14th January 2016 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,414

THURSDAY, 14 JANUARY, 2016

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2016 budget drama:

Reps to collect copies •Senate denies missing document's report

—P5

More worries for Nigeria as stocks, naira continue to fall

N34bn fraud

—P11

Liberia to be declared Ebola-free Lassa fever claims today another 2 in Edo, Abuja —P43

—Pg7&14

EFCC arraigns Tompolo, Akpobolokemi —P2

•I will go after any corrupt individual —EFCC boss

Kidnapped Ondo ex-speaker regains freedom —P7

Osun govt advertises for doctors —P41

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, Mr Edward Dickson (right), presenting the biography of Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo and a copy of maiden edition of the Nigerian Tribune to the chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, during his visit to the Tribune House, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, on Wednesday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

FEC okays $200m loan for Lagos —P13

Boko Haram: UK to deploy military personnel to train Nigerian Army •Army establishes new division in Borno

—Pgs 5&10

2 news

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

N34bn fraud: EFCC arraigns Tompolo, Akpobolokemi

Docks ex-Adamawa council boss Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will today arraign ex-militant warlord, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, fours others and four companies before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over N34 billion fraud. The four other persons to be arraigned alongside Tompolo and Apkobolokemi are Kime Engozu, Rex Elem, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh. The four companies are Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electricals Limited, Boloboere Property and Estate Limited and Destre Consult Limited. According to a release made available by EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, on Wednesday, they were being arraigned a 40-count charge of alleged money laundering, conspiracy, stealing and diversion of funds. The suspects, the release added, allegedly diverted the sum of N34 billion which accrued from the public private partnership agreement between NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist Limited for personal use. Meanwhile, the EFCC has secured an order of the Federal High Court to serve the summon and charge on Tompolo by substituted means as the suspect has continuously evaded service. Uwujaren informed that the order by Justice Ibrahim Buba allowed the commission to serve the defendant through substituted means by affixing the summons and charge on a conspicuous part of his known address situated at No. 1 Chief Agbanu Street, DDPA Extension Warri, Delta State. In another development, the anti-corruption body on Wednesday arraigned a former chairman of Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State, one Felix Tangwami, before an Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola. The accused, according to Uwujaren, was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretense to the tune of N981, 468, 000.00. Tangwami, in his capacity as the council boss, used his position to award a number of contracts to companies where he has interests and

failed to deliver on the contract terms. The contracts were supply of cerebrospinal meningitis vaccines awarded in favour of Binam Integrated Services Limited; supply of VVF Oral Vaccines for Immunisation against typhoid in favour of Nchaloro Nigeria Limited; supply of 500 units

of motorcycles to be distributed to all the local government areas in the state in favour of Bange Integrated Service Limited; building of a school for technical skill acquisition in Numan in favour of Bange Company Limited and the supply of anti-snake venom in favour of Tafari Nigeria Limited.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the commission. In view of his plea, counsel for EFCC, Chris Meishelia, told the court, presided over by Justice Helen Nuhu Hamman Joda, to fix a date to commence trial. However, defence counsel,

Sule J. Abdul, told the court that he had a pending application for the bail of the accused. He urged the court to admit him to bail, adding that the offence for which he was being charged was bailable. Justice Joda admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N500 million with one

surety in like sum. The surety, according to the presiding judge, had to be a family man residing within the jurisdiction of the court and must own a landed property worth N100 million. The case was, therefore, adjourned till February 22, for hearing.

I will go after any corrupt individual —EFCC boss By Kunle Oderemi, Tunde Busari, Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare, Dare Adekanmbi, Moses Alao And John Umoh ACTING chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, on Wednesday, said his resolve to combat corruption in the country was unshaken and vowed to go after any corrupt individual, regardless of ethnic or political affiliation. Magu spoke when he led other officials of the commission on a working visit to the corporate headquarters of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. He was received by the management of the company, led by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the organisation, Mr Edward Dickson. The EFCC boss, who asserted that resistance to corruption was obedience to God, said it was imperative for all major stakeholders to team up and eliminate the vice threatening to destroy personal and joint existence in the country. “Every Nigerian is impoverished one way or the other by the corrupt acts of people among us. We are reduced and weakened when our commonwealth is cornered for personal uses. This situation should not make us fold our hands; rather, it should make us more determined to fight a dragon that is threatening our personal and corporate existence. “Resistance to corruption is obedience to God. Let us build this resistance and make man and God proud and build confident of the future. Let me use this opportunity to tell Nigerians that the EFCC remains dogged and resolute in the pursuit of its mandate. “Our resolve to make corrupt practices difficult and unattractive is total. This resolve, however, cannot be achieved by the EFCC alone,

as the entire nation, including the Tribune titles, must key into this resolve so that we will collectively kill the monster of corruption and free our future from its negative effects.” He warned that the country would not allow corrupt ones to continue to plunder the commonwealth and grope in the throes of its incalculable damage, adding that the commission must build synergy with key stakeholders to eliminate the scourge. “By forming synergy and alliances against the monster called corruption, we will succeed quicker and better in destroying it before it eliminates all of us,” he stated. While acknowledging that the challenges in combating corruption were daunting and tedious, Magu said the resolve of the EFCC to make corrupt practices difficult and unattractive remained total. He admitted that corruption had permeated through the commission and expressed confidence that the cleansing process commenced by him would flush out such bad elements. Magu assured Nigerians that a new EFCC that would diligently conduct background checks and have all its facts correctly before proceeding to prosecution would be witnessed in six months. He also lamented the interminable adjournments of corruption cases by the court, some of which he said had not reached arraignment stage since 2005/2006, expressing optimism that the new administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 would speed up corruption trial when domesticated by states. Magu, who lauded Tribune titles for its forthrightness and balanced reports, emphasised that the newspaper remained the “most resilient, unbreakable and historically illustrious newspapers in Nigeria.” He appreciated the courage and commitment to higher values of truth and

objectivity by the Tribune titles since its inception, urging the organisation to “continue in this rich tradition and collaborate more with us to make Nigeria the beautiful and prosperous nation that we will all be proud about.” He added: “We are sensitive to these facts and very proud to identify with the legacy of strength and service for which you have come to be known. The EFCC values hard work, consistence and courage for which the Tribune titles are also known. This is why I am here to congratulate you on the strides and dynamics of your business. “I am also here to urge you to continue to support us in the anti-corruption war as a means of building a formidable and buoyant future for all of us. The African Newspapers of Nigeria has serious roles to play in sensitising Nigerians on evils of corruption, alerting them about the fraudulent practices of those found to be corrupt and educating members of the society on the preventive ways of checking shady practices. This is a task we want you to take up more seriously and we solicit your cooperation in this regard.” Responding, the MD/EIC of the company, Mr Dickson, assured the EFCC boss of Tribune’s support in his crusade to rid the country of graft, noting that those who hold the strings of the country’s purse had become wary of what they do with public funds since Magu’s appointment. “It is gratifying that out of over 170 million Nigerians, God decided to pick you out for a time as this. For us at the Tribune House, we believe that if we are unable to get it right this time around, then we are doomed as a nation. “Since you came into the service and this is not because you have come to Tribune House, people are now conscious. They are now afraid to dip their hands into the coffers of either organisation or government agency and those that

still do it know they are just moments away from being caught. “People know that the days of impunity are gone for good. I can assure you that within the short time that you have been on the saddle, for us in the media, we know that things are beginning to change. “We want to comment that you should not let this momentum slack, because when it does, we may go back worse than you took off as EFCC chairman. You face challenges and intimidation from unexpected quarters. But from your profile that I read, these things are not new to you and I am sure that by the time you took this job, you would have also considered all these things. “For us at the Tribune House, I can assure you that you have come to the right place. One thing that has sustained this company over the years is integrity. Tribune is a national institution, to the extent that it is the newspaper that fought for the independence of this country and for us who are the drivers of this institution now, we have this sense of responsibility. “Rest assured that at any point in time, if there is just one newspaper that is in support of your pursuit, you will find out that it will be Tribune. We will make sure that we keep encouraging you and your operatives at the EFCC to make this country a better place to live in. Know that you have your comrades and partners at Tribune,” Dickson said.

Magu wants special judges for EFCC cases Magu, during a meeting with the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola, solicited the setting aside of judges for the agency’s cases and solicited the state judiciary’s support in combating graft. The EFCC boss, who informed the Chief Judge that the agency had opened a zonal office in Ibadan, disclosed that all files of corruption cases within the

jurisdiction of Oyo State would be transferred to the zonal office to ensure diligent prosecution. He stressed that the EFCC could effectively carry out its responsibilities with the cooperation and commitment of judges who, in spite of challenges, remained resolute in discharging their duties. “I am touched by the show of loyalty that we received from the state judiciary today. I came to solicit assistance towards forging a common front by working as a team and intimate the judiciary of the existence of our office in Ibadan and to also call for partnership in combating crime. “I especially want to seek the cooperation of the Chief Judge in some areas. I urge judges to stay firm, irrespective of interference from any quarters because a few people know what judges go through. I want the Chief Judge to select special judges for our cases as provided in Section 19 (3) and also to explore opportunities of joint training for judiciary and EFCC staff and also encourage them to further comply with adoption of legal means while adjudicating in EFCC matters,” Magu stated. Earlier in his welcome address, Chief Judge, Justice Abimbola, who said it was unprecedented for the EFCC boss to pay a visit to the state judiciary to seek its collaboration, noted that the agency was of paramount importance at this period as economic crimes have long reaching terrible effects on the nation. “Economic crimes or crimes against the economy have devastating effects not only on the economy, but the nation as a whole and the image of the country in the international community. The disastrous effect cannot be quantified. For this reason, we in the judiciary have a theme and we are committed to ensuring that we offer ourselves for cooperation with operatives and the agency to ensure that cases are treated expeditiously.” continues pg5

news

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Leadership tussle tears MOSOP apart Traditional council disowns factional president Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt

EADERSHIP of the apex Ogoni group, Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) is enmeshed in crisis that may tear the group apart with the emergence of two presidents and executive councils. While its president, Mr Legborsi Pyagbara, claimed he was re-elected into office in a election held on December 30, 2015, Chief Mike-Lube Nwidobie is also parading himself as the MOSOP president. The duo had participated in the election, held at the Peace and Freedom Centre, Bori, in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State and where Pyagbara emerged as the winner. But Nwidobie claimed he became the MOSOP president as a result of a rescheduled electoral exercise held at the same venue, the following day. Subsequently, Nwidobie, on January 11, claimed that the immediate past chairman of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, King G. N. K. Giniwa and the traditional ruler of Tai Local Government Area swore in his executive of MOSOP in his palace. Reacting, Mr Fegalo Nsuke, who was elected alongside the Pyagbara faction last December as the MOSOP publicity secretary (MOSOP), issued a statement, debunking Nwodibie claims. Nsuke, in the statement issued on Tuesday, “warned the Ogoni people against being deceived by the purported swearing-in of Mike Lube-Nwidobie by a perfidious gang of anti-Ogoni elements as the exercise is absolute nullity. “As far as MOSOP is concerned, swearing-in is alien and unlawful, as it is not backed by the MOSOP constitution. Hence, it has never been practised in the organisation. Evidence abound that past leaderships of MOSOP were not sworn in. “Chief G.N.K. Gininwa was reported to have allegedly sworn-in Mike LubeNwidobie at his country home in Korokoro, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State on January 11. “While we would lose no sleep over the insignificant development, we would warn the Ogoni people to be wary of the chief and his cohorts, as they are bent

on repeating the crisis that rocked and polarised the Ogoni nation. “Mike Lube-Nwidobie participated in the December 30, 2015 poll, which produced the authentic president of MOSOP, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara and lost. He, on the same day, addressed the press and declared himself winner. “On December 31, 2015, the same Lube-Nwidobie claimed to have contested another MOSOP presidential election reportedly conducted by a fake ‘MOSOP ELECO’ allegedly headed by an indefinitely suspended member, one Legborsi Esaen, in which he purportedly emerged victorious. “It is our position that neither Gininwa nor his Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers have any connection with MOSOP. He is not a member of MOSOP neither is his platform an affiliate of the

movement. “And with his anti-MOSOP and anti-Ogoni antecedents, there is no way a MOSOP swearing-in ceremony could have been held in his house. “If a traditional council would have sworn in a MOSOP leadership, certainly it would have been the Conference of Ogoni Traditional Rulers (COTRA) that is affiliated to the organisation and not otherwise.” Nsuke further alleged that the ugly development was politically instigated and targeted at shortchanging the Ogoni people by grabbing funds earmarked for the Ogoni clean-up project. But Nwidobie, after his swearing-in, said his emergence was a timely intervention to move MOSOP forward and to “bail a situation that may have truncated our calendar for transition in MOSOP.” He promised to further advance unity within the

group and with its other stakeholders, adding: “Today marks the beginning of new frontier for the rapid economic and infrastructural development of Ogoni. “No longer shall the inordinate ambition of one man fan the embers of division and pull a fanatic cloak over the people yet maintain a self serving scheme that see us stagnate rather than progress.” Meanwhile, the Conference of Ogoni Traditional Rulers (COTRA) has dissociated itself from the purported endorsement of Nwidobie as the MOSOP president, urging the public to disregard the exercise. The conference made its position known in a six-paragraph resolution passed at the end of its meeting, held at the Peace and Freedom Centre, Bori, on Monday. A copy of the resolution, signed by the COTRA chair-

man, HRH Mene Suanu Baridam, JP, was made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday. The meeting, said to have been attended by over 80 traditional rulers from six kingdoms and two special areas in the Ogoni nation, also deliberated on communal disturbances and other issues affecting the people. “The meeting condemned and dissociated itself from the purported Gininwa-administered swearing-in of one Mike Lube-Nwidobie as MOSOP president at his palace on January 11. And called on the Ogoni people and the general public to disregard the false Gininwa exercise. “It reaffirmed that Legborsi Saro Pyagbara won the MOSOP presidential election conducted on December 30, 2015 at Bori. “And that any claim to

the contrary is spurious, misleading and aimed at creating trouble in Ogoni. It pledged her unalloyed loyalty to Mr Pyagbara and as well declared the fake swearing-in as none and void. “The forum decried the mischievous approach of Gininwa in the matter, which not only insult and embarrass but also capable of creating division within the revered Ogoni traditional institution and warned him against dragging the institution into the dictates and murky waters of politicians and politics. “It averred that neither Gininwa nor his supreme council of Ogoni traditional rulers have any relationship with MOSOP as he is neither a member of MOSOP nor his platform affiliated to the organisation. And as such, has no right to perform the purported swearing-in,” the resolution read in part.

UCH doctors C.I.C.S Vs Stallion Motors: Hearing fixed for Feb 16 By Yejide GbengaOgundare and John Umoh OYO State High Court, Ibadan Judicial Division, on Wednesday fixed hearing in a breach of contract matter filed by the UCH (Ibadan) Medical Doctors C.I.C.S Limited against Stallion Motors Limited for February 16. The association and Dr Achiaka E. Irabor had dragged Stallion Motors before Justice Muntar Abimbola of Court 1, Ring Road High Court complex for failing to meet the terms of guarantee in the purchase of a black Volkswagen Golf highline SEL 1.6 AT that was bought from the company on a three-year warranty term. They are asking the court for a declaration that the refusal of Stallion Motors to replace the car with a new one after the car developed electrical and gear faults within a week of purchase and was returned immediately to the Ibadan office, where it was purchased is a breach of contractual agreement based on the terms of warranty. They further claimed that since the car was taken from the Ibadan office to the Lagos office for two months before it was delivered to them, following which it became faulty a week again a week later, it deserved to be replaced with a new one. Consequently, they are asking for an order mandating Stallion Motors to pay

the sum of N5.2 million that was originally paid for the car and since it had been with Stallion Motors for over a year and the sum of N1.5 million as damages for breach of contract or in the alternative an order of court mandating Stallion Motors to replace the faulty car with a brand new one. In their statement of claim, the association averred that Stallion Motors breached

the warranty given to it and misrepresented the fitness of the car to them, adding that the car was highly ‘unmerchantable’ as of the time of sale, a situation well known to Stallion Motors and that the breach of the warranty by the defendant was fundamental to the contract. They added further that the breach of the contract had caused them serious

economic loss, inconvenience and damage as Dr Irabor, in spite of not using the car was still paying loan to the cooperative society and the purpose for which the car was bought had been defeated. The main defense of Stallion Motors in the suit is that it offered warranty in line with worldwide practice applicable to Volkswagen and other brands of ve-

hicles, adding that it issued the warranty on behalf of the manufacturer and this constitutes a separate contract of sale. According to Stallion Motors, the warranty was limited to replacement or repairs of defective parts traceable to manufacturer’s defects only and excluded wear and tear, adding that the claims were frivolous and unsustainable.

Insurgency: Paramilitary personnel for deployment in liberated towns —Dambazzau Chris Agbambu - Abuja MINISTER of Interior, Lieutenant-General Abdulrahaman Dambazzau, has confirmed the planned redeployment of Police and Paramilitary personnel to liberated towns in the North-East. Dambazzau, who led some heads of the security agen-

cies on assessment visit to Maiduguri, said the government was desirous of ensuring adequate security protection of liberated towns for safety of the citizens. The minister, who also paid visits on Governor Kashim Shettima and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai El-Kanemi in Borno State, said the

redeployment would commence soon. He said: “We are in the state as part of efforts to speak to the governors in the affected states and have on- the-ground assessment of situation. “We are going to bring more personnel so that we can have back in place civil authority in the affected ar-

Welfare of troops paramount —Sheni Chris Agbambu - Abuja PERMANENT Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Ambassador Danjuma Sheni, has reiterated that the welfare of troops remains paramount and necessary due processes would be followed to achieve this. Ambassador Sheni disclosed this during a courtesy visit on the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel

Olonisakin, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja. He said he was in the Defence Headquarters to boost the morale of the military personnel and to get acquainted with the Chief of Defence Staff and the Principal Staff Officers. The Permanent Secretary explained that the defence was a very important ministry as far as national security was concerned and

the troops’ sacrifice in the ongoing war against insurgency remained praiseworthy, and pledged his unflinching support to Defence Headquarters and its operations. In his remarks, General Olonisakin expressed appreciation for the visit and lauded the ministry on its efforts to motivate the troops through welfare package.

eas and to assist the military in the task of bringing security back to the areas.” In his response, Governor Shettima commended the sacrifice of various paramilitary agencies who lost some of their personnel and facilities in affected towns during the insurgency. Shettima urged Northern leaders to brace up to the challenge of insurgency in face of dwindling revenue by promoting peaceful coexistence and diversifying their source of revenue to address the joblessness in the region. He said: “We need to wear our thinking caps those of us from the North, so that we can find solutions to the impending crises that may consume the zone.” General Dambazzau, who has been on assessment visits to states, including those in the North-East, will also visit Adamawa and Yobe states.

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

news

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Olubadan: Seriki line’s threat, headache for Ajimobi —Baale Ekotedo By Laolu Afolabi and Tunde Ogunesan

AALE Ekotedo, Taiwo Ayorinde, has described the threat by the Seriki line to install a parallel Olubadan of Ibadan as an attempt to “give the governor a piece of headache, because this has never happened in Ibadan.” He noted that Seriki, in the history of Ibadan, was a scout to the Olubadan, saying an attempt to do as stated in their petition to the governor would amount to truncating the existing peace in the city. Baale Ayorinde stated this in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, while reacting to a letter addressed to the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, by the chiefs in the Seriki line. In the letter, they had stated: “Now, we have sought legal and other counsel from experts in the field and we have been advised that since, legally speaking, Seriki line is the next line to fill the stool of the Olubadan of Ibadan after the demise of the incumbent and since the powers that be have continued to deny us of our rights to do so, we would not run foul of any law if we set up and appoint our own Olubadan immediately after the demise of the incumbent Olubadan of Ibadanland and we have resolved to do so.” But Baale Ayorinde said though the Seriki line went to court, his difference on their position was that such had never happened in Ibadan. In his words: “Yes, they went to court during the time of Chief [Adisa] Akinloye that if two people should die - one from the Balogun and the other from the Olubadan line at the same time - then they should move whoever is Seriki to the Balogun line. “And you know by history, Balogun is the topmost Lieutenant-General of

Ibadan and the Seriki was the scout. So, they also thought this thing is due to us and they went to court. Whatever the judegment is, what they are now claiming is that they too could be the Olubadan of Ibadan, but they want this to be done in retrospect, even now it takes 21 days for the installation of a chief. This is the technical aspect which we have to look into. “The history, tradition, culture is what invented 21 days for the installation of chiefs, but if they want to change it, well, let us wait and see. “What they want to do now is give the governor a piece

of headache; a piece of problem, because this has never happened before in Ibadan. All of the new things that are coming into Ibadan are brought about by civilisation and politics. “If they insist and say that they will install a parallel Olubadan, it will only bring problem. Although Ibadan is known for war, they will remove the peaceful atmosphere that has been existing since this government got there and I believe rightly that the Ibadan indigenes know how to solve their problems,” he noted. In addition, Baale Ayor-

inde made a clarification that “in the time past, people who become the Olubadan or High Chiefs got there through prowess and war and if that had been the case, we have to look into the case they brought so that peace can reign in Ibadan.” Asked whether a Seriki has ever ascended the throne of Olubadan, Baale Ayorinde said “no.” He further stated that Seriki was a scout to the Olubadan and, by extension, he “is a messenger to the Olubadan,” a situation which makes it difficult to head his boss.

He advised the EFCC boss to talk to his men to change their attitude towards the judiciary, particularly the combative posture of EFCC operatives in court and see themselves as part of the system. “In this respect, we enjoin you to impart on your per-

matter, but Baale Ayorinde said the Olubadan would make pronouncement at the appropriate time. He also added that according to tradition and custom, nobody takes the Olubadan to court. “Whether the Olubadan will do it or not, it is what we should wait and see, but the law says you don’t take the Olubadan to court. The tradition, history is the meaning of Kabiesi. If now they want to remove the Kabiesi and turn it to something else, I don’t know, but I believe that the word Kabiesi means a lot,” Ayorinde said.

2016 budget drama: Reps to collect copies Taiwo Adisa, Ayodele Adesanmi, Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja SPEAKER, House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, on Wednesday, debunked the claims making the rounds in some quarters that the 2016 budget submitted to the National Assembly was missing. Dogara, while reacting to the report on the floor of the House on Wednesday, directed the Clerk, Mr Sani Omolori, to display the budget document to members as presented by President Muhammadu Buhari. He then directed that “all members should send their staff with valid identification to the appropriation committee office to pick up copies of the 2016 budget. “People should not give information that is not clear but look for clarification on such matters.” Meanwhile, the Senate, on Wednesday, denied the report that 2016 Budget document was missing from its coffers. Chairman, Senate Committee on Media And Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, said statements by senators should not be in-

terpreted to mean that the 2016 budget was missing. He said the budget document was not missing, adding that the Senate would, today, distribute copies to all the senators “so as to properly contribute to the debate which will take place between Tuesday, January 19 and Thursday, January 21.” He said all senators had indicated interest in contributing to the debate on the general principles of the budget. The lawmaker made reference to the point of order raised by Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, who soght to know the whereabouts of the budget, in line with media reports on Wednesday, adding that the senator only sought clarifications on the story. “The Senate President replied that the issue he (Abaribe) mentioned and all issues emanating from the executive sessions are being looked into by an ad hoc committee and that all senators should wait for the committee to submit its report. “We have reeled out our timetable for working on the budget. So, how can the same budget be missing? The Senate President never said or admitted that the budget is missing and there was nothing that he said while presiding over the

plenary that could be logically interpreted to mean an admission that the budget is missing. “The media should please avoid unnecessary sensationalism. We assure Nigerians that our timetable of completing work on the budget by February ending remains sacrosanct and we will work assiduously to achieve it,” Abdullahi said. His statement came on the heels of the earlier development in the chamber at the plenary, when Abaribe asked for the whereabouts of the budget. Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, had, at the start of the sitting, announced that the debate on the budget would commence on Tuesday. But Abaribe had immediately raised a point of order, asking the Senate President

to throw light on the story in the media indicating that the budget was missing. “The matter that I refer to is what is in every newspaper today and everywhere in all the talk shows on the radio of a missing budget “Therefore, Mr President, I want to bring to your attention and all my colleagues that yesterday (Tuesday), in our closed session, this matter also came up and some of us who are worried, who have been inundated by messages from our constituents, who are really worried about what their fate will be in 2016, and are asking us, where is our budget. “That is why Mr President I think it is definite and it is urgent that we look into this matter.” In his response, Saraki told the senator that a decision had been taken to investi-

gate the matter. “You know we are all part of the decision at the closed session yesterday (Tuesday) and part of that decision we are still waiting for those we have referred to carry out the assignment and come back to us. “I think they will come back to us by tomorrow (Thursday) and will go into a close session and finish up the report and we will be able to debate it properly,” he said. It was, however, confirmed that the budget document had been made available to the Senate. Nigerian Tribune learnt that a mix-up actually occurred and that some officials said to have made the document available to some persons who claimed to have come from the Presidency were being investigated.

THE United Kingdom has revealed its plan to assist Nigeria in combating insurgent group, Boko Haram, which had sometimes ago held a swathe of Nigerian territory before being currently decimated by the Nigerian military. According to a news release signed by Joe Abuku, Press Officer, British High

Commission, Abuja and made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, on Wednesday, a UK military training team would be deployed in Nigeria, as part of the ongoing efforts to train local forces to combat Boko Haram. The release stated that more than 35 personnel from the Second Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment (2 R ANGLIAN), would be deployed in Nigeria soon, to deliver infantry training to Nigerian military personnel to tackle the extremist group in the NorthEast of the country. It stated that only last month, Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, announced a step up in training to help Nigerian forces stamp out the threat posed by Boko Haram. “We stand united with Nigeria in its efforts to defeat the murderous Boko Haram

extremists. Stepping up our training efforts will help support the Armed Forces of Nigeria for crucial counter-insurgency operations,” the news release quoted Fallon as saying. The enhanced commitment announced last month by the Defence Secretary, according to the release, included an intention to more than double the number of British personnel deployed on training tasks in Nigeria in the coming year, with up to 300 expected to provide support during 2016; the deployment of a specialist team to provide assistance in countering improvised explosive devices, as well as medical training and advice; a new RAF training team to improve the knowledge and skills of the Nigerian Air Force in airfield defence and counter insurgency, which is part of the 300 personnel.

Boko Haram: UK military to train Nigerian Army

I will go after any corrupt individual —EFCC boss continued from pg2

“No Seriki has been made the Olubadan. The Seriki is a scout to and on behalf of the Olubadan during the war. “The Seriki will have to go and see where the enemies are. So, the question people are asking now is “how can your messenger be your head? But the law is an ass. Let us see how the ass will perform. “There is an ass in the Bible who controlled its owner. Let us wait and see.” Meanwhile, since the issue became public knowledge, no member of the Olubadan-in-Council has come out to speak on the

sonnel to consider themselves as officers in the temple of justice and consider their duties as being paramount in the justice system. They should be advised to stop being combative in our court rooms, to be diligent and courteous and to work hand in hand with the court so that those prosecuted and the victims will know

that justice is given to all,” he said. The Chief Judge pledged the support of his team to the EFCC cause, adding that “on our part, we pledge to uphold all tenets of practice in the discharge of our duties to ensure justice for all.” Other judges in attendance enjoined the EFCC head to ensure that his agency stops

violating court orders and orientate his legal team on the need to be ready to work with judges on fixed dates and ensure that they have witnesses in court to allow judges go on with cases and dispense with them on time. They also called for the formulation of practice direction to avoid variance in adjudication of matters.

news

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Dasukigate: Alaafin disowns TCN, cautions authority on corruption fight By Gbenga Olumide

LAAFIN of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, on Wednesday, disowned Traditional Council of Nigeria (TCN), which was believed to have collected a certain amount from the $2.1 billion arms deal spearheaded by a former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), currently standing trial. The prosecution, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had listed TCN as one of the beneficiaries of the fund, a development said to have created a deafening disquiet among the traditional council across the country. Alaafin disclosed this at a press briefing to commemorate his 45th coronation anniversary, organised in recognition of roles in nation-building by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State council, The traditional ruler minced no words in condemning the existence of the council in the first place. He said he opposed the setting up of the council when it was mooted few years ago because of the illegality of such organisation and potential acrimony it could breed among the traditional rulers in the country. Oba Adeyemi said there can be no centralised TCN because it opposes the fed-

eral constitution since it is purely a state matter, adding that, “when you talk of the arms deal fund, to the best of my knowledge, none of the traditional rulers in all the 33 local government areas in the state collected from such money. We are not part of it.” Lauding President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts in the fight against corruption, he said the revelations so far leaves much than desired. He, however, cautioned Buhari and the anti-graft

agencies on the modus operandi being employed in the fight against corruption, stressing that, “people in authority should know their limitations too and do everything in accordance with the dictates of the constitution in order not to be seen as vindictive”. On his experience as a traditional ruler in the last 45 years, Alaafin said he has been able to attract a number of development projects to the Yoruba nation and the country at large.

Group woos Senator Adeyemi for APC Taiwo Adisa - Abuja THE Kogi West Progressive Group, a political pressure group, in the Western Senatorial District of Kogi State has beckoned on the former chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Senator Smart Adeyemi, to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and team up with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. The group, in a communiqué released at the end of a meeting in Iyara, Kogi State, said that it had observed that leaders of PDP do not appreciate the progressive nature of Adeyemi’s politics. The communiqué, signed by leaders of the group,

including Honourable JM Omonuwa; Chief Ayo Olorunjuwon, Alhaji Ibrahim Adoba; Honourable Sadi Uba Inuwa and Alhaji Halilu Idris noted that leaders of the PDP practically connived with the opposition to deny Senator Adeyemi the senate ticket. “The group noted that Senator Adeyemi’s loss in the last Senatorial election would appear to be with the connivance of some party PDP elite. His loss at the tribunal was intriguing; reruns were ordered in similar cases in the state Central and Eastern Senatorial Districts, but Senator Adeyemi’s case was turned down. The group believes that he has won in God and people’s court,” the communiqué read.

Nigerian Tribune

news

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Kidnapped Ondo ex-speaker regains freedom Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

ORMER speaker of the Ondo state House of Assembly, Honourable Victor Olabimtan, on Wednesday night, regained freedom. The news of his release filtered through into town around 9.00 p.m., after being in the custody of his captors for for about four days. Confirming the development, secretary of Victor Olabimtan Initiative for Change and Emancipation (VOICE), Gboyega Ajayi, said Olabimtan regained his freedom around 9.00 p.m. in Abuja and had been taken to hospital where he is undergoing medical check-up.

Ajayi appreciated the support of the security agencies, the Federal Government and the people of the state â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am glad to announce the release of Honourable Victor Adekanye Olabimtan by his captors. He was released some minutes ago and is cur-

rently undergoing medical checkup and treatment,â&#x20AC;? he said. His abductors had initially demanded N20 million as ransom and later reduced it to N5 million, but it could not be ascertained if any ransom was paid.

MINISTER of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, on Wednesday, announced the death of one Lassa fever victim at the National Hospital, Abuja. The announcement was contained in a statement by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Mrs Boade Akinola, who said the medical director of the hospital,

Dr Jack Momoh, briefed the minister on Wednesday evening during his visit. According to the statement, Dr Momoh told the minister that the patient, a 38-year-old who lived in Jos, Plateau State, was brought in unconscious from a private hospital in Kubwa, where he was admitted for eight days.

FG confirms 1 case of Lassa fever in Abuja

Nigerian Tribune

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Lagosmetro Siblings docked for stealing Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

Level of work at the recently demolished Owonifaari Market in Oshodi, on Wednesday. PHOTO: Nan

Barber offers minor N100 compensation after alleged defilement Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

22-year-old barber, who allegedly defiled a 13-yearold girl in his shop and gave her N100 after the act, has been arrested and charged to court. Sulaimon Femi, who lives at 7, Ajenifuja Close, Alausa in Ikeja, who is a family friend, invited the girl into his shop at 1, Megoje Street, Alausa where he allegedly defiled her. It was gathered that Sulaimon shut the door of the shop and increased the volume of his musical set and forcefully had sex with her. He thereafter gave her N100 which she refused. The victim cried to the house and reported the incident to her aunt who in turn raised the alarm. On inspection, semen and blood were found on the girl’s body.

According to the police, the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, which prescribes that any person who has sexual in-

tercourse with a child is guilty of felony and is liable to imprisonment for life. Sulaimon, however, pleaded not guilty when he was charged before an Ikeja

Chief Magistrate Court. The chief magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, granted the accused bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

He ordered the accused to pay N200, 000 into the court registrar’s account as part of the bail condition and adjourned the case to February 17 for mention.

Road users divided over Lagos-Abeokuta rehabilitation deadline Akin Adewakun Mixed reactions have continued to trail the April 2016 deadline given by the Lagos State government to complete the on-going repair works on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, especially the Ile Epo spot of the road. While some motorists, pedestrians and residents of the area believe the April date given by the state government was rather too long for a road that is always busy, others would not mind waiting for the next few months as long as the government is

able to find a lasting solution to this recurring problem. Commending the state government for the extensive on-going repair works, Mr. Jimoh Lasisi, a motorist, however, appealed to those plying the road to exercise patience since the month of April was around the corner. “I’ve lost count on the number of times the road had been rehabilitated in the past, but the challenge is that it was always superficially done, and it was like scratching the surface. That is why I believe we should exercise patience since the repair

works being carried out in the area this time around are comprehensive,” he stated. But Mrs. Moji, a shop owner at Ile Epo believes

the long time it is taking the government to complete works on the road is beginning to tell on businesses in the area.

Two brothers, Umaru Muhammed and Ali Muhammed, both aged 18, who allegedly broke into a car and stole valuables worth N95,000 have been charged to court. The brothers allegedly broke the driver’s side glass of a Toyota Camry marked AKD-180 AH and belonging to one Christian Immoye at 21 Utomi Aire St., Lekki Phase 1, Eti-Osa Local Government Area. According to the prosecutor, Inspector Richard Odigie, the brothers stole from phones, two wristwatches, perfume, a sunglass, a jacket and the car’s battery, all valued at N95,000. Odigie said that the third accused, Bitrus Yuhanna, 22, received some of the stolen items, knowing that they were stolen. The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 285, 326, 348, 385 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The brothers were arraigned alongside their alleged accomplice, Yuhanna, before a Tinubu Magistrate court pleaded not guilty. The Magistrate, Mr L.A. Owolabi, granted each of the accused bail in the sum of N35,000, with two sureties each in like sum. He adjourned the case till Feb. 4 for hearing.

Edited by

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

114 roads to gulp N17.5b Bola Badmus Come July 2016, residents of Lagos State would heave a sigh of relief from pangs of bad roads as a total of 114 roads are expected to have been upgraded to standard at the rate of two per local government area, costing a sum of N17.5 billion. Lagos has a total of 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Area (LCDAs). Chairman of Conference 57, comprising all the 57 council executive secretaries, Mr. Kolade Alabi, made this known at a joint press conference, which took place at the Bagauda Kalto Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja. Alabi disclosed that the projects, which had since been awarded was embarked upon as directed by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. According to Alabi, the project will be embarked upon simultaneously in all the local government areas, assuring that the roads would be of high standard with walkways, street lights and proper drainages. Giving background to the projects, Alabi said Ambode had on assumption of office directed the executive secretaries to submit names of two inner roads each in their council areas for construction in the first phase of the programme through competitive bidding. “It is worthy of note that the construction of these roads will go on simultaneously in all the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA’s) as the contractors have been duly mobilised. “In executing this proj-

ect, a unique model of bottom-up infrastructural development style and inclusive governance, which involves the CDAs and other relevant stakeholders in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of this gigantic projects has been put in place through constructive engagement and stakehold-

A 34-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly stealing N90,000 from a 38-yearold sex worker. The suspect, Uche Okpara allegedly paid Caroline Ibrahim N5,000 for sex. Caroline claimed that after

she and Okpara had marathon sex all through the night, she became weak and slept off. She alleged that when she woke up, Okpara had disappeared with the N90,000 she kept in a bag. The matter was reported to the police at Itire division

and Okpara was arrested and charged to court with stealing under the criminal code. According to Caroline, Okpara was the last client she intended to have before travelling to her village. She claimed that she hoped to use the stolen money to

start another business. Okpara however admitted that he had sex with Caroline but denied that he stole her money as she claimed. He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned before an Isolo Magistrate court. The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.K. Shonubi granted

ers’ workshop,” he said. Commissioner for information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said in his submission that the 114 roads were projects of the local government and the LCDAs in conjunction with the state government, stressing that the road projects were in addition to what the state’s Pub-

lic Works Corporation and the Ministry of Works would embark on in the New Year. He recalled that over 300 roads had been put in place since last June when the new government took over the mantle of leadership in the state. Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government

and Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami, who noted that the flag off of the 114 road projects was the moment Lagosians were waiting for, said their commencement was in fulfillment of Governor Ambode’s campaign promise to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

As the Lassa fever situation spreads to states in Nigeria, fumigating operators in Lagos are cashing in to make quick money as they solicit for clients in traffic. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa

Tenant remanded over false accusation Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin A 48-year-old man who made false accusations against his landlord has been arrested and charged before a court. It was gathered that the tenant, Newton Akurunwa, had alleged that his landlord, Tajudeen Balogun, was bewitching his family through some charms he allegedly planted in his apartment to eject him. Akurunwa who resides at 27 Oshogbo street in Itire went to the Itire police division

Man lands in Kirikiri over sex worker’s missing N90,000 Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

Nigerian Tribune

Okpara bail in the sum of N20,000 with one surety in like sum. Okpara was remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri pending when he would perfect his bail. The matter was adjourned till 18 January, 2016 for further hearing.

and reported that his landlord, Balogun sneaked into his three bedroom apartment and planted charms that had caused untold hardship on his family. He lamented that since the charms were planted in his apartment by Balogun, his family had not known peace. He also alleged that Balogun did so because he wanted them to leave the apartment they paid over N600,000 as rent at all cost. The tables turned when the police invited both Akurunwa and Balogun for interrogation over the allegation. During the investigation, Akurunwa was unable to prove his case by presenting witness and evidence. Balogun then instituted a false claim and information charge against him. He was arrested and charged before an Isolo Magistrate Court where he pleaded not guilty. The presiding Magistrate,

Mrs A. O. Adedayo granted Akurunwa bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum. Akurunwa was remanded

in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition. The matter was adjourned till 3 February, 2016.

Squatter allegedly defiles minor Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin A 27-year-old man, who allegedly forcefully inserted his fingers into his neighbour’s ten year old daughter, has been arrested and charged to court. Samson Uba, the accused who resides at CBQ 207, Flat 1, Ikeja Military Cantonment, Ikeja, allegedly approached the father of the 10-year-old girl, to request that she should be allowed to run an errand for him. The girl ran the errand and returned to Uba with the purchase. He allegedly pounced on her in the kitchen and forcefully removed her underwear and inserted his fingers into her private part and caused her deep lacerations. The girl’s father raised an alarm when the child returned home bleeding from her private area. The girl related her ordeal to her father and Uba was arrested. According to the police, the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Uba however pleaded not guilty when he was charged before an Ikeja Magistrate Court. The magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, adjourned the case till March 17 for trial.

Gbagada blood bank remains closed until... —Lawmaker Chukwuma Okparaocha - Lagos The Chairman, Lagos Assembly House Committee on Health, Hon. Segun Olulade, has stated that the blood bank section of the Gbagada General Hospital, remains closed until the hospital complies with the medical standard as laid down by the state government. Olulade, who represents Epe II, made this known in a chat with the Nigerian Tribune, about 48hours after his committee ordered the closure of the blood bank of the General Hospital. It will be recalled that the committee, early this week, in company of the Health

Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFEMAA), closed the blood bank after discovering what it deemed ‘unethical procedures’ being carried out there. Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Segun Olulade, further noted that the committee had summoned all relevant stakeholders involved in the whole saga including the Ministry of Health officials, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and all necessary agencies, with a view to ensuring the problem became a thing of the past. “Until when they comply with the necessary standard

expected of them, the blood bank will remain closed. All relevant stakeholders have been summoned so that we can all take a critical look at the issue together,” he said. When citing an example of what is exactly expected to be done before the closed section of the hospital would be opened, Olulade said the blood bank refrigerators must be in good working condition. Assuring Lagos residents of better health care delivery, Olulade said more of such unannounced tours which unveiled the poor state of the closed blood banks should be expected in the state in days to come.

news

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Boko Haram: Nigerian Army establishes new division in Borno

•To set up another one in S/South •Army population to increase to 200,000 Chris Agbambu – Abuja

HE Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Tukur Buratai, on Wednesday, announced the establishment of the Nigerian Army 8 Division in the northern part of Borno. Buratai disclosed this while delivering a lecture entitled: ‘Nigerian Army: Challenges and Future Perspectives,’ at the National Defence College, Abuja. He said the establishment of the new division was

part of strategic plan by the army to boost military operations against terrorists particularly in areas around the Lake Chad Basin. The Nigerian Army in August 2013 established the 7th Infantry Division in Maiduguri to boost the military’s counter-insurgency operations in the North-East. Though detail of the new establishment was not disclosed, Buratai said the division would soon become fully operational with logistics and manpower deployments. He added that plans were

underway to establish another division to be known as the Nigerian Army 6 Division with Headquarters in the South-South region of the country. Buratai said the establishment of the new divisions was part of a strategic plan to improve on the Nigerian Army’s operational capabilities in the face of emerging threats to national security. He said the establishment of the additional formations would bring the number of divisions in the Nigerian Army to eight.

“Emerging threats to the security of our nation which has been aggravated by the proliferation of armed groups has added to the task of the military in protecting the lives of Nigerians and the integrity of its territory. “The focus of the Nigerian Army, today, is to find lasting solutions to these contemporary threats posed by the activities of the armed groups and their allies. “The Nigerian Army, therefore, remains poised to the extermination of the

Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. Today, they can no longer hold any territory as it used to be in the past and that is why they have resorted to the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to hit soft targets. “We have established the 8 Division located in the northern part of Borno specifically to clear the area of the remaining terrorist elements while another division, 6 Division, will be established in the SouthSouth,” he said. Buratai said the army would embark on an ambitious expansion programme to address manpower needs of the force to respond appropriately to contemporary threats to national security. He said the army planned to increase its personnel strength from its present 100,000 strength-force to slightly above 200,000 in the next eight years.

Buhari anti-corruption policy working —Ayade Leon Usigbe - Abuja

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai (right), briefing newsmen after delivering a lecture on ‘Nigerian Army: Challenges and Future Perspectives,’ at the National Defence College, Abuja, on Wednesday. With him are the Commandant of the college, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade (middle) and the Chief of Training and Operations, Army Headquarters, Major-General Yushau Abubakar. PHOTO: NAN.

Why salary payment becomes a challenge in Kwara —Commissioner Biola Azeez - Ilorin

THE Kwara State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Demola Banu, has said that regular payment of salaries has become a challenge due to fall in federal allocation accrued to the state. Speaking at a stakeholders forum organised by the state government, the commissioner said allocation accrued to the state from the Federal Allocation had dropped from N3.4 billion to N1.4 billion, creating a shortfall of N2 billion. The commissioner, who said that about N3 billion was accrued to the 16 local government areas of the state before now, added that the money had dropped to about N1.95 billion. “The Joint Account is technically dead since 2013 because the sum of N75 million that is supposed to be committed to the account could not be removed from their account due to the financial challenges,” he said.

The commissioner further stated that in view of this, the state government decided to restructure the revenue board to increase the monthly Internally Generated Revenue from N700 million and appealed to workers to be patient with the government. He also said that the state government committed about N2.4 billion to work-

ers’ salaries every month. Giving the figures, Banu said that a sum of N1.2 billion is being spent on teachers’ salaries, N239 million on pensioners’ arrears, while local government worker’s salaries stood at N784 million. Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Musa Yeketi, also

tendered apology to teachers and other workers in the state for his comments on a radio station programme. Meanwhile, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has assured workers of tertiary institutions in the state of the payment of the backlog of their salaries, saying loan has been secured to offset the backlog of the salaries.

Senate promises early completion of constitution amendment exercise Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja

THE Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of 1999 Constitution, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has given assurances on early completion of the constitution amendment exercise. He gave the assurance during the inauguration of the Committee by the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday. Senator Ekweremadu said that although the successful amendment of the 1999 Constitution was only

recorded in 6th National Assembly, which he also chaired, resulted in the First, Second, and Third alterations, he believed there were also a lot of insights to draw from all constitution amendment exercises. He added that the Fourth Alteration Bill, which was not assented to by former President Goodluck Jonathan remained a huge effort in amending the 1999 Constitution in accordance with the wishes of the Nigerian people. Notable among the key amendments, according

to him, “were strengthening of the local government administration, removal of presidential assent in constitution amendment, separation of the Office of the Attorney-General from that of the Minister of Justice, creation of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation separate from the Accountant-General of the Federal Government to enhance accountability, financial autonomy for state assemblies, and provision of 30-day timeline for presidential and governors’ assent to bills.”

GOVERNOR Ben Ayade of Cross River State has endorsed the anti-corruption policy of the present Federal Government, noting that it had engendered international confidence in the nation’s economy. Fielding questions from State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, he said his state had started to reap from the benefits of the anti-graft war as international investors encouraged by it were flooding the state to invest. Ayade, who is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor, said: “The anticorruption war is perfect for those who know the pains and hardship that Nigerians have passed through. “As a nation, there is so much in terms of natural resources and the people are so poor. It is only obvious that any serious government must take the issue of corruption seriously and I think that is why today, Nigeria is beginning to have national and international image that looks like Nigeria is getting prepared for business. “That is why investments are flowing into Cross River State. That is a sign that the anti-corruption war is actually working and it is giving Nigeria the international image that we need.”

Nigerian Tribune

FG inaugurates $3.4m UNESCO Chair on math at NMC Clement Idoko - Abuja

THE Federal Government has inaugurated the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Chair programme on Mathematics at the National Mathematical Centre (NMC). The programme is at estimated cost of $3,432,412.03. The main focus of the programme, which is expected to run for over a period of four years, would be to develop a critical mass of graduates to promote research, teaching and learning in higher education in Nigeria and sub-region. Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, inaugurated the UNESCONMC Chair on Wednesday at the headquarters of NMC, Sheda, where he also declared open the International Workshop on Algebra, Fund-Raising and Strategic Planning. Adamu, who noted that the UNESCO Chair on Mathematics was the first one in the mathematical sciences to be launched in Nigeria, reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to encourage the study of mathematical science in the country in line with the Change Agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.

Ashimolowo commended for uplifting education A Nigerian clergyman who is also the founder of Kings University, Ode-Omu, Osun State, Pastor Matthew Asimolowo, has been commended for his roles in promoting educational standard in the country. The commendation was given by staff of the university among who are Mrs Salami Dorothy (Registrar), Elder Caleb Ashimolowo and Professor A C Achudume (Bursar). According to them, the newly established Kings University, Ode-Omu, is aimed at producing a total graduate who will be able to compete favourably with their colleagues all over the world. They stated further that the university also aimed at producing graduates who could use their Godgiven talents to contribute positively to the development of the nation. Both Mrs Salami Dorothy and Caleb Ashimolowo, urged the newly admitted students to be focused and face their studies.

businessnews

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

More worries for Nigeria as stocks, naira continue to fall •Market capitalisation dips further, sheds N320.5bn Chima Nwokoji And Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba

S the price of oil continues to fall, dragging along with it the Naira, stocks and government revenue, stakeholders are increasingly getting worried about the future the Nigerian economy. Nigerian stocks fell 3.6 percent to a near three-andhalf-year low on Wednesday after the Naira fell to N300 per dollar on the black market, weighed down by sliding oil prices and the central bank’s decision to curb dollar supply. Currency and stock markets have been hard hit by the persistent fall in crude, Nigeria’s main export, triggering a fall in government revenues and exit of foreign investors from the local bourse. The stock market continued the previous days sell off as the Market Capitalisation and All Share Index closed at 3.58 per cent loss at N8.633 trillion and 25.103 basis points, on Wednesday, with market capitalisation shedding a sum of N320.5 billion. Market capitalisation, in the eight-day trade of the year 2016, has depreciated by N1.22 trillion and by the result posted on Wednesday, the Year-to-Date (YTD) returns currently stands at -12.36 per cent. Market turnover also continued previous day 74.87 per cent increase as volume appreciated by 65.37 per cent on Wednesday. All Indices of the Nigerian Stock Exchange lost their value except NSE ASeM that remained unchanged at 1,205.74 points. Market breathe further deepen as 3 gainers were recorded against 34 losers with Ashakem Cement Plc leading the gainers chart while Okomu Oil Palm Plc led others on the flip side. Diamond Bank Plc staked 88,682,876 shares in 32 deals, Unity Bank Plc traded 147,001 shares in seven deals, while Zenith Bank Plc bargained with 51,442,667 shares in 536 deals, thus driving the market turnover. Meanwhile, Nigerian Breweries Plc and Zenith Bank Plc led market value list with N201.2 million and N564.7 million. At the end of trading on Wednesday 369,233,091 shares of N1,689 billion exchanged hands in 2,887 deals. Brent crude, which gives Nigeria around 95 percent of its foreign earnings, fell to $30 a barrel for the first time in twelve years on Tuesday. A university don and economist at the depart-

ment of Economics, University of Lagos Dr.(Mrs.) R. Dauda on Wednesday said all indices in the Nigerian economy show that it is not doing well. “With pressure on foreign reserves and oil prices at $30 per barrel, devaluation is now unavoidable. The issue will be the quantum and methodology,”

said Samir Gadio, head of Africa strategy at Standard Chartered Bank. The central bank on Monday stopped the sale of dollars to retail foreign exchange operators saying they were using up the country’s foreign reserves for illegal transactions and selling the dollar above the bank’s official rate of N197.

On Wednesday, bureaux de change traders were quoting to sell dollars at a record low of between N290 to N300 citing thin liquidity. The unofficial market accounts for less than 5 percent of total dollar trades in Nigeria. “The market is facing acute dollar shortages, even many people who

want to buy at N300 cannot find the dollar,” said Aminu Gwadabe, the head of Nigeria’s bureaux de change association. Recently, Russian investment bank, Renaissance Capital, said a fair price for the Naira is N305 to a dollar but stated that a devaluation to N240 or N250 per dollar is appropriate.

From left: Mr Bola Adeeko, Head, Corporate Services Division, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Dr Michael Blank, Director of the Delegation of German Industry & Commerce; Mr Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, NSE; Mr Ingo Herbert, Consul General of Germany; Mr Aron Mir Haschemi, Deputy Consul General of Germany and Mr Rene Marco Siebenhaar, Commercial, Cultural and Political Attaché at the Closing Gong Ceremony at The Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Fuel scarcity hits Enugu, as marketers shut down stations

•DPR blames petrol scarcity on inadequate supply of products from NNPC depots Fuel scarcity resurfaced in Enugu metropolis on Wednesday as petroleum marketers closed down their filling stations, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports. NAN correspondent who monitored the situation in the state capital reports that virtually all the major and independent marketers were closed their stations. NAN reports that only the NNPC Mega Station on Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway was dispensing products to the a long queue of cars on its premises.

Commuters, including school children, were stranded due to paucity of commercial vehicles just as the roads were free of the usual traffic. Meanwhile, transport fares have increased by 100 per cent as commercial buses charged between N80 and N100 as against N50 per drop. Some motorists who spoke to NAN said the situation may be connected with ongoing monitoring of compliance with new pump price of N86.50k per litre by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

A civil servant, Samuel Nwodo, said the marketers closed their filling stations for fear of being sanctioned by the DPR. “Some of the marketers have refused to adjust their pump price until they exhausted their old stock. I wonder when they will do that,” he said. A commercial bus driver, Chijioke Agu, said he increased bus fare due to the scarcity and urged the government to do something urgently to save the situation. Meanwhile, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Benue

Germany to bring more investors to Nigeria The Consul-General of Germany in Lagos, Mr Ingo Herbert, on Wednesday announced his government’s readiness to encourage more German companies and investors to increase their investments in Nigeria. Herbert disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of his visit to the Lagos Floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). He said there was currently a growing interest of companies and investors to “come back’’ to Nigeria to explore her business and

investment opportunities. “Already, more and more German companies and investors have started coming back to Nigeria. Some have started opening up their representations in some parts of Nigeria. “I can assure the Nigerian Government and Nigerians that the interest of the German business community in Nigeria is fully back. “What this means is that many more German companies are ready to take advantage of Nigeria’s investment opportunities,’’ he said.

Herbert, who lauded the operations of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, expressed satisfaction over the increasing number of German companies currently listed at the stock market. He described the NSE as the second largest in Africa, with potential for driving Nigeria and Africa’s economy. The consul-general expressed optimism that with the growing interest of German companies in Nigeria, more of the companies would be listed in the market in the near future.

has blamed the ongoing fuel scarcity in the state on inadequate supply of products from the NNPC depots. The Controller of DPR in the state, Benjamin Ewuga, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Makurdi that the depots were supplying 36 trucks instead of 33000 trucks meant for the state. “NNPC now supplies 1.221 million litres of PMS representing 36 trucks of fuel as against the expected 4.393 million liters of PMS representing 33,000 trucks to be shared between Benue and Nasarawa”. He said owing to the inadequate supply, most independent marketers were buying from independent sources at higher prices which made enforcement of pump price difficult. Ewuga explained with the strict enforcement of the new pump price of N86.50, most marketers preferred not to order fresh supplies as it was no longer economically expedient to do so. He denied that marketers were hoarding the product to sell to black marketers, saying that the department was carrying out its duties in the state.

FAAN initiates projects for a new corporate head office Shola Adekola-Lagos

Few weeks after the minister of transport, Rotimi Amaechi openly condemned the corporate headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the authority has initiated the process of the construction of a befitting corporate head office. The process commenced with the invitation for “competent and reputable companies” to submit Expression of Interest (EOI), for the design and supervision of the construction of a new corporate headquarters for the organization. According to the general manager, corporate communications, FAAN, Yakubu Dati, the project would be funded through the authority’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) budget for the year 2016. The submission of EOI for the project is expected to close at exactly 11:30am on Monday, February 29, 2016.

Ethiopian Airlines adds two Bombardier Q400 Turboprop to Fleet Bombardier Commercial Aircraft and Addis Ababa-based Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise (Ethiopian Airlines) announced today that they have signed a firm purchase agreement for two additional Q400 turboprop airliners that will bring Ethiopian Airlines’ Q400 aircraft fleet to a total of 19 aircraft, the largest total fleet in Africa. Based on the list price of the Q400 aircraft, the transaction is valued at approximately $63 million US. “We are continuously working to have the right fleet with agility, optimal range, load and passenger comfort, which is critical for us to keep our leadership position in the market. “The Q400 aircraft continues to be an integral part of our expansion strategy in Africa. Through our strategic partnerships with ASKY Airlines in Togo and Malawian Airlines in Malawi, the Q400 airliner has played a vital role in availing convenient connections, as well as increasing frequencies to support air travel growth in Africa and successfully create a missing link,” said Tewolde Gebremariam, Group Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines.

businessnews

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

NNPC to hold first IPO by 2018 — Kachikwu

he federal government is planning to hold its first initial public offering (IPO) of assets owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in 2018, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Emmanuel Kachikwu, has said. “It’s inevitable,” Kachikwu, who also heads the NNPC, said on Tuesday in an interview in Abu Dhabi. “Part of the cleaning up process that we’re doing is to prepare for that,” Bloomberg quoted him as stating. The plan is to sell NNPC’s shares in its refining and distribution business and “select” exploration and production assets to the public, he said. NNPC manages Nigeria’s stakes in joint ventures with international oil companies that pump the country’s crude. It also operates refineries and a distribution network of depots and pipelines across the country of about 180 million people. Kachikwu also said yesterday that some members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) had requested an emergency meeting, adding that current market conditions support the need to hold such a gathering before the June 2 scheduled meeting of the cartel. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), however, moved to quash talks of a potential emergency meeting as the country’s Energy Minister Suhail bin Mohammed al-Mazroui said that the current OPEC strategy was working, adding that a period of between one and one-and-a-half years was needed to allow oil prices to rebound. Reuters quoted Kachikwu as telling reporters at an energy conference in Abu Dhabi that there was a lot of push from various blocs within OPEC for the meeting. “A couple of countries, I don’t want to mention names,” he said when asked if any had requested holding an emergency meeting. According to him, any meeting that would take place would be to review OPEC’s position to see if there was any need to change its strategy, adding that the meeting could take place in February or March. OPEC heavyweight, Saudi Arabia, which has resisted calls for a cut in production to help boost prices, was also said to be against an emergency meeting. But Kachikwu insisted that “Saudi Arabia has never

held the position that it does not want to talk”. “In fact, it was very supportive of a meeting before June, at the time when we held the December meeting,

if (there was a) consensus call for it,” Kachikwu added. However, the UAE has moved to quash talk of a potential emergency meeting of OPEC.

UAE Energy Minister later told the same conference that the current OPEC strategy was working, adding that time was needed to allow this to happen — per-

haps between one and 1-1/2 years. “I’m not convinced OPEC alone can change or can solely unilaterally change this strategy just because we

Nigerian Tribune

have seen a low in the market,” Mazroui said.

28 ships laden with petroleum products, foods expected in Lagos Tola Adenubi - Lagos

Executive Director (COO) & General Counsel , Africa Finance Corporation(AFC ), Dr Adesegun Akin –Olugbade; President & Chief Executive Officer, African Finance Corporation, Andrew Alli and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during a visit to the Vice President by AFC executives at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN

NEPC to inherit USAID non-oil sector promotion activities Gbola Subair- Abuja In its determined efforts to take Nigeria to a future beyond oil and promote the non-oil sectors of the economy, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) may inherit the activities of USAID‘s Nigeria Expanded Trade and Transport (NEXTT) programme currently going on along Lagos-Kano-Jibiya (LAKAJI) corridor of the country. The USAID NEXTT programme in Nigeria is a four-year initiative that is supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to expand trade volume and efficiency domestically and within the ECOWAS region and is expected to wind down next year after the NIPC persuaded them to extend the project by one year. The project has currently identified the LAKAJI corridor as a major artery for trade in Nigeria and is committed to the development of the corridor’s potential. The NIPC has been partnering with the USAID NEXTT for the realisation of the projects with the deployment of one of its management staff to the project in order to promote and attract investments, especially in the agricultural sector and its value chain along the corridor. The Executive Secretary of the commission, Uju Baba, who expressed the determination of the commission to

be a successor of the project after the tenure of the USAID NEXTT next year, described the programme as a success story of the organisation and may replicate same even to other corridors in the country. She noted that the commission has the capacity to inherit the projects with its one stop investment centre activities, zonal offices operations and committee on doing business services and after care services which she chaired. Baba, while receiving the president of the USAID NEXTT project, Santiago Sedaca, in her office on Wednesday, said NIPC had really provided technical assistance to the promotion of investment into the LAKAJI

project which was mainly on agriculture and its value chain, adding that the project was in line with the diversification policy of the Federal Government. She commended the USAID NEXTT on the project and plans to extend the programme to next year, stressing that by so doing most of the investments would have started to yield dividends. She expressed the resolve of the commission to ensure that non-oil sectors and its value chains are promoted to potential investors and the diversification policy of the present administration succeeds. Sedaca in his remarks, commended the commission for providing quality technical support and ser-

vices that made the realisation of LAKAJI corridor project a reality and described the NIPC as a “veritable partner.”

Finance expert advocates non-traditional collaterals for SMEs’ loans Akin Adewakun - Lagos A finance expert, Adekunle Sonola, has charged the regulatory authorities in the nation’s finance space to come up with a legislation that will make financial institutions in the country lay less emphasis on traditional collateral while processing loan requests of operators of small businesses in the country, noting that such rigid insistence on traditional col-

NNPC/Chevron JV wins Reuters 2015 Oil Deal Award OlatundeDodondawaAnd Ayodele Adesanmi The Joint Finance Team of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its joint venture partners, Chevron Nigeria Limited, have clinched the prestigious Thomson Reuters/ PFI Magazine ‘Africa and Middle East Oil Deal of the Year Award 2015.’ The NNPC, in a statement signed by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ohi Alegbe, and made available to the Nigerian Tribune

on Wednesday, said that the award was in recognition of the novel $1.2 billion multiyear drilling financing package for 36 offshore/onshore oil wells under the NNPC/ CNL joint venture initiated under the Accelerated upstream financing programme executed at a signing-ceremony in London in September, 2015. The initiative was designed by the NNPC to address the perennial challenge experienced by the Federal Government in providing its counter-part funding of JV upstream ac-

Twenty-eight ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive at the Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports in Lagos from January 12 to January 31. The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) stated this in its daily publication of operational activities sighted by our correspondent. NPA explained that the expected ships contained general cargoes, bulk wheat, containers, bulk sugar, steel products, bulk charcoal, bulk rice and petroleum products. It stated that 11 other ships had arrive the ports, waiting to berth with petroleum products and fresh fish. Nine of the ships would berth with petrol, while the two others would berth with fresh fish and bulk gas. 19 other ships are at the ports discharging various cargoes including bulk wheat, general cargoes, bulk sugar, base oil, bulk rice, containers and petroleum products.

tivities. Codenamed Project Cheetah, the $1.2 billion alternative financing package, was the first to combine funding of both oil production as well as domestic gas to support power generation in Nigeria from a medley of carefully sequenced offshore and onshore wells. The deal was projected to fund 36 wells and deliver 41, 000 barrels of crude oil per day and projected peak incremental production of 127 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd) in the years ahead.

laterals in the past had continued to stifle the growth of SMEs in the country. Speaking at a forum tagged SMEs: The engine room of the economy, who is talking to them? which was organised by a socio-economic group, J9C, in Lagos recently, Sonola, who is the Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Union Bank, identified lack of functional legislations and insistence on traditional collaterals as some of the challenges presently facing small businesses in Nigeria. According to him, rather than banks insisting on traditional collateral before giving out loans to small businesses, they could use trade references, business profiles or transaction details of the companies among others, as non-traditional collaterals for giving out such facilities. He also argued that the adoption of cluster development and financing among small businesses would also go a long way in enhancing the growth of small businesses in the country.

news

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

FEC okays $200m loan for Lagos Leon Usigbe-Abuja

HE Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a $200million loan for Lagos State government to enable it to complete some ongoing infrastructural development projects in the state. Meeting on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari gave its nod to the procurement of the loan which would be sourced from the World Bank. It is the second major approval of such facility for any state government by the pres-

ent administration having already extended the same gesture to Edo State government. Addressing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, explained that the Lagos loan was not entirely new as part of it had been collected during the past administration. Fashola explained the delay in approving the balance, saying that it was due to political differences between the Federal Government and Lagos State at the time. He recalled that the loan was approved in 2010 by the Federal Government with an

initial moratorium of 10 years and a repayment period of 40 years. The former Lagos governor also explained that the rebasing of the Nigerian economy which made it the largest in Africa had altered the terms and conditions of the loan, reducing the moratorium period to only five years, repayment period to 25 years and an imposition of 2.5 per cent interest rate. He said: “The point to make is that this is not a new loan. It’s a segment of a programme of developmental initiatives and it was approved in 2010 with a total sum of $600 million for Lagos State to be disbursed in

UYD urges Buhari to be peaceful with Biafra agitators By Oyejimi Damilola

UNITED Youth for Democracy (UYD) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to propose peace with the groups threatening disintegration of Nigeria as a veritable option of ensuring the continued unity of the country. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the group National leader, Kehinde Ojoawo and the acting national secretary,

Kabir Oyedotun and made available to Nigerian Tribune. UYD urged President Buhari to look into the agitation of MASSOB and IPOB urging the president to embrace dialogue in solving the agitation rather than look down on them and should also extend hand of peace to the group by releasing the director general of Biafra radio Mr Daniel Kanu and other detainees

“President Buhari should embrace dialogue with Biafra agitators and respect the right of the group. As the father of the nation, Buhari should extend olive branch to them by releasing the detained Director General of the Biafra Radio, Mr Daniel Kanu and other detainees.” The group also urged Nigerians to live in peace irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political differences.

•Drama as Buhari takes Osinbajo, ministers by surprise tranches of 200 million each year starting from 2011-2013. “But it suffered delays as a result of partisan political differences. The initial agreements we had with the World Bank was a 40-year loan, a 10-year moratorium, 0.5 per cent interest. But because of the delays that subsequently characterised the partisan interference that took place, our profile as a nation also changed. “We had become a bigger economy. So, money was being lent to us not now as a highly indebted nation anymore. So, by the time this one was approved now because of the delays, we had lost the opportunity of 40 years as it is now a loan of 25 years; the

moratorium has reduced to five years instead of 10 years. The interest rate had gone up to 2.5 percent. “But what is still heartwarming about it is that it helps to finance infrastructure. When we look at road construction and the value chain that people benefit from it, labourers, those shops that sell iron rods, artisans, craftsmen, that means, really globally, economies are being reflated and infrastructure defines how big a nation can grow; it is the defining line between poor and rich nations.” Wednesday’s FEC meeting was preceded by a mild drama as Vice-President Yemi

Osinbajo and some ministers were caught unawares, as the president appeared in the council chamber for the meeting nine minutes earlier than expected. Vice-President Osinbajo; the Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno and 19 ministers were yet to arrive at the time the president came. Noticing that the many of the ministers were yet to arrive, Buhari said “I came too early,” but asked that the meeting should commence with the rendition of national anthem before those who came late scrambled to their seats.

Buhari must set up procurement board —Senate Ayodele Adesanmi-Abuja

THE Senate on Wednesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to set up the National Council on Public Procurement in order to give life and meaning to the Public Procurement Act 2007. The decision followed a motion sponsored by Senator Theodore Orji (Abia Central), who noted that the Public Procurement Act came into force since 2007. He added that the good intention of the legisla-

ture in Nigeria in passing the said Act into law was to establish a regulatory authority for monitoring and oversight of public procurement and harmonising the existing government policies and practices by regulating setting standards and developing the legal framework and professional capacity for public procurement in Nigeria. The lawmaker observes that “SS1 and 2 of the act are the soul in that it is the

National Council on procurement that gives life to the Act and give meaning to the good intention of the legislature in passing the Act into law.” According to him “some of the important functions of the council include provision of thresholds for the application of the provisions of the Act, consider and approve policies on public procurement approve changes in the procurement process to adapt to improvements in modern technology.”

14 news One more person dies of Lassa fever in Edo Banji Aluko - Benin City

NE person on Tuesday died of Lassa fever at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State. It will be recalled that one person died at the hospital some days ago. A check at the hospital on Wednesday showed that two Lassa patients were on admission. According to medical per-

sonnel at the hospital, one of the patients is responding to treatment. The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Sylvanus Okogbenin, who spoke to journalists, said nine persons have been killed by Lassa fever at the hospital since November last year. Dr Sylvanus said test and treatment for Lassa fever at the hospital was free as the Federal Government had provided enough Ribavirin

vaccine. He called for the building of more treatment facilities in each of the geo-political zone for easy diagnoses and treatment. According to him, “there has been an endemic of Lassa fever. We have received blood samples from patients within Edo and other states like Taraba, Nassarawa, Bauchi, Plateau, Ondo and Delta, some of which tested positive.

Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole (second right), empathising with a survival of Lassa fever, Santi Saidu (sitting), during the fact-finding visit to Fuka, the first village where Lassa was recently reported in Niger State, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN.

Benue gov, commissioner disagree over Lassa fever, as govt bans eating of rats Johnson Babajide - Makurdi

THERE seems to be sharp disagreement between Benue State governor, Chief Samuel Ortom and his Health Commissioner, Dr Cecilia Ojabo, over the purported outbreak of Lassa fever in the state. The governor, while fielding questions from State House Correspondents, in Abuja, on Tuesday, confirmed that the deadly disease has hit the state with the death of one person. As at the time the governor was interacting with newsmen in Abuja, his health commissioner was also briefing newsmen in Makurdi, Benue State capital, where she stated that the state as at the moment is free of Lassa fever. The commissioner explained that the only person admitted at the State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, though manifested symptoms related to Lassa fever but submitted that the final report from the victim’s blood samples done in Edo State confirmed that it was negative. According to her, “we were lucky to have gotten his blood sample before he passed on, but we are lucky to tell you that the report was negative of Lassa fe-

ver,” though she did not disclose the ailment that killed the diseased. The state governor has advised residents to stop eating rat at the moment, however, the commissioner

also allayed the fear of residents of the state to remain calm just as she said that the state government is not resting on its oars to ensure adequate health care for the citizens.

Ekiti on red alert —EKSUTH CMD Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

THE Chief Medical Director of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Dr Kolawole Ogundipe, has announced that the state’s Ministry of Health had put all necessary units in the ministry on alert following the outbreak of Lassa fever in the country. This is following a near panic among some people

in the state when it was reported that the fever had affected two people in neighbouring Ondo State. Dr Ogundipe, while briefing newsmen on the activities of the hospital under his administration, on Wednesday, noted that the state’s Ministry of Health as well as the teaching hospital had put measures in place to curtail any outbreak as well as treat anyone who reports with the ailment.

Eateries in Abuja are safe —Eatery owners Eatery owners in Abuja say they have improved on sanitisation of their premises to ensure safety of their foods in view of the outbreak of Lassa fever in some states in the country. In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) they said that they had already put in place measures to ensure that their clients do not get infected with Lassa fever. Mr Mohammed Sani, the Supervisor of Drum-

stix (Ajomobi’s Kitchen) at Asokoro told NAN that the eatery was doing well in the area of sanitisation to avoid the occurrence of Lassa fever. “We fumigate our vicinity every two weeks and at night after closing we apply pesticide in and outside of the building. “After closing for the day, we keep our plates, spoon and trays in water based sanitiser and washed them in the morning.”

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

15 news Thursday, 14 January, 2016 Rivers CJ Ex-Plateau gov Jang to appear before EFCC today •As commission docks Tangwami, ex-Adamawa council boss over N982m fraud Isaac Shobayo-Jos

ollowing an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), former Governor of Plateau State and now a Senator representing Plateau North, Senator Jonah Jang is billed to appear before the EFCC today (Thursday) over petition filed against his administration as governor of the state. According to a statement signed by his senior legislative aide, Mr Oliva Dayzem, and made available to Nigerian Tribune, it was pointed out that the statement was issued to acquaint the people of the senatorial zone and his supporters of the invitation to avoid misinformation. “This has become necessary owing to the fact that Senator Jang, having served as governor of Plateau State for eight years need to clear any grey areas that may need clarification in the course of his stewardship. “The Distinguished Sen-

ator took oath of office to defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that is what he did as a Governor and is continuing to do as Senator. Let no one therefore misinform the public and especially the people of Northern Plateau with contrived stories; the truth remains that Senator Jang has received an invitation from the EFCC to give further explanations to some perceived grey areas; an invitation he is going to honour on Thursday, 14th January, 2016,” the statement read

in part. Senator Jang therefore calls on all his supporters to remain calm and ignore any frivolous stories that may be told about his visit to the EFCC. Meanwhile, the EFCC on Wednesday arraigned Felix Tangwami, former chairman Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State, before Justice Helen Hamman Joda of Adamawa State High Court, sitting in Yola, on a five-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N981, 468, 000.

Tangwami, in his capacity as the council boss, allegedly used his position to award a number of contracts to companies where he has interests and failed to deliver on the contract terms. These include: Contracts for supply of cerebrospinal meningitis vaccines awarded in favour of Binam Integrated Services Limited; supply of VVF oral vaccines for Immunisation against typhoid in favour of Nchaloro Nigeria Limited; supply of 500 units of motorcycles to be distributed to all the Lo-

cal government Areas in Adamawa State in favour of Bange Integrated service Limited; building of a school for technical skill acquisition in Numan, in favour of Bange Company Limited; and the supply of anti-snake venom in favour of Tafari Nigeria Limited. The case was adjourned to February 22, 2016 for hearing. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. In view of his plea, counsel to EFCC, Chris Meishelia told the court to fix a date to commence trial.

Fire guts UCH radiology unit By Sade Oguntola

AN inferno on Wednesday morning engulfed a part of the central radiology unit of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan leaving one of its digital X-ray machines which was under repairs, affected. Chief Medical Director, UCH, Ibadan, Professor Temitope Alonge, speaking on the fire incidence, said the fire outbreak which broke out from an air conditioning unit in the room, did not cause too much havoc. Alonge declared, “the Xray machine affected happens to be one of those that were under repair. It has not been put to use for the past six months. All the armoured cables in the ceiling are perfectly intact; the fire did not touch any of the key components of the entire department. “However, because of the fume and the fact that the place is been cleaned up, we have diverted most of the services in this section to the X ray department in the emergency room and the out-patient department. “So, our services for radiography are going on; the MRI machine is not affected; the CT scan and ultrasound machines are not affected; so it is only one X-ray machine, which is even not functional at the time of the incidence.”

Senate President, Bukola Saraki (second right); Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu (right); Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye and the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio (left), during the inauguration of the ad hoc committee on constitution review, at the National Assembly Abuja, on Wednesday.

Apologise to Nigerians, Adegboruwa tells EFCC boss By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

A Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, on Wednesday asked the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, to withdraw his statement that suspects invited to the offices of the anti graft agency will not be released on bail and will not be

charged to court, until they have refunded all the money alleged to have been laundered by them, adding that he should apologise to Nigerians. Adegboruwa stated that it is beyond the imagination that all suspects, who now find themselves invited to the EFCC office, should just pack their detention bags and be ready to remain in custody, without bail and without due

prosecution. The activist stated that, “Mr Magu was appointed well over a month now but he only commenced his familiarisation tour of Aso Rock Villa, last week. It is not surprising that it was after such visit, that he has now come out to unveil the mind of the Buhari administration. I verily and truly believe that Mr Magu means well for the Buhari administra-

Senate rule book forgery saga: Ekweremadu accuses judge of bias •Asks CJ to reassign suit Taiwo Adisa-Abuja

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has written the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, seeking a transfer of the suit challenging his emergence as the Senate number two man on the basis of a forged Rule Book. Ekweremadu, in the letter to the Chief Judge of the Federal Hough Court, Abuja, said that the suit filed by Senator Abu Ibrahim and four other senators should be reassigned as according to him, the presiding Justice Adeniyi

Ademola has links with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who are trying to unseat him. He said that the wife of the presiding Judge was on October, last year, named the Head of Service in Lagos State. The Deputy Senate President wrote: “I am a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the above suit is one by which the plaintiffs who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), seek to remove me as the Deputy Senate President. The matter is a highly sen-

sitive political matter and should be heard and determined by a judicial officer, who is totally independent, unbiased and has no link with any political party or political affiliation. “Since the above suit was filed, my counsels have been subjected to various acts of intimidation and harassment by Honourable Justice Ademola and any independent bystander in court cannot but arrive at the conclusion that Justice Ademola is clearly biased in this matter and is working to a predetermined conclusion.”

tion and Nigeria, at large, but he should withdraw this statement and apologise to the good people of Nigeria, who have all voted for democracy and good governance, through President Buhari. “We cannot prosecute the anti-corruption war in an atmosphere of lawlessness and wanton disregard for the rights of the citizen. That will not be democracy, if we must tell Mr Magu, even though he has the overwhelming support of most Nigerians, in his new assignment.” He added that on Monday, January 11, 2016, the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Magu, went round media houses in Lagos and laid bare his strategy for the anti-corruption crusade of the present government. “The bedrock of the Rule of Law is Fair Hearing, which simply translates to the twin principles of hearing the other side and not being a judge in one’s own cause or matter. In the case of the EFCC, the implication of the Chairman’s statement is that any suspect, who has been invited in respect of any anti-corruption case, is guilty as invited.”

launches biometric data card to detect ghost workers Uduakabasi Patrick-Port Harcourt

Rivers State Chief Judge, Daisy Okocha has launched the use of biometric Data card for all judiciary workers across the state. Speaking during the launching in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, the CJ said the card was to detect and curb what she described as ghost workers in the system. Okocha maintained that the card would be useful in capturing the detailed account of all the persons working with the judiciary across the state. She stated that the biometric card would be issued to the judiciary workers free of charge and also stressed on the proper and careful use of the card. Meanwhile, the Chief Judge has disclosed that she would retire from her assignment as a CJ on January 15 while she charged the staff to be hard working for development in the Nigerian Judiciary system. Okocha, who also took a tour around the complex to see the machine and other facilities said workers due for promotion and retirement would be confirmed.

Delta records reduction in vehicular accidents Alophonsus Agborh-Asaba

The last quarter of 2015 witnessed a reduction of road traffic accidents in Delta State as a total of 36 persons were recorded to have died in 40 road mishap in the State. State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Rindom Kumven said in Asaba that 121 persons sustained injuries in the crashes, adding that 15 out of the 40 crashes were fatal while 17 were serious and nine were minor. Kumven in an interview with Nigerian Tribune said there was a significant reduction in the number of crashes during the period under review when compared to the last quarter of 2014. He gave the percentage of decrease as 49 in road crashes, 43 in the number of deaths, 38 in the number of injured and 59 casualties.

Thursday, 14 January, 2016 16 news Taraba Appeal Chibok girls: Military bars parents from planned Court Ruling: march to Aso Rock Group lauds Adetola Bademosi-Abuja

FFORTS for the release of the abducted Chibok girls, seems to be taking another turn as the Nigerian Military was alleged to have barred parents of the missing girls from travelling to Abuja, to partake in the planned march to the Presidential Villa, on Thursday. The Bring Back Our Girls Group had recently announced a solidarity march with the parents of the abducted Chibok girls and the Chibok community to re-engage with the president on the matter of their rescue. In a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune, on Wednesday, by the team’s strategic member, Jeff Okoroafor in Abuja, the group said: “a delegation of parents left Chibok this morning Tuesday, 12 January, for a two-day journey to Abuja. Despite their meagre income, the over 120 parents were determined and

Gunboats can’t stop oil theft —Airforce Ebenezer AdurokiyaWarri

YOUTHS empowerment and employment and not gunboats will solve the challenge of oil theft through pipeline vandalism and illegal oil refining, the Nigerian Air Force has advocated. Nigerian Air Force Commander, Air Commodore Dudu Sola, gave the verdict on Wednesday, at a summit tagged: “Security and Environmental Challenges in Oil and Gas Sector: A Way Forward” holding now in Warri, Delta State. “Youth empowerment and development are the major problems in Delta. Enabling environment should be put in place to avoid youth engaging in crimes,” Dudu Sola noted. He admonished wealthy individuals who used youths as political thugs to spend their money to train the youth following them. According to him, Nigeria should emulate Kuwait and Singapore in the area of developing the youth in the Niger Delta instead of engaging gunboats to checkmate oil related crimes. “Gunboats cannot solve the problem of oil bunkering. Paying amnesty money directly to the account of youths, as it is now being done by the present government, is good.”

paid the bus fare from Chibok to enable them to partake in the march. According to the group, the planned march is to re-engage with the president, after the first meeting of July 8, 2015. The statement read: “At about 8.a.m, we received information that they had

been barred from proceeding by soldiers. We wondered if this was perhaps a random solitary act of some overzealous checkpoint leader or an action directed from the military high-command. “Not wanting to speculate and escalate without establishing the facts behind the

episode, we reached out to the administration through Pastor Tunde Bakare- a wellrespected citizen and coadvocate of the cause of our Chibok girls. “However, we were told only this evening that the checkpoint officers in Askira had allowed only four of the bus load of parents and held

back three but we can factually confirm that five buses in all were held back-two in Chibok and three in Askira.” Although the group stated that the military had ascribed the action to security reasons and had since tendered an apology, it said this could have been handled with respect for human rights.

From left, Pastor Fola Aboaba; Special Assistant to the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor O. Odesola; the General Overseer, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Idowu Olayinka and his wife, Wumi, at the UI Christian Family Fellowship 2016 Bible Study, on Wednesday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU.

FG moves to contain snakebites in Plateau As centre records 120 bites monthly Soji-Eze Fagbemi-Abuja

THE Federal Government has moved decisively to contain the rampant incidents of snakebites in Kanke, Panshin and Shendam communities of Plateau State. This was necessitated by the increasing cases of snake bites, as the Medical Superintendent of the Zamko Treatment Centre, Dr Titus Dajel, revealed that the centre treated about 120 snakebite cases per month, with five cases reported daily. The Federal Ministry of Health recently donated a large quantity(Vail) of Antisnake venom (ASV) to the Plateau State government to curtail the threatening incident. Presenting the drugs at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole stated that the donation was in response to the outcry from the people in the affected communities. The minister added that the donation was part of the Federal Government’s intervention effort at stemming the scourge which had been ravaging the region since August, 2015.

The minister represented by an assistant director in the ministry, Mr Fatai Oyediran, who led a team of medical experts and environmental scien-

tists from the ministry to Plateau State, stated that his team was in the state to confirm the complaint and assess the current status of snakebites. He said further

that the team would also carry out a sensitisation and awareness campaign, aimed at raising the bar in terms of prevention and control of the scourge.

Families of dead policemen get N42m benefits in Lagos, Ogun THE Nigeria Police on Wednesday presented cheques worth N42 million to families of 27 officers who died in active duty in Zone 2 Command, comprising Lagos and Ogun states. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the death benefits was paid out to the fallen officers under the Police Life Insurance Scheme. Presenting the cheques, the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Solomon Arase, said that the gesture was in fulfilment of the police life insurance policy. Represented by Bala Hassan, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, the IG urged the beneficiaries to put the benefits to good use. Arase said that the scheme was put in place to alleviate the suffering of family members of personnel who either

died or sustained near fatal injuries in the course of duty. “This will enable the families of the deceased to take care of their loved ones that are still living; we have officers that died in the course of duty and those that were shot by armed robbers,” he said. The IG said that the benefits cut across all ranks in the force, adding that the amount differed depending on the rank and circumstances in which the officer departed. “Each serving member usually fills a form showing their next of kin and after death, we then contact their next of kin and present the cheques to them. “The rank is usually from Inspector downwards; we have distributed close to N42 million now to the all the families. “With this, I am sure the little children that are left

behind will be able to go to school,” Arase said. IG also extended his condolences to the families of the beneficiaries. “The money is not meant for frivolities; it is to ensure that children left behind are well taken care off. “This does not end here, we still have other benefits, this one is for the insurance the force did for its officers, especially for those that died in the course of duty. “Those who were involved in accidents and those that were sick and eventually died also benefit,” he said. NAN reported that each of the beneficiaries received between N200, 000 to N1.9 million. Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Miss Eunice Mbang, thanked the IG, saying that the money would go a long way in assisting members of their families.

judgment

Sylvanus Viashima-Jalingo

TARABA volunteer group has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State to accept the verdict of the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja, that upheld the victory of Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and to collaborate with him to move the state forward. Leader of the group, Mr Terrence Joseph made the call at a press briefing in Jalingo, on Wednesday, where he described the ruling of the Appeal Court as a victory for the collective will of the people of Taraba. According to Terrence, “the calm and peaceful celebrations that greeted the Appeal Court judgment is a demonstration of the general acceptance of the verdict unlike the initial ruling of the tribunal that was widely protested and led to the loss of precious lives and property “We therefore call on the APC in the state to accordingly eat the humble pie and be bold enough to join hands with the governor to move the state forward.”

Federal Character Commission gets acting executive chairman Saliu Gbadamosi -Abuja

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Dr Shettima Bukar-Abba as the acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC). Mr Chucks Okoli, the Deputy Director, Planning and Strategy of the commission, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja. Bukar-Abba’s appointment followed the demise of Alhaji Muhammad Bello Alkali, the former Executive Chairman of the Commission, last Friday Okoli said that until his appointment on Monday, Bukar-Abba, a seasoned civil servant, was the Federal Commissioner representing Borno State in the commission. He said that the acting executive chairman, who was also a two-time secretary to the Borno State government, had assumed duty.

Thursday, 14 January, 2016 With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

From left, Temlong Niger, General Manager, Procurement; Mr Salisu Daura, General Manager, Electrical; Mr Saleh Dunoma, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); Dan Okafor, Project Manager, Lagan International; Bello M. S., Musa, Airport Manager and Zakari Mahmud, Regional General Manager, North East/North West, during the inspection of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport, Katsina, ahead its commissioning recently.

From left, representative of Brigade Commander, 22 Army Brigade, Sobi Cantonment, Colonel Aminu Abdullahi Goni; Kwara State governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed and the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, observing Jum’at prayer to mark 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, at Ilorin Central Mosque, Ilorin, recently.

Miss Omoniyi Ogunniyi flanked by her parents, Mr and Mrs Gbadebo Ogunniyi and her brother, Mr Funminiyi Ogunniyi (left), during her call to the Bar ceremony, recently.

Mrs R. Paseda (left) and Chief Rotimi Paseda (second right), with the newly wedded couple, Mr and Mrs Adedamola Paseda, at Maryland, United States, recently.

Mr Titus Oke (second left) commissioning the 500kv transformer won by him from MTN Foundation (What can we do together campaign) and donated to Ajobo community in Akinyele Local Government, recently. With him, from left, are Mr Waheed Adeniran, Mr Yemi Ebitanmi, father of the donor, Pastor Akin Oke and brother to the donor, Mr Oluwagunwa Oke. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

From left, Mrs Modupe Akinbajo (Mama Dupmos), Dr Akinkunmi Enoch Akinbajo, Mr Samuel Ajayi and students, during the celebration of 25th anniversary of Dupmos College, Sabo, IjebuOde, Ogun State, recently.

Oluwawemimo and Akinwumi Ojo, during their wedding at the First Baptist Church, Ofatedo, Osogbo, Osun State, recently.

From left, Marketing Manager, Africa, Castle Milk Stout, Mr Kunle Ogidi; Marketing Manager, Sabmiller, Jennifer Balogun and the Managing Director, Maxconnection Ltd, Mr Owolabi Mustapha, at the last Copa Lagos event co-sponsored by Heros Beer.

Major-General Joseph S. Soboiki (retd) and his wife, Dr Janey, during the investiture of Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu as patroness, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Remo chapter, held at Abraham Tabernacle Baptist International Worship Centre, Oba Erinwole Roa` d, GRA, Sagamu, Ogun State, on Sunday. PHOTO: D’TOYIN

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

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

yournews

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•When the hunter becomes the hunted. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

Ride on, President Buhari ON behalf of the Elders Unity Forum of the Tijaniya Ibrahimiya Nigeria, Ibadan, I want to commend President Muhammadu Buhari for his vision to change Nigeria. We pray that may the Almighty Allah be with him in his quest to bring development to the country, particularly his idea of wanting to pay a stipend to unemployed youths. In truth, this is the best way to curb criminality among the youth. This decision is in line with God’s commandment that those in positions of authority should care for the underprivileged. We are hereby calling on well-meaning Nigerians to support the government towards ensuring that this idea becomes a reality. We are sure of the benefits in this policy once it has been implemented truthfully. •Alhaji Immam Yekini Gbolagade, 08108323780

Fashola, focus on power supply I am hopeful that before the end of the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari, things will get better in this country, but the citizens must continually inform public office holders of where they are having challenges. That is why I am drawing the attention of the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, to the terrible power supply we have been experiencing in parts of the country for some time now. When President Buhari was newly inaugurated, electricity supply became stable for a while, and Nigerians attributed it to the fact that those in this sector feared the new president, and therefore, had to sit up. However, power supply has degenerated so badly these days, and one keeps wondering what has changed between when the president just came in and now. If I should advice this government, I think it should focus on providing Nigerians with uninterrupted power supply. If

this can happen, then a lot of things will work well for this country. First, jobs will be created, while those who had abandoned their jobs because of the power situation, barbers, welders, among

others-will return. It is also easy to maintain adequate security when there is power at night. A street that is well-lit will be difficult for criminals to operate in, and as such, this is another advantage of uninterrupt-

ed power supply. In the area of health, many lives will also be saved, as power is needed during surgical operations. We have heard about situations whereby people had lost their lives after power

DPR is not working in Delta State THE Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) which regulates the price of fuel in the country is not working in Delta State. At the moment, fuel is being sold at N130 and N140 at independent filling stations in Delta State. Since the reduction in fuel price from N87 to N86.50, independent marketers have been shutting their filling stations, only to be selling at awkward hours. These oil marketers are, however, having a field day with no one to challenge their illegality. It is hoped that with this, officials of the DPR in Delta State will wake up to their responsibilities by sanctioning filling sta-

tions that are selling above N86.50 per litre, thereby going against the official

price of government. •Feyi Akeeb Kareem, 08098245620

supply to some hospitals was cut during operations. Going by the excellent performance of Mr Fashola during his term as Lagos State governor, I know he will also replicate that at the three key ministries he is holding now. He should, however, make it fast so that Nigerians won’t continue to suffer the terrible power supply we are experiencing. •Tayo Isola, 08062086668

FG, come to the aid of Okun people Okun people are of Yoruba descent in Kogi State. Kogi is a multi-ethnic state and Okun people are up to 27 per cent of Kogi State population, smaller than the other two major tribes, Igala and Ebira. Okun people spread across six local government areas in Kogi State, known as KabbaBunu, Yagba-West, YagbaEast, Mopa-Muro, Ìjùmú and Lokoja local government areas. They speak varied dialects…Owé, Ìyàgbà, Ìjùmú, Bùnú and Oworo, but their language

is generally called Okun. The Okuns are driven with the passion to excel in all endeavours, and the Federal Government should assist the people to achieve their aims. It is unfortunate that there is the systematic exclusion of competent and credible Okun sons and daughters from appointments and elections into sensitive and strategic positions in the country. Again, there is lack of Federal Government’s

presence in Okunland, particularly strategic and viable projects like power plants, petroleum refineries, federal ministries, departments and agencies. This is also the only region that is yet to have either a federal university/ polytechnic/college. I hope the Federal Government will come to our aid as soon as possible. •Balogun Emmanuel Funsho, 07034444976

editorial

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The Cauldron in the Middle East

he diplomatic row between Saudi Arabia and Iran deepened recently as the Saudis cut off diplomatic relations with Iran following the attack on the Saudi embassy in Teheran by protesters angered by the execution of a Shiite cleric and critic, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr by the Saudi authorities. Saudi Arabia has since been joined in this diplomatic spat with Iran by some other countries in the Middle East such as Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Sudan, and Bahrain. Indeed the Arab League at its emergency meeting in Cairo, Egypt came down on the side of Saudi Arabia by condemning in strong terms the attack on the Saudi Embassy in Iran. The Security Council of the United Nations (UN) also condemned the attack while calling on the Iranian authorities to safeguard all diplomatic embassies in Iran in keeping with international obligations. In the same vein, Iraq, the Syrian government of Bashir al-Assad and Hezbollah in Lebanon, have understandably staunchly supported Iran. It is remarkable, however, that both the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary-General, Ban KiMoon, appealed to both Saudi Arabia and Iran not to do anything that could escalate the tension between the two sides even as they were urged to take measures to normalise relations. We commend the UN system and the SecretaryGeneral for the prompt attention to this crisis, given the potential for its becoming a regional one. It is understandable that Saudi Arabia and Iran stand at the head of the sectarian divide between the Sunnis and the Shiites in the Middle East and it is to be expected that other countries would join the fray in accordance with the sectarian interests. This fact that the divide is sectarian makes it much more prone to escalation as sectarian sentiments are not necessarily amenable to logic and restraint. This is already evident in the number of countries

and entities that have lined up behind the two sides to make the issue more intractable. When it is realised that the divide between the Sunnis and the Shiites is also historical and contentious still, the potential for the crisis to snowball into a regional confrontation and conflagration is high. It is therefore important that Saudi Arabia and Iran and their different supporters are impressed upon not to aggravate the current situation in any way. It is particularly heartening to know that the two sides have not done anything to upset the planned Syrian peace talks as the UN Representative has given assurances that the talks would go on as planned. The same, however, cannot be said for the negotiated ceasefire in the Yemeni civil war which could not take off in the wake of the Saudi/ Iranian debacle. It is the reality that both Saudi Arabia and Iran are implicated in all the issues and crises in the Middle East and it should be expected that the current crisis, if not appropriately managed, would worsen the crises on the ground in the region. It should therefore be the concern of all, particularly the international community acting through the UN that the current diplomatic row should not be allowed to fester and grow into a more problematic issue. This is not the time to dwell unnecessarily on the propriety or otherwise of the actions leading to the current row. All in the international system have expressed misgivings about the execution of the Shiite cleric even as they also condemned the attack on the Saudi Embassy. What is important at this point is to step back and allow reason and restraint to pervade all actions in the region going forward. Nobody would benefit ultimately from igniting further fire in the region. What the Middle East needs is peace for growth and development. And both Saudi Arabia and Iran must accept that they owe the region and indeed the whole world the responsibility to bring about a more peaceful Middle East. AFRICAN NEWSPAPERS OF NIGERIA PLC Founders: Chief Obafemi Awolowo GCFR, SAN (1909 - 1987)

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opinion

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

the

avant-garde

with Dare Adekanmbi

m:08053412982 e:samueldare2002@yahoo.ca t:@dareadekanmbi

Heraclitus speaks on Nigerian politics

lthough critics have pointed out what they see as contradictions in his philosophical submissions, Heraclitus, one of the ancient Greek philosophers, gives humanity some profound principles in an attempt to explain nature and human activities philosophically. Aristotle, for instance, punctures the ontological stance of Heraclitus that fire is the “ultimate reality” and that every other thing we see is just a manifestation of fire. For this, Aristotle rightly called Heraclitus a material monist (one who believes only one kind of thing exists). But for me, I do not think the baby deserves to be thrown away with the bath water. This is why I am enthralled by some of the principles brought forth by Heraclitus. He gave us the principle of universal flux, a theory that things constantly change and nothing stays. Heraclitus likens the world to a river. He says the entire body of water in a river is not the same at any given time. He submits that no individual can step into the same river twice, for the volume of water in the river will have either increased or reduced at the second attempt. Therefore, it will not be the same river. Also, in his theory of unity of opposites, he points out how things are similar and dissimilar at the same time. Heraclitus’ flux theory is popular called the philosophy of change and we all know change is the catchphrase in Nigeria’s political discourse at the moment. There can be no doubt against the fact that it is not the same Nigeria that President Muhammadu Buhari inherited on May 29, 2015 that we currently have. Things have changed positively in some areas positively. Government agencies now see reason they must turn in whatever is generated as revenue into state coffers. Corruption is truly being given a bloody nose, contrary to the impunity that characterised the immediate past administration. Revelations from the arms deal probe so far have shown that this country has been mismanaged over time. Change can be from bad to good and vice versa. The continued detention of Sambo Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu,

who were granted bail by the court, has come across as a negative change. President Buhari’s justification of the action on the basis of the fact that the accused should not have been bailed because of the gravity of their alleged offences stands logic on its head. If their offences are not bailable ones, court would not have granted them bail. What about the alleged remote-controlling of the judiciary as a result of which conflicting judgments have been delivered by election petition tribunals and the Appellate Courts? During the PDP government, ruling party lost governors and other elected officials and heaven did not fall. Are we right to say Nigeria has been put in reverse gear in this regard? Apart from the arms deal probe and the revelations therefrom, there is almost nothing to show concretely as the achievements of the Buhari administration that will be one year old in May. When Nigerians became impatient with the change government, the official alibi was that the president was taking his time to select the best men and women as cabinet members to drive his agenda. Months after, life can’t be said to be in most of the ministries. After the arms deal probe is concluded and culprits charged to court, what other smokescreen will be avail-

able to keep Nigerians busy and turn focus from the tardiness that is apparent in the running of the country? The economy is on its knees and of a truth, the successive PDP administration is largely to blame for this. Commonwealth was shared among privileged individuals and citizens left to wallow in grinding poverty. After all the stolen monies have been collected, will things improve? Already, there are signs of fiscal indiscipline on the part of the Federal Government. Why do we need to throw away N39 billion on a wild goose chase of prospecting for crude oil in the north-East? If eventually, oil is found in commercial quantities, what solution will such find bring when the price of the commodity continues to plummet in the international market? Those nosing the underground for behind-the-scene political happenings in the country will surely know there has been a flux in the ruling party. Even many APC leaders themselves admit it is not the same APC that kicked PDP out of office that exists at the moment. As Heraclitus propounded, there has been a “unity of opposites” or what we can call re-alignment of political forces and principalities from among chieftains of the governing party on the one hand and across-the-bridge marriage of convenience on the other hand. How many of the 36 state governors still keep faith in the president? Has the National Assembly not fallen into the hands of a powerful bloc in the party? In a riotous fashion, things are rapidly changing in the country. And they will continue to change till 2019 and even beyond. By the time the next election comes, it will not be the same Nigeria there was in 2015. Will other variables remain the same? Apology I wish to apologise to the esteemed readers of this column who called and texted to enquire why it rested for a few weeks. I went on an annual break and forgot to inform you about this. I am now back from leave, refreshed, to continue the business of contributing my quota to the building of Nigeria.

The concurrent demands of veteran journalists By Sehinde Dagunduro

he idea of establishing in Nigeria unfolded precisely- three weeks before the commencement of the old Oyo State NUJ PRESS WEEK in November 1988. Ever before this memorable date, all junior and very senior practitioners in this golden profession, have silently kept wondering why virtually all past and on-going political and military leaders refused to consider, let alone, recognise journalists for National Awards in this country. In the midst of mounting and relentless patriotic services which these professionals have been rendering to the nation in terms of information, education and general mobilisation which had sustained and indeed promoted what we still have today as unity, peace, mutual understanding, progress and stability in our dear country, NOT ONE of these journalists across the country have been so identified, let alone granted such National honour as it is cheaply and constantly given to others, even those unknown before their awards. Historically, from the pre-independence era to the first, second and subsequent republics, the facts remain widely open that it is this set of journalists that promoted virtually all the individuals that emerged as leaders at the federal, regional, state and local government levels for recognition and eventual installations respectively. Yet, the journalists up till now are denied various recognitions for such National awards. Generally, within the professional fold, the pains continued to mount as to what befalls each of these practitioners in their old ages and when eventually out of active services. On this particular day in question, in October 1988, out of a specific pain, the light emerged for the urgent need to reach-out to others lo create a positive way to start challenging the political leaders at all levels to give deserved recognition to journalists’ welfare and subsequent rewards for their individual and collective contributions to the nation. As the serving Chairman of the then old Oyo State NUJ Council, primarily I met with each of my then three (3) private mentors and supporters who always counselled

me on all issues I refered to them. They are Alhaji (now HRH) Oba Adewale Kasim, the Awara of Iwara-Ijesa, Dr. Bayo Banjo of JOKOTOLA Memorial Hospital and my Egbon/ Justice Akin Apara both of blessed memories. Each of them privately voted the idea while Justice Apara in his own conclusion told me that I should appeal to my colleagues to regard the new body, the League of Veteran Journalits as the upper chamber for all circles of practicing journalists) in the country, as it is in the legal circle. Happily enough, the issue in question emerged almost three weeks before the 1988 press week of the NUJ in the old Oyo State Council, so having secured also the consent of my Tactical committee including Mr. Sola Akinuli of the defunct Daily Sketch; Alhaji Gembo Ibrahim of the FRCN Kaduna; Mr. Dupe Adewoye my Vice Chairman; Alhaji Bolaji Kareem; my General Secretary, Mr. Muyiwa Apara and Mr. Lanre Ogundipe (later National President of NUJ). I moved to the state executive council meeting and presented the matter as it was affecting the professional pride and welfare of our serving -and retired seniors with a motion that a body to be known as THE LEAGUE OF VETERAN JOURNALISTS be established. I also sought the formal approval of the EXECUTIVE COUNCIL that Ibadan City, as capital of Oyo State should be given the priviledge to answer as the founding base of

this honourable professional body. To the glory of God, the entire members at the EXCO meeting joyfully adopted and voted my proposal and motion to establish the Leagues of Veteran Journalists along with the investiture of the first batch of those we will subsequently nominate as our Honourary Veteran Awardees, across the country. I also received the unanimous approval of the state Exco on my amended proposal that the NUJ Press Week events of the year 1988 will include (A) VETERANS’ DAY to recognized the Pioneer Veterans. Also Approved was the added motion that a Day should be regarded in the NUJ press week as Journalists Family Night when those selected and regarded as Best Reporter and Cameraman of the year would be awarded in the midst of all members and their families. My self and the committee members including Alhaji Adeola Bashiru (A.K.A Asiri abo) as Chairman, Alhaji Iyiola Lawal (Chairman Correspondents’ Chapel), Alhaji Bola Adegoke and Mr. Laolu Ajulo (both of Blessed memory) eventually presented a list of the first Award and was duly approved. Albeit, now 27 years after, the same great pains of the open neglect, lack of deserved recognition and required rewards and awards due to the Gentle-men of the fourth Estate of the Realm in Nigeria has remained unattended to by our various leaders at the federal, state and local government levels while both aged and retired as well as serving younger practitioners in the field of information, education and peoples mobilisation towards unity, peace and stability still remain buoyantly committed to their ethical and professional services to the nation. In conclusion, is it not truly very sad to assert that the available record today in Nigeria, so far confirms that only Mr. Peter Ajayi answered as a National Awardee shortly before his death? But with the current flagging and progressive marching of CHANGE in the nation, under President Muhammadu Buhari, journalists still remain hopeful for deserved recognitions and rewards at various levels. So let it be, we are praying. Dagunduro (FNUJ) is a former Chairman NUJ, Oyo State Council.

Thursday, 14 January, 2016 Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

maka nd’igbo

Jubilation as Ugwuanyi begins construction work on Opi/Nsuka road, others

Opi/Nsukka road under construction

Jude Ossai - Enugu

HE commencement of work on Opi / Nsukka road and others by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyiled administration has triggered jubilation in Enugu State. Maka Ndigbo, which visited Nsukka and Opi last week, observed that residents of the communities were in high spirit

over the development. Governor Ugwuanyi had vowed right from the inception of his regime on May 29, 2015, that in line with standard global practices, his government would sustain the laudable intervention strategies that were already in place. It is against this backdrop that towards the end of last December, the state government gave priority attention

Accusations, counter-accusations trail murder, arson in Nkpor Suzy Oruya -Onitsha Accusations and counter accusations have allegedly trailed the purported murder of one Somtochukwu Enekebe Joseph at Mgbachu village, Nkpor,in Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, as police intensify manhunt for suspects. According to the owner of the house set ablaze, Honourable Innocent Ilechukwu, "some of the suspects that perpetrated the act are cultists and have been arrested by the Anti Cult Squad in the state while some are still at large. He pointed finger at a former member of House of Representatives, Honourable Christian Okeke, his younger brother, Chibuzo Okeke and Ikenna Anikpe as those behind the setting ablaze of the house

He said that property worth N25million was destroyed and that the suspected cultists warned earlier that they would raze the house and did as they promised. But in a swift reaction, Honourable Okeke, who is the elder brother to Chibuzo Okeke, revealed that Ilechukwu burnt his house by himself and urged the police and the Anti-Cult Squad to investigate him and avoid arresting innocent people over continues pg22

Enugu police arrest two teenagers over —pg22 indomie

to construction of new roads and rehabilitation of old ones. Some residents of Nsukka interviewed last week agreed that the construction of Nsukka road abandoned by ex-governor Okwesilieze Nwodo due to military intervention in nation’s body polity in 1992 to its original plan of dual carriage would enhance connectivity with other rural communities and promote economic activities in the area. A paramount leader in Nsukka Community, Okechuwu Ugwueze, recalled how they had been experiencing untold hardship trying to pass the road whose bad situation was worsened by erosion. “Several local government chairmen had assured us that the road would be constructed, but none of them lived up to their words even as the bad portions of the road worsen. We thank God that our son in person of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuayi is working according to his promise “With this development, we will continue to support the governor as his administration is people oriented”, Ugwueze added.

Murder: Enugu govt moves to probe killing of Adada scribe —pg22

It was also learnt that reconstruction work was ongoing at the new market roundabout – Onitsha Expressway and Agu-Abor road which is a gateway to the state. The State Commissioner for Information, Dr Godwin Udeuhele, explained that when the road was completed, it would help beef up the perception of people coming or going from Enugu and avert the impending road mishaps that might be caused by the single lane that is in use now. The commissioner added that reconstruction of the road would put an end the activities of mechanics and welders who had turned the gateway into their workshops. Dr Udeuhele noted that the state executive council equally approved the rehabilitation of Nawfia Street in Independence Layout, Enugu to ameliorate the sufferings of the inhabitants of the area.

CREW Jude Ossai-Enugu-South East Bureau Chief 08052817955 Joe Nwachukwu- Owerri 08033271227 Suzy Oruya- Onitsha 08063653735

22 makand’igbo

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Enugu police arrest two teenagers over indomie Jude Ossai - Enugu

WO teenagers have been arrested by police detectives in Enugu for allegedly stealing packets of indomie noodles and other household items. The suspects, whose names were given as Feanyi Odoabuchi, 19 and Amobi Alor,

18, were said to be notorious criminals, who specialised in breaking of provision stores within Okwojo Ngwo and its environs. Odoabuchi is from Eha-Amufu in Isiuzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, but lives at same Okwojo as a mason while Alor is from Ukaka Ngwo in Udi Local Government Area of the state. Confirming the story, the State Police

Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amarizu, said the duo were nabbed on January 8, this year when they broke into the provision shop through a ceiling and stole packets of indomie noodles, television set (Sharp), a DVD, soaps, bottles of wine, sardine, milk amongst other items. Amarizu told Maka Ndigbo that security operatives from the 9th-Mile

Police Division working in partnership with members of the public closed up on them (suspects) and recovered all they had stolen. The police image maker said that the suspects admitted the act and revealed that it was an act of satan that led them into the unlawful act. “They are now begging for forgiveness just as they are helping the operatives in their investigations”, he added.

Igbo-Etiti LG boss promises conducive environment for people Jude Ossai - Enugu

The suspects in handcuffs

Murder: Enugu govt moves to probe killing of Adada scribe Jude Ossai - Enugu

THE Enugu State Government has promised to set up an inquiry into the murder of the Executive Secretary of the Movement for the Actualisation of Adada State, Ejimofor Ozongwu. Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who

disclosed this when he visited the disputed land site at Okwojo Ngwo in Udi Local Government Area of the state last week, said the government would look into the matter and take a decisive decision in order to forestall future occurrence.

Accusations, counter-accusations trail murder, arson in Nkpor continued from pg21

the burnt house. Honourable Ilechukwu denied the allegation levelled against him by Honourable Okeke that he (Ilechukwu) set his house ablaze by himself, pointing out that the trio were behind the arson and called for their immediate arrest and prosecution. He added further that he was not facing charge against the murder of Somtochukwu Enekebe Joseph but rather it was the trio that were facing the murder charge, stating that himself (Ilechukwu) and others were merely being accused by the suspected arsonists because they stood as principal witnesses against the three and that was why they set his house ablaze. In a swift reaction when contacted, Honourable Okeke reiterated that Ilechukwu personally burnt his house. He said: “His anger is that he is facing

a murder charge in the court and he resolved to tarnish our image as the principal witnesses to the charge against him”. Also reacting, Ikenna Anikpe said: “Ilechukwu set his house ablaze by himself and accused us of perpetuating the act because he feels that we will implicate him in the court as principal witnesses to a case of murder he is facing currently”. "They wanted to kill me but I have always escaped. They set ablaze two of my cars. I cannot set anybody’s house on fire and as the chairman of Mgbachu village, I sympathise with the family of Ilechukwu that their son set his house ablaze”. Meanwhile, the state police command, through its Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Okechukwu Ali, said eight persons had been arrested in connection with the arson that occurred in the wee hours of January 1st this year as it continues the manhunt for suspected arsonists.

Ozongwu, a prominent lawyer, who was in late 50s was brutally murdered by yet to be identified hoodlums, following a land dispute in the community. The governor, who was accompanied to the site by the member, representing Enugu North/South Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Honourable Chime Oji, the former Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Chief Dubem Onyia, former State Commissioner for Justice, Chief Anthony Ani, (SAN) and other leaders of thought in the area, described the late lawyer as a good citizen of Enugu State who had championed the course for the creation of Adada State. Speaking at the visit, a community leader, Ozo Ramsey Onyia, described late Ozongwu as a "liberator to the community", adding that what happened to him was beyond the issue of land dispute. He said that the late lawyer had been protecting the interest of the villagers from the early 90's, especially the downtrodden and expressed confidence that the governor's visit would go a long way to address the issue to the satisfaction of the people of the community and the general public at large. In his remark, the former Minister, Chief Onyia, thanked the governor for the visit and reassured the community that justice would be done and that such incidence would not reoccur in the state.

THE new Caretaker Committee Chairman of Igbo Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, Mr Malachy Agbo, has pledged to make security of lives and property one of his priorities. Agbo said this during his courtesy visits to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Igbo Etiti Local Government, Mr Ifeanyi Nwoye, at the Divisional Headquarters, Ogbede and to His Royal Highness, Igwe Michael Odo, the Igwe of Ojime Ukehe Autonomous Community, who was also the Chairman of Igbo Etiti Traditional Rulers Council, at his palace on Monday. The chairman, who was accompanied by his deputy, Honourable Patrick Nwodo, some senior members of staff of the council and a few personal aides, while expressing his appreciation to the police for living up to the security challenges of the area, especially during the Christmas season, made it very clear that security was his priority in his approach to improving the welfare of his people. He noted that this was premised on the well-known fact that no area developed without a robust security system that guaranteed the safety of lives and properties of inhabitants. He agreed that while the cost of putting up and sustaining such structures for the area could be enormous, it was always well worth it at the end when people came and went freely about their lawful businesses. The DPO, while thanking him for the visit, pledged more hardwork and commitment from the officers and men of the division in carrying out their jobs as prescribed by the laws of the land. He noted that his joy was based on the proactive disposition of the chairman as was indicated by his uncommon decision to visit him first to rub minds together. Highlighting some of the challenges they contended with, the DPO noted that while it was always the best to be proactive in law enforcement, fair and fast dispensation of justice rested on the availability of key structures that aided the criminal justice system. The officer identified the court as one of such and observed it sat in the area only twice in a week with the consequent pressure on the system that sometimes delayed suspects needing timely judicial attentions.

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

education

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

How new trade curriculum is hurting admission seekers

The new curriculum designed to equip students with entrepreneurship and trade skills is already producing secondary school leavers desirous of pursuing their dream vocations, but they are finding it difficult to proceed further, as post-secondary school institutions have not made provisions for the subjects in their admission requirements, writes SODEEQ SHITTU.

HE desire to build a crop of graduates that would be job creators and would no longer be searching for the elusive ‘white collar jobs’ after graduation led to the development of a new curriculum that focuses on vocational and entrepreneurial training. On March 17, 2011, the Ministry of Education and the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) introduced a new senior secondary school curriculum with a list of 34 optional trade subjects that students are to offer. Civic Education and ICT (Information Communication Technology) were also included with the aim of producing graduates with vocational skills and computer knowledge – all with the overriding goal of reducing unemployment rate in the country, as the envisioned graduates would be able to fend for themselves afterwards. But as laudable as the development is, it has come with its challenges, and students hoping to transit to higher institutions to further their education have been paying heavy price. The first batch of students trained with this curriculum graduated in June 2014. But though these students were taught one trade subject or the other, according to their schools’ choice and available resources, it has been discovered that these subjects have not been considered by higher institutions as admission requirements – and this is currently affecting students and delaying their enrolment into higher institutions of their choice. An admission seeker affected in this regard, Adegoke Jawad, told Tribune Education that he offered Mathematics, English, Civic Education, Commerce, Financial Account, Insurance, Government, Painting and Decoration and Economics in his SSCE examinations, with credits in all these subjects (8 credits), except Government, where he had a pass, but was tagged ‘Not Qualified’

and denied admission to study Accountancy. His eight credit passes were counted as four credits, because Commerce, Economics, as he was told, was calculated as just one credit. His Civic Education, Insurance and Painting were also not recognised, thereby he forfeited his admission. That was after paying Acceptance Fee, which was not refunded by the polytechnic authorities! He was told that the only option he had was to sit the forthcoming SSCE examination where he would offer a borrowed science subject, preferably Agricultural Science, to boost his chances of being admitted for the next academic session. A clearance officer at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, explained that the new trade subjects are not considered that important, as they cannot be studied in the higher institution. According to him, although the polytechnic now offers Entrepreneur Studies as a 2 unit course, it does not accept any vocational subject as requirements. When asked what would be done about the affected students, he simply said: “The student that said he did Insurance as a vocational subject may be admitted to study Insurance if the head of the department writes to that effect; but I can’t assure you that it will be implemented now.” A Senior Lecturer in the same polytechnic

A clearance officer at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, explained that the new trade subjects are not considered that important, as they cannot be studied in the higher institution.

noted that the Federal Ministry of Education has not yet notified the regulatory bodies for tertiary institutions like the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to include these subjects in higher institutions’ requirements, which has been responsible for the rejection of students. He also blamed secondary schools that fail to offer trade subjects owing to lack of teachers that can handle them, but which rather choose to offer subjects like Insurance and Book Keeping, which they can easily get teachers to handle. For instance, an Economics teacher can easily be made to teach Insurance, while a Financial Accounts teacher can take Book Keeping. But in the higher institution, these subjects are calculated as one credit. Financial Accounts and Book Keeping are considered as one subject. So, credit passes in both are counted as a single credit in one subject. Likewise, Economics and Commerce are considered as one credit; a credit pass in both amounts to just one credit pass. Commenting on the same development, a private school proprietress, Dr Aminat Olaboopo, told Tribune Education that the new curriculum was implemented without consulting with stakeholders in the education sector. According to her, these (trade) subjects should have been introduced from the junior secondary school level to allow students to be well prepared and trained from the elementary level. She then advised the Ministry of Education to take proper steps to authorise these subjects as admission requirements in the tertiary education level. A government school principal in Ibadan who refused to be named also lamented the cost he had incurred in hiring and paying external tutors monthly to teach the new subjects. He told Tribune Education that he had to build poultry and buy all other equipment

for the trade subjects, for which he could not charge the students. He literally pleaded with the Ministry of Education to consider the cost and time it took the students and ascribe importance to these trade subjects by making them fundamental requirements for admission into higher institutions. Also, a parent of an affected student, Mr Wahab Adeleke, faulted government on the new curriculum: “The government is always myopic about its policies. When they implemented the new curriculum, out of their good intentions, they should have taken the necessary steps so that these inconveniencies would have never happened.” He lamented that his child’s dream to gain admission to tertiary institution this year had been thwarted because of “government’s carelessness.” A secondary school teacher, who understandably also preferred anonymity, noted that it took the students a long time before they could adapt to the new curriculum, as it seemed alien to them. He also noted that a number of subjects that were known to be fundamental, like Economics and Biology, became optional for the students in science and humanities respectively. He explained that science students were not affected because most of their subjects are fundamental, but the Humanities and commercial students bear the greatest brunt. Tribune Education also noted that even the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is yet to include these new subjects in its online registration portal, thereby making it impossible for students to register the new subjects from their SSCE (Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination) results, which has isolated the students from registering for subjects like Civic Education in their University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Students, parents and other stakeholders in the education sector have, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government and the Ministry of Education to mandate that the new subjects be recognised by higher institutions as admission requirements, so as to actualise the aim of producing graduates who will be job creators and not job seekers.

interview

Thursday,14 January, 2016

We’re set to become a world class university —Landmark university VC Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, has established itself as the leading institution focused on agrarian revolution. On the sidelines of the recent 6th matriculation exercise for new students into the institution, BIOLA AZEEZ spoke with the Vice Chancellor, Professor Aize Obayan. Excerpts:

N your speech, you told the world that Landmark University can feed the nation and the world with your brown rice production project. Can you shed more light on this? Can Nigeria indeed be self-sufficient in rice production and stop importation? We have read in the media over the last three years or so all the hue and cry as regards how much Nigeria is spending on rice importation and how successive administrations have been trying to stem that. We started out with a research effort in the FADAMA area of the Landmark University research farm with just one hectare, and we actually cultivated the land and planted in September; and by November, we were already harvesting. Most of us had our Christmas and New Year rice from the FADAMA rice plantation; and it is the brown variant. It is very nutritious. A lot of persons who are into health food are really going after it. What this has shown us is that it is possible for us to feed Landmark University from the rice effort. There is a FADAMA variant; there is a high land variant. And right on this campus, you can have both of them. You can even create an artificial FADAMA environment in terms of having the right platform to do that. We are taking this effort even beyond rice; we are talking about expansion. What this is telling us is that if this can happen here, we can begin to also identify farmers who can be contracted around Omu-Aran and environs. Anybody would think that growing rice may not do well in this area, but you all can see it in the exhibition today and we can see how even individual homes are able to plant the highland variant, as

you can even create your artificial FADAMA one. On the 17th of December (2015), we launched it, and today it is on exhibition, because we want to be able to showcase this and see how many more persons can go into rice production. I can’t imagine the number of millions that Nigeria will be saving as we go in this direction. The land is fertile; there is every scope for it and there is a market for it. With this effort, we can say Nigeria can grow her own rice. What are those things that stand your institution out as you matriculate the sixth set of students? We have a compelling vision of driving an agrarian revolution and also stepping out to become a world class university. This is not only just about running a regular university calendar, but in raising global leaders that will go out and make a mark. When I was presenting my speech earlier on, I talked about the fact that the three broad visions in this university are value creation, adding value and inculcating this value in the life of the students to be sure that they do not just have the certificate, but also the skills. Right now, we are the number one private university on the Webometric ranking, and you understand what this means in terms of research effort, visibility and academic exploits. We’re talking about mechanised industrial aspect of farming and agriculture; it’s not just about digging and tilling of land. We are saying how do we move from manual agricultural platforms to the mechanised-based ones? We are also into agricultural development, not just in planting but in agric business. Someone said not long ago that agric business is now the real gold; (more rewarding) than relying on oil, especially now that naira is falling (against) the dollar. We may now need to look in that direction. Nigeria had groundnut pyramid before; there was also the rubber plantation and NIFOR where Malaysia and Singapore took our seedlings to their country, produced it and started exporting the oil back to our country. We are saying that this can be reversed. We can get back to seeing how even a graduate would be empowered. We have examples right here in our university where our students are making efforts in terms of fish farming. Some of them are paying 70 per cent of their fees in terms of skills they are learning

‘Polytechnics should be under the NUC’ Ajadi Kelani is the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, The Polytechnic Ibadan chapter. He speaks with EMMANUEL GEORGE on sundry issues regarding polytechnic education in Nigeria. HOW in your view did you think the much talkedabout discrimination against polytechnic graduates really started, and do you think it will end soon? Whether it will end or not depends on the government, institutions, lecturers, students and the parents. The polytechnic was introduced to us from Britain, and the discrimination started right from then, because they believed you didn’t need to soil your hands. Anybody that would soil his hand is looked at as second-rate. In 1965, in Europe, they decided to change the policy of polytechnic and it took them 30 years. That’s why in Europe now, there’s no HND, but BTech. Towards the end of (Olusegun) Obasanjo administration, he tried to change all polytechnic institutions to universities, but it was too late. The truth is that the polytechnic and university spend the same number of years. In polytechnic, you spend two years for national diploma (ND), one year compulsory industrial attachment and two years for higher national diploma (HND), which is five years. That is equivalent to someone in engineering in the university. The only difference is that the polytechnic is focused on training the brain, hand, ears and the eyes, not for research and theory. In the polytechnic, what we teach is 30 per cent theory and 70 per cent practical – which means what you’ve learnt has to be put into practice, unlike what is obtainable in the university which is theory-based. But some argue that the number of course units in the university is more than that of the polytechnic. It has nothing to do with the discrimination; it (discrimination) is a thing of the mind. The discrimination goes beyond HND and BSc. It has gone to the level of saying one has professional certificate and the other academic certificate. For instance, in this polytechnic (Ibadan), after your HND, you have to go through post-HND. The University of Ibadan will admit you for Masters. You will sit in the same class with somebody that finished from there; you will receive the same lecture, sit for the same examinations and do the same proj-

Kelani

ect. At the end of the day, people with HND and PGD will be given professional masters, while people from the university will be given academic masters. Secondly, the tuition those doing professional masters will pay will be higher than those doing the academic masters. Thirdly, people with professional background will be asked to go industrial attachment. The worst thing is that all these training with the number of years you’ve gone through, when you bring it to The Polytechnic, Ibadan, they will tell you to go back to that class to obtain MSc. Academics. The polytechnic that made you will tell you they don’t recognise it. That’s what is going on here. This simply means they are sending you back to go and do the courses you did not fail. So, the discrimination goes beyond HND, BSc dichotomy. The reason is simply that people that are heading us are from

Prof. Obayan

here. They don’t just sit at home during holiday; they are practising what they have learnt. A lot of them have farm lands, orchards outside here. So, you can imagine if every family takes this back. We are now saying as a university, we can go into research on how we can get better seedlings. How do you go into genetically modified ones? Also here in landmark, we are going into organic dimension and there is a lot to learn from how it was done before. Our forefathers were successful farmers. There were things they did with preservation; but now that we are scientific-based, how do we talk about preservation to avoid wastage and put this into business? How do we export, like some of our students here are doing exporting to neighbouring countries? And we are carving out a new progamme tagged ‘Agribusiness’. So, with today’s exhibition, you can see how we are going to put this to work.

the university; they believe anything pertaining to polytechnic is inferior. A bill is currently before the national assembly to address that problem. How do you think the bill will help the situation? I think the person that would be in the right position to talk about this would be the national president of ASUP, not at this level. I don’t want to say anything that would be contradictory to the opinion of the people at the forefront. But personally, I believe there is nothing wrong with elevating polytechnics to degree-awarding institutions. It is only Kaduna Polytechnic that is awarding BTech in Nigeria. In Europe, all the polytechnics have been changed to universities. That is why you would see that the economies of developed countries you see today are developed because of the middle level manpower; (the technicians) earn more money than people in the academics. Nigeria as a nation will continue to be backward if we continue to give priority to academic certificates alone. Secondly, I believe any person that would lecture in the polytechnic should have passed through the polytechnic. If an individual does not have the requisite educational qualification, such a person cannot teach in the college of education or faculty of education. If you have never gone to the university, you cannot teach at the university. But reverse is the case in the polytechnic. I’m telling you that in 20 years time, it will be very hard to see a student from the Mechanical Engineering Department that will be able to fix a nut, because most of the lecturers are people who only understand the theory. That is another problem this country will face in the next 20 to 30 years time. Pertaining to that bill, I don’t know how else the dichotomy can be removed than to change the nomenclature of the polytechnics and change them from HNDawarding institutions to B.Tech-awarding institutions. Let’s forget about the National Polytechnic Commission (NPC); the polytechnics should be put under the National Universities Commission (NUC). The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) should be for the technical institutions. I don’t subscribe to NPC. In my personal opinion, polytechnics should be scrapped. HND-awarding institutions should not be in existence.

education

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Religious leaders task Adeyemi College workers on prayers in 2016

ORKERS in Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo have been urged to intensify prayers for peace, progress and unity in the institution and Nigeria in year 2016. This charge was given at a separate prayer meetings organised for the commencement of year 2016 at an interdenominational church service held on Monday, 4 January, 2016 for Christians and Muslims counterparts at Olusegun Obasanjo Auditorium and College Mosque respectively. Delivering a sermon at the Olusegun Obasanjo Auditorium, Pastor Sola Gbayisemore, advised members of the college community to lay emphasis more on prayers in the new year, adding that it would enable them experience dramatic change at their places of work and the institution in general. He also stressed the need for members of the College Management, workers and students to always seek divine wisdom and walk in the light of God. Citing several passages from the Bible including Ephesians 3 v 10; Jeremiah 20 among others to buttress his points, Gbayisemore said the wisdom of God is one of the important requirement needed by people to assess the realm of glory. He thereafter offered prayers for peace, progress,

unity and accelerated development in the college in year 2016. Also in another prayer session organised by members of the college Muslim community, the Chief Imam

of Ondo City, Alhaji Bashir Alimi,expressed happiness for tolerance and peaceful co-existence between members of different religious faith in the institution. He applauded the Provost,

year ago. Alhaji Alimi also commended the management for organising and sustaining the annual prayer meeting, which he said was aimed at drawing members of the

Mr Tajudeen Yusuf (right) and Mr. Abdulgaffar Arikewuyo (both lecturers at the Department of Mass Communications, University of Ilorin) presenting a gift to the Editor, Nigerian Tribune, Mr Debo Abdulai, during the visit of the department to Tribune House on Monday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

Emir charges FUD VC to attract funds for research Adamu Amadu- Dutse THE Emir of Kazaure, Jigawa State,Alhaji Najib Husseini Adamu, has called on the Nigerian universities to attract private sector to fund research in universities. The Emir made the call

while receiving the incoming Vice Chancellor, Federal University Dutse, (FUD), Professor Abubakar Musa Kundiri in his palace when he paid a courtesy call. He said he was aware of his recent election as the incoming VC of FUD, adding

UNILORIN graduate shines at NCC essay contest A graduate of the University of Ilorin, Mr Abdulhakeem Abdulkareem, has clinched the second position at the just concluded Nigerian Communications Commissions (NCC) nationwide essay contest. In the keenly contested essay competition, on the topic: “Broadband, a Catalyst for National Development”, Odonoekuma Onyebuchi Ekuma of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, emerged the overall winner, while Asogwa Chijioke Peter, also of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, clinched the third prize. Abdulhakeem, a History and International Studies graduate, is currently undergoing his one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exercise. While the first prize winner got a cash prize of

Professor Olukoya Ogen, for his support to members of the Muslim community in the college and the development that had taken place in the institution since his assumption of office over a

N500,000, a laptop and a printer, the second prize winner went home with a cash prize of N300,000, and a laptop, and the third prize winner received a cash prize of N200,000 and a laptop. In his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC/ CEO) of the Commission, Professor Umar Danbatta, said that his vision for the NCC was to ensure the development and hosting of broadband services in major cities and then use the intervention service of the commission to ensure final deployment to areas that are under-served. Professor Danbatta explained that “the broadband infrastructure is still in its formative stage and non-existence in some places”, adding that “as a Professor, who has supervised projects closely re-

lated to Quality of Service (QoS), I intend to bring together the experience in ensuring that QoS improves. I can do this in many ways, I can invite the students, who conducted research related to QoS to come in and see how we can use their experiences.” Also in his remarks, the Sub-Dean, Student Affairs Unit, University of Ilorin, who led the university delegation to the award ceremony, Dr Abdulkareem Yusuf, commended the initiative of the NCC in bringing the broadband services to the grass-roots by way of creating an enabling environment for sound youthful minds to thrive. He congratulated the winners on their brilliant performances and also encouraged other Nigerian youth to borrow a leaf from the young achievers.

that leadership comes from God. He called on Kundiri to unite the university and ensure that there is peace and progress. Alhaji Adamu explained that the time has come for Nigerian universities to attract fund for research because the mandate of universities worldwide is to engage in research for the overall development of the society. The monarch advised the incoming VC to focus more

on promoting research during his tenure. Speaking earlier the incoming Vice Chamcellor, Professor Kundiri said he was at the palace to pay a courtesy call and introduce himself as the incoming VC of FUD. Professor Kundiri who is the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Central Administration, FUD said he need the advice of the monarch to help him in the discharge of his duties.

college community closer to God and to seek divine favour from the Almighty Allah in the new year. The religious leader admonished both staff and students to remain loyal and give maximum cooperation and support to the management in their efforts at taking the institution to higher level. In a speech delivered at the two separate prayer meetings, the Provost of the College, Professor Ogen, commended staff of the institution for their dedication to duty, cooperation and support. He reiterated the determination of his administration to continue to give priority to worker’ welfare and stressed the need for staff to rededicate themselves in the discharge of their official duties in the new year. The College helmsman assured of his support to religious bodies in the institution and urged members of the college community to continue to sustain religious harmony existing in the institution. The prayer meetings which was attended by religious leaders from both Christians and Muslim faithful within and outside the institution, featured praise worship, Qur’anic recitation as well as offering of prayers for management, teaching and nonteaching staff and students. Also, in attendance were Principal Officers of the College including the Registrar, Mr Felix Aderinboye, Acting Librarian, Mr Akinadewo Awoyemi, Deans and, Head of Units and Departments including the Head, Information and Public Relations unit of the College, Mr Moses Akinfolarin, staff and students, among others.

VC seeks stakeholders’ support to make FUNAAB world-class varsity THE Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Olusola Oyewole, has called for the support, understanding and fervent prayers from members of the university community, to transform FUNAAB into a worldclass university. Professor Oyewole, while speaking on the first working day special Christian and Muslim prayer sessions, organised in the university simultaneously to usher-in the New Year, sought the cooperation of all stakeholders while expressing his optimism that whatever challenge the university may be facing

at the moment, would soon become a thing of the past. “I see our challenges as surmountable. We need to brace-up. We need to work together. There is need for change in our attitude”, he stated. Professor Oyewole also stressed the need for the university stakeholders to come up with new ideas and innovations that would make the institution a leading citadel of learning, noting that Management was ready to accept useful and necessary changes that would improve the system. The VC, who is also the President, Association of African Universities (AAU), called for unity of purpose

in the task of building the university, stressing the need to treat students with love and deserved respect, as he encouraged the students to acquire the necessary skills that would help them secure a bright future and never forget to have the fear of God in whatever they do. In his sermon, Pastorin-Charge, Ogun Province, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Michael Aduradola, said Jesus Christ remains the real path to peace, health, breakthrough, abundance, marital bliss, opening of impossible doors, success and ultimately, access to heaven.

education

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Education should not be totally free —Ogun ASUSS chairman

servant from commenting on state policy. If you are a public servant, you have no right to comment on government policy in public service. Mr Adegbenro contravened the public service rule. But the deed has already been done. We will continue to appeal to the state government to temper justice with mercy on this issue. We have consulted eminent personalities in the state, and even beyond the state, on this matter. The issue now is between Mr Adegbenro and the state government, and I will not want to comment on it because the information at our disposal is that the matter has been taken to the court.

The chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Comrade Akeem Lasisi, in this interview with OLAYINKA OLUKOYA, speaks on issues surrounding the free education policy, unified examination, among others.

N a recent media chat, Governor Ibikunle Amosun cleared the air on the alleged plan to concession the 28 multi-billion naira model schools in the state. What is the position of ASSUS on the construction of model schools? Our union is not against the establishment of model schools, but what we are trying to tell the state government is that they should renovate the existing schools. Also, we cannot establish model schools and employ fresh graduates. Rather, government should post experienced teachers who are already in the service to the model schools. They are already on the field and they know better than the new teachers. Whether the schools are concessioned or not, educational development should be priortised by the state government. The existing schools should be taken proper care of in terms of structures, teachers as well as the environment. Most of the existing schools in Ogun State are over-populated. Many structures are in sorry state; some buildings have leaking roofs; there is no adequate furniture for students. The stand of the union is that the government should focus on the existing schools, and when they are through with the renovation of the existing schools, they can then focus on the model schools.

Will you say that the free education policy of this present administration is well thought out? Is the policy well implemented? There is no way a government can sponsor free education in any state single handed. The reason is that population of students keeps increasing everyday. When we look at Ogun State, because of the free education of the state government, parents have already abandoned their roles to the government and teachers. They are no longer buying any educational material for their wards. They believe the state government is running free education, which has led to explosion of students in our schools. Now, in schools we have two categories of students, students that are willing to study and those that are forced to study because it is free. Due to the free education policy of the government, students who are forced to go to school are many because their parents are not paying a kobo. If students are allowed to pay Education Support Levy by making Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) levy compulsory, most schools will be able to do some projects with the money realised, while government will be able to concentrate fully on recruiting more teachers. We are not opposing the free education policy, but the government cannot do it all alone. They are saying education is free; is health also free? If health service is not free, education should also not be totally free. Parents should be given clear definition of their financial role in the education of their wards. That is why we continue to appeal to the state government to reverse the optional PTA Support Levy, because if parents have

Akeem Lasisi

an input in the education of their children, they will be able to monitor how they are doing in their various schools. Students in the state’s public primary and secondary schools last Monday resumed for the second term of 2015/2016 academic session, yet pupils and students have not be given their results for the first term; likewise their promotion results in the last academic session to their present classes. The JSCE examination result has not been released and students have been automatically promoted to the next class. Don’t you think this is a challenge in the state’s education sector? That is why we on the field will continue to laugh when an ordinary man is talking (ignorantly) about the educational development of our students. The society continues to blame teachers without looking at the rudiments of this problem. The major part of the problem we are having in developing education in this state is the problem with junior WAEC. Ordinarily, promotion of students to SSS1 should be by choice. For example, if his performance is very low, such student doesn’t need to proceed to the senior school. If your intelligence is in the hand and not the brain, you don’t have to proceed to conventional senior secondary school where you are streamlined to either commercial, science class or humanities class. Such student in question is supposed to drop out from JSS3 and start learning trade or go to technical college and start developing his/her skills. However, what

we have today is hundred per cent transition to senior secondary school. That is why we continue to appeal to the federal and the state governments to look into our education setup. Over 20 per cent of the 2016 budget of Ogun State is allocated to the educationa sector. Is this in order? The United Nations Educational and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) recommended that 26 per cent of the total budget should be allocated to the education sector. At this point, I have to give kudos to Governor Ibikunle Amosun for allocating over 20 per cent of his budget to education development in the state, compared to other states in the country which allocate less to educational development. However, one thing is to allocate the fund to educational development, another thing is to implement accordingly. We’ve already made our own stand known to the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota, and we believe the best will be done for us in the field. Sometime last year, one of your members was relieved of his appointment based on what the state government tagged ‘offensive examination question’. How far has the union gone in respect of this issue? The issue of Mr Jolaolu Adegbenro is a very pathetic one. We observed that what the man did was nothing but promotion of excellence; although, as a public servant, there are certain rules guiding our profession. There are rules prohibiting a public

What is your take on the unified examination system? It will be our own joy and the interest of the students that the unified examination should be left to the school authorities in first and second term, while the state can conduct the third term examination. The reason is that academic calendar can be disrupted in some schools in the state. There are some activities individual schools have that are different from others; and this may not allow them to complete the syllabus. But if we are organising unified examination every term, we are trying to encourage examination malpractice, because in a situation where a teacher is not able to complete the scheme of work before examination and the questions are set on such topic that he was unable to treat, the teachers have to pass such students. We appeal to the state government to allow individual schools to conduct first and second term exam and the state will conduct unified exam in the third term. Also, on the inspection on schools, we believe inspection of schools should be done by experienced inspectors. In schools these days, you will meet 16 grade level teachers as classroom teachers. How do you expect an inexperienced inspector to inspect these officers? They started teaching over 30 years ago; the inspectors you sent to the school started work five years ago. We are appealing to the state government that anytime inspectors are sent to our schools, they should be the experienced ones. We also advise the government to please remove the optional clause in the payment of PTA Support Levy. There is no way government can fund education singlehandedly. If we look at the population of our schools, there should be support from the Old Students Association, the non-governmental organisations, the PTA and individuals with enormous resources, so that the state government will be able to recruit more teachers. Teachers continue to retire and transfer their service to better agencies without any replacement. We need to recruit more teachers to fill the vacancies. Teachers must be allowed to control teachers and there is no way we have effective way of doing this without appointing principal-general in the state, like our counterparts in Lagos, Oyo and Osun State. However, the appointment of principal-general is also a motivation to the entire teachers in the state. Principal- General is the highest career for anybody teaching in the state or anywhere in the country, just like solicitorgeneral is the highest career in the law profession. We used to have five PGs before, but now we have one and that PG retired on January 13. PGs are saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the teaching in the schools. But we don’t have principal-general any longer and the prayer of every worker in the world is to reach the peak of his/her career.

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Group Business Editor Sulaimon Olanrewaju

aviation

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

anchor Shola Adekola

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

Izy Air joins private jet charters business in Nigeria

Airports privatisation will bring efficient mgt —Tukur Stories By Shola Adekola - Lagos

he former Assistant General Secretary of Airline Operators (AON), Alhaji Muhammed Tukur, has declared support for the Federal Government’s decision to privatise the four major airports in the country, saying it will encourage effectiveness and efficient management. Tukur who was reacting to the recent declaration by the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, that government, due to limited resources for capital project development would be exploring the possibility of private sector participation towards the realisation of the industries’ potential, added that government had no business in management of airports businesses. The airports to be privatised include; the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, Nnamdi Azikwe Airport (NAA), Abuja, Port Harcourt Airport (PHA) and Mallam Aminu Kano Airport (MAKIA), Kano. Speaking to some journalists at the Lagos airport, Tukur alleged how, in the past, some people had accused him of supporting the privatisation of airport terminals

and that when these facilities were privatised, “their people would not have money to invest in them.” Tukur said, he had explained to them that his support was borne out of the fact that it is only the private sector that can manage airport terminals efficiently and also provide the needed infrastructure. “I will tell you, sometimes ago, somebody confronted me saying, “Alhaji why are you supporting privatisation? what happens If they privatise airports and eventually our people do not have money to take any of the airports. So, the country will wait until you have money before we move forward. Do you understand what I am saying? That is why I support privatisation. “Those who are having such interest at the end of the day, what do we have? If we talk, people will say we are accusing them. How many billion or trillion have they collected from our account down to what they have collected in terms of renovation, rebuilding, remodelling or whatever name they give it. What do we have today? Nothing. How long can we continue like that? Like now, the government can come and say, let them provide the money and we will provide a standard terminal.

Everybody knows clearly, whether you like it or not that Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) terminal; MMA2 is the best terminal in the country. You cannot compare MMA2 with others.” He added that what the Federal Government should do is to provide enabling climate for the businesses of both local and foreign investors to thrive. He lamented that despite the remodelling of Nigerian

airport terminals, the terminals still remained the same, stressing that at the moment none of the remodelled terminals could compete with MMA2. He urged the Federal Government to call on foreign investors and give them the required specification and assure them of conducive atmosphere to operate, so there would not be policy somersault.

A new airline has joined the list of private jet charters in Nigeria. The Nigerian based private jet charter company, Izy Air Limited, was last week issued an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in Abuja. The certificate was presented to the President of Izy Air Ltd, Alex Izinyon, by the NCAA Director of Operations and Training, Captain Abdullahi Sidi. Izinyon, after receiving the certificate, said the company’s desire is to offer its incorporated services as a provider of executive charter, aircraft sales, aircraft purchase, management services and operation services to its clients. According to him, “the airline’s extensive fleet of modern jet aircraft such as the luxurious Hawker 800/900XP series and the Bombardier challenger 601/604 series are immediately available for charter from the company’s base in Abuja, Nigeria.” Izinyon, when asked what should be expected of Izy Air, said, “with the acquisition of our AOC, we are very much positioned to carry out an increase in services provided to our clients. We hope to change business aviation in Nigeria. Throughout 2016, we are focusing on improving our customer experience in all our flights; provide a more efficient management service program for private jet owners centred around efficiency and reduced costs; and help corporations and individuals with more efficient and seamless air logistics services, within and outside Nigeria.”

Arik Air introduces new wine selection on board Arik Air has chosen to outsource, all onboard wines from the Wildekrans Wine Estate, which sits just an hour away from Cape Town city centre. Each of Arik’s long haul services; New York, London and Johannesburg will have a ‘From Our Cellar’ wine menu card in Premier Business Class, that will be offered with food menu. “The boutique vineyard is located in Cape Town and will supply the airline’s Premier Class and Economy Class wines. The Wildekrans Wine Estate is just an hour away from Cape Town city

centre, so Arik Air is pleased to be supporting local wine producers,” the airline said. The new wine selection will be progressively introduced to all domestic and regional Business Class services (those departing after 10am) during the course of the next few months. Split between the two travel classes, the Economy drinks choices will include Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot, while Business Class passengers will have a selection of Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, Cabernet Franc Merlot and the sparkling Method Cap Classique Chenin. Addi-

tionally, the airline will continue to carry Champagne in Premier Business Class on all long haul services. Speaking on the development, Dr Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, CEO of Arik Air, said, “We are constantly aiming to ensure our customers receive the very best services, which are always of the highest standards. With the introduction of our new premium local wines, we continue to develop our on-board experience, which reflects our commitment to quality. We do hope that customers will enjoy the new selection.”

aviation

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

United fined $2.75 million for mistreating disabled passengers

crucial moment With Shola Adekola

0803 365 4818

Let there be a restructure with human face There is no doubt that there is an ongoing air of uncertainty blowing through the country’s aviation sector. The cause of the uncertainty is not far from an imminent tsunami, which any time from now will sweep away over 1,000 workers across the various aviation organisations. The news making the rounds is that in view of the recent change in government at the center and the subsequent appointment of a substantive minister of transport, Rt. Hon.Chibuike Amaechi and a minister of state for aviation, Captain Hadi Sirika, the duo as expected will definitely tinker with the structure they met on ground. While stakeholders in the sector will not be surprised of an imminent restructuring because it has become a ritual exercise each time there is a change in government. Agreed that there is the need to make some changes within the sector for obvious reasons ranging from corruption, redundancy, unnecessary overhead cost to injustice among many others, but there is again the need to carry out such restructuring with human face. In carrying out any sack or restructuring, this government in the spirit of change should desist from the past ones where past governments through their ministers just carried out such exercise for the sake of providing jobs for their family members and cronies. It is on record that some ministers in the past having sacked professionals on flimsy excuses of repositioning ended up imposing unqualified characters who knew next to nothing on the various agencies. Some of those brought in were given higher positions with bogus salaries even while those have been in the system and due for elevation have been left on the same position even when they are the ones doing the job. This is one of the obvious reasons why there is no more high commitment on the part of the abandoned workers. It is at this juncture that Crucial Moment is appealing to the government to tread softly in the course of carrying out any restructuring in other not further complicate issues in a sector that is already faced with challenges mostly traced to bad policies. Presently, there is serious shortage of professionals in the sector as a result of unjust sack of many younger professionals in the past based on untenable reasons. This time around, such restructuring should be done on merit and must not be based on vendetta, ethnicity or an attempt to provide jobs for political faithfuls or family members. Only those who have nothing to show for their stay in the sector and those found wanting must shown the way out while those who have something to offer must be allowed to remain. Aviation sector has suffered so much due to similar bad policies carried out in the past by the various politicians imposed on the sector who ended up politicizing even safety issues. This time around that the sector has a technocrat as the minister of state for aviation, he should be able to prevail on the government to restructure for the purpose of correcting the past injustices and reposition the sector for a positive change. The sector has suffered distractions and undue interference in the hands of past ministers who only came for selfish reasons at the expense of national interest. It is hoped that the duo of ministers Amaechi and Sirika will this time carry out the restructuring of the sector with a human face without necessarily throwing out the baby with the bath water.

Nigerian Tribune

Bobby Bryan, Delta Airlines Commercial Director, East and West Africa (left) with Mr Olufemi Adefope, Managing Director, Sky Logistics and General Sale Agent (GSA) to Delta Air Lines in Nigeria, at the Airlines end of year media briefly, in Lagos.

Cargo handlers task govt on reduction of import, export tariffs Stories By Shola Adekola - Lagos

argo handlers in Nigeria have called on the Federal Government to reduce the current tariffs charged on goods, as it has affected the volume of goods leaving and entry the country. The handlers made the call at one-day stakeholder’s haulage/ logistics forum themed; Government policies- a panacea to growth and development of haulage logistics sector. The handlers in a communiqué issued at the end of the forum stated that, “the volume of import and export tariffs should be reduced to a one-digit figure from what it is at the moment just as it was achieved in the downstream petroleum sector. They stressed that, it would encourage importation and exportation of both finished products and raw materials to boost national economy, it noted. The handlers maintained that cargo haulage/logistics sector is a major sector in the overall growth of Nigerian economy that deserves government attention on every facet, on its match for economic prosperity and for effective competition with other economies around the globe. They added that there should

be reduction in lending rates by banks, to ensure that loans are made available to genuine businessmen and women who would like to invest in the sector. Similarly, there should be the granting of tax holidays to Nigerian manufacturer as an incentive to encourage export from Nigeria. According to the communiqué, “there should be an in-

tegration of the various modes of transportation, in order to achieve industry purpose. This could be done by reviving the comatose rail system and the near decay road mode of transportation.” It added that over $5.3 trillion worth of cargo is transported across the globe annually and that Nigeria will gain substantially from this amount if the right policies are put in place.

Qantas becomes world best airline in safety AirlineRatings.com has released another list of 20 best airlines in the world and Qantas has reached its crown again as the best airline prioritising safety issue to its customers. According to AirlineRatings. com editor, Geoffrey Thomas, “The airlines which prioritise innovation in safety, operational efficiency, and units improvement with the latest technology are listed in the 20 best airlines.” Qantas is leading the safety issue among other 407 airlines. Other 19 airlines included in the list are American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Air New Zealand, Cathay

Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airline System, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Virgin Australia. Several accidents were recorded during 2015 period, such as Germanwings plane accident, which crashed on Mt. Alpen and killed 150 people and also the bomb terror in Russian Metro Jet, which killed 224 people. Despite the terrible accidents, AirlineRatings, said 2015 was the safest year for flying compared to previous year.

The U.S. government has fined United Continental Holdings, $2.75 million for mistreating passengers with disabilities and for six instances of stranding aircraft on the tarmac. The Department of Transportation began receiving a “significant increase in the number of disability-related complaints” about how United treated customers in wheelchairs or who needed additional assistance, the agency said in a press release. Investigators found the carrier wasn’t promptly helping these passengers on and off planes, and was slow to return wheelchairs and other devices. The airline also kept passengers on board aircraft longer than the three-hour limit during ground delays without giving them a chance to leave the planes, according to the release. Five of the incidents occurred at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on December 8, 2013, and one was a flight that diverted to Houston Hobby Airport on May 20, 2015. According to the Transportation Secretary, Anthony Foxx, “it is our duty to ensure that travellers with disabilities have access to the services they need, and that when significant tarmac delays happen, travellers are not left on the plane.” Of the $2 million assessed on the disability violations, United was allowed to spend $650,000 for improved audits of its wheelchair vendors and to develop a mobile-device app to speed assistance for people with disabilities. The company also was given a credit for the $650,000 it paid in disability-related claims to customers.

Emirates unveils fares on new routes As part of efforts by the airline to enable passengers explore and revisit favourite cities, Emirates Airlines has unveiled new fares for Nigerian passengers. The new fares, the airline said are part of global sales as a window to inspire and encourage passengers travel. This is just as the airline last year recorded nine per cent growth in passenger traffic on its global destinations, making it another year of growth underscored by standout milestones across its fleet, network and customer experience initiative.

Sequel to the unveiling of the new fares, the airline has announced special offers on business and economy class fares for bookings made from January 5 to 18, 2016, for trips to be embarked on, between January 13 and June 15, 2016. Speaking on the new fares, Emirates Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Thierry Antinori said “we know that many people have begun thinking about their travel plans and aspirations for 2016, and we are pleased to add a little more inspiration and incentive to help turn

those plans and dreams into reality. “Our global destination network across six continents offers something for every traveller and we are now combining that wide range of travel choices with special rates to offer would-be travellers with an even more appealing value proposition. Aside from choice, connectivity, and value, the Emirates experience also means customers can look forward to industry-leading comforts on board our modern jets, and award-winning service from our friendly

cabin crew.” Emirates, which flies to over 140 cities in 80 countries, said adventrous globetrotters could explore the airline’s newest destinations launched in 2015, which include; Bali, Multan, Orlando, Mashhad and Bologna. Emirates will commence flights to Panama city on February 1, 2016, opening the airline’s first gateway destination in Central America. “The airline’s growing business footprint, also delivered increasing positive impact on the economies and communities it serves,” it said.

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

maritime

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Tola Adenubi

m:07068476673 e:adenubiadetola@yahoo.com

Nigeria’s maritime sector and issues inhibiting growth Since the port concession of 2006, Nigeria’s maritime sector has recorded some significant growth, which saw an increase in cargo throughput volume and a reduction in the turnaround time of vessels at the seaports. In this report, TOLA ADENUBI, looks at factors still inhibiting the growth in the sector.

he Nigerian port reform of 2006 saw a total of 26 private investors take over terminals within the six ports under the control of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA). This initiative saw improvements in the areas of cargo throughput, turnaround time of vessels and service delivery at the seaports. However, despite these improvement, stakeholders are the belisf that Nigeria’s maritime domain is still suffering from a factor of issues and perspectives, which is undermining the growth and potential of the sector’s contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Some of these issues and perspectives emanate from some of the government agencies operating within the maritime sector, while others say are a result of lack of will power on the part of the government at the centre. Although, some government policies responsible for these isues have recently affected the sector, leading to lull in cargo throughput and loss of jobs on the part of workers in the ports, the issues outlined below have remained endemic in the ports, making the free flow of port operations elusive to port administrators. stakeholders said. Notable amongst these issues and perspectives are: Duty collection versus trade facilitation This is an issue for the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS). The problem, according to stakeholders is that the agency is torn in-between meeting its revenue target and ensuring trade facilitation at the nation’s seaports. This is so because the NCS performance is measured through the amount of duty it collects and remit into government coffers. The same government that demands so much from the NCS in terms of revenue is also trying to make Nigerian seaports rank well amongst its global peers by enforcing trade facilitation at the ports. It is common knowledge that emphasis on duty collection may come at a cost of stifling trade, especially where high duties and stringent regulations are applied on goods for which there are no local alternatives. 48-hour cargo clearance target Port systems, all over the world have their peculiarities in relation to the economies they serve. Analysts believe that the desire for the attainment of 48-hour cargo clearance in Nigeria, as it is elsewhere may not be realistic because high cargo dwell time which is a result of inefficiency in Nigeria’s cargo delivery system is caused by the fact that Nigerian ports are mainly destination ports. Other reasons, the 48-Hour cargo clearance cannot be achieved in Nigeria are embedded in questions of the integrity

during wreck removal processes from the nation’s waterways. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) functions overlap during inspection of certain imports into the country. The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZ) functions overlap during regulations of Free Trade Zones in the country. Truck traffic management A major area of challenge to the nation’s maritime sector today is the traffic gridlock that has become a perennial feature of Nigerian seaports, especially ports of Lagos. This traffic logjam costs operators and business interests several thousands of lost man hours daily. The genesis of this problem could be traced to the failed attempt to provide holding bays for trucks during the port reform process of 2006. Although the management of empty container traffic and shipment is the primary responsibility of the lines that import them, the situation has assumed a peculiar dimension that has compelled the NPA to wade into the matter. Also compounding the seaport traffic situation is the high volume of petroleum products trucks attracted to the numerous petroleum tank farms that have sprung up indiscriminately in the last five years.

Minister for Transportation, Honourable Rotimi Amaechi of declarations and corruption in the system; inadequate application of electronic/ IT system; deficient infrastructure and inter-modal linkage for goods evacuation and congestion, resulting from non-availability of holding bay for empty containers, etc. A more pragmatic and customer friendly approach to cargo clearance that recognises

The same government that demands so much from the NCS in terms of revenue, is also trying to make Nigerian seaports rank well amongst its global peers by enforcing trade facilitation at the ports.

authenticated inputs from all designated authorities, in a one-stop-shop electronic house regime, if put in place, could facilitate the achievement of the 48-hour cargo clearance. However, given the overwhelming and imposing degree of physical contacts in the cargo clearance process at Nigeria’s seaports, the 48-hour cargo clearance target will continue to remain elusive. Overlap of functions by govt agencies One of the issues that affect smooth and cordial relationship between some of the agencies in the nation’s maritime sector is the issue of overlapping functions and jurisdiction, operators in the sector have said. It has been observed that some of these agencies, in their subsisting acts establishing them, overlap functions during execution of their mandates. Agencies like the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) functions overlapduring implementation of safety at the ports. NPA and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) functions

Kidnap for ransom cases Aside generating revenue into the coffers of the Federal Government, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is also saddled with the regulation and promotion of maritime safety, provision of maritime security and promotion of indigenous commercial shipping in international and coastal trade (CABOTAGE). However, recent increase in the spate of kidnap for ransom cases, most particularly in the nation’s Eastern waters is giving NIMASA sleepless nights. Inland waterways This vital link for mass movement of passengers and freight across the country vast network of communities is not being given adequate attention by the many state governments bounded on Nigeria’s vast network of navigable rivers, lakes and creeks. The movement of goods by self-propelled barges and passengers by ferries can still be undertaken at a profit by business minded states governments. The recent dredging of the Niger was meant to revamp this mode of transportation. However, many of the nation’s 3,000 kilometres of inland waterways remain grossly underutilised.

maritime

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

MV Hawk: Shipping agent yet to pay dockworkers fee — MWUN Stories by Tola Adenubi - Lagos

he Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has revealed that following the illegal vessel discharge of a vessel in Bonny midstream late last year, MV Hawk, the shipping agent responsible for the vessel, Deep Front Shippers is yet to pay dockworkers fee despite discharging the vessel without the involvement of Nigerian dockworkers. Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune, the President-General of the MWUN, Tony Nted revealed that the vessel went ahead to discharge illegally late last year and the shipping agent is yet to pay dockworkers fee. “Statutorily, it is the responsibility of dockworkers to discharge vessel berthed in any Nigerian ports or waters. “After the vessel left, we protested because our members had been shortchanged. Our members had been deprived of the job they ought to have done. However, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) intervened and promised to make the shipping agent pay the dockworkers fee. But as I speak to you, deep front shippers is yet to pay the dockworkers fee. It will be recalled that the Nigerian Tribune had reported exclusively that the agent responsible for MV Hawk, Deep Front Shippers, insisted the ves-

sel will not be discharged by registered dockworkers when the vessel berthed at Bonny midstream late last

year. The Federal Government frowns at the practise of discharging vessels with-

out the involvement of registered dockworkers in Nigerian seaports. Apart from creating jobs

Founder, Dr. B. O. Aniebonam, the Board of Trustees (BOT), the National Executive Council and the entire members, congratulate the Minister of Finance and the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) on the historic milestone of constituting a new management team of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) with the decoration of members of the team comprising six Deputy Comptrollers-General (DCGs) and 8 Assistant Comptrollers-General (ACGs) on Wednesday,

January 6, 2016. “We, as critical stakeholders and major players in the operations of customs responsibilities, have been worried over the seeming inactive performance in customs operations within the period under review. “We are greatly worried, and we expect the customs Board under your leadership to look into the areas of curbing corruption, ensuring transparency, compliance and trade facilitation in customs operations. The most important and

Ship-owners to resolve leadership crisis, meets Minister of Transport Nigerian Ship-owners Association (NISA) is set to meet with the Minister of Transport, Honourable Rotimi Amaechi after the association put machinery in motion to end the division in the association. It will be recalled that the association had been divided into two factions with one headed by Captain Niyi Labinjo and the other faction headed by Alhaji Umar Aminu. Labinjo was suspended by the General Assembly of the association over a $6.5million scam involving his company and the company of the daughter of Chief Issac Jolapamo. However, the two factions have decided to resolve

Stakeholder’s call on Buhari to cut import prohibition list for Nigerians, it safeguards the nation from becoming a dumpsite for substandard and dangerous cargoes.

NAGAFF urges new customs management to tackle corruption The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarder (NAGAFF) has urged the newly constituted management of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to tackle corruption within its rank and file. According to a statement signed by the associations National President, Eugene Nweke, NAGAFF expects the new management board of the customs to look into issues of corrupt practises in customs operations. “I wish to, on behalf of the

their issues when they meet with the minister. According to a source, the association has set up a committee headed to that effect. Findings have revealed that the reconciliation move of Jegede is yielding result as both factions have agreed to sheath their

sword for the growth of the association. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the association, Tunji Brown has said the association would visit the minister this week. According to him, the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), freight of petro-

leum products and other issues top agenda that will be discussed with the minister, especially Onshore/ Offshore Lome and Cotonou. Brown also said the association has already sent a wish list to the minister and meeting him would only be to discuss the list.

Nigerian Tribune

sensitive part of customs operations at the moment that breeds corruption are in areas of customs examination, value assessment, abuse of alert as a risk management tool and stoppage of released and exited goods from customs control, at the exit gates of the ports. “One other area which we expect the new Customs Board under your leadership to take a critical look at, is the Licensing regulation of the customs, he said. “We do expect that the Minister of Finance shall take a critical study of Sections 4, 5, and 6 of CEMA, i.e. the powers of the Board to make regulations in relation to Customs matters. The ongoing arbitrary and inappropriate seizures of trade goods need to stop because the 2006 Import and Export Guidelines have whittled down the inherent punishment under Sections 46, 47, 161 and 164 of CEMA in favour of traded goods for additional duty.

Two freight forwarding associations in the Nigerian maritime sector, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN) have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reduce the number of trade items on the import prohibition list. There are about 45 headings under which goods have been listed by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as prohibited items that must not be imported. National President of NAGAFF, Chief Eugene Nweke, in a chat with newsmen said that rather than list the items as prohibition, government should allow their importation and introduce a tariff measures to control their importation. The NAGAFF President said no goods should be prohibited except those on absolute prohibition, and that every goods should be allowed to come in. He said government should rather use tariff bars to regulate it and enable Nigeria Customs Service collect revenues. He noted that if this is not done, the banned goods will continue to come into Nigeria through un-approved routes. “As a professional freight forwarder and with my understanding of international trade, I do know that in line with the WTO Trade Liberalization Scheme which Nigeria is signatory to, developed nations are encouraged not to place ban on international traded goods, rather they should use tariff measures and bars to regulate importation. “By so doing you can allow goods to come in without hindrance. For now, government should concentrate its effort on putting in place the needed infrastructure and policy measures that will promote exportation” Nweke stated He also called on the government to ensure that the management of the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) are made to do their job to ensure that goods coming into Nigeria are of high standard.

PCC backs Shippers Council over CTN The Port Consultative Council (PCC) has urged port operators to key into the newly-introduced Cargo Tracking Note (CTN), to ensure safety of cargoes and make Nigerian ports more attractive. The Chairman of the PCC,

Kunle Folarin urged government agencies to carry out their legitimate duties by preventing dangerous cargoes from entering the country. “I am supporting shippers’ council because it is the protector of cargoes and we

must know the cargoes that are coming into the country,” Folarin stated. The CTN was introduced by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) as the ports economic regulator in November 2015. stakeholders have described it as a bad at-

tempt to end trade malpractices in which the Federal Government lost billions of naira annually. CTN has the backing of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS)

Code 2004. It also has the backing of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) and has been introduced in some West and Central African countries. It came up following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in the U.S.

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

With Adewale Oshodi tribunearts@yahoo.com 08054005323

Five years after, Lagbaja pens a tribute for Mr Fuji

are as challenged by the language as I was back then. Not that one needs to understand the lyrics of a song in order to enjoy it, but it sure adds an extra dimension to its appreciation. Here is a brief translation of one of his songs, “Correction” from the album “Wisdom and Correction.”:

By Bisade Ologunde

IVE have flown by since Sikiru Ayinde Barrister left us. It took a while before I fell in love with the music of Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and Fuji in general. Probably 1983…thereabouts. For a long while I was too enthralled by highlife and its new brothers being birthed by Fela, Oyelana, Bucknor, Haastrup, O.J. etc. I had no care for much else… well, apart from popular Black music from the USA. My delay was likely due to a mix of several factors. A major one, probably, was that it was difficult for me to follow the lyrics because of their colouration by Middle Eastern inflections. Somehow, it was easier for me to flow with the words in Haruna Ishola’s Apala than the younger sibling, Fuji. I was already a long-term fan of Haruna. But when I eventually latched on to Barrister’s Fuji, I discovered a wealth of great music. At that time, driven by traditional drums and percussion, Fuji was mostly devoid of Western instruments. Its biggest exponent was Sikiru Ayinde. His rich voice that had a wide range. His stressed falsetto was moving. He had an engaging way with words. To best appreciate the spontaneity of his poetry, one had to see him live on stage. In the studio, the artist has more leeway as one can make corrections and record several takes until satisfied. The stage is less forgiving, especially at a party where the singer has to improvise

I meditate about the world It is all vanity in my view Agbaje Lola… I meditate about the world, in truth It is all vanity in my view (Agbaje Lola is one of Sikiru’s oríkì) (Oríkì is often translated as cognomen, but it has a deeper meaning)

•The late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister on the fly when praise singing, as is typical of a Fuji gig. This is where one feels the compositional spontaneity of Barrister. His skill must have been honed from many years of numerous performances. It would be pleasing to have more potential fans surmount the language barrier and discover the depth of Barrister’s art like I did.

I am thus translating one of his last classics as an example of what many have been missing. Really, a translation cannot fully capture the nuances of the lyrics, especially with a rich language such as Yoruba, and in the hands of the adept artist that Ayinde was. However, this should facilitate a better appreciation of his art, especially for those who

Remembering the June 12 debacle A review of Onyeisi Chiemeke’s book, June 12: Campaign for Democracy and the Implosion of the Nigerian left by Chijioke Uwasomba. AFTER 22 years of the cancellation of the June 12, 1993, presidential election ostensibly won by the business mogul, the late Chief M. K. O. Abiola, Onyeisi Chiemeke, a lawyer and former student activist who was part of the de-annulment movement has come out with a book detailing the intrigues and other negative activities that characterised the struggle and made it impossible for the realisation of the mandate. It is true that this book is an attempt to reflect on how the Nigerian Left plunged itself into an otherwise bourgeois struggle which consumed it but it goes further to expose some of the secrets bordering on anti-democratic tendencies that were not known to a lot of Nigerians who were genuinely interested in the re-validation cam-

paigns pursued by the June 12 strugglers especially the Campaign for Democracy (CD). The introduction announces the essence of the book: “To tell the story of the CD within the period of 1992 to

1994, with an eye to its formation and disintegration in Ibadan in 1994 and by extension examine the impact of this collapse on the Nigerian Left movement as the country transited to democracy in 1999” (vii). It goes further to forage into the past and the present in a dialectical process in querying the failure of the CD platform and the larger Left movement in Nigeria. Chapter one which he entitles as “In the Beginning” explores the global system, particularly in the 1980s and early 1990s when the so-called gale of democratic struggles swept through the Third World and Africa in particular. It is in this context that we can understand Ibrahim Babangida’s elaborate but dubious transition programme which the then National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) had characterised as a package of fraud and diversion. There is no doubt that Babangida’s regime wasted the resources of the country with its un-ending transition programme allied by the neoliberal economic agenda, Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). continues on pg32

Ayinde, the world is a market place (Sikiru often inserts his names and oríkì into phrases thus seeming to admonish himself while speaking to his listeners. That is also the essence of the previous phrase where he called out his oríkì. This is typical in Fuji) Eternity is home, my people There is nothing we brought with us into the world There is nothing we will take back with us when we depart for eternity I meditate about the world It is all vanity in my view Children of Adam, what is wrong? What is wrong with us, creatures of God? That we do not accept our destiny as ascribed by the Almighty? God created us all Since the day he created us all As each of us came into this world Each brought along his destiny One’s destiny would never change, ever Lack of respect as due, is one reason the world lacks peace The slave should know himself a slave The pledged laborer should know himself a pledged laborer The palace chief should not act like his king And the crowned king himself, should not compare himself to Almighty God the King There is only one God Almighty God Almighty who created everything Only He is Almighty King Destination can be changed Where one is headed might change Someone may wish to alter another person’s destiny While that person is busy acting out the will of God They might attempt to turn back the hands of the clock, but… Kádàrá is destiny It is different from destination One will never miss his appointment with his destiny, ever... ever. •Ologunde, whose stage name is Lagbaja, sent this as a tribute to the late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister.

arts&review

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Studying how to retire rich and wealthy BOOK REVIEW A review of Adedayo Emmanuel’s book, How to Retire Rich and Wealthy.

NE of the problems we have among the working class in Nigeria is that they do not plan for retirement, and when it comes, they rely only on government pensions for survival, which we all know do not come on time. As a result, retirees are left at the mercy of their children, relatives and friends for survival. However, at this information age, working class people can now learn how to plan for the period of their retirement. Today, there are several information on how one can plan for one’s retirement while still working, and one of such is a book by Adedayo Emmanuel entitled, How to Retire Rich and Wealthy. The 12-chapter book first explains the plight of pensioners in the country, and

why those still working should learn from such terrible experiences. The author further explains that retiring rich is a state of the mind, that is, whoever wants to retire rich must have it

at heart that one day, he would cease to be in full employment due to the number of years he has put into service, or even due to ill health. However, one should look at how one wants to be living when one can no longer generate monthly income or salary; relying on pension is out of the way because of the erratic way in which it is paid to retirees. The book identifies the need to prepare for retirement, thereby getting financial literacy; it further looks at the power of saving. Many people don’t save while they are still working, as they spend all they earn, but it is important to set aside an amount for the rainy days. After saving for a while, it is, therefore, important to work towards gaining financial independence in such a way that a substantial portion of one’s income is not earned from direct labour. “Passive income refers to the money earned from sources like dividends, interest, real estate and rents.” (P. 61) Other chapters of the book deal with

how to retire rich through pension fund investment, how to insure and protect one’s retirement income against inflation, the power of goal setting, winning through investments, why people retire poor, as well as the 12 recipes for retiring rich. This book is so important at this period in time because not many who are actively working today know that they need to plan for their retirement. Many feel because they are working for government, then their gratuities will be enough for them to live on after retirement, but things may not work as planned; everybody is conversant with the suffering retirees go through in a bid to get their entitlements from government or organisations, and that is why it is important everyone plans for his retirement outside the retirement benefits. The author, Adedayo Emmanuel, is a business coach, an investment expert and a consultant to small and medium scale businesses. He has also written another book, How to Get Rich by Investing in Shares.

Disabusing the world of prejudices against Islam A review of Sheikh Musa Kolawole Nojimdeen’s Essential Islamic Expositions by Sheikh Abdullahi’ Gbadegeshin Akinbode, Chief Missionary, Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society Of Nigeria (NASFAT) Worldwide. THE book entitled Essential Islamic Expositions is undoubtedly a unique literature that showcases Islamic nuances, mantras and general doctrines which have been hitherto discussed by different authorities. Yet, the book provides a beacon and vista in a more detailed and comprehensive manner. It is written to serve both Muslims and non-Muslims alike in their quest and yearning for full information about Islamology and related knowledge. The author of the manual, a practis-

ing Da ‘iyyah on the field, has adequately structured and depicted the book into 10 distinct chapters and a number

of sub-chapters. It has chronicled pristine details about Islam, its doctrines, features and general appurtenance of the Islamic creed. A glossary depiction of Islamic terms and registers equally spiced the relish of the book. The index pages are well-packaged. The idea of knitting this book together might have been informed by the author’s long years of experience on the field. It was prompt in him to make the book a primer for all Da ‘iyyah (proselytiser/propagators/cultivators) of the Islamic faith in their duty posts. It, therefore, provides a broad view of ideas and a general summary of Islamology based on the Qur’an and Sunnah, as well as precepts of the righteous scholars and savants. It is on this note that the book is hereby recommended as a must for all Muslim homes and libraries of non-Muslims who always stigmatise Islam and the Muslims, especially in the wake of misconception-

alised Boko Haram insurgency. Also, Islamic seminaries and theological centres will find the book handy in refreshing their memories about Islam. I could only say bravo and congratulations to the author and compiler of this intellectual piece. I must conclude that I find it extremely difficult to find a lacunae or rather an error or simple mistake whatsoever in the book. Indeed, all perfection belongs to Allah (SWT). It need be said that the aesthetics artistry displayed on the book are very laudable and commendable. Thus, the publisher equally deserves honour and respect. The book is undoubtedly written in a lucid and simple approach and adequately spiced with Arabic nuances and other Islamic scriptural texts. I pray Allah’s peace continue to be on all the Messengers and Prophets and extend to all of us and our progenies. Aamin.

intellectuals tried to invest the Nigerian military with what the latter does not possess. It goes further to dwell on the weakness of the political elite in the march to democratisation in Nigeria. Chapter Four talks about the cancellation of the June 1993 election with Babangida’s broadcast of June 23, 1993, claiming that there were irregularities and “reports of election malpractices against party agents, officials of National Electoral Commission (NEC) and also some members of the electorate” (48). The tactics and strategies adopted by the CD and the character and content of the forces behind the CD are examined. In Chapter Five, the workings of the CD and its organograms are teased out. CD’s movement to the streets and the leaders of the different zones in Lagos and the reasons for their selection are explained. The success of the CD at its beginnings before it was hijacked con-

firms the value of the group over that of individualism. It dismisses the claim that individualism is the basis of history. Chapter Six shows that with the success recorded by the CD, some of its leaders became the target of arrests, harassment and detention. People like Femi Falana, Beko Ransom-Kuti and Gani Fawehinmi were arrested. The refusal of the Magistrate Court in Wuse, Abuja to give bail to these nationalists who had been detained, made the defence team to join the struggle. The struggle moved to another stage – the sit-at-home when it was discovered that the goons had taken over the streets, killing and maiming people. This book will give readers insight into what transpired before, during and after the June 12 Presidential election cancellation. •Dr Uwasomba is on the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Remembering the June 12 debacle continued from pg31

NANS fought those programmes to a standstill in spite of whatever tactical ideological errors it might have made by allying itself with the National Consultative Forum (NCF) which was making a call for a Sovereign National Conference. In Chapter two, the author gives an account of how the NCF collapsed after the government of Babangida had stopped the group from holding its conference at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. The author recalls that the stoppage of this conference led the Left elements and some emergent human rights groups into founding the Campaign for Democracy in Jos in 1991. The author opines that in modern Nigerian history, the Nigerian Left could be divided into three broad historical

epochs – the first group belonging to the colonial era transiting to the independence era – the Zikist Movement (Michael Imoudu, Eskor Toyo, etc.); the Left groups from the intelligentia at Ahmadu Bello University, University of Ife, University of Ibadan and University of Nigeria, Nsukka. This generation of the Left suffered a great blow during the Ali Must Go students’ demonstration in 1978 under General Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime as the latter blamed the former for the crisis. The third generation was also bred on campuses with students who belonged to various ideological cells and were inclined to challenge the status-quo with its orthodoxy and the theology of the market as championed by the Bretton Wood institutions. These groups founded the CD in Jos. Chapter Three unveils the roles played by some palace court intellectuals in shoring up the military. Some of these

Thursday, 14 January, 2016 Editor:

health you&EYE

INSIDE

sex,sexuality&You

Deworming as important as breathing T By Victor Ogunyinka

Where Nigeria missed it on health —Lucas Page 36

natural health

Need memory boost? Try ginger Page 37

Why itching causes discomfort to vagina

HEALTH QUOTE

Page 37

Sade Oguntola sadeboguntola@yahoo.com 0805 506 9260

here is one thing the healthy and the unhealthy share in common apart from the normal body composition and that is worm. Invasion of worms in humans don’t respect size and shapes but unlike the unhealthy, it respects routine check in the healthy. The world is full of parasites; there are chances of acquiring them howsoever clean you are. For instance, a simple lick from your pet, a barefoot walk on your lawn, a swim in a reservoir or a pool with untreated water, negligence on your part to wash hands thoroughly before eating or preparing food after gardening, unwashed salad, untreated drinking water/milk/fluids, undercooked meat or school going children in your family, can get you the eggs or larvae of these parasites. Deworming programmes have been heavily promoted by the World Bank, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and international charities as a key to improving health, school performance, and, by inference, economic development in poor and middle income countries. According to research, more than two billion people in some of the poorest areas of the world are infected with intestinal worms. These worms — hookworm, roundworm and whipworm — have been around for centuries. They lay eggs in human intestines; when excreted, the worms and their eggs

can be spread to others. In those infected, the worms cause intestinal blood loss leading to iron deficiency and malnutrition — and loss of energy and motivation. Damilola Olubisi, a laboratory technologist explained that the operation of worms in our body take effect immediately after eating and doesn’t stop even after the worms are done with the food. “It gets worse immediately there isn’t any other thing for the worms to eat in our body, they start eating the intestinal walls, which could in a long run lead to ulcer. Even the healthiest person has a reasonable amount of worms he houses, his healthy instinct might be what determines how much they are in the body and how long they stay too.” The World Health Organisation (WHO) has championed the crusade for deworming world over and according to a statement by the health body; it’s working to control soil-transmitted helminth infections worldwide by implementing a programme that enables wider access to preventive medicine. Dr Antonio Montresor,

naturalhealth Medical Officer for WHO in the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, explained that the deworming campaign reached more than 395 million children in 2014, making it one of the largest global public health interventions. The problem bewildering deworming is sometimes associated with age and symptoms. Studies have proven that majority attributes deworming to a childish exercise; about 75 per cent of people that deworm while growing up stopped when they attained adulthood. The reason is not really clear. Abidemi Olopade, a middle aged woman, when asked about deworming said: “Deworm? Why should I do that, why do you think it’s necessary?” Also, Odunayo Kehinde, a student explained that deworming has been a practice for her right from childhood, stating that she had retained that practice to rid her body of worms continually. Olubisi said: “Some people just make up their mind not to deworm because they don’t feel they should; they claim they don’t feel pains or any other thing that could mean worms are feasting on their organs. “But that is not correct. When you don’t understand how your body works and not sensitive to little things in your body, it would be difficult to know if there is a problem in the inside. Worms are basically contracted through personal and unhygienic environments. “It could cause malnutrition, impair cognitive ability, distorted appearance, weaken the immune system, predispose people to different diseases. The WHO recommends that deworming exercise should be carried out once in every three months, regardless of age,” she said. Other symptoms of worm infestation include loss of appetite, tiredness, anaemia, loose bowels, vomiting among others. Olubisi however advised that deworming should be a routine practice for all, stressing that the Federal Government should start a campaign to encourage and sensitise people more on the need to deworm particularly as a nation where portable water is still a subject of concern.

My own prescription for health is less paperwork and more running barefoot through the grass —Leslie Grimutter

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Dr. Ben Ajayi 0805 400 5447

you-and-eye@gmail.com

Pupillary dilatation – A personal experience

ooking at you, there is that visible part of your eye I can see with little effort. That part is referred to as the anterior segment of the eye. I can’t see it all! For a complete examination, I need special instrumentation. On the other hand there is that inner recess of your eye, behind the anterior segment, that is completely out of view. It is called the posterior segment. It is like a room in darkness. To see the inside of the room, I have to use special instruments with strong illumination. The iris separates the anterior from the posterior segment. At the centre of the iris is the pupil, a hole, through which I gain access into the room (the inner recesses of the posterior segment). The size of the pupil depends on the amount of light falling on the eye. The brighter the light, the smaller the pupil. This creates a challenge for me because I have to use bright light to examine your posterior segment. I cannot see without a strong light. Yet bright lights make the pupil smaller! Therefore I must make your pupil wider by incapacitating the muscles which constrict it. Once the muscles are paralysed the pupil opens up widely and I have unhindered access to the dark interior of your posterior segment. Why do I need to examine the inner re-

cesses of your eyes? You had a dilated eye examination because you complained of floaters but anyone over 40 should have a comprehensive eye examination once a year because this in the only way to detect eye diseases such as glaucoma which give no early warning signs. If you have diabetes or are very shortsighted, a dilated examination is imperative. When I told you I had to dilate your pupil to see the posterior segment you, at first, refused because of your past unpleasant experience with dilatation. After much persuasion you reluctantly accepted the procedure. You were lucky you did because I discovered you had a tear in your retina and a detachment was imminent. Timely laser treatment not only saved your vision but also saved you from the enormous expense of a major retinal detachment surgery. I had a similar experience recently. I was seeing floaters in my right eye. I looked into the mirror and as expected, the visible anterior segment was fine. I couldn’t examine my own posterior segment by myself. It wasn’t just possible so I had to seek the assistance of a colleague. “Dr. Ben, I have to dilate your pupil,” she said. I wasn’t scared. This is a simple procedure I had performed on you and many other patients every day for several reasons. Did I say simple? It was simple putting the

dilating eye drops into the first eye which I readily opened for her. It stung like red pepper mixed with onions. Tears flowed copiously down my cheeks like a running tap. It took a lot of cajoling and persuasion before I could open the other eye to accept the drops. “Is that really what you suffered when I put the drops in your eyes? Was it really that bad?” She asked me to shut my eyes for about 30minutes to allow the drops to act. In any case I was more comfortable with my eyes closed than open! After about 30 minutes, she looked at my eyes with a torch, “Your pupils are widely dilated now,” she said with satisfaction. Then she picked up the Indirect Ophthalmoscope and secured it on her head with a head band. In her right eye, she held a special lens which she used to examine my eyes while directing strong lights from the head ophthalmoscope to my eye. By now my eyes were heavy and the intense light from the instrument seemed to set my eyes on fire. Intermittently, I saw red, green and all shades of colour. “Look to your right; now to your left; now up; now look down,” she commanded, as she looked into the inner recesses of my eye. I was relieved when she concluded her examination and informed me there was no real problem except vitreous floaters. Do you remember what floaters are? They

are tiny spots, specks, flecks and “cobwebs” inside the gelatinous matter called vitreous. Their image is projected and seen to drift aimlessly around in your field of vision. Floaters are very common and annoying but usually aren’t cause for alarm. I was happy when the examination was over. “I’ll soon have my eyes back,” I said to myself. The effect of dilatation usually lasts between four to up to six hours, but some may retain the effect for 24 hours depending on the type of drops used. My vision was misty and things looked strange. I had difficulty reading for several hours after, couldn’t drive, had glare in the sun and couldn’t really focus on anything. Did you feel like that? It seemed to be taking ages to have a recovery. This treatment seemed to be worse than the disease. Except that it wasn’t any treatment and it wasn’t a disease. Floaters often don’t require any treatment except they are associated with a tear in the retina. I must confess, I didn’t enjoy the use of my eyes for several days after. I must belong to the group of those who overreact to the drops. Now that I have experienced what you went through when you had your eyes dilated, I am a lot more sympathetic. I am also asking my colleagues, “Can we make dilatation more patient friendly?”

Dr Abayomi Ajayi

ivf &you

info@nordicalagos.org

0700 6673422

Second time around, not like the first time (Continued from last week) But Adama and Usman did not isolate Aliyu from a normal life. However, things that used to provide pleasure and support — playgroups, mother-and-tot classes— were suddenly becoming painful, as the other mothers were showing up pregnant or with new babies. “I just can’t get away from it,” Adama recounted. “Everywhere I go, I see pregnant bellies—at preschool, in the office, in the market, everywhere. My best friend is pregnant, my sister is pregnant, my neighbour who had twins just a year ago is pregnant again and the woman who cleans our compound is pregnant. “Yet, I’m constantly hearing complaints from so many women that are pregnant. It drives me crazy to listen to a woman complaining that she is pregnant when I am dying to get pregnant. It’s really frustrating!” Adama and Usman feel guilty that they can’t give their child a sibling. Pursuing infertility treatments, trying to juggle parenthood with the rigours of treatment— daily ultrasounds, injections, and blood tests that must be carefully timed—have

been so problematic. Adama also had more than her share of unwelcome comments, such as “Don’t you think it’s time to have another child?” Being the target of countless insensitivities only accentuates the problem. Because Adama already had a child, the idea that she could be infertile didn’t really sink in. People constantly asked her when she and Usman were going to have another baby and she was honest and just told them they were trying. “I thought I would have the operation to sort out the endometriosis and that would

Because Adama already had a child, the idea that she could be infertile did not really sink in.

be the end of it all. I was so wrong.” After a post-coital test confirmed that her husband’s sperm was not surviving long enough for conception, they decided to try artificial insemination. “Our first cycle worked and we were thrilled to hear I was pregnant. We went to our first scan filled with excitement – we had done it. Happiness quickly faded when my seven-week scan showed I had a blighted ovum. “I was devastated and for the first time the reality that I might never have another child hit home. Further tests showed that my egg quality was low and I now had to face the prospect that I was suffering from early menopause. The odds were stacking against me.” The couple did three more cycles of artificial insemination and, when they failed, tried IVF. It was a big decision. It’s very expensive and at some level they felt since she already had a child and perhaps another simply wasn’t meant to be. The first cycle of IVF worked, but Adama miscarried at eight weeks. “I had heard the baby’s heartbeat so this really hit me hard. We decided to wait a bit and had IVF

again three months later. The first cycle worked again but the first scan was a terrifying ordeal. This went on for several months.” Her obsession with getting pregnant again was not unnatural, but in the end, even as someone who did not like to dwell on failure, it soon became obvious that she just had to move on with life. “Even though I wanted another child and felt frustrated, I’m having an easier time accepting that I can’t change anything and it isn’t going to happen. I’m gradually coming to accept our situation as well.” What matters in the end is that whether a couple chooses to pursue a course of infertility treatments, make peace with the number of children they have, or to adopt, the goal is the same: to accept the decision so they can move forward and have a rich and rewarding life with their family—no matter its size. Post Script: Just last week, Adama sent this email - “I’m happy to say I’m 14 weeks pregnant with a sibling for Aliyu. It’s been a really tough period, but I’m glad I trusted my instincts and sought help as soon as I thought there was a problem.” (Concluded)

35 everydayhealth

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Breast cancer diagnosis, not a death sentence —Expert By Sade Oguntola

ontrary to what many people think, a breast cancer expert and Director, Centre for Global Health, University of Chicago, Professor Olufunmilayo Falusi Olopade has assured that breast cancer diagnosis should not be a death sentence with latest development in medical science. Olopade spoke at the 18th annual Benjamin Oluwakayode Osuntokun Memorial lecture entitled “Precision Medicine for All: Building on the Legacy of Excellence in Clinical Medicine” in Ibadan. Olopade, who described breast and cervical cancers as leading causes of cancer deaths in Nigerian women, said by precision medicine, “we now have medicine to prevent, diagnose and treat it. You can get the best care based on molecular understanding of the disease.” She said that precision medicine makes it possi-

ble to give the right drug at the right time to the right person given that individual characteristic of every patient is distinct and as such breast cancer is not

the same in all women, She declared, “Today’s medicine is all about precision, no longer “common things occur commonly.” Olopade said that al-

though breast cancer is almost uniformly fatal in all sub-Sahara Africa, deeper genetic changes, fear of surgical procedures, the attendant cost of treat-

ment and the health care system were in part to blame for delays in patients seeking appropriate medical care. According to her, “Breast

From Left: Executive Director, Pharma Manufacturing Operations, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Mr. Ezekiel Ibidapo; MD/CEO, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Mr Nnamdi Okafor, and Mr Valentine Okelu, Head Foods Division of the company at the Media Luncheon organised by the company in Ota, Ogun State, recently.

Oyo partners UNICEF, WHO to immunise 2.5 million children against measles Oyo State government in partnership with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and World Health Organisation (WHO) is to vaccinate no fewer than 2.5 million children against measles during the forthcoming immunisation exercise. The immunisation exercise to hold in 33 local government areas of the state is scheduled to hold between January 28 and February 1, 2016. The Acting Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Lanre Abass, who disclosed this during a measles campaign media workshop in Ibadan, declared that 15, 708 health personnel will be on ground to visit homes, schools and religious centres to administered the vaccines on the children. Abass said: “Maternal antibody protects infants against measles in the first nine months of life and prevents response to vaccine before nine months. “Measles vaccines are safe and are kept at preserved condition. Card will be issued to children and we are going to be marking their hand in order to prevent them from taking the

vaccines twice” He urged parents, traditional rulers and religious leaders to give necessary support to ensure that every eligible child benefited from the exercise. “To be fully protected against measles, it is important that children from nine months to five years of age are vaccinated at least twice with the vaccines. To avoid measles outbreak, children in every village and community should receive routine vaccinations before the age of one year,” he said.

Abass, who described measles as capable of reducing a child’s ability to fight other diseases, gave the symptoms of the disease as high fever, redness of the eyes, running nose and body rashes. He pledged the readiness of the state government to meet the set target, adding that they will equip each council with adequate vaccines and personnel for the exercise The state Health educator, Mrs Oluwatoyin Olawoyin declared that in 2015, 761 blood samples

from children were taken to the laboratory as part of the state measles surveillance activity. According to her, “in addition, we had 9.7 per cent of the number with negative result while 3.7 per cent tested positive for measles. The number of children who tested positive in 2014 was 2.2 per cent while in 2013, 15.3 per cent of 567 blood samples belonging to children tested positive to it. More cases were recorded in Ibadan North West last year.”

WHO Measles Campaign Consultant, Adamu Bello, said the health workers grouped into 2,244 teams would be involved in the exercise and that the rate of success in most vaccination was 85 per cent, with the rest having to be subjected to a second chance. Measles remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. Globally, deaths from the virus have declined. Vaccination is less than 100 per cent effective but the younger the age of the infant, the less effective the vaccine.

cancer is neither painful nor ulcerated at the beginning but often when women present, health care providers in the community or primary care centres with a breast lump, our study found that these health care providers would often administer antibiotics or use a knife to lance the “boil” until the cancer is diagnosised. Olopade, who linked the significantly higher breast cancer deaths in Africa to pertinent genetic risk factors, said Nigerian investigators under the aegis of the West African breast Cancer Study, a public-private partnership also involving University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital were currently working to better understand the genomic landscape of Nigerians. The expert, who decried the growing incidence of non communicable diseases (NDCs) in Nigeria, lamented that responsecoordinated strategy on this looming epidemic was lacking. She declared, “As the US continues to invest in research in Nigeria through partnership, the Nigerian government must also invest in a robust biomedical research enterprise. If Nigeria does not lead the way, the emerging epidemic of NCDs could threaten our economic development. “As African countries emerge from decade of poor governance and political unrest, they can no longer wait to translate advances in genomics to the benefit of patients. The growing cancer burden could further impede socio-economic growth if we do not act with a sense of urgency,” she concluded.

Paediatrician says dry pampers aids baby’s development Pampers Paediatrician and fellow of the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinologists, Doctor Ronke Akinola has commended Procter & Gamble (P&G) for improving on its Pampers Baby-Dry Diaper saying that it would significantly aid the general wellbeing and development of babies. She stated this while addressing the media on factors that contribute to a baby’s sound development during the official unveiling of Pampers ‘#MomsKnowBest’ campaign in Lagos.

In her words: “Getting enough sleep is important to any baby for many reasons such as restoring energy to building brain connections. Growth hormones are usually released throughout the day, but for kids the intense period of release is shortly after the beginning of deep sleep. Pampers Baby-Dry guarantees a dry night and this will ensure your baby sleeps for a longer period with the resultant effect of aiding babies’ development.” Dr. Akinola further explained that the stretchy

sides which expand and relax with the baby’s tummy prevent leakages and keeps the baby comfortable all night. Tiwa Savage, the popular R&B music star and face of the campaign attested to Pampers’ superiority at the event. She said the diaper keeps her baby dry throughout the night and he wakes up full of strength. According to her: “When I was in the UK, I used Pampers for my baby and when we returned to Nigeria, I decided to try the Ni-

geria Pampers out of many other diapers available in the market. My experience was just as great as with the one I used in the UK. It keeps my baby dry throughout the night and he wakes up in the morning full of strength and I have come to trust it.” Speaking on the “#MomsKnowBest” campaign, P&G’s Brand Marketing Director, Ehis Enekabor said that the campaign is about encouraging moms to discuss what is best for their babies and share useful tips with each other,

because the everyday decisions moms make about their babies, plays a role in their overall healthy development and the campaign also aims at encouraging moms to try out Pampers Baby-Dry diaper which has been improved to cater for superior dryness and protection. “Moms always know what is best for their baby that is why we want them to try out our diaper. One Pampers diaper is guaranteed to keep your baby dry throughout the night,” she said.

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

healthpeople Professor Adetokunbo Lucas, a foremost, world renowned public health expert and adjunct professor at Harvard University, in this interview with Sade Oguntola, examines the Lassa fever epidemic as well as reasons for the moribund health situation of Nigeria.

rom the public health perspective, why has Lassa fever, a disease not commonly known about 20 years ago, continued to occur in Nigeria? Lassa fever was recognised relatively recently after the second world war when a small outbreak of a mysterious disease claimed the lives of two missionary nurses serving in the town of Lassa. The point about the disease is that the diagnosis is quite often missed in the early stages. One sad case was that of a senior worker in The Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, who fell ill some years ago. They were unable to make the diagnosis. The patient had to be flown to South Africa where it was diagnosed as Lassa fever. This to me is an embarrassment. Unfortunately, by the time the diagnosis was made, it was too late; he died. Fortunately, a change has taken place. Recently, the Federal Ministry of Health established a centre in Irrua Specialist Hospital where they are now doing a systematically research on Lassa fever. With donor support for diagnosis, a travelling team could easily be sent early from the centre to where there is a sudden outbreak to confirm if it is Lassa fever. This is the thing that we lacked until very recently. But studies in Nigeria had shown the disease to have been around for long. It is just only recently that it was diagnosed and labelled Lassa fever. Howbeit, its diagnosis is not simply by using stethoscope or routine blood test. Looking at West Africa, Lassa fever distribution is uneven. For instance, Sierra Leone, in one study, had a large outbreak in which 30 per cent of its deaths were in pregnant women. And again, the diagnosis was late. Already, research is ongoing to better understand this disease as well as better explain why the disease seems more prevalent in the dry season. But the reason that comes to mind why it is more prevalent in dry season includes poor environmental sanitation. Rats thrive where you have heaps of rubbish, thus increasing the chance of human-rats contact. So, is the recurrence of Lassa fever cases suggestive of a rise in zoonotic diseases in Nigeria? I don’t think there is evidence that they are on the rise. However, a zoonotic disease that we should be worried about is rabies. This could be contacted from the bite of a rabid dog. But, I don’t know if we can make a general rule that all zoonotic diseases have been controlled because incidences of some have gone up. You can imagine, a few years ago, there was a teaching hospital in this country that was rat infested. If you go to the hospital, you will see mounts of rubbish scattered all over the place. Mothers in the maternity wards were urged to carry their babies and not leave them in the cot because the rats are coming in to bite them. I gave a lecture at Redeemers’ University and the title of that lecture was “Tell me how

Where Nigeria missed it on health —Lucas

you live and I’ll tell you how you’ll die”. If you live in rat infested environment or your sanitation is very bad, diseases like Lassa fever, cholera and diarrhoea will be very common and that can cut life short. For instance, we shouldn’t be having cholera in Nigeria. All you have to do is stop people from drinking water contaminated with faeces.

Nigerians are worried about sudden death, particularly among productive age group. What is the way out? Causes of sudden deaths varies from developing to developed countries. Unlike developing nations still battling with diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea and malaria, causes of sudden death in developed nations include heart attack and stroke. But now, in developing countries where educated people are less likely to die from cholera and diarrhoea and are adopting

Only a small proportion of people who die suddenly are subjected to post mortem

western habits that lead to diabetes, stroke, and hypertension and so on, sudden death would occur. One other answer, which again shows how we Nigerians are harming ourselves, is the subject of post-mortem. Only a small proportion of people who die suddenly are subjected to post-mortem. People don’t like the idea. If you have a community where every sudden death is subjected to post-mortem, you will begin to see a pattern of its common causes, the factors that are responsible and how it could be tackled. Irregularities in the heartbeat, for instance, are one reason for sudden death. The only way of dealing with it is to have a strong electric shock applied to the heart within the next few minutes of its occurrence. Where are you going to find the machine to do this if it happens out in the open? If you go to airports in Europe and America, you will find the machine hanging on the wall so that it can come handy to revive any person who suddenly collapses. They have found that this was one of the common causes of death in their community. In a place like Great Britain, if the patient dies, for him to be buried, there must be a certificate from a doctor. If the doctor had not seen him to say this was what killed him, then, he goes to the coroner who would is-

sue a death certificate after a post-mortem. Post-mortem helps to discover the natural causes of death; it is also to discover crime. We need to be following up cases of deaths carefully. Unfortunately, it is the relatives of the rich, educated people, the ones who experience more cases of hypertension and stroke, that don’t want a post-mortem. They just go ahead and bury them. What are your suggestions on restructuring the Nigerian health services? The first thing is to take a look at the goals and objectives of healthcare. The health services in Nigeria are over dominated by treatment and unless we change the way we live, we will continue to die. At independence in 1960, Nigeria had a better health profile than its immediate neighbours. Now, 55 years later, their health indices are better than ours even though we have more doctors and nurses per thousand than they have; and more money. How we are spending the money is the question. Let me give you an instance, VAMED was a very important investment to aid teaching and tertiary hospitals. Now, where is the report on the follow-up of the project? I have heard rumour that overall, the performance was about 25 per cent. There was a special review done by an expert from the United Nations. He came to the conclusion that some of the equipment provided was not appropriate; they were used rather than new. Some could not be operated and maintained because the electricity could not cope with the demand. These are things we have to learn so that the next time we do another, we don’t make such mistakes. May be the report exists and I don’t know, but I have not seen it. Also, a past Nigerian president in his tenure asked for 200 new health centres to be constructed, how many were constructed? The criteria were that they should be placed in any community that doesn’t have any existing government centre. Some of them were located next door to a modern hospital for political reasons and a number of those centres have not been used. Our problem is that we spend money and we don’t know if they achieve what we want them to achieve in terms of input and whether it has the correct impact. Meanwhile, some hospitals that receive the most sophisticated advanced equipment were short of simple things like thermometers so that in some of their children wards, they were using the same thermometers for several children, risking the infection from one to the other. That is why our children are dying more frequently than children elsewhere. What should be our priority? Our priority should be determined by analytical examination of the common causes of sickness, disability and death and we should then tackle these. We do know some of them already like the communicable diseases. Also, other health determinants should be looked at. Emphasises should not be too heavy on the side of highly sophisticated and very expensive equipment rather than things that could make a difference. Priority also should be given to provision of basic amenities like potable water.

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Need memory boost? Try ginger By Sade Oguntola

emory loss and other cognitive conditions are issues that a large number of people start to worry about as they age. Many people believe that these problems are natural and inevitable consequences of ageing, something that regardless of what is done cannot be avoided. Of course, this is not true. Human brains are capable of creating new brain cells at any given age, and diet plays an essential role in how often, and how effectively, they can do so. Most natural whole foods contain properties that can help keep the minds in good shape. Studies show that many herbs and spices are beneficial to enhance memory. Ginger isn’t just a spice! In Arabian folklore, ginger has been claimed to improve memory. Moreover, it has also been traditionally used as an ingredient for cognitive enhancement. In addition to ginger’s already-known health-boosting properties such as reducing motion sickness and nausea, having a soothing effect on the digestive tract and being a common remedy for colds, researchers corroborate the fact that ginger can also help to support memory and cognitive function in middle-aged women. In the study, published in 2012 issue of the EvidenceBased Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 60 healthy women receiving the ginger supplement reported a significant improvement in cognitive functions and an enhanced working memory compared to the placebo group. These were women who received either a placebo or a ginger standardised extract of 400 milligramme or 800 milligramme daily for two months. They were between 50 and 60 of age and reside in Thailand. The women’s cognitive function and memory at the beginning of the study and again after one and two months of supplementation was assessed.

Why itching causes discomfort to vagina Itching or irritation anywhere on the body can cause discomfort. But when it occurs in an area as sensitive as the vagina and vulva; the labia, clitoris, and vaginal opening, it can be especially uncomfortable. Most genital itching and irritation is not a major concern. But because they can be symptoms of an infection, it is always a good idea to let your doctor know when you have it. There are several common causes of vaginal itching, burning, and irritation these includes;

Conditions that could produce the disturbance of cognitive function such as any history of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, neuropsychological disease, head injury, diabetes, cancer, alcohol addiction, and smoking were excluded in the participants. Individuals taking prescribed, non-prescribed drugs, or nutraceutical compounds known to influence the function of the nervous system were excluded. The researchers found that daily ginger intake, especially at higher amount, led to improvements in four key brain functions: power of attention, accuracy of attention, speed of memory, and quality of memory. According to them, “ginger extract enhances both attention and cognitive processing capabilities of healthy, middle-aged women, with no side effects reported. Our data revealed that ginger extract is a potential brain tonic to enhance cognitive function for middle-aged women.” The researchers, noting that more research is needed to fully comprehend the mechanism behind this effect, suggested that the cognitive enhancing effect of this plant extract on working memory observed in this study might be partly related to its antioxidant effect.

sex,sexuality

&your health With Monica Taiwo

strictly adult teenagers, adult & geriatric sexual well being

08187754992 (sms only) taiwomonica@gmail.com

Bacterial vaginosis It is normal to have a healthy mix of bacteria in the vagina. But the wrong bacteria growing there can lead to an infection. Apart from itching, other symptoms that come with bacterial vaginosis are inflammation, burning, discharge, and a fishy-smelling odor. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, trichomoniasis, and gonorrhea all can cause vaginal/vulvar itching and irritation and other symptoms. Yeast infection (vaginal candidiasis). About three out of every four women will develop a yeast infection at some point in their lives. Yeast infections occur when the yeast, candida, grow excessively in the vagina and vulva. Pregnancy, intercourse, antibiotics, and a weakened immune system can all make women more likely to get a yeast infection. In addition to itching and irritation, a yeast infection will produce a thick, white, cheesy discharge. Menopause. The drop in estrogen production that occurs at the end of a woman’s reproductive years can cause the vaginal walls to thin and dry out. This can lead to itching and irritation. Thinning of the vaginal walls is also a problem in some women who breast feed.

Chemical irritants. • A number of chemical substances, including creams, douches, condoms, contraceptive foams, laundry detergents, soaps, scented toilet paper, and fabric softeners can irritate the vagina and vulva. • Lichen sclerosis. This is a rare condition that causes thin white patches to form on the skin, especially around the vulva. The patches can permanently scar the vaginal area. Postmenopausal women are most likely to develop

natural

health While the side effect of ginger extract is rare, they hinted of the possibility of some minor adverse effects at higher doses such as gastro-intestinal disturbance, sleepiness, restlessness, sedation, and heartburn. Moreover, the researchers stated that the use of ginger in enhancing memory and improve cognitive function should be performed with caution because of the possibility of the extract also possibly interacting with medications, including anaesthesia, anticoagulants, and analgesics leading to arrhythmias, poor wound healing, bleeding, photosensitivity reaction, and prolonged sedation. Ginger can be used in different ways. Peeled and diced fresh ginger root can be added to soups and dishes. The root can also be steeped in hot water or added to tea. Ginger in its powder form can be used in baked foods and roasted foods such as Suya and Kunu drink. Modern science has also verified claims and demonstrated that green tea, omega-3 fats and cocoa beans improve cognition and memory in young adults. A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience, naturally occurring flavanols found in cocoa may reverse memory decline by as much as 20 or even 30 years. Identifying cognitive decline onset is crucial for effective medical interventions. The earlier cognitive deterioration can be spotted; the better medical treatments tend to be. Robust evidence showing cognitive decline before the age of 60 has important ramifications because it demonstrates the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles, particularly cardiovascular health, as there is emerging evidence that what is good for the heart is also good for the brain. Nonetheless, hormonal changes and stress are two of the main factors influencing cognitive functions in middle-aged women. Cognitive difficulties include memory loss and mild cognitive impairment, two factors frequently related to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. this condition. Treatment Vaginal irritation will often get better on its own. However, if the irritation continues, becomes severe, or comes back after treatment, you need to go back to your doctor. The doctor will do a pelvic examination by probably also taking a sample of the discharge to find the source of the problem. Treatment depends on what condition is causing the problem: • Vaginosis and STDs are treated with antibiotics.. • Yeast infections are treated with antifungal medications. They are inserted into the vagina in the form of creams, ointments, or suppositories, or they are taken orally.. • Menopause-related itching may be treated with estrogen cream or tablets. • Other types of itching and irritation respond to steroid creams or lotions, which reduce inflammation. A prescription-strength steroid cream can relieve the irritation of lichen sclerosis. In young girls, it’s important to report any itching, burning, or irritation to a health care provider, because these symptoms can be signs of sexual abuse. Are there home remedies for vaginal itching, burning, and irritation? Here are a few tips for preventing and treating vaginal irritation at home: • Avoid scented pads or toilet paper, creams, bubble bath, feminine sprays, and douches. • Use water and a plain, unscented soap to regularly clean your external genital area. But don’t wash more than once a day. Doing so can increase dryness. • Always wipe from front to back after having a bowel movement. • Wear cotton panties and change your underwear every day. • Do not douche. • Change the diapers of baby girls regularly. • Use condoms during sexual intercourse to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. • If you are experiencing vaginal dryness, use a vaginal moisturizer. Apply a water-based lubricant before having sex. • Avoid sexual intercourse until your symptoms improve. • Don’t scratch; you can further irritate the area.

Thursday, 14 January, 2016 Group Politics Editor Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 tai_adis@yahoo.com

Bello

Bello and the Kogi APC crisis As the January 27, 2016 handover date in government house in Kogi State approaches, YINKA OLADOYINBO writes on the uneasy calm in the expected new governing party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

T is not an understatement that the Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is in the eye of the storm since the conduct of the governorship election in the state last November. Although, the party won the election, the processes involved have continued to drive a big wedge among members of the party in the state. The situation is so bad that the state executive committee of the party has been polarised, with the members from the opposing camps avoiding on another like plague. It is certain that the governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, will inherit a divided APC structure upon his inauguration on January 27. Members of the 35-man state executive committee of the party are sharply divided along Bello/Faleke faction. The state party chairman, Alhaji Hadi Ametuo is said to be leading about 14 of them to support the governor-elect. The state deputy chairman and the state secretary along with the majority of the exco members are said to backing the deputy governorship-elect of the party,

James Faleke. That all is not well within the APC in the Confluence State is even evident in the atmosphere around the party secretariat in Lokoja, the state capital. A visit to the place since the conclusion of the election on November 28, 2015, showed a sharp contrast of what is expected of a party that has just been declared winner of an election, about 12 years after fighting tooth and nail to dislodge the party in power. The secretariat is

devoid of pulsating activities, as the place is like a ghost town. Virtually all the members of the state executive committee have abandoned the place with the exception of one or two that come in at intervals and leave without any tangible assignment being performed. Also, â&#x20AC;&#x153;boysâ&#x20AC;? that always throng party secretariats have vanished from the area. Only a handful of them are always sighted arguing over the developments in the party and

What has happened is an act of God that nobody can query, but our quarrel is, why without proper consultation will the national secretariat bring someone to impose on the party if you want the party to live?

Faleke

also blaming the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national secretariat for the turn of events in the Kogi APC. However, investigation has shown that the crisis in the party is a product of accumulated grievances among the two major camps that have emerged so far. Each of the camps is taking advantage of what is perceived as the sore points in the activities of the other. After the conduct of the party primary election last August, which led to the emergence of the late Prince Abubakar Audu, most of the members had looked forward to who would be picked as the running mate to the candidate. They expected a series of serious consultations among the leaders and other stakeholders that would culminate in arriving at an acceptable candidate as deputy governor. Names were already being mentioned in line with the political and ethnic calculations in the state. While all this was going on, no mention was made of Faleke, as his name was not widely known within the political circle of the state then. But to the chagrin of many party leaders and members, Audu announced Faleke as his running mate, thus the rash of complaints, with many claiming that the late former governor did not consult them before taking such decision. However, continues pg39

39 politics&policy

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

The widening gulf among stakeholders continued from pg38

because it was generally believed that Audu called the shot as he was in charge of the party in the state, the complaints fizzled out with only a few still nursing the grievance. When the campaign proper started for the election and the members saw the contributions and the innovation brought into the arrangement by Faleke, who is representing the Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, many of those that were initially against his nomination changed their position and started singing his praise. A source in the camp of Bello, who is also from Okunland, said that Faleke’s emergence gave the party victory in the Yorubaspeaking part of the state in particular and the state in general. He stated: “There is no doubt that Faleke contributed immensely to the victory of the party in Okunland. He brought a lot of innovations, a lot of new ways of doing things, and it was obvious that his emergence gave us victory. The votes that came out of Okunland during the last election were unprecedented, and this can be traced to him”. However, following the death of Audu, the APC national secretariat picked Bello to replace him and complete the supplementary election following inconclusive poll of November 21. The choice of Bello was made by the APC top hierarchy because he came second during the primary election that produced Audu, and this did not go down well with the majority of members in the state. They opined that it was wrong for the party to have settled for Bello, who did not participated in electioneering with Audu and Faleke. They also said it was morally wrong for Bello, who initiated petitions against the emergence of Audu at the primary, to reap from the where he did not sow. Although, the 1999 Constitution does not make provision for the situation in Kogi, many of those in Faleke’s camp, including the political family of Audu believed since he held a joint ticket with the deceased, the running mate should automatically become the governor, while he is allowed to choose another running mate. They later proposed a Faleke/ Audu ticket that would enable the son of the former candidate, Mohammed be made the running mate to Faleke in the supplementary poll. But when it became obvious that the APC headquarters was not ready to shift ground, the Faleke camp changed their tactics and opted out of the supplementary election, arguing that the election was not necessary as, according to them, the November 21 poll had produced a clear winner. Based on this, Faleke approached a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja to stop the supplementary election but the court turned down the request and ordered the INEC to go ahead with the poll. However, Faleke made his stand known that he could not contest the election as a running mate to Bello, asking INEC and the APC to remove his name. He said he was already the governor-elect and should be so declared Therefore, since the declaration of Bello as the winner of the election, the party that is expected to be clicking glasses. Ironically, the camps have been engrossed in name calling. Apart from the division in the party, the prevalent situation in the state has assumed an ethnic dimension, as it is obvious that the largest percentage of Bello’s followers are from the Central senatorial districts, that is Ebiraland, where he hails from. To compound the problem, Faleke took an unprecedented move in the political history of the country by filing a petition against the results of an election in which he is pre-

Oyegun

Audu

This division is not in the interest of the party as of today and in the future. Wwe are said to be a corrective party and since we are corrective; we are supposed to set examples of truth.

sumed to be a partaker in its victory. He is challenging the declaration of Bello as the goveror-elect on the basis that the 6,885 votes that Bello scored during the supplementary election could not invalidate the 240, 867 votes scored by the Audu/Faleke ticket during the main election. He also averred that of the 49, 000 voters that were claimed to have been disenfranchised on November 21, only 25, 000 had Permanent Voters Card (PVC). Accordingly, he alleged that the election was already concluded with the first ballot. In addition, the APC dissolved into various caucuses in the three senatorial districts of the state and with the major contenders having a sizeable number of people behind and endorsing them in each of the senatorial districts. The division in the party has equally been showing in the format and outcome of meetings of the stakeholders. While a section said they were ready to actualise the mandate given to Audu/Faleke during the election, another group from the same senatorial district declared it was fully behind Bello. The situation is so pronounced in Kogi West Senatorial district, where Faleke hails from as a group of Kogi West elders, led by Chief Asaje Richard and Migbole Samuel, have expressed their readiness to start the processes of selecting a new deputy governor for Bello from the senatorial district since all entreaties to make Falake accept the number two post have failed. The elders, at a stakeholders meeting held at Obajana, noted that it was necessary to present a replacement for Faleke since it was apparent that he was not ready to accept the post. The people, in a communique jointly signed by Chief Richard and Samuel, said the committee would be an interim one

that would consider those suitable for the post. The forum said it was ready to continue with the effort at persuading Faleke to accept the circumstances surrounding Bello’s emergence as an act of God and accept the party’s decision on the issue. The elders explained that all the seven local government areas in the Western senatorial district had agreed to work with Bello for unity and peace of the state. “That the West and Central senatorial districts remain together as a united body to ensure that God’s divine power shift remains unchanged. That Honourable James Faleke will still be persuaded to appreciate God’s doing and resolve with the governor-elect and respect party’s decision”, the communique added. However, barely 48 hours after the communique was released, another group of the party from the same senatorial district publicly declared that it was supporting moves by Faleke to validate Audu’s victory. The group led by the deputy Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, Honourable Umar Jubril, said it was necessary for the people to ensure that the struggle of the late Audu was not in vain. Speaking at a meeting of the stakeholders in Lokoja, and presided over by Jubril, the people resolved to work with other well-meaning stakeholders from the remaining Senatorial districts in the State in order to actualise the mandate. They resolved to step up mass enlightenment of the people on the propriety of the Audu/Faleke team regaining the governorship seat through the law courts, as it was the only way justice could be seen to have been done. Jubril explained that it was expedient for the leadership of the APC not to see the petition filed by Faleke before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal as

an affront on the party, but an opportunity to correct some perceived wrongs which could threaten unity within the party. Speaking on the current situation in the APC, the state secretary, Salam Adejo, said the party found itself in the mess because it lacked a leading figure in the state. He said the death of Audu had turned the party to a flock without a shepherd. He said he had no issue with the governor-elect, but was only quarrelling with the process through which Bello emerged. “My quarrel is why did they use the process, it is not because he is Ebira, or because he is not an Igala man, if it is an Igala man I will say the same thing. What has happened is an act of God that nobody can query, but our quarrel is, why without proper consultation will the national secretariat bring someone to impose on the party if you want the party to live? “The Igalas have been magnanimous in this struggle, they are not saying they want to be governor, all they are saying is, ‘don’t shut us out.’ All those votes came not on the platform of the party but on the platform of the individuals; because it was Audu people were voting; because it was Faleke.” Speaking on the division within the state EXCO of the party, he added: “We have about 21 of us on Faleke’s side, then about 14 are on Bello side with many of them mainly Ebiras and a few Yoruba. This division is not in the interest of the party as at today and in the future, we are said to be a corrective party and since we are corrective, we are supposed to set examples of truth. If we depart from the truth, it does not speak well for the image of the party, and this division is not the best for us. This is what leads to factions in a party.” The state secretary of the party however said the ability of the incoming governor to manage crisis will determine how he would sail through the situation and hit the ground running with his administration. It is the view of most observers in the state that the current situation in the Kogi chapter of the APC is dangerous for a party that wants to take over government after 12 years in the trenches. This is because the gladiators appear not ready to shift ground over the issues. With the new governor expected to be inaugurated on January 27 without a deputy, it is obvious that the last has not been heard of the Kogi debacle.

news

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

VIP escorts: Police to arrest offenders at airports —Okiro Chris Agbambu-Abuja

he police high command has concluded arrangement to deploy policemen to the nation’s airports to arrest police escorts who carry bags or luggages for their bosses. Chairman, Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro, who announced this on Wednesday while briefing newsmen in Abuja, said that it was becoming an embarrassment to the nation that policemen were now being used for domestic purposes. According to him, “this issue has generated much uproar and even condemnation, as it is capable of eroding the public esteem of members of the Nigeria Police.” Okiro said in order to stem the tide, the commission and the police high command had worked out a blueprint of the class of VIPs that should enjoy the privilege of attaching

Senator Sani’s 11 months suspension stands —Kaduna APC Muhmmad Sabiu-Kaduna

The Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has maintained that the suspension of Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central District, from the party for 11 months stands. The National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the party, Inuwa Abdulkadir, had on Monday, said the suspension of the senator was invalid. But in a press conference in Kaduna, on Wednesday, the spokesman of the APC, Salisu Tanko Wusono, said, Abdulkadir acted without the consent of the national leadership and contrary to Section 21 of APC’s constitution. Wusono added that the National Vice Chairman’s action was a deliberate attempt to ridicule the party for his personal interest. Thus, the 11-month suspension slammed on Shehu Sani by the Kaduna State APC stands. ‘Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir does not have the power to lift the suspension, and was acting on his own without any authorisation by the national leadership of the party. “What happened on Monday, in Kaduna, between Abdulkadir and the so-called APC chieftains was an abuse of his office in promoting the narrow agenda of people who have never been interested in the progress and success of the APC.”

police officers to provide VIP protection with their specific duties clearly spelt out. He said the matter was awaiting the consent of relevant authorities, before they could start implementation. This policy, he said, was very critical and aimed at shoving up the professionalism of the Police Force, as well as rekindle the high respect police deserves in

the public eye and image. The Police Service Commission chairman added that once the operation, if fully planned out, the Provost Marshal of the police and staff of the commission would operate jointly and be stationed at domestic airports and some highways to arrest and discipline officers who embark on illegal escorts or guards. Explaining why the screening of officers with

universities degrees and HND was suspended, Okiro disclosed that the crux of the matter was that a total of 13,682 claimed to have obtained higher qualifications from various tertiary institutions, adding that IGP Solomon Arase, while pursuing the matter logically, led to a meeting between the police management team and the Police Service Commission to sort out the issues

involved. Consequently, Okiro said in the course of their deliberation, he advised that the exercise be put on hold and very soon, there would be a policy on it. He announced that the commission had established offices in some zones with the intent of extending to other areas, but the paucity of funds had been a huge challenge to them.

From left, Bishop of Missionary Diocese of the Trinity, USA and Canada, Right Reverend Amos Fadamigba; Anglican Bishop of Egba West Diocese, Right Reverend Samuel Ogundeji; Archbishop of of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos and Bishop of Lagos Mainland Diocese, Most Reverend, Professor Adebayo Akinde, Bishop of Ife (retired), Right Reverend Akin Odejide, Bishop of Lagos Diocese and Dean Emeritus, Most Reverend (Dr) Ephraim Ademowo, Bishop of Lagos West Diocese, Right Reverend James Odedeji and Bishop of Awori Diocese, Right Reverend Akin Atere at a commendation Service for Mrs Caroline Adebiyi, wife of Bishop Peter Adebiyi, the former Bishop of Lagos West Diocese held at Archbishop Vinning Memorial Cathredal on Wednesday, in Lagos. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

Clark to Sylva: Don’t go to tribunal over election loss •Cautions Ijaws against violence Leon Usigbe-Abuja

ELDER statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has counselled defeated All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, to abandon his plan to challenge the outcome of the just concluded election in the tribunal. Addressing a press conference in Abuja, on Wednesday, he observed that such action would be unhelpful to the people of the state who he said had already been traumatised by election violence.

He said: “I have heard Chief Timipre Sylva’s statement that he will go to the Tribunal to prove that the elections were not properly conducted due to alleged conspiracy between the INEC and the PDP. Ordinarily, that is the normal course to take by anyone who feels cheated and aggrieved in an election. “But I’m appealing to him that in the interest of the Izon nation and to prevent the danger of subjecting the people of Bayelsa to another gruesome ordeal which may portend greater violence, to please accept the results of the election

and allow peace to reign. “Chief Sylva is a young man and has another opportunity in 2019 to become governor.” Clark recalled his contributions to the election of both former governor Sylva and incumbent, Seriake Dickson in their first terms in what he said was because of his belief that they had positive things to offer the people of the state. But he regretted that the personal ambitions of both men had set the people of the state against themselves causing needless loss of lives and property.

Speakers decry poor perception of legislative arm •As Dogara is nominated to serve on committee Problems facing parliamentarians across the globe came to the front burner on Wednesday, at the 23rd Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth, as they urged that they should find a means of resolving those problems. Some of the Speakers that delivered papers at the ongoing Conference holding in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, included the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Sulaimon Lasun Yusuff, who expressed

concern over the poor perception of the legislative institution by citizens. Speaking at a workshop to analyse papers presented by various speakers on the challenges facing the independence of speakers, the Deputy Speaker who led the Nigerian Delegation to Malaysia said that it is rather unfortunate that citizens see legislators as parasites who contribute nothing to governance. Lasun lamented that all over the world, people see legislators as parasites that

are just collecting money without doing anything. Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, has been nominated to be part of the members of the Standing Committee of the Conference of the Speakers and the Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC). Rt Hon Dogara’s nomination and other nominations from various regional meetings held was ratified without any objection from any country.

According to the 89-yearold Patron of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), “innocent Bayelsans have become the proverbial grass that suffers when two elephants fight. Some of them have lost their lives including that of a traditional ruler, houses razed down, businesses crumbled. “The land of Bayelsa is crying, hearts are heavy and eyes are wailing as a result of innocent bloodshed and the avoidable destructions the people have brought upon themselves in some parts of the state. “The lzon people are deeply emotionally traumatised, too deep for casual consideration! In this situation, it would be fruitless to lay blames at the doorsteps of the two major political parties, the APC and the PDP, but on the two elephants, who fought and left untold hardships on the people as a result of greed. “It is very unfortunate that both of them are not democrats and therefore, they do not know what democracy means. What they know is power. “I want to repeat here a very popular and still very apt saying that Power belongs to the Almighty God. He gives it at each given time to whoever He wishes.”

DfID to invest £30m in Nigeria on climate change, agric Collins Nnabuife-Abuja

The Department for International Development (DfID) has promised more collaboration with the Federal Government in its efforts to grow and develop the country’s agricultural sector. The DfID also disclosed that it would invest £30 million in combating the scourge of climate change in Nigeria and also to improve agricultural productivity in the country. The Head of Office, Department for International Development (DfID), Mr Ben Meller, stated this during his visit to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh. Mr Meller expressed the readiness of his organisation to strengthen the synergy between the country and the organisation. Responding, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, commended the existing relationship between the Ministry and Department for International Development (DfID).

‘Curative healthcare problem of health system’ By Victor Ogunyinka

The new president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ahmed Yakasai, has identified emphasis on curative healthcare rather than preventive as the fundamental problem of the health system. Yakasai made this remark during his first media briefing and interaction at the Pharmacy House, Lagos. While tackling issues on the outbreak of Lassa fever and the need to reorientate approach to public health realities, he explained that the nation is conditioned with a health system that thrives on adhoc measures rather than build structures anchored on invincible myth, which are both enduring and sustainable. “The fundamental problem with our health system appears to be unfortunate emphasis on curative rather than preventive healthcare. The norm in every civilised or evolving clime is to nurture and build a virile as well as viable primary healthcare model, which embraces the utilisation of the skills, expertise and on-hands experience of all healthcare professionals and workers.

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Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Osun govt advertises for doctors Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

SUN State government, on Wednesday, placed advertorial in a national newpaper, seeking to employ doctors. The development mean the governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, may have tactically sacked striking doctors in the state government-owned hospital for failing to call off their industrial action by resuming duties last week Friday. The governor had, last Thursday, at the 75th birthday anniversary of the foremost Labour leader and founding chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, directed the Head of Service (HoS), Mr Sunday Owoeye, to issue sack letters to the striking doctors on Monday. The chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Osun State chapter, Dr Suraj Ogunyemi and that of Osun State Association of Medical Doctors and Dental Officers (OSAMDO), Dr Isiaka Adekunle, however, had dismissed the governor’s

Ogbeh launches agric mechanisation scheme THE Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, flaggedoff the second phase of the Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprise (AEHE), under the Mechanisation Intervention Programme (MIP), on Tuesday, at the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), in Ilorin, Kwara State. The Minister, in his opening statement, commended “the revolutionary stride of his “predecessor, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, (CON), now President of the African Development Bank(AfDB),inallhehasdoneto reposition agriculture in Nigeria to the level we have attained. He has laid a good foundation for reforming the sector. However, much is still left to be achieved, as the agricultural sector has suffered neglect for over 30 years of oil discovery.” Ogbeh considered it “unthinkable and counterproductive, to think of developing agriculture in Nigeria by continuing to distribute hoes, machetes, axes and ordinary and low yielding seeds to farmers. Capitalism puts wealth in the hands of the drivers but the time to democratise capitalism, especially in the Nigerian agricultural sector is now,” adding that “this government is committed to achieving an all-inclusive growth.”

threat, saying they were not moved by any attempt to sack their members. Both of them, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune on phone, on Monday, said none of their members had received any sack letter or memo, relieving them of their jobs. However, the imbroglio between the doctors and the state government took a new turn on Wednesday when the latter placed advertisement in one of the national dailies, with a view to recruiting new doctors and other categories of medical officers to fill the positions of the striking medical doctors. Nigerian Tribune gathered that vacant

positions advertised included Medical Officer Grade Level 12 (CONMESS 11), Senior Medical Officer, Grade 11, Grade Level 13 (CONMESS 111), Senior Medical Officer, Grade 1, Grade Level 14 (CONMESS IV) and Principal Medical Officer, Grade 11, Grade Level 15 (CONMESS V). According to the advertisement, which was signed by the Permanent Secretary, office of the Head of Service (HoS), Mr Sunday Festus Olajide, interested candidates were enjoined to collect application for e m p l o y m e n t f o r m s at the Osun State Hospital Management Board and return the completed forms with relevant documents not

later than close of work on Friday, January 22. Reacting over the decision of the state government to advertise the positions of the striking doctors, OSAMDO, in a resolutions issued after holding its emergency meeting in Osogbo, said they were not bothered by the development, insisting that the strike action would continue. According to the resolution, which was signed by its chairman, Dr Isiaka Adekunle, “medical and dental officers in the state service are members of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). The association has negotiated for the welfare of her

No illegal colleges of education in Nigeria —NCCE boss

..Differ on first degree as minimum teaching qualification Clement Idoko- Abuja

THE Executive Secretary of National Commission for Colleges of Education, Professor Monday Joshua, has disclosed that there is currently no illegal College of Education operating in Nigeria. He has also differed with those clamouring for the Federal Government to review some aspect of national policy on education in order to make first degree as minimum teaching qualification in Nigeria. Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) is currently the minimum teaching qualification in Nigeria. Joshua, spoke on Wednesday, in Abuja, at an interactive session with Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN), on activities of the commission. He vowed to clampdown on any illegal College of Education that might come up in any part of the country, stressing that the commission has spread its dragnet all over the country for anyone that would dare the commission. He said the commission has entered the 2016 with more vigour and determination to pursue its mandate, which among other things was to ensure production of quality teachers by Colleges of Education to teach in primary and secondary schools in the country. Speaking on clamour for introduction of first degree as minimum teaching qualification, Prof Joshua, noted that the prescription of NCE as minimum teaching qualification was the policy of the Federal Government. He, however, wondered why somebody would think that NCE was not enough qualification for anybody to teach at primary school level or

junior secondary school level. He said: “What we need in this country is not just change of names. We need to implement the policies on ground effectively and we would have achieved our purpose. If somebody would wake up and say NCE is too low to be a minimum teaching qualification, I will say no. “The problem is not with the name. The problem is not with the level. The issue is that if the NCE teacher is well prepared to do his or her job, he or she will do a wonderful job. Even if we say bachelors degree should be made as minimum

teaching qualification, there will still be clamour that degree is not enough.

members in the past; the most recent was the approval of corrected . Reacting to the advertisement placed by the government in the national dailies, the director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy to the governor, Mr Semiu Okanlawon,

said the government had not sacked any doctor in the government-owned hospitals. According to him, “the state government has the right to recruit medical doctors if it feels there are vacancies that need to be filled.”

news

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Female doctors lack interest in surgical specialities —Don Biola Azeez - Ilorin

resh female medical graduates of the nation’s universities’ colleges of medicine have been challenged to pursue career in surgical specialities towards achieving a more sustainable healthcare delivery system in the country. Speaking at the first batch of 32nd professional initiation and admission ceremony of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday, the guest speaker on the occasion, Professor Kikelomo Osinusi, said findings had

revealed that there was general lack of interest in surgical specialities among female medical doctors, except in gynaecology, paediatrics, family health and family medicine. “Talking on the topic, Rising profile of women in medicine: Implications for healthcare delivery in the 21st century”, Professor Osinusi of the Department of Paediatrics, University of Ibadan, said that female doctors gave such reasons as too much work load and imapct of surgical specialities on family and social responsibility. She said other reasons given were physical ability to cope, including absence

of role models in surgery. Professor Osinusi, however, said that female medical doctors were making steady progress in academic medicine and at management level with a former Health minister, for instance. The paediatric specialist, who said that “though, the progress is slow, but future promises to be better and brighter for female doctors at the top echelon of the profession”, charged women to take the bull by the horn. She also said that female doctors had impact among their patients and students, adding that they have more empathy, more

patience and always exhibit motherly role due to motherly instinct in paediatrics. The university don, who said that they are great advocates in healthcare delivery system because of their tenacity and determination, added that female doctors had impacted on standard of clinical care, improved teaching and mentoring of students and residents as well as positive impact on healthcare system of the country. Also speaking, the provost of the college, Professor Wahab Rotimi Johnson, said the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ilorin, graduated an-

Wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi (third left), with some members of Senior Citizens’ Forum, during an annual party and thanksgiving service, at Oluyole Chesire Home, Sango, Ibadan, on Tuesday.

Jigawa gov signs appropriation bill of N137.2bn into law Adamu Amadu - Dutse GOVERNOR Muhammad Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, on Wednesday, signed the state 2016 Appropriation Bill of N137.2 billion in to law. Speaking while signing the appropriation bill into law, the governor promised to faithfully implement the budget so that it would impact positively on the lives of the people of the state. Governor Badaru Abubakar, commended members of the state House of Assembly for ensuring the passage of the bill ,which he presented to the House on December 8 ,2015 and signed into law on Wednesday. He also urged members of the House to keep supporting the state executive for the successful implementation of the budget Also speaking, the speaker, state House of Assembly, Honourable Idris

Garba Jahun, assured the governor of full support to the current administration in the state to bring positive changes to the people of state. Alhaji Idris Garba said that some of the areas that were adjusted by the House include, education, health, agriculture, government

house expenditure, deputy governor’s office and office of the Secretary to Jigawa State Government (SSG). According to him,the House also looked into the 27 local government budgets and passed a law for the continuation and completion of ongoing projects.

He said, the House approved that about 60 per cent of the budget to be attached to capital projects while 40 per cent isfor recurrent expenditure. The speaker assured total support for the Governor Badaru-led administration in the state.

My govt may not employ more workers in future —Okowa EbenezerAdurokiya-Warri Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Wednesday, said that his government may not employ more civil servants in the nearest future. He said the reason was due to the upheaval currently faced by the state government in paying workers’ salary in the state due to dwindling federal allocation to states. Okowa said this while re-

sponding to issues raised at the oil and gas stakeholders summit tagged: “Security and environmental challenges in oil and gas sector: A wayforward” in Warri, Delta State. He noted that the way out of unemployment is engagement of youths in vocational trainings and skills acquisition as being currently championed by the state government. He informed that about 765 youths are about to

graduate from the skills acquisition scheme of the government. Okowa berated oil multinationals, who boycotted the stakeholders’ summit, saying it was irresponsible and unkind of oil companies not present at the summit. He urged host communities to relate well with the state government for a better partnership that will engender intelligence gathering on criminal activities in the state.

other 55 medical students, making it a total of 4,212 medical graduates since 1983. Professor Johnson, who urged the graduates to seek career pathways and specialities of medicine of their choices, advised that they should remember the tradition of selfless cum altruistic service and excellence.

CAC inaugurates N70 m housing project The authorities of the Apostolic Church (CAC) worldwide, has called for concerted effort towards effective unification of the church. President of CAC worldwide, Pastor Abraham Akinosun, made the submission on Monday, during the inauguration of a N70 million housing project, at the CAC Secretariat, Bashorun, Ibadan, Oyo State. The cleric, who called for fervent prayers from all relevant stakeholders towards eradication of disharmony in the church, said that before long, al well-meaning Nigerians will unite with the church in the celebration of victory over its crisis. While linking the execution of the housing project to one of the founding fathers of the church, Pastor Isaac Akinyele, who gave the land to the church, he averred that the housing project was monitored and supervised by the late Pastor Ayo Olabisi, alongside other stakeholders for the purpose of effective evangelism and spreading of the gospel, adding that the fund used for the project was realised through donations from well-meaning Nigerians as well as from church members. Akinosun, who said that the fund was transparently utilised for an enduring legacy of the 21st century church, added that it indicated that when people are determined, they can achieve. The cleric stressed further that if Nigerians pay their tax and shun corruption and other negative tendencies, much can be achieved by the governments at al levels and therefore, urged Nigerians to give maximum support to the government so as to alleviate the plight of the poor masses.

Nigerian Tribune

Ogun to commemorate 40th anniversary OlayinkaOlukoya-Abeokuta Ogun State government, on Wednesday, rolled out a week-long activities to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the state creation. The state was created out of the defunct Western region on February 3, 1976. According to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa,the celebration will be an opportunity for the Senator Ibikunle Amosun administration to showcase its achievements in the last five years. He said that the various developmental completed projects embarked on by the administration had been listed for commissioning by President Muhammadu Buhari, during his official working visit to the state. The SSG said the visit of President Buhari would be his maiden official visit to any of the South West states since he assumed duty on May 29, 2015. Adeoluwa dropped the hint at a meeting with heads of security agencies in the state, adding that past governors in the state would also commission some of the projects.

Kano assembly passes N274bn appropriation bill into law Kola Oyelere - Kano KANO State House of Assembly has passed the state Appropriation Bill of N274 billion into law, with about N400 million reduction. The passage of the budget followed the approval of House Committee of the Assembly led by the speaker, Honourable Kabiru Alhassan Rurum. The majority leader of the House, disclosed this on Wednesday, while speaking with journalists after the passage of the budget . Honourable Yusif Abdullahi Ata Fagge, explained that the budget had been reduced by over N400 million . However, the speaker said the adjustment was in line with the House’s move to ensure proper implementation of the budget due to economic situation in the country.

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

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Cameroon troops in position after an earlier attack attributed to Boko Haram. PHOTO: AFP. INSET: Cameroon’s President Paul Biya.

Female suicide bombers kill 12 in Cameroon’s mosque

wo female suicide bombers have attacked a mosque in a town near Cameroon’s border with Nigeria, killing at least 12 people and wounding about a dozen others, the governor of the region said. According to the Guardian, the attack during morning prayers in the town of Kolofata on Wednesday is believed to have been carried out by members of the Islamist group Boko Haram who crossed the border into Cameroon a few days ago, said Midjiyawa Bakari. Kolofata in Cameroon’s far north has been attacked repeatedly by Boko Haram. Another suicide bombing in Cameroon blamed on the group in December killed at least seven people and wounded 30 others, officials said. In September, suicide bombers killed nine people in Kolofata and wounded 18.

Boko Haram began stepping up its attacks early last year on Cameroon and other countries that have support-

ed the Nigerian military’s effort to crush the extremists. The group’s six-year insurgency has killed about

20,000 people and displaced 2.3 million, according to Amnesty International and the United Nations.

The two-year Ebola epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people in West Africa is due to be declared officially over today (Thursday), with Liberia expecting the all-clear. The worst outbreak of the deadly tropical pathogen in history devastated health services and wrecked the economies of the hardesthit nations since it emerged in southern Guinea in December 2013. At its height the virus cut a swath through the capital cities of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, with bodies piling up in the streets and overwhelmed hospitals recording hundreds of new cases a week, the Guardian said.

At Kinshasa’s hectic Victoire roundabout, banners urge people to back “dialogue for the good of Congo,” but to many the timing of President Joseph Kabila’s call for political talks less than a year before he is supposed to step down is highly suspicious. “If they thought that we had to have the dialogue, why the

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

The World Health Organisation said today’s announcement in Geneva will “mark 42 days since the last Ebola cases in Liberia were tested negative.” The announcement had previously been scheduled for Friday, with no reason given for the change.

otherNEWS

“We will remain careful and keep calling on the population to take the necessary measures in preventing reoccurrence,” said Francis Karteh, Liberia’s chief medical officer, a major figure in the battle against the epidemic. Liberia, which was hardest

dialogue at the end of the mandate?” 38-year-old technician Chine Tshiboko asked, to nods from a crowd of men around him in the capital of one of Africa’s biggest and most chaotic states. Under Democratic Republic of Congo’s constitution the president is allowed only two terms. Kabila will complete his

second this year, but has refused to promise to leave power at elections due in November. With little public support for altering the constitution to allow Kabila to run again, his opponents believe he has opted instead for a “glissement”, or “sliding” of the electoral calendar to prolong his days in power.

Germany toughens deportation laws after attacks Germany has outlined plans to tighten deportation laws for foreigners in the wake of the series of attacks on hundreds of women in Cologne and other cities on New Year’s Eve. Police said the attacks appear to have been carried out by groups of young migrant men. Nineteen sus-

Putting aside a sudden crisis with Iran, President Barack Obama, on Tuesday night urged Americans in his final State of the Union address to reject the politics of tribalism and fear that have rocked the campaign to find his successor and to build a “clear-eyed, bighearted” and “optimistic” nation. Delivering his annual report to the nation, Obama did not name Republican 2016 candidates. But he took clear, implied shots at them nevertheless, particularly front-runner Donald Trump, as well as

Liberia to be declared Ebola-free today

Congo edges towards crisis as opposition digs in against Kabila

Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Joseph Kabila

Obama urges Americans to reject politics of tribalism, fear

pects have so far been identified, all of them migrants. There have been several revenge attacks against foreigners in Cologne, VOA said. Far right supporters and football hooligans smashed shop windows and damaged cars in the eastern city of Leipzig in the early hours

of Tuesday. People protest in front of the main station in Cologne, Germany, on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. The poster reads: “No to Racism, No to Sexism”. More women have come forward alleging they were sexually assaulted and robbed during New Year’s Eve.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

hit by the disease with 4,800 deaths, discharged its last two cases the father and younger brother of a 15-year-old victim on 3 December. It was the last country still to be affected by an outbreak infecting almost 29,000 people and claiming 11,315 lives, according to official data - which most experts accept represents a significant underestimate. The patients’ recovery triggered a 42-day countdown twice the incubation period of the virus before Liberia could be declared free of transmission for a third time.

Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, CNN said. America’s destiny, the President said, was imperiled by a political system festering in malice, gridlock and in the grip of the rich and the powerful. Obama also took on critics who accuse him of weakening American power abroad and Republicans who say he is underplaying the threat from radical Islamist groups such as ISIS. He mocked the contention that fighters on “on the back of pickup trucks and twisted souls plotting in apartments or garages” represented an existential threat to America.

US President Barack Obama

Zimbabwe declines comment on Mugabe health rumours President Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe’s spokesman declined to comment on Wednesday on rumours that the 91-year-old leader had suffered a heart attack, saying a response to the latest speculation about his health was “unnecessary.” Spokesman George Charamba’s response was to a text message sent by Reuters asking for an update on Mugabe’s health. The online Zimbabwe news website “Zim Eye,” published a letter on Tuesday by an anonymous author saying Mugabe was “reported to have collapsed after suffering a heart attack while on holiday with his family.” The letter, which did not reveal the source of its information, added that Mugabe was in a critical condition and that his family had been

told to expect the worst. It did not say where he had suffered the heart attack or where he was being treated. Reports about the declining health of Mugabe, the only leader Zimbabwe has known since independence in 1980, are relatively common and Charamba normally declines to give an official response.

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe

communitynews

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

‘LAPO improved health status of 200,000 community members in 2015’ shola adekola-lagos

ift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) in 2015 alone improved the health status of over 200,000 community members across the country with basic information and services, including screening for malaria, HIV, Hepatitis, Blood Sugar and Blood Pressure. Those with severe conditions were referred to government-approved facilities. Making this declaration was the Managing Director and CEO of LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited, Dr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, who also noted that LAPO had been involved in community health improvement and facility upgrading for over a decade. This is just as LAPO, recently carried out a threeday comprehensive health examination of the people of Ugha community and environs in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State under its Community Health Outreach programme. The organisation equally upgraded Ugha Primary Health Centre with modern medical equipment and drugs worth millions of naira and treated those with various health conditions free of charge, in collaboration with LAPO Microfinance Bank. The event attracted dignitaries from all walks of

life, including representatives of the local government chairman, Honourable Roland Alari; officials of the state Ministry of Health; the Enogie of

Ugha, His Royal Highness Lucky Ugbo; traditional rulers; elders of Ugha community; University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) medical team;

A socio-cultural in Offa, the Archers Group Club, has distributed half a million naira to 30 secondary school students from 13 schools in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State through its bursary award scheme. Presenting cheques to benefiting students, the immediate past president of the club, Chief Rafiu Lawal-Rabana (SAN), said the club’s gesture was aimed at assisting parents of beneficiaries. He also said that the bursary was expected to contribute to the educational development of the area, as well as complement the efforts of other groups and individuals in the education sector. Chief Lawal-Rabana further urged benefiting students to face their studies diligently and refrain from anti-social

have either stagnated or worsened during the past decade. Speaking through the Executive Director of LAPO, Sabina Idowu-Ose-

Chairman of Ajobo/Omilabu Community Transformer Maintenance Task Force, Mr Abdul-Waheed Adeniran, presenting land document to Mr Titus Oke (middle), for facilitating a 500KVA transformer through the MTN Foundation to the community, while his father, Pastor T. Akin Oke (right) and brother, Gunwa, watch at the inauguration of the transformer in Ajobo Community, Ojoo, Ibadan, at the weekend.

hobo, Dr Ehigiamusoe observed that those in rural communities where many health facilities lack access to clean water, reliable power supply and where there is dearth of medical equipment, personnel and medications were mostly affected by the worsening health situation. He said the Ugha community health screening was necessitated by a Needs Assessment carried out by LAPO, and therefore, pleaded with the local government and the community to protect the donated health facilities against vandalism. The Enogie of Ugha and the Local Government Area chairman commended LAPO for upgrading the community’s Primary Health Centre and for screening community members for various ailments while pledging their continued support and collaboration. The beneficiaries were full of gratitude to LAPO for the health intervention, which they described as timely and life-saving.

MTN Foundation inaugurates transformer in Ajobo community by lare akinmoladun

THE MTN Foundation, at the weekend, inaugurated one of the 500KVA transformers won during its 10th year anniversary

“What can we do together campaign” at Ajobo Village, Ojoo, Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State. The transformer was won by Mr Titus Oke, a student

Group gives bursary to secondary school students in Offa Biola Azeez-Ilorin

LAPO Board members as well as staff. Welcoming guests, Dr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe said LAPO was concerned that Nigeria’s health indicators

behaviours. He disclosed that the club had previously intervened in water project in Offa, organised lectures and seminars and built an ultra modern hall in the town Responding, representatives of ANCOPSS, Offa, the benefiting students and their parents

thanked members of the club for their gesture, promising to spend the money for the purpose intended. They also called on other groups and individuals in the area to follow suit. Meanwhile, the club has elected a new executive to pilot its affairs.

of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). Speaking at the inauguration, Engineer Oluyemi Ebitanmi, who represented MTN Foundation and Bebggie Global Services Limited, the company that handled the installation of the transformer, restated the commitment of MTN to better the lives of its customers. He said MTN Foundation had earmarked one transformer to be installed in each local government area across the country. Chairman of Ajobo/Omilabu Community Transformer Maintenance Task Force, Mr Abdul-Waheed Adeniran, said at the inau-

Fuel scarcity: N/Delta group tasks Buhari Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to do more to ameliorate the plight of Nigerians with regard to the persistent fuel scarcity. The Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) made the appeal at the weekend in Warri, Delta State, urging Nigerians to support the call for the total removal of fuel subsidy. National Coordinator of the centre, Comrade Sher-

iff Mulade, maintained in a statement that Nigerias the only oil-producing country where people pay exorbitantly for petroleum products. He noted that it appeared that the God-given natural resource had become a curse rather than a blessing to the country. The Warri-based Niger Delta group, therefore, advised the government to clear the rot in the petroleum sector to bring the needed change and hope to Nigerians.

It noted that the era of business as usual had gone and government could not continue to do things the same way as the previous administrations and expect positive change. It urged government to make the four refineries functional so as to reduce dependence on imported petroleum products. It also urged the government to put measures in place to check hoarding of petroleum products by shylock and unscrupulous marketers.

guration that a major problem facing the community had been addressed by MTN Foundation through the donation of the transformer. He said: “About 11 areas that are under Ajobo/Omilabu Community depended on the old 200KVA transformer. Virtually everyday, there was one problem or the other. Many times, the communities were in total blackout for months. It was as a result of this and the low capacity of the transformer that led to the load shedding method, whereby communities were rotating light. “No doubt, MTN is the brain behind our celebration today. If the company had not initiated any form of campaign like this, Mr Titus Oke would not have had the opportunity. MTN is the one that provided the platform for community development. May the organisation continue to wax stronger.” Also speaking, the Chairman of Ajobo Village, Mr Nureni Yusuf, commended MTN for extending its corporate social responsibility to the community. He said that lack of constant supply of electricity had been a major challenge to the people of the area, which, he said, had negatively affected their eco-

nomic activities. A frozen chicken seller in the area, Mrs Stella James, who spoke with Community News, commended MTN for the gesture and the boy who facilitated the transformer. She said with the new transformer, there would be constant electricity supply which will boost their economic activities. Mr Oke, while dedicating the transformer, said: “I dedicate this transformer to the glory of God and for the use of humanity.” He commended MTN for giving him the opportunity to positively affect his community at a young age. Father of the boy, Pastor T. Akin Oke, said that all members of the household participated in the campaign with their MTN lines. He also noted that the family had been praying for God’s intervention on the issue of power supply in the community, not knowing that the “saviour” would come from the household. The facilitator of the transformer was presented with a parcel of land by the community in appreciation of his efforts. With the “What can we do together campaign” MTN Foundation intends to install one transformer in each of the local government areas in the country, as part of its corporate social responsibility.

Thursday, 14 January, 2016

Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Omeruo dreams Chelsea return

Rwanda is ready for CHAN 2016

NIGERIA international, Kenneth Omeruo has declared he has not given up hope he will still play for English Premier League champions, Chelsea. The central defender has yet to feature for ‘The Blues’ and he is again on loan at Turkish Super League team Kasimpasa, but he said he believes in himself and will get it right at the London club before long. “I still want to play in the English Premier League. I played in the English Championship on loan at Middlesbrough. But the Premier League is a very different level,” said the

—FA chief

THE host of the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN), Rwanda, said on Wednesday it is ready as the tournament kicks off this weekend. “We are fully ready to host this high-level competition,” said Vincent Nzamwita, president of the Rwanda Football Federation, which hosts the tournament from January 16 to February 7, adding it is “a great honour”. The tournament, organised by the African Football Confederation (CAF), is held every two years. It is reserved for players who play their football in national leagues and alternates with the higher profile Africa Cup of Nations tournament for which players based overseas are also eligible. Ivory Coast, Sudan and South Africa have played host in previous tournaments since 2009. Preparations for the event have been widely reported by the local press and the Rwandan government announced a visa exemption for nationals of competing countries in order to attract fans. Major renovations were carried out in Kigali, the capital, Huye and Rubavu where games will be played. “Everything had to be rebuilt,” said Nzamwita, including the pitches, changing rooms and stands. According to the New Times newspaper, the Rwandan government has spent 16 billion Rwandan francs ($21.4 million) on infrastructure and organisational costs for CHAN 2016, the fourth edition of the competition since 2009. The 16 competing nations are divided into four groups: Group A is composed of Gabon, Ivory Coast, Morocco and Rwanda; Angola, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia make up Group B; Group C contains Guinea, Niger, Nigeria and Tunisia and Group D is made up of Mali, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner. “I believe in myself. I am looking forward to getting my chance at Chelsea. For the club to sign me, it means they saw something in me. I’m not desperate, but I trust myself.” Chelsea signed Omeruo in 2013 after they monitored him at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, but he has since played on loan at Dutch club ADO Den Haag, Middlesbrough and now Kasimpasa. Kasimpasa has an option to sign the Nigeria star permanently at the end of the season.

Ojerinde rallies support for golf Adelowo Oladipo - Minna Omeruo

No automatic shirt for Adebayor at Watford —Flores

A T F O R D manager, Quique Sanchez Flores says Togolese striker, Emmanuel Adebayor will not simply walk into the starting XI if he joins the club in this transfer window. Flores says he understands why the former Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid player is attracting strong interest. But he has stated that he finds it difficult to bring strike duo, Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney off the pitch during a match, never mind leave them out of his starting line up. “I can understand why a lot of clubs in England want to sign Adebayor,” said Flores. “He is 31, he has quality,

he has experience, he can score goals. So I understand that he can choose where he wants to play in the Premier League. “It is not easy to come here to cover Deeney and Ighalo. They have a high performance every time and they are part of the soul of this team. It is difficult to challenge these players, so we need to be sensitive. “We need to explain to the players on what condition they are coming to this team. I don’t want any players coming here to cover strikers that think they are going to play easily, because it is not the real situation. “We play with two strikers but it is difficult to take them out of the team, including in the match.”

Adebayor

REGISTRAR/Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Dibu Ojerinde has made a passionate plea to the government, individuals and corporate organisations to support golf in Nigeria. Ojerinde made the call in Minna on Tuesday, while speaking at the commissioning of Raf 15 of the Minna Cantonment Golf course which he assisted to re-green. He said the much talk about employment of youths in the country could be speedily achieved if government emphasised on their participation in golf, adding t h a t , w h e n t h e y

eventually become professionals, such youth golfers would be able to fend for themselves and their families. Golf according to him “is a game of life” which also allows individuals to mix freely within their immediate community and outside the shores of the country. “When you play golf you mix and develop yourself, it helps you think faster and improves your concentration. It is bad that I did not start playing golf when I was young, but I am happy that you can play even up to 90 years of age.” He said he took three years to re-green Raf 15 because the course being one of the oldest in the country had 18 holes, while only eight met international standard. Ojerinde urged other golfers in the club to assist to upgrade the remaining holes. The Raf 15 was named the ‘Achievers hole’ and dedicated to Professor Ojerinde because of his contribution to the club w i t h i n the short time h e became its member. A tournament to mark the commissioning is ongoing at the course.

tribunepools

DR. JK POOLS

07039275802 (2XX 01)

11–21–35–42–49

Welcome to new poological development in pools as from this week 28. There will be suprises with three naked draws. As I usually say is big difference between free readers and those who enrolled as customers. All those who enrolled will continually enjoy havest of draws unlike those who did not enrolled the enrollment is N5000 = only.( for now) Now stakers should now pick two draws from 11 – 21 – 35 – 42 – 49 and add to the above bracket games. Good luck. Says Dr J.K Pools.

LUCKYMAN –

08054352685 (6X BK 7)

Bumper harvest await all our fans this wk 27 grab our special release now and walk tall to your bank on Monday, it is real you must win and win well. Send N1,500 MTN card to 6XBK7.

THE LILIES –

08086944309 (15 BET 18)

The Lilies is really set to help you win on pools looking for Jackpot xs. We have it call now for 3 unfailing Jackpotxs that will make you happy. Send N1,500 MTN Card you must win on pools 15 BET 18.

SIR – BRAKA–

08078052128 (4 PAIR 3)

Grab our 3 napable draws and let fortune smile on your face. Send N2,000 GLO Card now.

MISTER DRAW– 08030415683

Dundee to hold partick Thisle plus 2 super draws cost N2,000 MTN Card. Winning is wonderful win now join all our last week callers who smile to their bank on Monday.

MANCITY SYSTEM F. A. CUP SYSTEM C 08135888720= 45 NAP 49

WK 26 CUP 3 NO 9.10x 27x 31x. WITH 13x. 35x WK 27. RED NO NAP NAP NAP NAP WITH NAP NAP. Two Bankers N3000 Wk 26NO 10X 27X PAIR 13X 35x Two Bankers N3000 Wk 27 RED No RED RED PAIR RED RED 4 Special Draws N6, 000 Wk 26 CUP NO 9.10X 27X 31X with 13X 35X 4 Special Draws N6, 000 Wk 27 RED NO NAP NAP NAP NAP WITH NAP NAP Stakers try to get MANCITY. 4 SPECIAL Draws this 27 Cup cost N6, 000 two Bankers Wk 27 cost N3000 we set for 4 wks operations Wk 26 No 9.10X 27X 31. 4 Bankers wk 27 RED Cup 3 No NAP NAP NAP NAP with 45. 49 send MTN to 09038633666= 08135888720.

HOPE NAPS & CO. 08107128449 PAIR. 6XXX 7XX Hope assures fans & stakers of his 3 after cup draws for this week 27 cost N10, 000= cash. Pay to First Bank Plc. Account No 3088328923 in the name of Gbadebo Stephen A. and collect the 3 Draws without fear on your phone after your payments is confirmed Phone 08107128449.

JOHN SUPER TIPS

08160052969 (17X18X45)

Readers, now John Super is back to business. I have no gold or silver to give but draws is my food. Just nap above 3 draws against next week. Release cost N25000 cash. 08160052969.

SHORT–GUN– 3 HOT 37

08050614477/08168241902 We are set again to put smiles on the faces of stakers this week with the above pair which must play with other gazette draws. The game costs N25, 000. Don’t doubt this bumper winning this week. Join the winners.

DOSA – 08072216644 16 PAIR 17

Draws are very easy to pick by Dosa during U.K. season. 3 fixed draws are with me this week 27. All my fans are advised not to miss it because they will all play draws on Saturday cost N5,000 MTN recharge card.

KAMARK SUPER – 08186673842 3X 7X 12X – 2DRAWS.

Dear stakers your winning is sure again this week with the key of – ASTON.V vs LEICESTER on Number 1. It’s to produce 3 direct Naps for all interested stakers the cost for the Nap is N6,500 while the permutation is N5,000 = payable at IBTC Bank A/c No: 0001361916, to MR. S. B. ODESOLA. Good luck. IDBIC IS BACK – 07062287455. 08X 21X 40XXX Am back in this week 27 to enrich all my new and old clients with the above naps as their NEW YEAR gift our 3 drs next week cost N25,000 = call now for details.

M.B.A EXPERT (08104694618) PAIR 16XX 17

Week 26 FA Cup Round 3 was indeed a cup week with a deffrence as cup matches was nothing to write home about. Hoever, there is little or no mystery in pools settings. Hence, all the fixtures are purely based on numbers as well as alphabetical arrangements in the full list e.g. ABC or LMNOP etc. Call it imaginary or whatever but the fact remains that Expert Pools compilers known what it takes if not for a purpose, why and how could have recorded draws back – to – back for 6 consecutive weeks? It has been happening and thus it will remain week/Date draw sequence will again and stakers this week 27 being a week after cup as witnessed in weeks 17 and 21. Week 28 is another week of special release for N25, 000= only call or send sms on 08104694618. Goodluck.

JOSEPH RESUMPTION (08167278061)

(THE STAKERS CHOICE)

STOKE – ARSENAL = 2/2YRS NO BAIL OUT FOR PROMOTERS. Our Bi – ANNUAL CURRENT WINNING SEQUENCE injured many promoters, they are with their Account officers for loans on our 2/2 yrs NORWICH – MAN CITY draw gazette. WK – 24’ 2012 – 07x 19x 38xxx WK – 30’ 2014 – 05x 23x 45xxx WK – 26’ 2016 – 04 29 43xxx Mission accomplished last week of 11 draws. (full Odd). Another winning week. STOKE – ARSENAL = 2012/2014/2016. Week. 6’ 2012 – 05x 21x 42xxx – 45x Week. 33’ 2014 – 09x 26x 45xxx – 39x Week 27’ 2016 – X X X X =4/4 Again Congrats our new source winning information on Bi – ANNUAL = 2/2 years Nap is now wave of the moment with unlimited winning sequence You can also resume with us on winning track. N50,000 – All thanks to God and our Reliable to Foreign Experts directives. Welcome & Good luck.

OBINYAN IN COLD WAR WITH PROMOTERS.

The Chairman Managing Director of King and George group of forecast papers. The African outstanding lord in computation of compilation of fixed matches CHIEF WILLY OBINYAN now in a war with promoters. Some promoters called our office and complain bitterly what the wizard in pools Chief Obinyan did to their finances in recent times. That prompted our visit to the DON, in a chat with TRIBUNE POOLS he promised good tiding to all his admirers, he also advised them to watch out for more naked draws in all his papers especially his late news. Last week no 14 failure brought back promoters lost geart beat on 13 x 14 – 27x. Chief promised a fulfilled weeks ahead the therefore enjoined all winning desired stakers to have copies of his fortune paper and browse through for easy win. The papers are Pools Telegraph, Shoot Pointer, Zetters Pools Guide, Murphy Sports, New Dream and Final Result.

OLA-CITY WITH 3 FIXED DRAWS FOR WEEK 27, WEEK 29, WEEK 30. Your winning is sure.

08140575314, 08085005634 week 27 Pairs 3xxx 19xx

The compiler of Ola-City and Sir Waddy Naps assures stakers of his 3 fixed Draws for this week 27, week 29 and week 30 cost N10, 000 cash each week. Which will surely get all correct as predicted by the African International leading Pools Compiler. Pay your N10, 000 cash to First Bank Plc Bank Plc. Account No. 3033318854 in the name of OLAFENWA RAMONI OLA-CITY and collect the draws on Phone after confirmation of your payment congratulations.

TRIPLE OFFERS 3 – 5 (08035324990)

As the season nosedives beyond the first half, forms and sequences have been on and off. Some punters have been able to hit the target while others are still hopeful. As we remain committed to making you happy with bountiful winning, we are glad to offer coupon no 3 & 5 this week for one draw. Use them to advantage. Our IBK still sells at N1500, 2 draws cost N3000 and 3 good draws sell for N10000 only on 08035324990. Best of luck.

NEW CURRENT INFORMATION KEY = 09038633666 = 08166222529 = NO 2XXBK

KEY ANY TIME BLACKBURN SET AT HOME UNDER THE FIRST BAR BANK THE FIRST LETTER OPPNENT OF BLACKBURN TO DRAW wk 27 No 2 plus 4 others N10,000 = WK 28 = 4 SPECIAL DRAWS COST N25,000 WK 25 NO 37. 40X WK 26 NO ASTON. V. NO 31X BOLTON. 10x wk 27 RED No 2x 2x. KEY EVERY WK 26 BLUE BANK BOLTON TO DARW WK 26 NO 10. 10. PLUS 4 OTHERS COST N10, 000. Wk 26 Cup No 10x 13x 20x 35x with 10x 31x = 5/5 N10,000. Wk 27 RED NO NAP NAP NAP NAP with 2xx = N10,000 WK 24. BANKER. ASTON V. NO 1X 12X 13X 35X= 4/4 Wk22 blue = stoke No 10x 12x 14x 15x with 30x 31x Wk 23 RED NO 18X 27X 32X 33X= N6000 Wk 24 PURPLE NO 1X 12X 13X 35X= N10, 000 Wk 26 BLUE NO CUP 13x 20x 31x 35x= N10, 000 WITH 10x. 31x. Key every week 22 blue. Bank stoke to draw wk 22 No 10.10.10 plus. 3. Others cost N6,000 to draw every wk 23 RED bank no 18. 32. To draw Wk 32 No 18.32 plus 3. Others wk 23 No 18.32. plus. 3. Others cost N6,000 TWO. BANKERS N5000. WK 24 NO 13X 35X PAIR 1X 2X TWO. BANKERS WK 26 NO 13x 20x pair 10x 31x. KEY EVERY F.A. CUP WEEKS BANK ASTON V. AT AWAY TO DRAW NO 31. PLUS 3. OTHERS COST N10,000 WK 17. CUP 1 NO KEY ASTON V. 2X 10X 19X 23X WITH 12X 13X WK 21. CUP 2 NO KEY ASTON V. 6X 10X 27X 31X WITH 46X 47F WK 26 CUP 3 NO KEY. 13x 20x 31x 35x with 10x 31x = 5/5 N10,000 wk 27 RED No RED RED RED RED with No 2. Hurry up to bet your copy to pay= 09038633666 = 08166222529. Agents Lagos big win office No 23 Agege motor Road, Mushin Bus Stop , Mushin Lagos. Ibadan Agent Opposite Cocoa House, Beside Dental Clinic Dugbe Ibadan.

BEST BARGAIN INTERNATIONAL – (08092621480) WK 27=14CBK, 07 CBK

With the start of the Return Matches in England, only those with classified information can fish out the draws. With the power given to me by the Bookmakers and the Pools Panel, Coupon Nos 07 and 14 must draw unfailingly this week. The two bankers however came with other draws which must click to complete the new sequence starting from this week. In order to ensure that all stakers benefit from this classified information, you can call me on 08092621480 for us to discuss on a token amount which you have to pay to have the game delivered to you. Please, this information was released to me to make stakers happy, it is therefore not free of charge. Pay a token to show your commitment. You are a winner already.

ADEOTI SYNDICATE - 07051327960 ACCRINGTON – NOTT.CO (37X) 1 – 1 DRAW (MUST)

Becareful for this week (27), do not try to separate my banker pair. It will give you surprise with 3 others. Whenever you see letter ‘M’ meeting PORTVALE or PORTVALE meeting letter ‘M’ on nos 28 it is jackpot week for you. 5 games for at least 4 draws. Send N10000 cash to AHMED SHAFIRI, A/C NOS: 2001788431 Zenith bank Ibadan. And all those who want to be a member should send N25000 cash to the account. Congratulations in advance to those who will buy the game. You have been blessed by the Almighty God. Thanks, good luck to you all.

MR SOLUTION ( the SILENT LEADER) 08072974729 CUP 3RD CUP WIN – 10X 27X 31XXX.

CONGRATULATIONS! Mr. solution winning project breed millionaires from our unequal winning directives/information 1st 2nd 3rd cup- did you aware that after every cup week a cluster is gazette with good reference to weeks 18 and 22 a week after 1st and 2nd round cup weeks Week 18 – 21x 22x 23xxx – 3/3 Week 22 – 12x 13x 14x 15xxxx – 4/4 Week 27 – WIN- SURE – NAP - ? drs All we have for you this week is a sure solution to your experience overhead. Please embark on a good project with your winnings from us. ‘A memorable effect’ = N100,000 – Solution.

Thursday, January 14 - 20, 2016 NIDAS – 08033510149 READY FOR WK 28

The best draw master and 2015 award winner in forecasting will give you 3 and 5 straight Naps in Wk 28. We come out on instruction. It’s your turn to win.

WOMEN COMPILERS FORUM RELEASE

07062839085 BET 16 OR 17

MID-WEEK NOW GIVES 25 – 27 (08087176217)

The Juicy Mid-Week International is at it again this weekend with a promising scintillating performance as the duo of coupon Nos 25 and 27 are due for a compulsory draw on the cards. We are lucky that frozen pitches have not been remarkable in the last two seasons. Compilers are challenged to big deep for the elusive draws. This have been doing and we have come up with 25 and 27 for a sure draw. Add them to our 1BK which lasts only N1, 500.00. 2 draw sell for N3, 000. 00 and 3 Draws cost N10, 000. 00 on 08087176217. Be a winner.

GRACE AND MERCY VENTURES (07019154754/08092621592) 02X 18X 29X 35X 31X 21X 25X 26X 42 ON HUMANITARIAN BAIL OUT TO ALL UNPAID CIVIL SERVANTS (6 MONTHS). Due to the pathetic condition of Civil Workers several complaint on Non payment of monthly salaries. Our company now gave the above free game to enable you settle all your unpaid dues. Read our Adverts for details. Call & win now on - 07019154754/08092621592.

JOSEPH NAP ON 2/2YRS. WINNING STANZA

The stakers choice at it again. Read our Advert for details–08167278061.

IKECHUKWU – 08168157259

Promoters seeks dialogue but the Ike’s and Brothers Naps say No= No compromise. Join the winners – CALL & WIN.

NO FAITH! NO WIN!! MR FAITHFUL–07082899957 Our intervention is to rescue stakers of faith Welcome & win. Call now.

LOVE BEST = N4000 TWO BANKERS N4,000

WK 26 X27X X35X PAIR X04X X10X

WK 27 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

MOVE FORWARD = N4000

WK 28 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

TWO BANKERS N4,000

WK 26 X15X X31X PAIR X13X F14F

WK 27 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

WK 28 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

4 special draws N25, 000 wk 27 RED No NAP NAP NAP NAP=4/4 08135888720.

NEW CURRENT INFORMATION. KEY=N10,000 4 SPECIAL DRAWS N10,000.

TWO BANKERS N5,000

WK 26 BLUE CUP 3. NO 10X 13X 20X 35X WITH 10X 31X =5/5= N10,000. WK 27 RED. A WK AFTER CUP NO RED RED RED RED WITH NO 2XX=N10,000. WK 28 PURPLE NO NAP NAP NAP NAP WITH XX=N25,000 TWO BANKERS COST N25,000. SEND MTN CARD 09038633666=08166222529=CHECK SPORTING TRIBUNE AS FROM WK 22 UP TO THIS WK.

ACHIEVERS INTER – 08034097902 WEEK 27 – 9 XX 31

DR SAN J WITH CHAIN DRAWS – 07038878227

Congratulation the above pair promotes 2 weeks back – to – back Naps in weeks 28 and 29. We enjoined all our customers in Nigeria and overseas to benefit from our seasoned Naps in weeks 28 and 29. Payment after winnings – ONE MILLIONS or N20,000 for start. Call now for your assured winning. Good luck.

We are fully set for weeks 19 and 20 sure Naps. It’s going to be PAYBACK to a stakers from their pervious loses. Good luck.

MADAM DE MADAM GOES TOUGH WITH ANNUAL WEEK 26 & 27 NAPs 08023329191 = 24 XX 26

34X 35X 36XXX 14 PAIR 15

LOVE NAP –

08071066293 WIN–3X 7X 9X 21X 26

Free week 27 sure win for more details on the Nap call 08071066293. Good luck.

EMIRATES FLY – 08087104491

21 MUST 20= TOTHERHAM HOME 20

Congrats all clients on board with us last week. now : ROTHERHAM HOME 20 is the KEY to our week 27 sure win our accurate information from the source. Let win together again. Our previous winning records say it all. Board Emirate to your promised land from our Annual January bumper Win BTA – N25,000 again...... Good luck.

MALLAM BAWA MUSA SHINES AGAIN 08052506287 HOT 33 OR 34.

Thank God. No more cut one this year. My release for week 26 cup scored 29x, 31x, 35x. pair 9f, 10x. congrats to all. Please stakers do not forget to send my appreciation promptly. This week 27 will be another 3 correct Nap. No mistake cost N10, 000 cash. no story! No excuse!! No fake results!!!. Payments at Access Bank to Mallam Musa Ibrahim Bawa, Accts No. 0042075587. Phone 08052506287. New customers are very much welcome.

AKANDE WITH 3 DRAWS WEEK 27( 48 xx 49)

It is s hopeful year with No 10x drew and 27 & 33f paired supply in week 26, week 27 Pair 48xx 49xx 08025572554 The year 2016 is full of Hopes with the 3rd Round of F.A Cup results Akande assures Stakers of his 3 Draws for this week 27, week 28 and week 29 cost N10, 000 cash each week. Pay to Keystone Bank Plc. Account No 6017037192 in the name of Akande Ashatokun Bola Mustapha and collect the draws on phone after confirmation of your payment on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Our customers like Mr. Adeoti and Olawoore funtua Olabode enjoy my special one draw on No 10xx and Pair 27x 33f last week.

AUTHORITY NAPS – 09030084552 04 MUST 06

Congrats our much awaited sure winning week is here. Our 3 draws is to enrich our numerous clients. Winning galore at Authority place. Call for details= welcome.

EDITOR’S PLACE 20 X 21

13X 35X 43XXX BOLTON X 43BY No (9drs) Wk. 26 2014 – 13x 36x 43xxx alt. CRAWLEY (10drs) Wk. 26 2015 – 14x 37x 43xxx alt. CARLISE (11drs) Wk. 26 2016 – 13x 35x 43xxx alt. CARLISLE – 6X WEEK 27 ‘RED’ PARTICK ON 49XXX. (2YRS) (6drs) Week 27 2015 – x x x – 35xxx (8drs) Week 27 2016 – x x x – 24xx 26x. Our promised kept 3 week Naps put many Promoters on the run. Madams newest source of winning information is equal to None. Join the winner through our Media man for confirmed winning. N35,000.

DR B4 DR – 08062748396 (26XX49) 13X 20X 31XXX

PARTICK vs. DUNDEE – 4/3YRS ACCOUNT OH Yes! Our 3/years winning gazette on Partick and Dundee is scheduled is set and sure again. Reference to 2011, 2014 and 2016. Week 3’ 2011 – 08x 21x 42xx (04xx 49) Week 23’ 2914 – 15x 24x 39xxx (18xx 49) Week 27’ 2016 - x x x (26xx 49) The above winning scheduled is specially fixed on 3 draws and a free pair on Coventrysss and 49 by Number. Last week success on our 1st release was fantastic. Unlimited winning sensation- Win again – N35, 000 = now!

CHARITY NAP 08054325929 (48 HOT 49)

This is a week after cup sequence that must clicked when the draws are now favourable grab your own chance of winning this week with 48 HOT 49. This week is our special NAP. Call charity Nap for details. Goodluck.

4MEMMBERS. 4 BANKERS 08162705220. 8 X 20

4 BANKERS N5000 WK 26. CUP 1 NO 10X 20X 29X 43X= 4/4 N5000 4 BANKERS N5000 WK 27 RED NO NAP NAP NAP NAP = 4/4 N5000 4 BANKERS N5000 WK 28 = NO NAP NAP NAP NAP = 4/4 N5,000 Stakers try to get 4 members 4 bankers. This wk 27 cost N5000 wk 26 No 10x 20x 29x 43x wk 27 No NAP NAP NAP NAP Cup SEND. MTN Card. 08162705220.

DR. JACKSON ON RED ALERT= 08156829811. LEICESTER AWAY NO 1. (13 MUST 11)

In Premierships we have 2 ‘As’= i.e Arsenal and Aston V. either meeting Leicester is sure for 3 gazetted draws culled from 2015/2016 draw diary strictly on Experts winning instruction. Aston V. LEICESTER= 1 + 12= 13 Leicester - Aston. V= 12 – 1= 11 PAIR OF THE 3 NAPS= 11 MUST 13 Dr. Jackson new winning directory booklet is now for sale from week 27 – 37. 10 weeks of inning assurance= N250, 000= 10% starting fee. Week 27 Nap – N25, 000= starting fee.

WOMEN COMPILERS FORUM RELEASE 07062839085 BET 16 OR 17

This is to inform all our numerous customers and the general staking public that we are releasing our first three weeks winning operation. Naps in weeks 27, 28, 29 at N10000 cash per week. Any interested person should pay at UBA to Mrs. Omoyemi Ibrahim, acct no. 2027165320. Tel: 07062839085 or 08052503889. It is advisable that you don’t miss any week. Congrats. IBUKUN OLU NAP (07026839837) 45 XX PLUS 2 OTHERS Readers of Nigeria Tribune and stakers should go all out with coupon No 45xx to draw on Saturday plus 2others, cost N10000 cash this week 29. 3 draws cost N20000, week 31 cost N30000.

WEEK 27 XRAY

11 draws, Promoters in problem.

Congrats many of our pools page compilers gave good condition to their clients with full – payment 3/3, ¾, 4/4 and 5/5. Only those that staked won, stop your doubts embrace of experts with out standing winning information. Current information, Sunderland system and Shadow performed excellently in 2 bankers series Lawrence Nap and mister draw did well in one banker while our pair managers were fantastic with many of them with frequent performance. Ola city, MBA Expert, Peter, Akande, Sir Braka, Man city, Mallam Bawa Musa, Akin Mr Akin, The Cyrils, Faithful Intervietion, Champion, Mid week and Njoroge added to our clients dividends. The cup master Amuko & Associates was magnificient.

tribunepools

MADA HILLARY IS OUT AGAIN. (08163902330) 06 MUST 07 WESTHAM ON WESTBROM AT AWAY. Since inception of 2015/2016 English football season. Westham is never positioned on Wesbrom at away. Alas! The current winning Key is set to unveiled 3 sure draws for your winning intrest. N25, 000 – Goodluck.

VICTORIOUS VICTOR (08126994034) 26 SURE 25 + 3 NAPS.

Get Victorious many millionaires emerge weekly with our unparalleled winning/draw formation on scheduled and directed by our Experts on fixed matches. Our 3 sure Naps is irresistable to all winning desired stakers. Note - Our Experts made us to break our long silence to enrich both new and old clients. Welcome Naps to 2016 cost N25,000 – with subsidy again next week Naps. (take note).

INNOCENT NAP 08095602590 2XX 11XX

4 Special Draws wk 27 cost N6, 000 Wk 23 No 10x 20x 27x 32x= 4/4 Wk 24. No 3x 12x 13x 35x with 32x 33f Wk 25 No 3X 14X 40X 49X WITH 31X 32F WK 26. CUP 3 NO 4X 10X 13X 35X WK 27 RED NO NAP NAP NAP NAP = 4/4 N6,000. One Bankers N2000 Wk 23 No 27x wk 24 No 32x wk 25 No 14X WK 26 NO 10X. WK 27 NO Nap WK 28 NO NAP 2 Special draws wk 23 No 10x 20x Pair 15x 21x Wk 24 No 12x 13x Pair 32x 33f= wk 25 No NAP 3X 40X PAIR 31X 32F WK 26 NO 10X 13X PAIR 4X 2F WK 27 NO NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP Time for winners try to get INNOCENT NAP 4 Special draws this week 27 RED N6, 000 cash, 2 special draws cost N4, 000 and 1 bankers for N2, 000. One banker, wk 26 NO 10X WK 27 NO NAP WK 28 NO NAP 08095602590 for your booking.

MAGNIFICENT ZENITH FIXED NAPS 08146879314

SILENT BREAKER NAP BOURNEMOUTH AND NORWICH The 2 new promoted teams to Elite Premiership division package with PARTICK on 49. Week 26’ 2014/2015 – 31x 37x 41x 49xxx 10drs Week 27’ 2015/2016 – x x x x - 10drs Congratulations all our New and old clients our silence was to be fully equipped to deliver accurate draws on our Experts directives. Pools is money business and money is scare so we decided to be on stage when our trumpet is heard. Let’s take you to Zenith of finance on unequal new winning source = N45, 000.

022 CODE – 20 PAIR 21

08059580326

This year 2016 is a year of change for all my fans. Their live will change from poor to rich, therefore don’t be a doubting Thomas this year, follow good pool expert like 022 Code. With my 3 good draws and a pair this week 27 your live will not be the same again cost N10,000 cash. Call me on my hot line above for my bank account number for payment. Happy new year.

HERITAGE NAP– 08032428168 17 MUST 37

After our absence due to our journey to the United Kingdom, we are back fresh and loaded to give you unfailing draws starting from this week. The pair above must supply with other fixed draws this week. Pay N25, 000 and get the game. We are back to win.

MAGIC EXPERT NEW YEAR BEST NAP - (03 BET 40)

WK 26 GOT 15X 20X 31X FREE PAIR 10X 27X = 5/5 PHONE: 08160742266 for wks 27, 28, 29 and wk 30 still on buy a wk and get a wk free. I say CONGRATULATIONS to pool stakers who made to your 2016, especially to those clients who responded to my message last wk and won 5 over 5 correctly on Nap 15x 20x 31x plus free pair 10x 27x dashed Nap cost N15,000 for wk 27 and get it free in wk 28. Wish you all a prosperous 2016 throughout.

Thursday, January 14 - 20, 2016

PLEIAD DE MAXWELL – 09099968585(2x3x4)= 20

MODUPE (08033566694) 11- 26- 31. 2drs Call for super winning now.

FAITHFUL INTERVENTION – 07082899957

The pair of our once a year release is 25/37. The 3 guaranteed draws are ready for grab by lucky punters this week at only N10000. No boasting and no false claims. Just call and get confirmed after payment and you will be glad you did. However, if you need only one draw, it will cost N3000 this week as it is doubly certain. Don’t be a doubting Thomas this week. There is no sale of 2 draws this week pls. Call 08099111828 for payment details and smile to your banks on Monday. Good luck.

CAN Aston V hold the 2nd placed Leicester at villa park? Bournmouth and Norwich are two newlypromoters teams to Barclay’s Premiership division, the two team has what it takes to settle a peace. Can trouble Chelsea at Stamford bridge hold on to Everton 11th position against Chelsea 14th position, whao! 90mins to adjudged, lastly Liverpool never walk alone at home preparing to unleashed bullets on man utd. I wish they were not disappointed in front of the teaming supporter at old traford this Saturday. Infact many teams on fixtures appears like draws but only fixed matches will considered as draws. Expect supprised draws on board and shock number of draws contact De Maxwell winning clinic for your sure win. TOKEN INVOLVED.

04X 15X 31XXX – DATES = 09 – 10X 20 MUST 26

INADEQUATE INFORMATION IS always the difference between failure and Success. Our A B C blue coloured winning gazet on 46, 47 and 48 last week and other reference had a big impact to all clients finance. SURE WIN AGAIN – 2015 AND 2016 = WK. 27 WINNING INSTRUCTED KEY. ASTON VILLA vs LIVERPOOL and LEICESTER Week 27 – 2015 – x x x – 6 drs Week 27 – 2016 – x x x – 6/7 drs Hint Newcastle and Southampton position assures the number of draws. Check your record for confirmation, guarded by PARTICK on No 49. Your ‘FAITH’ IS YOUR PASSPORT TO WINNING OUR Intervention is to enrich wise stakers. Be a winner – N50,000 = . your Finance is our intrest.

NAZAR MASTER THANKS STAKEHOLDERS

Nazar Master Pools Company Limited Ibadan, Oyo State has unfolded its masterplan to reward all his steadfast stakeholder that stood by them this naira rain period. He reiterated all stakeholder not to be weiry of heavy winnings the company is experiencing weekly within a short time all dues shall be fully paid. As you all know Nazar as the last hope for stakers so, we sincerely assured you that we will not let you down. Stake more and win more he assured. Nazar was build on solid foundation and stand like rock of gilberson.

GRACE AND MERCY VENTURES 07019154754/08092621593. 02X 18X 29X 35X 31X 21X 25X 26X 42

This week 27 Jan 2016 has been declared humanitarian week for the workers who have not collected salary for the past six month all over the country. Their situation is very pathetic and our company sympatise with them. We received a lot of underground calls of many people (workers) complaning for their unpaid salary, they are to laugh to their Banks this week to enable them pay their children school fees, outstanding debt for house rent and debt owe on public utilities and to prepare them to pay our N50, 000 registration fee next week to qualify them for Wk 28 – 29 – 30 sure Naps. Meanwhile. Permutation for wk 27 are Nos 2= 18= 29= 35= 31= 21= 25= 26= 42 (84 lines) if you need Nap out of these game call us privately. Goodluck.

IKECHUKWU OUTWITTED PROMOTERS AGAIN

NO COMPROMISE – NO DIALOGUE. STAKERS REVENGE – 08168157259 3RD CUP SENERIO – 15 + 20X= 35XXX= 13 OR 14 CHARLTON! CHARLTON!! CHARLTON!!! 3 TIMES SCHEDULED WINNING GAZET. KEY – CHARLTON AWAY 16. Scheduled for weeks 16, 27 and 38. 11 – 11 weeks actual win 0f Unit number of draws. Week 16 (9drs) 02x 18x 26x 41xxx 4/4 Week 27 (10drs) X X X X = 4/4 Week 38 (9drs) X X X X = 4/4 ATTENTION:- Please all our week 16 winners are to pay N250, 000 as stated and accepted in our week 16 release of 9drs. All newly intending clients are to pay N75, 000= fixed. (Unregrettable fee). Don’t be left out of our 11 – 11 weeks Naps – welcome & Goodluck= call – 08168157259.

SOLOMON RESORT 09091111800 (STAKERS RECOVERY TEAM)– 15X 35X 10XXX NAP

PORTSMOUTH 35 Dates of play formed our week 8 and 26 in classified Naps B and B on Nos 1 and 49 also A and A on No 1 and 49. Controlled Portsmouth 35 and dates of play for a sure & confirmed Nap No history, No record, sure win. NOW SOLOMON WEEK 27 GUARANTEED WIN. 1, 2, 3 ASTON V. , BOURNEMOUTH and CHELSEA in week 24 confirmed a cluster draws on 1x 2x 3x. It know controls another 3 superb draw again of Alphabetical and tabulation sequence as directed by the pools panels Association Board of trustee. Join the wise Solomon on our Newest experts directives, please don’t miss this golden opportunity again as we advocated last week. Draw is Draw – full odd again with surprised draws. N40,000 = for all to participate. Good luck.

RELIABLE CYRIL REMAINS UNBRE AKABLE (08154836338) 41XX 45

TOTTENHAM ON WATFORD AT HOME WINNING PROJECT IN 3 WEEKS IN A ROLL WIN. Projects excuted and children school fees duely paid with our starting 3 weeks Nap in weeks 26, 27, 28. Week 26 got 4/4 on 13x 35x 43xxx – 27x. He who start well by God grace must end well. Our weeks 27 and 28 Naps is also assured by our current associated compilers on confirmed source in conjuction with the pool panels approval. Our again please invest on Reliable/Boyant/ Promoters with fat finance for ease payment of your winning. No more hidden place for muchroom promoters. Winners celebrates – N50, 000No excuse for any missed week. Goodluck.

DR M. M. PROMISE TO ENRICH ALL… 08052207802 PAIR 37, OR 47. ATTENTION ALL STAKERS!!!

Please kindly be informed that I have 3 super sure Nap draws for this week 27. Costs N20, 000 cash. I am totally, completely and absolutely sure that it will play 3/3 Nap all correct. Please this is your chance in a lifetime, do not miss it. Accept my warm compliments and best wishes for a rewarding new year. Pay to Dr. Maxwell M. Promise, accts No. 1003610591. UBA . call 08052207802.

EDITOR’S PLACE 20 x 21

FORTUNE DONOR DONATES 25 – 37 (08099111828)

AKIN MR AKIN – 07067202291

WK 26= 10X 29X 43XXX FREE 27X. (25 MUST 26)

Congratulations week 26. 3rd round cup as come and gone but Promoters will never forget what they coughed OUT. Masacre countinues on our sure fixed 3 matches with winning movement as Super draws. WEEK 27 RED COLOURED CONTROLLED NAP is on PARTICK and DUNDEE= Week, 23 (RED) 18x 30x 48xxx – 18/27 Week, 27 (RED) X X X - 25/26 Confirmed pair to the 3 fixed draws is COLCESTER and COVENTRY (MUST) Now, we don’t forcast here but as directed by our Experts on fixed matches. (No PAIR) Our last week free pair was 27.28, at N75, 000 – congrats all our winners week 27 free pair 25 and 26 cost N100, 000 – N50, 000. Old & New rates. Welcome and Goodluck.

PROFESSOR ONE BANKER=

08055230300= 36 NAP 20

WK 17 CUP 1 N7500= 3 BANKERS NO 10X 11X 12X PAIR 2X 3X WK 21 CUP 2 N7500= 3 Bankers No 10x 26x 27x Pair 46x 47f Wk 26 CUP 3 N7500= 3 Bankers No 10x 13x 31x Wk Awkafter No NAP NAP NAP Two Bankers N5000 wk 17 cup 1 No 10x 12x Pair 2x 3x Two Bankers N5000 wk 21 cup 2 No 26x 27x Pair 4x 6x Two Bankers N5000 wk 26 cup 3 No 10x 13x PAIR 20x 31x Wk 27 NO NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP One bankers N2500 wk 17 cup 1 No 10x Pair 2x 3x wk 21 cup 2 No 10x Pair 4x 6x wk 26 cup 3 No 10x Pair 2F 4x Wk 27 No Nap Pair wk 28 No Nap. Send MTN Card 08055230300. The game will send to you by text message.

MAC – ANTHONY 2016 WELCOME NAP XXX WK 27 PAIR 7XX 49XX PLUS 3

Call – 08069048857 (7x 49x) I welcome all my old and new clients to another best winning season year 2016. Our first release of the year week 27 Nap x x x cost N15,000 payable @ UBA to Engr. Akam Michael, Acct No: 2029382770. Best of luck to all participants.

GOODNA–

08107048993 2 PAIR 4

These are the best pair of the week. ( pair). If the above two numbers play a draw or the two resulted in draws this week 27, call me next week for nap draws and a pair. Cost N10,000 MTN recharge card.

PETER NAP 14 PAIR 24 – 08076546261

Congratulation to all those that will get my release this week as the system that got 10xx, 29xx, 43xx 3/3, last week plus the pair 35xx, 45f making 4/5 though the one banker 35xx was given out free from our headline will get it again this week . my weekly release cost just N25,000 pay to saving acct no: 3023114822, First Bank in person of Mr. Onaolapo Peter G. and call on 08076546261. Meanwhile bank on 14 pair 24 for one together with three others. Do not miss it.

WEEK 26 STATUS EKO -10, LKO -01 PP - 09 VOID -12 & 46 SUNDAY –4,8,28,43

SATURDAY RESULT SUNDAY RESULT TWO BANKERS N3,000 WK 27 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

WK 26 X10X X20X PAIR X27X F38F

WK 28 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

TWO BANKERS N3,000 WK 26 X13X X31X PAIR F02F X04X

WK 27 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

WK 28 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

JOINTLY 4 SPECIAL DRAWS N25,000 WK 26 NO 10X 20X 27X 31X=4/4 WK 27 RED NO NAP NAP NAP NAP=4/4. SEND MTN CARD TO 08139714848.

DRAW COMMANDER TWO BANKERS N3,000 WK 26 CUP X27X X35X PAIR X31X X33X

WK 27 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

WK 28 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

BEST ENGLISH MAGIC TWO BANKERS N3,000 WK 26 CUP X15X X31X PAIR X10X X13X

WK 27 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

WK 28 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

JOINTLY 4 SPECIAL DRAWS N25,000 WK 26 NO 10X 20X 27X 31X=4/4 WK 27 RED NO RED RED RED RED =4/4. SEND MTN CARD TO 08095602590.

ADEOTI SYNDICATE – 07051327960 PORTSMOUTH 1-CRAWLEY 1 (MUST) ANOTHER 3 DRAWS & A PAIR FOR WEEK 27. A week after F.A. CUP round 3 cost you N10,000 cash. KEY:- LETTER ‘M’ MEET PORTVALE ON NUMBER 28. Pay your money to AHMED SHAFARI A/C NOS: 2001788431, Zenith Bank, Ibadan. Membership registration N25,000 must. Amen. GOODLUCK.

MAGIC KINGDOM–08056753098/07085060512. NAP – 38X 39X 40X PAIR 12 AND 21

Congrats our a week after cup key that controls our sure Nap in weeks 28 and 29. Invest well now against our weeks 28 and 29 cost N50, 000. Payable to Balogun Adesina Kamoru F.C.M.Bank a/c no 0279550010, wema Bank acct . No – 0206965116 or G.T Bank acct no 0115505082. Call 08056753098 or 07085060512. Goodluck.

WISDOM NAP–07088103080 (20 SURE 21xx)

DIRECTLY FROM ENLAND = ANNUAL WEEK 27 NAPS. WEEK – 27 ‘2013 – 05X 14X 38XX 10 / 11 WEEK – 27 ‘ 2014 – 04X 11X 39XX = 10 / 11 WEEK – 27 ‘ 2015 – x x x = 20 / 21 Week – 27 ‘ 2016 x x x = 20 / 21 2/2 YEARS WINNING STATEMENT. In 2013 and 2014 NOW 2015 and 2016. It requires good winning statement to win pools this week RED’ as all sequence will be at rest. BUT only the unque Experts can do it right Week 27 2013 and 2014 recorded = 14 draws Week 27 2015 and 2016 draw range is 6 – 10draws N25, 000 = Week 27 wisdom win call 07088103080 for your winning. Good luck.

NJOROGE MR ASSURANCE = 08177474535 WINNING DIRECTOR ON ARITHMETICAL NAPS 13 + 15 = 28(F) 27x 29xxx = 44 E x B = Estileigh x Bolton = 10xxBonus 13 MUST 20.

ASTON V – LEICESTER = A + L = 1 +12 = 13 PARTICK – DUNDEE = P + D= 16+4= 20 Whenever the addition of 1st alphabets Home and Away 49 falls on QPR Reference to week to week 4 with MOTHERWELL and DUNDEE UTD =M + D = 13+4 13+4=17 QPR at away, 3 NAPS XXX WIN. Week 4 – 07x 25x 33x 43x - 4/4 Week 26 – x x x x - 4/4 At Njoroge your winning is our PRIDE and our NEW ERA winning contact is SURE. Join the New Assurance family with Welcome & Good luck.

ATTENTION ALL COMPILERS, OUR POLICY ON NO ADVERT NO WRITE UP STILL IN PLACE — MANAGEMENT

SIDELINES

NO 16,414

N150

THURSDAY, 14 JANUARY, 2016

“A lawyer who accepts his brief from a client can only execute that brief within the facts supplied to him by that client as lawyers do not manufacture facts for their clients. I am confident that the vast majority of lawyers remained guided by the rules of the profession.”

AST week I began a discussion on loss of public confidence in our judicial system. I referred to statements credited to the President in which he identified Lawyers and Judges as contributing to loss of confidence in our justice delivery system. I also referred to the view of the Chief Justice of Nigeria in which he identified poor funding and the lack of political will as the primary obstacles to effective and speedy determination of cases in Nigeria. However, as I stated last week I intend to discuss the blame placed on lawyers. It is common knowledge that a lot of factors interplay in determining the effectiveness of the justice delivery of any nation thereby making it difficult, if not inappropriate, to single out one or any specific class of persons as most responsible for the anomaly. What exactly is justice? It is difficult if not impossible to attempt a definition of the term “Justice” within the limited space offered by this article. This is because historically the concept of justice has been subjected to so much debate and analysis and is now generally accepted to be dependent on a lot of factors such as culture with the effect that one can hardly offer a definition of the concept that will be acceptable to all. This difficulty is well captured by Wikipedia which offers the following in respect of the concept “Justice”: “Justice, is a concept whose content several times has been subject to a philosophical as well as legal treatment. There is no universal definition of the term. In its most basic form, “justice” is the systematised administration of punishment and reward. Further to this, one can say that justice excludes randomness. The concept

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

afeonthursday

aareafe@gmail.com

Justice: Loss of public confidence Lawyers alone not to blame (2) of justice is based on numerous fields, and many differing viewpoints and perspectives including the concepts of moral correctness based on law, equity, ethics, rationality, religion, and fairness. Often, the general discussion of justice is divided into the realm of societal justice as found in philosophy, theology and religion, and procedural justice as found in the study and application of the law….The concept of justice differs in every culture For the purpose of this discussion I feel that it is sufficient to state that what the average Nigerian means, when he refers to injustice or the slow pace of justice delivery in Nigerian courts is that the courts have failed to act in a manner required of them to meet the expectations of litigants who have taken their matters to court for adjudication, particularly in some cases where the very existence of those litigants depend on a speedy determination of the cases. With respect to criminal matters, I feel that the sense of injustice is closely linked to a perceived unevenness in the application and interpretation of the law between the rich and the poor, between the haves and the have-nots and between the government and the governed! But are lawyers solely to blamed? I think not! Firstly, the profession of Law is one that is governed by certain rules and regulations. The profession is one that has developed in the course of the centuries certain norms which bind all practitioners, be they members of the bar or the bench. I have been a lawyer for over fifty years and I believe this fact eminently qualifies me

FIFA fires scribe, Valcke WORLD football’s governing body, FIFA has dismissed secretary general, Jerome Valcke. The Frenchman, 55, was provisionally suspended from football for his alleged involvement in a scheme to profit from the sale of World Cup tickets. Valcke was released from his duties on September 17 after being accused of a series of FIFA ethics code breaches. Appointed in 2007, Valcke who has denied any wrongdoing has now been sacked twice by FIFA. “The duties of the secretary general will continue to be assumed by the acting secretary general, Dr Markus Kattner,” reads a FIFA statement.

A housewife in the south western part of Nigeria, before her eightyear-old marriage was dissolved, had lamented how her better half used to vomit and defecate in the sitting room after taking beer. Perhaps, the man might have thought that he had got a life partner hence, his addiction to alcohol since marriage is for better or worse.

FIFA’s ethics committee said on January 7 that it had decided to open “formal adjudicatory proceedings” against Valcke after studying a report submitted by its investigatory chamber. Valcke has also been accused of being party to a potential £6.8m ($10m) bribe paid to Jack Warner, the former head of the North and Central America football governing body Concacaf, in return for his vote and backing to South Africa’s successful bid to host the 2010 World Cup. FIFA’s ethics committee has already recommended that Valcke should be banned from all footballing activities for nine years.

to draw from my personal experiences in making this point. A lawyer who accepts a brief of a client can only execute that brief within the facts supplied to him by that client as lawyers do not manufacture, facts for their clients. In stating this, I do not wish to be mistaken as saying that instances do not abound in which lawyers have gone beyond that which is legally permissible and have indeed cast upon themselves the inglorious task of manufacturing facts which they perceive as best suited to the preservation of the interest of their clients. However, I am confident that the vast majority of lawyers remain guided by the rules of the profession. This point is mostly important in criminal trials in which virtually all accused persons maintain their innocence even to their lawyers. Given such a scenario, the duty of a lawyer is to defend the accused to the best of his ability and within the limits offered by law. In 1966, I was involved in one such trial in which the defence of my client rested on his claim that he was not present at the scene of the crime. This is known as a defence of alibi in law. Seeing that my client was strong and consistent in his claims, I wasted no time in putting questions to the prosecution witness seeking to establish the defence of my client. After I felt I had done my best, I confidently put my client in the witness box only for him to be confronted with pictures showing him at the very spot he had claimed to me he never visited! I am certain that many lawyers have experienced similar situations and

that they have in some cases been accused of prosecuting the defence or interest of their clients when his guilt should have been “evident” to them. The same situation also arises both in civil matters when all that a lawyer has to work with are the facts supplied to him by his client. In 1967, I represented the plaintiff in a land matter. The brief was that, he placed a tenant from Ebiraland now in Kogi State on the land, who used to give him 10 kegs of palm oil as annual tribute. In his evidence on oath, he gave the name of the tenant. It was my duty as his lawyer to produce the tenant as a witness. For over four months, my client told me that he could not produce the witness, who had travelled to his home town for treatment and that all efforts to locate him were unsuccessful as he did not know the name of the village. Consequently, I was forced to close the Plaintiff’s case. However, when the defendant opened his case, the first witness was the tenant who could not be located by my client. This is a classic example of the problems that lawyers face in court. The proponents of the idea that lawyers should take the majority of the blame for the “injustice” in our system would prefer that lawyers “investigate” or even reject some facts presented to them by their clients. Unfortunately it is some of those very instances that have caused lawyers to be unfairly blamed for loss of confidence in our justice delivery system! (To be continued) AARE AFE BABALOLA OFR, CON, SAN, FCIArb.

I may end career in Argentina—Messi FC Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi says he dreams of finishing his career back in his homeland of Argentina.

Messi

Messi left Rosario as a 13-year-old and embarked on a journey to the top of world football in Catalonia. The 28-year-old won his fifth Ballon d’Or in Zurich on Monday and at the ceremony he told reporters that he would ideally complete his playing days at Barca, where his current contract ends in 2018. But speaking to FIFA.com, Messi revealed that the lure of a return home – where his boyhood club was Newell’s Old Boys – still holds considerable appeal. “Yes, I’ve always said that I would like to play in Argentina,” he said. “It was always my dream when I was a boy, though I had to leave at a very early age because of my situation and it didn’t happen.”

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. 14/1/2016.