadership to look into the leadership dispute in the Kano State chapter of the party, on Tuesday. Deputy national chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu (right), looks on. PHOTO: TAIWO ADISA

PDP launches four indigenous language Twitter handles THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched four indigenous language Twitter handles for interaction among its members and the general public.

In a statement on Wednesday, the party urged its members, supporters and the public to use the platforms for maximum interaction on the way forward for the party.

The statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to the PDP, the twitter handles are Igbo – @pdpnhqigbonig; Yoruba –@pdpnhqyorubanig; Hausa -@ pdpnhqhausanig and Pidgin – @pdpnhqpidginnig.

“This is to integrate all our numerous members, teeming supporters and the general public into the new operations of the party in view of its people-oriented re-branding and rebuilding agenda,” it stated.

The PDP said that its attention had been drawn

to diverse comments regarding the closure of its previous official Twitter handle on September 5 and the launch of a new handle @officialpdpnig.

It said that it had observed that “some elements’ were creating false social media accounts especially on Twitter and Facebook for some present and past leaders of the party.

“For the umpteenth time, we

wish to reiterate that the National Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi, has no Twitter handle, and is not on any social media platform at all.

“This clarification has become necessary. The party has no directorate called new media and no director of such a section.

“Our decision to close the old handle and launch the new handle is to ad-

dress the issue of unauthorised statements to the press on behalf of the party.

“For effective control, our official accounts remain: Twitter Handle – @ officialpdpnig; Facebook Account – Official Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nigeria, and email – news@pdppublicity.com,” it said.

Group flays PDP over arrest of judges Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

THE Director-General of Grassroots Mobilizers for Buhari (GMB), Alhaji Umar Farouk Mohammed has berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for allegedly sponsoring hate publicity against President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the arrest of justices of the Supreme Court and other Judges.

In a statement by the director of media and political communication of the group, Mr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, said judicial corruption was the same as “justice for sale.”

He said if corruption was allowed to become institutionalised, it would destroy the moral integrity of the country and frustrate the hope of the poor and common man to get justice.

Umar averred that though judges and justices of the Supreme Court we are special and honourable citizens, the status could only be sacred if those bestowed with such prestigious honour conduct themselves honourably and within the scope of the law and professional ethics of the Bench.

The group further asserted that criminal offences such as to “give and take bribes” should be condemned by all right-thinking citizens because of the dire consequences on nation building.

Umar urged Nigerians to cooperate with President Buhari to fight corruption at all levels.

He said that strategic and proactive steps within the rule of law were urgently required to curtail and curb corruption, which had destroyed the institutions of government.

Ogun LG poll: CJ inaugurates 9-man tribunal OGUN State Chief Judge, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, has inaugurated a 9-man Election Petition Tribunal to adjudicate on petitions that might arise from the recently October 8 Local Government Councils and Local Councils Development Areas (LCDAs) polls in the state.

Swearing in the panel at the Chief Justice’s Chamber in Abeokuta, Justice Olopade stated that three (3) tribunals were established in the three senatorial districts of the state for easy access to justice and quick disposal of petitions.

The Chief Judge, in a

statement signed by the Ministry of Justice press officer, Mr Kehinde Balogun, affirmed that the task set before the panel was ‘’a delicate and sensitive one’’, saying they should brace up for the challenge as they would have to do justice to several petitions as the election involved 20 Local Government Areas and the newly created 37 LCDAs in the state.

Justice Olopade charged them to be upright and transparent in the discharge of their duties, adding that their appointment was to eschew any form of favouritism or nepotism and undue as-

sociation with politicians.

According to her, “You must all know that your duty is a very delicate and sensitive one, you have sworn to your oath of office and I urge you to abide strictly by it.

“You must distance yourselves and members of your families from any association or relationship with litigants or politicians that might come before your tribunal, which may create any doubt on your impartiality; you are to be diligent in your duties and show transparent, fairness and uprightness, as adequate security measures have been put in place for the performance of your

duties.’’. Mr Olatunde Oyajimi is the chairman in Ogun Central, while Mr Bola Odeyale and Ven. Kunle Fajobi are members.

For Ogun East, the chairman is Mr Abiola Adegoke, while the members are Mr Ibrahim Atanda and Alhaji Tajudeen Fakorede. In Ogun West, Mr Sola Oyefeso will act as the chairman, while the members are Mr Sola Oyewo and Alhaji Ajibade Adeyemi.

In their separate remarks after the inauguration, the Chairmen unanimously pledged to discharge their duties without fear or favour, to the best of their knowledge and in accordance with the rule of law.

31

politicsnews

Thursday, 13 October, 2016

Ortom to LG sole administrators: Practice corruption, go to jail Johnson BabajideMakurdi

BENUE State governor, Chief Samuel Ortom has warned newly appointed sole administrators of the local government areas of the state that his administration would not shield anyone that may indulge in any corrupt practice.

He gave the warning in an address at the swearing ceremony of the new helmsmen for the 23 local council areas in the state.

Reiterating that his administration had zero tolerance for corrupt practices, the governor cautioned them against engaging in any unwholesome attitude capable of making them guests of anti-graft agencies.

Ortom said that they should see their appointment as an opportunity to deliver service to the people and not to embark on any jamboree trip outside their council areas.

He however used the occasion to advance reasons for the appointment of sole administrators into the council areas.

“Lack of funds has prevented us from conducting election into local government areas as planned,

el-Rufai dragged to court over LG administration Muhammad Sabiu-Kaduna

A Kaduna High Court has set aside October 30, 2016 to deliver judgment on whether Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has the constitutional right to appoint Interim Management Committees to run local government councils in the state.

The development followed a motion filed by one Alexander Guruzo before the state high court, challenging the legality of the appointees run the affairs of the councils.

In his submission, the appellant argued that the governor erred in law for constituting interim managers instead of elected officials.

He therefore asked the court to declare the appointments as illegal and called for their dissolution as well.

Guruzo also asked the court to compel the governor to organise a free and fair local government elections in the state.

However, the defense counsel, Sanusi Khalid argued that the appellant’s prayers lacked merit, as the governor acted within the laws of the state, calling on the court to struck out his submission.

hence, the appointment of sole administrators,” he said.

He charged the appointees to carry stakeholders along in their respective council areas, as well as recognize that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state was popularly elected by the people.

“You must fashion your activities in line with the aspirations of the people while your awareness should always include the fact that your activities are constantly under the watch of supervising authorities which include the state House of Assembly,” the governor said.

He also charged them to be loyal to the administration, warning that he would not hesitate to remove anyone with doubtful loyalty.

The sole administrators appointed by Benue State governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, into the local government areas of the state taking the oath of office, on Wednesday. PHOTO: JOHNSON BABAJIDE

Senate moves to make presidential/governorship candidates’ debates compulsory Taiwo Adisa-Abuja

THE Senate has put machinery in motion towards making Presidential and governorship debates a compulsory part of elections in the country.

The lawmakers, at the Wednesday sitting, passed a bill seeking to formalise debates in elections through the Second Reading.

Sponsored by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, the bill is seeking to make debates compulsory before governorship and Presidential elections.

Titled “Nigerian Political Debates Commission Bill, 2015,” it is seeking to give legislative backing

to the establishment of a commission with responsibility to organise and conduct debates for all the candidates cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), to partake in elections.

The senator, while leading the debate said: “The bill, if considered and passed by this hallowed Chamber, will strengthen our democracy and bring it in conformity with practice in other renowned democracy of the world.”

He cited the example of United States of America where, according to him, debates among major candidates have become

an integral part of the campaigns.

He stated that the practice had become customary in the USA following its debut in the 1960 debate between the then Democratic nominee John Kennedy and his Republican rival, Richard Nixon.

He stated further that debates are used to measure the quality of candidates, adding that “an analogous experience of this crucial indispensability of electoral debate is the current presidential debate between Hillary Clinton of the Democratic Party and Donald Trump of the Republican party” Senator Ben Murray Bruce, who supported

the bill however said that it should be restricted to Presidential and gubernatorial elections.

He also cautioned that government agencies should not organise and fund such debates because, parties not in power would not have confidence in such debates.

“Yes, Nigerian electorates want debates for presidential and gubernatorial candidates of major political parties before election but the body to organize and carry out such debates must be funded by the private sector as being done in advanced democracies,” he said.

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha who also backed

the bill said it was long overdue.

He stated that it was embarrassing that Nigerian voters, over the years, had not witnessed major debates among candidates.

He said: “This bill is surely a welcome development for the Nigerian electorate as far as the proposed debates are concerned.”

After the bill scaled the Second Reading stage, it was subsequently referred to Senate committees on Establishment and Public Service in collaboration with that of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for more legislative inputs.

Arrest of judges: Call DSS to order, Fasehun urges Buhari

By Kunle Oderemi

N

ATIONAL chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Dr Fredrick Fasehun, on Wednesday, condemned the arrest of some judges by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), over allegations of corruption.

Making a seven-point demand at a press conference on the matter in Lagos, Fasehun urged President Muhammadu Buihari to call the leadership of the organisation to order in the interest of democracy and rule of law.

Part of his demand was that the DSS, Police and the EFCC “must regain and maintain their statutory responsibilities of intelligence gathering and security maintenance instead of turning into in-

struments for silencing the opposition.”

Describing the DSS action as illegal and unconstitutional, Fasehun said it was “unthinkable that some voices are supporting the “brash display of impunity,” a trend, he claimed “makes us lament the passing on of Gani Fawehinimi, Alao-Aka Bashorun and Tunji Braithwaite.”

He added: “It smirks of a scripted and premeditated operation aimed specifically at intimidating the Judiciary and giving judicial officers a bad name in order to devalue their reputation.

“Moreover, the invasion represents an unjust clampdown on the Judiciary, a clear violation of the Rule of Law, Due Process and Commonsense,

and it should never happen again.”

Fasehun, who claimed that Nigeria was fast-becoming a banana republic, emphasised: “In a democracy, the Judiciary is the most stable arm of government for obvious reasons.

While the two other arms of the government, the Legislature and the Executive, have a ceiling on their tenure, the Judiciary is career-driven and enjoys tenure longevity.

“Those serving in the Judiciary are apolitical and the Judiciary is the last hope of the common man.

This is why it is disheartening, heartrending and troubling that the Judiciary has been placed under this brazen assault and it forebodes danger for the

nation’s democracy.”

Fasehun maintained that there was no ambiguity in the Nigerian Constitution on the principle of separation of powers among the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary.

“In the wisdom of our nation’s Constitution makers, the Constitution does not make the Executive the watchdog of the Judiciary.

That responsibility, in Section 21 belongs to the National Judicial Council, mandated to make recommendations to the President and respective governors for the appointment, discipline and dismissal of Judges,” he said.

Fasehun demanded that government obey all court orders, including the Federal High Courts and ECOWAS Court rulings that

ordered it to free former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retired).On the war against corruption, he said that in as much as he and others recognised the harm that corruption had inflicted on the country’s development, he said relevant institutions and agencies must follow due process and the Rule of Law. “The invasion of the homes of the Judges is a gross and blatant violation of Rule of Law, the Nigerian Constitution and commonsense. It is a resort to self-help that all civilised societies frown out.

“The DSS attack on the victims in the name of an anticorruption war appears like a deliberate strategy to cow and make the Judiciary and judicial officers run under their beds.”

Beneficiaries

=N= 112,829,943,721.21 57,228,855,281.52 44,121,048,607.76 16,737,534,925.61 2,350,492,571.73 2,978,038,650.62 1,220,444,877.21 237,466,358,635.66

Statutory

Source: Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation

Kemi Adeosun Hon. Minister of Finance Federal Ministry Of Finance, Abuja. Nigeria.

1

The above information is also available on the Federal Ministry of Finance website www.fmf.gov.ng and Office of Accountant-General of the Federation website www.oagf.gov.ng. In addition, you would find on these websites details of the Capital and Recurrent allocations to all arms of Government including Federal Ministries and Agencies. The Budget Office website www.budgetoffice.gov.ng also contains information about the Budget. ...............................

Check!!

1 FGN (see Table II) 2 State (see Table III) 3 LGCs (see Table IV) 4 13% Derivation Fund 5 Cost of Collection - NCS 6 Transfer to Excess Crude 7 Cost of Collections - FIRS 8 Cost of Collection - DPR 9 Total

S/n

Exchange Gain NNPC Refund to FG VAT Total Difference =N= =N= =N= =N= 1,203,567,582.89 6,330,393,548.39 9,376,753,588.12 129,740,658,440.61 610,465,562.16 31,255,845,293.74 89,095,166,137.43 470,643,360.05 21,879,091,705.62 66,470,783,673.43 261,627,245.75 16,999,162,171.36 2,350,492,571.73 2,604,653,774.48 5,582,692,425.10 1,220,444,877.21 2,546,303,750.86 6,330,393,548.39 65,116,344,361.96 311,459,400,296.87

SUMMARY OF GROSS REVENUE ALLOCATION BY FEDERATION ACCOUNT ALLOCATION Table I COMMITTEE FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, 2016 SHARED IN JUNE, 2016

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, ABUJA

32 Thursday, 13 October, 2016

Table II

Beneficiaries

5,087,777,340.90 25,520,008.11 5,113,297,349.01

=N=

=N=

103,877,226,091.09 2,141,798,476.10 1,070,899,238.05 3,598,221,439.86 2,141,798,476.10 112,829,943,721.21

Less Deductions

3

Gross Statutory Allocation

2

98,789,448,750.19 2,141,798,476.10 1,070,899,238.05 3,598,221,439.86 2,116,278,467.99 107,716,646,372.20

=N=

Net Statutory Allocation

4=2- 3

1,108,068,104.98 22,846,765.05 11,423,382.53 38,382,565.29 22,846,765.05 1,203,567,582.89

5,828,095,806.70 120,166,923.85 60,083,461.92 201,880,432.07 120,166,923.85 6,330,393,548.39

=N=

=N=

Total Net Amount

8=4+5+6+7

8,751,636,682.25 114,477,249,344.11 2,284,812,165.01 1,142,406,082.50 3,838,484,437.21 625,116,905.87 2,884,409,062.77 9,376,753,588.12 124,627,361,091.60

=N=

VAT

NNPC Refund to FG

Exchange Gain Difference

=N=

7

6

5

Source: Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation

Kemi Adeosun Hon. Minister of Finance Federal Ministry Of Finance, Abuja. Nigeria.

...............................

2

The above information is also available on the Federal Ministry of Finance website www.fmf.gov.ng and Office of Accountant-General of the Federation website www.oagf.gov.ng. In addition, you would find on these websites details of the Capital and Recurrent allocations to all arms of Government including Federal Ministries and Agencies. The Budget Office website www.budgetoffice.gov.ng also contains information about the Budget.

1 FGN (CRF Account) 2 Share of Derivation & Ecology 3 Stabilization 4 Development of Natural Resources 5 FCT-Abuja Sub-total

S/n

1

DISTRIBUTION OF REVENUE ALLOCATION TO FGN BY FEDERATION ACCOUNT ALLOCATION Table I COMMITTEE FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, 2016 SHARED IN JUNE, 2016

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, ABUJA

33 Thursday, 13 October, 2016

31

21

20

8

23

27

18

25

13

18

16

17

11

27

27

23

44

3 AKWA IBOM

4 ANAMBRA

5 BAUCHI

6 BAYELSA

7 BENUE

8 BORNO

9 CROSS RIVER

10 DELTA

11 EBONYI

12 EDO

13 EKITI

14 ENUGU

15 GOMBE

16 IMO

17 JIGAWA

18 KADUNA

19 KANO

2,393,821,264.98

1,977,365,654.77

1,687,724,587.95

1,569,111,139.56

1,421,522,437.67

1,517,731,715.38

1,349,412,635.95

1,411,148,777.16

1,350,174,531.57

1,532,353,286.55

1,517,600,736.19

1,875,056,707.59

1,692,508,364.40

1,335,348,055.38

1,805,217,779.04

1,500,554,866.63

1,517,341,966.61

1,503,371,255.68

-

-

-

182,489,023.04

-

-

-

96,653,425.30

-

2,393,821,264.98

1,977,365,654.77

1,687,724,587.95

1,751,600,162.59

1,421,522,437.67

1,517,731,715.38

1,349,412,635.95

1,507,802,202.47

1,350,174,531.57

4,340,089,224.65

1,517,600,736.19

-

2,807,735,938.10

1,875,056,707.59

1,692,508,364.40

4,487,718,764.78

1,805,217,779.04

1,500,554,866.63

7,225,061,535.57

1,503,371,255.68

-

-

3,152,370,709.39

-

-

5,707,719,568.95

-

1,597,312,420.64

=N=

Gross Total

6=4+5

27,471,110.18

124,439,748.98

15,825,526.14

33,117,690.13

1,649,670,969.02 2,041,009,979.32

325,340,175.48 0.00

1,581,926,466.22

1,150,642,265.05

626,410,424.80

1,280,785,749.91

281,915,450.02

466,863,610.20

1,218,267,915.14

2,080,285,977.38

143,097,140.45

1,411,575,232.79

777,298,889.53

2,178,875,467.03

1,192,563,053.49

1,369,921,784.84

6,040,246,643.17

1,152,215,864.66

1,268,910,694.59

=N=

Net Statutory Allocation

10=6-(7+8+9)

203,254,936.77

89,972,595.59

567,840,207.41

272,954,928.64

206,468,378.89

537,624,411.43

479,532,928.16

109,268,576.11

1,145,011,172.37

574,961,638.88

450,366,683.58

426,834,701.65

1,046,433,331.96

271,152,217.76

107,021,602.06

1,104,165,841.38

330,357,169.14

310,467,750.22

=N=

Other Deductions (see Note)

9

0.00

0.00

0.00

499,551,677.82

0.00

30,477,586.58 22,605,406.41

499,654,808.01

520,000,000.00

0.00

30,217,966.49

41,405,664.11

22,638,040.32

1,098,907,642.20

633,134,951.92

166,407,004.94 15,884,432.70

0.00

472,247,451.38

1,241,107,428.57

305,669,380.00

13,114,791.22

16,127,321.84

21,302,537.22

35,833,127.79

0.00

23,611,479.73

0.00

0.00 0.00

=N=

8 Deductions Contractual Obligation (ISPO)

80,649,051.02

20,798,221.88

17,933,975.83

=N=

External Debt

7

25,535,115.76

21,092,744.74

18,003,116.34

19,573,894.91

15,163,513.05

16,189,786.43

14,394,311.04

1,166,626,401.41

866,972,198.99

3,585,982,782.14

2,865,430,598.50

2,445,571,827.71

2,473,837,662.71

702,663,605.21 739,844,123.42

2,032,677,503.74

2,240,083,907.67

1,971,100,138.81

2,203,584,491.38

1,975,480,356.03

5,150,716,733.53

2,178,564,578.12

2,611,082,052.82

2,450,169,808.96

5,125,711,312.45

2,577,909,939.02

2,247,440,748.93

8,032,388,574.27

2,179,913,564.63

2,252,384,182.58

=N=

Total Gross Amount

13=6+11+12

595,991,553.02

706,162,405.86

607,293,191.83

679,345,424.54

610,903,386.22

14,402,438.25 16,436,864.37

750,532,444.75

644,775,452.67

716,023,939.62

739,607,299.23

575,012,341.49

753,435,732.78

730,879,322.92

701,105,009.40

660,505,706.88

637,054,024.64

=N=

Gross VAT Allocation

12

60,095,064.13

16,188,389.27

20,001,405.61

18,054,145.33

62,980,206.18

19,256,427.21

16,006,559.38

106,222,029.30

16,036,602.06

18,017,737.30

=N=

Distribution of Exchange Gain

11

9

8

3,233,171,496.48 19

2,537,735,912.75 18

2,339,773,705.98 17

1,872,879,765.17 16

1,237,565,490.87 15

2,003,137,942.20 14

903,602,952.88 13

1,162,645,899.11 12

1,843,573,739.61 11

2,890,913,486.26 10

804,060,982.38

2,147,600,578.02

7

6

2,816,868,014.70 1,534,960,334.09

5

4

3

2

1

S/n

1,965,255,213.47

2,116,807,667.14

6,847,573,681.87

1,828,758,173.61

1,923,982,456.53

=N=

Total Net Amount

14=10+11+12

Other Deductions cover; National Water Rehabilitation Projects, National Agricultural Technology Support Programme, Payment for Fertilizer, State Water Supply Project, 2 State Agricultural Project and National Fadama Project Source: Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation 3

*

Note :

21

2 ADAMAWA

184,141,110.82

=N=

=N=

1,413,171,309.82

13% Share of Derivation (Net)

Gross Statutory Allocation

No. of LGCs

17

Beneficiaries

S/n

5

4

3

1 ABIA

2

1

DISTRIBUTION OF REVENUE ALLOCATION TO STATE GOVERNMENTS BY FEDERATION ACCOUNT ALLOCATION COMMITTEE FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, 2016 SHARED IN JUNE, 2016

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, ABUJA

Table III

34 Thursday, 13 October, 2016

21

21

16

20

13

25

20

18

30

33

17

23

23

16

17

14

21 KEBBI

22 KOGI

23 KWARA

24 LAGOS

25 NASSARAWA

26 NIGER

27 OGUN

28 ONDO

29 OSUN

30 OYO

31 PLATEAU

32 RIVERS

33 SOKOTO

34 TARABA

35 YOBE

36 ZAMFARA

-

-

-

-

3,794,656,431.68

-

-

-

811,768,718.32

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

57,228,855,281.52 16,737,534,925.61

1,501,819,440.61

1,498,627,800.99

1,453,748,222.99

1,663,247,975.94

1,627,588,779.72

1,575,955,167.03

1,692,695,366.42

1,376,394,959.86

1,404,875,920.49

1,402,098,206.91

1,787,655,796.98

1,391,761,591.12

2,021,737,352.45

1,343,396,432.91

1,667,994,446.88

1,593,577,395.04

1,855,143,352.32

18,276,405.13

26,577,009.13

12,891,275.62

24,924,622.25

33,672,056.85

14,158,388.56

79,655,760.48

70,989,982.34

36,064,863.19

51,923,004.45

23,927,857.61

18,568,876.85

377,218,633.57

19,522,388.43

18,084,708.40

26,877,328.35

74,033,026.09

488,822,936.86

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

609,914,612.08

99,912,935.00

945,881,467.00

725,882,360.59

0.00

503,071,387.00

101,637,860.22

2,000,000,000.00

0.00

246,132,000.00

0.00

0.00

73,966,390,207.13 1,687,226,870.81 10,991,528,898.65

1,501,819,440.61

1,498,627,800.99

1,453,748,222.99

1,663,247,975.94

5,422,245,211.40

1,575,955,167.03

1,692,695,366.42

1,376,394,959.86

2,216,644,638.81

1,402,098,206.91

1,787,655,796.98

1,391,761,591.12

2,021,737,352.45

1,343,396,432.91

1,667,994,446.88

1,593,577,395.04

1,855,143,352.32

17,066,207,478.51

423,088,717.97

44,221,426,959.17

571,631,380.65

1,382,078,196.27

1,104,011,283.85

336,845,663.52 89,972,595.59

1,457,538,088.89

3,277,356,365.73

350,705,818.12

180,785,264.80

2,111,216,788.82

601,176,348.27

1,143,502,494.39

(1,015,523,813.01)

1,375,047,323.53 369,624,176.55

1,057,501,946.08

216,844,082.49

1,071,297,984.22

1,147,250,737.44

(355,481,281.12)

936,377,868.44

1,123,100,436.59

1,302,460,625.88

1,538,291,166.67

397,195,468.95

1,133,331,119.97

189,358,568.15

124,304,116.61

-

387,496,176.04

280,677,301.89

264,239,440.81

242,819,159.56

872,092,807.88

16,020,048.71

15,986,003.19

15,507,268.52

17,742,022.02

76,387,364.94

16,810,861.45

18,056,140.09

14,682,134.02

27,902,480.21

14,956,312.96

19,069,091.91

14,846,051.31

21,566,061.79

14,330,135.64

17,792,653.07

16,998,839.41

19,788,987.98

31,255,845,293.74

655,098,786.30

601,547,820.85

592,907,521.86

690,313,788.20

1,000,729,766.95

666,067,624.78

943,882,971.27

676,234,293.79

680,348,970.41

703,620,637.15

704,862,735.57

576,018,756.64

6,416,606,152.97

603,942,902.85

659,820,351.26

659,357,720.23

839,750,927.78

106,094,328,308.75

2,172,938,275.63

2,116,161,625.03

2,062,163,013.37

2,371,303,786.15

6,499,362,343.29

2,258,833,653.26

2,654,634,477.78

2,067,311,387.67

2,924,896,089.42

2,120,675,157.03

2,511,587,624.46

1,982,626,399.07

8,459,909,567.21

1,961,669,471.40

2,345,607,451.22

2,269,933,954.69

2,714,683,268.08

76,349,365,060.79

1,242,750,215.67 36

1,999,612,020.31 35

1,712,426,074.23 34

2,165,593,899.10 33

4,354,473,497.62 32

1,033,584,304.35 31

2,105,441,605.75 30

(324,607,385.20) 29

1,765,753,396.69 28

935,421,032.61 27

1,795,229,811.70 26

1,738,115,545.39 25

6,082,690,933.64 24

1,554,650,906.93 23

1,800,713,440.93 22

1,978,817,185.53 21

2,397,831,082.43 20

Other Deductions cover; National Water Rehabilitation Projects, National Agricultural Technology Support Programme, Payment for Fertilizer, State Water Supply Project, 2 State Agricultural Project and National Fadama Project Source: Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation 4

*

Note :

Total (States)

34

20 KATSINA

DISTRIBUTION OF REVENUE ALLOCATION TO STATE GOVERNMENTS BY FEDERATION ACCOUNT ALLOCATION COMMITTEE FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, 2016 SHARED IN JUNE, 2016

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, ABUJA

Table III

35 Thursday, 13 October, 2016

23

27

18

7 BENUE

8 BORNO

9 CROSS RIVER

11

27

27

23

44

34

21

21

16

20

13

25

20

18

30

33

17

23

23

16

17

14

6

14 ENUGU

15 GOMBE

16 IMO

17 JIGAWA

18 KADUNA

19 KANO

20 KATSINA

21 KEBBI

22 KOGI

23 KWARA

24 LAGOS

25 NASSARAWA

26 NIGER

27 OGUN

28 ONDO

29 OSUN

30 OYO

31 PLATEAU

32 RIVERS

33 SOKOTO

34 TARABA

35 YOBE

36 ZAMFARA

37 FCT, ABUJA

44,121,048,607.76

915,783,946.72 1,155,130,012.37 1,538,565,297.86 1,161,372,457.42 1,318,387,560.30 536,631,994.42 1,434,609,710.78 1,557,556,227.67 1,004,107,443.33 1,286,619,677.57 742,773,974.50 984,438,198.34 781,679,629.50 1,000,203,845.16 685,340,373.27 1,340,495,646.00 1,408,316,888.06 1,583,785,694.20 2,521,522,564.68 1,919,678,048.41 1,211,522,905.13 1,252,197,664.71 886,061,009.12 1,509,401,551.48 790,519,136.63 1,463,189,943.52 1,043,834,415.34 996,927,893.81 1,350,364,037.72 1,703,378,872.33 1,067,790,324.11 1,323,585,301.72 1,333,055,257.99 999,129,375.68 1,004,537,026.16 907,666,354.57 400,888,347.16

4 Gross Statutory Allocation =N=

470,643,360.05

9,768,753.18 12,321,880.09 16,412,020.21 12,388,468.83 14,063,363.65 5,724,303.77 15,303,116.22 16,614,598.24 10,710,908.19 13,724,492.67 7,923,239.59 10,501,094.51 8,338,249.86 10,669,268.14 7,310,589.98 14,299,192.67 15,022,648.22 16,894,390.42 26,897,317.49 20,477,385.63 12,923,428.36 13,357,309.83 9,451,695.82 16,100,927.79 8,432,541.71 15,607,984.24 11,134,679.53 10,634,323.26 14,404,459.73 18,170,102.05 11,390,219.45 14,118,808.45 14,219,825.36 10,657,806.68 10,715,490.59 9,682,162.06 4,276,313.57

5 Exchange Gain Difference =N=

Source: Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation

Total LGCs

16

17

13 EKITI

18

8

6 BAYELSA

13

20

5 BAUCHI

12 EDO

21

4 ANAMBRA

11 EBONYI

31

3 AKWA IBOM

25

21

2 ADAMAWA

10 DELTA

17

Beneficiaries

S/n

3 No. of LGCs

1 ABIA

2

1

(890,095,391.73)

(139,538,498.52) (38,551,266.00) (38,189,370.26) (53,983,557.43) (179,945,191.86) (39,238,127.24) (115,776,950.40) (47,177,126.82) (82,028,645.40) (83,688,581.46) (71,978,076.34) -

=N=

Deduction

6

21,879,091,705.62

=N=

379,606,417.99 452,294,527.67 622,967,472.22 500,855,962.14 503,388,017.83 207,721,525.01 534,447,365.21 576,853,767.13 398,624,102.81 568,057,302.01 302,786,337.90 421,147,387.43 344,770,369.51 422,776,331.71 267,348,677.10 567,446,567.89 592,140,471.78 622,432,561.12 1,118,123,077.34 760,053,229.15 452,189,648.59 452,770,911.33 342,735,943.98 3,801,653,169.61 280,232,797.78 540,567,578.12 467,429,212.69 423,483,640.20 590,579,581.25 804,346,145.81 399,048,606.85 692,563,846.03 501,916,074.42 335,820,691.21 355,098,664.82 350,966,174.21 923,847,547.75

Value Added Tax

7

5

37 65,580,688,281.71

36

34

1,345,607,873.57

1,329,012,208.47

33

1,777,213,081.43

35

32

1,268,314,690.83

31 2,030,267,956.20

1,370,351,181.57

30

27

1,406,621,357.16

1,478,229,150.41

26

2,019,365,505.88

29

25

1,039,946,348.88

2,442,206,538.73

24

5,327,155,648.88

28

23

1,238,248,648.92

1,873,319,433.30

22

1,538,380,694.01

1,383,868,730.46

20 21

19

3,666,542,959.50 1,676,635,982.08

18

2,223,112,645.74 2,700,208,663.19

17

2,015,480,008.06

14

1,433,649,445.01

15

13

1,134,788,248.87

16

12

1,416,086,680.29

1,922,241,406.57

11

1,015,294,181.74

906,016,082.92

9 10

1,868,401,472.25

8 1,374,891,188.34

2,151,024,593.03

5

1,835,838,941.79

6

4

1,674,616,888.40

7

3

2,177,944,790.29

1,844,821,693.69

2

1,619,746,420.13

750,077,823.20

1

S/n

1,305,159,117.88

=N=

Total Net Amount

8(4+5+6+7)

SUMMARY OF DISTRIBUTION OF REVENUE ALLOCATION TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS BY FEDERATION ACCOUNT ALLOCATION COMMITTEE FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, 2016 SHARED IN JUNE, 2016

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, ABUJA

36 Thursday, 13 October, 2016

37

Thursday, 13 October, 2016

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

Putin orders all Russians abroad to return home as he prepares for World War III

R

USSIA is ordering all of its officials to fly home any relatives living abroad amid rising tensions over the prospect of a new world war, The Sun, London reports.

Politicians and high-ranking figures are said to have received a high-level warning from tough guy president Vladimir Putin, according to local media.

The reported call to return to the Motherland, which comes after Putin suddenly cancelled a visit to France, according to Sun, applies to all state employees.

Workers were reportedly told to pull their children out of school immediately, reports the Daily Star.

The top level order applies to administration staff, regional administrators, lawmakers of all levels and employees of public corporations.

Those that do not obey the edict will find the future employment prospects in tatters.

The reason for the urgent

Putin meets his troops at a Russian military base. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES. recall is unclear but one top analyst said it could be a hint war is on its way.

Russian political analyst Stanislav Belkovsky said: “This is all part of the package of measures to prepare elites to some ‘big war’.”

Russia recently held defence drills for 40 million citizens in apparent preparation for an all-out nuclear war.

“And earlier this month, Putin’s ministers announced they had built bunkers capable of housing Moscow’s 14 million people.

Putin cancelled a sched-

Police, students clash in South Africa capital in fees protest POLICE in the South African capital Pretoria clashed with students who burnt tires and erected barricades in protest at university fees on Wednesday, a day after President Jacob Zuma appointed a special team to help end weeks of protests.

The often violent demonstrations over the cost of university education, which is prohibitive for many black students, Reuters said have highlighted frustration at enduring inequalities more than two decades after the end of apartheid.

Zuma on Tuesday formed a ministerial team to help end the protests but his gov-

ernment has said education subsidies should not come at the expense of other services such as health or housing. It also said 2017 university fees may rise by up to 8 percent.

“The TUT students did go through the Pretoria CBD (central business district) but public order policing have now dispersed them,” said police spokeswomen Sally De Beer, referring to Pretoria’s Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).

She said several students were arrested over the clashes, which disrupted traffic in parts of the city, but could not confirm how many.

Protesting students use shields belonging to private security during clashes with police. PHOTO: REUTERS.

uled visit to Paris next week after French president François Hollande accused the Kremlin of war crimes in Syria.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry

Peskov said: “The President has made a decision to cancel this visit.”

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has called on protesters to demonstrate outside the Russian embassy over the country’s brutal bombing of Aleppo.

Relations between Russia and the US are at their lowest since the Cold War and have soured in recent days after Washington pulled the plug on Syria talks and accused Russia of hacking attacks.

American military bosses taking part in a ‘future-ofthe-Army’ panel in Washington recently warned that World War III would be ‘extremely lethal and fast.’

Burundi’s parliament votes to leave ICC BURUNDI’S parliament voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday in favour of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court, amid a deepening row over political violence in the East African country.

According to Reuters,

President Pierre Nkurunziza

only two lawmakers voted in favour of staying under the jurisdiction of the Dutch-based ICC, while 94 voted against and 14 abstained.

Pro-government lawmaker Gabriel Ntisezerana said the court was “a political tool used by powers to remove whoever they want from power on the African continent.”

Earlier this year, the ICC opened a preliminary investigation into Burundi, focusing on acts of killing, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, as well as enforced disappearances.

Trump’s Twitter tirade against own party threatens GOP’s future, experts warn IN a United States political first, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has viciously turned on his own party, throwing his candidacy and the very future of the Republicans into serious jeopardy, according to experts.

In a Twitter tirade, Trump hailed the loyalty of the Democratic Party over GOP loyalty.

He even touted “crooked Hillary” Clinton as less “difficult” than “disloyal” Republicans.

“They come at you from all sides,” Trump tweeted about Republicans. “They don’t know how to win. I will teach them.”

Washington Post political analyst Chris Cillizza wrote

that in two decades covering US politics: “I can say without hesitation I have never seen anything close to this. And I expect I never will again.”

“The GOP has a suicide bomber as their nominee,” Texas-based political consultant Matt Mackowiak told USA Today. “The brand damage Trump may do to the GOP could last an entire generation,” he added.

Donald Trump

France’s Hollande criticises huge US fines against corporate Europe FRENCH President Francois Hollande on Wednesday, accused the United States of abusing its power by demanding multi-billion dollar fines from European companies while shielding its own firms.

In an interview, Hollande said the fines - most recently $14 billion against Germany’s Deutsche Bank for selling toxic mortgagebacked securities in the United States - were one reason why he could not support a U.S./EU freetrade deal, Reuters said.

“When the (European) Commission goes after Google or digital giants which do not pay the

French President Francois Hollande

taxes they should in Europe, America takes offence,” the Socialist leader told L’Obs magazine six months before presidential elections.

“And yet, they quite shamelessly demand 8 billion from BNP or 5 billion from Deutsche Bank.”

Merkel stresses access to EU market requires free movement of people

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel has always stressed that access to the European Union’s single market requires that a country accept the bloc’s principle of the free movement of people, her spokesman said

on Wednesday.

Asked if Merkel’s tone on Brexit had hardened in recent days due to British Prime Minister Theresa May’s latest comments on the issue, Reuters said spokesman Steffen Seibert told a government news conference: “I will leave the interpretation up to you.”

“A key assertion of the chancellor in the last months has, however, always been that full participation in the EU internal market means that the country that wants such participation must also fully subscribe to the free movement of people,” he added.

Former British prime minister, David Cameron, reveals new job DAVID Cameron has accepted his first job since quitting as Prime Minister following the Brexit vote.

The 50-year-old, who resigned in June after six years in Number 10, has taken an unpaid role at the National Citizens Service Trust, Ske News said.

The charity implements his flagship Big Society policy, helping 15 to 17-yearolds take part in volunteering and social development bootcamps.

Writing in The Daily Tele-

David Cameron

graph, Mr Cameron said: “When I look back over six years as Prime Minister, one of my proudest achievements is the creation of National Citizen Service.

38

tribunepools

DR J.K POOLS

07039275802 (19 XX 35) 22, 26, 33, 34, 41 Before you read this my column,

try to pick last week NIGERIAN TRIBUNE of Thursday. Where I apologized that i have now discover my poological failure for two weeks.

I boasted that you should get set to win in my column, then i released 5 games all drew that was 100% on nos 3x 10x 11x 12x 15x. Please check last week publication. It is better for you to enroll now with N50,000 payable to EKHOMU JOHN, zenith Bank account 2085795936. I have not started to say all clap hands for this world class pools consultant as i did in the defunct sporting observer., Now pick two from 22, 26, 33, 34, 41 and add to the above DR. J.K pools

LUCKYMAN

08054352685 = (26xx 27)

On sale 3 sure draw at N40, 000 when you win or N1000 MTN Card winning is wonderful win now with our 3 sure draws and smile to your bank on Monday.

CHUBY POOLS INTERNATIONAL 08163631159

Week 14 SUPER GIFT — 11, 12 14, 33, 34, 36.

Welcome from overseas trip. Read our advert for details — Call 08163631159.

SUNDERLAND SYSTEM

09038460009 = WK 13 FREE NO 10X 11X WK 14 PAIR 24. 25

ENGLISH SYSTEM BOOKLET OUT N30,000. MEMBERSHIP N50, 000 Wk 14 No Nap Nap Nap Nap 4/4 with 24. 25 Two BANKERS WK 12 NO 15X 20X PAIR 28F 29X 4 Bankers N6, 000 Wk 12 NO 9X 10X 27X 32X. 4. Bankers N6, 000 Wk 13 No 8x 12x 15x 17x with 10x 11x = 4 Bankers Wk 13 No Nap Nap Nap Nap. Two Bankers N3000 Wk 11 No 15x 20x Pair 28 29x Wk 12 No 10x 32x Pair 23f 27x Two Bankers N3, 000 Wk 13 No 12x 17x Pair 10x 11x Wk14 No Nap Nap Pair Nap Nap. Time to win pool this Wk 14 Sunderland system 4 special Draws this Wk 14 will play 4/4 correct hurry up to get your copy today two Bankers cost N3000 Wk 13 No 12x 17x Pair 10x 11x XX= Send MTN Card.

LAWRENCE NAP 08160052969.

SPECIAL RELEASE PAIR - 33X 35

Congratulations to all our customers our 3 weeks operations played 3 over 4 in week 12 on 18x 24f 32x 34x while last week 13 played all 4 over 4 correct on Nos 3x 10x 23x 39x.

This is the third week its 4 over 4 again this week 14, the 4 gazetted draws cost N100, 000 Cash. Do not miss it, you must win.

Congratulations in Advance.

MR. ADEWALE SUPER

NAPS. 07066717601.

WEEK 14 FREE NAP: 6, 15, 22.

Coupon Nos. 6, 15, 22 will play 3/3 Nap correct this week, to promote another 3 compulsory draws in weeks 15 and 16. Cost N20, 000 cash weekly. Mr Olufeyisan Adewale. Accts No. 3057236121. First Bank.

DRAW POINT

08182287493 PERM:- 10.14.15.16.30.31

The above games, will produce pass marks come Saturday against wk16. Cost N25,000 cash. Don’t waste time to call for payment after result. Good luck.

OJIKUTU NAP – 09091672122 12X 30X 36X 41XXX — 3drs win.

Congratulations our welcome back Nap above sure win is to prepare and booast all our friends to weeks 15, 16 and 17 fixed Nap. Cost N100, 000= each week make good use of the above games. Its Real= Goodluck.

ALASE DRAW MANAGER

– 09081716580 (20 SURE 21)

Another fantastic win awaits you at Alase draw management office where stakers are enriched in Millions. Call for your week 14 sure win and get connected. Confirmed winners only.

CARMARK SUPER 08186673842

FREE WIN – 08X 09X 15X 38XXX

Key – LIVERPOOL vs MAN UTD — on number 4 the above games is sure for 3 draws in preparation for our week 15 special nap that cost N25,000 and N10,000 for tha permutation all payment to Mr S.B Odesola. IBTC bank account no 0001361916 Good luck.

WEEK 14 STATUS LKO — 03 AND 10 P.P.P. — 04 SUNDAY — 06,07,15 VOID — 47 (VOID)

Thursday, 13 - 19 October, 2016

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE POOLS PAGE

THE WINNERS CHOICE WISE STAKERS DELIGHT GET A COPY AND WIN.

PLEIAD DE MAXWELL – 09099968585 ARSENAL –SWANSEA - ? 01 = 03

The most explosive match in the Premiership this weekend is between Liverpool and the Gunners. Never walk alone will be all out to outsmart the Gunners but trust the Gunners with their shooting ability a draw is likely with the Swansea newly signed coach Bob Bradley after the sack of Italian boss Francesco.

Bradley becomes the first American to manage in the Premier League after the Welsh club snubbed Ryan Giggs after interviewed.

ABCDE – was favoured as draws at home on numbers 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

Last week watch ABC on Nos – 1, 2, 3 in the Premiership. Stoke and Sunderland were known as draw specialists whenever wherever they meet, Middlesbro, and Westham are also tips for draw.

In Championship draws is likely at Aston V, Blackbourn, Fleetwood, Northampton, Oxford, Sheff Utd Southend and Walsall as your draws region, Barnet, Cambrige U, Cheltenham, Leyton, Notts. Co and Yeovil on bar also good.

The Scottish in recent time recorded unfavourable number of draws. Can Motherwell hold Celtic – No to many, punters! Inverness and Partick is sure for one. Contact De Maxwell winning pay point for your sure win after discharge of draws. TOKEN MANAGER.

DR. NICHOLAS NAP

- 09066465222.

WIGAN and DONCASTER ON WEEK OF PLAY

Week 12 and 13= 39x 10x 12x 32x 34= 5/5 FANTASTIC WIN AT NICHOLAS FOR WEEK 14. (AGAIN) WINNING – KEY= Stoke= Sunderland Annual winning project STOKE (eight) SUNDERLAND (ANNUAL – WIN) Wk. 41 – 2014/ 15 – 10x 16x 27xxx 09x= 9drs Wk. 42 – 2015/ 16 – 04x 19x 30xxx 07x= 9drs.

Wk. 14 – 2016/ 17 - X X X =?drs.

With the tradition 9/0 draws on board whenever stoke meet Sunderland.

It duel always ended a goal to each side= DRAW mind you that is when they met towards the end of the Season but now with just 10 matches played so far in Pools draws can only be unveiled through the assistance or directives from EXPERTS and the Pools Panels= N80, 000= New client only. Goodluck.

OBINYAN REMAINS UNBREAKABLE

The director in pools management in African and the chairman/managing Director of kings and George group of forcast papers prince Willy Ehi Obinyan remains stakers No 1 choice for regular winning. His recent indelible success is now talk of the town again in week 13. The shoot pointer front page one – two & xxx column got 3/3 om 17x 39x 14xx nap and the late news pair = 03x 05 and a narrow missed at the news back page on 3x 5? X 15xxx. The pools telegraph late new heartbreak nap draws on 3x 5x 15x 32xxx and the back page late news nap of 14x 15x 32. While the centre spread best pair 32x 33x and any way round on 32x 33x 42xxx 43f = 3 draws. Long sight, sun and figoro pair fulfilled its pair oats. The Zeter Editor’s note pair was fantastic and the Zeter hot pair A sequence 36/37x and B sequence 32x 17x 2 brankers and the gift region.

Again he promised to give bail out to all stakers before the 1st round cup in this recession. He therefore advised wise stakers to buy and study his group of forecast papers for uncompromised winnings. The papers are pools telegraph, Zeter pools, Guild, Shoot pointer, Murphy sports, the New Dream and final result.

OLA-CITY

WITH 3 DRAWS FOR WEEK 14, WEEK 15 AND WEEK 16 SURE TO MAKE IT WEEK 14 PAIRS 36XX 24XX

Phone: 08140575314 or 08085005634 The compiler of Ola-City International assures staking public and all registered members of his 3 fixed draws for this week 14, week 15 and week 16 cost N10,000 cash each week which will surely get all the 3 draws correct on Saturday as predicted. Pay your N10,000 cash to FirstBank Plc, account no: 3033318854 and collect the 3 draws on your phone after confirmation of your payment. Registration for winnings club member remain N100,000 cash while N50,000 cash deposit accepted the remaining N50,000 cash balance to be paid from your week 14 winnings.

Congratulations all Ola-City fans. Pairs 36xx 24xx

TRIPLE GIVES

(08035324990)

- 10 -48

Your indomitable Triple Spice International is at it again with good winning games this week. We offer all panters coupon Nos 10 & 48 for a sure, compulsory and mandatory draw. The duo will surely oblige us with a draw. Include them in your entries this week. Better still, add them to our IBK whgich costs only N1,500, 2 Drs cost N3,000 and 3 Drs cost N10,000 on 08035324990. Good luck!

FINANCE SOLUTION

08142362005, 08103222635 = No 23xxx

4. special draws = N25,000 wk 05 .Brown Charlton 25x 27x 28x 39x 4. special draws = N25,000 wk 09. Brown Charlton 26x 28x 30x 40x 4. special draws = N25,000 wk 11. Red Charlton 29x 20x 34x 39x 4. special draws = N25,000 wk 14. Blue Charlton 23x Nap Nap Nap Nap=4/4 4. special draws = N30,000 wk 15. Red No Nap Nap Nap Nap = 4/4 4. special draws = N40,000 wk 16.Purple No Nap Nap Nap Nap = 4/4 Key Aston v athom under the first bar bank CHARLTON to draw wk 14 No 23. 23. 23. Plus 3 others cost N25,000 following wk 15 red to control 4 special draws cost N30,000. Third week 16 purple to control 4 special draws cost N40,000 3 wks operations wk 14, 15, 16. Send M.T.N card to 08142362005 = 08103222635 or send your money to U.B.A or first bank account number.

DR. M. M. PROMISE, THE PAYMASTER - 08037174526 HOT 27, 28 WK. 13=8XX 14XX 32XX PAIR 16F, 17XX

The Paymaster and Nigeria’s foremost pools compiler, Dr. M. M Promise scored 3/3 Nap and 4/5 correctly with 8x 14x 32x pair 16f 17x. this week the enidite and legendary compiler has assured all his teeming fans and loyal customers of another Naira rain winnings with his special release cost N30, 000 cas, payable at UBA to Dr. Maxwell promise, Account No. 1003610591.

ACHIEVER INTER - 08034097902

MY ‘30’ YEARS IN POOLS TATICS COMPILATION WEEK ‘13’ RESULT: 11XX 17XX & 39XX 3/3 This wk 14 nap 30xx plus 2 others we congratulate all our numerous customers, members and who brought our released in wk 12 & 13 in week 12 result nos 27xx 37xx 38f & 47 that shook pools promoters and made many stakers billionaire in wk ‘13’ result Nos: 11xx, 17xx, 39xx scored 3 over 3. As we promised to dish out NAKED draws from wk 12 – 20 to all our register members with only one hundred thousand naira N1000,000 the balance to be paid from your winning. This wk ‘14’ chesterfield at away no 30xx to draw plus ‘2’ others with working system to all customers only twenty five thousand naira for non member. Get set for latest/current system in wk 16 contains ‘5’ original keys plus ‘2’ F.A cup system out in wk ‘15’ cost only N60,000 cash. This wk nos 30xx 30xx 30xx 30xx 30xx. Call for payment details on 08034097902 or 08057309501.

ZENITH CONFIRMED HOME OF WINNERS

08146879314 - (41 TWIST 14) = 08X 14X 33XXX - 15 = 4/4

LEEDS and CREWE = 5 letter words at away on 14 Turn 41 = confirmed another scheduled and projected Naps again. Multiple win at Zenith Home of Winners anniversary that started 3 weeks ago with a free for all win which was designed to appreciates all our esteem stakers worldwide. TO GOD BE THE GLORY. Congratulation to all my registered friends/clients — at Zenith your investment is your winning strength — N50,000 — again.

MODUPE (08033566694) 24x 26x 29 for 2 draws Winning galore at Modupe Nap Call for detail. Goodluck

IBUNKUN OLU - 07026839837.

FOR WK 14 RELEASE PAIR 19X 20

Readers of Nigeria Tribune should go all out with our week 14 release, our 3 gazetted draws and A Pair cost N10, 000.

Cash in week 06 release played 3/3 on Nos 13x 14x 19x all drew congratulations to all our customers last week 13 on Nos 3x 14x 17x. all drew, for this week 14 special release, do not miss it.

EMIRATE IS BACK

08087104491.

18X 14X 35X 36X 41X 48X.

The only permanent thing in life is ‘CHANGE.’ The above winning games started our New Era 3 week winning approval – 3 direct draws from the above games cost N10, 000. Against week 15 cost N200,000. Goodluck.

RIGHT TIME

08054282579 - 06 PAIR 08

This is your chances to win pools, all arrangements is now concluded to release 3, weeks operation Nap its your believed or you don’t believed. This is a high time to regain all your loses back if you follow expert. What happen in Week 12, Week 13, is going to happen again in Week 14, Week 15 and Week 16. Don’t be a doubting Thomas. This 3 weeks operation is enough for you to be a millionaire through pools betting. Week 14, cost N10,000, Week 15 cost N25,000, Week 16 cost N50,000.

More information, dial my number 08054282579.

GRACELAND INTERNATIONAL

NAP XXX WIN WK 14 NAP NAP NAP PAIR 29XX 30XX

Another hopeful week has come.

Phone 09086459272 to purchase or directly send MTN/ ETISALAT Cards worth of N5,00 and receive your winning Nap via SMS into your mobile phone. Thanks.

INNOCENT NAP

(08095602590) = 23XX 24 ENGLISH N30,000 WINNER MEMBERSHIP GROUP A. N50,000

ENGLISH SYSTEM BOOKLET N30, 000= Wk 14 Blue No Nap Nap Nap Nap= 4/4 4 Special Draws N6, 000 Wk13 No 16x 11x 12x 14x= 4/4 4 Special Draws N6, 000 Wk 12 No 10X 32X 33F 34X WK 13 NO 10x 11x 14x with 2f 3x Two Bankers Wk 11 No 20x 34x Pair 14x 15x Wk 12 No 10X 32X PAIR 26F 34X wk13 No 11x 12x Pair 3x 14x Wk 14 No Nap Nap. Stakers try to get Innocent 4 special draw this Wk 13 cost N6, 000 Two Bankers cost N4000.

Send MTN Card 08095602590 the game will be sent to you by text message 08095502590

PETAFE – 08059186433 38 MUST 40

Blue colour settings. Reference to weeks 6 and 10. Don’t compromise your sure winning chances N10, 000 – or P.A.W – n100, 000.

GOODLUCK

MALLAM BAWA MUSA 08052506287 = BET 9 OR 18 WK 13= 10X, 11X, 12X. PAIR 6F, 7F.

Stakers, sure and compulsory awaits you again in weeks 14 and 15. No story!! Cost price is only N15, 000 cash for 3 sure Nap draws with hot pair payments at Access Bank to Mallam Musa I. Bawa, accts No. 0042075887.

A.T.M. LIVE

0704047867, 08056390550 Wk14:- X.X.X. Pair 15X16

Here comes the week of change, week of toal recovery, and week smiling to banks. WK 15 and WK16 are also awaiting. Each cost N15,000 cash. Also watch out in my advert next week. The key: Cost N50,000 flat. Pay to Mrs Modupeola Oseji, A/C No: 2016981168, UBA Bank. Don’t miss the favour coming your way. Congrats in advance.

FORTUNE NAP

08067881958 Wk 14 No. 12x 19x 35/20 x 37

Free to enable you buy our Wk 15 special release. Cost N25,000 after Wk14 result for Wk 15 nap and win. Call: 08067881958.

SHORT GUN

08050614477, 08168241902 29XX37

If you go by our recent success in recent times, the above pair is due for a draw. Sheff Utd must Doncaster and other 3 fixed matches as confirmed draw. N25,000.

Goodluck.

3 WEEKS WINNING JACKPOT.

OLA – CITY INTERNATIONAL 3 FIXED DRAWS FOR WEEK 14, WEEK 15, WEEK 16 COST N10, 000CASH EACH WEEK. WINNING CLUB MEMBERSHIP FEES N100, 000= CASH N50, 000 BALANCE TO BE PAID FROM WK 14 WINNINGS. PAY TO FIRST BANK PLC. ACCOUNT NO. 3033318854 in the name of OLAFENWA R. OLA-CITY and collect the 3 Draws on your phone after confirmation of your payment.

PHONE 08140575314, OR 08085005634 CONGRATULATIONS. DRAW COMMANDER BEST ENGLISH MAGIC TWO BANKERS N3,000

WK 13 F5F X10X PAIR 12X 14X 17X 17X

WK 12 X10X X27X PAIR X04X X05X

TWO BANKERS N3,000

WK 14 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

WK 12 X31X X34X PAIR X9X X10X

WK 13 X11X F36F PAIR NAP NAP

WK 14 NAP NAP PAIR F27F F28F

SEND MTN CARD TO 08095602590.

MID-WEEK CLICKS ON 1BK AT NO 8XX NON OFFERS (2X 36X 48X pair 7-8) (08087176217) The juicy Mid-Week is happy to offer panters a winning line on 2-3648x-7/8 this week. Try the game and smile to your bank on Monday in preparation for next week bumper harvest at N25,000.

No selling of games this week as we are now poised to shell and shake the pools world. You have won!

FINLAND

ONE BANKER WK 13 N2000 X10X

WK 14 BLUE

TWO BANKERS COST N3,000.

WK 13 NO 11X 14X 4 BANKERS. COST N10,000. SEND M.T.N

TO 09038633666

DENMARK

ONE BANKER WK 13 N2000 X12X

WK 14 BLUE

TWO BANKERS COST N3,000.

WK 13 NO 12X 17X 4 BANKERS. COST N10,000. SEND M.T.N

TO 09038633666

BARNET

ONE BANKER WK 13 N2000 X14X

WK 14 BLUE

TWO BANKERS COST N3,000.

WK 13 NO 10X 15X 4 BANKERS. COST N10,000. SEND M.T.N

TO 09038633666

SIR MICHAEL NAP 30 PAIR 38 (UNFAILING NAP, BANKER) 09091874579.

Last week release got 11xx, 12xx, 13xx 3/3, the pair 2f, 3xx, making 4/5. Congratulations, meanwhile another 3/3 and 4/5 this week cost N25, 000. 00. Call for acct. No. or mode of payment on 09091874579, Pair 30 or 38 for X. REG. is N750, 000. 00.

PORTUGAL

COROATIA

X10X X11X

X12X X14X

TWO BANKER WK 13 N3,000

WK 14 BLUE NAP NAP

TWO BANKER WK 13 N3,000

WK 14 BLUE NAP NAP

TURKEY

TWO BANKER WK 13 N3,000

X15X X17X

WK 14 BLUE NAP NAP

SEND MTN CARD TO 09038633666 NJOROGE MR ASSURANCE – 08177474535

STAKERS RELIEF ON AUTHENTIC WINNING ADVICE WEEK 12 – SUCCESS – 05X 32X 41XXX 13F 12X FREE 4 WEEKS BANKERS DRAW. WEEK 12 12XCBK – WEEK 13 = 12CBK – WEEK 14 = 14xbk - WEEK 15 - 14 Week 12 – 05x 32x 41xx 12x 04x Week 13 - 03x 24x 39xx 12x 05x Week 14 – x x x 14x 06x Week 15 - x x x 14x 07x Don’t be left out of our newly chilled and served menu for your winning pleasure and get out of the current economic recession. Trust Mr Njoroge the winning Assurance that care for your winnings. OUR PRIDE IS YOU Njoroge Assurance. N50,000 = free Nap win and standing win.

ATTENTION ALL COMPILERS, OUR POLICY ON NO ADVERT NO WRITE UP STILL IN PLACE —MANAGEMENT.

39

tribunepools

JACOBSON NAP –

07065292905 (18 MUST 24)

DONCASTER IN WEEK OF PLAY. (VERY REAR) Crawley in a register draw and Doncaster.

No event – No History week 13 sure Nap. Week 24’ 2014 – 05x 19x 40xxx – 20x Week 13’ 2016- 08x 14x 33x – 13x 15x.

DERBY ON WEEK OF PLAY= DD Winning affair. Jacobson week 14 sure win needed no story we speak winning language with the above refrence and other scheduled NAPS. Cost N50, 000 – guaranteed.

MADAM EMILIA 08068523407

THE WINNERS CHOICE OF POOLS STAKERS Success don’t come easily so be patient keep moving and you will get there. For Week 14 Blue the winning line!!! 14,18,37,41,47,48xxxxxx For Week 15,16,17 and 18 (4) weeks, special colours operation with (3) NAP-DRAWs and a pair —ON SALE at N35,000 each week with guarantee. It is your TURN TO WIN NOW!!! FOR MORE DETAILS CALL: 08068523401. Goodluck......

AKIN MR AKIN — 07067202291 (22 XX 33)

14X 23X 24X 33XXX B – G and B – E Bristol R – Gillingham must Barnet – Exeter and Oxford Bradford. C on 26 is the key to open 3 draws for this week 4/4 sure naps on 2 digits of 3 and 4 controlled naps is sure again = No hidden place for promoters N35,000 winning promise.

4 MEMBERS 4 MEMBERS 4 BANKERS - 15 NAP 20

(08162705220)

4 BANKERS COST N6000 WK 14= 2013 NO 11X 16X 30X 31X WITH 15X 20X 4 BANKERS COST N5000 WK 14= 2014 NO 14X 23X 27X 35X WITH 15x 20X 4 BANKERS COST N5000 WK 14= 2015 NO 13x 17x 26x 37x with 15x 20x 4 BANKERS COST N5000 WK 14= 2016 NO NAP NAP NAP WITH 15.

20.

Stakers try to get 4 members 4 bankers this wk 13 cost N6, 000 4 member ENGLISH system booklet out N30, 000. Winner membership Aussie 2016 N50, 000 Send MTN Card 08162705220.

IKECHUKWU & BROTHERS NAP – 08168157259.

ANNUAL WIN WITH – (41 MUST 14) LIVERPOOL – MAN UTD= WINNING STATEMENT. Week 36 – 12x 32x 40xxx 14x 9drs= Week 27 – 09x 17x 36xxx 41x 10drs= Week 14 – X X X - 11drs.

Contact Ike & Bros. Universal draw scheduled winning programme N25, 000- just for you. Call for payment details. NB= No reduction.

ALHAJI SADIKU, TALK OF THE TOWN

08183573342, NAP 37, OR 39.

WK 13= 23X, 33X, 34X. PAIR 32X, 46F Your winning 3/3 Nap again is guaranteed in weeks 14 and 15, cost N10, 000 cash “fortune saviours the daring” pay at GTB to Alhaji Sadiku Adedoja, Accts No. 0030411077. Congrats to all who won with my Nap last week!!!

PETER NAP 8 PAIR 18 08076546261

Congratulation in advance as the even week system that got 31xx, 41xx, 47xx 3/3 in week 12, when 31xx, 41xx was published free will get it again this week. The weekly release cost just N25, 000. 00 pay to the saving acct no: 3023114822 first Bank in person of Mr Onaolapo Peta A. club membership 1 million, meanwhile bank on 8or 18 for X call 08076546261.

MAN CITY SYSTEM

08166222529= 09038633666= 7XX 8XX

RELEASE WINNER MEMBERSHIP ENGLISH 2016 N50, 000 ENGLISH SYSTEM BOOKLET N30, 000 4 Special Draws N6, 000 Wk 11 RED No 9x 20x 29x 39x= 4/4 4 Special Draws N6, 000 Wk 12 No 31X 32X 38F 34X 4 Special Draws N6, 000 Wk 13 No 12X 14X 15X 17X PAIR 16F 17X WK 14 NO NAP NAP NAP NAP Two bankers N3, 000 Wk 12 No 20x 29x Pair 9x 39x Two bankers N3, 000 Wk 12 No 31X 32X PAIR 9X 26F WK 13 NO 15X 17X PAIR 12X 14X WK 14 NO NAP NAP Stakers try to get MANCITY 4 Stakers draws this Wk 14 cost N3000, two Bankers this Wk 14 cost N3000.

Send MTN Card to 08166222529.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE POOLS PAGE

THE WINNERS CHOICE GET A COPY AND WIN

M.B.A. EXPERT (08104694618) PAIR — 19XX 45

Apart from this week 14 pair of 19XX45, the probability of a cluster in Skybet League One cannot be ruled out. This section had 2 draws in 1st Blue at Northampton versus Wimbledon and Southend vs Bristol Rovers with 3 draws in Wk 10. Although, championship provided the fertile ground in Wk06, there is a unique similarity in Wk10 and 14 Bar with WIGAN. There were 50 Scottish fixtures in Wks 06 and 10. That segment is duly on course now with Celtic vs Motherwell coming out with 2-2 score draw. Numbers 19 and 45 draw ration 7 - 4 since 2003 to date. Call for bail out (0810469418). Goodluck.

DAVID SUPER NAP – 07088103080 (29 XX 41) WK. 13 NAP 11X 15X 32XXX 42X

WALSALL – WALSALL – WALSALL !!!

Walsall away no 9, Accrington under the bar, Aldershot under the bar and letter ‘T’ at away 37 reference week (Brown) played on 30th January 2015/16’ Week 29’ 2015/16 — 11x 15x 32xxx 42x Week 13’ 2016 — 11x 15x 32xxx 42x.

Following week opponent of Walsall to draw in the next week. In week 29 – Reading was its opponent that drew on No 19 in week 30 ‘2015/16 now in week 13 sheff Utd played Walsall to mark x in week 14 = 29xx crewe = sheff Utd must crewe = 29 xx 41 with N50,000 = Expert full payment winning as it was in week 29 2015/16 with unit number of draws.

David injured promoters at stakers expence N50,000 — Assured winning expenses

NAZAR MASTER CONTINUES TO EXCEL

The leading pools company in Oyo State and environs, NAZAR MASTER Pools Company Limited, Ibadan, has continued to excel with its wonderful performance in the current U.K. Football season This was made known to TRIBUNE POOLS during the week by industry stakeholders in different interviews.

According to them “NAZAR Master is a solid industry player. The pools company has continued to endear itself to stakers, collectors and other stakeholders with prompt payment of winning no matter the amount involved.”

They therefore appeated to the pools company not to lower its guard by maintaining its leadership position in the pools industry. (NAZAR THE WISE STAKERS CHOICE)

FORTUNE DONOR DONATES 2-4 (08099111828)

Your selfless and hardworking Fortune Donor International is happy to give all panter a formidable pair on coupon Nos 28,4 for one sure draw this week. Use the pair well by including them in all entries this week for maximum benefit. Our IBK costs N1,500, 2 BKs cost N3,000 and 3 draws cost N10,000 on 08099111828. Best of luck!

DOUBLE SHUFFLE GIVES (13-23) (09052942626)

There was a near miss last week on our 3 Draws which scored 2/3 on 8XX-17XX-47XX. Promoters were lucky to escape the onslaught. They will surely not be that luck this week. Get started. Join the winning group and stop losing. Our 1BK still sells for N1,500, 2BK cost N3,000 and 3 Draws cost N10,000 on 09052942626. God Bless all of us!

MADAM DE MADAM – 08023329191.

15X 33X 34XXX 06X 08= 14X= 5DRS. PROMOTERS IN ANOTHER TROUBLE WITH BI-ANNUAL 2/2 YEARS WINNING GAZETT – ON. MIDDLESBRO and WATFORD= 2/2YRS. WIN. Week 26 2012/13 — 06x 15x 33xxx 37x.

Week 15 2014 — 08x 19x 47xxx 36x Week 14 2016 — X X X - 36xx 37.

Congratulations, again our current winning statement is directed by our foreign notable Experts to put a final stop to your weekly loses.

Call our media Manager (Mr Joshua) and get connected to stakers safe place, for your winning details N50, 000 – Goodluck.

ADEOTI SYNDICATE 07051327960

BEST PAIR: X36X41X41X FOR ONE Congratulation to those who buy our release and I thank God that I fulfil my promise getting 3 draws correct Nos - 10X12X15X. Pair:- 14X2 OFF. Score four over five. Not yet finished. This Week 14 is the second week of my promise. Nothing can disturb Nos 36X41X to produce a draw. With the 3 nap. Send your money N5,000 cash to Ahmed Shafiri A/C Nos: 20001788431, Zenith Bank, Ibadan or MTN card. KEY:- Any blue colour. Nos:14&41 play draw together. Following Blue colour to give you 3 draws and a pair.

DR. B4 DR. – 08062748396 (14XX 24)

23X 33X 42XXX BRAINTREE, BOSTONE. U. & BATH. C. CONGRATULATIONS mission accomplished on Lyton O. – Portsmouth – 3rd week Nap on free up & down must draw= 15x 17x. 10 draws – confirmed another winning chance on DERBY GAIN ON WEEK NUMBER and ASTON. V. on Mouth of play.

Weekk 11 – Aston. V. vs Newcastle= A + N= 1 + 14= 15xx Week 14 – Aston. V. vs Wolves = A + W= 1 + 23= 24xx Week 11 = 09x 20x 34xxx 15x Week 14 = X X X = 24xx 14 Dr. B4 Dr. winning perusal for confirmation on current winning for confirmation on current winning statement. All our week 13 winning clients are to pay all their due and other propectives members are welcome with N50, 000= consultation fee. (for freshers only).

WITH CONFIDENCE= 08166222529, 08139714848= 8XX 10XX

Two Bankers= N5000 Wk 10 NO 14x 24x Pair 26x 34x wk 11 No Nap 15x 34x Pair 28f 29x Two Banker= N5000 Wk 12 No 10X 31X PAIR 11F 12X Two Bankers N5000 Wk 13 No 7f 10x Pair 11x 12x 42x Wk 14 No Nap Nap PAIR NAP NAP One Bankers= N2500 Wk 11 RED No 29x Pair 20x 21x Wk 12 No 34X PAIR 11F 12X WK 13 No 11x Pair 42x 43 One Bankers= N2500 Wk 08 No 33x Pair 15F 17x Wk 09 No 28x Pair 23x 40x Wk 10 No 34x Pair 6x 14x Wk 11 No 15x 34x Pair 28 29x Wk 12 No 34x Pair 11f 12x Wk 13 No 11x Pair X 13x 42x League Table Two Bankers= N3000 Wk10 No 20x 34x Pair 14x 17x Wk 13 No 32x 33x PAIR 34x 42x Wk 14 No Nap Nap pair Nap Nap League Table Two Bankers= N3000 Wk 11 RED NO 20x 39 Pair 29x 30x wk 12 no 31X 41X PAIR 9X 10X. wk 13 No 32x 33x Pair 34x 42x Wk 14 No Nap Nap Pairxx. Wk 12. 13. 14. 15.

Send MTN Card 08166222529. The game will send to you by text message.

08139714848.

WEEK 13 XRAY

Congratulations it is no longer news telling any staker/reader of our pools page that our Compilers are equal to non with their weekly superlative performances (STAKERS PRIDE). Free winning lines of 3/ 3,5 draws from our wk.13 outstanding Experts Dr. J.K. pools got 5 draws correctly whao! Incredible result. Austin chukwu and Dr. Sam also added value to our readers sure win. M B A Experts, Sunderland, Hope, Ola City and Alase draw manager gave good account to our readers winning delight on 2 bankers series. Our one bankers Experts were Lawrence, Madam Emilia, Ibukun Olu and John Super Tips that added to promoters losses. Our pair managers also on rampage Adeoti, Winnner code, Godwin, Alhaji Sadiku, Labaeka, Ikechuckwu, Midweek with confidence Dr B4 Dr. The Lilles, Sir Braka, Graceland int., Achiever, Short Gun, Jacobson, Madam De madam, Petafe, Ojikutu, Dr M.M promise, Akin Mr Akin and Zenith home of winners. It is now obvious that our compilers are second to non. Our compilers promised more successful weeks ahead please appreciate their good work/s. YOU ARE A WINNER — they declared.

Thursday, 13 - 19 October, 2016 DR SAM —

08084077244 (41XXX29)

14X15X17XXX = 3 free draws Congratulation to all our callers that benefitted and won from our free published games last week.

Our next 2 weeks Naps now cost N50,000. He who starts well by His grace will end well, as they say morning shows the day. Week 14 cost N50,000 — Wk 15 cost N200,000. Expect full odd this week as instructed by our draws management experts. Goodluck.

BOLU ONE — 07031916067

29 X 33 X 44 XXX — 2drs.

Sure win at Bolu’s Nap with the above free win to start our current 3 draws scheduled draws. Week 15 cost N100,000. Invest wisely now.

Call for details. Goodluck.

BEST BARGAIN INTERNATIONAL 08092621480 WEEK 14: - 13XX 44XX 48XX.

Take it from me, that disappointment of yesterday is for the glory of today.

Club members and prospective members should never give up. When the going gets tough, only the tough gets going. The Bookmakers and the Pools Panel have told me that enough is enough.

Go all out with the game above and start your journey to an uneding prosperity.

Membership registration remains N250, 000. Call on me 08092621480 FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND DISCUSSIONS.

PARTRICK SURE WIN -

08154836338 (12 MUST 18) SOUTHEND onWALSALL at home on 3rd bar. Congratulations another winning is assured as it was in week 12. Watch reading at home 18 and date of play.

Week 12 = 6x 27x 41xxx 12xx 18 = 4/5 Week 14 = X X X = 12XXX 18 = ?

Another guaranteed 3/3, 4/5 awaits you at patrick the English draws management pay point.

Call and win. Be a beneficiary N25,000 - Goodluck.

THE – LILIES 08086944309 (41 BET 48)

We are set to bail you out of poverty call for our 3 unfailing jackpot x s and win big jackpot on pools send N1, 500 MTN Card and win Big Jackpot on Pools 41 Bet 48.

MISTER – DRAW 08086944309

WK 13 RES= 23XX 33XXX 39= 3 OVER 3 – (DERBY X QPR) 3 super draws on sale nationwide grab your own copy today Lagos fans contact us at sporting house 2a Ofada St—Mushin Lagos out station send N3000 MTN Card.

JOHN SUPER TIPS SPECIAL RELEASE

BANK 41 CBK PLUS 2, OTHERS Readers, No if or but coupon No 41xxxcbk to draw plus 2, others, remember week 10, my release scored 3 over 3 correct on Nos 20x 24x 35x all drew.

This week 14, on my release history will repeat it shelf, its 3 over 3, do not miss it Avoid had I known. My 3 fixed draws with a pair cost N10, 000. Cash. Call 09050512097.

VICTORY NAP — 08112429904

10 X 11X 13XXX 7 & 36, FREE WIN Despite the typographic error on 17 to 27, all our callers benefitted largely on our free publication Naps that paved way for our Week 14 and 15 sure Naps. Call for your winning details — 08112429904. PAW 50K.

WINNER CODE 505

08135637650 (2 NAP 3XX)

UK SYSTEM TWO BANKERS N2000 WK 13 NO 10X 11X WK 14 NO NAP WK 15 NAP NAP POWER X POWER N2000 WK 13 NO 14X 15X WK 14 NO NAP NAP WK 15 NAP NAP Winner code 505 two Bankers N2000 Wk 13 No 3x 8x Wk 14 No Nap Nap Wk 15 Nap Nap. Adesure Nap two Bankers N2000 Wk 13 No 11x 12x Wk 14 No Nap Wk 15 Nap Nap 4 Expert. 4 Special Draws this Wk 14 cost N25, 000 Wk 13 No 10x 14x 15x 17x Wk 14 No XXXX= 4/4 Cost N25, 000 Wk 14 Nap Nap Nap Nap= 4/4. Send MTN Card 0813560750. The Game will send to you by text message.

MAITO NAP

08030785634/ 9081225091 NAP= 14X 31X 41XXX.

The above free Nap & win is to established you for our Weeks 15, 16, 17 guaranteed Nap. Cost N50, 000= Pay to Sule Ishola at Wema Bank a/c No – 0221601707= call for details.

ORIGINAL BETS MASTER 08134496635

WK 14 FREE= 17 – 23 – 24.

Stakers, Nap 17, 23, 24 to draw again this week as key to my 3 fixed banker draws in week 15, cost N20, 000 cash.

MOLLY ONE BANKERS GROUP=

08055230300= 23xx 25xx

WITH GOD one Bankers N2000 Wk 11 No 9x wk 12 No 27x Wk 13 No Nap Wk 14 Nap. MOLLY one Banker N2000 Wk 11 No 34x Wk 12 No x 34x Wk 13 No 7f Pair 10x 11x Wk 14 No Nap USA One Banker N2000 Wk 11 No 29x Wk 12 No 10x Wk 13 No 11x Wk 14 No Nap BIG MAN one Banker N2000 Wk 11 No 39x Wk 12 No x32x WK 13 No 10x Wk 14 No Nap. Stakers try to molly one Banker Group. 4/4= 4/4 N25, 000 send MTN Card 08055230300.

NEW SYSTEM SET FOR WK 14, 15, 16.

KINGSTON CRONDON.K YEOVIL TWO BANKER WK 13 N3,000 X10X X14X

TWO BANKER WK 13 N3,000 X12X X17X

NAP X NAP X

NAP X NAP X

WK 14 BLUE

WK 14 BLUE

4. SPECIAL DRAWS THIS WK. 14 BLUE COST N25, 000

TWO BANKER WK 13 N3,000 X08X X15X WK 14 BLUE

NAP X NAP X

SEND MTN CARD TO

LAWRENCE NAP NOW ON SALE 4 GAZETTED DRAWS COST N100, 000. CASH

WK 12 RESULT 18X 24F 32X 34X ¾ WK 13 RESULT= 3X 10X 23X 39X 4/4 Congratulations to all our customers free pair33xxx 35.

Call 08160052969.

WERRIBEE.C

BALCATTA

TWO BANKER WK 13 N3,000

TWO BANKER WK 13 N3,000

WK 14 BLUE

WK 14 BLUE

X10X X15X NAP NAP

X12X X14X NAP NAP

MODBURY

TWO BANKER WK 12 N3,000

X15X X17X

WK 12 BLUE NAP NAP

4. SPECIAL DRAW THIS WK 14 BLUE N25,000 SEND MTN CARD TO 08162705220

HOPE NAPS & CO. 08107128449 HOPE GOT 3 DRAWS CORRECT NO 8XX 11X 14XX Wk 14: 31 Pair 26 (26 Pair 31). Hope Naps again Promised all fans/Stakers that Wks 14, 15 and 16 are weeks of joy in Pools bettings for all people that believe.

We do assure our fans that they should believe that it is real. Call Hope Naps & Co and pay to first Bank Plc Account No. 3088328923 while the week releases will be sent to you on Phone (messages).

All payment to Mr. Gbadebo – Stephen A make sure your payment are confirmed for you to get the releases. Each week cost just N20, 000 Bank No 26 Pair 31.

No (31 Pair 26). God bless.

IBUKUN OLU NAPS –07026839837

Week 14 special release 3 Gazetted draws and a Pair cost N10, 000. Cash Last week 13, result= 3x 14x 17x 3/3. Did you remember Wk 06,= 13x 14x 19x. all drew this Wk 14 free Pair 19xxx 20.

CHUBY POOLS INTERNATIONAL WK 14, SUPER GIFT:- 11, 12, 14, 33, 34, 36. TEL: 08163631159

DEAR LOVELY STAKERS

Chubby Pools is Back from U.K, since 2011 after releaving many stakers from promoters pains that season, we move back to United Kingdom for more research at the inner chamber of the compilers just to be sure that all our fans make their fortunes upon our arrival here in Nigeria and where ever Pools is staking in this west Africa. However, to assure every one that draws are fixed, kindly per this six games to enable you raise cash to buy our 3 draws next week which will cost N30, 000 Naira cash. Any of you who need direct 3 draws this wk 14, should call me with only N5, 000 CASH. CALL FOR ACCOUNT DETAILS 08163631159.

NEW VICTORIOUS VICTOR & ASSOCIATES. 3 WKS NAP 08126994034= SILENT ACHIEVER.

8 – 8 YEARS= 3 WEEKS FIXED NAPS. KEY= Week 13’ 2008 and Week 13’ 2016.

Wk. 13= COLCHESTER Away 31’ 2008= C= 3 = 2x 3x 4xxx NAP Wk. 14= LEYTON. O. Away 31’ 2008= L= 12 = 11x 12x 13xxx NAP Wk 15 = NORTHAMPTON Away 31’ 2008= N= 14= 13x 14x 15xx NAP The contact that connected 2008 – Wks. 13 – 15 Naps is due to work in another dimention again.

Weeks 13, 14, 15 – 2016 Victorious week. WK. 13= 10x 11x 12xxNAP. Weeks 13= N50, 000, week 14= N100, 000 Wk. 14= X - X - X. Nap and win Week 15 – 1MILLION NAIRA. Get victorious & Let’s celebrate you.

VICTORY AT LAST VENTURES - 09054631427 (29XX 39)

Four weeks operation authentic information from UK congratulation in advance week 14 is free without any condition, to enable you generate money to procure the rest three Wks, I.e Wk 15, 16, 17. Call us for the 3 secret draws please stake wisely goodluck pair No 29 and 39. 09054631427.

GODWIN NAP – 08156829811 = 12XX 14

Week 13 = 08 X 14X 33XXX – 39x 24x = 5/5 ANOTHER GOLDEN WINNING CHANCE AGAIN WITH LEAGUE 1 team on 10 – 14 or 15 with ACCRINGTON under the Bar at Away and Home. Reference to week 8 12 draws and week 14 of almost repeated number of draws. N25, 000. WINNING FEE. MADAM FALETI, BACK IN ACTION. 08038245181 BET 31, 35.

WK. 13= 14XX, 24XX, 34XX PAIR 10XX, 30FF Weeks 13, 14, 15, will be weeks of assured and steady winnings for all those who can get my Naps. Cost N10, 000 cash weekly. Pay at First Bank to Mrs. Sanmi Abiodun Faleti, accts No. 3007847537.

VIC DESTINY BLA ST 14X MUST 18X (09099813819).

CONGRATS! CONGRATS!! CONGRATS!!!

To over 208 new clients won my wk 13 free games as vowed. This is live changing opportunity to Nigerians this weeks 14, 15 & week 16. My 3/3 unigue & guaranteed Nap cost N12, 500 only each week.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH TEXT MESSAGE OF WRITE UP WITHOUT ADVERT IS REGARDED VOID . PLACE YOUR ADVERT FOR EFFECTIVE PUBLICATION OF YOUR FORECAST. THANKS POOLS EDITOR

SIDELINES

no 16,610

n150

THURSDAY, 13 OCTOBER, 2016

“On the whole the entire episode is one that unfairly denigrates the entire Judicial system as an institution. It does a lot of disservice to the vast majority of Judges and lawyers who carry out their duties and practice their profession in compliance with the best ethical standards. By conducting those simultaneous raids across several states in the dead of the night, the DSS has unwittingly created a wrong impression in the minds of millions of Nigerians that the Judiciary is not only an unreliable but a criminal organisation”.

W

hile it is true that a drastic situation may require equally drastic measures to curtail it, it is also true that two wrongs do not make a right. These were my thoughts when on Saturday, 8th October, 2016 I received news of the invasion and search of the homes of a number of Judges by officials of the State Security Services otherwise known as Department of State Services (DSS). At the end of the visits which were described as “raids” by some sections of the media, the Judges, including two members of the highest court of the land were arrested and detained.

I must admit that I am shocked at the newspaper reports that huge amounts of money in local and foreign currencies were recovered from the homes of some of these Judges. If proven to be true, surely the Judges concerned must offer some explanation as to how they came to be in possession of such vast amounts of money. However, I am equally shocked at the manner in which the “raids” were carried out in the middle of the night and the resultant negative publicity it has attracted to the judiciary and the legal profession as a whole. It is for these reasons, given my position in the legal profession to which I have belonged for about 53 years, that I offer my views on the sad events of Saturday the 8th of October 2016. As more details come to light, as they surely must, given the enormity of the situation, I will speak as the occasion might require.

Usurpation of powers of National Judicial Council Firstly I concede that corruption is endemic in our society and that if not properly tackled it will continue to prevent

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

Reports say that Russia president Vladimir Putin has ordered all Russians leaving abroad to return home preparatory to sparking off World War III. But we think that the resources that will go into the war - human and capital - will be more valued if they are diverted into organising a very befitting football World Cup which the country has been scheduled to host in two years.

afeonthursday

aareafe@gmail.com

“Raids” by dss on the homes of judges: Two wrongs

do not make a right the country from achieving the objectives of its founding fathers. I however do not believe that the method adopted by the DSS was appropriate in the circumstances or that it was totally unavoidable. Nigeria operates a democratic system of government which anywhere in the world places emphasis on separation of powers between the three arms of government which arms are independent of each other. Of these, the Judiciary enjoys primacy of importance when it comes to the issue of autonomy and independence as a Judiciary which is not free from political interference will bring about the demise of nation perhaps faster than corruption or any other vice would. World over, one of the widely accepted means of guaranteeing such independence to the Judiciary lies in the establishment of a Judicial Council. In an article entitled ‘Guarding the Guardians: Judicial Council and Judicial independence’ the Law School of the University of Chicago stated as follows: Judicial councils are bodies that are designed to insulate the functions of appointment, promotion, and discipline of judges from the partisan political process while ensuring some level of accountability.

Judicial councils lie somewhere in between the polar extremes of letting judges manage their own affairs and the alternative of complete political control of appointments, promotion, and discipline…The motivating concern for adoption of councils…was ensuring independence of the judiciary after periods of undemocratic rule.To entrench judicial independence, most…countries enshrined the judicial council in their constitution.

It is for this reason that the 1999 Constitution in section 153 provides for the establishment of the National Judicial

Council and in paragraphs 21(b) & (d) of the Third Schedule grants to the Council the power to exercise disciplinary control over judicial officers. As the allegations made against the judges are said to arise from or pertain to their office as Judges, I am of the view that the Constitution requires that any infraction by the said Judges be firstlyinvestigated and resolved by the National Judicial Council (NJC) to the exclusion of any other body or authority.

Aside from the fact that this is what the constitution requires, arresting serving Judges without prior sanction of the NJC presents some very unique problems. If the Judge is arraigned and granted bail, what impediment is there to prevent him from continuing to sit as a Judge pending the determination of the allegations against him. Even if he is placed on suspension pending the trial, it is still conceivable that he may retain his job if he is eventually acquitted of the allegations against him.

Thus his accusers may eventually still find themselves before his Court in other matters.

Would it not be better and more practicable to firstly have the NJC investigate the matter and possibly remove from him the toga and aura of a Judge before such arrest and arraignment? That the DSS acted as it did on the grounds that it was conducting an investigation or a “sting operation” as it described it was therefore a clear usurpation of the Constitutional powers of the NJC. What is equally worrying is that by the provisions of Section 4 of the National Security Agencies Act, the DSS acts under the coordination of an officer in the office of the Presidency. I state unequivocally that such a scenario derogates from the independence of the judiciary which the establishment of the NJC is designed to

guarantee. In stating this, I am not unaware of claims that the NJC failed to act on reports made to it about the alleged wrong doings of the Judges concerned. I recall that in the week leading up to the raids, the NJC sanctioned three Judges and even recommended the prosecution of one. As I believe that those particular decisions were taken after painstaking investigation, it is not inconceivable that what has been described as the failure of the NJC to act may in reality be attributed to the desire and if I might ass, the duty, of the said body to conduct thorough investigations.

Every individual, no matter his status is guaranteed by the Constitution a right to a fair hearing.

On the whole the entire episode is one that unfairly denigrates the entire Judicial system as an institution. It does a lot of disservice to the vast majority of Judges and lawyers who carry out their duties and practice their profession in compliance with the best ethical standards. By conducting those simultaneous raids across several states in the dead of the night, the DSS has unwittingly created a wrong impression in the minds of millions of Nigerians that the Judiciary is not only an unreliable but a criminal organisation.

For the sake of our democracy this is a misconception that must not be allowed to fester. No country, no matter how well intentioned its political leaders are, can aspire to greatness if its judicial arm is denigrated and held in contempt. While the Judiciary itself must be awake to its huge responsibilities, its efforts in this regard will surely not be helped by the erosion of its independence.

AARE AFE BABALOLA, OFR, CON, SAN, LL.D (Lond.), FCIArb.

With unity, Falcons ’ll retain Africa title —Rohr

Rohr

Super Eagles Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has advised players of the senior women national team, Super Falcons to “have fun but be serious” ahead of their defence of the Women Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon next month.

Without mincing words, Rohr declared on Wednesday that the Super Falcons can become the champions of Africa for the eighth time in Cameroon, where the 10th Women Africa Cup of Nations will take place from November 19 to December 13.

The Franco-German, who was at the Falcons training on Wednesday afternoon impressed it on the Falcons to live together like one big family for them to be able to successfully defend the African title, which they won for the seventh time in Namibia in October 2014.

Rohr told the team: “You must have a good team spirit because it is very important to not just play together but bond together and have fun in training and in the camp as well.

“To have fun but to be very serious. It is what we do in the Super Eagles team. We have the family spirit of oneness and togetherness. Not just like a team but to live like a family. With this, you can become champions again.

And I am going to be in Cameroon to support you.

“I see some girls here today but I know that professionals will join them very soon. Very good players, some of them play in big countries like USA, Sweden, France. The other teams in Nigeria group don’t

have many of such players I think.

So, it’s a good team and you also have experience,” Rohr concluded.

Abuja to host 2016 Glo-CAF Awards -P10

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. 13/10/2016.