15th April 2016 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,480

FRIDAY, 15 APRIL, 2016

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Chibok girls

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Senate summons NSA, security chiefs —P2,3

•Your daughters will join you soon, bear with us —Buhari •Police bar BBOG group from entering Aso Villa

Economy: Nigeria should seek help from international organisations —IMF —P11

UK gives Nigeria £400m aid annually —British minister —P11

Members of #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) advocacy group on a solidarity protest, in commemoration of two years' abduction of the Chibok girls, in Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI.

Don't grant Buhari's loan request, Fayose writes Chinese president —P9

Afenifere rejects National Grazing Reserves Bill •As Reps set to debate it •Bill to empower FG to acquire suitable land in each state •Herdsmen risk 7-year jail for unauthorised grazing —P8

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Friday, 15 April, 2016

Chibok girls: Senate summons NSA, security chiefs

•As Reps urge FG to intensify search efforts •APC rode on back of Chibok girls to power —Akpabio Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja with Agency Report

HE Senate, on Thursday, summoned the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the security chiefs to brief it on efforts to rescue Government Secondary School girls abducted two years ago at Chibok, Borno State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that over 200 girls from the school were abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents on April 14, 2014. The order on the NSA and all security chiefs to appear at the Senate followed a motion by Senator Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West), which was co-sponsored by three other senators. After an unanimous adoption of the motion, the Senate urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the release of the girls and that security agencies should do everything possible to rescue them. It also urged the Federal Government to take over the rebuilding of the school to alleviate the sufferings of students. The upper chamber sympathised with the parents of the girls and Chibok community, and Nigerians over the incident. Presenting the motion earlier, Melaye said besides the propaganda videos created by the Islamist group, none of the girls had been seen since their abduction. He also pointed out that apart from the fact that some of the girls were yet to be rescued, the school where they were abducted was still unattended to. The lawmaker said the abduction of the girls had greatly affected the image of the country in the international community. “It is a harrowing feeling knowing that these girls are still at the mercy of such a violent group. “I am concerned that the abduction has become a myth and their whereabouts an enigma. “We cannot succeed as a government until those girls are released,” he said. Contributing, Senator Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna Central), decried the levity with which issues affecting the poor were treated in the country. He said measures would have been put in place to rescue the girls if they were from rich homes. “ Visiting Chibok and talking too much while the girls are in captivity will not help

the situation. If we are not careful, we will move from anniversary to anniversary,” he said. Sani called on government to continue to use force and explore the possibility of dialogue for the release of the girls. Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, commended the Federal Government for measures put in place so far to rescue the girls. Senator Akpabio, in his submission, wondered why those who led protests against the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan, to rescue the girls have suddenly kept mum, saying they rode on the back of the abduction of the schoolgirls to win last year’s general elections. “I remember in 2014, Dino Melaye used to wear a

T-shirt and he led the protest to ensure that the abducted Chibok girls were released. He was always at the National Fountain to lead a protest against the government. He eventually cashed in on it and won election. Other people in APC did the same thing.” Senator Rose Okoh (PDPCross River North), expressed concern over the condition of the girls, saying they may have been violated and some might have died. However, Senator Ben Bruce (PDP-Bayelsa East), who was opposed to the payment of ransom for the release of the girls, advised security agencies to continue with other alternatives for their rescue. He said the insurgents might use such ransom to procure arms and continue with their despicable activi-

ties. In his remarks, Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, blamed the police system in the country for the abduction of the girls. Ekweremadu described the abduction of the girls as disturbing, adding that Nigerians and the international community were asking when the girls would be rescued. “I am happy we are talking about it to ensure that this national embarrassment is brought to an end. “I believe that by this time next year, we will be celebrating the release and not anniversary of their abduction,” he said. In the same vein, the House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to rescue over 200 female

students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, abducted two years ago. This followed the adoption of a motion under “Matters of Urgent Public Importance” moved by Honourable Asabe Vilita (Borno-APC), in Abuja, on Thursday. Leading debate on the motion, Vilita expressed worry that two years since the girls were abducted by insurgents, efforts by security agencies to rescue them had yet to yield positive results. She said there was urgent need for government and its agencies to redouble search efforts in view of the need to reunite the girls with their families. Villita, who represents Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok Constituency, expressed

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and the president, Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin (middle), with senators and other members of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) displaying a banner calling for the rescue of the Chibok girls, during a courtesy visit to the Senate President, at the National Assembly, in Abuja, on Thursday, to mark the two years anniversary of the Chibok girls’ abduction.

Locate, rescue the girls, Lagos lawmakers tell FG Chukwuma Okparaocha - Lagos TWO years after the kidnap of over 200 girls from their hostels in Chibok, Borno State, by members of the Boko Haram sect, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have called on the Federal Government to locate and rescue the girls. This call was followed by a motion moved by Honourable Sola Giwa from Lagos Island Constituency 1 under Matter of Urgent Public Importance on Thursday, where the Federal Government was reminded of the need to rescue the girls from the alleged kidnappers. According to him, “the Muhammadu Buhari-led government should direct the military and men of the Department of State Secu-

rity (DSS) to take necessary steps to locate the girls to give confidence to the people,” and this was seconded by Honourable Fatai Oluwa. In his contribution, Speaker of the House, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, said the House sympathised with parents and families, school and the state government of the Chibok girls.

Also speaking, Honourable Olumuyiwa Jimoh stated that the Federal Government should locate the girls as their parents had become so much apprehensive about the whereabouts of their children. Another lawmaker, Honourable Oluyinka Ogundimu, emphasised that the parents of the girls were in pains and that the matter

should be resolved as soon as possible. Honourable Moshood Oshun from Lagos Mainland Constituency 2, said that the government needed to react to the situation and that if the government could not get intelligent information about the whereabouts of the girls, they should find a way of consoling the parents of the girls.

Chibok girls’ abduction not a hoax —Activists By Wale Akinselure A coalition of activists, comprising pensioners, students, women and children, on Thursday, lampooned calls by some Nigerians to regard the Chibok girls’ abduction as a hoax and political gimmick. The activists, in a rally

held at Nigerian Labour Congress Secretariat, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, cautioned that such messages dampened the spirit of the victims and their families, while it strengthened the abductors and their political sponsors. Led by social and human

rights activist, Mr Femi Aborisade, the activists said such calls to forget the Chibok girls’ abduction amounted to submission to proponents of forced girlchild marriage and to persons who seek to enslave society by imposing their own ideas, religion and worldview on others.

concern about the safety of the girls, saying their condition could worsen if they were not rescued on time. “Two years is too much a period for them to remain in custody considering that they risk being subjected to untold hardship, slavery, molestation, abuse, rape, pregnancy and forceful marriage in the hands of their abductors,” she said. Contributing, Honourable Aishatu Dukku (APCGombe) called for collective efforts to facilitate the rescue of the Chibok girls. She stressed the need to sustain the campaign for the rescue of the girls, whom she said had been denied of their rights to freedom and education. “Our voices must be heard, as we will continue to fight for their freedom collectively. “Living in the hands of these abductors means living in a deplorable condition and I want to let them know that we have not forgotten them,” Dukku said. Similarly, Honourable Onyemaechi Mrakpor (Delta-PDP) expressed worry that female students were being molested, kidnapped and assaulted in many parts of the country. “This is affecting the girlchild education and some of the girls may think it is no longer safe to go to school. “Security agencies must take a step stronger and more effective than what is in place to ensure the return of the Chibok girls,” Mrakpor added. Honourable Abdulrazak Namdas (Adamawa-APC) described the situation of the missing girls as ‘unfortunate’. Namdas, however, urged the Federal Government not to relent in its efforts to rescue the girls and urged Nigerians to be patient and continue to pray for the return of the girls. Speaker of the House, Mr Yakubu Dogara, said the lower chamber was committed to ensuring that the girls were reunited with their families. “We must insist as an institution that targets are set so that we do not lose the sense of urgency in our efforts to ensure that the girls are rescued,” he said. Dogara urged parents of the abducted girls not to lose hope, but continue to believe that their days of mourning and despair would be over sooner than expected. The House resolved to send a delegation to meet the parents of the missing girls.

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Friday, 15 April, 2016

BBOG denied entrance into Aso Villa

•We will not surrender —Ezekwesili •Our thoughts remain with victims, families —UK govt From Adetola Bademosi, Collins Nnabuife, Christian Okeke and Muhammad Sabiu

HE BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group, on a peaceful protest, was on Thursday denied entrance into the Aso Villa by men of the Nigeria Police. The protest, led by a former Education Minister, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili and other strategic team members, was to mark two years since the over 200 girls were abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents. The group expressed shock when the security agents told them they could not be allowed into the Aso Villa for security reasons. After failed attempts to gain access into the Villa, the group pitched its tent at the main entrance, under the scorching sun, saying it would rather hold its meeting at the spot. Speaking with newsmen, Ezekwesili said despite being denied access into the Villa, the BBOG would not surrender to intimidations. Ezekwesili, who asked President Muhammadu Buhari to own up to his promises, particularly at his inauguration in May 29, 2015, said the group would continue in its advocacies until the Chibok girls were rescued alive. She said: “We made a pledge to parents of Chibok girls that we will stand with them until the girls are found; we shall not turn back on that pledge, we will keep to this promise. “We will continue with daily advocacies for our Chibok girls, come rain, come sunshine. We, as a movement, are persuaded that everything that concerns any citizen of Nigeria concerns everyone of us. And because of that, those who have misrepresented our advocacy to be some politics need, should be mindful of the fact that politics have not delivered anything valuable to any of our Chibok girls. “They don’t care about politics, they care about good governance. It is good governance that is the root cause of our Chibok girls captivity 731days after. Our movement is a movement that cares for good governance, we don’t care about what political acronymn you belong to, we care about the good governance that will rescue our Chibok girls and other abducted citizens.” In a text read by the group’s leader of strategic team, Aisha Yusuf, themed:

‘Two years without our girls unimaginable’, the group quoted the president’s speech at his inauguration in May 29, 2015, saying this was the only reason the group have not given up on its demand for the rescue of the Chibok girls. The quote: “We cannot claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage, this government will do all it can to rescue them alive.” It said the many successes recorded by the Nigerian military in the fight against insurgency in the country would not be complete, until the missing girls were brought back and reunited with their parents. The group, however, suggested that with the newly surfaced “proof of life video,” the Federal Government and other countries should promply take action, saying “our government must lead a well-coordinated, coherent, sustained and results focused “SWAT” search and rescue team that mobilises every possible intelligence assets available anywhere in the world to rescue our Chibok girls and all other citizens still languishing in the den of terrorists. “We believe that the “proof of life video” would be a good place to start in scrutinising every possible lead that is provided our government on the whereabouts of our citizens.” Meanwhile, the United Kingdom (UK) government, on Thursday, said its

thoughts are with the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, their families and thousands of other men, women and children, who have been brutally abducted by Boko Haram members. It said the abduction of the girls was a particularly horrific example of Boko Haram’s barbaric crimes and expressed full commitment to supporting Nigeria in its fight against Boko Haram and to helping find those abducted. In a joint statement issued by Foreign Office Minister for Africa, James Duddridge and the International Development Minister, Nick Hurd, on the second anniversary of the abduction of the girls, the UK government said it remained determined and steadfast in its support of Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram. “Since 2014, we have significantly increased our military intelligence and development support to Nigeria. This includes training and advice for Nigerian Armed Forces deploying against Boko Haram,” they said. They went further to say that the UK had also increased its humanitarian support to reach those people most in need with food, water and emergency healthcare. Part of the assistance, according to them, focuses on ensuring children have a right to education and safe access to schools. “Tackling the root causes of global problems such as violent extremism, terror-

ism and poverty is not only the right thing to do, it is also firmly in the UK’s own national interest,” they said. Also in a statement through its High Commission in Abuja, the UK government noted that the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in April 2014 was a particularly heinous example of Boko Haram’s brutality. The statement reads: “We estimate that over 2,000 people were abducted by the group in 2014 and that hundreds more had been taken since. “In response to the abduction of the Chibok girls in 2014, the UK, working with the United States and France, provided a range of military and intelligence support to the Nigerian government in their search for the missing girls and their efforts to address the longterm challenge of terrorism. “Since 2014, we had significantly increased our military, intelligence and development support to Nigeria, including training and advice on counter-insurgency. “Last year, almost 1,000 Nigerian military personnel benefitted from UK training to prepare them for counterinsurgency operations in the North-East. The UK has also provided £5 million to support the regional military task force set up by Nigeria and its neighbours to tackle the insurgents. “The UK is contributing millions of pounds in humanitarian support to help those mos affected by Boko

Haram’s insurgency. This vital aid is providing food, water, sanitation and emergency healthcare for up to seven million people across Nigeria. “DFID also supports the government of Nigeria’s Safe Schools Initiative, which has helped over 90,000 displaced children to return to school, provided learning materials and trained teachers on psychosocial support.”

Insurgency ends when Chibok girls are found —Labour

The National Union of Textiles Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTWN) has said we cannot be celebrating ending insurgency while the Chibok school girls abducted two years ago, are still missing. Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, on Thursday, to mark the two years anniversary of the abduction of the girls, the national president of the union, Comrade John Adaji, noted that the abduction of the girls left us with a big wound yet to heal. He said: “We hear of the goodnews on how the insurgents have been dislodged by federal forces. Check points have disappeared and we hardly hear any form of bomb blasts. However, the Labour leader contended that we cannot be celebrating when our girls abducted in Chibok are still missing. “To me, insurgency ends when the girls are found,”

he declared. Also speaking, the General Secretary of of Textiles Workers’ Union, Comrade Issa Aremu, said no fewer than 17 parents of the abducted girls were reported to have died from the trauma of their missing daughters. Represented by the Deputy National Secretary of the union, Comrade Dele Ojo noted that “those who abduct 219 girls out of school have definitely criminally abducted communities of future workers, doctors, nurses and leaders. “We must, therefore, join forces with the forces of progress and development world-wide to join forces for the liberation of our beloved girls of Chibok. He noted that ‘increasingly global terrorism is making the world of work more precarious. “Thousands of workers in Nigeria, France, Belgium, Syria, Iraq had been brutally abducted and killed by terrorists who see defenseless workers as “soft targets.” “ILO must, therefore, redouble efforts with all the international agencies to rid the world of terror. Social dialogue and negotiated settlements are tested ILO’s mechanisms for resolving social conflicts, not senseless violence, in which innocent Chibok girls are victims. Nothing justifies criminal abductions. “Chibok girls are missing but they are not forgotten until they are rescued,” he declared.

...Your daughters will join you soon, please bear with us —Buhari Leon Usigbe - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has appealed for patience and understanding from families and relations of the abducted Chibok girls, as government works diligently to ensure that the girls return home unharmed. A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in Abuja, on Thursday, said Buhari assured them that he frequently reflected on the ordeal of the captives in the hands of Boko Haram terrorists and shared the pain of their continued absence from home. According to the statement, on the second anniversary of the kidnap of the girls, Buhari affirmed that as a parent and leader of the country, he understood the torment, frustration and anxiety of the parents and would not spare

any effort to ensure the safe return of the girls. It stated that the president continued to believe that with the total commitment of the Federal Government, Nigerian Armed Forces, security agencies and the international community, the

girls would be eventually rescued. The president noted that thousands of persons, mostly women and children, who were kidnapped by Boko Haram, had already been rescued and reunited with their families.

He shared the hope of the parents that the Chibok girls would ultimately be rescued and reunited with their families as well. The president assured the parents that the Federal Government and security agencies would continue to ex-

plore all possible options for the safe return of the girls. He thanked all Nigerians, religious and civil organisations, and the international community for their continued sympathy, support and prayers for the return of the Chibok girls.

Do what you want, parent of missing girl tells FG Adetola Bademosi - Abuja AS the country marks the second year since the over 200 school girls were kidnapped from their dormitories in Chibok town, Borno State, parent of one of the missing girls, Mrs Dorcas Yakubu, has asked the Federal Government to do what it pleases. This came immediately after activists of the BringBackOurGirls group were denied entry into the Aso Villa premises. Speaking during a march

to commemorate two years since the girls were abducted, Mrs Yakubu expressed disappointment at the development, even as she concluded that since the government was not doing much in this regard, only God’s intervention should be sought. Mrs Yakubu, who betrayed emotion during her speech, maintained that police officers, who barricaded the entrance to the Villa were either acting on directives of President Muhammadu Buhari or the

Inspector-General of Police. “Do whatever you want to do, but there is a day of judgment that all knees must bow before the King of glory and all that is done on this earth will be revealed. “But the God that I serve will fight this battle for me; you are a parent, can you pray for what I am going through? But my God, who is above everyone, whoever he is, be it the IGP or the president, will set our girls free if He is on the throne. “We didn’t beg for our girls

to be kidnapped, we didn’t ask the Boko Haram to kidnap our girls, but all was just to fulfil their selfish interests. All the people standing here are also mothers, they know the pains we are going through, they know the pains of labour.” On the newly released video tagged ‘proof of life’, she said although her daughter was not captured in the video, the video stood as a ray of hope that the girls were still alive and would be found.

Friday, 15 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Lagos The brand new Hilux Security Vehicles donated by MTN Foundation to Lagos State Government on Thursday in Lagos. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Ambode charges corporate bodies to support govt on security •As MTN foundation donates 10 patrol vehicles Bola Badmus

AGOS State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday, urged corporate organisations in the country to key into the efforts of government at all levels to secure the lives and property of citizens, just as he said that development and businesses can only thrive in a peaceful atmosphere. Governor Ambode, who said this while receiving 10 fully equipped security patrol vehicles from MTN Foundation on behalf of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSTF), said security, being an everyday issue, should not be left only for government, and that there was a strong need for the Organised Private Sector (OPS) to invest in security for greater economic prosperity. Governor Ambode, said: “A safer Lagos is a more productive Lagos and this administration is not mincing words in that area. We are running this administration on a tripod. The first is security of lives and property. Once we are able to do that, the environment becomes more visible for job opportunities to take place

because you too will do your work and employ our people.” He thanked MTN Foundation for the investment in security and other Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, and charged other corporate organisations to emulate such gesture. Earlier, Chairman of MTN Foundation, Chief Julius Adelusi Adeluyi said the donation of the security equipment was a testimony

of the commitment of the organisation to partner with government to ensure the protection of lives and property. “We like to commend the Governor for efforts at driving the implementation of the Lagos State Development Agenda and there are many examples to illustrate this. For example, the Light Up Lagos Project which has been quite a success and the way you have made very good efforts to complete the

Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

• As Lagos CJ frees 184 inmates from Ikoyi, Kirikiri prisons

From right, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Chairman, MTN Foundation, Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; Executive Secretary/ CEO, MTN Nigeria Foundation, Nonny Ugboma; Chairman, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Mr Oye Hassan-Odukale; Human Resource and Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mrs Amina Oyagbola, during the donation of 10 Hilux security patrol vehicles by MTN Nigeria Foundation to Lagos State Government, at Government House, Alausa, on Thursday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

various road projects outstanding and also created by you as well as the massive

procurement of vehicles and equipment for the police and Lagos State Traf-

Prisoners on trial for 15 years gain freedom IT was a day of joy for inmates in Ikoyi and Kirikiri prisons as the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, released a total of 184 inmates in the state within two days. It will be recalled that Atilade released 153 prison inmates from Kirikiri Maximum and Minimum prisons on Wednesday, and on Thursday, she continued her prison amnesty exercise with the release of 31 more inmates from Ikoyi prisons, bringing the total number to 184 inmates freed. Three prisoners who had been on trial for 15 years were among the inmates who regained freedom at Kirikiri

and among the 129 inmates released from Kirikiri, 79 were standing trial for capital offences while 50 were standing trial for minor offences. Admonishing the freed inmates never to return to crime again, the chief judge said her administration will continue to review cases of inmates who have no business

being in prison. “Those of you that have been released today should see this as an opportunity for a new beginning. You must henceforth be of good behaviour and never return to crime,” she added. Justice Atilade also admonished the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution to always provide the

Prison Decongestion Committee detailed information about the awaiting trial inmates. In his remark, the Deputy Comptroller in charge of Ikoyi Prison, Julius Ezeugwu thanked the Chief Judge for releasing the inmates. He noted that in spite of the large number

fic Management Authority (LASTMA) to tackle security challenges,” Adeluyi said.

of awaiting trial inmates in Ikoyi prison, the facility personnels have continued to make the place a truly reformatory prison. The Deputy Comptroller in charge of Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Seye Oduntan, in his remarks, thanked the CJ for the amnesty gesture and pleaded with her to ensure that the programme is a continuous one.

Timber dealers, other sue Lagos govt over Okobaba land Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin STAKEHOLDERS at the Okobaba Foreshore in Ebute-Metta, comprising timber dealers, sawyers, towing vessel owners and others, on Wednesday filed

a suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos, challenging the proposed forceful eviction of all saw millers, timber dealers and towing vessel owners from the Okobaba Street Foreshore, to an uncompleted location

in Ijede area of Ikorodu. The stakeholders are seeking the court’s declaration that the Lagos State Government has no authority over any land situate and being within the 100 metres of all declared

navigable inland waterways, such as the Lagos Lagoon, which is under the authority and jurisdiction of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). They also claimed that they have been paying

Friday, 15 April, 2016

metro

Edited by

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has

said the state government will formally sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with investors

for the construction of the proposed 4th Mainland Bridge before the end of May 2016.

Governor Ambode made the disclosure, on Thursday, while speaking at the First Quarter 2016 Town

Members of BringBackOurGirls (BBOG), Lagos, at a rally to mark the second anniversary of the abduction of Chibok girls, organised by Women for Peace and Justice and Murtala Mohammed Foundation, at Lagos House, Alausa, on Thursday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Driver docked for allegedly stripping female passenger Saheed Salawu A 25-year-old driver, Sodiq Olowolagba who allegedly beat up a woman and tore her hijab, was on Wednesday arraigned before a magistrates’ court in Ikeja, Lagos. Olowolagba, a resident of 37, Abarin Street, Meiran, Lagos, is answering charges bordering on breach of the peace, conspiracy and assault. The prosecutor, Inspector Clement Okuoimose, told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 30, at Alakuko Bus Stop, Lagos. He said the accused and one other person, still at large, conspired to beat up and strip one Mrs Kafayat Rabiu. Ikuoimose said the complainant boarded the vehicle of accused and along the road, the accused stopped, saying he was no longer

their regular dues and permit licenses to the said NIWA for many years now. The stakeholders are contending that the Lagos State Government is without legal powers to interfere in their posses-

going to the complainant’s destination after collecting the fare. “The accused conveyed the complainant from Ikeja to Toll Gate and on getting to Alakuko, the accused with his conductor asked the complainant to come down; that they could not get to the last bus stop. “The complainant asked the accused to either return her money or put her in another bus. She insisted she would

not alight from the bus until she collected her money back,” he said. The prosecutor said further that the accused and his conductor applied force to push the complainant out of the vehicle. “The accused dragged the complainant from his vehicle and beat her up. Not satisfied with the beating, he tore her Muslim clothes into pieces, exposing her body to the public,” he said.

The offences, Ikuoimose said, contravened Sections 166, 171 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. Section 171 prescribes a three-year jail term as penalty for offenders. The accused pleaded not guilty to the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum. The Magistrate, Mrs Y. Okusanya, adjourned the case till April 24.

Hall Meeting, the third in the series, held at the Ikorodu Town Hall, Ikorodu. This was just as he directed that security agencies, including the police, Task Force, LASTMA, among others, to start enforcing total ban on motorcycles, popularly known as okada, on Mile 12 and Ikorodu Road, in line with the people’s wish as demonstrated through affirmation by the people, during the Town Hall meeting. The governor assured the residents that once the MoU was signed, work would begin on the 4th Mainland Bridge, which according to him, would go a long way to boost the economy of Lagos East Senatorial District. “Many investors have shown interest in the actualisation of our dream for the 4th Mainland Bridge which will run from Ajah to Ikorodu to Isawo and berth at Ojodu, Ikeja back to the Ibadan expressway. By the grace of God, we will sign a MoU and commence action before May 29,” Governor Ambode said. The governor stated that investors had equally shown interest in the redevelopment of the fish market to an International Fish Market and the redevelopment of inner roads in Epe and Ibeju-Lekki, explaining that the intention of his administration was to ensure that no part of the state was left undeveloped.

Students looted bottled water, harassed lecturers during riot — UNILAG management • It’s a lie — Union leader Naza Okoli THE management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), on Wednesday said students beat up workers at UNILAG Ventures and “carted away countless number of bottled water,” while crippling the campus for 48 hours, during their two-day protest, which held last week.

sion and occupation of the Okobaba Street Foreshore, to eject them forcefully and to transfer the land to developers and foreign investors, who have no history of any contribution to the development of the area.

A statement issued by the school, on Wednesday, and signed by the University Registrar, Dr Taiwo Ipaye, read: “In carrying out the protests, student leaders put the University under siege for over 48 hours, when they locked the University’s two gates. This act caused untold hardship to families and pupils of the nursery, primary and secondary schools on campus who, after closing for the day, were prevented from going to their homes until about 11.00 pm. “Classes were violently disrupted in various faculties by identifiable University of Lagos Students’ Union (ULSU) officials, who harassed lecturers and also tore up students’

How we disguise as patients to rob hospitals — Suspects

Olalekan Olabulo

4th Mainland Bridge papers to be signed before May 29 —Ambode Bola Badmus

Nigerian Tribune

scripts in places where tests were being administered.” While speaking on the students’ demands, Ipaye said, “Until recently the University had enjoyed a reasonably steady supply of electricity. It is a fact that the University, like every other part of the country, is now faced with the challenges of electricity and fuel supply. Students at all times were kept abreast of government and University’s efforts to improve the situation.” Meanwhile, the President of the Students’ Union, Mr Mohammed Olaniyan, has denied that his members beat up workers and looted goods during the protest.

“Nothing like that happened,” Olaniyan told Lagos Metro. “I was there (UNILAG Ventures) with the Speaker. We were there to make sure nothing like that happened. We only told workers to close the place if they were not willing to give us water. If anybody was beaten up by students, let them come forward.” It remains uncertain when the University would reopen. According to the Registrar, a committee had been set up to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the protest. She added that the “University will not be closed for a day longer than necessary.”

TWO members of a robbery gang have stated that they usually disguise as patients to rob hospitals in Lagos State. The suspects were on Wednesday afternoon paraded before newsmen by the state police commissioner, Fatai Owoseni. Owoseni noted that the arrested robbers; Babatunde Bamidele and Muritala Balogun and others members of the gang were arrested in Ajangbadi area of the state, after they had attacked an unnamed hospital in the area. According to the police boss, the suspect usually dress one of them with bandage and pretend as if they had come for treatment at their target hospital. Bamidele, while speaking with Lagos Metro confessed to being a member of the gang and claimed to have been initiated into the gang by a certain Ahmed. “I was formerly into pick pocketing, but when I met Ahmed he advise me to abandon the pick pocketing, that it is not profitable, before I started going out with them, they trained me for about a week. Before we went out on operation we decided on who would be dressed with bandages. When we get to the gate of the hospital, the sick person will be crying calling for emergency. “Immediately we are allowed into the hospital we bring out our guns and rob the patients of their money and other valuables, but we don’t kill people, we only collect money and phones,” the suspect confessed. He confessed further that, “we were coming out of the hospital, after the operation when the policemen who were on patrol of the area, heard the shout of thief from the hospital and ran after us, Ahmed and others escaped, but the two of us were later arrested. “Since I joined the gang we have robbed about five different hospitals at Ajangbadi, Shibiri and other part of the community. I regretted my action; my parents must not hear I was arrested for armed robbery.”

news

Friday, 15 April, 2016

Afenifere rejects National Grazing Reserves Bill

•As Reps set to debate it •Bill to empower FG to acquire suitable land in each state From Taiwo Adisa and Hakeem Gbadamosi

AN-YORUBA sociopolitical group, Afenifere, on Thursday, rejected the Fulani National Grazing Reserves Bill pending before the National Assembly, describing the bill as obnoxious and provocative. This came as the House of Representatives is set to commence debate on the bill, seeking to empower a federal agency to create grazing reserves for cattle rearing across the 36 states and Abuja. The bill, being sponsored by Honourable Sadiq Ibrahim, a 51-year-old lawyer representing Fufore/Song federal constituency, is seeking the establishment of grazing reserves to improve agricultural yield and equally address the incessant farmers/herdsmen clash. However, leader of the Afenifere group, Chief Rueben Fasonranti, in Akure, Ondo State, said passing the bill into law would violate the Land Use Act and forcefully take land from government and individual owners. Afenifere warned the lawmakers against passing the controversial bill into law in the interest of the country. “The bill seeks to turn private cattle rearing into a national affair, by setting up a federal body to take care of the interest of herdsmen against the interest of the occupations. “The bill, if passed into law, would forcefully take land from a state government and individual owners in violation of the Land Use Act and all legal and traditional means of land holding for the purpose of grazing reserves,” he said. Fasonranti recalled that similar steps were taken in the past around 1940s but was resisted by the general public and the bill was laid to rest in the interest of the people and the country. He, however, said the group rejected any law targetted in robbing the people of their possessions, adding that “we reject any law that would rob a set of citizens of their possessions and award to another set of citizens as this offensive bill attempts to do. That is against the principle of natural justice. “It is against the federal principle for the government of the federation to violate the rights of other sections of the country to please a group from an ethnic unit. “The British knew we are different peoples with varied occupations and gave us a

federal constitution, so that each component unit can manage its space in accordance with the demands of their occupation.” Details of the bill, as obtained by the Nigerian Tribune, indicated that the law was seeking the establishment of a commission to oversee the acquisition of lands for grazing purposes across the country. Titled: “A bill for an Act to establish grazing reserve in each state of the Federation of Nigeria to improve agriculture yield from livestock farming and curb incessant conflicts between cattle farmers and crop farmers in Nigeria and for related matters,” the bill is marked HB16.03.448 and published in the volume 13 of the National Assembly Journal. According to the bill, it shall be a criminal offence for anyone to graze outside the grazing reserve upon the commencement of the Act. The law will provide that anyone who contravenes the provisions of the bill shall be liable to seven years imprisonment . In Part IV Section 34 of the bill, the proposed law that “it shall be criminal for herdsmen to operate outside of the grazing reserve. “As from the date of commencement of this bill, it is a criminal offence for any herdsman or anybody to graze in any part of Nigeria

outside the National Grazing Reserves or in any public place or land belonging to third parties. “Whoever contravenes the provisions of this sub-section(1) of this section shall be liable upon a maximum imprisonment of seven years.” According to the bill in its explanatory section, grazing reserves means cattle reserves, farm camps, cattle farms and ranch established by the proposed commission to improve agriculture yield (livestock and diary), eradicate trans-human and clashes between herdsmen and crop farmers. The proposed commission, which is to be set up under the bill, will be headed by a Director-General, who would be appointed by the president on the advice of Minister of Agriculture. The commission would also have a chairman and other members, who shall be appointed by the president, upon the recommendation of state governors and Minister of Agriculture. The Director-General is designated as the Chief Accounting Officer of the commission and must be a lawyer of at least 10 years pre-qualification experience or a licensed surveyor with at least 10 years experience. The appointee, according to the bill, would be solely responsible to the president and Minister of Agriculture,

as his appointment is not to be approved by the Senate. Section three of the bill indicated that a member of the commission shall hold office for a period of four years and may be re-appointed for another term of four years. The Minister of Agriculture can, however, remove any member of the commission with the approval of the president “if the minister is of the opinion that it is in the interest of the commission for the member not to continue in office and shall notify the member in writing to that effect.” The provision runs contrary to the provision for executive bodies in the 1999 Constitution, which can only be removed through a resolution passed by two thirds majority of the senate. The commission shall also issue grazing permits to those operating within the reserves and is to be empowered by the law to acquire land in any part of Nigeria to establish grazing reserves. It shall, however, do so by

liaising with the governors and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The bill indicated that “grazing reserves are the property of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and can only be alienated with the consent of the president for other overriding public interest.” Section 20(1) of the bill said: “The commission shall undertake a physical and geographical analysis of land use in each state, in order to acsertain the best and most appropriate place to establish a National Grazing Reserve within the state.” Subsection two read: “After the commission identifies land suitable for grazing reserve, it shall liaise with the governor or governors of the states where the land is situated to acquire such land for grazing purposes.” The bill also proposed that when a land is found suitable, the commission, in agreement with the governor of the affected state, shall acquire the land and pay com-

pensation. The said land would then be transferred to the commission as a “National Cattles Reserve.” The bill also mandated the Grazing Reserves Commission to, upon the commencement of the Act, establish one grazing reserve each in each of the geopolitical zones. The bill also indicated that the commission shall cause the particulars of acquired pieces of land to be published in each state and other neighbouring states, by causing a notice to that effect to be read in local languages. Afenifere, however, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to dust the report of the 2014 national conference, which contains solutions to the frequent face-off between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers. “We, therefore, stand with the decision of the 2014 national conference which recommended the scrapping of grazing route for the establishment of ranches,” the group said.

INEC to conduct voter card re-validation for selected voters THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Abuja, on Thursday, said it planned to conduct voter card re-validation for selected registered voters across the country. Mr Chidi Nwafor, Director of Information and Communications Technol-

ogy, INEC, disclosed this in his presentation on “Deployment of Technology in Nigerian Elections: The Progress Made So Far,” at an e-voting workshop. Nwafor, represented by an Assistant Director in the ICT Department, Mrs Abimbola Oladunjoye, said

the plan was to address failure of card readers to authenticate some voters’ finger-prints during elections, as recorded in some instances. He said that the revalidation would request the selected voters to do fingerprint re-capture.

CCB, CCT Amendment Bill passes second reading in Senate Senators may pass bill next week Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja THE bill seeking an amendment of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Act scaled second reading in the Senate on Thursday. It was subsequently committed to the Committee on Judiciary for further legislative action. Sources in the Senate indicated that the bill could be passed before the end of the month if the committee completed its task promptly. The bill, entitled: “A Bill for an Act to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act 1991 and for other related Matters, 2016,” aims to, among others, remove the Bureau from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) The bill, sponsored by Senator Peter Nwaboshi, was first introduced on the floor of the Senate on April

12, 2016. Senator Nwaboshi, in his lead debate, explained that the bill sought to amend Section (3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, to give every public officer appearing before the Bureau fair hearing, as provided for under Section 36(2)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. The lawmaker noted that the proposed amendment altered Subsections 3(b) and 3(c) to give fair hearing, equity and justice to every public officer invited to appear before the Bureau, in line with the constitutional provisions. He stated that the amendment was seeking to completely delete the Third Schedule of the Principal Act, because the Act did not contemplate criminal trial of an invited public officer. Almost all the contributors supported the bill, saying that the amendment was

long overdue, in view of the fact that the Principal Act was subject to abuse. But Senator Yahaya Abdullahi cautioned the Senate to be wary of the public opinion on the amendment, because of the current trial of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, noting that the proposal was ill-timed. “I rise just to raise a point of caution. I have read and gone through the areas where the amendment are sought and I am not against it, but what I have against is the timing. “We must be ready on the issue of public perception about the position of the Senate in this regard. Perception can be reality, the Nigerian people can easily interpret the action we are taking today to mean that for all these years, a decree which became law since 1991 is not being challenged until today that our principal officer is standing before the same tribunal.

“We have nothing against the content and the philosophy and the values that my friend, Peter Nwaboshi, is bringing, because it enhances fairness for all public officers. “I used to be a public officer. I retired as a federal permanent secretary. If I were treated the way our principal was being treated, I would not have been so treated in a better manner. “I think for the credibility of this Senate, I think we should re-examine whether the timing is right for this bill to go through the second reading,” he said. Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, disclosed that the bill had nothing to do with Saraki’s trial and was not intended to interfere in any way with the process at the CCT, adding that the bill, if passed into law, would not have retrospective effect, and, therefore, should not

be misinterpreted to be intended to truncate or meddle with Saraki’s trial. “Let me just say that this bill absolutely has nothing to do with the proceedings going on at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in which the Senate President is involved, because his trial has commenced as you are aware. “If you look at the commencement of the bill, the last paragraph says ‘this bill may be cited as a Code of Conduct Bureau Tribunal Act amendment bill, 2016.’ That means that the bill is not being made retroactively as to affect the proceedings at the Code of Conduct Tribunal; certainly it has nothing to do with it. “We are only doing our work as a parliamentarians and it is our responsibility to ensure that there is justice for all at all times, and we must not be afraid or scared to the job which the constitution has given us,” he said.

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Friday, 15 April, 2016

$2bn loan: Don't grant Nigeria's request, Fayose writes Chinese govt Jacob Segun Olatunj-Abuja

KITI State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has kicked against the $2billion loan being sought from the Chinese Government by the Federal Government, saying such a loan would further improverish the country. Consequently,Governor Fasoye has written to the Chinese government canvassing for the immediate stoppage of the loan, saying that “the government of China should be mindful of the fact that Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations, are totally opposed to increment of the country’s debt burden, which is already being serviced with 25 per cent of the Federal Government’s annual budget.” In the letter dated April 12, 2016, with reference number EK/GOV/28/10, addressed to President Xi Jinping of China and delivered by the delegation of the Ekiti State government, led the Chief of Staff to the governor, Barrister Dipo Anisulowo, in Abuja, on Thursday, through the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie, Governor Fayose said some of the projects for which the loan was being sought were not captured in the 2016 budget, which had been sent to the President by the National Assembly for his assent. Anisulowo, who was accompanied by the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Segun Adewumi, chairman, House Committee on Information, Gboyega Aribisogan; chairman, House Committee on Health, Dr Samuel Omotosho and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Honourable Lere Olayinka, told newsmen that Governor Fayose, who is currently in China, would also deliver a copy of the letter directly to the Chinese President. He said it was on record that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, since assumption of office, had made several recoveries of looted public money which details were not made public, but believed to be running into trillions which the government could have used instead of seeking for fresh loans. Fayose’s letter reads in parts, “I write as one of the major stakeholders in the project Nigeria, and a governor of one of the federating units making up

Nigeria, to draw your attention to report that the Federal Government of Nigeria is on the verge of obtaining a $2 billion loan from the Export-Import Bank of China.” “This $2 billion loan is part of the N1.84 trillion the Federal Government of Nigeria has proposed to borrow to finance the 2016 budget, which is yet to be signed by the President, Mohammadu Buhari, owing to unending controversies between the executive and legislative arms of government.” “According to reports, Nigeria desires to raise about $5 billion abroad to cover part of its 2016 budget deficit. This is projected to hit N3 trillion ($15 billion) due to heavy

infrastructure spending at a time when the slump in global oil prices has slashed the country’s export revenues.” “While conceding that all nations, especially developing ones, need support to be able to grow because no nation is an island, I am constrained to inform you that if the future of Nigeria must be protected, the country does not need any loan at this time. “The government of China should be mindful of the fact that Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations, are totally opposed to increment of the country’s debt burden, which is already being serviced with 25 per cent of the Federal Government’s annual bud-

get. “It will interest the government of China to know that some of the projects for which the loan is being sought are not captured in the controversial 2016 budget, which has been sent to the President by the National Assembly for his assent. For instance, the Lagos – Calabar Rail project was not included in the budget proposal the President presented to the National Assembly and it was not included in the Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly. “Most importantly, Nigeria is presently servicing debt with about 25 per cent of its annual budget and what will happen to the economy in 2017, when the country will begin to service

the additional debt to be incurred this year is better imagined than experienced. “The Chinese government must also be aware that some western nations approached by the Federal Government for loan diplomatically and cleverly declined. “This must have been informed by the suspicion in the present government’s capacity to salvage the nation’s economy as well as the sincerity in the fight against corruption. More so that Nigeria’s Foreign Reserve, which is the only guarantee for foreign loan has declined to a very uncomfortable level. “For instance, the UK Telegraph Newspaper reported today that hundreds of millions of pounds of British foreign aid given

President Muhammadu Buhari with the Board Chairman, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Mr Jin Zhuanglong, joined by (from left): Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and others, when President Buhari visited Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd, in Shanghai, China, on Thursday.

to Nigeria to help combat Boko Haram terrorists is instead being used to fund a witch-hunt against opposition politicians.” “Therefore, like the foreign aid that is reportedly being mismanaged, whatever loan that is granted to the Federal Government of Nigeria by the Chinese Government may be mismanaged too. “In my opinion, Nigeria needs the collaboration of the Government of China in the area of technology transfer, rather than granting loan that will be mismanaged under the guise of building infrastructure. “It is also important for the Government of China to note that the Federal Government of Nigeria claimed to have recovered and still recovering trillions of Naira allegedly looted from the treasury. For instance, over $200 billion is expected to be recovered from Dubai, the United Arab Emirate, while N3 trillion was said to have been saved from the Treasury Single Account (TSA). “The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has also said it will generate not less than N4.5 trillion this year. What then is the rationale behind the $2 billion loan from China? “As a result of the government’s bad economic policies, the middle class has been eliminated, power supply is at its lowest ebb, petrol is not available and by the time fresh loans begin to pile up, 95 per cent of Nigerians will definitely be pauperised.

We'll build resilient cities —Buhari Leon Usigbe-Abuja

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has promised to give priority to the building and development of resilient and viable cities comparable with other developed cities across the globe. Speaking on Thursday, in Shanghai, at separate meetings with the Mayor of the Chinese city of Shanghai, Mr. Yang Xiong and the Director of Shanghai Free Trade Zone, Liu Fangzhou, he said the Federal Government would give full support to Free Trade and Export Processing Zones in the country to spur rapid economic development. The president, who visited the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, said Nigeria was prepared to learn how to make our cities more viable from those that had achieved development. A statement issued by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media

and Publicity, Garba Shehu, quoted him as saying: “We have already identified the development of infrastructure which will bring industries that create jobs and help us to diversify the economy. “We are going to work hard to achieve these within the period we have in office. Nigerians will see progress and feel the impact." Commending the "hard work and incredible success story of the city of Shanghai," President Buhari said the virtues of hard work were central to every human achievement and development. In his remarks, the Mayor of Shanghai expressed the willingness of several Chinese businesses to key into the vision of the Chinese President Xi Jinping for Africa by investing in Nigeria. Also speaking, the Director of the Free Trade Zone commended the effort of the Nigerian government

towards the diversification of the economy and en-

couraged the country to focus on a favourable policy

environment to encourage foreign investors.

Nigeria's current situation is as a result of zero will to save under Jonathan —Okonjo-Iweala NGOZI Okonjo-Iweala, former Minister of Finance, on Thursday, said the zero political will to save under former President Goodluck Jonathan is responsible for the challenges the country is facing. Speaking on “inequality, growth and resilience,” at George Washington University, the two-time finance minister said the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) must seek means to embed savings in national constitutions devoid of political manipulations. Okonjo-Iweala added that Nigeria was able to save $22 billion under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, which saved the country in 2008, when

there was global economic meltdown. Speaking on the Chilean saving example, OkonjoIweala said: “We tried it in Nigeria, we put in an oil price based fiscal rule in 2004 and it worked very well. “We saved $22 billion because the political will to do it was there. And when the 2008 /2009 crisis came, we were able to draw on those savings precisely to issue about a 5 per cent of GDP fiscal stimulus to the economy and we never had to come to the bank or the fund. “This time around, this is the key now, you need not only to have the instrument, but you also need the political will. In my second time as a finance minister,

from 2011 to 2015, we had the instrument, we had the means, we had done it before, but zero political will. “So we were not able to save when we should have. That is why you find that Nigeria is now in the situation it is in. Along with so many other countries.” On solving the problem of political will and political manipulations, she said: “That is the question that I ask, what do we need to do to these countries to save over a period of long accelerated growth. “We need to devise mechanisms, not just those that are good technically, but find a way to either embed them in the constitution or find a way to separate them from the political manipulation so that these countries can survive over time.

Friday, 15 April, 2016

businessnews

Friday, 15 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Nigeria should seek help from international organisations —IMF Sulaimon Olanrewaju -Washington DC

H R I S T I N E Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on Thursday, in Washington, said Nigeria should seek help from international organisations to get out of its current economic doldrums. Lagarde, who was fielding questions from journalists at the ongoing World Bank/ IMF Spring Meetings, said the country needs to seek help from international organisations that are willing to help. According to the IMF chief, “with 60 per cent of Nigeria’so revenue coming from exporting crude oil, the recent slide in the price of oil has had a major impact on the Nigerian economy.” Speaking on how to reposition the economy, Lagarde said, “Nigeria should seek help from international organisations that can best help. “Nigeria should be openminded about using flexibility of exchange rate in order to absorb some of the shock. We believe this is more efficient than having a list of products that are barred from being imported into the country.” Lagarde also said that speeding up the process of budget passage could energise the economy. Her words, “we believe that it is really important that budget should be signed and implemented.” The IMF boss reiterated the preparedness of her organisation to come to the aid of Nigeria. She said, “We are ready to help Nigeria if

she seeks our help.” Lagarde also called on the Nigerian government to intensify the process of diver-

sifying the economy. “After visiting Nigeria in January, I believe that it is really important that Ni-

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is extending the deadline for free e-Dividend registration by investors in the country by 150 days. This was disclosed by Director General of SEC, Mounir Gwarzo at the First Quarter Post Capital Market Committee Meeting Press briefing in Lagos Thursday. The DG also said that the SEC would bear the cost of registration on behalf of any investor who registered within the 150 days grace period adding however that at the expiration of the grace period, subsequent registration of an investor would attract a fee of N100. He noted that the e-dividend management system which was launched last

energetic and smart people who can really transform the economy. The country should really look at the ag-

riculture sector, where there is much of important. Nigeria needs to look into this and do something about it.

Nigeria raises N170.18bn bonds, to mature in 2020, 2026, 2036 —DMO

From left: Director, Afriland Properties Plc, Mr Emmanuel Nnorom; Managing Director/CEO, Mrs Uzo Oshogwe; Chairman, Erelu Angela Adebayo; Directors, Mrs Olayinka Ogunsulire and Mr Samuel Nwanze; and Company Secretary, Mr Obong Idiong, at the third Annual General Meeting of the company, held in Lagos, on Tuesday.

UK supports Nigeria with £400m annually —Minister THE visiting British Minister for International Development, Mr Nick Hurd, on Thursday, said that his government annually supported Nigeria’s development programmes with 400 million pounds, about N128.8 billion. Hurd, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that the fund was meant to support the provision of basic services that would improve the lives of Nigerians. “Nigeria is a very important partner to the people and government of the United Kingdom. “We annually invest about 400 million pounds (about

N128.8b) in supporting the development of Nigeria, as well as improving the quality of life of the Nigerian people. “We have been delivering basic education and health services that would help Nigerian children educationally, as well as helping Nigerians to have access to quality medical care,” he said. The British official said that he was visiting to see for himself how UK‘s development support for Nigeria was working on the ground, as well as assess Nigeria’s current progresses. The Minister, who was visiting Nigeria for the first time, also announced his

SEC extends free e-Dividend registration by 150 days ByGbolaSubairandKehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba

geria should diversify it’s economy. It is not safe to solely depend on a commodity. Nigeria is full of

year by the Commission in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) to enable investors have direct access to their dividends has enjoyed high level of compliance from the investing public. According to him, within three months the public enlightenment programme began, the commission has achieved over 4000 per cent growth in the number of investors that registered to have access to their dividends. Gwarzo said the Commission’s concern was to bring back retail investors to the nation’s capital market. “Our prayer is that in the next 10 years we will raise the participation of the retail investors to 45 per cent

from less than two per cent presently,” he said. Gwarzo said that this is one of the reasons why the Commission has embarked on various initiatives like eDividend, Direct Cash Settlement, National Investors Protection Fund (NIPF) among others to attract retail investors to the market.

government’s interest in making sure that Nigeria was a good place to do business. Hurd said that his government was committed to making Nigeria a business destination and an investment country, which would create job opportunities for young Nigerians. “We are currently working with the Nigerian Governments and many private

organisations in doing programmes, and providing advice, looking at Nigeria’s laws and regulations. “This is with a view to making Nigeria a better place for foreigners and Nigerians to do business. “We are also looking at the possibilities of making sure that Nigeria has a good government, more transparency, accountability and less corruption,” he said.

Nigeria loses $700m monthly on shipment of crude oil —NISA THE president, Nigeria Indigenous Ship Owners Association (NISA), Mr Aminu Umar, said the nation was losing 700 million dollars monthly (N137.9 billion) to dominance of crude oil shipment by foreign shipowners. Umar made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos on the sideline of the Annual General Meeting of the association. He urged the Federal Government to grant indige-

nous shipowners between 10 to 20 per cent allocation in lifting crude oil. The shipowner said that Nigeria was losing a huge amount of money due to the fact that the foreign shipowners had dominated the transportation of crude oil. “Almost 70 to 77 crude oil vessels load oil monthly out of Nigeria. “The foreign shipowners do not employ Nigerians and they do not pay tax. “What we are telling the Federal Government is to give us the support so that

OPEC cuts 2016 global oil demand growth forecast By Ruth Olurounbi DESPITE projections that oil prices may climb above $50 if an output freeze deal is struck in Doha this weekend, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), on Wednesday, cut its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2016 and warned of further reductions amid concerns of larger supply

THE Federal Government on Wednesday at an auction raised N170.18 billion worth of bonds to mature in 2020, 2026 and 2036. The Debt Management Office (DMO) said in its action result obtained from its website on Thursday, that it sold N20 billion of February 2020 paper at 12 per cent, higher than the 11.33 per cent auctioned in March. It also sold N40 billion of January 2026 paper at 12.6 per cent, higher than 12.09 per cent in March and N40 billion of March 2036 paper at 13.08 per cent, higher than it yielded in March at 12.40 per cent. The summary stated that the debt office allotted an additional N70.18 billion of the January 2026 maturing debt to investors on a non -competitive basis. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that subscriptions from investors stands at N206.72 billion lower than its March auction of N262.4 billion.

surplus from Latin America and China. OPEC, in its monthly report, released today, pecks projection for 2016 global oil demand growth at around 1.20 mb/d, a downward of 50,000 mb/d from 2015, while total consumption is projected to reach 94.18 mb/d in 2016. OPEC explained that “economic developments in Latin America and

China are of concern. Current negative factors seem to outweigh positive ones and possibly imply downward revisions in oil demand growth, should existing signs persist going forward.” OPEC also said it expected supply from outside the group to fall by 730,000 bpd this year, more than the 700,000-bpd drop expected previously.

we can take at least 10 per cent of the crude oil vessels operating in Nigerian waters,“ Umar told NAN. He said that if government could give indigenous shipowners 10 per cent allocation to lift crude oil, they would create jobs for the teeming youths and would retain the proceeds in the nation’s banks. Umar said that indigenous shipowners would also pay tax which would assist the government in its responsibilities. He said that the association was ready to partner with the government to check the shortcomings in crude oil trade. Umar noted that there was zero participation by indigenous shipowners in transportation of crude oil. The shipowner said that government’s policy had not been supporting indigenous ship owner. He urged government to give indigenous shipowners maximum support and to also create a conducive environment for them to excel.

businessnews

Friday, 15 April, 2016

Power generation: FG orders immediate completion of Kashimbila Dam Adetola Bademosi -Abuja

HE Federal Government has ordered the immediate completion of the Kashimbila dam to add its 40 megawatts hydropower potential to the national grid. It said fast tracking its completion will help increase power generation by 40 megawatts. The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu gave the directive when he led a high powered Federal Government delegation on inspection tour of the project in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State. He said the power evacuation has to be fast tracked to avoid stranded power at the completion of the hydropower plant. According to himn the project aside from power generation of 40 megawatts to the national grid, would also support fishery development, tourism, employment generation and improve health status by providing potable water for the surrounding communities through the water supply scheme if completed. “So much investment has been committed into this project, so we must make sure that the project is delivered on time”. He added that one of the ways in achieving this is the evacuation of the power generated to the communities. In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Mr Darius Ishaku, commended the Federal Government’s commitment to meeting the needs of both the communities and the entire state. According to him, the nature of the dam is for water supply, hydropower generation, irrigation, fisheries,

recreation and tourism. He explained that the quality of the dam would enhance the socio-economic

activities within the immediate communities, states, and the nation at large. “ Therefore, I wish to seize

GUARANTY Trust Bank plc, in partnership with Africanfocused entrepreneurship accelerator, She Leads Africa (SLA) has launched a 3 month programme designed to identify, support and fund the next generation of Nigeria’s brightest female entrepreneurs. Other partners in this project are the Work in Progress! Alliance (Oxfam and VC4Africa). The Entrepreneur Showcase is the flagship program of She Leads Africa, geared towards identifying women who are driving Africa’s growth through leadership, commerce and innovation. The programme accord-

the project to its present level and I pray that such effort is sustained to its completion,” he said.

From left: Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Babayunusa; Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Nestle Waters, Mr Marco Settembri and Managing Director, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr Dharmesh Gordhon, during the inauguration of Nestle Waters factory at Abaji, in Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI.

SEC to set up capital market committee to tackle N80bn unclaimed dividends THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says it is perfecting arrangements to set up a Capital Market Committee to tackle the N80 billion unclaimed dividends in the Nigerian capital market. Mr Mounir Gwarzo, the Director-General of SEC, made the assertion at the commission’s 2016 first quarter post-Capital Market Committee (CMC) media briefing in Lagos. Gwarzo said that the committee would look into the ways and means unclaimed dividend issues in the market would be addressed. He added that the 12 years statute bar on unclaimed dividends contained in the

Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) would be looked into by the committee. The director-general said that majority of the stakeholders in the market were of the opinion that unclaimed dividends should be claimed at any given time by the owners. Gwarzo said that the market needed to benefit from the unclaimed dividend funds instead of allowing them to lie idle. He stated that the commission had extended the new minimum capital requirement deadline for Capital Market Operators (CMOs) by 15 months against the initial deadline of Sept. 30,

GTBank empowers Female Entrepreneurs in Africa Chima Nwokoji -Lagos

this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the Federal Government for sustaining the funding of

ing to the Head,GTBank SME market hub, Ololade Fadoju, is a platform that introduces the continent’s most-promising female entrepreneurs to investors, accelerators, and mentors looking to invest in the next generation of African talent. At the launch of the program on Tuesday, held at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos, Fadoju said that it is in recognition of the fact that small and medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeblood of the Nigerian economy that Guaranty Trust Bank has supported the sector over time in different ways. The bank’s role she added, has evolved over time. For example, GTBank launched the SME Market Hub which

is a website, where small businesses can create a fully hosted online stores for their businesses, add products and receive payment online with any debit card in the country. The site also provides some customisable look and feel features and different designs to choose from, using simple do-it- yourself guides. The bank according to her is excited to partner with world class organisations like Oxfam, Venture Capital for Africa (CVC4A),She Leads Africa (SLA) Accelerator and others, in promoting women entrepreneurs because it formalises a lot of what the bank does in terms of providing financial services to its SME customers.

2015. Gwarzo said that the commission had set Dec. 31, as the final deadline for the recapitalisation for all CMOs. He added that the commission would continue to clear any operator that met the recapitalisation till Dec. 31. “Any operator that shows proof of compliance will be cleared by the commission to come back to the market

within the grace period,” Gwarzo said. According to him, the licence of any operator that fails to meet up with the requirement will be cancelled after Dec. 31, 2016. He said that any operator that failed to meet up with the recapitalisation would seek for new licence at the expiration of the deadline if he or she wished to operate in the market in future.

Wema Bank increases turnover on NSE WEMA Bank Plc, on Tuesday, drove the volume of shares traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) with an exchange of 6.67 billion shares valued at N6.002 billion. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Equity Assurance trailed with an exchange of 59.59 million shares worth N29.79 million, while FCMB Group sold 39.39 million shares valued at N36.80 million. GT Bank sold 34.11 million shares worth N479.84 million and Law Union accounted for 27.16 million shares valued at N19.01 million. NAN reports that investors staked N7.16 billion on 6.96 billion shares transacted in 3,440 deals. This was against a total of 225.26 million shares valued at N750.23 million traded in 3,058 deals on Monday. In spite of the increased activity, the market indices dropped further by 0.04 per cent as a result of

price depreciation. The All-Share Index lost 9.91 points or 0.04 per cent to close at 24,639.48 against 24,649.39 achieved on Monday. Also the market capitalisation, which opened at N8.478 trillion, shed N3 billion to close at N8.475 trillion. Breakdown of the price movement table indicated that Flour Mill recorded the highest price loss to lead the losers’ chart, dropping N1.14 to close at N20.29 per share. Dangote Cement lost 90k to close at N160, while Union Bank shed 25k to close at N4.81 per share. Custodian and Allied Insurance lost 20k to close at N3.95 and Fidson also dipped 20k to close at N1.92 per share. Conversely, Zenith Bank led the gainers’ table with a gain of 40k to close at N10.90 per share. National Salt garnered 36k to close at N8.01, while E-tranzact gained 35k to close at N3.90 per share.

Nigerian Tribune

FAAN receives global commendation on successful ICAO audit Shola Adekola -Lagos THE Director General of the Airport Council International (ACI), Angela Gittens, has commended the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for the success it achieved during the just ended International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP). Gittens who made the commendation during the 55th Airport Council International (ACI) Africa Board and Working Meetings & Regional Conference and Exhibition in Cairo, Egypt, declared: “We are very proud of how the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has improved on safety and security. I will hope that with the kind of success achieved, we would be able to call on them to help other airports.” The ACI leadership also noted that, prior to the audit, FAAN had invited ACI - APEX for safety review at airports in Nigeria, thus providing guidance and facilitating improvements through monitoring and best practice exchanges, which addressed potential vulnerable areas and identified gaps.

Again, NAHCO shines at Nigerian risk awards Shola Adekola -Lagos NIGERIA’S leading ground handling company, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, (nahco aviance) has again confirmed its leadership position in the industry by emerging the overall winner in the Public /Technology/Healthcare/ Transportation & Aviation Industry category of the 2015/2016 edition of the Nigerian Risk Awards. According to the company, “the award is a testimony to the Company’s spirit of resilience and hard work. Having emerged the runner-up in the last edition, it took creative efforts on the part of the Company to clinch the award, just a year after.” Nahco aviance was scored by the judges as the winner in a field that parades top brands. In the words of Adewale Akinwale, Head, Enterprise Risk Management of the Company, “nahco aviance earned this through our hard work and commitment to safety, efficiency and dedication towards improving our bottom-line revenue in the interest of our shareholders.”

editorial The Chibok girls: Two years on

Friday, 15 April, 2016

t is two years since the abduction of over 200 girls from Chibok Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists on the night of 14 April, 2014. The memory of that event has been rekindled by the emergence of a video clip purportedly released by Boko Haram. The video is believed to have been made last December and sent to negotiators by their captors as “proof of life”, being part of the negotiations between the government and Boko Haram. The replay of the video before some of the parents of the girls by the American Cable News Network, CNN, has become a major rallying cry for the government to remain steadfast in the quest to rescue the girls who may still be alive. Some of the parents and colleagues of the girls were able to identify the fifteen girls in the video, increasing the belief that the video was genuine. The video has been seen by negotiators and some members of the government. The kidnap of the girls and a lack of progress in tracking down and returning the girls sparked mass protests in Nigeria and across the world. In Nigeria, a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has been one of the arrow heads of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, with luminaries including Michelle Obama, the United States first lady and Malala Yousafzai, the young Indian female Nobel Peace Prize laureate, joining the social media campaign to bring back the girls. Many Nigerian dailies have devoted a section of their front pages to reminding the government and key actors that the girls are yet to be found. Indeed, since the abduction of the girls, a lot of events have occurred to dampen the hope of ever finding a sizeable number of them alive, let alone finding them in good health. A few weeks ago, there were speculations in the media that Boko Haram was asking for a $50 million ransom in exchange for the girls. The Federal Government promptly denied the claim. In an interview with CNN following the release of the new video, the Minister of information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, admitted that there has been some talks but added that the current government was being careful not to fall into the hands of scammers like the previous government. He added further that details of such talks could not be made public for security reasons.

Nigerian Tribune

The issue of the kidnapped girls had been mired in political controversy and was central in public discourse and legal challenges in the build up to the 2015 elections. During one of the #Bringbackourgirls rallies in Abuja, the police announced a ban on political rallies to assuage the feelings of some officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government who were embarrassed by the tone of the protests. A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja declared the ban announced by Mr. Joseph Mbu, the then Commissioner of Police in the FCT, as illegal, null and void on the ground that it constituted an infringement of the fundamental rights of the campaigners to freedom of assembly and expression guaranteed by the Constitution. The All Progressives Congress (APC) promised to rescue the girls as soon as it assumed the mantle of leadership of the country as part of its security priority. Since he assumed office in May 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has used every opportunity to restate the government’s effort to rescue the girls. Results have been hard to obtain, however. About 2000 girls and boys are known to have been abducted by Boko Haram since 2014. Some of them have been rescued by the military. On each occasion of these rescue operations, the expectation that some of those rescued were among the Chibok group was dashed. An arrested girl-child suicide bomber in Cameroon recently claimed to have been one of the Chibok girls, fuelling speculations about the condition of the girls. It was later discovered that the girl was not among the Chibok group. Rescuing the girls will become a major buttress to the claim of success of the military effort to route insurgents from the North East. The video has raised hope that some of the girls are still alive and could be rescued. We call on the government to leave no stone unturned to rescue these girls. Every opportunity on offer must be exploited to ensure that as many of the girls as are alive are rescued. The military has laboured to rescue the North East from the insurgents. Its sacrifices have been enormous. It will be a crowning glory to their effort to get a significant number of the kidnapped Chibok girls back to their forlorn families and Nigerians in general who have suffered the pain and embarrassment that the Boko Haram insurgents have unleashed on the nation.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Friday, 15 April, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@tribune.com.ng or by sms to 08053412982. It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

On the state of the nation

OR many Nigerians today, the social, political and economic indices speak volume of the critical situation that the country is facing. Insecurity is worse than it has ever been in the history of the country since the civil war, with insurgency in the North East, kidnappings and Fulani herdsmen/farmers clashes in other parts of the country; unemployment remains staggering, even with the claim of vast creation of jobs being pronounced regularly in the media.

Almost all roads across the country remain in bad condition, and all these persist as the government is still struggling to find a lasting solution to the perennial fuel scarcity in the country. Beyond the North East, the spate of kidnapping and piracy in the south of the country is a reemerging threat. The lack of security on our highways, and even in our private homes, where we are supposed to feel safest, is also a major challenge to all Nigerians. Hospitals and universi-

ties are struggling with obsolete skills, infrastructure and equipment; terrorism has become a major threat in a nation that had never known such, while kidnapping is now a ‘profession’. After 55 years of independence, and despite our vast wealth, abundant natural and human resources, we, as a people, continue to struggle with the most basic needs — food, shelter, water, security, electricity, among others. As it is evident today, we are paralysed by widespread poverty and many

A future without fossil fuels OIL spills, acid rains, crop failure. These are but a few of the devastating effects that oil exploration has had in the Niger Delta. Today, the staple source of livelihood of the people of this region has been seriously and adversely affected, leaving the people impoverished and full of despair, knowing that the multi-billion dollar projects going on in the nation’s federal capital and other parts of the country come from their own soil. This situation leaves not a few youths of the region no option but to join militant groups, or engage in oil pipeline vandalism neither of which has had any real beneficial effect to them or their communities. Apart from the localised effects of oil exploration in the Niger Delta region is the issue of climate change, the effects of which go far beyond the region in question, affecting vast proportions of the nation and beyond. Acccording to Anslem Ajugwo, Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Madonna University Elele, Nigeria, “Oil exploration causes a range of environmental problems. These include: contamination of both surface and ground water by benzene, xylene, toluene, and ethylbenzene; contamination of soil by oil spill and leaks; increased deforestation; as well as the economic loss and environmental degradation

stemming from gas flaring.” Imagine however, a country where green energy dominates. These environmental, social and maladies would be over for good. Children would grow up healthy, medical expenses would reduce and financial resources could be used for developmental

purposes. Indeed Nigeria would become a much safer place to live in if there are no oil pipelines to bow up or oil rigs to kill our fish and waste our farmland. •Paul Omorogbe, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Nigerians are beginning to lose faith in the country’s ability to govern itself. In short, Nigerians are having a second thought about those people at the helm of affairs today. While I will say that President Muhammadu Buhari is trying his best, he can, however, not achieve the change alone. We should work with government in order to achieve a Nigeria of our dreams. The current fuel scarcity is one area the government needs to focus on. Whatever success this government will record, the scarcity will make it difficult for the people to appreciate its efforts. Already, the president is doing well in the area of waging war against corruption, but Nigerians are not talking about this because of the pain they are going through due to the scarcity of fuel. Therefore, President Buhari should look for ways to bring an end to the fuel scarcity; he should invite investors to come and es-

tablish refineries in the country, as this is one way we can end the fuel short-

ages. •Alabi Oluwaseun, alabiseun@yahoo.ca

Attention, Ooni of Ife I want to use this opportunity to call on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to come to the aid of the Yoruba in Kogi and Kwara states. The Yoruba in these two states are being relegated to the background, particularly politically, and it is high time our revered royal father stepped in. The Ooni, alongside other royal fathers in Yorubaland, should come together to discuss how to go about presenting the plight of the Yoruba in these two states to the Federal Government. What we really want is

for the Yoruba in Kogi and Kwara to be merged with their kiths and kins in the South West. This is what we have always wanted, but unfortunately, our people in the mainstream Yorubaland have not found our cause as something to fight for. With the new Ooni, we believe we have a great chance to achieve this now more than ever before. I hope our Ooni can come out with the modalities towards presenting our case to the Federal Government as soon as possible. •Idowu Adedeji, Kabba, Kogi State.

Of politicians and pensions OVER the years, I can’t stop imagining the reason Nigerian politicians earn pension without contributing to such pen-

sion. In the civil service, a civil servant is expected to serve for 35 years, and during this period, he is expected to contribute certain percentage of his money as pension under the contributory pension scheme. If such civil servant retires, what he gets as pension on monthly basis is less than two-third of his monthly salary while in active service. In the case of Nigerian politicians, after serving for just eight years as governor, for instance, without contributing a dime as pension in the contributory pension scheme, the politician will be placed on a mouth-watering pension package which is more than what a civil servant gets in a decade as salary. This fraudulent system where an active politician is placed on pension is draining our economy and should be stopped to save the future of this country. We need to put a stop to this impunity. •Adewumi ‘Tope, 1, Eluomi Street Omuooke Ekiti, Ekiti State.

opinion

Friday, 15 April, 2016

Fuel scarcity and the culture of scapegoating By Ikeogu Oke

EADING some of the public commentaries – and other forms of reactions – on the current fuel crisis and associated issues, I was reminded of why I opposed the controversial call to kill the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) made last year by a prominent Nigerian politician. The politician reportedly summed up his justification for the call with the words: “If you don’t kill the NNPC, it will kill Nigeria.” Clearly, those words should incline all patriotic Nigerians to see the country’s survival and theirs as dependant on their killing NNPC at a time when, due to various factors, its popularity was arguably at its nadir. Prominent among those factors were allegations of massive corruption and chronic mismanagement. And since we would naturally like to survive together with our country, and be rid of things that pose a fatal threat to our joint existence (as the call implies about NNPC), I believe the politician in question expected us to accept the kill-or-be-killed scenario he created and act like people who understand that self-preservation is the first law of nature. An instance of the instigation or blackmail to kill for supposed self-preservation couldn’t have been more subtle or effective to the discerning mind. Now, one of such public commentaries is Moses E. Ochonu’s “Dr. Kachikwu’s Blunders” – published recently in Sahara Reporters and Premium Times – which more or less sums up the predicament of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources in managing the current fuel scarcity in the country thus: “Whatever he is doing is not working. In fact it is clearly making things worse. Insulting Nigerians with glib comments about not being a magician only compounds his predicament…. Kachikwu has no one but himself to blame. The man thrives on deception and propaganda…. He deserves whatever opprobrium is heaped on him.” Let me say en passant that this sort of criticism is too harsh and demoralising. The function of the responsible social critic is to build hope while identifying problems, and not to demoralise. Ochonu’s criticism demoralises by its unjustified total condemnation of its target and his efforts, and by spreading despair. And by other forms of reactions, I refer to such call made by the leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)

on the Network News of the Africa Independent Television (AIT) on April 11, 2016, asking for the minister’s resignation. Well, I argued in my response to the call to kill NNPC that, whatever the problem with NNPC, our interest as a nation is better served by reforming rather than killing it. In fact, I was convinced that killing NNPC would amount to turning the organisation into a corporate scapegoat, sacrificing the life of one institution to “atone” for perennial sins plaguing our entire nation like corruption, short-termism and poor maintenance culture. And I do not see how such scapegoating can solve any of the problems to which it has become a habitual reaction with some of us. Rather, it has always seemed to me like slaughtering a sacrificial victim to appease some fetish of activist hypocrisy that would rather not take cognisance of the complexity and resilience of such problems because it serves some vested interests while pretending not to do so. And I see the call for Dr. Ibe Kachikwu’s resignation by Chief Bola Tinubu, which serves as a background for Ochonu’s unsparing criticism of the former – and the similar call by the ASUU leadership – as fresh instigations to lead yet another sacrificial victim, a human scapegoat rather than corporate one like NNPC, to the altar of the same fetish. And I wonder if Ochonu and the ASUU executive recognise how long the problems leading to the current fuel scarcity have lasted with our tolerance as a people, like a pustule growing under the skin of a negligent person who only begins to take note and complain after it has grown into a big boil and ruptured, causing them serious discomfort. After which they blame the physician who may well be doing his best to bring them relief or cure that he is “making things worse” and not acting fast enough.

For instance, in the past sixteen years before Dr. Kachikwu assumed office as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, billions were spent on the “turn around maintenance” of our refineries by successive governments. Specifically, $1.6 billion (about N251 billion) was reportedly voted for the turnaround maintenance of the four refineries across the country by the end of 2014. Yet, nothing seemed to have been achieved by way of truly turning the refineries around to refine enough fuel for our local consumption. Hence we have remained stuck with the shame of fuel importation – for our shores are practically awash with the natural resource from which fuel is refined. And we have continued to expend huge sums to subsidise the product, while putting up with allegations of corruption by entities involved in fuel importation, some of which border on economic sabotage. Indeed, if anyone were to succeed in resolving this situation that has defied previous governments for nearly two decades in the roughly seven months Dr. Kachikwu has been in office, I would perhaps consider that person not as a magician – which Dr. Kachikwu rightly but tactlessly said he is not, and for which he has apologised – but as a miracle worker or superhuman. And I am at a loss as to why some of us fail to appreciate that the current difficulties in turning our fuel situation around are worse than before, considering the harsh economic realities due to the drastic fall in oil prices, and the proportionate decline in forex earnings to support fuel importation or finance the maintenance of our refineries even in their current states. The solution, especially if it must be long-term, lies in thinking creatively and taking radical measures which I believe the current government is doing despite serious handicaps. To adapt that famous quote by Albert Einstein, it would be madness to expect to be doing the same thing about our fuel situation and not remain in the same dissatisfactory position. The current situation requires supportive action, understanding, patience and sacrifice from the generality of Nigerians, as one would expect from good members of a family whose breadwinner suddenly lost their job or had their wages reduced drastically; and who, not of their own making, lacks the savings to cushion the resultant hardship for the family. •Oke, a public affairs analyst, lives in Abuja.

Fuel crisis: The journey of 1993 By Emmanuel George TUESDAY, November 9, 1993 was a day like no other as maximum activism sprung up on the streets; newspaper vendors turned public hosts and the newsstands were most crowded which was unusual. School teachers, public workers hurrying to work were distracted by the assembly at the street newsstands; motorists and commuters would temporary pitch their feet around to moan the latest talk in town. “Fuel now N5 per litre” was the chief headline of all newspapers’ front page; the same day, Nigerian Tribune reported that “the controversial subsidy on petroleum products has finally been removed with the price of petrol going up from 70k to N5.00 per litre…” The over 600 per cent increase in petrol price was made by the Interim National Government led by Chief Ernest Shonekan which could be seen as the genesis of (access to petrol) hardship in Nigeria; the situation which had never been seen before and thereafter. It is good to note that the global oil price declined in the same October 1993 from $16.56 to $15.4 per barrel. The secretary of petroleum and mineral resources, Chief Don Etiebet, told Nigerian Tribune on 8th of November, 1993 that “Nigeria’s budget for 1994 will be tight given the decline in global oil price which hit a three-year low of $15.4 per barrel.” Consequently, six days later, on Monday, 15 November 1993, NLC began an unfriendly and indefinite strike on the burning issue of PMS price. As more states joined the strike, General Sani Abacha took over the government and NLC succumbed to call off the strike. Abacha later reduced it on 22 November from N5 to N3.25k. but eventually increased it from N3.25k to N15.00 in October 1994. January 2012 is a twin-period of October 1993. Following the subsidy removal as presented in the New Year speech of the then president, Goodluck Jonathan which eventually caused an increase in PMS price of 177 per cent; from N65 to N141. NLC, civil right groups, individuals and even clergies combed

the street of Lagos and major cities of the nation to demonstrate their displeasure about the new development, as it happened, 19 years earlier. The mobs of protester tagged it “Occupy Nigeria”, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) insisted on the federal government to revert to N65 per litre. Nigerian Tribune reported on January 7, 2012 that “The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday granted an order… restraining the defendants (NLC and TUC) from embarking or inciting the general public to embark on strikes, street protests, mass rallies or any other action that would be inimical to the economic affairs of the country…” On the contrary, on Monday, January 9, 2012, protesters shut down the country, burnt vehicles, several dead and many injured across the country, reports say. Some days later, when hoodlums hijacked the protest, state governments declared curfew to control the situation. Regardless of public education on the benefit of subsidy removal, protesters refused to make a U-turn. Monday, 16 January, 2012, the protest and industrial action “compelled” the federal government to make a turn on its action by reducing the price from N141 to N97 respectively and Nigerians quickly amended their measures to the new price as NLC and TUC called off all protests and industrial actions. The worst condition never prayed for in Nigeria was the May/ June 2015 fuel scarcity experience which resulted into national blackout, companies and industries struggled to survive the period. Banks closed early, ATMs shut down, telecommunications fluctuating towards operation collapse, domestic hardship and so on. Those who had money could not buy, if you have a car, it

could not move; no power supply to power your water pumping machine, neither was there petrol to fuel the generator, Nigeria’s survival was hurt to the extreme. Undoubtedly, Nigeria is facing the longest fuel scarcity agony in history. Federal government has been on the struggle for proffer a lasting solution to the menace but to no avail; if there is fuel surplus for two weeks, seven weeks scarcity might follow, though, due to one problem or the other that seemed uneasy to be solved over night. In late 1993, the global oil price was $15.4 per barrel and $1 was equal to N22.5 while in 2016 oil price lingers below $40 per barrel with 1$ equal to N196 (official rate). One would want to know what transpires in the sector that makes Nigeria suffer what belongs to her. The maiden introduction of naira into Nigeria petroleum products since independence was the Shonekan Interim Government of 1993 which stood as the bedrock of progressive adversity in its access, all other government after then continued the pace. Today in Nigeria, fuel is like gold, uneasy to get for businesses and personal use, N200 per litre on the average; commuters prefer trekking to boarding hackneys of over 100 per cent hike in transportation. One out of 20 fuel stations that sell the official price would have a long queue of miles; vehicles pass night at the filling stations, just to make a living. Are the principalities and power behind fuel crises in Nigeria so strong that there could not be a good record for petroleum product access in a year without inflation? PMS sells at N200 on the average across the country despite government measures to stop the illegal pricing, but customers prefer it, once the product is available, because it is their source of living. The presidency is really sorry for the trend in the sector and hoping for the best at its work. 1993 is a history, 2012 made itself, 2015 to 2016 are still on it, who knows the fate of 2017? Nigeria should experience positive change in this regard. •George, a poet and social commentator, lives in Ibadan.

Friday, 15 April, 2016

N Monday March 28, 2016, the death was reported in Lagos, Nigeria of a political activist and legal luminary, Uncle ‘Tunji Braithwaite. I had just woken up from an afternoon sleep when Comrade ‘Tola Oseni called me on my MTN phone. He said, “Egbon, I call to give you the information that ‘Tunji Braithwaite has just died in a Lagos hospital. I am sorry “Egbon.” That’s how life is? ‘Tola Oseni was equally the Nigerian who gave me the news of the death of Remi Olowude when he passed on some years ago. At about 8p.m on the same day, I put a call to Comrade Oseni for him to update me on the tragic news. ‘Tola further confirmed the death of Uncle ‘Tunji. He further told me that all those who had discussed with him on hearing the news had attested to the integrity and patriotism of ‘Tunji Braithwaite. It is true that Uncle ‘Tunji Braithwaite was a man of integrity. Heavily-political, ‘Tunji Braithwaite defended the rights of the oppressed until he passed to the world beyond. He fought for the common people of Nigeria. His legal profession was used by him to advance the revolutionary causes of Nigeria’s wretched of the earth. On Wednesday, March 29, 2016, I received a text message from my friend of ages, Journalist ‘Sina Adedipe, who was commiserating with me on the death of this illustrious son of Nigeria. Sina Adedipe, who writes a popular column every Wednesday inside The Sun newspaper, had written inter alia:“Sorry about the death of Egbon ‘Tunji Braithwaite, a great Lagos-born Ijesa family of Tokunbo Street, Lagos Island. To narrow it down, they came from Iperindo, the town of Bishop Falope.” The above message from ‘Sina Adedipe will interest all men and women who will be eager to know the ancestry of the Braithwaites. ‘Sina has, for a long time, been a master of instant history on the genealogy of great men and women of history. I say it with all the confidence my body can muster that Uncle ‘Tunji Braithwaite was a great Nigerian who will never dispute the historical fact that his family ancestry has something to do with the great warriors that the Iperindo people of Ijesaland represent. I met Uncle Braithwaite for the first time in my life in the Apapa Park Lane residence of Papa Obafemi Awolowo. I liked him and never pretended about that fact. Uncle ‘Tunji Braithwaite had met me and the late Professor Ayodele Awojobi with Papa Awo on the night of his visit. Papa told Professor Awojobi and myself that Uncle ‘Tunji Braithwaite had been one of the junior counsels for him during the treasonable felony trial of the early 60s. Papa, in praise of Braithwaite, had said, he (‘Tunji) had volunteered to render legal service to him and his Action Group colleagues at that difficult period of Nigeria’s history. I remember Uncle ‘Tunji Braithwaite asking after the senior brother of Professor Awojobi, who he claimed had been his friend. The discussions were frank, cordial and interesting that we enthusiastically listened to Papa Awolowo when he was discussing the beautiful role Uncle ‘Tunji Braithwaite had played in the treasonable felony trial. I never left the company of Uncle ‘Tunji Braithwaite after that night’s encounter. We met and met until he (‘Tunji Braithwaite) went to form his party, the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP) during the Second Republic. Papa Awolowo never held the fact of Braithwaite’s formation of a new political party against him. ‘Tunji Braithwaite was a good and brilliant man. He was a man of ideas. He loved the company of young idealists and activists around him. His NAP headquarters was led by young men and women, like my friend Senator ‘Ben Obi during the Second Republic. I was a frequent visitor to his law office very near Igbosere many years ago. The secretary of his chambers at that time was the wife of my classmate at Igbobi College Yaba, Gbolahan Sadare, aka “Bros ‘Shad.” ‘Tunji Braithwaite was equally a prolific writer, who was a master of the game of writing. We all loved and admired him. I never stopped sending him a copy of “the Lagoon Echo,” the radical journal of the militant Speakers Society of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba after meeting him in Papa Awolowo’s house, at

With

Ebenezer Babatope

0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

Tunji Braithwaite: A tribute

•The late Dr Tunji Braithwaite

Apapa, Lagos. Uncle ‘Tunji Braithwaite was never afraid of any human while alive. He was a man of deep religious faith. He commented on any issue within the Nigerian political life without fearing whose ox was gored. Anything he did, he did with passion and courage. Aunty Grace, his wife, was his faithful companion. I met them inside the plane about two times and the two of them were ever hands in glove over political issues of the time. Though I am never afraid of death anymore since I discovered Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour, I, however, still get afraid when I remember that no matter what I do, the biblical ceremony of the dust settling

for the dust will still be put on me whenever I answer the supreme call. Uncle ‘Tunji Braithwaite has, with his deep religious faith and conviction, conquered death and he is now on his way to meet his Saviour and Redeemer. Uncle ‘Tunji, we all love you, but God loves you best! Goodnight and Goodbye!! Your struggle for progressive humanity will never die!!! You will forever remain a beautiful creation in the hands of God. Good Night! •EBINO TOPSY- 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE) NEXT WEEK WALE ADEBANWI ON MAMA H.I.D. – (5)

‘Tunji Braithwaite was a good and brilliant man. He was a man of ideas. He loved the company of young idealists and activists.

islamicnews

Friday, 15 April, 2016

MSSN Lagos enlightens 1,500 women, girls on hijab

From left, chairman, Bodija Muslim Community, Alhaji Waheed Alli; guest lecturer, Alhaji Rasheed Adesokan; chairman, Bodija Muslim Youth Forum (BOMYOF), Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun and former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, at a public lecture in Ibadan, Oyo State.

TMC calls for quick action on electricity, fuel supply

foremost Islamic organisation, The Muslim Congress (TMC), has called on the Federal Government to resolve the lingering crises regarding supply of electricity and fuel. The crises, TMC said, are causing Nigerians untold hardships. Speaking at the organisa-

tion’s quarterly State of the Nation briefing, the Amir (president), Dr Luqman AbdurRaheem, said the four most important indices by which a government is constantly judged are electricity supply, petrol supply, security and the economy. According to him, these critical areas immediately affect the well-being of the

populace as without them, a meaningful life is virtually impossible. AbdurRaheem said the government needed to do a lot more to ensure that people enjoy appreciable amount of electricity on a daily basis. “The Ministry of Power, Housing and Works has to do so more to ensure unin-

Choose Prophets of Allah as first role models, Adesokan advises youths A Muslim leader, Alhaji Rasheed Adesokan, has advised youths to make Prophets of Allah their first role models before other human beings. Adesokan, who is the Director-General, Centre for Islamic Information and Youth Development, gave the advice in Ibadan, Oyo State, during the bi-weekly lecture of the Bodija Muslim Youth Forum (BOMYOF). In his lecture entitled “Muslim Youth of Today: Choosing Role Models and Modelling their Roles,” Adesokan said the Qur’an has guided Muslims to pick their role models from among the Prophets of Allah. Citing various portions of the Qur’an and the Hadith, the Balogun Mumini of Yorubaland said looking up to the Prophets of Allah as role models presupposes that Muslims should always keep the company of the righteous.

He defined role models as people who achieve success or distinguish themselves in such ways that others admire and want to emulate them in order to replicate in their own lives what they have achieved in life. “It is necessary to reiterate that the process you as individual youths must put in place to produce your desired goals have to be comprehensive but achievable,” he said. Adesokan, however, said choosing role models should not be limited to religion, as role models might be next door - parents, relatives or somebody outside one’s locality. He listed the advantages of role models as motivating attainable goals, inspiring the youth and energising their passion for success. In his contribution, Head, Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of

Ibadan, Professor Kamil Oloso, urged Muslim youths to make careful choices of their role models. Oloso said a role model should be an upright person that would be capable of mentoring one to reach greater heights. Speaking in the same vein, a former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, urged the youth to pick a role model, saying a youth without one would not grow. Adedoja said the moral decadence in the country was occasioned by lack of role models capable of mentoring the future leaders effectively. Earlier, the chairman of BOMYOF, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said the lecture was informed by the Forum’s desire to nurture youths that would contribute their quotas to the development of the country.

Group sensitises Muslims to prisoners’ plight WORRIED by the lukewarm attitude of Nigerians to prisoners, The Muslim Prisoner Concern Forum (MPCF) will on Saturday hold its maiden sensitisation programme in Ibadan, Oyo State. In a statement, the Forum said the lectures would hold at the Islamic Centre, Bodija, Ibadan, by 10.00 a.m. with stakeholders partici-

pating. It said the comptroller in charge of Agodi Prison, DCP Olufemi Ogunyadi, would deliver the first lecture on “Life in Prison: Inmates in Focus.” The second lecture on “Muslims’ Duties towards Prisoners in Nigeria,” according to the statement, will be delivered by the Imam of Onireke Central

Mosque, Ibadan, Sheikh Isa Akindele. Other stakeholders expected at the programme are Executive Secretary, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Professor Daud Noibi; Chairman, Muslim Community of Oyo State, Alhaji Kunle Sanni and Alhaji Kamarudeen Salaudeen.

terrupted gas supply to power stations by fixing the security gap in the electricity supply chain. Security needs to be beefed up around electricity infrastructure, especially the gas pipelines, which are being destroyed by conscienceless and unpatriotic Nigerians. “There are also labour issues that have to be resolved in order that the desire to light up Nigeria will materialise. The transmission arm of the electricity supply chain also has to be strengthened since it is being touted that the transmission lines cannot accommodate more than 5,000MW of electricity. Once these are done, we are likely to enjoy better electricity supply. At the moment, the electricity supply is poor. “On the supply of adequate quantities of petrol for the use of the populace, the government has been tinkering with many policies in order to arrive at the right mix that works. As this tinkering goes on, the government will have to ensure that it does not lose sight of the immediate term goal, which is making sure that petrol is readily and easily available at the petrol stations and at reasonable price. “This is because the provision of petrol is critical to the energy needs of every Nigerian and without which homes and businesses cannot run harmoniously. “Part of the problems that the government needs to overcome is the destruction of crude oil pipelines by vandals. The dearth of new refineries must also be overcome. The government should ensure that the two private refineries that are currently being built by private investors have access to sufficient foreign exchange so that they can be completed on time. The security of the oil and gas industry infrastructure also needs to be improved upon,” the TMC Amir said.

NO fewer than 1,500 women and girls have been enlightened on the need to protect their right to dressing according to the dictate of their religion. The females were tutored during the annual Sisters’ Enlightenment Programme (SEP), organised by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit. Speakers at the programme, themed “The Ipso Facto,” in their arguments, told participants that wearing of hijab (headscarf) was their constitutional right. The participants were also charged to maintain a dogged stance on wearing of the headscarf regardless of the “humiliation” they might face in the course of the action. The speakers, including the Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Abdul-Lateef Abdul Hakeem; a senior medical officer at the General Hospital, Epe, Dr Bilqees Atobatele and a senior lecturer at the Department of Accounting, Lagos State University, Hajiah Khadijah Idowu, expressed concern about what they called the poor treatments of hijabdonning Muslim females in recent times. They urged the participants to be outstanding in their areas of endeavour, thereby helping to correct misconceptions about the hijab. In his keynote address, Abdul Hakeem described hijab as a mark of distinction between Muslim females and others in the world. To prove the uniqueness of the Muslim headscarf, the commissioner encouraged women and girls to always exhibit the right attitude that befits their status. On her part, Dr Atobatele decried lack of respect for Muslim females who wear hijab. “People generally like to make fun of us whenever we appear in our hijab. But we should remain steadfast, upright and shouldn’t be discouraged in any way. We know that we are following the dictate of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet. Our goal is AlJannah hence we should keep all these in mind when we step outside in our hijab,” she said.

Emir Sanusi, Fashola, Ambode for UMA’s 30th anniversary THE Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, will chair the grand finale of the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA) 30th anniversary, which will come up at the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Sunday. The chairman of the planning committee, Alhaji AbdulMumini Alao, said the event, which would have the Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, as the chief guest of honour, would feature the launch of a N150 million scholarship endowment fund, aimed at grooming indigent post-graduate students. Alao said the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, would deliver a keynote address on the topic “Nigeria: Strategies for a Sustainable Economy.” According to him, the alumni association, established 30 years ago, has embarked on several religious, entrepreneurial, humanitarian and social responsibility activities, including the annual Ramadan lecture, entrepreneurial workshops and empowerment, post-graduate and doctoral scholarships, annual blood donation programme, among others. Dignitaries expected at the event include SouthWest governors, Lagos State deputy governor, Dr Idiat Adebule; Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos; magnate, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Sigma Pensions Limited, Alhaji Umaru Modibbo; Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Rahaman Bello; Mr Biodun Shobanjo of Troyka Holdings; Alhaji Tajudeen Owoyemi of Protea Hotel, Ikeja and Alhaja Wonuola Folami. Alao said posthumous merit awards will be conferred on the late Baba Adinni of Nigeria, Alhaji Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo; the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola Alao and Alhaji Rasheed Oyekan.

Friday, 15 April, 2016

features

Friday, 15 April, 2016

After meritorious service, NITEL retiree cries for help By Kehinde Oyetimi

HE manner in which the country treats its retired workforce is definitely one of the reasons corruption is thriving in the civil service. Those who are in service today are aware that once they retire, their gratuities will not be paid on time, while their pensions will be erratic as electricity supply, and as such, they do everything possible to acquire as much money before their retirement comes. Almost on a daily basis, the media reports on the plight of retired senior citizens in the country, with many of them being denied their gratuities and pensions for the hard work they had rendered to the country. It is not an exaggeration that many of these senior citizens even pass on before they get to collect their entitlements. This is also the situation retired staff of the defunct Nigeria Telecommunication Limited (NITEL) find themselves today. However, what makes theirs difficult is the fact that the organisation they served while in active service is defunct. Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune on the plight of the retirees of NITEL, Pa Moshood Oladeinde Seriki, went down memory lane on his sojourn in NITEL. “I started with Post and Telecommunications (P&T)in 1967 in Kaduna, Kaduna State, when I was employed as a technician in training. After a while, I was transferred to the P&T Academy in Oshodi, Lagos as Assistant Techinical Officer. I was in Lagos between 1972 and 1989, and it was during this period that P&T was merged with Nigeria External Telecommunications (NET) to form NITEL. “After a while in Lagos, I was transferred to Osogbo District of NITEL in 1989 as territorial manager, before being transferred to Oyo, and by 2002, I had served the mandatory 35 years, so I retired while NITEL was still functional.

Pa Moshood Oladeinde Seriki “I had also started receiving my pension, but unfortunately, after three years of receiving my pension, NITEL had some challenges and it had to fold-up. All of a sudden, those of us who had begun earning pension, noticed that our pension was stopped. “Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was in office then, and we had a union that met with

him to discuss our plight, and with the fact that the organisation which we worked for had gone under, we asked for the government to pay us 20 years of our monthly pension so that we could establish something for our survival since we served the country with our youthful years. “Chief Obasanjo said the government

I concentrated on serving the Nigerian government while still active, and I never expected that I would be treated this way in my old age.

could not pay 20 years, and that it would only pay for five years. We then reduced it to 10 years, but he insisted on paying five years, so we agreed, with the hope that if we utilise the money well, we should be able to create something that would give us our feeding money on a daily basis. “Then, after six months, all NITEL South West retirees were asked to assemble at Premier Hotel in Ibadan for the payment, but to our dismay, we were paid for three years instead of the five years agreed. “We disagreed with this, and decided to take the Federal Government and Chief Obasanjo to court; after about three years, the court ruled in our favour, but by that time, Umaru Yar’Adua was president, and the government proceeded on appeal. “We also won at appeal court, and today, the case is in the Supreme Court, but why we decided to come to the public sphere is because we want Nigerians to know about our plight. “We served this country with all our might when we were still young, and at a time when we should be enjoying the fruit of our labour, we are being made to suffer. “We want the Federal Government to take pity on us and pay us our entitlements; many of our colleagues are dead without enjoying the later years of their lives, and those of us still available are just living from hand to mouth. “The Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, who incidentally is also a retiree, should take pity on us and pay our entitlements, as most of us still alive are just surviving by the grace of God. “After I collected the three years pay, I set up a small business, but we all know that businesses need huge funds to survive. “It is also not easy to run a business if one has not been doing such before. I am not a business person; I concentrated on serving the Nigerian government while still active, and I never expected that I would be treated this way in my old age,” Pa Seriki said.

JDPC gives hope to the less privileged By Adewale Oshodi ONE of the easiest ways through which we can achieve a better society is to make education accessible to all citizens; unfortunately, Nigeria is a country where acquiring education is no so cheap, and that is why we find many pupils of school age struggling to survive economically instead of being in school. This is, therefore, one of the major concerns of the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), which has been working towards reducing child trafficking and labour, while encouraging education. On several occasions, officials of the JDPC, an arm of the Catholic Diocese of Ibadan, had gone to markets in the state capital to encourage street children on the need to forget ‘street life’ and return to school. The JDPC is also making this easier for children who agree to return to school by providing a home for them, as well as sponsoring their education. Recently, the organisation brought together some pupils and their guardians, who have seen the truth about the importance of education, while providing them with the basic materials to use in schools. Before the presentation, Mrs Ife Adeagbo, a human development expert, had lectured on the importance of education in the life. “Education provides opportunities too numerous to explain; it also brings about a

•Officials of JDPC pose with some of the beneficiaries. brighter future to those who can struggle to see themselves through the different levels of schools. “It may be difficult in the beginning, but once one is through with school, one will enjoy the benefit for the rest of one’s life, until those who don’t see anything positive about education today,” Mrs Adeagbo said. Corroborating Mrs Adeagbo’s submission, an official of JDPC, Mr Ayorinde Olanipekun, explained the stress officials of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) go through to encourage some street children to dump such lifestyle and return to school. “It is not really easy encouraging children who find themselves working at such a young

age in their lives; many of them come from broken homes, while others have lost one, or even both of their parents, and they had to start fending for themselves. “However, because of our calling, we have brought it upon ourselves to encourage these children by assisting them to return to school. “We also provide them with a home where they will be given the proper upbringing, as well as pay their school fees, buy them books, school uniforms, and so on. “So what we are doing today is to give those who have submitted themselves to the ‘new life’ school bags, books, uniforms, among others, as well as paying their tuition,” Mr Olanipekun said.

While speaking on the gesture, a parent of a beneficiary, Madam Nimota Akanni, thanked JDPC for the gesture, saying it would go a long way in assisting her son. “It is not that I really love the way he was hawking, but I cannot provide everything he needs for him; he is my grandson and his father is no longer responsible for his upkeep because he had divorced his mother. “I don’t really know where his mother is at the moment, but I learnt she has remarried; so as an elderly person, I also rely on other people for my daily survival/ “However, JDPC has told us the importance of education, and I am glad that it has provided my grandson with some of the materials he will need in school, as well as his tuition,” Madam Akanni said. One of the beneficiaries, twelve-year-old Rashidat Salami, thanked the JDPC for coming to her help, saying it would make her concentrate more on her studies. “Before, U used to help my mother to hawk kolanuts in the morning before and after school hours, then after a while, I dropped out of school complete, and it was in the process of hawking that JDPC found me and explained to me the importance of education. “They did not just tell me, they also assisted me in getting back to school, while buying everything I need, including paying my tuition,” Rashidat said, while saying she would forever remain grateful to the organisation.

Friday, 15 April, 2016

arewa

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

Cattle in procession for grazing in the Northern part of the country

Fulani, farmers in Plateau adopt compensation to settle rift

Isaac Shobayo - Jos

he Fulanis, especially the herdsmen and the natives in the rural areas in Barakin Ladi, Riyom, Jos South, Wase Langtang North and Langtang South and Bokos local government areas of Plateau State are always at conflicts occasioned by encroachment of cattle on farmland and cattle rustling. This has led to the death of many innocent souls on both sides of the divide. The Fulanis, in most cases,often hire mercenaries who are dreaded herdsmen from neighbouring Chad and Niger Republics to fight on their behalf. In the past four years, quite a lot of people have died in barbaric manners while efforts by security agencies to arrest those behind the dastardly act have not yielded positive result. A cross section of Fulani herdsmen, who spoke with Arewa on condition of anonymity said they were naturally peace loving, but abhored cheating and injustice. They added that Fulani would never carry arm against anybody especially their host without reason, adding that most of the hostilities were borne out of frustration of the herdsmen and attempt to take them for granted. A prominent Fulani herdsman in Barakin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Alhaji Abudulahi Mohammed, said on several occasions, the herdsmen in the council area had paid compensation to farmers whose farms were destroyed by cattle, adding that they have never settled in a place without the con-

sent and permission of the natives. “The allegation that Fulani are wicked is also borne out of wickedness on the part of those making the allegation. On several occasions, our cattle were rustled even when we knew those who rustled them and found the cattle in their procession, retrieving such was always difficult. In most cases, forceful retrieval often snowballed into conflict” he said Plateau State Chairman, Meyetti Cattle

Breeders Association, Alhaji Husseini Boro, in a recent interview with Arewa, said the hostilities between the Fulani and farmers could only be resolved through genuine intervention by the government as well as determination and resolve on both sides to end the hostilities. He commended the security agencies on the Plateau for their doggedness to arrest the issue through various approaches adopted in recent times and urged both the

Herdsmen leading the cattle for grazing

Fulani and the natives to reciprocate the good gesture and shun any act that could lead to hostility. However, in the past five months, the rate of clashes between the Fulani and Berom in the Northern Plateau has reduced drastically. Arewa findings revealed that this was due to the recent efforts by the Special Task Force in charge of security in the state to broker peace between the two. The task force has introduced compensation whenever the cows belonging to the herdsmen destroyed farms. The herdsmen are compelled to pay compensation to owners of the farms and when cattle are rusted, those responsible are also forced to return them and pay additional compensation. Arewa findings revealed that this method has so far reduced the incessant hostilities between the Fulani and natives in different parts of the state.

Crew Sabiu Mohammed - Kaduna 08067698878 mohsabiu@yahoo.com Isaac Shobayo - Jos 08037032359 shobayo.isaac@gmail.com

As Kwara partners Nigerian Navy on training of pilots —pg16

We have promoted about 2,000 teachers in Yobe —Maidala

—pg16

Biola Azeez – Kwara State 08034276889 biolababes@gmail.com James Bwala – Borno / Yobe 08069596659 jamesbwala97@gmail.com Adamu Amadu - Dutse Kola Oyelere - Kano

28 arewa

Friday, 15 April, 2016

As Kwara partners Nigerian Navy on training of pilots Biola Azeez-Ilorin

oncerned by shortage of properly trained pilots in the country’s aviation industry, combined with youth empowerment strategy, the Kwara State government established the International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin, to fill the recognised gap in aviation training in Nigeria and shore up its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through identified potential of the institution. Since 2011 the aviation college was commissioned and 2012 it commenced opera-

tions, it has trained pilots and other professionals for the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force, alongside the civil pilots. Given the accomplishments, facilities and partnership of the college with elite organisations such as the Nigerian Navy and Airforce, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed called on aviation operators in Nigeria to employ more locally trained pilots, saying that Nigeria had the training facilities, structures and personnel to train world class pilots. Without prejudice to foreigners or for-

Gov Abdulfatah Ahmed, Kwara State

eign trained pilots, stakeholders in the aviation sector are also of the view that employing locally trained pilots will not only boost local aviation, but also save scarce foreign exchange in the process. In 2015, the International Aviation College and the Nigerian Navy signed a Memorandum of Understanding for helicopter training of personnel of the Nigerian Navy as part of the Navy’s repositioning strategy in the area of building capacity for their staff. Thus recently, the IAC, with the tall goal of being a citadel of aviation and airline education for Nigeria and together with the Nigerian Navy, joined forces to initiate a Helicopter Training School in the college to serve both military and civilian communities in Nigeria and Africa. Speaking during the recent official flag off of the helicopter training in Ilorin, the chairman of the aviation college, Captain Edward Boyo, said the partnership was borne out of the wisdom to merge resources in advancement of aviation education, youth capacity building, strategic security of the nation and optimization of scarce resources. Also speaking, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, who was represented by chief of logistics, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Goddy Anyapele, said the partnership to train aviators was a bold first step towards a vision of creating

a regional aviation training hub in Ilorin through establishment of an aviation centre and school. “The reasons for these are obvious; after 30 years of the existence of the Nigerian Navy Air, armed with heavy reliance on foreign technical and training requirements, in the face of its huge dependence on foreign exchange components and the downward turn of the economy as well as being desirous to develop local capacities in line with national policy, the NN decided it was time to take the bold step forward. The choice of the IAC also goes with a wide array of considerations which include the clement weather factors for all year round aviation at the location, the facilities available at the Ilorin International Airport as well as IAC’s record of breaking new grounds and achieving excellence. “The principal objective is that by bringing together IAC’s expertise and facilities, with the Navy’s rotary facilities and experience and reputation, we hope to create a unique combination of fixed and rotary wing training for civil and non-civil organisations and individuals in the West African sub-region and beyond within one institution. For the NN, we hope to train our aviators to global standards, improve their proficiency thereby building their capacity, thus contributing to the overall efficiency in coordinated naval operations for the nation’s maritime domain”, he said.

We have promoted about 2,000 teachers in Yobe —Maidala Honourable BABA ALI MAIDALA is the Executive Chairman Yobe State Teaching Service Board (TSB). In this interview with AREWA, he speaks on improved educational standard in the Ibrahim Gaidam’s administration and other sundry issues. James Bwala brings the excerpt: When you assumed office as Chairman TSB, you immediately embarked on a tour of schools in the state, can you tell us what informed that move? This is natural as with any appointment. However, my motive was to set a standard and also to know the prevailing situation or problems facing these schools and how teaching is effectively being administered for our younger ones. I went round to seek where to make some improvement. It is from this knowledge that I would now determine the kind of approaches to

the challenges or problems, and today, we thank God today that we have made significant improvement and both teachers and students are happy with that move. In the course of my going round, I discussed with both students and teachers, and together we discussed the problems with some parents who gave us some advice which we are also implementing to better the future of our children. These were basically the first steps we took and results have been coming for which we are being applauded today. We did not listen and come back to sit in an air con-

Immunisation: ‘Parents are responding positively in Kaduna’ Muhammad Sabiu-Kaduna THE Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Agency (PHCA), Dr Hadiza Balarabe, has said that the agency received cooperation from the parents of children aged betwen 0-5 years, during the just concluded immunisation exercise in the state. She made this known while receiving members of the Journalists Against Polio(JAP) in her office. According to her, parents were allowing immunisation officers into their homes to give vaccines unlike before when they were skeptical. “From the feedback we were receiving from our officers at the 23 local government areas, the exercise was encouraging. Balarabe remarked that at least

2.5million children were expected to be immunised in the first round of the exercise. She urged parents to give all the needed support to ensure that no child was left out during the first round of immunisation for the successful eradication of the polio disease. She assured that all required arrangements had been conducted to ensure eligible children were vaccinated. The ES commended the development partners for their efforts towards eradicating polio in Nigeria She called on traditional rulers and religious leaders to, as usual, continue to put in their best for the progress of the exercise in their areas. She commended the activities of JAP members and urged them to put in more efforts aimed at achieving progress.

dition office, but we matched everything we learnt on our tour with immediate actions, because we believe in the future of the state and we want posterity to remember we cared and made efforts to make a difference. We have heard of teachers being promoted, can you please give us the figure and what informed this rapid promotion of teachers in the state? We promoted about 2000 teachers and we are now about to promote another 1000 plus this year in the next sitting. This is a way of saying thank you to these people who are the backbone of education. They need to be motivated and the way to motivate any worker is for you to find a way of saying thank you, because actually the salary being paid is not enough to make a difference, but when you tell a worker that you appreciate what he or she is doing, you make that worker to put in more efforts on the job and that is what we are doing to our teachers. We are still on course; many teachers will soon smile home with

Maidala

their promotion letters. We also have the non-teaching staff in the schools and we promoted no less than 500 last year and more will still be God willing this year. When you visit the schools, you must have seen the level of facilities there, tell us about this and what you are doing to enhance learning environments in schools across the state? Well, I can tell you that government is doing its best. When you are talking about facilities in a learning environment, there is always one need or the other. Nothing actually is enough if we are talking about giving the best for our children, but with what we have seen in the schools we visited, I think government is making efforts to ensure the schools are attended to in all areas of needs. This is not enough like I said, but it is something good to start with. We are above average in terms of provision of needed facilities in whatever form for our schools in Yobe State. This has gone to show in our level of passes in student NECO and WAEC. As we speak, we have about 600 teachers undergoing in-service training. We have sent teachers to workshops to obtain the needed teaching skills and we have given attention to improving on the structure in the schools. Yes, I can also tell you that the training of teachers is not only here in Nigeria, but we have sent some abroad to acquire knowledge, and we hope they would impart such knowledge in our students as well as retrain others who are yet to go for such training. We have observed that there is shortage of science teachers in Yobe State. Are you planning to recruit science teachers in order to bridge this gap? Of course, we need teachers. We are making every effort to recruit because science teachers are never enough. Our problem is money.

Friday, 15 April, 2016

hers

Editor: Yemisi Aofolaju yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com 08055001741

‘Calling your husband daddy not synonymous with respect’ Wife of the former Oyo State governor, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Mutiat Ladoja in this interview with MONICA TAIWO, speaks about her experience as the governor’s wife, her pet project Idera De which is still in existence among other sundry issues. Excerpts

OU were 60 last year and you celebrated your birthday in Mecca, what informed this? When I was 55, I have God that whenever I will be 60, I want to be in Haram; Saudi Arabia. And to the glory of the almighty God my 60th birthday fell within the Eid-lKabir festive period which allowed me to celebrate my birthday in Mecca. This was a covenant between me and my God. But before I left, I made an arrangement that some things should be done to commemorate the day for me in Nigeria. There is a special school, I will not want to mention the name; one of these homes that didn’t have electricity, I provided electricity for them and it was commissioned. You are going to be 61 this year, but you don’t look it, what is the secret of your beauty? Everything is to the glory of God Almighty. Your look and your physique depend on how you treat yourself. For me, I inherited all these from my mother, because when she was alive, she didn’t look her age. I don’t have anything special that I use. I am not the type who gets addicted to anything. If you have a party and you invite me; I may decide to put on Ankara or Guinea brocade, I wear what suits me. I am not the type who follows fashion trend, I dress to please myself. I also do not use expensive crème or anything special on my skin. I prefer to go natural; I use Shea Butter; (Ori) baby lotion and oil. It is not that I don’t use other crèmes sometimes, but I use more of indigenous product more than the imported stuffs. You were once the first lady of Oyo State, can you share your experience? Being a governor’s wife, people will rally round you wanting to be your friend either genuinely or otherwise. But the most important lesson I learnt was the fact that I didn’t go there to get involved in fashion and parties. I went there to work; touch the lives of the voiceless and the needy. I have been doing this before I became the governor’s wife and when my husband became the governor, this gave me more space and opportunity to spread my tentacles. What you are saying is that you have had Idera De before your husband became the governor? It was not Idera De then. I adopted two children during the tenure of Chief Kolapo Ishola a girl at FOMWAN, who I gave a combination of my name and my mother’s. Because both of them came on the day I was marking my mother’s 20th memorial anniversary in April 1993. The other at the Ibadan home for the motherless at Orita-Mefa; a boy, I named him Ladoja Ishola because Ishola was the governor then, so I gave him the combination of my husband’s and the then governor’s name. As at then I had sponsored some pro-

grammes to help the less priveleged at BCOS even before my husband became the governor; When I became the governor’s wife, the General Manager of BCOS then went back to their archives and brought some of the programmes and work I have done and aired them. When we came to the government house, I named it Idera De. This name came about during the campaigns for elections. Whenever we went for campaigns, I was telling them that “Vote for us, if you vote for us “Idera De” which means succor has come. This was where Idera De came from. How did you get funding for Idera De? Like I mentioned earlier, I had been doing my humanitarian work in my own little way before my husband became the governor. So when we got to the government house, some of my people advised that I won’t be able to handle this project alone, because with the change in status, many people would be coming for help. And you know that governors wife don’t have any financial votes, no salary for humanitarian jobs. We only get salaries from our husbands. People like Otunba Mike Adenuga of GLOBACOM, Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha; who was doing something similar then, late Alhaji Arisekola Alao, Alhaji and Alhaja Sulaimon Adegunwa, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, Otunba Subomi Balogun, to mention a few came to my rescue. My husband was also there for me. These people advised me to launch Idera De and that was how I was able to raise funds. To God be the glory we were able to spend the money judiciously. We have a centre in Ido. We were unable to make good use of our centre because my husband as governor had problems with Baba Adedibu and the PDP, I was wary of taking anybody there because of these challenges. It was always on my mind that what if there was trouble and the centre is attacked, what will happen to them? How will they be able to survive? So that was what gave the centre a big challenge and set back. But, this however, did not stop our job, we have some of our children in colleges and higher institutions and some of them are learning to be artisans. We have some that we have sponsored to learn different vocations. Some of them are already set up in their vocations, especially those who specialised in shoe making.

calling ourselves by our names makes us closer. I respect my husband and he does same, we love each other. This does not mean that we don’t fight, we have our differences and we settle them. These days, homes and marriages are not what they are supposed to be again. Every time you hear about domestic violence, husband killing his wife and vice versa. What do you think is responsible for these? There is a Yoruba adage which says, “ti enikan o ba je agutan ki enikan je ewure, kole se se”. When you know each other’s weaknesses, you study yourselves very well; then you won’t be fighting all the time. For instance, I represent my husband in almost all outings because he is not the outgoing type, I have been doing that for quite a while now and if he now says I should and I refuse, then, it could lead to bad blood. I know I have been doing so, then why do I have to refuse? Another issue is that of trust, couples must learn to trust themselves. Let me tell you this, my husband is a polygamist, sincerely, this does not disturb me. Whatever he does with or for another woman is not my business. As a woman, you need to be able to overlook some things, if not you will have problems. Also, there is nothing wrong with keeping away from some friends if need be for you to keep your home. What is your husband’s best food? Amala and abula; ewedu and gbegiri, he also likes moinmoin and ogi.

What happened to the centre at Ido now? It is still there, though the children are not there, but we still have our structure on ground. Annually we collaborate with the University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan to carry out free health screening and medical treatment. Can you describe ex Governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja? Hmmm, my husband is simple, unassuming, quiet but very principled, you cannot cheat him. He is simple in dressing, he doesn’t hold grudges and he is ready to apologise to you if he offends you even if you are younger. He is very accommodating. He doesn’t believe in extravagance, with him you can’t waste resources. How has marriage with him been and how have you both been able to keep the fire of romance burning in your marriage? I am a homely person and he is the busy one. The bottom line is that if you have time for your husband you will enjoy him, if you know his dos and don’ts you will enjoy him. Every home has its problems. You have to be able to know what he wants and what he doesn’t want. It is like when you are in school, when you keep by the rules and regulation of the school, you will not be expelled. The same rule applies to the home and marriage. You should also learn to respect each other. Though I call him by his name, Wolu, Rashidi, but this does not leave room for disrespect. It is not when you call your husband daddy that you respect him. Both of us believe that

Do you still cook his meals or you have people who do that for you? I cook his meals myself; I serve him and wait for him to finish eating so I can clear the table. If it is time to cook and serve his meals, my dear, I won’t attend to you. I even cook for my house keepers. You cannot cook for me. My husband entertain a lot of guests; a minimum of six and at times we cook for as many as 30/50 people, so cooking in my outer kitchen makes this easy for me because I do the cooking myself. Recently, Governor Rauf Aregbesola and former Governor of Osun State; Isiaka Adeleke saw me at a party, they left their table to come and joke with me that they are coming to eat abula in our house, I cook and serve them myself. Even the Alaafin of Oyo, says it till today that, “Mutiat if you go to her house in England you will eat gbegiri and amala Alapa and all these local food. That is the person I am. I care for my husband and his friends and he appreciates me for this. Don’t leave your job for someone else to do. Though no matter what you do for a man if he will still go out, he will do, but do your own best and leave the rest. Then you must have satisfied yourself. Whenever he is with me he is mine, he is my god. Whatever he does outside is not my concern. If marrying many wives is what will make him happy, I cannot stop him. If dressing 24hours is my passion, he shouldn’t disturb me. If you know and are able to accommodate each other’s differences, you will have a good marriage. Who is your role model? My late mother.

south-westnews Aluko in EKSU, says ‘I was not sacked’ 30

Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

MBATTLED former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary in Ekiti State, Dr Temitope

Aluko, was at the Ekiti State University (EKSU) Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, for what he said was his triennial pension verification programme and denied being sacked by the

university. Aluko was at the university’s pension office where he displayed his verification certificate “to show that it is not true that I was either sacked or dismissed

by the institution.” Aluko, who was the Head of the Department of Business Administration in the university, displayed his EKSU 2016 Pensioner’s Verification Certificate with

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number 158 with his year of retirement stated as 2010. Aluko, who has become different things to different people following his self-confession of alleged rigging of Ekiti 2014 gov-

Aregbesola meets Osun farmers on farmstead Says Osun’ll soon be hub of cocoa production in Nigeria Oluwole Ige - Osogbo OSUN State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has said that his administration is committed to the development of agriculture for the sustainability of the state’s economy. Governor Aregbesola disclosed this at a meeting with cocoa farmers on their farmstead at Oke Osin, in Atakumosa West Local Government Area of the state, on Wednesday. Addressing the members of the farmers’ association, Aregbesola said that his government had given soft loans of about one billion naira to farmers in the state. Aregbesola said that revenue from cocoa and other produce would help in turning the economy and fortunes of the state around if pursued with vigour.

The governor maintained that it would be foolhardy for anybody to believe that Osun will survive with what it receives monthly from the federal allocation which at its best ever was N5billion. Aregbesola said: “The essence of our visit today has nothing to do with politics or show off. We have come to have first hand information on how farming activities is going on in the state and to show that government is not just paying lip service to its commitment to the development of agriculture. Earlier, chairman, Farmers Field School, Mr Timothy Akingbade, commended Governor Aregbesola for keeping to the promises made to the people of the state, saying the impacts of the present administration

had been greatly felt over the years. Meanwhile, Governor Aregbesola, on Thursday, said the state will soon become the hub of cocoa production in the country with the revival of the moribund Osun Cocoa Production Industry.

He stated this during a facility tour of the newly resuscitated Cocoa Production Industry in Ede in partnership with a Chinese company, Golden Monkey of China. The partnership between the state government and Golden Monkey China to

revive the cocoa production after 15 years is 70-30 equity. He expressed optimism that the Cocoa Production Industry in Ede will go a long way to support the state’s agricultural plan and efforts at developing cocoa farming.

Nigerian Tribune

ernorship election, said his verification was “evidence that I am a retiree at the state-owned university contrary to the claims of agents of the state government that I was dismissed from service.” He said: “Every three years, you have to appear at EKSU to show that you are alive and that you are a retiree at the university. I’ve just got my (pensioner) certificate now to show that I am a retiree. “The government has been saying that I was sacked but this is evidence that I was not sacked. I built the Department of Business Administration from scratch and rose to become the head.”

Ondo wins best overall female engineering students’ competition AN SS1 student of St Helen’s Unity Secondary School, Ondo, Ayomide Adeyeye, has emerged the overall winner at the just concluded Girls in Engineering, Mathematics and Science (GEMS) competition, among 33 finalists of Senior Secondary Schools from nine states of the Niger Delta, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. To emerge the overall best, Adeyeye produced ethanol from over-ripened pine-

apple as substitute to fuel in Nigeria economy. She won a trophy, tablet computer, a gold plaque, N200,000.00 cash and N5 million scholarship for her five-year university education at N1 million per annum, while the NDDC would build a chemistry laboratory for her school at the cost of N10 million. Another representative of the state, Esther Ademeta, an SS1 student of Federal

Government Girls College, Akure (FGGC), won N500,000.00 cash award for being the only student that did her research on Mathematics, while Deborah Doghor, an SS2 student of FGGC, Akure, who was one of the best 10 students at the competition produced electricity from juice and fruit. Out of the 10 students that represented region 1 which comprises Ondo, Edo and

Delta states at the final competition in Port Harcourt, Ondo State produced eight representatives. The competition, which was organised by NDDC, is to promote innovative, research and standard-based practices, which will encourage students, particularly girl students with interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to thrive in the 21st century global economy.

news Court orders Oshiomhole to reinstate sacked Edo council chairman 31

Banji Aluko - Benin City

Benin High Court, on Thursday, declared as illegal, null and void, the suspension and sacking from office of Mr Osaro Obazee as the chair-

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man of Oredo Local Government Area by Governor Adams Oshiomhole. The court also cleared the council chairman of allegation of financial impropriety levelled against him by the state government, while warning agents of

the government against disturbing the reinstated chairman “as he goes about his lawful duties.” Obazee, in a suit filed by his counsel, Mr Kingsley Obamogie, had prayed the court to declare that as the constitutionally-elected

chairman of Oredo Local Government Area, he could not be suspended at the whims and caprices of the first defendant without regard to the due process of law, especially Sections 7(1) and 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Re-

From left, the celebrant, Alhaji Abdul Rasheed Akiolu; Oba of Lagos, Riliwan Akiolu; Senator Habeeb Fasinro and the Chief Executive Officer, Top Services Limited, Tokunbo Omisore, at the 90th birthday celebration of Abdul Rasheed Akiolu, in Lagos, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN.

Commercial bus kills plantain hawker, injures 3 others in Akure Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure TRAGEDY struck in Akure, Ondo State capital, on Thursday evening, when a commercial bus driver lost control, killing a plantain chips hawker while three others were seriously injured. According to an eyewitness, the commercial bus with registration number OYO XC 247 YYY, was coming from Ile-Ife in Osun State and heading towards Akure, when the incident happened, killing the hawker identified as Johnson Ogah, at the entrance gate of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA). He explained that the bus, after hitting the deceased, also hit three other buses coming from the opposite direction causing traffic gridlock on the ever busy expressway. The eyewitness said the remains of the 25-year-old hawker, who died on the spot while his plantain chips scattered on the road, were taken to the state mortuary hospital in Akure. The commercial driver, identified as Bamidele Orimisan from Oke Amala,

Modakeke, Osun State, had been arrested and detained at the Okuta Elerinla Divisional Police Station, Akure. Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph, said the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the State Special-

ists Hospital, Akure while the police had commenced investigation on the matter. “The driver is in our custody and we have started investigation over the incident,” the PPRO explained. Similarly, Ondo Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission

(FRSC), Mr Edward Zamber, who confirmed the incident, said the accident occurred as a result of brake failure. He warned the people, especially children, against hawking on the road, saying it was a way of endangering their lives.

Imbibe hard work, moral values for national rebirth, Ajimobi tells youths By Wale Akinselure OYO State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has charged youths to imbibe hard work and moral values to bring about the desired national rebirth. Governor Ajimobi made this call at the presentation and launch of a book entitled: Ona Ola, written by Ace broadcaster and former Special Assistant on Broadcast Media to the Governor, Mr Babatunde Olaniyi, at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, on Thursday. Referring to the book as an embodiment of moral teachings and imperatives of hard work for success in

life, Ajimobi, represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, recommended the book for use in public schools across the SouthWest. Ajimobi, who described the author as a committed and ardent Yoruba language proponent, also called for a return of popular Yoruba programmes to the broadcast media to ingrain the ways and life of the tribe in the minds of the children who, he said, were daily being swayed by foreign culture picked from the new media. Chairman of the occasion, Chief Lekan Alabi, maintained that Nigeria would not have been in

the current situation it found herself if it had not neglected the legacies of past heroes who fought for the nation’s independence. In his review of the book, a former special adviser to Oyo State Governor on Health, Dr Abib Olamitoye, said the book was written in form of a storytelling and centered on a wretched individual who sought for ways to be successful from a wealthy friend. Author of the book, Mr Babatunde Olaniyi, said he was grateful to God and appreciated all those who contributed to the success of the book.

public of Nigeria, 1999 as amended. The claimant also wanted an order of the court setting aside the report of any purported panel of inquiry set up by the first defendant to investigate allegations against him, insisting that it breached his right to fair hearing guaranteed by Section 36(1) of 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended. In the judgment on the suit brought before her by Mr Obazee, Justice Esohe Ikponmwen held that relevant sections of the constitution and the Edo State Local Government Law were not adhered to in relieving Obazee of his duties. The judgement was coming in less about a week to the expiration of tenure of Obazee and other council chairmen, who were sworn in to office on April 21, 2013.

Expedite passage of reproductive health bill, Oyo Assembly urged By Wale Akinselure A non-governmental organisation, The Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH), has called on the Oyo State House of Assembly to expedite the passage of the Reproductive Health bill and see to a specific budgetary provision for family planning in the state’s budget. PACFaH, which made these calls during a presentation to the Oyo lawmakers, also called for the domestication of the National Family Planning Law and implementation of the state’s adapted National Strategic Plan of Action for nutrition. In his presentation, Consultant, Child and Family Health, Dr Muhammad Saleh, said that a specific budget line for family planning would ensure that adequate funds were allocated to family planning. President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr M. O. Olatunji, representing Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFRON), charged lawmakers to live up to their oversight functions in ensuring that funds appropriated for health is utilised as allocated. In his response, Speaker, Oyo House of Assembly, Honourable Micheal Adeyemo, assured that health bills will be given accelerated hearing by the Assembly.

Nigerian Tribune

PDP chieftain lauds INEC over Osun bye-election A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is also a lawmaker in the House of Representatives, Prince Albert Abiodun Adeogun, has lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the recent conduct of the bye-election in Ile-Ife, Osun State. “The outcome of the election was a true demonstration of democracy because the wish of the masses was not trampled upon by the desperate APC leaders who did all they could to win the election for their candidate,” Adeogun said in a press statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune. He commended all the candidates who took part in the bye-election for being orderly stressing that they put national interest above selfish and parochial interests. The bye-election was won by the PDP candidate, Chief Dipo Eluwole. Ife Central seat became vacant following the death of Mr Oladejo Makinde on December 27 last year. Adeogun noted that the result of the election was an affirmation that most people in Osun State were tired of the APC-led government. “How on earth would you expect right thinking people to go and vote for APC leaders who have exposed them to abject poverty and grinding penury?,” he asked.

Ijebu Ode Grammar School Old Boys Association meets April 23 THE 2016 annual general meeting of the famous Ijebu Ode Grammar School Old Boys Association (JOGSOBA) will hold on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the school hall, in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, by 11:00a.m. All alumni of the school are expected to attend the meeting as important issues will be discussed. The National President, E. B. Osoba, urged all old students, sets and clubs to attend the annual general meeting, according to a release issued by the National Publicity Secretary, High Chief Gbenga Omilola.

news How Oronsaye paid people for doing nothing for committee —Witness 32

Sunday Ejike - Abuja

witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Jalal Arabi, on Thursday, told Justice Olasunbo Goodluck of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja that former Head of Service (HoS), Mr Stephen Oronsaye, allegedly paid millions of naira to people who did not work for the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force on Financial Action Task Force. The prosecution witness, who was the committee’s secretary, told the court that apart from Zenith Bank Plc, which was the official bank of the committee, Oronsaye secretly opened another account with Access bank, and as the only signatory to the account. He said laid down procedures were followed in justifying any money spent on any programme of the committee, adding that he raised memos for the programmes of the committee while fund was provided, following the approval of the chairman. He said, “we funded programmes from the Zenith Bank account and sometimes from the endeavour of the chairman (Oronsaye), which I got to know in July, 2015 that the money came from the secret Access Bank

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account, sometimes.” The witness said between 2009 and 2015, there were inflows of money into the Zenith Bank account of the committee in three tranches, from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Budget Office and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), respectively. When led to read from the statement of account obtained from the Access Bank, he said: “In October

Isaac Shobayo-Jos

AS part of the moves to curtail frequent hostility between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Plateau State, ‘Operation Safe Haven’, in charge of security in Plateau and parts of Bauchi states, has banned the movement of cattle and heardsmen after 7:00 p.m. The OPSH Commander, Major-General Tagbo Ude, who stated this at a town hall meeting with community leaders, village heads and the Ardos of Riyom, Barakin Ladi, Jos South and Mangu local government areas of the state in Jos, said the ban covered all its areas of operations as part of efforts to sustain the prevailing peace in Plateau State. He called on all parties involved to consolidate on the hard earned peace that

To set up fact-finding panel APPARENTLY concerned by the recent unrest in some tertiary institutions in the country, the Federal Government has expressed determination to resolve the issue of frequent students’ unrest on campuses of universities and other tertiary institutions in the country. Accordingly, the Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students’ Affairs, Mr Nasir Sa’idu Adhama, said his office had reached out to major stakeholders towards resolving the problems. According to Adhama, his office had been in constant consultations with relevant stakeholders, including the institutions’ managements, students’ union leaders, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) towards addressing the incidence of unstable power

January 15, 2015, another N500,000 was paid to him without doing any work for the committee. “On November 27, 2012, Olalekan Ajayi was paid N6 million, Mohammed Yaro was paid N500,000 on October 31, 2013 and another N900,000 on March 14, 2015, for doing nothing for the committee. “Am aware of the N400,000 paid to Udummi Jude Ikechukwu on March

24, 2015, but not aware of the N5million, N11.4 million paid to Ezeneka E.N on December 23, 2014 and March 13, 2015, respectively”, the witness stated, adding also that Oronsaye did not inform him of the secret Access Bank account he opened in the name of the committee. Justice Goodluck then, adjourned the matter till May 19 and 20, 2016 for continuation of trial and

Military bans cattle movement, herdsmen after 7pm in Jos

FG set to resolve students’ unrest on campuses Clement Idoko - Abuja

14, 2012, the sum of N5 million was paid to Friday Onoja, N9 million was paid same Friday Onoja on November 11, 2012, and another N3.5 million in the same month. “Friday Onoja is neither a member of the committee nor did any work for the committee that I know. “On November 6, Sunday Oge was paid, N9 million, paid another N9 million on November 14, N7 million on November 21, 2012 and on

supply which had reduced water supply and caused a hike in transportation fares at some of these troubled institutions. He said: “In the interim, a high level powered factfinding team is being constituted to work with relevant agencies and affected institutions to ascertain the immediate causes of the crises and proffer solutions for academic activities to be restored at these affected campuses: UniPort, UniLag, Benue State University, Adekunle Ajasin University, among others.” A statement by Mr Jacob Okpanachi, Technical Assistant (Student) to Adhama, on Thursday, in Abuja, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide on Students Affairs, while expressing condolence with families of those who lost their lives in some of the protests, appealed to Nigerian students to maintain law and order in the pursuit of their legitimate rights.

is already in place, while appealing to them to embrace the peace that had returned to the communities, adding that the people must eschew violence and expose anyone who might want to tinker with the prevailing peace in their communities. He noted that he was not unaware that one of the challenges facing the internally displaced persons (IDPs), who wish to return to their homes, was the likelihood of their lands being sold or occupied by others, stressing that “If somebody

has legitimately acquired his land, it is his, whether he is Berom or Fulani. “Due to the security challenges, a lot of people have left their homes but many displaced persons now want to return to their homes but their lands have either been sold or are being occupied illegally. We are however happy that displaced persons in Lomak and Baka in Riyom have returned to their homes,” he said. He said the formation of a joint Berom and Fulani vigilante group in Barkin Ladi

was a welcome development that would bring unity and peace, adding that vigilante group had identified bad eggs in various communities within the local government. He assured that the strategy would be replicated in other communities. The chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breaders Association in the state, Muhammad Nura, on Thursday, said he was happy with the ban on grazing after 7:00 p.m, adding that the group had also banned the use of children to rear cattle.

ordered the prosecution to assemble all its witnesses at the next adjourned date.

Abandoned baby NELSON Hope a boy of about a year old, was found abandoned beside Dominion Baptist Church, Ata Ota in Ogun State, on March 1, 2016, at about 17:50hrs. Anyone with useful information on the whereabouts of his mother or relatives of the subject’s mother, should please, contact the nearest police station or the Director of Social Welfare Services, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

news Buhari strict on money matters —Osinbajo 33

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Launches Aisha Buhari’s book on beauty therapy Leon Usigbe - Abuja

ICE President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday, presided over the presentation of a book, The Essential of Beauty Therapy, written by the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, whose proceeds, she said would be channelled to assist victims of the Boko Haram insurgency. Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the

occasion, Osinbajo, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, told the audience at the State House Conference Hall that he could not be expected to donate much to the launching of the book because he was on half salary and President Buhari was very strict on money matters. “The president and I are on half salaries. The president is very strict on money issues. So, don’t expect

me to make a large donation,” he said. The vice president, who described the book presentation as very important, observed that it was “not just a book but it is an instructional manual. There is a lot of technical material but it is helpful.” Osinbajo said the presentation of the book highlighted the importance of the girl-child education as he observed that if the wife of the president had not

got the opportunity to go to school, she would not have been able to write the book and teach others. He said: “Girl-child education is still an issue, girls not having the opportunity to go to school. If the wife of the president didn’t have the opportunity to go to school, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to reach others. “It emphasises the importance of education. Her desire to dedicate the

Wife of the president, Hajia Aisha Buhari, presenting her book, entitled: “Essentials of Beauty Therapy, a complete guide for beauty specialists,” to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, after it was launched at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja, on Thursday. With them is the vice-president’s wife, Dolapo and the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.

Boko Haram taking advantage of herdsmen/farmers conflicts —FG Clement Idoko - Abuja

HE Federal Government has expressed concern about recent reports that Boko Haram terrorists have taken advantage of the incessant conflicts between the Fulani herdsmen and sedentary farmers to further their horrendous attacks and killing of innocent Nigerians. Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), spoke on Thursday, in Abuja, at a strategic stakeholders’ meeting on the pastoralists and sedentary farmers’ conflict in Nigeria. He said government was worried that these conflicts in various parts of the nation have had grave implication to the country’s internal security. Dambazau, said the effect of this, has been loss of lives and property, dislocation of people and communities, disruption of socio-economic activity and threat to the integrity and peaceful coex-

istence of the Nigerian State. He said while the Federal Government was planning a subsequent open all-stakeholders’ meeting over the conflict, the primary objective of the Thursday meeting was to arrive at a common understanding of the problems underlying the

pastoralists and sedentary farmers’ conflict in Nigeria. The meeting was also to decide on the format and membership of the subsequent open stakeholders meeting, the Minister said was critical to finding a lasting, sustainable and enduring solution to the conflict.

He condemned the recent conflict in Agatu area of Benue State, where many people were killed and others rendered homeless, saying “The area in which this conflict mostly happens, the Niger-Benue river basin was one of the country’s geographical blessings.

Navy arrests 5 for stealing 1million litres of diesel DapoFalade-PortHarcourt THE Nigerian Navy has disclosed the arrest of five men in Port Harcourt for allegedly stealing about one million litres of diesel. Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Commodore Sanusi Ibrahim, who made the disclosures, on Thursday, said the stolen diesel was stored in over 2,000 drums. The naval commander, speaking through the NNS Pathfinder’s Base Intelligence Officer, Lieutenant Commodore Sunday Katuka, said the arrest and seizure were made in an abandoned warehouse following

tip-off. He took newsmen to the warehouse in Ogbogoro community in Port Harcourt, adding that 15 other suspects fled the scene when navy personnel raided the facility. “Following intelligence tip-off, naval troops immediately raided a warehouse used by suspected oil thieves to store illegally refined petroleum products believed to have been stolen from pipelines. “On arrival to the site, we found several storage compartments with petroleum products suspected to be Automated Gas Oil (AGO), popularly known as diesel.

“The diesel was stored in more than 20 compartments and large polythene bags and each compartment had about 100 storage drums, each containing 350 litres of illegally refined diesel. “The drums and polythene bags contained an estimate of about one million litres of stolen diesel,” he said. Ibrahim said investigations were ongoing to identify sources and patronage of the product, adding that the 15 other suspects fled the scene because troops were not allowed to use firearms in anti-bunkering operations.

proceeds of the presentation to the victims of insurgency and particularly the families of the Chibok girls is commendable.” Noting that the day commemorated the second anniversary of the abduction of Chibok girls, Osinbajo assured that they were still alive and would be brought back to their families. He said the timing of the book presentation was apt, saying: “I am pleased to be associated with it.” In her remark, Aisha Buhari said her decision to present the book now was to contribute to the support of victims of insurgency, particularly mothers and children as well as malnourished children across the nation. She urged members of the audience to buy the book to support the girlchild education. The chairman of the occasion and National Leader of the All Progressives Party (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, who was represented by his wife, Senator Oluremi, observed that the vast potential of the beauty industry had not been tapped in Nigeria. Noting that the industry generated combined revenue of $19 billion annually to the United States, he called for the training and certification of beauty salon operators in the country. Tinubu also urged for the setting up of vocational schools in partnership with beauty products, adding that “Nigeria needs more women to expand the frontier of beauty therapy.” He called for generous contributions to the book presentation “because it’s not contributing to the purse of the wife of the president but the rebuilding process in the north east.” A brief introduction made available at the presentation, indicated that “The Essentials of Beauty Therapy” is “designed as works books for students, practitioners, tutors and provides information to their specific needs in simple-to-understand language.” Among those who graced the occasion were the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello; Pastor Tunde Bakare; former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke; Emir of Birnin Gwari, Malam Zubairu Jibril Mai Gwari II, former Super Eagle skipper, Yobo Joseph and Mrs Opral Benson.

Nigerian Tribune

FCT rerun: INEC declares APC, APGA winners JacobSegunOlatunji-Abuja THE All Progressives Congress (APC) and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) emerged winners of last Wednesday’s rerun in the four Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The rerun were held in Abuja Municipal area council (AMAC), Kuje, Abaji and Gwagwalada Area Councils where the commission declared inconclusive after the April 9 elections. According to the results released on Thursday, INEC declared the APC candidate, Ibrahim Adamu Candido, winner of AMAC with 27,482 votes while in Kuje Area Council, Abdullahi Galadima of APC won with 15,175 votes. Joseph Shazih of APC won in Kwali area council with 15, 309 votes. The APC candidates had earlier won in Bwari and Abaji Area Councils. However, APGA’s candidate, Adamu Mustapha, was declared chairman-elect of Gwagwalada area council with 15,950 votes while the candidate of APC, Abubakar Jubril got 14,569 votes. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which won five Area Councils in 2013, could not win any chairmanship position this time around.

INEC proposes May 28 for Nasarawa House of Assembly bye-election THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed May 28 for the conduct of bye-election for Nasarawa/Toto seat in the state’s House of Assembly. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seat became vacant following the death of Musa BabaOnwana, who represented the constituency in the assembly. The deceased was a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Administrative Secretary of INEC in Nasarawa, Dr Mudashiru Mustapha, made the proposed date for the bye-election known at a stakeholders’ meeting in Lafia, on Thursday. He, however, said that the date was subject to approval by the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Mustapha urged the political parties and stakeholders to begin preparation toward the election. In attendance at the meeting were representatives of political parties, National Orientation Agency (NOA), media, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), with all assuring of their readiness for the exercise.

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I, formerly Miss Akanbi Lucia Mojisola now MRS FILEGBE LUCIA MOJISOLA. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Aboderin Yetunde Funmi now MRS ADEBAYO YETUNDE FUNMI ABIGEAL. All former documents remain valid. NTI Ilesa Chapter, Ilesa Anglican Diocese and general public take note.

I, formerly Olayiwola Fatimoh Abisola now ADEROGBA FATIMOH ABISOLA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Tijani Kudirat Taiwo now MRS OLASEINDE KUDIRAT TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Omosowon Busayo Elizabeth now MRS IDUSUYI BUSAYO ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Mrs. Ben-Egewusi Juliet Ngozi am the same person as Egewusi Juliet Ngozi. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MRS. BEN-EGEWUSI JULIET NGOZI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Modupeoluwa Kehinde Fadairo now MRS. MODUPEOLUWA KEHINDE ADETOKUNBO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Farinto Oluwafunsho Temitope now MRS. AKINYEMI O L U WA F U N S H O TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Atilola Abimbola Adebunmi now MRS. ATILOLA ABIMBOLA OMOTOSHO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Dada Gbenga now DADA OLUWAGBENGA EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. GT Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oyelami Temiloluwa Taiwo now MRS OYETOKE TEMILOLUWA TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, OAUTHC, IleIfe and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Olayiwola Muideen am the same person as Muideen Hammed. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OLAYIWOLA MUIDEEN. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Eco Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, Babatunde Oluwadamilare Micheal am the same person as Babatunde Opeyeoluwa Sunday. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as BABATUNDE OLUWADAMILARE MICHEAL. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Skye Bank Plc, EcoBank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Apanisile Folashade Yemisi now MRS OLOMOLA FOLASHADE YEMISI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olawale Mary Oluwakemi now MRS ILESANMI MARY OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Akande James Asamu am the same person as Akande Jelili Asamu. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as AKANDE JAMES ASAMU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Olabisi Onabanjo University, WAEC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adeniran Akande Adeyemo now ADENIRAN AKANDE OLALEKAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Owolabi Titilayo Odunayo now ORIGUNLOYE TITILAYO ODUNAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Bola Adio Sanni now FASSY BOLA SANNI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Oke Kolawole Phillips now OYEYEMI KOLAWOLE PHILLIPS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Omolara Anifat Iyanda now Omolara Anifatu Bolanle. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank Plc Sterling Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akinsiku Abiola Florence now MRS OLAYERA FLORENCE ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Babatunde Mujidat Bosede now MRS HAMMED MUJIDAT BOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly John OmaOnalo now JOHN ONASON OMA-ONALO. All former documents remain valid. Standard Chartered Bank Plc and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Ebisanmi Number Adedeyi am the same person as Ebisanmi Number Omosebi. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as EBISANMI NUMBER OMOSEBI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. UBA Plc, First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, formerly Ogunbiyi Maria Kehinde now OGUNBIYI SUNDAY MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Agwuncha Ada Ann now MRS OKOLI ADAORA ANN. All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Oyediran Jumoke Kolawole now MRS OYEDIRAN JUMOKE JULIANA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Aliyu Rekiat Ijipemi now MRS KASSIM REKIAT. My correct date of birth is 16 June, 1976. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Awawu Ibrahim Lami now MRS OSENI AWAWU LAMI. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oluwaseun Oyepero Enitan Solesi now MRS OLUWASEUN OYEPERO ENITAN ADEEKO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogundeko Oluyemisi Olubunmi now MRS ALLI ESTHER OLUYEMISI OLUBUNMI. All former documents remain valid. State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Micro Finance Bank and general public take note.

I, Owoeye Adewale Adetola am the same person as Owoeye Adewale David. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OWOEYE ADEWALE ADETOBA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Sijuwade Adetomilola Bukola now MRS ADETOMILOLA BUKOLA SIJUWADE-FALADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Anih Blessing Uzoamaka now OKOYE BLESSING VERONICA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Akande Ibironke am the same person as IBIRONKE SAKA AKANDE. My correct date of birth is 08/May/1965. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Lateef Buraimoh Taiwo now LATEEF BAMIDELE TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

news

Friday, 15 April, 2016

1.04.trn MTN fine: Why we lodged N50bn in separate account at CBN —AGF Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel- Abuja

HE Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mallam Ahmed Idris, on Thursday, explained that the part-payment of N50billion by the MTN Nigeria, from the fine imposed on it by the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), over SIM deactivation defaults, was paid into a new account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to safeguard the money since the matter was still a subject of litigation. The AGF made the clarification when he appeared before the Honourable Saheed Akinade Fijabi-led House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunications probing the transactions involving the fine in Abuja, along with the Justice Minister and Attorney-General of the Federatiom, Mallam Abubakar Malami. Mallam Idris told the committee that the fresh account with the CBN tagged, “Federal Government assets recovery”, was meant to warehouse the money until the matter was finally resolved, saying that at the end of the day,” it will now be transferred

into the consolidated revenue account of the federation if it favours the Federal Government”. According to him,”the title doesn’t matter, I never authorised the opening of the account, it was based on the advice from the Ministry of Justice through the Ministry of Finance and it is a normal thing for the office of the Accountant General of the Federation to open accounts for all the

Ministries,Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.” Mallam Idris also told the committee that all recovered looted public funds” are being kept in such account and are yielding interests, they have not been touched since the beginning of the administration, the office of the AGF is keeping watch over the accounts, when it is time, the Federal Government

will make public the actual amounts recovered so far, we can not touch the funds until issues surrounding are resolved.” Malami, who admitted before the committee that he authorised the opening of the fresh account and the payment of the N50 billon, was for MTN to show good faith as a basis for negotiation and that no negotiation had commenced at all.

The chairman of the committee Honourable Saheed Akinad-Fijabi and other members asked the minister to discontinue further negotiation with the telecom firm on the payment of the outstanding fine by the service provider to allow for discussions between the NCC and MTN saying that other firms doing business in Nigeria mighty take a clue from the MTN to flout ithe Nation’s laws.

Some of the Batch ‘A’ National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members collecting their discharge certificates, at the NYSC camp, Kubwa, Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN

NYSC loses 5 corps members in Kano 24 to repeat service in Oyo, Sokoto By Tunde Ogunesan THE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Kano State, lost five of its members to untimely death,while 30 others would be disciplined for various offences ranging from extension to outright repeat of the service. This is is just as the state governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, tasked the corps members to be creative, saying that government alone could not provide employment for all job seekers. The coordinator of the programme in the state, Mr Abdullahi Baba, also said on Thursday in Kano during the 2015 Batch “A” passing out parade that 2,360 corps members are expected to pass out. The state coordinator, however, implored the outgoing corps members to take advantage of the opportunity of the government initiated programmes acquired during the period which were aimed at facilitating self-empowerment through the instrumentality of NDECMDGS/ NYSC War Against Poverty (WAP). Also, no fewer than 18 out of the 4,034 2015

batch A Corps members, who served in Oyo State would repeat their service year due to evasion of service continuously for three months. Mr Stephen Bankole, NYSC Director of Information in Oyo State, made the disclosure on Thursday, in Ibadan, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said that extensions of service were given to no fewer than seven corps members, ranging from one week to four months.

“Extension occurs when a member did not attend his place of primary assignment regularly or has not been signing monthly payment voucher as at when due. Meanwhile, six corps members in Sokoto State

are to repeat the service year for various offences, the NYSC coordinator in the state, Mr Thomas Yamma, has said. Yamma said on Thursday, in Sokoto, at the passing out ceremony of the NYSC batch “A” corps

No fuel diversion, petroleum dealers say By Tunde Busari THE Badagry, Lagos State chapter of Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN) has dismissed a re-

cent allegation of diverting fuel to neighbouring Benin Republic through Seme border. Reacting to the allegation reported in a medium, the vice-president of PEDAN,

Don calls for synergy between executive, legislature, others

PRESIDENT of Ajagun Esin Consultative Forum (AECF) and Founder of Shafaudeen in Islam worldwide, Professor Sabit Ariyo Olagoke, has said that the “change mantra” clamoured and attained by Nigerians would be a mirage unless there is genuine synergy between the executive, legislature, judiciary, the media and religious leaders. Professor Olagoke lamented that it was regrettable that the desires of the masses have not been met by the government because of pervasive incidents of corruption that gave room for unemployment, insec-

members deployed to the state, that the action was taken to serve as deterrent to serving corps members. He said that four other corps members have had their service year extended by two months.

urity and absence of basic amenities in the country. The religious leader, who is a chief lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, made the submission while delivering a lecture on “Nigeria change matra: How it begins with you”, in Ibadan, during the first anniversary of “Straight Times Magazine”, a monthly periodical, being published by Mr Kunle Bakare. “Unemployment rate increases as poverty indices increases. These two are challenges before any government desiring to effect change.

Nigerian government turned governance into business as usual, toying with people’s lives. We are all stakeholders. Do not be parasitic but be symbiotic for the nation to benefit from you,” he said. He, however, implored the judiciary to” bring offenders to justice through due process, no matter how highly placed they may be, adding that the legislature should also shun corruption and feel the pulse of the nation for a right and passionate legislation that will improve the lives of the people, while the executive should ensure good governance,” he said.

Alhaji Ganiyu Adelani, declared that no movement of fuel tankers had been recorded in the axis since the fuel scarcity started. Adelani said his association, as a matter of policy, is always mindful of its terrain of operation, hence, its close monitoring of its members. The vice-president noted that no diversion of fuel could have been carried out with the presence of security operatives at the border. “People should first weigh the implication of allegation before they make it. This one is indicting and painting our security agents in a bad light. “We might have kept quiet over it, but for the sake of the territorial integrity of our country. We need to speak out to dispel the notion that our borders are porous,” he said. Adelani expressed the concern of PEDAN over the hardship faced by Nigerians, calling on the public to show understanding on the constraint of petrol dealers.

Nigerian Tribune

PDP chieftain, Adeojo, loses wife By Tunde Ogunesan THE wife of former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, Alhaja Modupe, is dead. She died on Wednesday around 6.30 p.m. at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, according to her husband. Sources informed the Nigerian Tribune that the deceased, 57, had underwent an ovarian evacuation exercise about two months ago. Since then, she had been undergoing special post evacuation exercise under the supervision of her consultants until Wednedsay. Confirming the development, the husband of the deceased, Alhaji Adeojo, in a short media message to the Nigerian Tribune said; “Yes she died around 6.30 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday). It was gathered that Alhaji Adeojo was in Abuja on a business trip when the news was broken to him. She was survived by three children — Akeem, Jubril and Yussuf.

Ex-Education minister, Aja Nwachukwu, for burial tomorrow

A former Minister of Education, Dr Igwe AjaNwachukwu, who died on November 25, 2015, would be buried on Saturday (tomorrow), his first son, Nnamno, said in a statement in Abuja, on Thursday. The statement said that Aja-Nwachukwu died in an Israeli hospital where he went for medical treatment. It said the former minister would be buried at his country home, ObodoOma, Okposi Okwu in Ohaozara Local Government Area, Ebonyi State. Aged 63, Aja Nwachuku, until his death, was a devout Christian, an Ambassador of the Assemblies of God Church and a trustee of the Evangel University. An erstwhile university lecturer, he served Ebonyi State and Nigeria in different capacities, including being the Education Minister under the Late President Umaru Yar’Adua and was Pro-chancellor, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. According to the statement, Aja-Nwachukwu was survived by a wife, children, brothers, sisters, as well as numerous relations.

Friday, 15 April, 2016

foreig naffairs 081169

with seyi foreignn54632 ewseditor@gmail.com

Zimbabwe protest: Thousands call for end to Mugabe’s rule

HOUSANDS of opposition supporters marched through the streets of Zimbabwe’s capital Harare on Thursday calling for an end to the rule of longtime President Robert Mugabe. In the first anti-government protest in nearly a decade, supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) carried anti-Mugabe placards and sang party songs before party leader Morgan Tsvangirai gave a speech against the presidency. “Mugabe has no solution to the crisis,” Tsvangirai told supporters gathered in Africa Unity Square wearing T-shirts in the party’s red colours. “We are here to tell

Protesters carrying placards. PHOTO: EPA Mugabe and his regime that you have failed.” Anti-government protests in Zimbabwe have often been brutally bro-

ken up by police during the rule of Mugabe, who has been in power since independence in 1980. Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa,

Putin airs views on US, Syria, economy, potholes RUSSIAN President Vladimir has accused the United States of having “imperial ambitions.” VOA reported. Speaking Thursday during his annual television call-in show, Putin was asked which U.S. presidential hopeful was “worse for Russia” — Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump. The Russian president responded that it was not a question of “particular people,” but whether the United States proceeds “from the false premise of its exclusivity,” — which, he said, will mean it will always claim “special status and special rights.” “It is necessary to look at the root of the problem and act not from a position of force and dictate, not from the perspective of imperial ambitions, but to act respectfully with all partners, and. of course, with Russia,” Putin said. Commenting on the Syrian conflict, he said the Syrian people must engage in talks to agree on a new constitution for their country, and that the solution to Syria’s problems is not to be found in military action. Putin also said the so-called Panama Papers report on offshore accounts allegedly held by international public figures, including world leaders and their friends and relatives, were a “provocation.” Some of the accounts detailed in the report allegedly belonged to close Putin associates. The Russian leader blamed U.S. officials for leaking the Panama Papers information to the media. At the same time, he characterized that information as “reliable.”

Putin blamed rising food prices in Russia on Western sanctions for its intervention in Ukraine. But he said a solution to the country’s faltering economy lies in changing the nation’s economic struc-

ture. Kremlin officials say the television show provides a way for Putin to assess the country’s mood, listen to direct appeals and explain policies.

Russian President Vladmir Putin. PHOTO: AP

reporting from Harare, said police had initially threatened to ban Thursday’s protest but were eventually ordered by the High Court to allow it to go ahead. “It’s been several years since the opposition has marched in the streets of Harare like this; people are surprised and the numbers are huge,” she said. “They are in their thousands, marching to the parliament saying they want President Robert Mugabe - who is 92 years old - to step down. They say he is too old and that he is mismanaging the country. They also say they want corruption dealt with, they want jobs.” Zimbabwe’s economic crisis has worsened in recent months, taking a toll on employment rates and government expenditure. Mugabe remains active but his increasingly fragile health has sparked intense speculation over his successor, and the fate of the country when his rule comes to an end.

Earthquake hits southern Japan A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 knocked over houses in southern Japan on Thursday and police said people may be trapped underneath. According to Al Jazeera, Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital said it has admitted or treated 45 people, including five with serious injuries. “The shaking was so violent I couldn’t stand still,” said Hironobu Kosaki, a Kumamoto prefectural police official. He said they had received reports of collapsed houses and people possibly trapped inside. The Japan Meteorological

Agency said the quake hit at 9:36 pm (12:36 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometres. No tsunami warning was issued. The quake measured the highest of 7 on Japan’s intensity scale in Mashiki town, 900km southwest of Tokyo,

the meteorological agency said. “We intend to do the utmost to grasp the situation,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters. “I’m now planning to hear what we have gathered on the situation.”

Some of the affected people of the quake. PHOTO: REUTERS

otherNEWS Despite irregularities, Chad poll credible – AU OPPOSITION politicians in Chad have claimed fraud during Sunday’s presidential election, but African Union (AU) observers say the poll, while flawed, was fair. VOA revealed that former Malian president and head of the AU observer mission to Chad, Diouncounda Traore, said issues included the late opening of polling stations in hard-to-access areas and poorly trained polling officers. He said he doesn’t know what will happen after the proclamation of the results,

but the AU is urging all candidates and their followers to accept the verdict. He said those who are not satisfied with the results should contest them in the courts. Kamalloh Salifou Tourabi, leader of the Pan African Institute for Election Assistance observer mission, said that despite irregularities, voter participation was estimated at 85 percent. The opposition said there was fraud, including ballot stuffing. Chadian president Idris Deby is widely expected to win a fifth term in office.

Former Malian president and head of the AU observer mission to Chad, Dioncounda Traore. PHOTO: GOOGLE

Israel promotes Arab officer, highest rank for Muslim in nation ISRAEL promoted an Arab police officer to deputy commissioner, the highest rank obtained by a Muslim in the nation. Jamal Hakrush will be in charge of improving the policing services in Arab neighbourhoods and towns in Israel, CNN reported. He will be responsible for establishing police stations in new Arab towns while strengthening the existing stations. Israeli Arabs make up roughly a quarter of the country’s population. Internal security minister Gilad Erdan presented the officer with his rank, calling it a historic occasion.

“If we are honest with ourselves and I refer to all the governments in Israel through the generations ... we cannot look at the Arab society in Israel with the violence and crime in its midst, with a clear conscience,” Erdan said. “Until this day, we have not provided the Arab sector with equal law enforcement capabilities.” Hakrush, 59, is from the Galilee village of Kafr Kanna and joined the police force in 1978. He was previously in charge of police stations in three Israeli cities and deputy commander of the coastal region.

PKF expands Africa presence PKF International Limited has strengthened its global coverage with the admission of KLSA Associates as a member firm in Tanzania. KLSA Associates’ core services are audit and assurance, accounting, tax and business advisory. The firm has significant industry expertise in agriculture, the financial sector, retail, energy, tourism and telecommunication services, engineering, aid donor and government services.

Strong growth in Tanzania’s natural resources and tourism sector (gold, oil, gas and hotels) has led to PKF responding to client demands for sector expertise by expanding its global presence in Tanzania. PKF Nigeria Senior Partner, Mr Tajudeen Akande welcomed the new member firm, saying it would further encourage uniformity of standard audit and advisory services for multinationals expanding tentacles across Africa.

communitynews Why Ubulu-Uku enthroned Obi Akaeze Ofulue 38

alphonsus agborh-asaba

HE dust raised by the enthronement of the late monarch of Ubulu-Uku in Delta State, Obi Edward Akaeze Ofulue III, who was recently abducted and killed by unknown gun-

Friday, 15 Apri, 2016

men, while sidelining his three elderly brothers appears to have settled by the community following certain disclosures by the community. The development was sequel to what the people called distortion of facts in

several quarters, giving the impression that the monarch was not the rightful person to ascend the throne. At a press conference to put the record straight were the Obi – in- council, royal family members (Umuobi), descendants of

former Obis (Umuozim) and Ubulu-Uku Development Council (UDC), who stated categorically that there were no kingmakers in the kingdom, saying that “ a king is known to all at birth” in accordance with the tradition. Addressing the confer-

ence, the National President of UDC, Comrade (Sir) Jones Ofunne, said when Obi Akaeze Ofulue III was born in the United Kingdom, the news through telegram was heralded with canon shots in the palace ground by his grandfather, HRM Obi Ofulue I, who subsequently killed cows and feasted the community. According to him, an emissary, Prince Sunny Ofulue, the present Ozuma-Onya of Ubulu-Uku, was dispatched to London to perform an important traditional rite on the new-born king. “The reason Akaeze, the first and oldest son of the

queen was king, instead of the three sons of different mothers before him, lie in the tenets of our tradition as enunciated and amplified by the decisions, pronouncements, and actions taken by HRM Obi Ofulue I. “Obi Ofulue I personally celebrated with pomp and pageantry, the traditional marriage of the queen he wanted to bear the heir to the throne of his fathers”. The community took on the Onishe of the community, Chief Emmanuel Ejiofor for his remarks in the media, disowning the newly installed the 17-year-old son of the immediate past monarch.

Lawmaker empowers constituents with multimillion naira tools by segun adebayo

Honourable Kehinde Odeneye, presenting a motorcycle to Mrs Joyce Labisi, while others look on. PHOTO: SEGUN ADEBAYO

Amuwo-Odofin LG directed to pay N2.8bn to contractor chukwumaokparaocha-lagos THE Lagos State House of Assembly has given marching orders to Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area Council in the state to pay

the sum of N2,899,917.51 to a contractor, Rem-Bam Nigeria Limited, being the outstanding payment of a contract awarded to the company.

LG boss provides rechargeable fans for health centres by gbenga olumide THE Chairman of Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mr Adeniji Adeagbo, has been commended for promptly attending to the needs of the people. Community leaders from the local government area gave the commendation after the presentation of rechargeable fans to health centres and generating sets to some communities. Commending the chairman, the Agoro of Iwoye, Chief Adigun Mudasiru and Mr Kehinde Oyetoro from Igbojaye, noted that the chairman is meeting them at the point of their needs. According to them, “we are grateful to Mr Adeniji Adeagbo for his prompt response to our needs. He is bringing succour to us at a time we are not

expecting anything due to the hard time the nation is going through. Our people are happy and we are solidly behind him.” Speaking before the presentation, the council boss declared: “We have seen the pains of our people. As a responsible and responsive government, we have to intervene. We must, as a matter of urgency, begin to address the problems one after the other.” While disclosing that the local government has a lean purse, the council boss added, “our health care facilities must be the best. Patients must be made comfortable while receiving treatment. Thus, we are providing rechargeable fans for our health centres. “We are also providing generating sets so that we can adequately power our boreholes in order to have access to potable water.”

The assembly gave the order as part of recommendations of a four-man ad hoc committee led by Moshood Oshun, the lawmaker representing Lagos Mainland Constituency II, which was constituted to investigate a petition against the council. Mr. Steve Adewunmi, the General Manager of RemBam Nigeria Limited, had submitted that the council refused to pay the sum of N45,631,730.35 being the outstanding contract sum for the construction/rehabilitation of six roads by his company. According to him, the council awarded the contract to his company on a “Private Financed Initiative Agreement” at the sum of N133,707,641.70 with a variation of contract to the tune of N19,023,909.33. He said since the completion of the project, the council had paid N107,099,820.68 leaving a balance of N45,631,730.35 and that all efforts to get the money had proved abortive. But Oshun noted that there was no documentary evidence to prove that the N19,023,909.33 proposed by the company as variation on the contract was approved by the immediate past executive committee of the council. He added that the statu-

tory deductions of five per cent Value Added Tax, five per cent withholding tax and one per cent development levy, when deducted from the outstanding liability of N26,607,832.81 makes the level of indebtedness of the council to stand at N11,899,917.51. The committee noted that sequel to its intervention, the local government council had on 6 January, 2016 paid N9 million leaving an outstanding of N2,899,917.51.

THE member representing Ijebu Central Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Kehinde Odeneye, last Friday, empowered about 840 persons comprising youths and artisans in his constituency. Odeneye, who said the gesture was to reduce poverty and unemployment among youths in the constituency, maintained that he would never stop seeking for ways to make life better for the people who gave him the mandate to represent them at the National Assembly for the second time. The lawmaker presented empowerment tools comprising motorcycles, tricycles, hair dryers, generators, barbing kits, cooking stoves, grinding and tailoring machines worth over N25 million to 502 youths from across the constituency. 338 artisans drawn from 21 groups were also empowered with tools un-

der the Skills Acquisition Programme. Artisans that benefited from the empowerment programme included vulcanisers, shoemakers, motor mechanics, hair dressers, caterers, barbers and tailors. According to the lawmaker, “We believe that our skilled and unemployed youths should be assisted with some aids to become empowered in order to feed their families. There are some artisans who are very good in their job but they are financially handicapped and cannot purchase the tools needed to carry out their trades. We captured 21 artisan groups and we picked 20 persons in each, to assist them. We believe this will go a long way in reducing youth unrest in our area,” he said. While noting that unemployment had been a major challenge to the socio-economic emancipation of the people in his constituency, he added that the exercise would continue until the expiration of his tenure.

‘Protect investments in your communities’ adelowo oladipo-minna

NIGER State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, at the weekend, charged communities hosting various industrial concerns in the state to protect them. He also assured investors of an enabling environment and protection of their investments, stressing that the state had been adjudged as one of the states with the least crime rate. Governor Bello stated this shortly after inspecting a privately owned N36 billion Sunti Golden Sugar Mill in Sunti Village, Mokwa Local Government Area of the

state. He was accompanied by the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele. According to the governor, the charge became imperative as investors, both local and foreign, hadstarted to heed his administration’s call to invest in the economy of the state, hence the construction of the sugar mill. “Investors and industrialists are heeding our clarion call and are investing their hard earned money in the state by establishing multibillion naira projects that will boost the economy of the state, provide job opportunities and open up our

state. “As investors come, host communities must be prepared to cooperate with them and protect their factories. Agro-allied factories will not only provide jobs for our youths, they will also empower and enhance the fortunes of our farmers as the factories are ready to buy up the farm produce,” the governor said. The governor, who was impressed by the level of investment as well as the sugar cane plantation cultivated by the firm, pledged that his administration would make business-friendly policies to encourage genuine investors.

Friday, 15 April, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Oshaniwa celebrates Europa ticket with Hearts NIGERIA defender, Juwon Oshaniwa has said he is thrilled to be part of the Hearts team which clinched a spot in next season’s UEFA Europa League.

•Oshaniwa

Hearts, who made a return to the Scottish Premier League just this season, are third on the league table with 60 points from 33 games after a goalless draw at

Inverness on Tuesday in a rescheduled game. They are now a staggering 16 points clear of closest rivals Motherwell. Scottish champions will feature in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, while the runnersup and third-placed t e a m qualify for the E u r o p a League. “I feel great and happy about the achievement. It has been God all the way,” Oshaniwa told AfricanFootball.com The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner has

and others. “It has come to the notice of the Board of the NFF that some persons led by Amaju Pinnick are still parading themselves as the Board of the NFF in flagrant contempt to the aforesaid orders of the court. They called and held a purported emergency congress of the NFF on the 13th April 2016. They even issued a communiqué. “We hereby advise the general public to disregard the so-called outcome of that illegal and contemptu-

ous emergency congress. The general public will recall that on the 12th April 2016 the Board of the NFF dissolved all the State FAs including that of the FCT. “In line with the tenets of the Rule of Law, the Board of the NFF is already taking legal steps to file criminal charges of impersonation against Amaju Pinnick and his cohorts that convened and participated in the purported Emergency Congress in the name of the NFF,” the release added.

Dalung has been served court order—Giwa faction T Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja

HE Chris Giwa faction of the Nigeria Football Association (NFF) on Thursday, declared that the Minister of Youths and

Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, has now been served with the April 8, 2016 order of the Federal High Court, Jos. Dalung had, while declaring open an extra-ordinary general assembly of the

YSFON U-14 boys, U-17 girls soccer tournaments begin in Abuja THE 15th edition of the annual Chief of Naval Staff U-14 boys and the 7th edition of the Naval Officers Wives Association U-17 girls’ football tournaments being organised by the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) would kick off on Sunday and end on April 23. In a statement issued by YSFON and signed by its National General Secretary, Patrick Okpavuerhe, he hinted that the championship which will be held in Abuja is strictly for players under the ages of 14 years for boys and 17 years for girls as at April 30, 2016 with body weight of 51kg and maximum height of 1.58m for boys, 60kg and

1.78m for girls. He further advised interested teams to adhere to the standard of YSFON by coming to the championship with 20 players, three officials and one of which must be a YSFON official. The statement further explained that accommodation shall be provided at school hostels for all participating teams, while all players shall present three passport photographs for licence plus screening of players which will take place on Sunday, April 17. He stated that only states that have paid their affiliation fees will be eligible to participate in the tournaments.

Amaju Pinnick-led NFF, on Wednesday in Abuja, stated that he had not been served with the April 8 court order. “As a lawyer and Minister of Sports, till today, I have not received any court order. The court orders served on me were all dated 2014,” Dalung had told the extra-ordinary general assembly. The Giwa faction in a press release made available to Tribunesport in Abuja on Thursday stated that Dalung has been served with the April 8 court order. “We however understood the predicament of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Solomon Dalung, who attended the purported emergency congress because he was not served with the court order of 8th April 2016. May we put it on record that now the minister has been served,” the faction stated. In view of this, the Giwa faction stated that it was taking legal steps to file criminal charges of impersonation against Pinnick

•Dalung

made 20 appearances in the league for Hearts in his debut season in Scotland.

Kanu charges Papillo FC to win Federation Cup THE proprietor of Papillo FC, Nwankwo Kanu has charged the side to win the 2016 Federation Cup otherwise known as the Challenge Cup title. The newly-promoted Nigeria National League One side piped Heartland 1-0 in the Imo State FA Cup final at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri. The former Nigerian captain who organised a victory party for the champions on Tuesday night in Owerri, commended his wards for dethroning the title holders and Nigeria Premier League side, Heartland. “I’m excited and grateful for the achievement and honour you brought to me and the club with your victory at the state FA Cup final against Heartland. “I will encourage you not to relent on your effort, but to brace up for the task ahead at the national final. “I want you to be counted not to make up the numbers but actually challenge for the coveted Federation Cup title. “Let me say outright that I will be expecting the Cup right here in the camp at the end of football hostilities. “I will continue to support you to achieve greater glory for yourselves and the club,” the former Arsenal star told supersport. com. Papillo FC Cup hero, Osita Onwuchekwa assured Kanu that the players will not disappoint him at the national final. “God has already given us the Federation Cup title we are merely going there to possess our possession. “The Almighty who started the good work in us will not stop until He finishes the promises. “We will not disappoint you but work very hard to meet your lofty expectations,” he said. It will be recalled, that both sides also represented Imo State in the 2015 edition, but were knocked out in the round of 16 stage.

SIDELINES

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Blame me for Barca’s woes — Enrique

FC Barcelona is “in a hole” and “finding it difficult to score goals” admitted boss Luis Enrique following its shock Champions League quarter-final defeat on Wednesday night. The holders were beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Spanish rivals

Atletico Madrid, who won the second leg 2-0. “The team are sad. We aren’t at our best at the moment, nor our most effective,” Enriquesaid. “I’m 99.9 per cent to blame, not 100. That’s why I am the

coach, the most responsible. We all have to improve.” Antoine Griezmann scored both goals for Atletico at the Vicente Calderon, while Lionel Messi failed to net for the fifth club game in a row. “It is clear that we are not in

As we hope the fuel crisis fades away in the coming weeks, we advise those who may wish to stockpile fuel in their homes and offices to tread with caution. Nothing is sadder than gleefully purchasing your own death warrant. With a smile.

our best form, especially if you consider how we were playing before, but we need to lift ourselves,” added Enrique. It is only the third time in 11 years that Barcelona have not reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Nigeria’s Musa Mohammed (12) wrestled by a Brazilian U-23 player during their friendly last month in Brazil. Nigeria won 1 - 0.

Rio Olympics:

Dream Team draws Sweden, Japan • As Ronaldinho tips Brazil for title

By Oluwabunmi Ajayi

frican champions, Nigeria’s Dream Team VI has been drawn in group B of the Rio Olympics that also has continental champions Sweden, Japan and Colombia. Algeria is pitched alongside Portugal, Honduras, Argentina in group D, while the third Africa’s representatives, South Africa is in group A alongside hosts, Brazil Iraq and Denmark. Group C is made up of Fiji, Korea Republic, Mexico and Germany The draw took place at the Maracana on Thursday morning with former World Cup-winner and FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho, stating that Brazil is well placed to win that elusive gold medal. “Everyone will find it difficult, as always,” he said. “But I am very confident and hoping Brazil will take the gold.” The Dream Team VI handled by Samson Siasia, it will be re-

called, last December defeated Algeria 2-1 in the final to clinch the U-23 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Senegal in addition to the Rio 2016 ticket having got to the final. Sweden are the European tournament winners, Japan won the Asian version of the qualifiers, while Colombia beat USA in an intercontinental playoff to qualify for Rio. Sweden won last year’s European U-21 Championship in the Czech Republic after they defeated Por-

tugal on penalties having played a goalless draw in the final. Rio will be Japan’s 10th appearance at the Olympics, the best record in Asia along Korea Republic, who Japan incidentally beat 3-2 in the continental final of the qualifiers. The men’s football event of the Rio Olympics will hold from August 4 to 20. Nigeria won a historic Olympic gold in 1996 at the expense of Argentina and was beaten also by an Argentine side led by Lionel

Messi at the Beijing 2008 final. Meanwhile, the prayer of the Nigeria assistant coach, Fatai Amoo for his wards to avoid Brazil as group opponent was answered. Amoo who led the Dream Team to beat Brazil 1-0 in a Rio Olympics warm-up last month, had said before the draw that “If I were to choose, Brazil will be the country to avoid,” adding “They are the home team and the crowd and everything possible will be behind them.”

Drogba

Drogba’s Charity foundation under probe A charity run by Didier Drogba is being investigated over “serious regulatory concerns” by the Charity Commission. The Daily Mail claimed that just £14,115 out of £1.7m donated to the Didier Drogba Foundation had gone to help causes in Africa. Former Chelsea striker Drogba, 38, is threatening legal action and called The Mail’s story “false and defamatory”. In a statement, the Ivorian added: “There is no fraud, no corruption, no mismanagement and no lies.” Drogba, who plays for Canadian Major League Soccer club Montreal Impact, accused The Mail journalists of “jeopardising the lives of many thousands of African children”. The Didier Drogba Foundation was launched in the UK in 2009 when the former Ivory Coast captain was playing for Chelsea. In the article, The Mail claimed that £439,321 was spent putting on lavish fundraising parties attended by celebrities, and more than £1m languished in bank accounts. But the foundation told The Mail it had a separate organisation with the same name set up in the Ivory Coast which had funded several charitable projects in Africa since 2007. In his statement, Drogba listed the accomplishments of his foundation, including building a mobile clinic, investing in orphanages, and funding the purchase of school bags, books and a dialysis machine.

FIFA boss, Infantino, wants 2 more slots for Africa at W-Cup New FIFA president, Gianni Infantino has suggested that Africa would get two more berths at the World Cup in his controversial proposal to expand the tournament to 40 teams. The 46-year-old, who took the number one position at football’s world governing body back in February and succeeded Sepp Blatter, has suggested that the

global soccer fiesta should be expended from 32 teams to 40. His idea has been met with scepticism, as critics claim it would affect the standard of the competition which is arguably already too bloated, but Infantino disagrees. “It will be great for the World Cup in terms of popularity because you will have more nations

involved in the World Cup,” he told Fox Sports. “There is enough quality … we see it in Europe. Look at the last World Cup – England and Italy were kicked out by Costa Rica. This is football.” The FIFA president added: “There would be of course more spots for everyone. For example, two more Africans, one-and-a-

half in CONCACAF, half in South America, half in Oceania, oneand-a-half in Asia, we arrive at 39. “And the last spot should be played on the pitch somehow; let’s see how by the one who will deserve it in the best possible way.” In the current World Cup format of 32 teams, the African continent is designated five berths.

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. 15/4/2016.