14th September 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,589 WEDNESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER, 2016 www.tribuneonlineng.com

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TODAY'S SPECIAL

Bitter leaf juice: Sweet benefits of the unsweet

By Vera Onana

SO many people claim to have a ‘sweet tooth’ and often times ensure that its cravings are well satisfied. From sweets to candies, lollipops, chocolates and much more, it is soothing to consume a substance that appeals to the sweet palate but how good is sweet for the health? Some medical experts belong to the school of thought that the longest life span in this century happens to be found in Asian countries

like China because the people relish less sweet substances.

Nigeria is endowed with a variety of plants and herbs, a good number of which have been discovered to possess a string of health benefits. Among these plants is Vernonia amygdalina, a member of the Asteraceae family, a small shrub that grows in tropical Africa. It is commonly called bitter leaf in English Language because of its bitter

Trouble brews between FG, states over debt deductions Continues pg4

—P10

Jonathan in separate closed door meetings with IBB, Abdulsalami —P4

River Niger drying up, FG warns —P6

Passengers stranded as another airline, Arik, halts operation —P10

We seek divine justice for Bola Ige —Daughter —P34

Former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, being welcomed by a former head of state, General Abubakar Abdulsalami, during Jonathan's visit to Minna, Niger State, on Tuesday.

Ex-President Jonathan with former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, at the Hiltop Mansion of the latter, on Tuesday.

Buhari to Igbos: Forget Biafra Republic —P3

Executive, legislature must close ranks to end economic recession —Saraki —P6

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Buhari to Igbos: Forget Biafra Republic

•We are resolute in our stand —MASSOB •As police arrest 14 MASSOB members From Leon Usigbe and S uzy O ruya

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has sent South-East members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State, to tell their kith and kin to abandon their agitation for Biafra Republic.

Playing host to the about 100 corps members posted to Daura, on Tuesday, in his private residence, he stressed the need for all to work together to build a unified Nigeria.

The president singled out the presence, in Daura, of NYSC members from South-South and SouthEast and lauded the vision of the administration of General Yakubu Gowon for setting up the scheme in 1973.

He said the scheme had creditably promoted national unity and cohesion by exposing young people to the uniqueness and cultural diversity of Nigeria.

“I asked for those from the other extreme of Nigeria, because I very much appreciate the NYSC scheme and whenever I see General Gowon, I always thank him for that,” he added.

Addressing the SouthEast corps members specifically, he said: “Tell your colleagues who want Biafra to forget about it.

“As a military commander, I walked from Degem, a border town between the North and the East, to the border between Cameroon and Nigeria.

“I walked on my foot for most of the 30 months we fought the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War, in which no fewer than two million Nigerians were killed.

“We were made by our leaders to go and fight Biafra, not because of money or oil, because oil was not critical factor then, but because of one Nigeria.

“So, if leadership at various levels failed, it was not the fault of the rest of Nigerians who have no quarrel with one another.

“So, please, tell your colleagues that we must be together to build this country.

It is big enough for us and potentially big enough in terms of resources.

“Those who work hard will earn a respectable living.

I have seen this country, I fought for this country and I will continue to work for the unity of this country.’’

President Buhari called on Nigerian youths to make

Nigeria great again through pursuit of knowledge, patriotism and commitment to values that promote national unity.

He pledged his unalloyed

commitment to the unity and prosperity of Nigeria.

Buhari urged them to remain focused in life, pursue their dreams and reject those fanning embers of

discord and disintegration of Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Corps Liaison Officer in Daura, Mr Egbewumi Adebolu, thanked the president for

the honour of receiving them and making their stay in Daura memorable.

He said the youths strongly believed in the programme of the president to

President Muhammadu Buhari with members of National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) in his Daura, Katsina home, on Tuesday.

We’ve destroyed crude oil delivery line in Delta, militants claim Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri MEMBERS of the emerging militant group, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM), on Tuesday, claimed they have “brought down” a major delivery line in Delta State.

The delivery line, according to the militants, is “AFIESERE-IWHRENENE major delivery line in Ughelli North, leading to the UPS/UQCC operated by Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC)/ SHORELINES.” This is in spite of the ongoing military siege and operation in the Niger Delta region.

The militant group claimed it carried out the economic sabotage at the wee hours of Tuesday.

The group said the sabotage was in line with its threat and declaration of ‘Operation Crocodile Tears’ to counter the ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ version of the Nigerian troops in the state and other parts of the Niger Delta region.

“As a mark of our faith to totally grounding the Nigerian oil economy, the gallant “OPUDO” strike

forces brought down the AFIESERE-IWHRENENE major delivery line in Ughelli North, leading to the UPS/UQCC operated

by NPDC/SHORELINES at about 1.00 a.m. today, 13th of September 2016,” the group claimed in a statement signed by its spokesperson, General Aldo Agbalaja.

Meanwhile, the group has handed down another warning to residents in major oil and gas area to evacuate and relocate to avoid

a backlash of its heinous activities.

“Our patience is running out on our people living close to major oil and gas facilities in the upland areas of our region, the more critical assets of the oil sector are still alive because we are being careful not to hurt our people.

“For the last time, leave these areas if you live around them and if you love your lives,” the group warned.

It further warned the Fed-

eral Government to desist from deceptive tactics and master-servant pose, else ‘Operation Crocodile Tears’ would continue.

It will be recalled that the group had, on August 30, claimed responsibility of the destruction of a delivery line belonging to NPDC at Ogor-Oteri in Delta Central of the state.

No official confirmation could be got from either NPDC or security agents as of the time of filing this report.

Okada rider rips open cyclist’s stomach with knife in Osun Oluwole Ige - Osogbo THERE was apprehension at the popular Oke Fia area of Osogbo, Osun State, on Tuesday, when a commercial motorcyclist stabbed a younger cyclist, identified as Remi Gbadamosi, in the stomach, with his intestine coming out, thus causing confusion among the passersby.

The incident was said to have occurred when the duo had a head-on collision on the dual carriage way.

There were conflicting reports on what led to the clash between the Okada

rider and the cyclist, but one of the eyewitnesses informed the Nigerian Tribune that the commercial cyclist was riding against the traffic when he collided with the cylist.

A fight was said to have ensued between them and the commercial cyclist suddenly drew a sharp knife from his jacket and subsequently stabbed the cyclist in the stomach, thus spilling his intestines.

With the reality of his act dawning on him, the Okada rider attempted to escape the scene of the incident, but some people held

him, while the cyclist was rushed to Emmanuel Medical Centre, Osogbo, where doctors were battling to save his life.

One of the doctors, attending to the victim at the health facility, Tunde Afolabi, however, assured his family members that Gbadamosi was responding to treatment.

When contacted, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Femi Oyeleye, confirmed the incident, saying the suspect had been arrested and would soon be arraigned in court after the conclusion of investigation.

reduce unemployment and create jobs for more Nigerians.

Adebolu thanked the president for his personal gifts of cows, bags of rice and cash to corps members in the community for Sallah celebration.

Meanwhile, the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has said it is resolute in its stand for a Biafra Republic.

Speaking during a procession to mark its 17 years anniversary in Onitsha, Anambra North Zonal Leader of MASSOB, Mr Benjamin Omenka, urged members of the group to be patient.

According to him, the present call for restructuring by some segments of the country came about as a result of the fear for Biafra independence by those who have tied the country down.

“Let the whole world know that we are resolute in our stand for a Biafra Republic.

“It is not compulsory that we shall remain one indivisible nation, so they should allow us to go to our Promised Land”, he said, adding that the agitation would remain a peaceful one.

Anambra State police command had, on Tuesday arrested 14 members of MASSOB in Onitsha over alleged illegal procession.

The Assistant Superintendent of Police and the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state, Mrs Nkeiruka Nwode, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen.

Nwode said the arrest was carried out in different parts of Onitsha during a procession by the group to mark the 17 years anniversary of the body.

The PPRO, who explained that the persons were arrested for illegal procession, noted that no life was lost as at the time of filing report.

However, MASSOB Religious Administrator, Reverend Apostle Ezichukwu, claimed that more than 50 members were arrested, 20 missing and one person was allegedly shot by the police.

Ezichukwu, who said the procession went peacefully, wondered why the police went ahead to arrest its members.

He alleged that the team of security personnel from the Army, Police, Navy and NSCDC was detaining MASSOB members at the Army Barracks, Onitsha, the state CID, Awka and other police stations.

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Bitter leaf juice: Sweet benefits of the unsweet Continued from front page

taste but in local parlance, it has a number of other names. The Yoruba in the South West call it ewuro while the Igbos in the eastern part of the nation refers to it as Onugbo. In the north, it is called chusar-doki by the Hausa and Ityuna by the Tiv people. Also, cooked bitter leaves are a staple vegetable in soups and stews of various cultures throughout equatorial Africa.

While many may run away from the bitter leaf because of its bitter taste, there are numerous benefits that can be derived from the bitter leaf juice if and when its bitter taste is overlooked. 52-year-old business woman, Bayode Bamidele attests to the healing power of the bitter juice thus: “as a young girl, I was raised by my grandmother and she had a way with herbs. Every time I felt feverish, she would manually squeeze out the bitter leaf juice and make me drink it. I hated it and used to throw tantrums but somehow I got used to it. Till today, I barely make use of anti malarial and I am mostly in good health. It just pains me that children of today would rather have all these sugarbased tonics or sweet-coated tablets. These herbs are powerful.”

Scientifically substantiating Bayode’s claim is this study “A clinical trial of the traditional medicine Vernonia amygdalina in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria” carried out in 2009 and published in the

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. The study stated that leaves of Vernonia amygdalina are widely used in Africa to treat malaria and may be because it is widely available, accessible and affordable in many remote areas that do not have ready access to modern medicines. The study therefore, in 2009, examined the efficacy and safety of an infusion of fresh V. amygdalina leaves for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in patients aged 12 years and above and discovered that the remedy was associated with an adequate clinical response (ACR) at day 14 in 67 per cent of cases. However, complete parasite clearance occurred in only 32 per cent of those with ACR, and of these, recrudescence occurred in 71 per cent. The research further stated that there was no evidence of significant side-effects or toxicity from the medication. It was concluded that further studies may be needed to determine whether the efficacy can be improved by increasing the dose, changing the preparation, or adding other antimalarial plants.

Also, in January 2013, a group of researchers published an article in the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science Invention called “Nigerian foodstuffs with tumour chemosuppressive polyphenols.” Based on the findings of that article, the phytochemical screening of bitter leaves revealed the presence of tannins, phlobatannins, flavonoids,

steroids, terpenoids, saponins and cardiac glycosides, which are the most important bioactive constituents of medicinal plants.

These bioactive constituents of vernonia amygdalina, according to the findings of the study, also have curative active principles such as lovastatin antilipemia, pleurotin antibiotics and beta-glucan polysaccharides with heavy molecular weight and immunomodulator, immunostimulant properties. Polysaccharides are known to stimulate the immunological system using three mechanisms: interferon production, excitation of complement chains and the activation of macrophages, inducing organism’s defense.

According to these experts, bitter leaf when consumed daily, prevents oncogenesis and metastasis in cancer cases; therefore, it’s used as a coadjutant therapy in chemotherapy treatments. In summary, Vernonia amygdalina extracts were discovered to help suppress, delay or kill cancerous cells in many ways, such as: Induction of apoptosis as determined in cell culture and animal studies, Enhanced Chemotherapy Sensitivity - V. amygdalina extracts were discovered to render cancerous cells to be more sensitive to chemotherapy.

The leaf extract, which is the bitter leaf juice, was found to bring about inhibition of the growth or growth signals of cancerous cells and suppression of metastasis of cancerous cells in the body. Also the study discovered

that bitter leaf juice extract strengthens the immune system through a process known as cytokines regulation. As bitter as it may taste, the health benefits of bitter leaf and bitter leaf juice go far above its bitter taste. It speeds up metabolism thereby reducing the chances of any consumer from developing constipation and increasing the usage of the stored fat indicating that it can be of great use to those who desire weight loss.

Bitter leaf juice relieves fever and feverish conditions as earlier stated. It also helps to reduce high sugar level in the blood because it speeds up the rate of metabolism and glucose uptake by the cells of the body thereby reducing the blood-sugar level, which is a prodigious news for diabetic patients.

Bitter leaf juice works on skin rashes, eczema, ring worms and any superficial skin ailments; this is possible because bitter leaf has antibiotic and antifungal properties. It is also said to soothe and cure pile by experts.

The bitter leaf has anti-oxidants properties thus, taking a cup of bitter leaf juice a day, is a great way to detoxify the body of harmful toxins. Bitter leaf juice is said to increase breast milk production in nursing mothers.

Bitter leaf juice is used by local women in Guinea-Bissau to contract the uterus after childbirth and therefore should not be taken during pregnancy or if you’re trying to conceive, because high intake might cause miscarriage.

Jonathan in separate closed door meetings with IBB, Abdulsalami Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

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MMEDIATE past President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday, paid private visits to former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, at their Uphill residences in Minna, the Niger State capital.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the former civilian president arrived first at the palatial mansion of General Babangida at about 11.00 a.m. and

spent about one hour with him and his immediate family members before going to the nearby residence of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, a few metres away from that of General Babangida.

It was further learnt that former President Jonathan was accompanied to the two leaders by former Minister of State Finance, Mr Bashar Yuguda from Zamfara State and former Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadome, a prince from Benin City, Edo State.

At the visit which was strictly private and devoid of media coverage, General Ba-

bangida was said to have received Dr Jonathan upstairs at his private living room, as against his expansive sitting room known as the common area downstairs, where he usually hosted his visitors from far and near.

Insider sources said details of the discussion between the two former Nigeria leaders was not made known.

The sources who told the Nigerian Tribune that the meeting between the

former military president and his civilian counterpart was held behind a closed-door for almost 40 minutes upstairs, as the duo of Yuguda and Oghiadome waited at the living room downstairs.

FG set to establish aviation university Shola Adekola - Lagos THE country’s aviation sector may soon record a historic achievement as the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has expressed its readiness to establish an aviation univer-

sity to train highly qualified professional managers for the air transport industry in Nigeria.

Dropping this hint was the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, during an interactive session with aviation journal-

ists in Lagos.

The minister, while saying the establishment of the school would be able to tackle the problem of poor management confronting airlines in the country, added that the proposed university would handle all as-

you all know about as it is in Rivers and Kogi states. All of a sudden, a party finds itself with power and many others like internal democracy. Look at the APC for instance, all of a sudden becoming a big party, it’s not easy. The internal clashes and the sudden grip on power. All these have nothing to do with the INEC if you check.

“As we speak, we have four empty senatorial positions to fill and 18 in the House of Representatives and all must be done by the new man. He is doing his best.

He is a first-class brain and we are satisfied with him.

On what to expect before the next elections, he said

“there is a bill on electronic voting, card reader and diaspora voting during elections and a lot of consultations must take place if all these must pass before next year.”

Other front-burning issues in his committee include independent candidature and all the defects needing attention in the last bill.

Last year, 20 amendments were effected two days and signed by the president before elections with one of the areas being the provision of armed forces during elections and these are some of the fire brigade methodologies they are trying to avoid while there is plenty of time.

Electoral Act to become law January 2017 Bodunrin Kayode - Maiduguri CHAIRMAN of the Senate Committee of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Habu Kyari, has said that the electoral act will be ready by December, this year.

Speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri, on Tuesday, Senator Kyari said himself and his members had vowed to ensure that the bill was ready two years before the 2019 general election.

He, however, revealed that the committee was worried about the myriads of lacuna existing in the present law which the last Senate never envisaged and was bent on

filling all the gaps before December.

He assured Nigerians that from the present speed being employed by his colleagues, it was hopeful that the president would sign same into law before the end of January, 2017.

On the pending Edo State governorship elections, Senator Kyari noted that up till the last minute, INEC insisted it would conduct the elections, but from the sequel to all the security reports, it was clear there was need for adjustment of dates.

According to him, reasons for postponement were so strong that his committee was tempted to agree with

It was also observed that throughout the duration Dr Jonathan was with the former Nigerian military leaders, no visitor was allowed into the houses. He left Minna for an undisclosed destination about 1.00 p.m.

the developments in case anything happens there would be problems.

He, however, advised INEC and players to stick squarely with the guidelines than run foul of the law when dealing with dicey situations.

“Mind you, it may not be permissible to say postponement is a characteristic of only the new chairman or have you forgotten that there was postponement during Professor Jega too?

Even in 2011, in Imo and Bauchi, there were inconclusive elections.

“There are other factor responsible for inconclusive elections. The parties equally play a major role which

pects of administration and management saying the sky is the limit for the development and growth of Nigeria domestic airlines.

According to Sirika, “people have the wrong notion that once you are a pilot or an engineer you can successfully manage or administer an airline without adequate training in the art of aviation management. This is what we want to correct with the establishment of the aviation university.”

He pointed out that since the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) was established over 50 years ago, the institution had not gone beyond producing pilots and engineers with basic licence, adding that the country must move beyond that by producing aircraft designers, scientists in every field of aero-dynamics apart from the training of aviation managers.

Senator Sirika said it was a shame that trainings in Aviation Fire and Safety were being carried out in Cameroon for Nigeria and not in NCAT, saying “all that has to stop.”

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We’ll use our resources for development —Bayelsa govt Austin Ebipade -Yenagoa

President Muhammadu Buhari receiving Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State (middle) and Pastor Tunde Bakare at his Duara, Katsina home, on Tuesday.

Blackout: Niger to embark on alternative power source Adelowo Oladipo -Minna

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LANS are underway by Niger State government to embark on alternative power source, in view of the persistent power outage being experienced by the state in recent times, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has disclosed.

He said two investors from Israel And United Arab Emirates are on

ground for the take-off of the projects.

Governor Sani Bello disclosed this on Tuesday, when he played host to the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bahago, who led his councillors on sallah visit to the governor, at the Government House, Minna.

He said the continuous epileptic power supply being experienced in the state led to the decision to

Lagos mulls uniform template for public service Bola Badmus -Lagos LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has approved a three-day retreat expected to facilitate the evolution of common standards on human resource policies in the state public service.

The state Head of Service, Mrs Olabowale Ademola, disclosed this on Tuesday, saying the retreat, holding this month, would be for chairmen, members and principal officers of commissions, boards and other Human Resource (HR) management agencies in the state public service.

She added that it was also

expected to promote interaction and synergy among members of the various commissions and boards in the state public service.

According to her, “the primary objectives of the retreat are to facilitate the evolution of common standards on HR policies in the state; cause interaction amongst members of the various commissions and boards; facilitate synergy among the various commissions and boards and to establish uniform templates for the implementation of common policies on HRM in service commissions and boards.”

Eid-el-Kabir: Oyo Nigerian Legion felicitates with Muslims VICE-CHAIRMAN of the Nigerian Legion, Oyo State command, Mr Raimi Bello, has congratulated Muslim members of the legion on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.

In his sallah message, Mr Bello enjoined them to pray for Nigeria, Oyo State and the Nigerian Legion.

He also felicitated with the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

Also, the Bashorun Musulumi of Ibadanland and former chairman, Nigerian Legion, Oyo State, Alhaji Lasisi Adetunji, also felicitated with the Chief Imam of Ibadan, Sheikh AbdulGaniyu Agbotomokekere, Alhaji Abdullateef Oyelade and other Muslim faithful.

He called on Christians and Muslims to live together in peace.

embark on the projects.

The governor also said the state government was still pressing for the retention of 10 per cent of the total power generated by the three hydro-electricity generating dams domiciling in the state.

He expressed worries over the persistent blackout being experienced in the state, noting that it

had affected domestic activities and both medium and small scale businesses.

On the present economic challenges in the country, Governor Sani Bello called on the people to engage themselves in businesses and agricultural activities, in order to diversify the nation’s economy from the monolithic crude oil.

THE Bayelsa State government has said no amount of blackmail would force it to start sharing money meant to develop the state among some few individuals, adding that it is set to develop the state and lay a solid foundation for coming generation.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Information, Jonathan Obuebite, while speaking with newsmen in Yenagoa.

Obuebite, who raised the alarm over plans to initiate inflammatory statements and falsehoods to incite the people of the state against the leadership style of Governor Seriake Dickson, averred that no amount of blackmails would deter the government from its responsibility to the people.

He said the government being led by Dickson was transparent and would not engage in sharing free money to anyone, adding that though the present governbment was open to criticism of its policies and programmes, it would, however, not succumb to blackmails by persons who did not have the interest of people at heart.

On the new Yenagoa City, Obuebite noted that council had approved and directed the ministry of lands and survey to advertise the site, to enable the people of the state to acquire plots of lands to develop.

The state Commissioner for Land and Survey, Kuroakeagha Dorgu, however, warned those encroaching on government’s land to vacate the site, as government would prosecute defaulters.

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Executive, legislature must close ranks to end economic recession —Saraki Biola Azeez-Ilorin

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ENATE President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has called for a strong collaboration between the legislative and executive arm of government as a way to end current economic recession.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, during the eid-el Kabir holiday, the Senate president said the current posture being displayed by members of both arms of government would continue to add to the pains of the people.

“A situation whereby there is crisis between the two arms of government, ordinary Nigerians would be the one at the receiving end,”he said.

Saraki also said the Senate would have an exhaustive and comprehensive debate on fixing the country’s economy when it resumes next week, adding that, “already, all the economic priority bills are being analysed and collated so that we can hit the ground running when we resume. We understand the pains that Nigerians are feeling and we do not take this for granted.

Saraki, who served as a Special Assistant to the

President on Economic Matters during the Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration, also expressed concern that he was yet to see the right policies being put in place to end the recession and promised that the Senate would summon the presidential economic team upon resumption next week for full briefing.

He vowed to ensure that Nigerians are told the truth about the economy adding

that the federal legislators would advise President Muhammad Buhari ‘accordingly’ on any member of the Economic Team that is perceived as not doing well.

When asked if it would be possible to give Nigerians a time-frame to exit the recession, Saraki said any such promises would be insincere, saying for now, there was need for the president to create a broader and bolder eco-

nomic plan with input from both legislative and executive arms of government, the private sector and professional groups.

All the groups, he said, must work together to put in place interventions that would create more jobs, strengthen the Naira, bring more investment into the country, and attain fiscal responsibility.

“I am not going to join anybody in saying it, will

be over by tomorrow, one month or so. No, I am not going to do that because I am not convinced yet that we have put the right policies, laws or the right solution in place. All I am concerned about right now is to find a solution, let us agree on those solutions and hold those who are responsible for implementing those solutions accountable.

“Once we have agreed on the solution, then I will be

From left, representative of the President, African Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions Working Group on Environmental Auditing (AFROSAI-WGEA), Mr Edward Simanjuntak; former Auditor General of the Federation, Mr Samuel Ukura; Secretary General, AFROSAI, Mrs Mbah Acha-Fomundam; representative of the Minister of Environment, Mr Bankole Philip; acting Auditor General of the Federation, Mrs Florence Anyanwu and the Technical Consultant, Giz Africa, Mr Tassilo Von-Droste, at the sixth AFROSAI-WGEA annual meeting in Abuja, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN

River Niger drying up —FG

... Rallies Niger Basin countries to forestall complete dryness Sanya Adejokun-Abuja

THE Acting Auditor General of the Federation, Mrs Florence Anyanwu, has said River Niger is drying up as a result of a whole lot of uncontrolled activities going on in terms of the use of water.

However, realising the importance of the River Niger to the generation of electricity, water transportation, agriculture and other socioeconomic activities, the Federal Government is rallying other members of the Niger Basin Development Authority (NBDA) to forestall the drying up of the river.

Already, Office of the Auditor General of the Fed-

eration (OAuGF) as the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) for Nigeria is leading a Cooperative Environmental Audit Project on River Niger that will particularly include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d’ Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

Mrs Anyanwu, who spoke at the opening of the sixth African Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions Working Group on Environmental Auditing (AFROSAI-WGEA), which opened in Abuja, on Tuesday, said “right now, if you have been towards the Onitsha area of the Niger River, you will realise that the river is drying up gradually. In some countries, it

has actually dried up. And that is about the longest river and Nigeria represents the largest coastal area of the river.

“The river represents a lot of economic activities, a whole lot of prospective provision of electricity, there is a lot of navigation activities so it is very relevant and important.

Even in terms of agriculture. So we looked at it and said we don’t want to stay back, wait and watch what happened to Lake Chad also happen to River Niger.

“The earlier we can address it as a SAI, the better, so that we can make recommendations to member countries to address it in

their policy formulation and implementation.”

According to her, AFROSAI-WGEA had already adopted the policy and agreed to start that audit, saying that it was just the official commencement “that we need the official approval for, which we are hoping we will get at the end of this meeting.”

AFROSAI-WGEA, which is the African regional branch of International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions has similarly submitted an audit report on Lake Chad to the Lake Chad Basin Development Authority and its member countries on activities around the drying lake

How Nigeria can overcome recession —Anglican bishop Leon Usigbe-Abuja

THE Anglican Bishop of Okigwe-South, the Rt. Reverend David Onuoha, is confident that Nigeria will pull out of the present economic recession if only treasury looters will return at least 50 per cent of what they took from the country’s wealth.

In a statement made available to the media in Abuja, on Tuesday, he blamed Nigeria’s econom-

ic crisis on corruption and the inability of successive governments to implement their ‘rhetoric’ on reducing the high cost of governance.

Addressing the state of the nation, the cleric threw his weight behind President Muhammadu’s Buhari’s “Change Begins with Me” campaign, noting that the initiative would be futile unless the lifestyle of political leaders reflect the economic

realities of the time.

He said: “The lifestyle of our public officers, especially the governors and members of the National Assembly, should be made to reflect the economic realities of the time.

“The pension of our governors and other privileges they enjoy for serving their states for a maximum of eight years beats every meaningful explanation.

“That monthly pension

of a former governor is many times more than the monthly emoluments of more than 100 university professors or medical doctors put together, and that is very strange.

“Again, most of them who made it to the National Assembly as senators still enjoy a monthly take-home that is two times more than that of the president of America, in addition to the outrageous pension!

and what to do to arrest its depletion.

Anyanwu said the main reasons for the study was to find out how the water resources in Lake Chad was being used.

“We also realised that a whole lot of governments around Lake Chad were not implementing some of the bilateral agreements that they had on the basin.

“That was some of the reasons why the AFROSAI-WGEA considered that the drying up of Lake Chad is something of great importance to the member countries.

“And we felt that doing that audit would also bring about a lot of recommendations that will also help governments’ policy formulation in terms of addressing the issues around Lake Chad.”

In her opening address, Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed noted that “our environment is our sustenance and unless we care for our environment, our own lives will be in danger. Unless we have a clear knowledge of what is happening to our environment, we may not be able to make appropriate policies for sustainable environmental management.”

able to say yes, with those solutions, then, we are going to get out. Like I said, we have a serious financial deficit in our budget, we are banking on external borrowing, almost $3 billion, but I don’t think one dollar has come in. So if one dollar has not come in how are you going to finance the budget? So when you start giving a time-frame, I don’t think we are being sincere.

It is when we implement the solutions that we can now say this is the possible time frame. But, for now, the solutions in my own view have not been put in place.

“And one of those indices is what I called confidence; there is lack of confidence, whether you want to accept it or not. People are not investing in our economy and with that, we are going to have challenges. We believe these are the areas we, as senate, will be focusing on, to have a robust debate. We are going to bring in people who are resourceful to come and tell us the way out.

“And I can assure Nigerians that we, in the senate, are not going to cover anybody up; Nigerians would know the truth and we would ensure that solutions are going to come and where people are not capable of delivering we will advise the president accordingly on what needs to be done. This matter has gone beyond what they call ‘man knows man,’ this matter affects everyone and nobody is too large or big to be sacrificed in this process. People are truly suffering and I think for the period that I have been in politics I have not seen this type of suffering.

“What we all need to understand is that this recession is not only an APC problem or a PDP problem. This recession does not identify with any party.

Hence, we need to tap into the expertise of our best economic minds - wherever they are around the world - to come up with plans that both the executive and the legislature can evaluate and implement.

“We are going to have an exhaustive and comprehensive debate on fixing the country’s economy when we resume next week. Already, all the economic priority bills are being analysed and collated so that we can hit the ground running when we resume. We understand the pains that Nigerians are feeling and we do not take this for granted.

“Additionally, the Senate intends to invite everybody involved in the management of the economy to address the Nigerian people through the parliament on the steps that are being taken to get us out of this mess."

7

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

Lagosmetro

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By

Lanre Adewole olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

80-year-old dies in inferno Gbemi Solaja

A

Scene of a fire incident which gutted the top floor of a building located at Surulere, on Tuesday.

Why there is incessant outage at Lagos airport —FAAN Shola Adekola THE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has attributed the incessant power outage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in the past three weeks due to construction work going on at the new international terminal of the airport.

Although light was restored at most parts of the airport on Monday, FAAN explained that there could be more disruptions, as the agency plans to find a lasting solution to the power cuts.

The agency explained that electric cables buried underground that provided power at the airport were inadvertently excavated by construction workers at the location where the new terminal is being built.

Confirming the excavation of the underground cables, the General Manager, Public Affairs of FAAN, Mr Yakubu Dati, said engineers from the agency have been working to move the cables from the construction site and replace those that have been destroyed, noting that this would take a little time before the work is completed.

“Preliminary reports indicate the cause of the outage was the damage of two 11

KVA underground cables located within the construction premises of the new international terminal. Our engineers are urgently rectifying the problem. However, FAAN will relocate these cables out of the construction site to prevent re-occurrence and we crave your indulgence while that is being done. The Authority apologises for the inconve-

nience caused to airlines, passengers and the general public,” Dati said.

Investigation also disclosed that demand for electricity at the airport has been overstretched due to increased activities and expansion of the terminal and FAAN has acquired 500 KVA transformer and it is in the process of installing the equipment.

fire outbreak, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, around Lawanson area of Surulere, has claimed the life of an 80-year-old man.

The octogenarian, identified as Godwin Oyia, was unfortunately razed to death in a room where the fire started.

The fire was said to have started from a room on the top floor of Aborisade House.

Lagos Metro investigations revealed that a boiling ring that was being used in the room led to the outbreak of the fire that engulfed the whole building However, the whole of the top floor of the building was completely burnt down,while the downfloor was salvaged by emergency respondents.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident According to the agency, it responded promptly to a distress call at about 10:40 a.m on September 13, 2016 regarding a fire incident at No 5 Aborishade close, Lawanson, Surulere.

This prompted the immediate activation of the agency’s ERT to the scene of the

incident.

Combined efforts of the agency’s ERT, the Nigeria Red Cross and the state Fire Service (Isolo division, Alausa division and Ilupeju division), according to the agency, were on hand to carry out the rescue operation.

The agency’s General Manager, Mr Michael Akindele, stated that the corpse re-

covered by the agency’s emergency response team had been handed over to the police.

Akindele said proper investigation would be conducted on the incident. He, however, advised Lagosians to ensure safety by switching off all electrical appliances when not in use at home or in the office.

Remains of the 80-year-old man burnt during the incident.

I have stolen bikes in every state of the South-West, robbery suspect confesses Olalekan Olabulo A member of a two-man robbery gang, who claimed to have stolen motorcycles in almost all the states in the South-Western part of Nigeria, has been arrested by the police.

The suspect, Jamiu (surname withheld) was, a few days ago, arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, after he stole a motorcycle at Ijora Olopa area of the state.

The victim of his last operation Israel Ikyav, a commercial rider at Ijora Olopa area of the metropolis, said “I parked my okada beside a canteen around Ijora. As I entered the canteen to eat, I

noticed people outside were chasing one guy.

“One of my colleagues rushed inside the canteen to call me that my okada had been stolen by one guy. I left the plate of food I ordered for and joined them in chasing him.”

Ikyav stated further that “if not for RRS operatives’ riders, the suspect would have made away with my bike.

“We knew that we could not catch up with him because he was far ahead of us with the bike. I quickly alerted the RRS riders, who were patrolling the area about the incident.

“Immediately, they chased the suspect with their bikes.

After so much effort, they

double-crossed him with their bikes.’’ the victim added.

He stated that, “At this point, he abandoned the bike and tried to escape on foot, and then, with another motorcyclist, before he was arrested.”

The suspect, a father of three children, gave account on how he had been stealing bikes in states across the South-West.

“I started this crime about two years ago. There were two of us and we operated in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo states,” the suspect said.

“My accomplice, whose name is Ibijuwon, is currently serving a jail term

in Kirikiri Prison. The day we went for the operation where he was arrested, it was around Lagos Island, I managed to escape with the stolen bike while he was arrested and subsequently taken to court where he was eventually sentenced to jail.”

He further explained: “On this fateful day, I left Epe for Yaba. On getting to Yaba, I looked around to know how to start the day’s job there, but I couldn’t find any motorcycle to steal around the area.

“Then, I decided to move to Ijora -Olopa with the hope of stealing any bike on sight.

I contracted a commercial motorcycle from Yaba to Ijora,” he said.

“At Ijora, I saw this man (his victim) when he parked his bike outside and entered the canteen. I noticed that he had locked its steering.

So, I quickly asked the rider who took me from Yaba that I wanted to alight to see my brother briefly in that area.

Unknown to him, I had a sinister motive.

“I moved closer to the bike and broke its locked steering. Then I mounted it and zoomed off.”

The image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest of the suspect to Lagos Metro and added that efforts were on to arrest other members of his gang.

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sallahmessages

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

Be patient, prayerful for Buhari, Ekiti Muslim clerics urge Nigerians Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

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USLIM leaders in Ekiti State have urged Muslims and indeed all Nigerians to be patient with the President Mohammadu Buhariled administration, adding that with prayers and steadfastness, the government would soon lead the country out of the woods.

Speaking at the Eid prayer at the prayer ground at Poly

Road in Ado Ekiti, the Awiye Adinni of Ekiti State, Alhaji Abdulraheem Olowoyo, urged Muslims to live by the dictates of Islam, which he said included “respect and support for constituted authority, maintaining peace with fellow citizens and sharing love among one another.”

He also enjoined all to be patient with the federal and state governments in the face of the current economic hardship bedevilling the country.

Meanwhile, some Muslims who had on Sunday benefited from the giving of rams by the Governor of the state, Dr Ayodele Fayose, also commended the governor for the gesture and prayed for him.

Alhaji Abdlazeez Badmus, the Otu Seriki of Ekiti Central Mosque, said: “We thank Mr Governor for this gesture, for standing by us when we are hungry. God will continue to replenish him.

Nigeria’s future bright —Hon Sokunle Chukwuma OkparaochaLagos

THE lawmaker representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Special Duties, Hon Olusola Abdulhakeem Sokunle, has said that the future of Nige-

ria is bright despite the current economic recession the country is currently battling with.

He also stressed that Muslims across the country should use the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir to pray for the resuscitation of the economy to a better situation.

Pray for nation’s economy —Lawmaker Bola Badmus-Lagos

A member, House of Representatives, Hon AbdulRaheem Olajide Jimoh, representing Lagos Mainland Constituency, has urged Muslim faithful all over the country to pray for the nation’s economy and President Muhammadu Buhari.

Hon Jimoh also called for prayers for both President Buhari and Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, saying, “The situation at hand in Nigeria will be a thing of the past through the intervention of God with sincerity of Nigerians and our change of attitude.”

Speaking on Monday in Oshodi, Lagos, during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, the lawmaker argued that the celebration of the Eidel-Kabir should not be limited to funfair but also used to seek for spiritual intervention of Almighty Allah into the current situation of the country.

Sokunle added that the current state of the nation and its economy could be revamped if there was symbiotic relationship between the government and the citizens, advising that citizens should ensure that they discharge their responsibilities duly to the government for government to be able to carry out its constitutional functions.

We love him and we have been dissuading those who

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and pray for his government’s success.

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9

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

EAC Hall, Awolowo Avenue Bodija Ibadan EAC Hall, Awolowo Avenue Bodija Ibadan

pm

Mokola, Ibadan

VERY SOON

10

businessnews

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

Trouble brews between states, FG over debt deductions Sanya Adejokun -Abuja

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silent trouble is brewing between states and the Federal Government over excess deductions from allocations to the states over the 2005 debt forgiveness by the London and Paris club creditors.

In the deal struck between the Federal Government and the two groups of creditors on behalf of the Federation then, $6 billion was paid on arrears of debt, another $6 billion was paid as a discount while $30 million was paid to the Central Bank of Nigeria as commission.

For this, the Paris Club forfeited $18 billion. In the case of London Club, Nigeria paid Par Bond of $1.486, Promissory Notes of $512 million, oil warrants of $82 million and 0.5 commission to CBN. After the payment and forgiveness however, Federal Government compiled the portion of each of the states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and commenced a monthly deduction at source from their federation account allocation.

Following a downturn in the economy, some of the states then realised that much more than their portion of the $12 billion had been deducted from their accounts and then commenced a subtle pressure on Abuja to refund the excess.

Sources close to Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) told Nigerian Tribune that the issue had dominated deliberations of both bodies for many months.

FAAC comprises Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, commissioners for finance, accountants general of the federation and states and representatives of revenue

generating agencies as well as Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

On May 31, 2016, Chairman of the Governors’ Forum and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdul’aziz Yari, forwarded a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari,

copying Vice President Yemi Oshinbajo and the Debt Management Office (DMO) as agreed at the meeting of National Economic Council (NEC).

A committee on Over Deduction of Foreign Loan Obligations from States on the Paris Club and London Club

AS business activities resume today after a two-day public holiday marking the Eidel-el-Kabir celebrations, expectations are high that money market rates which closed high last week, will trade even higher in the remaining days of this week.

Dealers at Cowry Assets Management Limited said the expectation that interbank interest rates will trade high is based on the fact that there is liquidity crunch in the market. They added that there will be excess of about N86.69 billion leaving the financial system through treasury bills auction by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Available records show that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will auc-

immediately submit applications for refund attaching all relevant documents in support of the claims to the office of the Minister of Finance with a copy to the Debt Management Office (DMO) for appropriate action.

Part of the letter, which was

From left, Mr Ehianeta Ebhohimhen, Business Executive, Abuja, Sterling Bank Plc, and Dr Richard Munang, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Africa Regional Climate Change Programme Coordinator, at the International Environmental Roundtable for Africa Award Night held in Abuja recently.

Passengers stranded as Arik halts operations Shola Adekola-Lagos

TO say domestic airline operations in the country’s aviation sector is gasping for breath in view of the ongoing acute economic hardship is surely becoming obvious as Arik Air, the largest airline in the West African region has technically grounded its operations.

The latest development has led to scores of its passengers on London, New York, West Coast routes and around Nigeria stranded from yesterday.

Arik according to information gathered decided to ground its operations due to the expiration of the insurance on the airplanes in its fleet.

Following the expiration of the insurance on all the aircraft in the fleet of the airline in a fell swoop, it decided to ground its operations in line with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the International Cil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules which disallows any airline operating commercial operations to do so without

Money market rates to open high on resumption of business activities Chima Nwokoji -Lagos

debts was then set up, which submitted a report recommending that it was appropriate to consider states’ requests for the refund of claimed over deductions.

In addition, DMO had written a letter to all state governors and FCT minister claiming over deduction to

tion treasury bills worth N183.24 billion via Primary market, comprising 91-day bills worth N48.10 billion; 182-day bills worth N48.45 billion; and 364-day bills worth N86.68 billion.

“The outflows will outweigh maturing treasury bills worth N96.55 billion via primary market, viz: 91-day bills worth N48.10 billion and 182-day bills worth N48.45 billion.

“Hence we anticipate increase in interbank interest rates resulting from expected strain in financial system liquidity,” the dealers said.

Nigerian Tribune had exclusively reported on Monday, that Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) do not have enough cash to meet their immediate financial

obligations as evidenced by the rush to the CBN last week where they borrowed a total of N881.53 billion at 14 per cent interest rate.

Interestingly, some of the lenders had earlier in the week deposited a total of N113 billion with CBN to earn 7 per cent interest rate, just as the cost of borrowing from each other (interbank lending rate) shot up amid strained liquidity.

The situation they said caused a rise in the amounts banks borrow from each other; Open Buy Back (OBB) and Overnight (O/N) funds to 27.3 per cent and 29.1 per cent on Tuesday, further surging 5.8 per cent and 6.4 per cent to 33.2 per cent and 35.5 per cent on Wednesday respectively.

adequate insurance.

According to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig Cars) Part 18.11.2 dealing with aviation insurance, ‘No person shall operate any aircraft in public air transport category without adequate and valid insurance cover.’

In a statement issued by the airline through its spokesperson, Ola Banji, Arik Air has alerted passengers of temporary disruption to its operations over what it called “a pending approval of aircraft documentation related to insurance renewal.”

The airline said that it was working around the clock to resolve the necessary documentation, which has been a challenge due to the long weekend holidays due to Ed al Adha.

According to the statement it issued, the airline declared: “At the present time, all flights of the airline have been cancelled for Tuesday, 13 September 2016 and the airline has stated that it would be getting in touch with passengers to provide an update on rescheduling of their flights.

“This situation is likely to continue for the next few days until such time that the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) approves a waiver on a priority basis for the new insurance company to renew the policy.

“All customers are kindly advised to contact Arik

Air’s Call Centre, Airport or City ticket offices or visit the airline’s website for further updates. Passengers are also advised to check with the airline regarding the status of their flights before proceeding to the airport.

“Arik Air’s Group CEO, Dr Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, wishes to advise and assure the public, its customers, stakeholders and partners that we are fully committed to returning to our normal operations and minimise any unfortunate inconvenience to our passengers.

Where flights have been cancelled, the airline will notify passengers through SMS and in such cases, passengers will be accommodated on first available alternative flight as soon as normal flight operations resume.

“The Group CEO has apologised and appealed (on behalf of the airline) for the understanding of passengers while it works diligently to resume normal operations at the earliest.”

The development which has sparked debate in the sector has made many key players to wonder why the airline will allow the insurance on its fleet to expire before making attempt to get it renewed.

The latest development is creating tension across the sector barely a week after two airlines, Aero and FirstNation had suspended their operations over uncleared reasons.

obtained by the Nigerian Tribune reads “upon receipt of the claims, the DMO in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation will conduct an assessment, validation and reconstruction of the historic debt data of the claiming states, using evidence submitted by the state to match the data available in the DMO’s system, and advise Mr. President on the outcome for his further directives.

“In order to bring the phenomenon of such continuous claims to a closure, all states that have substantiated claims are requested to submit the applications for refund and supporting documents not later than August 31, 2016.”

It would be recalled that following the payment of the about $15 billion between 2005 and 2007, total external debts of the Federation was reduced to $3.54 billion owed only to multilateral agencies.

By December 2015 however, external debt had climbed back to $10.71 billion with Federal Government accounting for $7.348 while states and FCT were owing $3.369 billion By the same date, Federal Government owed local creditors N8.84 trillion while states owed N1.65 trillion.

Afrinvest 2016 banking sector report set for launch Chima Nwokoji -Lagos

LEADING wealth advisory firm, Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited, is set to unveil the 2016 edition of its annual Nigerian Banking Sector Report on Wednesday, 21st September at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Ike Chioke, Managing Director of Afrinvest, revealed that this year’s report, which is the 11th edition since its inception in 2006, is titled ‘Searching for Investor Confidence.’

According to him, “The 2016 Banking Sector Report chronicles developments within the global and domestic economy in relation to monetary and fiscal policy responses to shocks while also contextualizing the impact of policy decisions on domestic macroeconomic variables.

“Afrinvest Research is of the view that although some appropriate steps have been taken in recent months, the market is yet to respond positively, evidencing the lack of investor confidence without which neither the market nor the economy can be rebooted.”

businessnews Managers for FG’s $1bn Eurobond rush to beat deadline 11

Chima Nwokoji-Lagos

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HERE are indications that interested Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and international banks are racing to beat the deadline for submission of bids to be appointed as financial advisers and managers to the Federal Government in its planned $1 billion Eurobond raising from International Capital Market.

The Federal Government last month set machinery in motion to raise $1 billion from International Capital Market in 2016.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) is seeking to appoint two international banks as joint lead managers and a local bank as financial adviser for the whole programme and has set noon on September 19 as deadline for submission of bids in Abuja.

Industry sources said the DMO has foreclosed any possibility of extending the deadline.

The debt office had in a statement on its website said it is seeking two lead managers and a financial adviser to organise the issuance of $1 billion Eurobonds this year.

The $1billion sale is the first tranche of a $4.5 billion Nigeria Global Medium-Term Notes Issuance Programme that runs through 2018, it said.

The move, the statement said, is to “enable Nigeria to have the flexibility of quickly taking advantage of favourable market conditions in the international capital market to raise funds if and only when the need arises.”

The statement by DMO reads in part “The Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) is in the process of establishing a $4.50 billion Federal Government Medium Term Note (FGMTN) programme, 2016-2018, out of which it intends to issue $1.00 billion Eurobond in the year 2016.

“The purpose of establishing the FGMTN programme is to enable the FRN have the flexibility of quickly taking advantage of favourable market conditions in the International Capital Market (ICM) to raise funds, if and only when the need arises.”

In view of the foregoing, the Debt Management Office disclosed that it wishes to appoint: “two international banks as Joint Lead Managers; and, one local bank as Financial Adviser for the planned FGMTN programme and the issuance of $1.00 billion out of

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

the $4.50 billion FGMTN programme in 2016. The parties will be appointed separately by the FRN, but will be required to work together to ensure a successful transaction.

According to the debt office, “The Joint Lead Managers and the Local Financial Adviser shall be

expected to render the following services: Assist the DMO with the determination of the features of the FGMTN, 2016-2018 programme’s requirements for listing of the FGMTN, particularly in relation to subscription and settlement to ensure its acceptance by the target

investors; work with legal counsels and the DMO to ensure the FG MTN programme complies with relevant legal and regulatory requirements in their respective jurisdictions; advise the DMO of the appropriate strategy for the FGMTN programme and the issuance processes

and procedures for securities offerings under the programme; and work with legal counsel and the DMO in connection with the preparation of the Programme/Dealer Agreement and any other documents that are related to the offering of securities under the FGMTN.”

From left, Head Strategy, Lola Cardoso; Head, Alternate Channels Folunrosho Orimoloye; Non Executive Director, Mrs Nike Akande and Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Kunle Sonola, all of Union Bank Plc, after winning the most improved bank in retail banking in Nigeria award, during the Business Day 2016 Banking Award held at Eko Hotel last Friday.

Ex-minister berates EFCC, banks on forex scarcity NIGERIA’S former Minister of Education, Honourable Kenneth Gbagi who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, has berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Nigeria’s commercial banks for their roles in Nigeria’s financial and economic woes.

He said the EFFC, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other financial intelligence services have failed Nigerians for their inability to identify financial and economic criminals who engage in dubious dollar transactions to the detriment of the country.

Gbagi claimed that every single dollar in the last 16 years allocated by the CBN to commercial banks or any other relevant agency is traceable if the government has the will to deal with economic and financial criminals and their accomplices operating as commercial banks and bureau de change in Nigeria.

He added that the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) should be given more free roles to operate under their mandate as independent organisations and commissions and should be commended where positive results were achieved.

Gbagi specifically accused most of the commercial banks of financial activities

endangering Nigeria’s economy through shady and malicious disbursement of foreign exchange to cronies, associates and foreigners.

The former minister who was a guest on BEN TV’s current Affairs programme, Dialogue in Diaspora, said that the fight against corruption by the current Buhari administration in Nigeria would be unable to solve Nigeria’s perennial foreign exchange scarcity until commercial banks and their operators are made to account for the disbursement of all dollar allocations from the

Central Bank of Nigeria.

Barrister Gbagi who dismissed the claim that Nigeria currently does not have enough foreign exchange, claimed that Nigeria has enough dollars to meet the demands of genuine end users in manufacturing and other services.

He, however, accused commercial banks of deliberately sabotaging Nigeria’s economy by selling the dollars to their cronies, friends and associates who are often non-Nigerians carting the money abroad.

He said many of the peo-

ple who are currently having access to dollars from commercial banks engage in hoarding or capital flight as they did not believe in the ability of Nigeria’s economy to rebound strongly.

The former minister said that there would be enough dollars in circulation to force down the current high exchange rate if Nigeria’s president issued an order compelling the CBN to instruct all commercial banks in Nigeria to give an account of how they have disbursed the dollars allocated to them and for what purpose.

Nigerian Tribune

Cargo examination tears Customs, SON, NAFDAC apart at Lagos ports Tola Adenubi-Lagos TIMING for cargo examinations processes at the Lagos ports is currently threatening to disrupt collaboration amongst Federal Government agencies like the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Threatening to confront officials of sister government agencies that are in the habit of coming late for cargo examinations procedures, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Command of the NCS, Comptroller Willy Egbudin stated at a forum in Lagos recently that he will henceforth not allow any container to be stepped down for further inspection due to late arrivals of other officials after such container has been duly inspected by Customs officials.

According to him, “We have said earlier that we don’t want examination to be conducted differently.

Maybe SON officials will stroll in or NAFDAC officials will stroll in and say we want to conduct examination on a cargo that had already been examined; and if such container has been taken up, honestly, if it is for further examination, I will not accept it.

“Once I know that such container was dropped at a particular time and a particular agency refused to come for examination, and examination has been conducted in the presence of other agencies; I will cross off the column for the erring agency and the container will be released. We will henceforth not wait for anybody.”

Bill Gates Foundation moves to boost rice, yam production in Nigeria THE Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says it is funding six agricultural commodities value chains with emphasis on rice and yam production to ensure food sufficient in Nigeria.

Dr Audu Grema, the Senior Programme Officer, Agriculture in the West African Office of the Foundation, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday.

He listed some agricultural projects of the foundation to include CARI-Project (rice) which is aimed at improving rice production productivity, pest control, and variety enhancement.

Grema expressed optimism that Nigeria would soon be

self-sufficient in rice production. He said the rice project by the foundation was currently being implemented in Cross River, Niger, Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano, Plateau and Edo, Ebonyi States.

The programme officer, however, said that the Cassava Value Addition Project (CAVA) was based in Abeokuta at the University of Agriculture.

According to him, we also have a big yam project where we are working with private farms around Abuja, Kaduna, Niger, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Akure to enhance yam propagation technology through seeds.

“We have a huge portfolio

of agricultural investments in Nigeria. We are working on maize, rice, yam, cassava and crop-livestock interface.

“We have four strategic cassava investments that we think are critical that we are funding across Nigeria.

“In agriculture, we do not approve projects except if it has a small holder connection. Anything we fund must have a connection with enhancing the status of small scale farmers,’’ Grema said.

He explained that the foundation was also working in public health, integrated vaccine delivery, routine immunisation revival across many states.

On the reports that Gates was a major propagator of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), the programme officer refuted the assertion, saying that the Bill Gates had no connection with GMOs. According to him, “Bill and Melinda Gates are not farmers; they are not into agricultural services; so, to think they will promote GMOs just to promote their businesses interest is very wrong.

“I will be in complete denial that we have nothing to do with these big commercial agricultural farms that have been cited in some of the articles in Nigeria.”

12

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

Nigerian Tribune PHOTOS: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

THE FIRST INTER-FACULTY ORATORY COMPETITION & 86TH POST-HUMOUS BIRTHDAY OF CHIEF JAMES AJIBOLA IGE, SAN, ORGANISED BY EDUCARE TRUST AND THE VALE COLLEGE, IBADAN HELD AT EDUCARE TRUST YOUTH CENTRE, CONCORDE LANE, AERODROME GRA, SAMONDA, IBADAN

Mr Gbenro Adegbola (right), Director, The Vale College, Mrs Funso Adegbola, Arch Muyiwa Ige, first winner of Oratory competition, Miss Ijoma Abara Amblessed of the Faculty of Dentistry University of Ibadan and Dr Kemi Fadipe.

From left, Mr Kayode Adegbola, Miss Ayotunde Adegbola and Mr Jide Salami.

From left, Canon O.B. Ajomale, Mrs Olaitan Ajomale, Princess F. Omololu Thomas and Mrs Ekundayo Fayiga.

Professor (Mrs) Bolanle Awe (right) and Mrs Taiwo Owoeye.

Barrister Iyiola Oladokun, Mrs Bisi Oladokun and Venerable G.B. Daramola.

Justice and Mrs Oladiran Akintola.

Professor Oladipupo Akinkugbe, Mr Kayode Mosunro and Mr Akin Ige.

Chief (Mrs) Anike Agbaje Williams, Mrs Esther Adebio and Mrs Tayo Morgan.

Cross section of the panel.

From left, Mrs Lanre Johnson, Mrs Doyin Awofisayo and Princess Bisi Shangodoyin.

13

editorial

A

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The security scare in Edo

S the world awaited another examination of Nigeria’s slow and generally adjudged uninspiring walk towards strengthening democratic institutions in the governorship election slated for Edo State on September 10, 2016, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suddenly put spanners in the works.

The election, which like all elections in a developing country had witnessed a lot of saber-rattling and emotions, was suddenly cancelled by the electoral umpire, citing a security report which indicated that there might be security threats to the election. The Nigeria Police and the Directorate of State Services (DSS) had jointly hinted at the possibility of a terrorist strike in Edo State, ostensibly within the period of the election. Based on this claim, the election was postponed till September 28, 2016.

The postponement has courted the ire of politicians and many Nigerians. It came on the heels of allegations and counter allegations from the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Why INEC would want to cancel a scheduled election where everything else was going smoothly apart from the generally inaccessible claim of an impending strike by terrorists was queer and unacceptable to the generality of commentators. The suspicion, which snowballed into allegation of partisanship, is rife that the ruling party had deployed its might to postpone the election because the Edo State electoral weather was unfavourable to its aspiration of retaining power. Even though the allegation has been rebutted by the APC and INEC as unrealistic and wild, there has been no scientific and empirical justification for the postponement.

The security claim by the DSS and police which was used to justify the postponement, serious as it may seem because of the vice grip of violence and terror on the Nigerian landscape, appears to be too tenuous to warrant the postponement. Indeed, it looks like a throwback to the days of military governments’ peremptory decisions to hide national incompetence and inability under the plane banner of national security. National security had always been the sing song of the military top brass during military dictatorship. The reason is not farfetched. Security is one of the most impenetrable shields ever, with its shroud of secrecy. It is an index of government or governance whose ultimate and generally accepted mode of operation is restricted audience and restricted circulation.

Due to this restriction of circulation, national security easily becomes a ploy in the hands of nefarious governments and

their appendages in their gambit of hiding serious ineptitude and gang-ups from the views of the people.

It was for this singular reason that national security became the personal security of the helmsman and seldom the security of the people. A number of atrocities were committed, and are still being committed, hiding under this shroud. Asking questions about the ‘national security’ reasons adduced by government is regarded as a threat to the state, thus giving official imprimatur to the whims and caprices of ignoble official decisions and policies. In the case of the Edo election, the reasons given by INEC, based on a report by the police and the DSS, does not seem to add up. Granted that, for “national security reasons” the DSS and police would not go into the details of this claim of an impending terrorist strike in Edo, the fact that there is absolutely no terrorist strike before now in the state makes the claim very unrealistic and unreliable as a precedent to build a probability upon. Worse still, the postponement is courting unnecessary imputation of ulterior motives.

The statement of postponement also came on the heels of the claim by the police hierarchy that it had deployed 25,000 policemen for the election. For a state that had never been hit by insurgents, how strong was the so-called report by the security agencies to warrant a postponement of such a highly important election? What cogent reason can the security establishment give to a cynical Nigerian public that is used to such government insincerity, to convince the people that this is not another of such lies at the very top? What is the nature of this impending overwhelm of 25,000-strong Nigerian policemen, not to mention the military, that should warrant the postponement? INEC had announced that it was going ahead with the election, but pressure from the security agencies apparently forced it to inform Nigerians that it was postponing the election at the eleventh hour.

We condemn the postponement in its totality. It is a costly shift whose consequence could be an erosion of the confidence of Nigerians in government and its policies, among other consequences. INEC, of course, will not go ahead with an election where the security agencies are not prepared to do their jobs. Therefore, it would be unfair to single the commission out for blame in the current instance.

However, it should always be careful to explain its position to Nigerians and not to take their adulations for granted. In the same vein, we like to caution the security agencies not to take Nigerians for granted, citing nebulous security reasons.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letterstribune@ yahoo.com or by sms to 08054005323. It MUST be accompanied

by the full name and address of the writer.

Why Nigeria’s restructuring is imperative

O

NE thing the Federal Government must know is that the demand for the restructuring of Nigeria does not mean that the country will disintegrate; rather, it will give everybody a sense of belonging so that we can all have equal say in how the country is being administered.

Politically restructuring the country will also bring an end to the agitation for secession by certain sections of the country.

What we must realise is that as a multi-ethnic country, some people will not like the manner in which certain sections are dominating their political affairs, which in turn, reflects in their personal lives.

To these people, having control over their affairs is the only way that they can be politically satisfied.

The political restructuring I am talking about will pave the way for regional governments to have more control over the affairs of

their people. As someone who was around when Nigeria had only four regions, I can testify that we had aggressive economic and infrastructural growth at that time. When Chief Obafemi Awolowo established the first television station in the Western region, the Eastern region also immediately set up its own.

For each economic project that the Western region implemented, other regions, not wanting to be left behind, also implemented theirs. Therefore, at that time, the Western region economy was even stronger than that of Spain.

If we had continued like that, I know we would have become a developed country by now.

Even, the people of the different regions were happy to be Nigerians because of the economic competition, which resulted in economic prosperity for the people.

Our problem started when we began to create the states, thus making

the Federal Government more powerful. Most of these states cannot stand on their own, as they were only created out of ethnic sentiments.

It is then important for the Federal Government to revert to regionalism so as to prevent the disintegration of the country, and also to aid massive eco-

nomic development.

It is necessary that the central government does not see political restructuring, which is being clamoured for, as an opportunity to break the country, but as a chance to further strengthen our socio-economic ties.

Apart from that, it will also help in boosting the

country’s economy. At a time when the country is falling into recession, restructuring the country will bring about economic competition among the six geo-political regions, thereby strengthening our economy.

One good thing is that, apart from South South that will still rely on crude

oil, other regions will have to look at agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing, and even the service sector to develop.

It is, therefore, imperative for the country to restructure now.

•Dr Sanmi Olopade, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

Let’s treat military pensioners with more respect WHEN we talk about those who kept Nigeria as one with their precious blood, either wounded, maimed or died in active service, then military pensioners should be respected and honoured as Nigerian national heroes.

The three arms of the military, Army, Navy and Airforce, fought bravely and suffered a lot in the battle fields during the civil war, and with our blood, we were able to keep the unity of the country. Having done that, in our old age, we need to be cared for as other developed countries

treat their veterans.

My bitter experience started on my arrival in Nigeria after a 12-year sojourn in the United States of America. I discovered that my name had been dropped from Military Pension Board (MPB) pay roll for not showing up at many verification exercises. However, this has now been restored after being verified, but what I went through, particularly travelling to Abuja to get verified was not an easy task.

We all know how terrible our roads are, and we expect our veterans to travel

from all over the country to Abuja before they can do something at the military pension board office. This is totally different from how military pensioners are treated abroad.

Most military pensioners who have health challenges have to travel all day before getting to our Military Pension Board office at Dutse Aladji, Kubwa in Abuja, and they find somewhere to sleep before proceeding to the office in the morning.

However, I would suggest that four liaison offices be created for the Military

Pension Board in order to make life easier for military pensioners, particularly those who have health challenges.

I want to suggest one in Ibadan, to serve all the South West and parts of the South South states.

One should also be in Enugu, to serve all South East and parts of South South states. One should also be established in Jos, to serve all North East states and in Kaduna, to serve all the North West states.

•W O Adeyemi (Rtd) godsownpaa46@ gmail.com

Assess political office holders for better performance IF we want the best from our political office holders, particularly the ministers and commissioners, then there should be a form of assessment of their performance.

Most of our political office holders just occupy positions without contributing positively in governance, but if we develop a way through which we can assess them annually, then most of them will give their best, while we will also be able to identify those who are assets for this country.

In the last political dispensation, I can say that the immediate past Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, did extremely well. He was able to eradicate corruption in the distribution of fertilisers to farmers, while the former Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, also turned things around in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

However, today’s ministers still have a long way to go if we are to rate them with their current perfor-

mances.

I hope the National Assembly will come up with ways through which we can rate our political office holders.

It was the good performances of Dr Adesina and Mr Fashola that earned them the current assignments they have now.

Today, Dr Adesina is the president of African Development Bank (ADB), while Mr Fashola is the Minister of Works, Power and Housing.

Public office should not be about the power being wielded alone, but about service, and assessing our politicians will go a long way in making them give their best to the service of the country.

Therefore, if we truly want to get the best from our public office holders, then assessing them will be the best way to do that.

•Nelson Ekwale, Benin, Edo State.

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opinion

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

Saving the starving children in the North East

By Kayode Komolafe

F

OLLOWING seven years of the Boko Haram war in the North East, development experts have observed that it would take years to rebuild the zone. But the response to the humanitarian consequences of the war cannot wait for long if further disaster is to be averted.

The reported suffering in the camps of internally displaced persons should trigger some emergency responses in many respects.

The lack of access of the displaced to clean water, nourishing food, basic medical care, schools for children, among others. is an immediate issue to tackle, while the long-term plan of rehabilitation and reconstruction is afoot. The starving children have to be saved today so that they can live to be beneficiaries of plans for the future development of their villages.

At the heart of the problem is the seeming lack of appreciation of the magnitude of the problem. If anything at all, there appears to be a better appreciation by the outside world of the danger and hardship that people, especially to which children, are exposed in those parts of Nigeria. Governments at all levels should shift their focus to a better coordination of the responses to the crisis to the benefits of the victims.

With the opening up of territories formerly under the control of Boko Haram, aid workers are discovering that the poor conditions of those trapped might have been largely underreported.

The picture would be clearer now that more towns and villages have been opened up due to the gallant efforts of the armed forces and other security agencies. For instance, it is seriously projected that by the time aid workers have access to other towns and villages, it would be seen that hundreds of thousands are, indeed, facing famine. The experience in Bama, Borno State, where aid workers are actively providing relief to the victims has lent credence to this grim projection.

Hence, development organisations are warning loudly that famine may further plague a zone of Nigeria already devastate by the bestial war of Boko Haram. Similarly, the charity organisation, Medicins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) has warned against the deterioration in the health conditions of the victims due to inadequate medical care. In

one of the most credible estimates, the United Nations has put the number of children facing starvation in Borno alone at 240, 000, warning that 130 of those poor children may die daily if relief does not come their way promptly. This piece of news should raise an alarm to all humanitarian organisations and individuals. The UN’s budget of $300m is expected to be funded by international donors as organisations and individuals.

In this regard, greater attention has to be drawn to the problem in order to attract help from outside the country.

Demonstration of solidarity as exemplified by the recent visit of the Irish rock star, Bono, will go a long way in attracting the attention of donors. The heroic efforts of aid workers taking risks to provide relief to the victims should be better appreciated. They are, indeed, making all the difference. Their operational relationship with agencies of government and other bodies should be smoothened.

The campaign for external help should be conducted methodically so as to achieve the desired results. The donors, of course, would consider the sense of purpose here among other things. Doubtless, Nigeria is in dire need of external help to tackle the humanitarian crisis in the northeast. The need even becomes greater in the light of the prevailing financial crunch. The magnitude of the problem suggests nothing less in the circumstance.

Ultimately, the responsibility of saving the lives of persons in desperate need of succour in the North East is that of Federal, state and local governments. In fact, what is at stake is squarely the responsibility of governance. Come to think of it, even when Boko Haram overran some parts of the Nige-

rian federation, there was never a proclaimed abdication of governance. So governments should muster the capacity to tackle the problem.

First, in this phase of emergency response, there should be competent and honest coordination of efforts. It is the demonstrable seriousness here that would engender the confidence of external donors. In this respect, the presidential committee on the northeast is a welcome development. It is not enough for the President to “order” the release of grains for those dying of starvation. There should be an organising principle underlying the distribution.

The committee should critically examine the mechanism in place for the distribution of the materials. The federal government should ensure that its relevant agencies discharge their statutory responsibilities in the situation of the northeast. After all, that is the purpose of establishing those agencies in the first place. In proportionate terms, the state and local governments should also deploy the public resources at their disposal for the care of the people who are in this lifethreatening situation.

Secondly, it is also immensely helpful that the military is also giving a helping hand in providing humanitarian relief especially in the area of medical care. The defence and security authorities should to more ensure that liberated towns and villages are secure for relief efforts to spread to more people. It is no salutary news (as reported) that months after the defence authorities announced that Boko Haram had been pushed back, relief workers cannot still take food to starving children in some villages.

Thirdly, the corruption in the administration of the relief efforts for the victims should be categorically tackled. Those who elect to divert the food meant for starving children should be punished according to the law. The resources available to provide succour for the victims should be judiciously managed. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure transparency in the process.

Finally, the humanitarian conscience of Nigeria’s well-endowed organisations and individuals ought to be pricked by the grim situation in the North East. The political and socioeconomic elite in the region should also be visible in providing food for their kinsmen who are starving and thirsty.

•Komolafe is a public affair analyst.

Remembering the Ad-Hoc Conference of 1966

By Eric Teniola

MR. Lee Kuan Yew (1923-2015) was the first Prime Minister of Singapore and he governed his country from 1959-1990.

In January 1966, he visited Nigeria as part of the Commonwealth delegation to discuss Rhodesia unilateral declarations of independence. Rhodesia is now called Zimbabwe.

He stayed in Lagos, like all the Commonwealth leaders for three days. It was after their departure that Nigeria’s Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, was assassinated. His views on Nigeria was published in 2000 in a 729-page book titled: From Third World To First,’ which I am sure many Nigerians have read.

On page 352 of that book, he described Nigerians as ‘different people playing to a different set of rules.’ On page 357 of that same book, he said Nigeria’s ‘tribal loyalties were stronger than their sense of common nationhood.’ To most of us, Mr. Yew’s verdict on Nigeria is nothing new. This month is the 50th year anniversary of the Ad-Hoc Constitutional Conference in Nigeria. The conference was summoned by the then Lt-Col. Yakubu Gowon less than 65 days after he took over power. The conference met between September 12 and 28, and again between October 28 and November 4, 1966. At that time, there were four regions in Nigeria, mainly North, Mid-Western, West and Eastern Region. No delegation from the East attended the second session of the conference because of the political situation at that time. Sixteen major issues were discussed at that conference. They were — Form of government and component units, Head of State, central government, central legislature, judiciary, central civil service, finance (power to raise revenue, the allocation of revenue and national debt), defence, police, external affairs, immigration and emigration, banking, currency, monetary policy, external loans, transport and communications, higher education, concurrent powers and planning(including the equitable distributions of capital investment).

The following were proposals of each region as it affects the form of government and component unit: EAST: An association of the existing Regions, with a right

to secede. Opposed to the creation of new states on three grounds: (a) inadequate time: will involve a long-drawn-out process of inquiries, commissions and plebiscites, taking up many months or even some years which we cannot afford under the present crises (b) entails a strong central government: not in the interest of harmony and peace of the country to have a strong central government. The splitting up of the country into new states will automatically have the effect of transferring functions which the smaller states cannot be expected to execute with their limited resources.

MID-WEST: A federation of the existing region, Lagos continuing as Federal Territory or becoming a Region. The memorandum considered a redrawing of the constituent units desirable and set out the following criteria: ethnic, linguistic, and cultural affinity or homogeneity, historical association (e.g. Hausa/Fulani, Efik/Ibibio), viability of states both absolutely and relatively, geographical contiguity, comparability in size, reciprocal self-determination (i.e. not only should each minority group be given the opportunity to determine its future but also a majority group must be given the opportunity to determine whether it is willing to associate with a minority seeking such association.

NORTH: (i) Original proposal. A union or association of the existing regions, and such other states as may be formed subsequently’, with a ‘right to secede completely and unilateral.’

The ‘right of self-determination of all people in the country must be accepted and a referendum or plebiscite shall be the method through which the wishes of the people concerned shall be ascertained. These rights include the right of any State within the country to secede. But the implementation of these principles shall not delay the determination of the future of Nigeria. All necessary guarantees shall, however,

be written in the future constitution to establish the right of self-determination by any section.’ (ii) Revised proposal. A Federation with an ‘effective Federal government. The above-mentioned method of creating new states was to be ‘discussed and formally adopted’.’ Grave doubts about the wisdom of creating states based on “ethnic and linguistic affinities”. In any arrangement based on this principle, there are bound to be large numbers of small pockets of minor ethnic and linguistic groups who will necessarily find themselves grouped uncomfortably with the larger and dominant ethnic groups.

WEST: (i) Original proposal.

First alternative: A Federation with ‘the immediate creation of more States (including a Lagos State) based on ethnic and linguistic affinities, account being taken also of territorial contiguity and economic viability’. Also ‘clear-cut and less cumbersome provision for the creation of additional states in the future under conditions which should be clearly set out in the Constitution’.

Second alternative: A ‘Commonwealth comprising the existing Regions and such other Regions as may be consequently created, with Lagos forming part of the present Western Nigeria’. Each State should have a right unilaterally to secede… at any time of its own choice.’ (ii) Revised proposal. A Federation; ’the creation of more States (including a Lagos State) based on ethnic and linguistic affinities, account being taken also of territorial contiguity and economic viability’ was’ strongly recommended’. ’In the event of states not being created, Lagos shall form part of the Western Region.’

On November 30, 1966, Lt. Col. Gowon adjourned the conference and disclosed that ’they had run into difficulties, which made it impossible for them to meet.’

It was the failure of the conference that led to the Aburi meeting in Ghana.

Dr. Mudiaga Oje told me in 1977 that if the Ad-Hoc Conference had succeeded, the civil war could have been avoided.

Suffice it to say that the issues raised at that conference are still relevant till today.

•Teniola is a former director at The Presidency.

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Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

tribune cartoons

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

GIANT IN THE TROPIC OF AFRICA Chief Vincent Amaechi Obianodo

(Founder, Chairman of the Young Shall Grow Group) He hails from Umueze Nnewi in Anambra State. He lived most of his early years in Kano, where he started doing one menial job or the other, struggling to make ends meet.

Among the many menial jobs that he did as a young man in Kano was repairing punctured tyres. He did the vulcanizing job very well and was so popular that people queued for his service.

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Having developed interest in transport business, the young man later joined the transport business as a conductor.

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In 1972, his determination and diligence saw him setting up his own interstate transport business, Young Shall Grow Motors Limited (YSGML), which has today become one of the biggest in Africa.

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Young Shall Grow Motors Limited is about the biggest luxury bus company in Nigeria. Its fleet of over 500 serviceable vehicles transverses all sections of the country.

SEGELUULU

CHURCH BOY

FUNOLOGY

•

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

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

A

B

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Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

inside

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08065167178

nigerdelta Group seeks plebiscite on Bakassi Anthony Ubong - Calabar

A

group, under the aegis of Association of Bakassi Aborigines (ABA), has called on the Federal Government and the United Nations to, as a matter of urgency, conduct a plebiscite for the displaced people of Bakassi.

National President of the group, Maurice Bassey Asuquo, in an interview with newsmen in Calabar, said the call became necessary in view of the sufferings faced by the displaced people; ten years after a judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ceded their ancestral home to the Republic of Cameroon.

Asuquo said conducting a plebiscite was a good option which would afford the displaced people the opportunity to choose which country they wanted to belong.

He specifically called on the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Nigerian government to expediently conduct

Bakassi area a plebiscite for the displaced people in order to restore lasting peace to the troubled territory.

“We agree that there was a plebiscite of 1961, but then such a plebiscite is long outdated because even after the plebiscite, the

Bring back my husband, detained ex-militant’s wife begs JTF Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri MRS Beauty Francis Muturu, a nursing mother and wife of a detained ex-militant leader, Mr Francis Muturu, a.k.a General Aboy, has cried out to the military Joint Task Force (JTF) to release her husband, whom she said committed no crime, from unlawful detention without further delay.

Mrs Muturu disclosed over the weekend that her husband was whisked away by men of the JTF from his residence at Bomadi over three months ago to an undisclosed location.

According to the worried wife, no concrete reasons have been established against him, noting that his whereabouts and state of health are unknown to family members.

“On June 7, 2016 at about 3:00a.m, I heard people banging on our door with force. I woke my husband up and told him that people were banging on the door.

“Then I went to the parlour and before I knew what was going on, they forced the door open and I saw that they were men of the JTF. “Then they said ‘where is your husband, where is your husband’ and before l could ask what happened, they forcefully went into the bedroom and dragged my husband to the parlour.

“I could only recognise Capt Robert among them, who was the JTF commander at Bomadi district.

Mrs Muturu “Then I continued asking Captain Robert what the matter was since he was the only one among them I am familiar with, but he ignored me and they took him away from me.

“I have not set my eyes on my husband since that day.

“One surprising thing that happened was that, not quite too long after that operation, they transferred Captain Robert from Bomadi to a place unknown to us.

“If I had known where Captain Robert is, I would have personally demanded from him to bring my husband back to me because he did not commit any crime against him,” Mrs Muturu, who was in tears, narrated.

She appealed to the military outfit to set her husband free, noting that her husband was not a member of any militant group.

“I am appealing to JTF to release my husband from unlawful detention without any

delay because he is not a member of Avengers.

“I had just put to bed when JTF stormed our house in the night to take my husband away from me.

If he had committed any crime, then why the secret detention? JTF, bring my husband back to me,” she averred.

Meanwhile, the JTF authorities could not be reached for a reaction as of the time of filing the report.

Calabar-Itu road: Ayade commends NDDC for intervention Anthony Ubong - Calabar CROSS River State governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for its intervention work on the deplorable Calabar-Itu road.

Ayade, who stated this when the acting Managing Director of NDDC, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Calabar, expressed delight for NDDC’s swift intervention in the road which had been impassable for so many years.

According to him, the deplorable condition of the road has over the years slowed down economic activities in the state, adding that

Don’t redeploy our DPO, Warri residents beg IGP Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri MIFFED by the alleged surreptitious plan to redeploy Divisional Police Officer (DPO) ‘B Division’, CSP Anietie Eyoh, residents of Okere-Urhobo community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State have appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to halt the move.

In a statement signed by the chairman of

Warri Urban Security Network (WUSN), Chief Nnandi Okonkwo and secretary, Mr James Ogbetuo, the residents requested the police high command to extend the stay of CSP Eyoh.

They said his stay would enable him complete some of the laudable projects he initiated in the division since assumption of office about a year ago.

The body, made up of landlords, professional bodies, traders, business men and

territory was still occupied by Nigerians with no complaint until about 1997 when Cameroon went to court.

“It is also necessary to grant amnesty to misguided youths who have been forced to take up arms as there’s no problem that cannot be solved through dialogue, even though these youths have been misled into carrying arms.

This is even as he called for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Bakassi so as to put an end to the intimidation and harassment of residents by soldiers.

“Though the Federal Government has the right to protect lives and property in the area, the drafting of troops can only be done when there is agitation. The constant presence of the military in the area is making lives unbearable for the residents

women as well as artisans who are mainly non-Okere-Urhobo indigenes, but resident in the community, noted that due to the efficiency and professionalism brought into policing by the DPO, the community had enjoyed so much peace and safe environment like never before.

The group added that this was the first time they would be reposing so much confidence in men of the police force.

commuters and motorists spent long hours to travel in and out of the state.

Ayade said: “The intervention by the NDDC has made it possible for whoever will be coming for Calabar carnival to pass with ease; it would have been a disaster without their support. It has made movements from that axis a lot easier because they can now access Cross River with ease. In spite of the fact that we no longer bring anything to the table in terms of revenue generation from oil, the commission still remembered us; they ought to be commended.

“The intervention has also increased the revenue of the state because quarry activities suffered a lot and our revenue also nosedived due to the state of the road, but life has come back and there are indications that our revenue has received a huge boost.”

On her part, the acting MD of NDDC, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, said the commission was committed to the development of the Niger Delta region, adding that partnership was a veritable platform to achieve that.

According to her, “we are determined to add value, we are determined to make a difference and the only way to develop the Niger Delta region is by partnering the people and we are passionate about that.’’

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Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

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

Representative of the Governor of Osun State, Dr Chares Diji Akinola, Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, President Infogem, Mr Ayo Olumoko, Obalufe of Iremo Quarter, Oba Idowu Adedewura and Jaran of Ife, Oba Adekola Adeyeye admiring the Olojo festival’s Logo

Ooni endorses Infogem for Olojo Festival .....Unveils festival’s logo

By Wale-ojo Lanre

I

N his committed efforts at resuscitating and stoking the dying embers of the cultural – tourism heritage of the Oduduwa race, the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial majesty , Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi unveiled the Logo of Seal for the celebration of a rejuvenated Olojo Festival in Ile – Ife, the source and cradle of Yoruba race.

The Ooni in his coronation message and royal deeds after has signified to the world the coming to an end of the era of cultural stagnation and truncation in Yoruba land.

“I promise the scion of Oduduwa that I will as the Lord lives do everything humanly possible not only to sustain in high degree the perpetuation of the divine traditional royal expectations as the Ooni of Yoruba race as laid down in the Creed of the House of Oduduwa, but also resuscitate, enhance and fan the embers of those pristine cultural festivals which distinguish Yoruba as a race of unique and enviable tradition and culture in the comity of races.”

The Ooni has not only been living up to the expectation, but has sequentially dotted his words and promises with precision fulfilment.

The unveiling of Olojo Festival’s Logo at an impressive ceremony held in the Oduduwa palace in Ile Ife which commanded the presence of the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who was represented by Dr Charles Diji Akinola, Director – General, Empowerment Development and Partnerships, Osun State who delivered a powerful speech which extolled the virtues Ooni Ojaja and his royal stride at revitalising the culture of Yoruba and other dignitaries and media organisations was another testimony that Ooni Ogunwusi is truly a king set on the throne for epochal acts and deeds for Yoruba race .

In his words “The glory of today goes to the Almighty God, the creator of heaven and earth. The God who caused the day to be. The God Almighty who created Ile – Ife as the cradle of human race . The almighty who decreed that there should be day and night. It is in his honour that I have decided to reinvigorate the celebration of Olojo Festival, that is the day created specially by our ancestor, the founder and progenitor of Yourba race to venerate and appreciate the luminous order who owns and created the day. Olojo Festival is not one of the run – in – the – mill festivals, hence it must be celebrated with most pomp and festivities and in accordance with the way it is being done and observed by the progenitor.”

The Ooni informed that it is in order to give Olojo festival a refreshingly and appealing spotlight that “ We sought out Mr Ayo Olumoko who owns Infogem, a company that has

distinguished itself as one of the best in cultural packaging and marketing for sustainability, international branding and showcasing. I have confidence in Infogem’s ability, strategy and network which are needed to shore up the visibility of Olojo Festival. And I am happy that the Lord of Host made it happened today.”

The Ooni proved his being deeply rooted in the tradition of his fore fathers as he raised an ancient song which baffled the Obas, High Chiefs and traditional title holders present.

The songs reinforced the essence of Olojo’s festival and the need for every scion of Oduduwa to do whatever they could in making sure that the God who owns the day is honoured beautifully well.

The event also witnessed the formal public engagement and endorsement of Infogem as the sole marketer of Olojo Festival with the mission of ensuring the hosting of a spectacular festival of history.

According to the Obalufe of Ife, of Iremo Quarters, Oba Idowu Adediwura who appended his signature to the MOU signed between Infogem and Committe on Olojo Festival set up by the Ooni Ojaja II .... “This is to publicly notify the corporate world, individuals and institutions that Infogem has been mandated and endorsed as the marketer and co–organiser of Olojo Festival by the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.” Responding, Mr Ayo Olumoko, President, Infogem expressed his gratitude to Ooni Adeyeye for “sorting me out and for giving me the assignment of branding and marketing Olojo Festival. To others, it is a business but to us at Infogem, it is an assignment from the source for the benefits of all Yoruba. We are going to execute this assignment with all our strength, powers and whatever needed to be done for Olojo Festival to be spectacular and pomp than before succeed.”

He deserves commendation on Olojo

By Charles Diji Akinola OLOJO is one of the oldest festivals in Ife and celebrated all over Yorubaland as Ogun, the god of iron, noted for creativity. It is perhaps the most famous of the festivals in Ile-Ife which echoes all over the world. It is proper therefore that it is being branded and presented in modern form. It is going to reinforce the notion of Ife as a foremost cultural centre.

Olojo festival is as significant to Ile-Ife as it is to all Yoruba where it is a major festival in all the cities, towns and villages where Ogun is worshipped.

At the risk of sounding like an ethnic supremacist, I want to bring forth the words of a writer who argued that the Yoruba are the most culturally successful people in Africa. This is also the theme of Prof Abiodun Adetugbo’s seminar essay titled ‘Yoruba continuities in the Diaspora’ where he detailed how Yoruba Language and culture spread around the world through slavery and migration and how these are remarkably distinct in their new environments.

The Yoruba are the predominant people in Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti and Kwara states in Nigeria.

They also form the substantial autochthonous populations of Edo, Delta, Kogi and Niger states.

In the Diaspora, they constitute the substantial population of Benin Republic (who are separated from their kith and kin in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Kwara states only by artificial international boundary), Togo, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia in West Africa. Dispersal through slavery took large swaths of the Yoruba to Cuba, Brazil, United States, United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, Columbia, Venezuela, The Caribbean and other disparate lands, near and far, where the indigenous people refer to themselves as ethnic Yoruba and view Ile-Ife as their ancestral home.

What is common to them however is the similarities in culture. They bear Yoruba names and worship Yoruba gods and goddesses like Osun, Yemoja, Ogun, Sango, Obatala and so on. According to the authors of the journal article, “Language and Culture’ (Mahadi and Jafari), ‘culture is the totality of the inherited and innate ideas, attitudes, beliefs, values, and knowledge, comprising or forming the shared foundations of social action’.

Our culture defines who we are and to a large extent what we become. It is through our culture that we acquire our distinct identities both as individual humans as well as human groups. It is an all-encompassing entity that includes virtually all aspects of human existence.

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tourism

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

Aenon Suites: Hospitality symbol of excellence in Osogbo

By Wale-ojo Lanre I don’t think it is an exaggeration to describe the beautiful edifice splashed in red and ash colour planted on Femi Adefila Street, by off Olu Alabi GRA, Osogbo as the best hotel in the state as at today.

Though, there are many good hotels in the state of Osun Aenon has proved to be one out of the best of the bests for some time to come because such edifice cannot be built overnight .

It is one hotel which exudes good concept, better planning with keen supervision and monitoring by the owner which ensured attention to details at construction resulting in satisfactory finishing touches noticeable as one enters the building.

The front office which is decked with an ornamental fixtures and fittings, consist of gold and silver wall padding, exotic furniture for guests waiting to be checked in, iron wrought gold plated chandeliers dropping down from an Italian POP, shining marble floor fit for the legs of kings with cool breeze.

Aenon Suites is classical, luxurious and with touch of splendour all combined to offer guests and buyers beyond their imagined service.

At Aenon Suites, you don’t or may not need to use the staircase in getting to your room. This is the only hotel in Osun state where a lift is provided in a one-storey build-

ing while the staircase is not only paved with marble steps, but the railing is made of gold and silver casting!

The 42 exotic and luxuriously furnished rooms are of five categories with regular, classic, deluxe and executive rooms.

The rooms in Aenon are not just ones where TV, fridge, fan or air-conditioner are luxury, but rooms with each guest having its own door, CCTV to scrutinize and engage whoever is coming to visit. It leaves no room for insecurity.

All rooms are exceptionally and gorgeously equipped to satisfy the customer’s the arrangement need of comfort and luxury at its peak. For communication, the rooms are fitted with three intercom boxes, one at the reading table, one beside the bed and the third inside the bathroom.

The bed is kingly with sleep inducing and romantic bed side tiny lamps, clock and switch to operate the air-conditioner. The beddings are of the best quality of white linen, soft white guinea cloth and pump pillows. All covering the therapeutic mattress.

The bath is of five categories with different unique facilities according to the theme of the category. But the standard room parades shower stand, hair treatment machine, toiletries and weight machine and bath cubicle.

Every detail of comfort is attached to the setting of the room to offer exciting sanctuary for a weary customer looking for a heavenly room to lay his head.

festival —Akinola Thus, as John H. Bodley explains in his article in the electronic encyclopaedia, Encarta, “A people’s culture includes their beliefs, rules of behaviour, language, rituals, art, technology, styles of dress, ways of producing and cooking food, religion, and political and economic systems.”

Therefore, a human society is in a very profound sense a network of complex social relationships and interactions on the bases of common tradition, values, norms, language and worldview. Culture separates one human group from another; it similarly distinguishes humans from animals.

Culture therefore is the capsule that houses the economic system, science and technology, behavioural pattern, beliefs and religion of a people.

Christianity and Islam are as much aspect of culture as well as pop music and football. Space travel, automobiles, mobile phones, beer, oguro, kimono, sari, kembe, adamo music and a three piece suit are all fallouts of some cultures, in this sense. It goes without saying that the advanced nations of the world have been able to project their cultures in the bid for global hegemony construction. When you drink Coca-Cola, for instance, you are indirectly promoting a culture and from which a percentage of the cost is repatriated to the home country.

Festivals are veritable vehicles for cultural projection. For instance, Jews project their culture all over the world through festivals like Shabbat—The Sabbath, Rosh Hashanah—The Jewish New Year, Hanukkah— Festival of Lights, Yom Kippur—Day of Atonement and many others. You will note of course that Eid-Fitri and Eid-Kabir are Islamic festivals celebrated all over the Muslim world. The Octoberfest in Germany and Halloween are Europe-America festivals. It is therefore in order that we project Olojo, Iwude, Obanta and other festivals in Yorubaland that will project our culture. Our Kabiyesi should therefore be commended for this initiative.

The state government already has a tourism masterplan and has been developing it within the possible financial circumstances. What is most important now is for entrepreneurs and those interested to partner with the government in order for our state and people to benefit from this tourism money-spinner.

Excerpted From the speech delivered by the Director General of the Office of Economic Development and Partnerships (OEDP), Dr Charles ‘Diji Akinola, at the unveiling of Olojo Festival Logo to kick start the activities of the 2016 Olojo Festival, held at the Palace, on Friday September 9, 2016

Everything used for the fitting, fixtures and facilities in Aenon are not only of standard, but of high quality to the smallest tea spoon in the restaurant. A restaurant set up to offer the choice of any guest in continental and African dishes with staff who are experts in cuisines.

As the hotel cares for the food and sleep, it does for the drinking and physical development of the guests as it parades two inner bars and three outside bars for guests and visitors. All the bars are stocked with both exotic drinks of whisky, brandy, wines and beers. The food and drink can be processed physically in an ultra equipped gym which has an instructor on stand by.

Inside Aenon Suites building is the section for intellectual development. A conference hall which can accommodate only 170 people. A conference venue where the conferees need no worry about projector, slide, chairs or tables as all these facilities are already fitted there waiting for use.

Complimenting the large parking lot is the entertainment arena which is shielded off from outside peeping Toms which occupy almost two acres of land that harbour two swimming pools for adult and children, a Law Tennis cum Squash and Handball court, table tennis and table soccer tent, a recreational arena for kids, a bush hut and a Sauna bath grove.

Aenon also parades a sophisticated laundry apartment with the latest equipment of dry cleaning and ironing within minutes while guest hair can be taken care of by the saloons as the whole edifice is backed up with 100 kv and 300 kv power generating sets making no room for light out.

The Aenon suites is being tendered by seasoned staff who smiles at you and chaperone you as if you are about to be crowned as a king.”That is our job. We are being paid to make you happy and satisfied. Without this, we are not in business, “One of the staff revealed.

Testifying to Aenon first grade status in Osogbo, Otunba Abiola Oloke, “Aenon Suites, is a phenomenon not only on the street where is located, but in the hospitality history of Osun State. When it comes so luxury, comfort, splendour, standard and excellence in service, facilities and concept, no hotel in Osogbo can rival it. You need to check its deluxe room; it is fantastic, of quality, of taste and of splendour. It is one hotel which will take some time for others to beat. It is a hotel out of the blues.”

Revealing the concept behind the hotel, Mr Adedapo Ademola revealed “It is an answer to the quest of planting a first class and unbeatable international hotel of excellence in Osogbo. A hotel which a hospitality discerning guest will find it hard to fault both in soft and hardwares. It is planted solely to be the best and offer the best in service, facilities and in conduct. I am glad it is so. And it will be so as long as the Lord liveth. It is said that the taste of the pudding is in the eating. Plan your time and have a bite of what we offer, you will know that it is not rhetorics, but a reality that an intercontinental hotel is here. Right in Osogbo, State of Osun. You are welcome.”

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Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

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Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

with Tunde Dodondawa m:08029370304 e:mrdodondawa@yahoo.com

Competition, only way to economic revival in Nigeria —Jarmakani Mr Anwar Jarmakani is the Chairman of Nigerdock Plc, a member of the Jagal Group. In this interview with some select journalists, he expressed his concerns over imminent monopoly in the logistics sub-sector of the oil and gas sector which he claimed will double the cost of logistics in Nigeria. OLATUNDE DODONDAWA was there.

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AN you tell us about the issue of monopoly in the logistics sub-sector of oil and gas sector?

Nigeria must sell itself, we must sell what we are good at. We must sell what we need people to come and invest in. We need consistency of government policy.

We as a small company, we bring benefits to the nation. It is not about money but about what we do which we do professionally. Since 2003, Intels directly fought this company using government agencies like the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Customs, ministry of transport and every possible departments to absolutely harass us. We won projects of logistics from Shell, Chevron and ExxonMobil, a two-year process, we were awarded the projects in other to reduce their production cost. Intels sabotage the projects and killed them. With every possible accusations, they brought us to standstill. But that is history.

We developed these facilities and we have our auditors as KPMG. We have sunk in $500 million on this Island. We are not saying we want to invest, we have invested, we have proved to every oil company that we will serve them right. You cannot buy a 10-room apartment and be told you can only use two rooms. We are in logistics, we are into ship repairs and maintenance, we are in fabrication, we want to be allowed to do our business in compliance with the laws of Nigeria. We will do nothing that is not in alignment with the federal gov-

ernment of Nigeria. We are determined to support this government because we are in serious recession.

Currently, logistics in Nigeria adds between minimum $2-$4 extra cost to every barrel of crude oil produced in Nigeria due to monopoly. The monopoly created alone and we have researched, there is no law that says only Intels will receive cargoes before it can go to any other facility in Nigeria. This facility has been receiving cargoes since 1986.

Do you really have the capacity to handle these logistics?

We have trained 6000 people who have been trained and certified in various fields in area of fabrication, logistics, safety and all are relevant to our business. We have handled several projects for the International Oil Companies (IOCs). And we still need more jobs to provide more employment for Nigerians.

You have expressed deep concerns about imminent monopoly due to a directive you mentioned which directed all cargoes to berth at Intels facility before any other fabrication yards, can you expatiate on this?

There is something like a ‘project’ being sold in the country for many years that all oil and gas related services for incoming shipments into the country must first and only go into Intels facility before it can proceed into any other facility within Nigeria. We believe there is no such a law

Jarmakani and it doesn’t exist. We believe that Nigeria needs competition and no one must have a birth right to monopoly on goods and cargoes. The law is very clear, ‘you are free to choose the destination of your cargo for as long as the destinations do exist and do comply with the laws of the country which is Customs territory, the NPA approved and it has the infrastructure and licensed under the normal laws of the country’. We all fit within the category of the law. Therefore, we are saying that sometimes, the monopoly creates situations and made people believe that these cargoes can only be discharged at Onne Free Zone and only from Onne that it can go to other destinations. This means double cost to the government of Nigeria on crude oil production.

Is this related to what you said about additional cost to producing a barrel of crude oil?

When you have double handling of cargoes, it automatically resulted into double costs. That’s what it means. So if you han-

Chevron, ENN sign LNG sales, purchase agreement CHEVRON Corporation announced recently that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Chevron U.S.A. Inc., has signed a binding LNG Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with ENN LNG Trading Company Limited (ENN) for the delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China from Chevron’s global supply portfolio. Under the terms of the SPA, ENN will receive up to 0.65 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) of LNG over 10 years, with the first delivery expected to start in 2018 or the first half of 2019.

“Chevron’s commitment to gas is clear.

We’ve been in the natural gas business for more than 100 years, and we’re positioned to become one of the top LNG suppliers in the world,” said Mike Wirth, Executive Vice President, Chevron Midstream and Development.

“This SPA further demonstrates our work to expand our customer base, our strong customer relationships and our commitment to partnerships around the world,” he added.

ENN LNG Trading Company Limited is one of the subsidiaries of ENN Energy Holding Ltd., which is one of the largest

natural gas distribution companies in China. ENN Energy Holdings Ltd. operates in 150 cities across 17 provinces and autonomous regions, with over 12 million residential and 56 thousand industrial/ commercial customers. ENN’s Zhoushan LNG receiving terminal is being constructed and expected to be in operation by 2018.

The SPA delivery requirements are expected to be fulfilled by Chevron’s growing LNG portfolio, including the company’s Australian LNG interests at Gorgon, Wheatstone and the North West Shelf.

dle the cargo twice instead of one destination, it means you will pay the cost twice.

The cost of logistics on every barrel of crude oil produced in Nigeria is between $2-$4, according to experts.

In that case, can you tell us what Nigeria is losing to the logistics problems that you are talking about?

The current cost of logistics in Nigeria is in the region of $24 per barrel. This is unsustainable going forward. So the industry has to join some of those services in order to bring down the costs because crude oil is no longer above $100 per barrel. We are in the $40-$50 per barrel regime, therefore, the cost of logistics have to drop.

How to drop this is to encourage competition in more services and more locations in the environment.

What services does your company render?

Nigerdock Plc is a member of Jagal Energy Group. It is the leading indigenous Nigerian energy services company with diverse but related capabilities in complex oil and gas project delivery during both the greenfield and brownfield stages of an asset lifecycle.

The range of services offered include full Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), or stand alone engineering, procurement management, onshore and offshore fabrication, brown field modifications, fabric maintenance, asset maintenance management, ship building and repair, marine services, logistics and the associated base support services.

Nigerdock is strategically located in the Snake Island Integrated Free Zone and offers a fully integrated support service to the upstream oil and gas and broader energy sector.

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Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

NGA, NIPCo Plc call for special policy focus on gas utilisation

President, Nigeria Gas Association, Mr Biodun Osunsanya in a warm handshake with the Managing Director, NIPCo Plc, Mr Venkatapathy Venkataraman, during a visit by NGA Council to NIPCo Plc recently.

THE Nigeria Gas Association (NGA) and NIPCo Plc have called for special policy focus on gas utilisation by the Federal Government.

President of NGA, Mr Bolaji Osunsanya and the Managing Director, NIPCO Plc, Mr Venkatapathy Venkataraman, posited that for Nigeria to effectively harness her endowed gas resources there is need for a special policy focus on gas sector in the nation’s energy mix.

Speaking during a courtesy visit

by Osunsanya and some council members to NIPCo Plc, the NPA president maintained that Nigeria will only be often referred to as gas haven with low level of gas utilization if preeminence is not accorded the sector.

He also affirmed that there is need to give gas a new pride of place especially in the light of the nation’s economic predicament adding that gas development at the levels of exploration and utilisation needs new focus.

He appreciated the concerns of the management of NIPCo Plc led by its Managing Director, Mr Ven-

How China may frustrate Russia/Saudi Arabia rally

Olatunde Dodondawa with Agency Reports HILE countries like Nigeria and other oil producing countries including Saudi Arabia and Russia are putting strategies in place to move crude oil price north, a major crude oil consumer, China, may be working towards ensuring such strategies do not materialise.

China, the world’s largest crude oil consumer, has been increasing oil imports and feasting on the low crude oil prices. Chinese oil imports have increased to 32.85 million tons in August, the second highest figure after the record 33.19 million tons import figures of December 2015. It’s a 7 percent increase over the same period last year, and a 6 percent increase over July. Currently, the Asian giant imports 66 percent of its crude oil requirements.

“Chinese oil majors are no longer under orders to increase domestic production, as they were doing so at a loss,” said Adam Ritchie, Executive General Manager for supply at Caltex Australia Ltd. “China’s change to let economics decide between imports and domestic production is a big change,” reports Bloomberg.

Russia and Saudi Arabia, the two largest suppliers, have been battling it out to increase their market share in China. While Russia

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has increased its market share in China from 12.6 percent last year to 13.6 per cent this year, Saudi’s have seen their share dip from 15.1 per cent to 14 percent during the same period.

“There’s a market-share battle going on mainly among the Middle East producers and Russia,” Olivier Jakob, Managing Director of Petromatrix, said by phone from Zug, Switzerland. “Rivals are making a big push into China,” reports Bloomberg.

An agreement between both the competing producer nations reduces the bargaining power of the Chinese refiners, who had started to choose the spot sales offered by Russia against the long-term contracts policy of Saudi Arabia.

Nevertheless, the Chinese can breathe easy, because like many other experts globally, even the Chinese analysts are not confident that the deal between Saudi Arabia and Russia will result in any substantive action.

“It will be very difficult to implement this agreement, as the volume for each exporter country is different. Many countries - producers of oil and gas rely on exports, so they are unlikely to agree to the terms of the agreement,” a senior consultant for Sinopec, Yang Qixi said.

However, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Khalid Al-Falih,

is optimistic that other large oil producers will join forces with Russia and Saudi Arabia to take appropriate steps to stabilize the markets.

“We are optimistic that Algiers meeting will provide a forum, and pre-Algiers that consultations which will take place bilaterally and in groups will bring us to Algiers with some sort of coordinated decisions. But the two countries agree that even if there is no consensus, we will be willing to take joint action when necessary,” said Al-Falih.

Along with this, China and the U.S. announced their formal joining of the Paris agreement.

China has to wean the economy away from the use of fossil fuels if it expects to achieve its target of carbon emissions by 2030. In order to realize this shift, China will have to make an initial investment of $5.2 trillion in lean energy technologies, which will lead to $8.3 trillion in savings by 2050, according to a study, Reinventing fire: China.

Hence, as a major importer of oil, China will want the recently announced cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Russia to fail so prices will remain low. If that happens, China can postpone investments into fossil fuels and divert that money towards clean technology, which will help it to reduce its carbon footprint.

Russian President Vladimir Pu-

tin is keen to reach an agreement with OPEC to freeze oil production in hopes of prices regaining strength. With the U.S. shale boom supplying most of North America, OPEC has increased production to maintain their market share. This has caused massive price reductions, putting many countries at a loss. Two years ago crude oil was priced at around $100/barrel, but in today’s inundated market it rests below $50.

Iran’s sanctions were recently lifted, allowing it to reenter the oil market and resume production.

World leaders agree that Iran needs to continue growth and shouldn’t be included in this production freeze. To remain at the crippled production level would constrict Iran’s GDP growth, which is now being forecasted as high as six per cent.

Back in April however, at a meeting in Doha, Prince bin Salman of Saudi Arabia complicated talks by expressing a desire to include Iran in the freeze. This halted the deal and more talks will be necessary before moving forward. Saudi Arabia sees Iran as a competitor. If Iran is able to restore production to a level that is similar to that of before sanctions were imposed, Saudi Arabia could stand to lose some of its market share. Saudi Arabia produces over 10 million barrels/day and continues to steadily grow.

katapathy Venkataraman, in calling for attention to the gas sector at the highest level of governance to further galvanize all stakeholders to support the advocacy in this direction for the needed industry growth.

According to him, “there is a sense in focussing on gas whether you do it by creating a special ministry or you make sure it has a special focus in policy initiatives.”

He counseled that in the interim, the ministry that supervises gas should make it a priority stressing that through such initiatives, corporate bodies like NIPCo Plc will perform better in the sector.

Mr Osunsanya acknowledged the splendid contribution of NIPCo Plc to the sector so far noting that the association is proud of its achievement.

The NGA President enjoined the planning committee of the forthcoming NGA Biennial Conference /Exhibition to ensure that primacy of place is given to the company to exhibit its gas powered vehicles at the event to further showcase the development.

He told his host that conscious effort should be made to bring at least one of the CNG converted vehicle to the event for practical demonstration of how it works and also to showcase testimonies from those already using the automobiles.

According to him, “it will not only be a good fora to do advocacy for more gas powered vehicles in the country but also let the populace see the inherent benefits of allowing your vehicles run on gas in comparism with white fuels.”

In his speech, the NIPCo Plc boss, Mr Venkataraman, told his guests that a great future lies ahead for the country in the gas sector in the country not only in view of the abundance resource but also in terms of its utilization either for power generation for domestic uses and savings of foreign exchange in fuel importation.

Mr Venkataraman informed that NIPCO remains a key player in the sector both in the realms of gas usage as auto fuel and for domestic purposes across the country.

In the area of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) otherwise called cooking gas, he said the company has put in place massive gas storage facility with attendant distribution network through scores of gas trucks as well as new gas skids in some of its branded service stations.

He argued that in the areas of using natural gas as auto fuel and powering of machines, the company in a joint venture with Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) inaugurated seven gas stations in the city of Benin and a compression plant at Ibafo, Ogun State to improve access by motorists and industrial concerns.

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Wednesday, 13 September, 2016 Group Politics Editor Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 tai_adis@yahoo.com

Ondo 2016: Suspense as aspirants await Appeal Committee’s verdict on APC ticket The Election Appeal Committee on the governorship primary in Ondo State is set to announce its verdict shortly, writes HAKEEM GBADAMOSI.

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HERE is huge expectation and suspense in the ranks of the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The anxiety is occasioned by issues surrounding the ticket of the party for the governorship election in the state slated for November 26, 2016. The suspense heightened following the hoopla that trailed the result of the governorship primary conducted about two weeks ago, in which a former president of the Nigerian Bar association (NBA), Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) was declared winner. While some of the other contenders almost simultaneously conceded defeat, others remonstrated alleging electoral irregularities. Even one of the leading contestants, Dr Olusegun Abrham, who initially conceded victory, recanted based on the same allegations. He had joined the ranks of Chief Oluwole Oke in kicking against the alleged gross manipulation of the process that threw up the winner of the intra-party contest. However, both Professor Ajayi Boroffice, and Dr Bode Ayorinde , who are members of the current National Assembly heave refused to join the fray.

Before the conduct of the primary, the APC national organising secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, had inaugurated a f ive-member Election Committee and threemember Election Appeal Committee. The election committee, chaired by Jigawa State Governor, Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar, had other members as Dr. Bruce Ugbode (Secretary), Hon. Hamma Adama Ali, Prince M. Martins and Engr. Mohammed Lawal. For the Election Appeal Committee headed by Mrs. Helen Bendega, the other members are Alhaji. Musa Umar (secretary) and Nikky Ejezie. Ecah of the teams promised to be fair and just in carrying out their assignments.

Post-primary issues Part of the allegations was the delegates’ list for the primary was tampered with a few hours to the election.

Thus, Chief Oke and Dr Abraham,described the result of the election as fraudulent and unacceptable. Oke alleged in a statement issued 24 hours after the election, that the postponement of the election twice was “as we later learnt from the process of the primary, to allow time to perfect the rigging strategy of the primaries to return a pre-agreed aspirant. The illicit substitution of the delegates’ list officially given to the aspirants from Abuja,less than 12 hours to the primary was meant to allow persons who were never members of the executive of the party to participate as voters in the primaries.

Oke, who spoke through the Director General of his campaign Organisation, Bola Fisayo, declared: “Let the people of Ondo State and in particular members of the APC in the state not be deceived, what they saw on television as a process was a voodoo. The primary election was everything but credible primary.”

Similar, Dr Abraham asserted that “the result was unacceptable to him considering the staggering facts of anomalies that have since emerged to the demerit of the exercise” Crying foul through the Director General of his campaign Organisation, Chief Olu Adegboro, Abraham was aghast that the “gale of allegations and facts of malpractices that have since marred the conduct and process of the Ondo gubernatorial primary election. “it is now beyond doubt that the delegates’ list used on the day of

Akeredolu

Abraham

Oke

Boroffice

the primary election was doctored and strangely injected with a mind blowing number of delegates who are neither executive members of our party nor statutory delegates.

To say the least, the manipulation of the delegates’ list, highly skewed accreditation process and the entire processes leading to the conduct of the primary election has cast the darkest stain on the result of the primary election held on the 3rd September, 2016….To this end, the out-

come of the September 3, APC governorship primaries in Ondo State is unacceptable and I hereby appeal against same.”

Also, some leaders of the party in the state in their petition alleged fraud in the election and called for a fresh exercise.The petition signed by chairman of the party in the Central, East and West senatorial districts, Messrs continues on pg25

politics&policy The challenges of FCT administration 25

Wednesday, 13 September, 2016

By Yagana Bamya

T

HERE is no doubt Abuja is a unique city that all of us as Nigerians feel very proud of. It’s the only city in the entire country that is a creation of law; a city that was created when the founding fathers some 40 years ago decided to get a place that is going to be the centre of unity for all. Abuja is a project in progress, a city that was designed and planned to be developed in 25 years into 74 districts, as well as sector centres with integrated infrastructure. Thus, we all have our passion and feelings about this city.

But, what type of city did the FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, inherit in November 2015 when he assumed office? He met a city where facilities are grossly overstretched because they were meant to cater for a very much lower population than what we currently have. Though the concept was to have Abuja as the administrative centre for the country, along the line there was population surge due to various reasons, including economic, social and religious problems in various parts of the country because most of the federating units seem not to be working.

In fact, he met a city where the planning and the concept initially envisaged by the founding fathers was gradually being eroded and being bypassed. The city was developing towards some level of chaos; chaos in service delivery, chaos in traffic management and some level of chaotic development in terms of buildings, infrastructure and social facilities. Bello met a city where a number of the contractors had stopped work, laid off staff and abandoned sites; many uncompleted projects due to deliberate refusal by previous administrations to fund these critical projects that have led to the myriad

Bello of problems which many perceive as a sign of poor performance on the part of the present administration.

The Apo - Karshi road for instance, is a mere 14km road project that was scheduled to be completed in December of 2011, but was starved of funds and abandoned until the present administration took the bull by the horn and provided N1.5 billion in the 2016 budget to complete the very important road to provide alternative route to motorists coming into the city from the NyanyaMararaba axis.

The same fate was what befell many parts of the city and Satellite Towns, where deliberate refusal to relocate indigenous settlements away from the city center, had hindered the completion of critical infrastructure within the city centre, thus leading to the ugly situ-

ations you find around places like Garki village, Utako, Jabi, Mabushi districts, and a host of others. Because the road and sewage networks have not been completed and fully integrated, the roads are usually flooded with storm water any time there is heavy downpour while the drainages are blocked with refuse sometimes recklessly dumped by residents who cannot observe simple hygienic habits but are expecting the government to everything for them including cleaning of their household toilets.

What did the Minister do? First and foremost, the contractors were encouraged to return back to site. From the record, throughout 2015, there were no capital releases to the FCT Administration until in December of 2015. So, basically, for 11 months, no payments were made. It also became necessary to request for the extension of the budget by additional three months, so as to be able to mobilize all available resources to pay the contractors. That’s why you will notice during the last few months, some semblance of construction activities have returned to the city. Construction works on the roads and other critical infrastructure are now being continued. The essential part of the liability especially for the smaller sized companies were paid and encouraged to continue to provide the services that they were expected to be providing.

Basically, the whole idea was to try and wake the city up and return to what it used to be. Of course, all of these are being done against the backdrop of serious funding challenges, which is a reality we are all facing as a nation but which also will make us stronger as a people, make us prioritize our objectives and obligations and above all, appreciate the need to be prudent managers of resources.

No doubt, many Nigerians would love to

see the FCT develop and grow as a model capital city and to this end they usually write and speak firmly against any perceived shortcomings. But when these socio-political criticisms are made out of outright ignorance, they create more problems for the Nigerian State than they are intended to solve.

Some people appear to be speaking in a manner that one would have thought they were contributing to the genuine efforts targeted at the development of the city but only ended up displaying sheer ignorance on the activities and the initiatives taken by Bello since his assumption of office. It is really surprising and disheartening too, for any discerning individual to feign ignorance of the remarkable feats so far recorded by the Minister and his team. For the avoidance of doubt, the Change Agenda of the government means putting all things aright but however, not with impunity like it used to be in the past.

There are some, who recently, even talk obliviously that the minister considers himself a superman who can deliver by a solo effort, which definitely is mischievous at best.

Since the Minister has answered such critics in his recent outing at the NUJ Abuja Council Special Congress meeting, there seems to be a change of style to the mischief. Thus, the running of the FCT Administration and indeed Abuja, has not in any way suffered because everything has been moving as planned. The Minister is equal to the task of effectively and efficiently managing the affairs of the Federal Capital Territory and that would always be done in accordance to extant rules. Moreover, bureaucrats led by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye have been giving the right guidance.

•Bamya, is a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja.

The camps of aspirants continued from pg24

Adegboyega Adedipe, Akintunde Samuel and Adeola Ademulegun respectively, said the result failed to reflect the reality of the election.They alleged that “A strange delegates’ list was introduced on the night of the election after everybody had gone to sleep only for us to wake up in the morning of the election to see a massively corrupted delegates’ list.”

“Names of 47 per cent of the delegates in Ondo East were either deleted or substituted with people who are unknown to the party as executive members. Some of the injected names are not even aware of the development and so did not come for the primary election. In all, a total of 64 names were injected into the delegates’ list. The names were unknown to the party. For instance, somebody who never contested any election, and some even unknown to the party suddenly became ward chairmen in wards four, six, two and seven of Ondo East Local Government.Our total valid delegates are 135 out of which 64 were disenfranchised, meaning 47 of the delegates on the unlawful list were illicit voters. While Akeredolu got 669 votes at the primaries, Abraham got 635 votes.”

Chief Oke, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2012 governorship election, specifically alleged that some names of the delegates were removed from the delegates’ list while nondelegates were allegedly allowed to vote.

According to him, the delegates’ list was shown to the aspirants at the eleventh hour and there was no adequate time to

scrutinise the list by most of the aspirants.

He alleged further that about 110 names belonging to Oke’s camp were removed from both Ondo East and West Local Governments while their names were replaced with non-executive members of the party.

He said, “There was nothing we could do at that particular time. I can confirm to you that 80 per cent of those that cast their votes for Abraham came from Oke’s camp. The election did not represent the true position of the delegates, the accreditation gave room for manipulation and the whole process was laced with fraud and the result released did not represent the true reflection of the delegates as nondelegates were allowed to participate in the election.”

Appeal Committee Since last Tuesday, the Appeal Committee commenced its assignment after receiving petitions from the aggrieved members in the Ondo APC on the way and manner the primary was conducted.

A member of the committee, Alhaji Musa

Kekemeke Umar, confirmed the development. “We have started sitting. I can only confirm

This, according to most observers, is because of its (Appeal Committee’s verdict’s) immediate and long term implications as parties prepare for the real election on November 26 in the state.

two petitions which we received yesterday (Tuesday) but we understand there are others at the (party) secretariat which we are expecting will be brought for us to consider,” he was quoted as saying.

Barring any unforeseen circumstance, speculations were rife on Tuesday that the committee could turn in its report to the appropriate organ of the APC to announce the report of the committee.

Checks by Nigerian Tribune showed that the committee invited all the aggrieved aspirants to give their own side of the story concerning the primary. It was learnt that they were required to give oral evidence to corroborate the sweeping allegations contained in the petitions and video documents before the committee.

It could not be established as of press time if the evidence of the aggrieved contestants were sufficiently weighty to upturn the outcome of the primary, though some sources claimed the petitioners failed to do their home work very well in respect of issues and facts to substantiate their allegations. Consequently, many of the party members are already looking towards how the APC tackle the issue of reconciliation, with a number of party buffs saying Akeredolu will need to do more in that regard.

Be that as it may, the various stakeholders in Ondo APC are expectant, anxious and curious about the likely verdict of the appeal committee. This, according to most observers, is because of its immediate and long term implications as parties prepare for the real election on November 26 in the state.

26

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

maka nd’igbo

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

Edmark moves to tackle unemployment in Igboland Jude Ossai - Enugu

"L

OVE changes everything.

Even resolving company's internal conflict requires love instead of punishment".

These were the words of Mr Tham

cinity. As early as 8 am on the said day, the venue of the event was already besieged with people that cut across class, race and religion.

Among the audience were traditional rulers, religious leaders, health workers, traders and teachers as well as students.

Cheewah, Chief Branding Officer of Edmark International, a multinational company, during its September 9, 2016 seminar held at Oakland Recreational Hall in Enugu. The main focus of the gathering is to tackle unemployment in Igboland as stated by the organiser.

Maka Ndigbo, which was at the event, observed that in addition to the inspirational talk, a book entitled " 4 Pillars of Success" written by the founder and chairman of the company, Mr Sam Low, was showcased to the audience who came in their large number from the five states of the Southeast geo-political zone namely; Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. Ironically, the recent closure of the Oakland Amusement Park, situated on the Ebeano Flyover Bridge, by the Enugu State government, over an accident that claimed lives of two children in the premises during recreation, did not stop visitors from attending the seminar in the vi-

In the book, Mr Low, among others, asked: "How does one incorporate love in running a business? Is it possible to plan and manage a business with love instead of fear?

To Mr Low, the four pillars of success, which he expounded as gratitude, abun-

Participants at the event.

Enugu police arrest six armed robbery suspects Jude Ossai - Enugu THE people of Adani and its environs can now heave a sigh of relief following the arrest, by Enugu police, of six youths suspected to be members of an armed gang who had been terrorising the area for quite some time.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amarizu, who made this known, said the hoodlums were picked up by security operatives at Adani, adding that the suspects had been terrorising innocent people at Opanda, Nimbo and Adani Axis of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the state and its environs.

Amarizu said that the suspects, who gave their names as Ernest Umeh,

The robbery suspects on parade.

Okwudili Ugwuoke, Sunday Agbo, Arinze Agu, Ezeata Ugochukwu, Arinze Agu and Nnamdi Ojobo, were helping the police in their investigations in relation to their alleged nefarious activities ranging from armed robberies, burglary, amongst others.

He disclosed that the suspects were taking off guard by the operatives at various locations following a tip off from members of the public.

The police image maker said that items recovered from the suspects included locally made guns, two short axes, television set, DVD, six handsets suspected to have been snatched from their various victims, standing fan,

amongst others.

According to him, "the leader of the gang, Ernest Umeh, in his reaction, regretted every bit of their actions and blamed the entire situation on Satan and promised not to follow the evil ways if he was left off the hook.

He further said that the state Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu, applauded the efforts of his men and the synergy between his operatives and members of the community, adding that the command, under his watch, would continue to partner communities, sister security agencies and all relevant stakeholders to ensure a safe and secured environment.

dance, love and compassion, answer the questions as they will empower everyone to live a life that creates great wealth, good health and harmonious relationship no matter one's field of business or operational geography.

According to him, "Our mission is to be fully committed to helping people succeed in health, wealth and total well-being.

Ever since Edmark started his journey in Nigeria with its set mission in mind, the company has continuously provided job opportunities through its network marketing business and promotion of healthier lifestyle through its quality food supplement" "We have come to Enugu the heartland of Igboland to create employment for the people through our networking business system. Many people have benefitted from the business and I believe the people from this part of the country will embrace the project", he added.

Edmark recommended four steps for weight loss which include detoxifying one's colon."

After 18 years of kingship tussle, pharmarcist wins Ogidi stool Suzy Oruya - Onitsha IT was jubilation galore as people of Ogidi Community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State elected a renowned pharmacist, Chief Alexander Uzo Onyido, as their new traditional ruler after 18 years of kingship tussle in the community.

The election, which was conducted at the community town hall Uru Ogidi, attracted who is who, including the indigenes of the town in the Diaspora, but few minutes into the commencement of the election, the co- contestant with the Igwe elect, Chief Albert Obi Ezegbo, having read the handwriting on the wall and in order to allow peace to reign in his town, humbly, in the public, announced his withdrawal from the race, thus stepping down for the new Igwe elect.

The stepping down of Chief Ezegbo, it was learned, brought about endless joy in Ogidi Community as youths, elders, women and even octogenarians danced to the 'heaven on earth' palace of the Igwe elect.

In his acceptance speech, Igwe Alexander Uzo Onyido, thanked his subjects for calling him to serve them. In his words; "It is with deep sense of responsibility and humility that I stand before you all today to communicate my acceptance to hold the highly exalted office of Igwe Ogidi," he said.

I sincerely promise to discharge the duties of that office faithfully, zealously, conscientiously and to the best of my ability, to the glory of God Almighty and to the general welfare of Ogidi people.

"I must salute the courage and assiduity of the President General, Chief Chuka Onubuogu and members of the town union executives and various steering committees for planning and executing the election process successfully, despite determined efforts by some disgruntled elements to frustrate and truncated the exercise."

27

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

features

Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 08111845048

Development levy in Unity Schools:

More reactions trail FG’s decision

MODUPE GEORGE and NAZA OKOLI sought the views of stakeholders including parents and teachers on the restriction placed on PTA levies in Unity Schools by the Federal Government.

R

ECENTLY, the Federal Ministry of Education, led by Mallam Adamu Adamu, announced the prohibition the development levies paid by the Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) in Unity Colleges across the country in a bid to ease the financial pressures on parents.

The prohibition issued by the ministry and signed on behalf of the minister by the Deputy Director (Press), Ben Bem Goong, in Abuja, was with immediate effect, that no unity school was allowed to initiate any development project without the express or written authorisation of the Federal Ministry of Education.

The new development, according to the statement issued by the ministry of education, is aimed at arresting the trend where development levies imposed on parents

by PTAs are becoming higher than the school fees charged by government which established the Unity Schools.

The minister cited the cases of Kings’ College Lagos, and Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba where PTA collections for first term stood at N70,000 and N74,000 respectively per child and while the total fees charged by government for JSS1 students in the first term is N69,400.

Running additional organisations such as National Parents/Teachers Association of Federal Government Colleges (NAPTAFEGC), Malam Alamu added, increases the burden on parents who hardly differentiate between government charges and PTA levies.

Reactions Meanwhile, the declaration by the Federal Ministry of Education has generated a lot of complaints and grievances from stakeholders one of which was the recent emergency meeting of Parents/Teachers Association of Federal Government Colleges in the South-West, held in Ibadan.

They informed that the so-called PTA levy was used to engage and pay teaching and non-teaching staff, and to also provide scholarship for indigent students, adding that about 500 students were benefiting from the PTA welfare scheme.

The association then pleaded with the Federal Government to go back on its decision, saying that government’s insistence on its position would have unfavourable effects on the voluntary and communal developmental efforts in the Federal Government colleges especially in areas of academic performance and infrastructural development.

Speaking to Nigerian Tribune, the chairman, Federal Government Girls College, Oyo, Mr Ishaaq Bello, said the FG’s decision could bring down the unity schools.

According to him, “Most of the development we have in unity schools today would not have been if not for the PTAs; the unity schools cannot exist without the PTAs and I’m proud to say that.

“Sometime in the term we just ended, the students were asked to go on holiday compulsorily; this has never been in the history of the school. We expected them to vacate around April. They don’t vacate the same time with other students; but then, a memo was circulated that within two days that they should vacate and we got to know that the reason was due to the fact that the principals were not given the subvention that they normally receive from the Federal Government and the fund wasn’t adequate to run the system.”

Concerning the development levy charged, he said, “We use that money to assist the school in the area of

If the government insists on its decision, there would not be any problem so far it would be ready to rise up to its responsibility

development and in my own school it is just N2,500; all altogether the PTA levy per term is N 6,500.

“Let me give you the breakdown of the N6,500 that we charge, N2,000 is meant for the development levy, N 2,000 for the PTA’s staff salary, both the teaching and non-teaching staff, and then N2,500 is meant for the PTA fund. “ “This is a school founded in the 70s. I can say that any new structure that you see in the school today does not belong to the government. In fact, in the school, our assistance cuts across everywhere. In the kitchen, we supply them with coolers, cooking utensils, we even pay food subsidy. All of this is down due to the poor funding by the Federal Government.”

On the decision of pegging the PTA levy to N5000, he expressed fear that things may not augur well as a result of this decision in the long run.

“If the government insists on its decision, there would not be any problem so far it would be ready to take up to its responsibility.”

Meanwhile, according Mrs N. Olawumi, who is a parent at the unity school, said the PTA levy per term was on the high side.“Rather, the acclaimed N5,000 should be reduced; when the money is too much some people would be feeding on it. The Federal Government should rise up to its responsibilities at the unity schools level, if not these children would suffer,” she said.

Another parent, Mrs F. Folayan, felt the payment of PTA levy should be stopped. She noted: “Initially we were pay-

ing N3,500 before it was increased to N6, 500. I would be grateful if the levy could be cancelled completely, instead of it being reduced to N5,000.”

Mr A. Charles, a teacher at the school, said, “I know very well that the PTA levy is well targeted towards the school’s development. More so, I know very well that the PTA teachers are well paid and as at when due.”

According to Chief Emmanuel Oriakhi, Chairman PTA of King’s College, Lagos, parents saw the need to rescue the situation when it became clear that the Federal Government could not do “everything that needs to be done.”

“Our aim as parents is simply to maintain the high standard of the college. We don’t want it to get down to the level where other schools are. In order to maintain that, parents have opted to do so many things, because the government is not doing everything that needs to be done.”

“So we decided to step in and that’s why we are building a five-storey hostel project, and it is 80 per cent completed, and students are already using it as dining hall.

It is a multi-million naira project that the PTA is about to complete. That is why we are a bit worried about the disruption of the system.”

Similarly, The PTA Chairman of Queen’s College, Lagos, Mrs Beatrice Akhetuamen, told Nigerian Tribune that no fewer than 45 members of the college staff were employed by the PTA. She further disclosed that the association disburses nearly N4 million every month to settle salaries and other recurrent expenses.

“At QC (Queen’s College) for instance, the few PTA buildings are where the school houses all the junior students,” she said. “That means half the population of that school. There is no water from any government tap that runs in the school; PTA took up that responsibility. We have 45 teachers in this school who were employed by the PTA. We pay them up to N1.7 million every month. The two drivers that have just retired, we had to employ them back so that the school can have enough drivers. So we pay nothing less than N3.97 million, every month, and close to N15 million is paid every term. There are many intervention projects that the PTA has embarked on.

“So, I wonder how we can continue to cope if the development levy is stopped.”

28 features

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

At summit, NSCDC calls for synergy to fight crime

By Adewale Oshodi

W

ORRIED by the rising crime rate across the country, the Oluyole Local Government, Oyo State Divisional Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) recently convened a security meeting in order to sensitise members of the public on the security challenges facing them, and how they can cooperate with security agents in order to have a safe environment.

With the theme, “Proactive Measures in Combating Crimes Within the Civil Populace,” the summit was aimed at creating awareness among members of the public that it is not only the security agents that have roles to play in curbing crimes in the society.

Speaking at the summit, the state NSCDC Commandant, Mr John Oyedokun Adewoye, commended the Oluyole Division Command for the summit, saying it would go a long way in making the public realise that they even have more to do in the area of curbing crime.

“When a crime is committed, people are quick to blame it on the police or NSCDC officials not arriving on time to apprehend the culprits, but there is limit to what we can do without the support of members of the public. Most of us think that officials of the security agencies are magicians, and that their responsibilities include just arriving at the scene of a crime and apprehending the culprits immediately.

“The truth is that members of the public have more roles to play in curbing crime now than the security agents because these criminals are some people’s husbands, brothers, sons, friends, and they live with us.

“And if you don’t volunteer information to

A cross section of NSCDC officers at the security summit. the security agencies, then it will be difficult for us to apprehend these criminals.

“While security agencies have their roles to play, members of the public also have theirs; a father who knows that his children is using hard drugs but doesn’t see anything wrong in it, or couldn’t find time to report him to officials of the NDLEA, then he is not helping that child, as well as the society.

“A mother who discovers her son is living beyond his means and could not find time to report him to the police is also not helping the society.

“If we tackle all these problems at the family level, then it won’t spill over to the society, and that is why I want to say that security agencies need information to succeed in their assignments,” the Oyo NSCDC boss said.

In his remarks, the NSCDC Oluyole Divi-

sional Officer, Mr Adebayo Ajagbe, said the summit was organised to create a parley between members of the public and security officials in the council area.

“The public must begin to see security officials as friends, and should be willing to volunteer information to them in order to help in their assignments of tackling crime.

“When the public volunteer information, then crime will be tackled at the initial stage before it degenerates further,” Mr Ajagbe said.

Also, the chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Mr Kola Orelope, admitted that there was little the security agents could do without information, saying that providing them with information would help in making their work easier.

“Many people dread giving security agents information because they feel it could implicate them, but that was in the

past. Today, security officials have also been sensitised on the need to have special relationship with the public in order to make their jobs easier.

“I am, therefore, calling on my people to be ready to assist the security agencies by volunteering information that can lead to the arrest of criminals, or information that can help prevent crime being committed.

“Do not be afraid; when they tell you to be coming for some period, just go, as you are doing such for the society, and the security agents will also know you are giving your time in order to curb or prevent crime in the society,” the local government boss said.

At the summit were officials of the Nigeria police, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), with each of the agencies making presentations on areas they needed the support of members of the public.

Relief as foundation gives back to society

By Vera Onana IT was a real display of beautiful emotions and heartwarming gratitude on Friday, September 9, 2016, when Sola Olagunju Foundation (SOF), a non-governmental organization hosted people from over four local government areas in Oyo State for an empowerment, sensitization and medical outreach programme, tagged ESMOP 2016.

Drugs as well as sewing and grinding machines were distributed to beneficiaries from Ido, Oluyole, Lagelu, Ona Ara Local Government Areas and environs.

Speaking at the event, President/CEO of the foundation,Chief Olusola Olagunju, established that the foundation’s goal was taking care of the less privileged, the widows and handicapped, stating that the empowerment, sensitization and medical outreach was a huge part of their mission, as well as giving scholarships.

“We think that so many people are impoverished and in such a situation, reaching out will make a lot of lives better. I would advise other well-doing Nigerians to do the same. It will go a long way to mitigate, if not totally eradicate delinquency and several other vices exhibited by certain groups of people.”

Odeleye Aminat from Ajangboju village in the Lagelu Local Government Area, Oyo State was a beneficiary at the event. She said “All I did was to fill the empowerment forms and here I am today, a happy beneficiary. I am a fashion designer and it has been some years since I stopped being an apprentice

A beneficiary being attended to by one of the facilitators at the event. but I have not been able to gather the money for a sewing machine. Today, through SOF God has answered my prayer. I am the owner of a brand new sewing machine. I appreciate SOF greatly. This body is positively driving the progress of Nigeria and I pray that it will keep attaining greater heights.”

Kolajo Olaniyi, the director, social welfare services, Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Development, Social Wel-

fare and Poverty Alleviation spoke highly of the good works SOF has done so far in Oyo State.

“I feel very excited to be a part of this event. I can see the foundation we launched is progressing because I witnessed its commissioning in 2005. From the report being submitted quarterly to the ministry, it shows that SOF is in this for serious business. The Oyo State government is in full

support of this vision. We have been partnering with this foundation and through it, SOF has impacted into the lives of over 3000 people. They come in different categories. There are the people with disabilities, the less privileged whom the foundation sponsors their education and the people living in the orphanage. There is also another set of people, who are the widows. SOF is doing greatly in empowerment and I want to believe that in another 10 years, the foundation would have been more elaborate. It is also becoming an international brand because it is reaching out to people outside the country. The ministry is even recommending the foundation.”

Foluke Ademokun, the executive coordinator of Ajoke Aishat Afolabi Foundation, who was also at the event in solidarity said, “Being here today goes beyond just showing solidarity. It is networking. If you look carefully at the 17 sustainable development goals, the 17th goal is about partnership, collaboration. We cannot do it alone. We must help each other develop capacity and identify gaps, that way we can enhance quality. Also, collectively, we can engage other stakeholders like the government. SOF has been consistent in terms of empowerment and sensitization and if SOF continues like this, SOF will not only have beneficiaries but partners; people that will be ready to work with them and give back.

“If we all continue like this, no one will be left behind. I see government doing its part as well because they will begin to see NGOs as partners.”

29

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

PHOTOS: TOMMY ADEGBITE & SYLVESTER OKORUWA

EID-EL-KABIR CELEBRATIONS

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and his wife, Olufunso, with children, during the Eid-el Kabir celebration at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Tuesday.

Children having fun at Parkland, Maryland, Lagos.

One of the fun seekers at Parkland, Maryland, Lagos.

Other cross section of children having fun at Parkland, Maryland, Lagos.

Enjoyment galore at Shoprite, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Eid-el-Kabir funseekers at Shoprite in Ibadan.

Another set of fun seekers at Shoprite.

Picknicker enjoying herself at the Shoprite.

30

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

ecoscope

Nigerian Tribune

with Doyin Adeoye

m:08038000394 e:doyinadeoye@tribuneonlineng.com t:@kreatif_ink

Laboratory Technologist carrying out chemical analysis on the samples at Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State.

In Makoko area of Yaba, Lagos State, dwellers shower and defecate on the water from which they drink.

VICTOR OGUNYINKA, curious about the effect of this on their health, embarked on an investigative mission to the community and took various water samples from the community to the laboratory, and the results explain the danger which lack of potable water exposes Makoko people to in a community surrounded by water.

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HE United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), article 24 on the convention on the right of children states that “Children have the right to the best health care possible, to safe drinking water, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment and the information to stay healthy.”

Somewhere in Lagos State, precisely in Makoko, Yaba, over 10,000 Nigerians, including children are living in a condition that negates this child right act.

The first sight at the river bank of the community was that of a toddler, about three years old, squatting at the edge of a floating boat, defecating inside the lagoon.

It wasn’t long before I discovered that that was a way of life and common practice as another boy, not more than 10 years, was also using the water for convenience.

For more than five decades, the only life people living in a part of Makoko know is the life on water; they have managed to embrace, procreate, do their various businesses on the lagoon water, which is less than one kilometre from the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos.

One cannot talk about the story of Makoko water community without mentioning the popular floating school (now demolished by rainfall), which as a result, leaves thousands of children with the option of only one other school left in the whole community.

The interesting and startling fact about these beautiful people is that they are not complaining about the life they live.

With very little government presence, if there is none at all, the people are structured to provide everything they have and need for themselves.

The black, stench water in which they are surrounded with serves as their major road, which is flooded by fleets of canoes owned by almost everybody dwelling in the com-

One of the channels where residents fetch their water in Makoko, Yaba, Lagos State. PHOTOS: VICTOR OGUNYINKA.

Makoko: Where people live on acidic water dangerous for human consumption munity. The canoes, paddled by both young and old, are used as a tool for hawking, transportation and other commercial activities, but what is more striking are not the activities on the water, but also the condition of the water where all these activities are carried out.

On a curious investigative tour of the Makoko community on how healthy the water body is to carry out any kind of activities at all, it was discovered that the condition of the water is capable of causing an epidemic of water-borne disease on the long run.

Residents walk, sometimes barefooted on the waterways, filled with urine and floating molecules of faeces.

Speaking with a couple of residents, including children who mostly spoke on a condition of anonymity, it was learnt that with the ‘unhealthy’ condition of the water, surprisingly, malaria and typhoid are still not a common place for the dwellers living in that community.

Speaking with Ecoscope, the director of the only school in the settlement, Whanyinna Nursery and Primary School, Mr Shemede Noah, who was born and bred on the waterfront, he explained that children in that community rarely fall sick to malaria or typhoid than others living on the mainland.

Also, another dweller, a transporter and our tour guide during the visit, simply identified as ‘D Boy’ revealed that there are different sources of water for drinking in the community and there is a source of pipe borne water, where majority depend on for consumption.

In the quest for getting the health condition of these waters, samples of the black water, sachet water and the pipe borne water labelled samples A, B and C respectively were collected and tested in the laboratory.

The chemical and microbiological analysis of the water was carried out at the Faculty

of Science, Leads City University, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The parameters tested for include the pH (from potential of Hydrogen), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), total hardness, acidity, total alkalinity and total bacterial count.

While analysing the result of the samples, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Lead City University and professor of nutritional biochemistry, Professor Olusola Ladokun-Okunola, concluded that all the samples needed treatment before they could be consumed.

Professor Ladokun-Okunola explained that the pH indicates the intensity of the acidic or basic character of a solution and is controlled by the dissolved chemical compounds and biochemical processes in the solution.

“The pH of most natural waters is between 6.0 and 8.5, although lower values can occur in dilute waters high in organic content and higher values in eutrophic water (rich in nutrients and so supporting a dense plant population, the decomposition of which kills animal life by depriving it of oxygen).

“The pH of the three samples ranged from 5.9 to 6.6, showing that the water is mildly acidic; Sample C has a pH of 5.9, which is outside the range expected for most natural water, this could be due to high organic content present in the water sample.

“The acidity of the water samples ranged from 133mg/l to 175mg/l, which is high compared to the total alkalinity, which ranged from 32mg/l to 58mg/l,” she said.

While analysing the result of the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) on the samples, Professor Ladokun-Okunola stated that oxygen is essential to all forms of aquatic life, including organisms responsible for the self-purification processes in natural waters.

“The oxygen content of natural waters

varies with temperature, salinity, turbulence, the photosynthetic activity of algae and plants and atmospheric pressure.

“The solubility of oxygen decreases as temperature and salinity increase. In fresh water, the DO at sea level ranges from 15mg/l at 0oC to 8mg/l at 25oC. None of the samples under study have Dissolved Oxygen up to 8mg/l at 25oC. The DO for these samples ranged from 6.7 to 7.2mg/l, which shows that the water bodies in that community is high on organic content, which used up its oxygen. The organic content may have come into the water through waste disposal (domestic and human waste), presence of algae and plants.”

Furthermore, it was also discovered that the total hardness of the water ranged from 27 to 98mg/l.

Professor Ladokun-Okunola stated that based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations on consumable water, the water samples ranged from slightly hard to moderately hard. Soft water with a hardness of less than 100mg/l may, in contrast, have a low buffering capacity and so be more corrosive for water pipes.

There are some health benefits associated with drinking hard water due to the presence of calcium, magnessium and iron, which is not likely in soft water.

She also added that “there are presence of bacteria in samples B (6cfu/ml) and C (32cfu/ml), with the Total Bacteria Count of sample A too numerous to count.

“The presence of bacteria in Sample C is quite high and this is not suitable for drinking,” she advised.

The professor further stated that Sample A (black water) requires extensive chemical treatment before it can be fit for drinking, Sample B (Sachet water) requires Ultra Violet (UV) light treatment and Sample C (pipe borne) is acidic and also requires UV light treatment.

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Green-powered boat prepares for round-the-world voyage DUBBED the ‘Solar Impulse of the seas,’ the first boat to be powered solely by renewable energies and hydrogen, hopes to make its own historic trip around the world.

A water-borne answer to the Solar Impulse, the plane that completed its roundthe-globe trip using only solar energy in July, the Energy Observer will be powered by the sun, the wind and self-generated hydrogen when it sets sail in February as scheduled.

The multi-hulled catamaran is in a shipyard at Saint Malo on France’s west coast, awaiting the installation of solar panels, wind turbines and electrolysis equipment, which breaks down water to produce its component elements, hydrogen and oxygen.

“We are going to be the first boat with an autonomous means of producing hydrogen,” Frenchman Victorien Erussard, who is behind the project said.

“If there is no sun or wind, or when it is night, stored hydrogen generated by electrolysis powered by the solar panels and two wind turbines will take over,” he added.

As a result, the vessel’s trip will not use any carbon-emitting fossil fuels, as is the case for 96% of boats today.

The vessel itself has a storied past.

The catamaran won the Jules Verne trophy for a team sailing non-stop round the world, in 1994. It was bought for €500,000 ($562,000) and extended by a whopping six metres, to 30.5 metres (100 feet), for the project.

One of the backers of the endeavour is well-known French environmentalist Nicolas Hulot.

“I support it because it’s the first project of this kind to actually be undertaken, it’s ambitious and looking toward the future,” Hulot, a former special envoy on environmental protection to President François Hollande, told AFP.

Nigerian Tribune

ecofact

WHEN we scrape off our dishes after a large meal, too full to finish the remaining scraps on our plate, we rarely pause and think about the significance of our action.

However, food waste is an environmental issue, a problem bigger than we think.

• 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted every year, this amounts to $1 trillion dollars of wasted or lost food • If wasted food was a country, it would be the third largest producer of carbon dioxide in the world, after the United States and China • Just one quarter of all wasted food could feed the 795 million undernourished people around the world who suffer from hunger

• Lack of technology and infrastructure is the main cause of food waste in Africa, as opposed to household food waste in the developed world • Food waste in Europe alone could feed 200 million hungry people • Food waste generates 3.3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, which accelerates global climate change

10% of earth’s wilderness lost in 2 decades

UN, FIFA team up to promote climate neutrality THE Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has joined the United Nations (UN) climate change secretariat’s initiative Climate Neutral Now, becoming the first international sports organisation to do so.

The Climate Neutral Now initiative represents a global community of organisations committing to becoming climate neutral by the second half of the 21st century.

Climate Neutral Now calls on organisations and individuals to measure, reduce and report greenhouse gas emissions and compensate those which cannot be avoided with UN-certified emission reductions. The initiative was launched in September, 2015 by a founding group of organisations that included Microsoft, Sony, the adidas Group and Marks & Spencer.

The announcement was made last week during a panel discussion at the UN headquarters in New York. FIFA’s Secretary General, Ms. Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura and Mr David Nabarro, Special Adviser on Agenda 2030 for the UN Secretary General, were in attendance, along with the Director of Strategy of the UNFCCC secretariat, Halldor Thorgeirsson, and FIFA’s Head

of Sustainability and Diversity, Federico Addiechi.

Diouf Samoura said: “By joining the Climate Neutral Now campaign, we pledge to continue to strive towards becoming greenhouse gas emission-neutral by the mid-21st century. We also commit, as we did in Brazil in 2014, to measuring, reducing and offsetting our greenhouse gas emissions at the next edition of the FIFA World Cup, scheduled to take place in Russia in 2018. Beyond that and through the power of football, we also aim to inspire greater awareness and best practices in sustainability standards.”

UNFCCC’s Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa said: “Every sector has an important role, but we are excited by the potential that sports organisations represent.

More than one billion people watched the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil. There is enormous potential for inspiring sports fans around the globe, in addition to the action that the sports organisations are taking in-house.”

Actor and Climate Neutral Now supporter Edward Norton said: “Do something about your personal climate footprint – it can be as simple as driving a little less, using mass transit a little more, turning of the television or AC in the room when you are not in it, just simple little things to observe and change wasteful habits that we all have.”

Climate Neutral Now is led by the UNFCCC and encourages organisations and individuals to measure, reduce and offset their climate footprints.

UNSPOILED lands are disappearing from the face of the earth at an alarming pace, with about 10 per cent of wilderness regions, lost in the past two decades amid unrelenting human development, researchers said recently.

South America, which lost 30 per cent of its wilderness during that period, and Africa, which lost 14 per cent, were the continents hardest hit, they said.

According to Reuters, the main driver of the global losses was destruction of wilderness for agriculture, logging and mining.

The researchers’ study, published in the journal Current Biology, was the latest to document the impact of human activities on a global scale, affecting earth’s climate, landscape, oceans, natural resources and wildlife.

The researchers mapped the world’s wilderness areas, excluding Antarctica, and compared the results with a 1993 map that

used the same methods.

They found that 11.6 million square miles (30.1 million square km) remain worldwide as wilderness, defined as biologically and ecologically intact regions without notable human disturbance. Since the 1993 estimation, 1.3 million square miles (3.3 million square km) of wilderness disappeared, they determined.

“This is incredibly sad because we can’t offset or restore these places. Once they are gone, they are gone, and this has shocking implications for biodiversity, for climate change and for the most imperiled biodiversity on the planet,” conservationist, James Watson of the University of Queensland in Australia and the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York said.

The wilderness losses in the past two decades comprised a combined area about half the size of South America’s vast Amazon region.

GGW: FG appeals to state govts, traditional rulers, academia, NGOs, others for implementation Ademola Adegbite - Abuja THE Federal Government over the weekend, appealed to state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders, members of the academia, civil society organisations, as well as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders in mobilising their members to support the implementation of Great Green Wall (GGW) programme in their respective domains.

It, therefore, announced that the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has introduced school outreach programmes to support and encourage such initiatives, as well as the establishment of the GGW clubs in selected secondary schools within the front line states, with the aim of training students on how to raise seedlings, plant and nurture them to maturity.

The Director General, NAGGW, Mr Goni Ahmed, who made this appeal, said building effective synergy with all stakeholders was critical to the attainment of the GGW set goals.

Mr Ahmed, whose message was delivered by the Head, Land Resource Management of the agency, Mr Abdullaziz Kolo, during the flag off of the College Green project of Yusufu Bala Usman College of Legal and General Studies, Daura in Katsina State, urged all the stakeholders to ultimately eliminate poverty by creating wealth within their catchment areas.

The DG stressed the need to protect the

environment and build support for the programme, adding that flagging the Institute College Green project was timely and it is an initiative that should be commended, encouraged and emulated by other institutions of higher learning.

In a statement issued and signed by the Head, Press and Public Relations Unit, Mrs Larai Daze, a copy of which was made available to Ecoscope in Abuja, the DG said it was a step in the right direction in the effort to address the problem of land degradation and desertification in drylands area of Nigeria.

He added that the GGW programme was an expression of commitment and a strategy adopted by African leaders and supported by the international community and development partners to fast track the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to roll back poverty and address the specific risks and vulnerabilities in the drylands, adding that though the challenges ahead in the drylands were tremendous.

Mr Ahmed stressed that the GGW programme also served as a launching cushion for achieving Zero Net Land Degradation Target agreed by world leaders at the Rio+20 Conference in Brazil, and that Nigeria was committed to achieving the target and also implement the resolutions adopted by country Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) which Nigeria consented in 1997.

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sallah

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

Glo lightens up Ojude Oba festival with M1, Reckardo Banks

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HE age-old Ojude Oba festival, a post-Eid-el-Kabir cultural event, celebrated annually in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, holds today.

This year’s festival with the theme: “Ojude Oba: Our Culture, Our Pride” will, as usual, see the sons and daughters of Ijebuland, visiting eminent per-

sonalities as well as tourists from across the world, congregate at the Ojude Oba Pavilion where they will savour the rich cultural ensemble of the festival.

The pavillion is contiguous to the palace of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who will preside over the festival and give his royal blessing to his subjects when they take

their turns in age-groups to pay him the traditional homage.

Sponsored by Nigeria’s biggest corporate supporter of cultural activities, Globacom, for 10 years running, the event is expected to have in attendance dignitaries from all walks of life, including the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Seriake Dickson,

who is the Special Guest of Honour. Globacom will also give out various prizes to winners in different categories.

The company had, in a press statement to announce this year’s festival, disclosed that it threw its weight behind the worldclass festival as a testimony to its unalloyed determination to ensure that very im-

portant Nigerian historical landmarks like Ojude Oba survive the onslaught of globalisation and remain relevant in contemporary Nigeria.

The cultural parade will be followed by a royal banquet where Oba Adetona will treat his VIP guests to a sumptuous lunch.

As part of activities lined up to enliven this year’s

PMB should arrest poverty —Prof Olagoke FOUNDER and Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen in Islam Worldwide, Professor Sabit Ariyo Olagoke JP, has reiterated calls to President Muhammadu Buhari to timely address the nation’s ailing economy which has aggravated poverty in the land with consequent untimely deaths caused by starvation.

Professor Olagoke’s call was contained in his Eidel-Kabir message from the International Headquarters of the Mission, Wakajaye, Ibadan and made available to newsmen in the Oyo State capital.

Olagoke, who is also the President of Ajagun Esin Consultative Forum (AECF), noted that the masses required patience to overcome challenges caused by the past administrations which was alleged to be extremely corrupt.

NOA tasks citizens to imbibe sallah message THE State director of the National Orientation Agency in Oyo State, Mrs Dolapo Dosunmu, has enjoined the people of Oyo State not to see the period of Eid-el-Kabir celebration as one meant for only merry making and exchanging pleasantries, but should rather reflect on and live by the lessons inherent in the festival, which includes personal sacrifice, restitution and a change from unprofitable and unconscionable way of life to a morally upright existence.

The message, which was contained in the NOA Sallah best wishes to the people of Oyo State from the office of the director heartily rejoice with the citizens for the divine opportunity for witnessing another Sallah celebration in spite of the economic recession and other odds bedevilling the nation which according to her will soon be a thing of the past.

celebration, Globacom said that top musical talents including Katapot exponent, Reekardo Banks; African Rapper Number 1, Jude Abaga popularly known as MI and new rave in Fuji music, Small Doctor, will serenade guests at a musical fiesta which will hold at the Equity Resort, Ijebu Ode later in the evening.

The music concert will also feature the Miss Ojude Oba Beauty Pageant where the most delectable young lady of the contest will be crowned.

Additionally, there will be singing and dancing competitions during which lucky winners will cart home mouthwatering prizes from the telecom giant. The music concert will be compeered by energetic MC, Gbenga Adeyinka.

Conoil felicitates with Muslims Olatunde DodondawaLagos

From left, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona; Head of Marketing, Intercontinental Distillers Limited, Mobolaji Alalade; Assistant Manager, Eagle Schnapps, Gbemileke Lawal; Sales Operations Manager, West 1, Ladi Adekoya, at the palace, ahead the Ojude Oba in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

Gov Lalong felicitates with Muslim Ummah Isaac Shobayo-Jos

GOVERNOR Simon Lalong of Plateau State has felicitated with the Moslem Ummah on the occasion of this year’s Eid-El Kabir celebration.

The governor commended the Muslim faithful for their prayers and religious observance in the last two

months beginning with the Ramadan to the spiritual injunctions of exhibiting love in the last 10 days, leading to the Eid-el-Kabir

celebration.

He stated that at no better time can the true lessons of brotherly love, sacrifice, obedience and

Lagos speaker preaches tolerance Chukwuma OkparaochaLagos

THE Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly,

Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa, has called on Nigerians to exhibit tolerance and understanding among one another for peace and

Ayade, Ochicha call for change of attitude, prayer for Nigeria Anthony Ubong-Calabar

CROSS River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade, has called for a holistic attitudinal change among Nigerians to brace themselves for the current economic situation confronting the country.

In a goodwill message signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Christian Ita, to Muslims for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, noted that there is an urgent need for Nigerians to reflect on the state of the economy and change certain attitudes that will pave way for a collective efforts to pull Nigeria out of the menace.

“While I congratulate all my Muslim brothers and sisters across the country on this year’s Eid-el-Kabir, I want to particularly ask every one of us for an at-

submission to the will of God, be better exemplified than at this trying moment of our nation’s economic recession.

titudinal change and to use this moment to engage in sober reflection on the state of affairs in our country.

Also, Cross River State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general election, Mr Odey

Ochicha, has urged Muslims to pray for the peace, unity and progress of Nigeria as they celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.

In a statement issued in Calabar, Ochicha said that Nigeria as a nation need prayers, peace, unity and progress now like never before.

tranquility to reign in the country.

The Lagos Assembly Speaker gave this advice during his Eid-el-Kabir message made available to journalists on Sunday, September 11, 2016.

In the press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Razak, Rt Hon Obasa stated that at this period of Nigeria’s political development, the citizens needed to come together, tolerate one another and show understanding for one another’s feeling to build a great and developed nation.

Pray more for Nigeria —Hosea Agboola

By Moses Alao

FORMER Deputy Senate Whip and senator representing Oyo North District in the seventh Senate, Hosea Agboola, has urged Muslims in the country to pray more for Nigeria and its leaders and not despair in the face of challenges facing the country.

Agboola, who stated this in a Sallah message made available to newsmen in Ibadan, felicitated with Muslims

across the country on account of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir, praying to God to grant them many more years.

“I congratulate our Muslims brothers and sisters and wish them many more years. I also urge them to

use this important season to pray more for Nigeria and its leaders. This is not the time to despair or lose hope; it is time to pray more and focus on God to turn around our economic situation.

ONE of Nigeria’s major oil marketer, Conoil Plc, has enjoined Nigerians in celebrating Eid-el-kabir to drive safe and pray for genuine peace, unity and progress of the country as it battles to overcome a very trying period.

In a goodwill message to felicitate with Muslims, Conoil advised citizens to imbibe and exhibit the spirit of sacrifice, good neighbourliness and selfless service, the key ingredients needed to lift the country out of the present economic downturn.

‘Pray for progress’ THE Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has congratulated all Nigerians, especially the Muslim faithful, as they celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir festival and charged them to earnestly pray for peace, progress and development of the country.

In a statement released on Sunday, and signed by Comrades Bobboi Kaigama, President and Simeso Amachree, Secretary General, the congress expressed gladness because the spiritual exercise is coming at a time the country is going through a terrible economic quagmire that appears to have defied all wisdom and logic.

Epe monarch urges support for Ambode Tunde Alao-Lagos

THE traditional ruler of Epeland, Oba Kamoru-

deen Animashaun, on Monday, urged Lagos residents to support Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in his efforts to

furnish Lagosians with the much needed infrastructure and also turn Lagos into a crime-free environment.

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Why I sacrificed my Hajj this year —NAHCON chairman Saheed Salawu In Makkah

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HAIRMAN, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar, has said that he refrained from participating in the 2016 Hajj rites in order to effectively monitor the performance of Hajj duties by the 76,000 Nigerian pilgrims.

Mukhtar told journalists in Muna, Saudi Arabia, that he believed in the efficacy of the voluntary action and stressed the need for more relevant stakeholders to key into the idea.

According to him, it is difficult to effectively combine performance of Hajj and officiating as one of the duties is bound to get in the way of the other.

“It is very important to say here that it is tedious to combine officiating and performance of Hajj. We have done that in the past and we realised that it takes toll on our body and sometimes, you don’t have the right state of mind to perform the official function again.

“From 2017, Insha Allah, we will find a way to make it a policy for the commission and encourage state pilgrim boards to buy into it.

“As a nation, if we don’t do it now, there will come a time, Saudi Arabia will say that if you are coming for Hajj, your case should be different from those coming for officiating.

“So, before they do it, we will encourage individuals to volunteer to assist the pilgrims and we will make it rotational so that when you do Hajj this year, you will officiate

next year by monitoring and assisting the pilgrims,” he said Mukhtar said he led by example in 2016 by not putting on the ihram, the dress which physically marks the intention to perform Hajj.

He said his decision paid off as some NAHCON joined him in the crusade, hence, the hitch-free Hajj exercise that has been re-

corded so far by the commission in 2016.

He assured pilgrims that he would discuss the idea with other relevant stakeholders from across Nigeria before it would be made a policy.

“Saudi Arabia, in the future, may ask some people to suspend Hajj to be able to monitor and assist the pilgrims,” he said.

Mukhtar attributed the

APC, UPP members join PDP in Edo

As Ize-Iyamu expresses satisfaction in PDP lawmakers Banji Aluko - Benin City

AHEAD of the rescheduled Edo State governorship election on September 28, some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the United Progressives Party (UPP), have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The APC members were

led by a former chairman of the Butchers Association of Nigeria (BAN), Mr Sunny Omokaro, while a former Women Leader of the UPP in the state, Mrs Patience Ehigiator, led the UPP defectors.

The decampees were received into PDP by the state deputy chairman of PDP, Emma Ogbomo, who

It’s a regular project —Govt THE Peoples Democratic (PDP), Owan East Local Government Area, Edo State, has accused the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, of using the postponement of the governorship election in the state from September 10 to 28 to award “panic and fictitious projects in the area.

The party said that Governor Oshiomhole, few days ago, suddenly awarded contract for the renovation of Ihievbe Secondary School to a former commissioner in the state with a mandate to complete the project before September 28.

According to the PDP leader and a former leader of Owan East legislative council, Honourable Adams Afegbai, the school had suffered neglect since the beginning of the cur-

instructions. If this behaviour is sustained, we will record the lowest casualty rate in the history of Hajj operations in Nigeria,” he said.

Mukhtar said despite the hot weather in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the Hajj period, good advice and treatment by the Nigerian medical team, assisted in mitigating the casualty rate.

From left, Chief Executive Officer, Jaiz Zakat and Waqf Trust Fund, Imam Shuaib Abdullah; Executive Director, Business Development, Med-View Airline Plc, Alhaji Ishaq Na’Allah; Executive Director, Technical, Med-View Airline Plc, Mr Lookman Animashaun and the Lagos State Amirul Hajj and Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr Abdul Hakeem Abdul Lateef, during a visit of the Med-View Airline officials to the tent of Lagos State pilgrims, in Muna, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. PHOTO: SAHEED SALAWU

PDP accuses Oshiomhole of panic project in Owan Banji Aluko - Benin City

low casualty rate among Nigerians in the course of 2016 Hajj to the grace of Allah as well as cooperation between officials and the pilgrims.

“Unlike the past when pilgrims were busy roaming about under the sun, this year, they are busy praying and supplicating to Allah in their tents.

“Our pilgrims are well behaved. They listen to our

rent administration about eight years ago, only to discover that a contract was awarded for some projects in the school some days ago.

“Suddenly with the postponement of the election and realising that the people will vote for PDP, the renovation work was awarded. We appreciate the gesture but it is belated, our people will vote for PDP.” He said the renovation contract was given to a former commissioner from the local government.

Reacting, the state Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua, discountenanced claims that the project was a panic measure, adding that the state government has awarded more than 192 projects in the last three months.

“There is nothing like panic measure here.

Schools that are supposed

to be renovated will be renovated when there is money for it. We cannot fix all the schools in eight years. If PDP’s government had fixed 40 per cent and we fixed 50 per cent, we will be close to 100 per cent now.”

alerted the new PDP members to the activities of some people, who he said, are now going about purchasing voters’ cards.

Receiving his PDP membership card from Ogbomo, Mr Omokaro promised to galvanise support of butchers in the state for the election of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the governor of Edo State.

He said that his decision to return to PDP was based on the fact that he read the campaign manifesto of the party’s governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and that he was convinced that the printed material, otherwise known as the simple agenda, has practical blueprint that could be implemented to

Edo: ‘Obaseki offers best sports package’ Banji Aluko - Benin City

AHEAD of the rescheduled governorship election on September 28 in Edo State, a sports administrator and promoter, Honourable Wellington Okoh, has lent his support to the candidacy of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Godwin Obaseki.

Speaking with journalists in Benin City, at the weekend, Okoh projected that sports in Edo State would enjoy a more robust patronage under the leadership of Obaseki and his deputy, Honourable Philip Shaibu.

He said that though, all the governorship candidates in the September 28, election had already outlined their programmes for sports developments, the vision and passion of Obaseki holds the prospects to rejuvenate sports and restore Edo State to its pride of place in sporting arena.

“Sports is the string that binds Edo people together.

We as major stakeholders in sports in Edo State, we are very keen to see that whoever emerges as the next governor of Edo State is a man that will not relegate sports to the background.”

elevate the state.

Mrs Ehigiator, on her own, said their decision was informed by the fact that all over the state, voters are drumming up support for Pastor Ize-Iyamu, who they see as the governor that will restore the glory of state.

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of PDP, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has expressed delight at the representation offered by the party’s lawmakers in the National Assembly, describing them as “worthy ambassadors of PDP.” Ize-Iyamu said this in Benin City during the award of scholarships to 88 secondary and university students drawn from the seven local government areas in Edo South senatorial district by the lawmaker representing the area, Senator Matthew Urhoghide.

“I’m happy with the representation of our representatives. It is one thing to make promises before election, it is another thing to fulfill those promises when elected. Our representatives are fulfilling their electioneering promises.

“Not too long ago, he invited us to an empowerment programme, where many people benefitted. He promised to give scholarship to our young ones, who need assistance to pursue their academic goals.

Emulate Nigeria’s founding fathers, cleric counsels Buhari PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to emulate the political philosophy of the founding fathers of Nigeria in order to have a practical solution to the socio-economic problems threatening the survival of the country.

Speaking on the state of the nation, the Supreme Head of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification of Nigeria, Prophet (Dr) Solomon Adegboyega Alao, said until all political leaders are ready to render selfless service to the country, devoid of corruption and nepotism like that of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mallam Tafawa Balewa and Dr Nnamidi Azikwe and the quest for economic recovery will continue to be a mirage.

The prophet, who urged all Christians to pray for President Buhari-led administration, also pleaded with all Nigerians, irrespective of their religion or political inclinations to support the president in his effort to re-introduce sanity into the system by fighting corruption.

The cleric, during a sermon at the 91st anniversary thanksgiving service of the church held at the weekend at the Seraphim Land, Maba, IbadanLagos Expressway, noted that the economic revival of the country is possible only if all Nigerians are ready to key into the visions of the founding fathers of the country.

“Nigeria will be great again and overcome its current economic challenges, but this is possible if we retrace our footsteps and follow the legacy bequeathed on us by the founding fathers of this country.

The nationalists that fought for the independence of this country left a legacy of corrupt-free society, a legacy of transparency and honesty, a legacy where all Nigerians see themselves as one and worked together for the unity of the country. And more importantly, leaders at that time, rendered selfless service to build a nation we are all proud of.

“It is disheartening to note that these values are no longer cherished by both the leaders and followers. But we thank God that President Buhari is trying to take us back to the good old days when we valued what we produced and detested corruption in our society.”

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Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

We seek divine justice for Bola Ige —Daughter

By Ibukun Adenuga

P

ROPRIETOR of The Vale College and daughter of former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, Mrs Funso Adegbola, has stated that the family looked forward to divine justice on the death of their late father.

Adegbola stated that the Ige family did not seek vengeance for their father’s death, noting that it was only God that could repay the family for its loss.

Adegbola made these remarks at the first Bola Ige inter-faculty oratory contest, involving students of the University of Ibadan, to commemorate the 86th

posthumous birthday of Chief Ige. “If the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice, can be killed and there was no justice, what happens to the common man? We are not interested in revenge, we are interested in justice but the most important justice that we know we are going to have is divine

justice,” she said.

The event, themed, “The effect of insecurity on socio-economic development in Nigeria,” organised by Educare Trust and the Vale College, saw arguments on the re-orientation of citizens about politics, immunity clause in the Nigerian constitution, government investment in security, pro-

vision of employment and improvement in the education system of the country.

Other arguments at the event were on the existing political ideology in Nigeria’s politics, self-interest of politicians, ineffective law enforcement agencies and justices system, setback in political participation and the unhealthy quest for power.

The competition featured students of the university representing faculties of Law, Clinical Sciences, Dentistry, Technology and Social Science.

Ijeoma Abara who represented the faculty of Den-

Nigerian Tribune

tistry emerged the winner of the contest while Omotoso Emmanuel of the faculty of Clinical Sciences and Oyediran Oyekolade of the Faculty of Law were first and second runners up, respectively.

Dignitaries at the event included Architect Muyiwa Ige, Mr Gbenro Adegbola, Professor Bolanle Awe, Professor Oladipupo Akinkugbe, Chief (Mrs) Anike Agbaje-Williams, Venerable G.B Daramola, Canon O. B. Ajomale, Justice and Mrs Akintola, Mrs Taiwo Owoeye, Princess Bisi Sangodoyin and Mr Kayode Mosunro.

Stop your misguided utterances, Ondo PDP tells Ebiseni Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

Director of the Vale College, Mrs Funso Adegbola (fourth right); Chairman of the panel, Professor Yinka Omigbodun (middle); Mrs Oyinda Ige (second right) and other panel members with contestants, during the first inter-faculty oratory competition and 86th posthumous birthday of the late Chief Bola Ige, organised by Educare Trust and The Vale College, in Ibadan, on Tuesday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE.

Ondo guber: Calls for neutral APC candidate thickens We’re not aware of such calls —Party spokesperson Bola Badmus - Lagos

FOLLOWING series of controversies trailing the last governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, indications are rife that the party is considering shopping for a neutral candidate without any affiliation to any of the godfathers in the party.

Former president, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, had emerged as the party’s candidate in the governorship primaries conducted in the state, but some co- contestants, including Mr Wale Oke, had disputed the exercise and petitioned the Appeal Committee of the party sitting in Abuja.

Akerodolu had defeated Mr Segun Abraham to a second position.

Oke, among others, had claimed that the primaries that produced Akeredolu was rigged, saying the delegates’ list was doctored thereby making the whole exercise not free, fair and credible.

Some party leaders were said to favour a neutral or consensus candidate that will be acceptable to the majority of the co-contestants as a way to douse the current tension occasioned by the disputed primaries.

Several meetings were

said to be going on to address the raging controversy, with the Akeredolu group said to be reaching out to the National Leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu, to get his final endorsement.

“The party leaders have, therefore, resolved to do whatever it takes to ensure peace and unity amongst party faithful ahead of the

November 26 governorship election in the state.

“The crises rocking our party seem to have left the South-West leadership with no other option than to consider a consensus alternative, with a view to selecting a candidate outside the major gladiators.

“The general belief is that the reconciliation of the party loyalists may be very dif-

ficult if any of the top gladiators is fielded, going by the short period left before the election,” a source said.

But in his reaction, the publicity secretary of APC in Ondo State, Mr Abayomi Adesanya, said he was not aware of calls for a neutral or consensus candidate, insisting that nothing was wrong with the primaries won by Akeredolu.

Mob attacks woman for feigning lunacy in Ibadan

The woman is mad —Police

By Wale Akinselure

A mob at Felele area of Ibadan, on Tuesday, attacked alleged mad woman who usually stays in front of the Challenge branch of the United Bank of Africa (UBA) for allegedly feigning her lunacy.

The people were said to have become suspicious of the woman’s lunacy state when they observed that she communicated over the phone, in a coherent manner, and neatly arranged the different naira denominations that she collected.

With her swollen eyes, the woman, who identified herself as Seliat Ogunde, of Isale Ijebu, Ibadan, was subsequently rescued by policemen of Felele division.

The woman was arrested with a half full polythene bag of money, neatly ar-

ranged in different denominations while the purported phone she used to communicate was not found when she got to the police station.

In her monologue, Seliat said, “I am a star and collect the highest sum of money.

I beg for money in front of UBA everyday and I got all that money in three months.

From Lagos to Ibadan, I set my money accordingly and change different denominations of money from my customers. I am still going to Osogbo, but Ibadan at Isale Ijebu is my home town. I want the progress of my hometown. I am not a thief yet I have not stolen any meat.”

Speaking, Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the woman had been confirmed to be insane.

He decried that the mob was wrong to have attacked the woman, but should have rather reported to the police.

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, on Tuesday, called on the former Commissioner for Environment in the state, Chief Sola Ebiseni, to stop “all his misguided utterances against the party in the state.”

The party stated this through its Publicity Secretary, Banji Okunomo, while reacting to a publication credited to Ebiseni where he equated the factional primaries held in Ibadan with the Markarfi-led faction primaries held in Akure.

Okunomo explained that it was wrong for Ebiseni to have described the party’s primaries held in Akure as illegal and undemocratic while also “equating the state’s party’s primaries with the scam that occurred in Ibadan which produced Jimoh Ibrahim.”

He stated that the mainstream of the PDP in Ondo State held its primaries on August 22, 2016 in Akure which produced the party’s flag bearer, Mr Eyitayo Jegede.

He said that the valid PDP primaries was not only democratic but followed all the legal procedures as stipulated in the party’s consti-

tution.

He noted that an attestation to the legality and constitutionality of the valid primaries held in Akure is the manner in which the other aspirant, with which Jegede contested, accepted the result of the election and congratulated the winner.

Okunomo noted that Ebiseni’s position was a confirmation of the initial stand of the party that the Sherriffled faction and all its dealings in the state are illegal.

He stated that Ebiseni’s action portrays that of a desperate person who is only concerned about his personal gains.

“When Ebiseni was serving as commissioner in the state for two consecutive terms under the present administration, and when he served as the governor’s nominee at the 2014 national conference, nothing was wrong with Governor Olusegun Mimiko but the war started when he failed to secure the governor’s endorsement.

“Ebiseni has the courage to describe the governor as an autocrat when all he ever wanted was the governor to pick him as the anointed candidate of the party,” Okunomo said.

Group calls for support for Akeredolu Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

WORRIED by the crisis that engulfed the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State after its primaries, a group within the party, Women for Positive Change, has called for reconciliation among the aggrieved members of the party.

The group, which stated this in a statement in Akure, the state capital and signed by its coordinator, Mrs Yetunde Adeyanju and secretary, Mrs Morinsola Olanipekun, said that only peace

that fosters unity would guarantee victory for the party in the coming governorship election.

The group expressed concerns over the development, stressing that the acrimony should not be allowed to deprive the party the opportunity of winning the coming governorship election in the state.

The group specifically urged all the contestants to sheathe their swords and put their house in order to guarantee victory for the party.

The statement reads: “Let us sheathe our swords and

support Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in the interest of the citizenry who have been groaning under the maladministration of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

“We are convinced that Akeredolu’s emergence is a step towards emancipation of Ondo State women from poverty which has characterised the current administration.

“We equally pledge our total support towards the party’s victory because we believe in his ability to set Ondo State on the right path.”

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Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

Anti-corruption: Don’t castigate FG —Mohammed

Biola Azeez - Ilorin

M

INISTER of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that Federal Government should not be castigated for its anti corruption crusades against perceived members of the opposition group.

Speaking with journalists in his Oro country home during Sallah celebration, Alhaji Mohammed said ongoing probe involved those linked with alleged diverted funds meant for prosecuting

war against insurgents.

The minister said that the alleged embezzled huge sum, put at about $2.1billion, did not only allow the insurgents to be in control of 14 out of 20 council areas of some North Eastern states of Nigeria, but led to the incalculable loss of lives of many innocent Nigerians and degraded the nation’s armed forces.

“Those being prosecuted today are being prosecuted for what reason? The answer is obvious. It is about what happened to the funds allocated to fight Boko-Haram.

As at that time, 14 out of 20 LGAs were under the control of the insurgents.

“We were all wondering what could be happening to our gallant military men who had excelled outside the country helping others but could not defend our territorial boundaries. In the process, the ‘Pandora Box’ was opened. So, it is only the budget voted for defence that is being investigated. It is not about going out to investigate members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Citing the case of Japan

that had allegedly been under economic doldrums for the past 14 years without a drop in the standard of living of her citizens, Mohammed said the hardship had been ameliorated due to the nation’s conscious investment in infrastructure.

While urging Nigerians to be patient with the Federal Government over the state of the nation’s economy, the minister blamed successive governments for allegedly ignoring the needs for massive investments in infrastructure and reserves.

“We salute the courage

and perseverance of Nigerians. We know what they are going through. It is not about trading blames, it is about those who used this or that. We had for long the economy centred around one commodity. Our dependence on oil formed over 60 per cent of our Gross Domestic Products (GDP).

When the oil price crashed, we have no reserves to cushion the effects. We did not invest in infrastructure.

From records, a government spent N18billion on roads but spent N65billion on estacodes.

“We have spent about N70billion on road this year.

Between years 2012 and 2015 when oil was selling for

Nigerian Tribune

$100 per barrel, they didn’t pay contractors. But now we brought back Julius Berger, N30billion. Although people said we should stop talking about the past, we believe that proper accounts must be made. We are hampered by the Niger/Delta instability and we have in the process lost about one billion dollars. But despite all these, major state capitals will be linked with effective rail system very soon.”

Alhaji Mohammed, while urging for a changed attitude among Nigerians over their penchant for foreign goods and services, said emphasis should henceforth be placed on local contents towards employment opportunities.

NDLEA arrests South African-based Nigerian with Methamphetamine Shola Adekola - Lagos

From left, Mr and Mrs Tunde Fagbemi, MD/CEO Maevis Nig Ltd; Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola; the celebrant, Dr Wale Bolorunduro and wife, Oladayo, at the 50th birthday party of Dr Bolorunduro, last week.

Plateau APC blasts PDP over allegation of financial recklessness Isaac Shobayo - Jos

APPARENTLY reacting to the allegation of financial recklessness levelled against the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in Plateau State by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the APC has likened the outburst to political frustration.

The APC said that the PDP on the Plateau was only seeking political relevance.

The state Chairman of the PDP, Honourable Damishi Sango, at a press conference, last week, accused Governor Simon Lalong of financial recklessness, alleging the administration had in the past one and half year collected over N97 billion without anything to show for it.

Speaking with newsmen over the allegations, the APC state Secretary, Alhaji Musa Bashir Sati, said “the opposition party simply wants to whip up sentiment to portray APC-led administration in a bad light” and challenged the PDP to back up its claims with evidence.

“PDP is yet to come out of its post election trauma and yet to play its proper role of opposition. For any opposition party to play a credible role, it must be factual in all

its presentations. The allegations raised against the governor were baseless and lack merit.

“The allegations are malicious, ridiculous diatribe and mere diversionary tactic employed by the opposition in the state to score cheap political points,” he said According to him, the alle-

gations were deliberate ploy to divert attention of citizens of Plateau and entire Nigeria from the moves to probe activities of the PDPled administration, adding that the allegation was an antics crafted to mislead the people.

He implored the people of the state not to allow them-

selves to be deceived.

On the allegation that the APC is polarised in the state, the secretary said it was another ploy by the opposition to cause disaffection within the party adding that “the APC on the Plateau is one and more united than pre election time.”

Most products manufactured in Anambra were Nigerian best —Ifeanyi Ubah Suzy Oruya - Onitsha

THE former governorship aspirant of the Labour Party in Anambra State, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, has revealed that Anambra State can challenge the economy of Nigeria if well-governed by people-oriented government.

Speaking to journalists in his hometown in Nnewi, as part of his 45th birthday celebration, Dr Ubah said many products manufactured in Anambra were Nigeria’s best, adding that “a visionary leader with this potential can turn the economy of the state to Dubai in less than six months.”

The oil magnate and seasoned entrepreneur linked his failure in previous governorship election in the state to handiwork of sabo-

teurs who betrayed his ambition, stressing that 60 per cent of his lifespan spent in wealth is to give back to Ndi-Anambra what God has given him.

Ubah noted that he has contributed to the growth of Nigeria’s economy by contributing 10 million naira to the economy every month.

Speaking on next year’s governorship election in the state, the sports promoter said he would only support Governor Willie Obiano’s second term bid only if the governor appoints him as the Director-General of his campaign organisation.

Dr Ubah further hinted that no matter how River Niger is dredged, Onitsha can never be a seaport because of enormous sand deposited therein by the flowing of the river from

Cameroon.

Meanwhile, APGA chieftain in Anambra State, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, reacting to Ifeanyi Ubah quest for Director-General of Obiano Campaign Organisation comes 2017 governorship election, said that everybody has the right to say whatever he or she wants to say under the constitution.

A Nigerian living in Pretoria, South Africa, has been arrested with parcels of methamphetamine at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The arrest took place during the outward screening of passengers on a South African Airline flight to South Africa.

The parcels of drug tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 3.435 kilogrammes valued at N31 million in Nigeria.

NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Ahmadu Garba, said “The drug was detected during routine check on passengers on South Africa Airline flight to South Africa. Two bags belonging to one Abiodun Israel Banjo (45) were found to contain parcels of methamphetamine.

“Inside the bags were food ingredients and clothes, but underneath was a thin parcel of narcotics carefully concealed. He was immediately arrested and investigation is ongoing,” Ahmadu stated.

The suspect, who works in South Africa, said that the bags were given to him by a friend in South Africa.

His words: “I work in Pretoria. My friend in South Africa called me that his brother will give me two bags containing foodstuff to take to him. He also promised to give me two thousand

dollars. I opened the bags and checked thoroughly, but could not find anything criminal, that was how I accepted to take the bags. I was surprised when the drug was detected under the bags. I feel very sad that my friend has implicated me.”

The suspect, who has been living in South Africa since 2012, hails from Osun State.

Commenting, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, called on members of the public to be wary of tricks employed by drug trafficking cartels.

“Drug traffickers recruit mules by enticing them with money. They are very clever in concealing drugs as drugs have been detected in bags, electronics, foodstuff and clothes among others. We strongly advise that all passengers should endeavour to pack their bags themselves and avoid taking bags for others,” Abdallah stated.

The NDLEA boss added that ignorance is no excuse in drug trafficking, maintaining that the suspect would be charged for unlawful exportation of narcotics.

According to Abdallah, “a person shall be deemed to have exported a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance under this NDLEA Act; if he brings to or deposits the narcotic drug or psychotropic substance concerned at any time at any customs area such as airports, customs port or any other customs point generally.”

Exhibition: Propak hosts 30 countries, 150 exhibitors Gbemi Solaja - Lagos

WEST Africa’s largest packaging, printing and plastics exhibitions, Propak, will be hosting not less than 150 exhibitors, over 3,000 countries this year.

According to the organisers, the FCMG sector will welcome 150 exhibitors

and over 3,000 visitors to the Landmark Centre in Lagos.

The exhibition will raise the profile of the packaging and printing industries in particular and hopefully bring countries focus on the markets.

The exhibition is also expected to attract global players in the manufactur-

ing and fast moving consumer goods.

“With an unprecedented rise in Nigeria’s middle class, population growth and the dramatic need for employment, the country has no alternative to developing a strong value added manufacturing base,” Director of Exhibition, George Pearson, disclosed.

communitynews Group gives 100 Ibadan students vocational training scholarship 36

by yejide gbenga-ogundare

A

non-government organisation, Human of Substance Empowerment Initiative (HoSEI), has given 100 indigent students of Ibadan, Oyo State six months scholarship to undergo any vocational training of their choice under its “Working Towards Your Dream Youth Empowerment Programme 2016.”

The training is HoSEI’s contribution towards helping underprivileged youths to realise their dreams by mentoring and encouraging them to use their training to attain financial independence to enable them further their education.

HoSEI is principally concerned about creating awareness for the protection of women and children’s rights, the rights of victims of sexual abuse and gender-based violence. It also organises empower-

Recession: Eze Ndigbo urges Buhari to review economic policies kola oyelere-kano

EZE Ndigbo in Kano, Chief Boniface Ibekwe, has said Nigerians are suffering, hence the need for President Muhammadu Buhari to review his economic policies to enable Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy.

The traditional ruler gave the charge on Tuesday in Kano during his visit to the Emir of Kano, Mallam Mahammad Sanusi II, in his palace.

According to him, the nation’s leaders must, as a matter of priority, redouble efforts towards taking the economy out of the woods, so as to alleviate the sufferings of the masses.

While commending the emir for the way he had been handling the affairs of the emirate council, the Eze Ndigbo expressed gratitude to God for the prevailing peace in Kano.

The Igbo community in Kano is particularly happy with the emir, because, according to him, since he was installed as the emir, he had been carrying the Igbo community along.

He further disclosed that the Igbo community in Kano is enjoying a cordial relationship with their hosts.

He, however, called on all Nigerians to continue to exercise patience and pray to God, to rescue the nation from its present predicament.

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

ment programmes and trainings for women and youths.

Speaking on the project, the founder of HoSEI, Abiade Abiola, stated that, “we are facing financial hardship in our country at the

moment. There’s no doubt that we are all affected by the present economic situation but whatever we do for the upcoming generation, especially indigent and disadvantaged young persons posterity will

speak for us.”

According to her, the training was planned to take care of just 50 students who were to be selected based on an earlier plan but this did not work and they had to change their plans.

“The scholarship was meant for the first 50 indigent youths to get to the venue of the programme.

We made punctuality the criteria for the six months vocational training scholarship to prevent any form of

The derelict of Ogunleye Road in Oke-Ado, Ibadan. PHOTO: OLUWAPELUMI FADAIRO

Repair our road, Ogunleye residents urge Oyo govt by oluwapelumi fadairo

RESIDENTS of Ogunleye community in Oke-Ado, in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of Oyo State have called for the intervention of the state government with regards to the poor state of road in the area.

One of the landlords in the area, who identified himself as Pastor Agbaje, said he did everything possible to ensure the road was tarred, when he served as chairman of the land-

lords’ association, but all efforts proved abortive.

He explained that the road was first tarred in 1982, during the regime of late Chief Bola Ige, but had gone bad over the years.

Pastor Agbaje, who said he wrote a letter to the state government during the administration of Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, to tar the road, disclosed that nothing was done.

He lamented that the poor state of the road had brought economic hardship on the people of the

area.

“Our people are not making sales. The road is not motorable so customers cannot easily access the area to patronise the traders. Governor Abiola Ajimobi should please come to our rescue,” he said.

Mrs Sade Adenipekun, another resident of the area, corroborated Pastor Agbaje’s claim that it was during the Bola Ige administration that the road was first tarred.

She, however, appealed

Ekpan community flays BEDC over poor services ebenezer adurokiya-warri

RESIDENTS of Ekpan community in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, have flayed the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for inefficiency.

The residents made the claims under the auspices of Concerned Ekpan Residents Electricity Consumers (CEREC), in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr. Alex Irikefe and the Secretary, Mrs. Grace Akabueze and made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Warri.

The residents further alleged that the management

of BEDC appeared to have gone into the business of electricity distribution without human face.

According to the group, the company seems to be more interested only about how to make profit without considering improvement in services.

“We are presently confronted with a situation where most of the electricity feeders, cables, poles, billing meters, high tension lines and transformer components that are relied upon to enhance electricity supply to the area have become obsolete and malfunctioning for months and the BEDC manage-

ment is comfortable not doing anything about it even when there had been series of complaints from residents.

“When you visit some of the zonal offices to complain about this pathetic situation, the staff there will, either tell you they do not have the equipment yet as the management in Benin had not responded to their request or tell you that their operational vehicles had broken down so they cannot move around to carry out immediate repairs of some minor faults that had kept the residents in darkness for days,” the statement said.

to the state government to tar the road, saying traders in the area were not recording much sales due to its deplorable state.

cheating or manipulation but when I got to the venue at 7 a.m. on the day of the programme, I was told by the security men on night duty that some students got to the venue a few minutes to 11 p.m. the previous day and had planned to sleep overnight so that they could quality for the scholarship but were sent home for security reasons.

“In spite of this, the first two youths to get to the venue of the programme on the D-day got there at 2:50 a.m. while I was still in bed and by 5:25 a.m., 50 youths had signed in for the programme. Before 6 a.m., 100 youths had signed in and there were 300 youths at the venue before 7 a.m., for a programme that was slated for 8 a.m.

“When I announced that we have provision for scholarship for just 50 youths, parents and their wards started crying, begging me and my team to absorb more and when they started recounting what they went through to get their children to the venue before 6 a.m., I had no choice but to concede to 100 youths,” she stated.

Abiade finally called on the general public to also come to the aid of youths so that their dreams of becoming independent individuals that will contribute to the good of the society could be realised.

Gbaramatu Kingdom thanks FG, Okowa, others for release of detainees ebenezer adurokiya-warri

THE people of Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri SouthWest Local Government Area of Delta State have thanked the Federal Government, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the media, human rights organisations and pressure groups among others for the release of 10 students who had been in the custody of the Nigerian Army since May. The teenagers, it will be recalled, were arrested during the invasion of the kingdom’s headquarters, Oporoza, by troops in search of members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

In a statement signed by the acting secretary, Gbaramatu Traditional Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, and made available to the Nigerian Tribune, on Tuesday in Warri, the embattled people of the kingdom also pleaded with the Federal Government to reduce the presence of troops in the area as well as return cultural artifacts and other

items allegedly confiscated by the Nigerian troops from their shrine.

“We want to use this medium to thank all those who, in one way or the other, contributed to the release of the 10 Gbaramatu students who were arrested during the military invasion of Gbaramatu kingdom.

“The natural ruler of Gbaramatu Kingdom, HRM Oboro Gbarun II, Aketekpe, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, the Gbaramatu Traditional Council and all sons and daughters of Gbaramatu kingdom are, indeed, very grateful to you all.

“We want to particularly thank our amiable governor, Senator Okowa for the role he and his cabinet played in the release of those boys,” the statement read.

Chief Gbenekama, however, called on the Federal Government “to constitute a team to discuss the issues causing disaffection and dissatisfaction in the Niger Delta so that we can have lasting peace.”

37

Wednesday, 14 September,

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08116954632 with seyi gesinde foreignn ewseditor@gmail.com

Somalia hosts first summit of African leaders since war began in 1991

S

OMALIA hosted regional African heads of state on Tuesday for a summit that was the first of its kind in the Somali capital since the Horn of Africa nation plunged into conflict in 1991.

Streets were shut down to traffic in Mogadishu, which regularly faces attacks from the Islamist al Shabaab militants, for the one-day meeting of IGAD, a grouping that includes Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Djibouti, Sudan, Uganda and Somalia.

The regional leaders discussed Somalia’s upcoming vote for a new parliament and president, as well the situation in South Sudan, where fighting in July has further destabilised the five-year-old nation.

The presidents of Kenya, Uganda and Djibouti, and the prime minister of Ethiopia, were in Mogadishu for the summit meeting of IGAD, or the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, officials said.

“It symbolises the reconstruction of Somalia and Somalia coming back to the (family of) nations,” Foreign Minister Abdusalam Omer told Reuters as heads of state flew in. “It signifies that we are defeating international terrorism.”

Somalia has hosted visits

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta (centre) and Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (second right), walk together during the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit at the Peace Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia. PHOTO: AP of individual heads of state, but Omer said this was the first summit gathering for about four decades, since the rule of President Siad Barre, whose toppling in 1991 was

followed by two decades of conflict.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, chair of IGAD, said Somalia had made progress but more was

US confirms airstrike killed ISIS spokesman THE Pentagon says it has confirmed a United States airstrike last month killed Islamic State’s spokesman and chief strategist.

In a statement Monday, Defence Department spokesman Peter Cook said the deadly August 30 strike against Abu Muhammad AlAdnani near Al Bab, Syria was one of several that have hurt the militant group’s ability to operate.

The Pentagon had said shortly after the attack that the U.S.-led coalition conducting airstrikes against Islamic State had targeted

Islamic State spokesman, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, is pictured in this undated handout photo, courtesy the U.S. Department of State. PHOTO: REUTERS Adnani, but that it was not able at that point to confirm he was dead.

The day after the airstrike, Russia said that its forces

Germany probes 3 arrested Syrians linked with Paris attacks GERMAN authorities are investigating whether three Syrians held on suspicion of working for so-called Islamic State had links to the Paris attackers.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the men, one of them 17, appeared to have been smuggled to Europe through some of the same channels.

They were detained after a series of pre-dawn raids in the states of SchleswigHolstein and Lower Saxony, BBC reported.

needed. “IGAD is confident that its efforts will succeed in the complete restoration of peace and stability,” he said, according to statements released after the meeting.

They are said to have travelled through Turkey and Greece on false passports.

They have been named only as Mahir al-H, 17, Ibrahim M, 18, and Mohamed A, 26.

Investigations so far suggest the three came to Germany in November 2015 with the intention of “carrying out a previously determined order [from IS] or to await further instructions”, prosecutors said in a statement.

The Federal Public Prosecutor’s office has said no concrete missions

The arrested Syrians are said to have been under surveillance for months.

PHOTO: AFP

or orders have so far been found, despite the seizure of “extensive material”.

had carried out the strike, which a senior defense official told VOA was an “attempt at disinformation.”

A U.S. defense official said Adnani was directly involved in recruiting foreign fighters and also directed Islamic State’s major attacks outside of its strongholds in Syria and Iraq.

“Significant operations carried out on his watch include the Paris attacks, the Brussels airport attack, the Istanbul airport attack, the downing of the Russian airliner in the Sinai, the suicide bombings during a rally in Ankara, and the attack on a cafe in Bangladesh,” the official said. “In total, these attacks killed over 1,800 people and wounded nearly 4,000.”

Zambia’s president sworn in after disputed vote ZAMBIAN President Edgar Lungu has been sworn into office after the country’s top court rejected a petition by the opposition to block his inauguration as “illegal and unconstitutional”.

Al Jazeera stated that Lungu, re-elected last month in a closely contested vote, called for national unity in his speech on Tuesday at the event held at a stadium in the capital Lusaka and attended by regional leaders.

“Now that the elections are over, we must say as a people that we stand as united as ever,” Lungu told tens of thousands of spectators, vowing to

Zambia’s president, Edgar Lungu PHOTO: AFP prioritise reviving the country’s stumbling economy.

“There is no time and latitude to settle scores. We have work to do,” he said. “It is our duty that as citizens of this country we are on this journey together and be peaceful.”

other NEWS Crew member dies in accident on world’s biggest cruise ship ONE crew member was killed and four others injured Tuesday in an accident on the world’s biggest cruise ship.

The crew member died from injuries suffered during a lifeboat drill while the Harmony of the Seas ship was docked in Marseille, France, a representative for parent company Royal Caribbean said in a statement. The four other crew members were injured, CNN said.

The mammoth vessel first set sail in May, weighing 226,963 tons and accommodating 6,780 guests and 2,100 crew

Harmony of the Sea is the world’s biggest ship. PHOTO: ROYAL CARRIBEAN members.

Measuring 1,188 feet (362 meters), the ship is longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall.

The Paris icon stands at 984 feet (300 metres).

The ship is so large it boasts seven “neighbourhoods”, including a tree-lined Central Park filled with restaurants.

No civilian deaths in Syria as ceasefire brings calm —SOHR

Syria president, Bashar al-Assad, and other officials during an inspection after the ceasefire.

NO deaths have been documented in Syria since a ceasefire brokered by Russia and the United States entered its first full day, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

At least 14 violations were reported since the ceasefire took effect on Monday, but most parts

of Syria remained relatively calm, the SOHR’s Rami Abdulrahman told Al Jazeera.

“No one has died from gunfire over the past 15 hours,” he said on Tuesday at 12pm Damascus local time (09:00 GMT). “This is so far the most successful ceasefire to take place in the country.”

Al Jazeera reporting from Gaziantep on the Turkish side of the Syria-Turkey border, said that while the guns have not gone quiet, there definitely is a military de-escalation.

“No one expected the gunfire to totally stop anyway, including the US,” she said.

South Sudan to take legal action after corruption report SOUTH Sudan’s government says it will take legal action against a United States-based watchdog that has accused the leaders of the country’s warring sides of amassing fortunes during a nearly three-year conflict that has left tens of thousands dead.

The Sentry group, founded

by US actor George Clooney and rights activist John Prendergast, alleged on Monday that President Salva Kiir, opposition leader Riek Machar, and those close to them, had looted state coffers, accumulated luxury homes and cars, and enriched themselves and family members through stakes in oil and other business

The report alleged that President Kiir and his family had amassed a significant amount of wealth.

PHOTO: REUTERS ventures, Al Jazeera said.

Responding to the allegations, presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny said on Tuesday that even though there was corruption in the country, the statements that had been made against Kiir and other government officials were “completely rubbish”.

38

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

Editor: Wale Emosu tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08111813054

ON STRIKE... 3SC captain, Sylvanus Ebiaku (middle) on league duty against Sunshine Stars. PHOTO: OLAWALE OLANIYAN

Russia 2018:

Zambia names coach against Nigeria

Z 3SC players on strike

•Demand 5 month salaries, match bonuses •Issues will be resolved soon —GM

By Olawale Olaniyan PLAYERS of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, on Tuesday embarked on strike to press home their demands.

The players had planned to commence strike action last week before their match day 45 fixture against visiting Enugu Rangers, but shelved the plan after they were paid a month’s salary before the game.

According to some of the players who spoke to Tribunesport, the management, apart from owing them five month salaries, did not explain details of the contracts they signed with the club.

“Yes, we refused to train today because we want our outstanding salaries paid. We have been living on empty promises and we are fed up.

Football can’t be played on empty stomachs.

“We are being owed up to five months salaries and bonuses of 12 matches this season alone aside the 15-match bonuses they didn’t pay last season. I think this is the best time to make our grievances known to the public.

“In fact, we have to let people of the state know what we have been going through since January this year,” one of the players told Tribunesport.

Another player who pleaded anonymity said their welfare had not been given topmost priority it deserved.

“We have been receiving half salaries all along as the management failed to even negotiate with any player or club officials, this is un-

professional.”

“We all have families that depend on us, we have to pay our children’s school fees. At times, some of us get stranded at the stadium after training because there is no money to take us back to our respective homes.”

“Things are pretty difficult for us and we have resolved not to honour any game again except they pay our our entitlements, I mean 100

per cent not even half salaries they used to pay,” fumed the player.

Another player added that “people should not think that we want to sabotage the club, this is the only way our employers will know that we can’t cope any longer.”

Responding, General Manager of 3SC, Mr Rasheed Balogun told Tribunesport by phone that “I also heard it but everything will be resolved very soon”.

AMBIA yesterday announced the appointment of Wedson Nyirenda as national team head coach in an interim capacity.

According to the Football Association of Zambia, Nyirenda would be in charge of Chipolopolo pending the announcement of an expatriate coach.

Nyirenda, who joined from Mozambique’s Ferroviario de Beira, will revert to his appointed role of full-time assistant national team handler when the expatriate coach is appointed.

Former coach George Lwandamina was released to focus on Zesco United’s campaign in the CAF Champions League where

I didn’t reject Abuja accommodation —Rohr SUPER Eagles’ technical adviser, Gernot Rohr, has reacted to news doing the rounds that he rejected the accommodation given to him

Dalung: I was misquoted on Rio Paralympics MINISTER of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung has said that a recent report credited to him in the media that athletes didn’t need training to win medals, but a winning mentality was false and with an intent to create mischief.

The minister who is in Rio to support Team Nigeria athletes taking part in the ongoing 2016

Paralympics said he did not grant a one-on-one interview with the quoted medium and challenged the writers to quote him right.

“The last interview I granted was at the flag-off of the NCC Tennis league at the Abuja National Stadium. I was asked to compare the performance of Nigerian athletes at the just-concluded Olympics and the ongoing Paralympics and

I said that the performance of Nigerian athletes at the Paralympic Games had established the fact that apart from the right training, there was also need for the determination to excel. I said that they all trained under the same conditions like the Olympic athletes.”

Le Roy escapes jail term over transfer scandal VETERAN Togo coach, Claude Le Roy will not be jailed, but will pay a 15,000 euros fine for his complicity in a fraudulent transfer while he was in charge of French club Strasbourg.

The 68-year-old Le Roy was accused of issuing fake invoice for the transfer involving Per Pedersen so that several agents will be paid commissions at the expense of Strasbourg.

The well-travelled French coach

was in charge of Strasbourg between 1999 and 2000.

However, others charged in this case were hit by stiffer sanctions.

Former president of Strabourg, Patrick Proisy was handed a 10-month suspended jail sentence and will pay a fine of 25,000 Euros.

Against all odds, Le Roy, a former coach of Cameroon qualified Togo for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon earlier this month.

they are in contention for a place in the final.

“The change is immediate and we believe that Mr Nyirenda will add immense value to the national team,” said general secretary Ponga Liwewe.

“In view of the fact that Zesco United are engaged in the semifinal of the CAF Champions League with two consecutive matches approaching, the Football Association of Zambia released Mr George Lwandamina to focus on this assignment which is of equal importance to the country.

“We believe that he can win the Champions League and are in a great position to do so.”

Zambia host Nigeria in their first game of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in October.

Le Roy

by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for his stay in Nigeria.

Rohr, who managed the senior national team for the first time in a 1-0 home win against Tanzania earlier this month, expressed displeasure at the way people are using his openness and easy accessibility to quote him out of context and attempt to derail him from the core assignment he has at hand.

“I never rejected any apartment,” he said. “I might have spoken to a few people who I believed to be genuinely interested in me, saying that the apartment was very big and I joked that I might get lost inside it when I start to live there, but I never rejected it.

“When the Federation engaged me, and told me I had to live in Nigeria, I agreed to it because I believed that my base has to be in the country where I work. I did the same in Niger, Burkina Faso and Gabon, and I do not see it any differently in Nigeria,” Rohr added in a statement.

The Franco-German stated further: “The Federation moved to rent an apartment for me, and this is a good gesture that shows their commitment. If I have issues with it, it should be done directly through the Federation and not on the pages of the media.”

39

Wednesday, 14 September, 2016

corporatesport

With Niyi Alebiosu adeniyi70@yahoo.com 08116954642

GOtv Boxing Night 9: Fijaborn vows

to silence King of Ghana

NATIONAL light welterweight boxing champion, Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi, has declared that Raphael Kwabena King, his Ghanaian opponent at GOtv Boxing Night 9, will leave Nigeria wishing he never came after their international challenge contest billed for October 2 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

Fijabi was responding to the Ghanaian’s boast that he would be the first boxer to defeat him.

“King was quoted in the papers as saying he would defeat me. I believe he was misquoted. He said he has seen me fight on a number of occasions and I congratulate him on that. What I want to say, however, is that everybody at the venue will enjoy the fight except him. Nigeria is bigger than Ghana and I will prove that to him. Ghana must fall,” he boasted.

Another Ghanaian billed for the seven-fight event, Richard Amefun, has also been warned by his Nigerian opponent, Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph, the national lightweight champion, to expect defeat.

Joe Boy, a knockout specialist, said Amefun has been deceived into thinking that he is in the elite class by the low-level boxers he has been beating in his country.

“He claims to have fought world champions. I am not yet one, but I will show him that I am on my way to becoming one. Amefun will see hell,” bragged Joe Boy. GOtv Boxing Night 9 will feature five other fights, including the national cruiserweight title clash between Idowu “ID Cabasa”Okusote and Ekeng “Fighting Policeman” Henshaw, heavyweight challenge bout between Jude “Great Jude” Iloh and Adewale “Masevex” Masebinu, as well as a national lightweight clash between Sikiru “Omo Iya Eleja” Shogbesan and Prince “Lion” Nwoye.

Other fights are the national lightweight duel between Semiu “Jagaban” Olapade and Ebube “Coded Man” Edeh and the light heavyweight encounter between Kabiru “Godson”Towolawi and Emmanuel “Mopol Man” Igwe.

The best boxer at the event will go home with a cash prize of N1.5 million.

Anderlect wins Golden Chance U-21 football tourney

By Olawale Olaniyan

ANDERLECT FC has emerged the winner of the Golden Chance U-21 football competition sponsored by Golden Chance Lotto, Ibadan branch.

The tournament which was organised by the Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA), Ibadan/Ibarapa Zonal council under the leadership of coach Lawal Abiodun saw Anderlect FC defeat Shafaudeen Patriots FC in the final match played at the Awo Hall football pitch, University of Ibadan last weekend. Eagles Babes defeated Ever Best FC in the third place match.

Speaking with Corporatesport after the final, Abiodun, fondly called ‘Coach Udi,’ expressed joy at the successful completion of the competition, just as he assured that next year’s edition would be better.

He said they decided to feature U-21 male football teams so as to discover fresh legs for the state and Nigeria as a whole.

“I give kudos to the Golden Chance Lotto for their interest in the game of sports as the football competition is based on how do corporate companies give back to the society that made them in form of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

“We cannot depend on government to shoulder all the responsibilities, it cannot do it alone, so some people have to support the government in order to get things done.

“If you look at football today, it is the highest employer of labour as many people now engage in sporting activities especially football.

“Golden Chance Lotto is helping our youths through sport, they want to give back to the society through sports, because if you look at their programme, it is the youth that patronise them most. We are here to engage the youth through sport as we are ready to develop the game of sports the more in Oyo State.

“We want to inject fresh blood into the game and ensure they make it to the national teams,” he said.

From left, GOtv Marketing Manager, Johnson Ivase; Public Relations Manager, GOtv, Efe Obiomah and the Managing Director, Flykite Production, Jenkins Alumona, during the GOtv Boxing Night 9th edition press conference, held at Old Skool Restaurant, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup debuts in Lagos

A

CTIVITIES to kick start the 2016 Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup, the sport’s biggest and most exciting amateur tournament begins tomorrow at Ikoyi Golf Club, Lagos.

The 84th of 100 qualifiers for the global event, which is enjoying a growing reputation after three hugely successful previous series will feature 100 players, all personally-invited guests of Turkish Airlines.

One winner will progress to the grand final in Antalya, Turkey, next month, while there will also be memorable prizes for the runner-up, third place, best gross and nearestthe-pin prizes for men and women.

“We are proud to be hosting the latest 2016 Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup qualifier in Lagos,” Tarkan Ince, General Manager for Turkish Airlines Lagos, said. “We are excited to be welcoming everyone to the world-class facilities at Ikoyi Golf Club. We are sure the players will have a day to remember and wish them all the very best of luck.”

Winners of the grand finale progress to play in the 2016 Turkish Airlines Open pro-am, while all finalists are to enjoy an eight-night stay in an allinclusive hotel, two rounds of golf and VIP passes to the Turkish Airlines Open,

the $7,000,000 European Tour event, from Thursday to Sunday.

The event is backed by Global Sponsor, the Financial Times, with Conte of Florence official clothing and fashion partner.

Turkish Airlines, which was recently voted Best

Airline in Europe for the fifth consecutive year, as well as World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge and World’s Best Business Class Lounge Dining in 2015, launched the World Golf Cup in 2013.

It featured 12 qualifying events and was won by China’s Han Liang. His prize

for victory was partnering world number one and 14time major champion Tiger Woods in the Turkish Airlines Open pro-am. Neill Bam, 2015 winner from Johannesburg proved successful in the 2015 series and went on to partner Rory McIlroy, a once in a lifetime opportunity.

NFF commends Promasidor for supporting ‘catch them young’ initiative THE Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has commended the efforts of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell milk, Loya Milk, Top Tea and other food products, for its sponsorship of the Cowbell Football Academy (CFA).

The CFA is an initiative aimed at developing sports in the country by creating an enabling platform for children and youths to express themselves through sports, academics and extra-curricular activities thereby adding to the nation’s human capital development.

The commendation was made at the grand finale of the 2016 summer camp which took place at the main bowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, recently.

Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, First Vice-President of the NFF explained that the CFA initiative was contributing immensely to the development of football in Nigeria.

According to him, “apart from catching the young school children and schooling them on football, the NFF has also realised they are being taught discipline, interpersonal and communication skills which help them excel in any endeavour.”

He added that the NFF had seen significant changes and improvement over the years through the contributions of the Cowbell football initiative to the nation’s sporting activities. He, therefore, commended Promasidor for its diverse CSR initiatives that greatly impact Nigerian children and youths, particularly in the areas of sports and academics.

Akinwunmi reiterated the need for the private sector to join hands as a team and develop sports in the nation, adding that the government could not do it alone. Akinwunmi called on parents to key into the initiative by enrolling their wards in the

academy as a way of ensuring their mental and physical well-being.

He gave Promasidor kudos for not just supporting the initiative, but most importantly sustaining the support over the years.

The Rector, Cowbell Football Academy (CFA), Mr Godwin Dudu-Orumen expressed gratitude to Promasidor for sponsoring the initiative, which has ensured the realisation of the academy’s objective of improving and developing sports in the country.

He explained that the academy which identified the youngsters would groom them physically and mentally through their early years into young adulthood when they would be ready to face bigger challenges and opportunities in sports.

He also expressed gratitude to parents who allowed their kids to be part of the academy.

SIDELINES

NO 16,589

N150

WEDNESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER, 2016

As of Monday, Team Nigeria was leading Africa with six gold medals at the ongoing Paralympic Games in Rio, Brazil. Truly, there is ability in disability. Go for more gold, Team Nigeria!

Robbers invade Onazi’s home, carts away car, cash

Ageing players killing Eagles

•Police deploy officers Isaac Shobayo -Jos

—Adamu

FOUR armed robbers, on Monday, attacked the family home of Super Eagles player, Ogenyi Onazi in Jos, carting away valuables including a Toyota Highlander and cash.

However, the damage they caused was limited to material things as they took no life, although they physically assaulted the father of the Nigerian midfielder.

Speaking from his base in Turkey, Onazi who was obviously shaken by the incident, disclosed that the bandits pretended to be courier men with a letter to be delivered to his father.

Following the robbery incident, the Nigeria Police has deployed its men to the residence to ensure the safety of the inhabitants.

Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Terna Tyopev, who confirmed the robbery attack told Tribunesport in Jos on Tuesday, that immediately the incident was reported, policemen were posted to the house to safeguard the inhabitants.

“The divisional crime officer personally led detectives to the house and the area is now calm. We have commenced investigation into the matter,” Terna said.

NEW BLOOD: Super Eagles defender, William Troost-Ekong

By Ganiyu Salman

F

ORMER FIFA and CAF executive member, Dr Amos Adamu, has emphasised the need for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to ease ageing players out of the Super Eagles.

Adamu told ‘ON THE SPOT’ against the backdrop of the state of Nigerian football that the desired results could only be achieved with relatively young players.

“Our first problem is coaching, we don’t have a stable coach, we must get the coaching crew right. Secondly, we depend on the names of players, not the performance of the players. Most o f our players [in the Super Eagles] are over 30 years old.

Now, if a 30-year-old player finds a player who is 19, 20 or 21 in the opposing side run with the ball, can a 30-year-old man chase such opponent? No. “When we used players and they have peaked, we should not allow them to destroy us again. We should now go for the players who are young to be in the team, not a player who is 35 years old and claim to be 19. When we continue to depend on any player who is above 30 years old, we might get this kind of results we are now getting. I have advised the NFF to look for younger players for the Super Eagles and not a player who is 35 years old and claims he is 17-year-old.

“Again, we must have the birth profile data of our players because it is now very common in Nigeria where a 35-year-old player who looks smallish will claim to be under 17. When it comes to performance, it will show that he is not in that age category,” Adamu, a former sole administrator of the nation’s soccer ruling body said.

He also welcomed the declaration of state of emergency in Nigerian sports by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung.

“If the government has declared state of emergency in Nigerian sports, that means it wants an immediate action to put things right where it is supposed to be. As we have in Nigerian sports today, we need to declare a state of emergency.”

Serena

Venus

Serena, Venus used banned drugs —Russian hackers Rio Paralympics medals table 1. China

55 42 28

2. G/Britain

31 16 20

3. Ukraine

22 19 21

4. USA

18 17 14

5. Brazil

10 19 10

6. Australia

7

14 14

7. Holland

7

8

12

8. New Zealand 7

4

3

9. Uzbekstan

6

4

14

10. Nigeria

6

2

1

A group of Russian hackers claim to have found files that show the Williams sisters and gymnast Simone Biles were allowed to take banned substances by antidoping bosses.

Hacktivists Fancy Bear leaked documents that allegedly demonstrate both Venus and Serena Williams took substances that were on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) banned list.

However, International Tennis Federation said the Williams sisters had been given permission to use the drugs for ‘therapeutic use’.

Fancy Bear also claimed American gymnast Simone Biles tested positive for another banned substance in August but also had special dispensation to use it.

The hack on the WADA was said to have been carried out in revenge for Russia being banned

from the Olympics in Rio. Both the International Federation of Gymnasts and the International Tennis Federation said no rules had been broken.

WADA confirmed Russian hackers broke into its database and posted some athletes’ confidential medical data online.

The hackers revealed records of ‘Therapeutic Use Exemptions’ which allow athletes to use substances that are banned unless there is a verified medical need.

WADA previously warned of cyber-attacks after investigators it appointed published investigations into Russian state-sponsored doping.

WADA director general Olivier Niggli said: “These criminal acts are greatly compromising the effort by the global anti-doping community to re-establish trust in Russia.’

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. 14/09/2016.