16th September 2015 by Nigerian Tribune

nigeria’s most informative newspaper no 16,328 Wednesday, 16 SEPTEMBER, 2015 www.tribuneonlineng.com

Don't misappropriate bailout funds, ICPC warns govs —P13

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TSA: Interbank market frozen as banks, MDAs beat deadline —P10

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FULL REPORT ON PAGE 12

Domestic debts hit N8.39trn, external debts now $8.3bn —FG —P2

8-hour inferno ravages Marina shopping plaza —P8

Troops clear 4 more Boko Haram camps •Rescue scores of women, children —P4

Buhari can't stop us —P15 —MASSOB Secondary school students protest demand for tax clearance in Osun —P16 NNPC to review production agreement with oil companies Fire fighters and sympathisers putting out fire at the Ultimate Plaza building on Broad Street, Lagos, on Tuesday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

—P2

news Domestic debts hit N8.396 trillion —FG External debts $8.31bn 2

Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja

HE Federal Government, on Tuesday, put the nation's domestic debt as of June at N8.396 trillion, while external debts stood at $7.74 billion for states. The figures were presented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs Anastasia Nwaobia, while briefing members of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee probing the non-implementation of the 2015 capital budget. The implication of rising domestic and external debts is that servicing the debts would deplete resources available to carry out government's statutory responsibilities. This, in effect, would result in increasing poverty, as large debt stocks lower growth by partly reducing investment with a resultant negative effect on poverty. Experts also agreed that accumulating domestic debts could cripple the private sector players.

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Mrs Nwaobia, who was represented by the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Alhaji Aliyu Yahaya Gusau, also told the committee that external debt as of June 30, 2015 stood at $7.74 billion and $3.42 billion for states and the Federal Capital Territory

(FCT), bringing it to the total amount of $8.31 billion. Speaking on debt management, she said public debt to GDP ratio as of 2013 was 10.82 per cent, adding that the total amount of N882.122 billion appropriated for both domestic and external borrowing had been fully

raised to finance the 2015 budget accordingly". According to her, "debt service to revenue ratio, however, needs to be kept under close watch. Given that it was 19.63 per cent by the end of June 2015; against the cognate arbitrary threshold of 28 per cent."

She added that the global economic growth forecast was projected at 3.3 per cent, as precipitated by falling oil price and currency depreciation in major world economies such as balancing in China, Europe and fluctuating stock values in major world markets.

From left, Director-General, Debt Management Office, Abraham Nwankwo; Acting Director, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris and the Director-General, Budget Office, Yaya Gusau, during a public hearing by the House of Representatives, at National Assembly, Abuja, on Tuesday. PHOTO: BAYOOR EWUOSO.

NNPC to review production agreement with oil companies THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said it will revisit the fiscal terms of the existing Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) between the corporation and some international oil and gas companies, with a view to seeking favourable benefits to the country, based on prevailing realities in the industry. Speaking on Tuesday at the France-Nigeria Business Forum, organised as part of the state visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to France, Ibe Kachikwu, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, disclosed that in the weeks and months ahead, the corporation would be renegotiating the contracts to extract as much benefit as possible for Nigeria. Kachikwu noted that though the PSC agreements are firm contracts which should be adhered to, the NNPC is allowed to make use of the window, which creates space for renegotiation. “We intend to begin the process of the re-negotiation of the PSCs, to see what value chain and improvements we can have from

these contracts,” he said. “Some of the contracts were negotiated over 20 years ago and they have since been overtaken by new realities in the industry,” he added. Kachikwu admitted that in carrying out a review of the existing PSCs, care must be taken not to create an anti-investment atmosphere, as that may be counterproductive to the industry.

On the status of FranceNigeria relations in the oil and gas industry, he said although the French had a firm presence in the Nigerian petroleum industry, there was still room for French companies to rev up their presence in the refining areas where Nigeria currently needed support. “There is no country in Africa that has the kind of resource base Nigeria has, so France really needs to

get more bullish if they want to compete in Nigeria with the very aggressive India, China, Germany … It’s a huge competition and I am looking forward to better days ahead,” he said. On the ongoing reforms of the Nigeria oil and gas industry, he stated that the global oil and gas community was showing unmatched excitement about the re-invigoration of the industry.

“There is a lot of interest in our quest to seek joint ventures across the value chain; there are huge potentials across board and all we need to do is to galvanise the efforts to get the best out of it,” he said. He maintained that President Buhari’s vision for the industry is “absolutely on track,” saying: “It is being honed every day: there is focus, transparency and diversified income streams.”

10 killed as Fulani herdsmen attack Taraba village Sylvanus Viashima -Jalingo NO fewer than 10 people have been confirmed dead, with three others still missing, following a clash between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers at Serking Gudu village, in Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State, on Tuesday. The crisis started when a body of a Fulani man was found in the bush between Serking Gudu and Dooshima villages of Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State. The Fulani man was declared missing by his relations and the matter was reported to the Nigerian Army, who were posted in

the area to curb the communal crisis within the area. The state Police Public Relations Officer could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report, as he was reportedly out of the state on official assignment. Chairman, Tiv Culture and Social Organisation in Ibi Local Government Area, Mr Mkavga Orhembaga, however, disclosed that when the case of missing Fulani man was reported to the Army, all the people within the area went out to search for his whereabouts. Mkavga also said soldiers, in company with some Fulani men, found

the body of the deceased in the bush. “When they found the body of the Fulani man, his brothers and other Fulani men got angry with the Tiv people within the area. “In the afternoon, when people were in their farms, they (the Fulani herdsmen) went after the Tiv people and killed eight of them in their separate farms. “Another person suspected to be a teacher who came from Plateau to teach in one of the primary schools within the village was also killed by the Fulani,” Mkavga stated. He further stated that three Tiv persons were still missing as of the time of fil-

ing this report. He said it became difficult to know if the missing persons were killed or were still alive, since the Fulani men had taken over the area with weapons. “I can’t tell if these people are dead or alive, because there is no way to go out and look for them. “As it is, I have directed that all my people should remain at home, nobody should go to farm till the situation is settled,” he said. Nigerian Tribune gathered that there was heavy security presence in the affected area, to forestall further deterioration of the situation.

She said Nigerian economy, in the same vein, was experiencing a very slow start to the fiscal year, with growth forecast dropping to less than three per cent of projected growth. Mrs Nwaobia added that "the attempted delisting of Nigeria from the JP Morgan index watch has further heightened the fear of currency devaluation, import restriction and inflation." Speaking on the 2015 budget performance, the permanent secretary, who disclosed that N3.45 trillion was budgeted for 2015 out of which capital appropriation was N557.9 billion, confirmed that of the amount, N194.492 billion had been released as of September 15, representing 34.89 per cent of total release. However, the committee, led by Honourable Aliyu Ahmad Patigi, expressed dissatisfaction over the ministry's presentation, saying that itwas too sketchy and lacked details. According to him, "in my own view, the presentation is very sketchy and does not give a holistic view for full understanding of what the 2015 budget implementation is all about. "We had expected you to provide vivid insights into the regime of import duty waiver using explanatory notes to describe how what was done and why. "You have not done that and we can't say for sure that the position you presented before us is the right one, because each day, companies keep declaring profits running into hundreds of billions and yet they are given incentives and waiver when sectors such as the textile industry has no such consideration for revival." The committee, therefore, directed the ministry to give further details and breakdowns, in order to avoid going back and forth with the explanation as to what budget financing is. According to him, "on domestic debt of N8.396 trillion, we are interested in knowing who the Federal Government is indebted to, what necessitated this huge amount of borrowing as well as how this money so borrowed was spent. "We also want to know from when to when did this debt accumulated and how this amount will be liquidated in both short and long term."

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news

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Troops clear 4 more Boko Haram camps Rescue more women, children

HE Nigerian Army said on Tuesday, that the advancing troops had cleared four camps along Banki, Kumashe and Bama axis in Borno State, while several others were cleared in Bolungu 1 and 2, Bula Doye and Cheehi Dare areas. This was just as scores of women and children held captive by Boko Haram insurgents have been rescued by troops . The acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Abuja. He said: “Nigerian troops advancing to clear all known Boko Haram terrorists camps towards Banki, Kumshe axis and Bama axis have cleared 4 more camps earlier on Tuesday. “They were able to clear the terrorists’ camps at Bolungu 1 and 2, Bula Doye and Cheehi Dare and secured a very important bridge linking the towns of Miyanti and Banki in Borno State. “The gallant troops also rescued dozen of kidnapped women and children held captive by Boko Haram terrorists.’’ It said more enclaves of the insurgents would be cleared, as troops involved in the operations advanced towards more areas previously occupied by the insurgents. The statement said the offensive operations by

ground troops and aerial bombardments by the Nigerian Air Force would

continue in the region until the insurgency ended. The News Agency of

FG plans zero-based budgeting for 2016 NESG commends adoption of TSA VICE President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has disclosed plans by the Federal Government to adopt a zero-based budgeting format for its 2016 budget planning. He said the zero-based budgeting would be carefully co-ordinated to ensure it was policy-driven, especially regarding the proposed social intervention policy of the Buhari-

led administration. He stated that zero-based budgeting is planning according to needs and costs, different from the existing Envelope Budgeting or traditionally incremental budgeting, whereby the planning is based on existing income and expenditure as the deciding factor in national financial planning levels, which often incurs waste and assumes

16 die, 172 infected SIXTEEN people have been confirmed dead, while about 172 are said to be in critical conditions with all agencies, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF battling to save lives, following the outbreak of Cholera in three internally displaced persons camps within Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Nigerian Tribune gathered that the camp affected mostly was housing IDPs from Mafa along Dikwa/ Ngala road. Health officials at the camp said so far, 16 people had died as a result of the outbreak, while 172 were in serious condition, with all health workers in Maiduguri working with inter-

insurgents, with the aim of ending their reign of terror in the North-East.

From right, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Acting President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr Oluwaseyi Abe and the chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr Madubuike Emeka, during a visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Cholera outbreak in Borno IDP camps James Bwala - Maiduguri

Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the military had intensified offensive against the

national organisations, battling to bring the situation under control. “The situation at the camps is terrible, it was sudden and already a large number has been affected. At the last count, we had 16 dead and about 172 affected. We are in an emergency health situation in those camps,” One of the health officials working with UNICEF told Nigerian Tribune. It was also gathered that many of the IDPs in the camps affected were prevented from leaving the camp by security agents in a move to prevent outbreak of the disease in the metropolis until the situation was brought under control. Already, those affected had been separated from those

that were not in the camps, as all the IDPs were being given preventive medicine to control the situation. “The camps were unkept, unclean and with all sort of wastes all over, which informed the outbreak and encouraged its wild spread. But we are doing everything possible to ensure that we control the spread. We encourage the IDPs to ensure cleanliness and safeguard themselves from being infected,” another medical official said. When Nigerian Tribune visited the Ministry of Health to interview the Permanent Secretary, he was not on seat and the Director, Disease Control in the ministry, was also said to be out of the office as of the time of filing this report.

previous costs as constant. Osinbajo spoke on Tuesday, in his office, during a courtesy visit by the National Economic Summit Group (NESG), according to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande. Earlier, the vice president also met with a delegation from the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) and the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON). He also told the NESG that the introduction of the new TSA policy and its implementation by Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) was a creative way of blocking leakages in the system, in order to make way for a workable budget. He said with the zerobased budgeting, the Federal Government would also focus on a bottom-up approach to development. He disclosed further that the Federal Government was planning to set up an infrastructure fund, in order to facilitate easy funding for critical areas of the economy. The infrastructure fund, according to the vice president, would be planned outside of the budget, to handle major segments of the economy such as road

and power. “Government is working out a document that would guide the administration within the four years of its lifespan,” he disclosed. During the meeting with the NESG, the delegation praised the Federal Government for the introduction of the new TSA policy and offered to be part of the advocacy as a sound financial policy. During his meeting with the delegation of CIS and the ASHON, the Vice President disclosed that the Federal Government would explore the avenue of utilising the capital market as another means of providing alternative funding options for the execution of capital projects. He also observed that allowing retail investors to come into the nation’s capital market ultimately would deepen the market with potentials for multiplier effects on other sectors of the economy. Osinbajo stated that some of the problems of the capital market was due to unethical practices by some market operators. He said those who caused the crash in the market in the past were not punished and called on the two bodies to engage in self-regulation as a means of protecting investors and the market.

Army hands over 22,927 animals to Zamfara peace committee Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna ZAMFARA State Peace and Reconciliation Committee has said that the Nigerian Army in the state has handed over 22,927 animals to the committee in the last one year. This was disclosed by the secretary of the committee, Alhaji Shehu Maishanu, in an interview in Gusau. He said the army operations in the state, in the last one year, had been very successful, pointing out that “we have received 22,927 animals from the army.” He gave the breakdown as follows: 13,661 cows,7,208 sheep, 1097 goats, 120 camels, 39 donkey and 2 horses. The animals were recovered from cattle rustlers across the 14 local government areas of the state and over 200 suspects had been handed over to the police and officials of the state security. Maishanu also lauded the role of other security agencies in tackling the menace of cattle rusting, saying that “for a long time, we have not heard of any killing in any part of the state.”

CCC celebrates founder, Oshoffa, 30 years on By Rotimi Ige A youth arm under the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), the Greater Tomorrow Group, celebrated the 30th anniversary of its founder, Samuel Oshoffa. According to the members of the church, 30 years after the transition of Samuel Bilehou Joseph Oshoffa, the founder of the Celestial Church of Christ, fond memories he left behind were still reverberating. The festival, held in his honour called for Reminisces of an Ecclesiastical Icon, on Saturday, September 12, at The Summit Ikeja, Lagos, witnessed a potpourri of music, lectures, comedy and encomiums. The event was anchored by comedian, Koffi, who thrilled the audience with his timely and amusing jokes. Music renditions came from the Celestial Church of Christ Mass choir.

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news

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

FG probes illegal promotion in NSCDC Orders payment of workers’ salary arrears Clement Idoko - Abuja

HE Federal Government has commenced review of promotion of officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) done at the twilight of the former Commandant General of the Corps, Dr Ade Abolurin-led administration. Nigerian Tribune gathered that some officers of the corps had called on the Federal Government to investigate the irregularities in the special promotion in the agency. It was alleged that an officer, who was promoted to an assistant superintendent 1, got upgraded to deputy

superintendent within a few days. It was also alleged that only officers recruited in 2010 or earlier, were eligible to write the recent promotion examination, which allowed for a rank upgrade. The aggrieved staff further alleged that those who were recruited after 2010 did not participate in the conversion examination, but were being promoted. The ongoing review of the promotion exercise, it was learnt, led to demotion of over 500 offers who were wrongly promoted. Public Relations Officers of NSCDC, Mr Emanuel Okeh, when contacted, however, said the allegations were unfounded,

92-yr-old ardent Buhari supporter, Maitalle, not abandoned —APC Bola Badmus - Lagos ALL Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, denied reports in a section of the media that Haj Maitalle Tara Koko, the 92-year-old woman, who is an ardent supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, has been abandoned, saying the woman was well catered for. The APC said this in a statement issued in Lagos, by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. The party said the wife of the Kebbi State governor, Dr Zainab S-Bagugu, a medical doctor, had

personally taken care of Maitalle’s welfare since the woman suffered a mild stroke while returning from Abuja, where she witnessed the swearing-in of President Buhari at the instance of Kebbi State governor and the Senator from Kebbi Central, Adamu Aliero. According to the party, Maitalle was admitted and treated at the Sir Yahaya General Hospital, Birnin Kebbi and all her expenses paid by the governor and his wife, who ensured that her close associate and friend, Mrs Zainab Koko, cooked and delivered meals thrice daily to her.

Police arrest 4 suspected ritualists with human flesh in Oyo By Oluwatoyin Malik and Olakunle Kudoro THE Oyo State police command has apprehended four suspected ritualists, who were caught with human flesh at Owode area of Oyo town, Oyo State, on Monday, September 14. Disclosing this during a press briefing, held at the police headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, on Tuesday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade, said the suspects were arrested when police detectives raided a black spot in the town, after receiving information that criminals usually gathered there. He gave the names of the suspects as Adewole Elijah, Adeyanju Adeniyi, Oluwatosin Odetunde and Odetunde

Jacob. He said when they were arrested, pieces of decomposing flesh suspected to belong to a human being were found in their possession. The Police Commissioner also spoke on the arrest of four suspected fraudsters who are members of the same family by the command’s monitoring unit which worked on a petition written by a petitioner (names withheld), that the syndicate had hypnotised her and duped her of N1.225 million. The suspects were Afolabi Adebowale (65), Kunle Adebowale (46), Ajibade Adebowale (36) and Bode Adebowale (32), while fake pound sterling and US dollars worth millions were

saying an independent, Civil Defence, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDIPB) conducted the promotion examination in April this year and only the officers passed exercise were promoted. The board is charged with the responsibility of formulating the general policy guidelines for the affected services and exercises the powers on appointment promotion and discipline over all staff of the services. Okeh explained that the review of the promotion was being done by the board which did the promotion in the first place and fresh directive by the Federal Government to probe the exercise as alleged. According to him, the promotion examination conducted by the board in 2015, was the first of such in 10 years of establishment

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I, formerly Miss Suleiman Toyin Medinat now MRS. BADMUS MEDINAT TOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

of the corps. He noted that some officers, who did not scale through the promotion examination petitioned the board and that the board, in its wisdom, decided to look into their complaints and see how another test could be arranged for them. He added that the promotion was based purely on merit and that what the board was trying to do now was to normalise the situation by looking the quota system, performance index and existing vacancies from one cadre to the other. He said these criteria were not considered in the last promotion exercise, because of emphasis on merit. He insisted that there was no irregularity in the last promotion exercise and that the ongoing review of the exercise by board should be misconstrued as

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I, formerly Miss Folashade Oluwatoyin Ajayi now MRS. FOLASHADE OLUWATOYIN OKOEGUALE. All former documents remain valid. Sterling Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Okanlawon Monsurat Abiodun now MRS. OYINLOLA MONSURAT ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Azeez Tawakalitu Ajoke now MRS. IDOWU TAWAKALITU AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Olalere Saheed Eji now MR. AKINKUNMI SAHEED. All former documents remain valid. Ecobank Plc and general public take note.

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This is to confirm that Lawal Omobolanle Kafayat is the same person as LAWAL BOLANLE ABISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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probe by the Federal Government. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has directed all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to compile the names their staff being owed arrears of salaries and allowances within seven days. Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Danladi Kifasi, who gave the directive, said this would facilitate payment of the arrears without further delay. This was contained in a circular with reference number HCSF/428/S.1/128, dated September 14, issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Fed-

eration. The circular, which was made available to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, stressed on the urgent need to compile the names of those being owed so as to pay them immediately. He urged the MDAs to ensure that each unpaid entitlements should be accurate, verifiable and contained the name, designation, status (serving or retired) and amount due to each officer, adding that correct information should reach the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation on or before Monday, September 21.

Nigerian Tribune

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Lagosmetro Tears flow as court rejects wife’s plea to release husband who blinded her Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

Inferno at the Ultimate Plaza building at 122/124, Broad Street, Lagos. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

8-hour inferno ravages Marina shopping plaza Olalekan Olabulo

here was palpable tension around Marina area of Lagos State on Tuesday as a fourstorey building plaza went up in flames. Highly flammable rubber product such as rubber shoes, bags and other products were stored in the burnt plaza. Fire fighters from the Lagos State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service and firemen from the United Bank of Africa Plc battled for more than six hours to put out the fire. The burnt building is situated at 122 Broad Street, Lagos Island and it consisted of shops, some of which were converted to warehouses by the owners. Fire fighters had serious difficulties in accessing the source of the fire as the whole building was covered with smoke and had to rely on an aerial ladder. The director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, while speaking on the fire incident blamed

the loss of millions of naira worth of property in the fire on “carelessness.” Lagos Metro gathered that the fire started around 10 o’ clock in the morning. The ravaging fire at the fourstorey building was around 6:45 Tuesday evening put out by the combined team of fire fighters. Fadipe while confirming the end of the fire to Lagos Metro stated that nobody was injured in the fire. Fadipe stated that heavy and thick smoke from the

burning building led to the inability of fire fighters to access the source of the fire. He condemned the way space partitioning is being done, especially in ware houses. He also warned traders to be fire safety conscious in the storage and arrangement of the goods Fadipe enjoined market leaders in the state to educate their members on the need to provide fire extinguishers in their markets. Though the cause of the

fire was yet to be ascertained at the time of filing this report, some traders around the plaza blamed the inferno on “power issue.” The incident created serious panic around the ever-busy Broad Street as workers and traders around the burning building scampered out of their offices. The incident also created serious traffic gridlock around Marina as different fire trucks from Ilupeju, Sari Iganmu, Alausa and Onikan were parked along the road.

A magistrate at the Ejigbo Magistrate’s Court, Mrs J.O.E. Adeyemi refused to release a man, Paul Uduozor, who allegedly battered his wife and blinded her. The victim, known as Faith, was seeking to withdraw the matter due to pressure on her by her relatives who said Igbo culture and tradition forbid a woman from locking up her husband in prison. Both Paul and Faith including all the females in court were in tears over the emotional outburst by Faith after Adeyemi refused to strike out the matter. Adeyemi was forced to rise and enter her chamber and asked the prison warders to take him back to prison custody. The suspect, Paul Uduozor, allegedly battered his wife, Faith, and in the process damaged her eyes, one was completely damaged while the other was also affected. The incident happened at 6, Oloro Street, off Akani Street, Abaranje, Ikotun, where they reside. The matter was reported to the police at Ikotun division and Paul was arrested and charged to court for the alleged offence. He was charged with causing permanent defect to Faith’s eye and assault under the Criminal Code. Though Paul pleaded not guilty and was granted bail

Electrocution: UNILAG set up probe panel Naza Okoli The University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Tuesday said it had raised a panel to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the death last week of Miss Oluchi Anekwe who was hit by a falling electric cable. The Deputy Registrar (Information), Mr Olagoke Oke, made this known when he spoke with Lagos Metro on Tuesday. The university manage-

...Says panel did ‘shoddy’ job on rape case ment had been criticised by the students and a large section of the public for what had been described as negligence on its part, particularly following allegations that the school’s medical centre had failed to attend to Anekwe when she was brought in after the incident. Mr Olagoke said: “The panel will consider all the sides, including the issue of

the medical centre. Its task is to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the incident.” The committee which will be headed by Professor Mustapha Danesi of UNILAG’s School of Medicine has seven days to complete its assignment. Meanwhile, an earlier the committee set up by the school to investigate

the alleged rape of a female prospective student by a part-time lecturer, Dr Akin Baruwa, had been asked to “go back and do a thorough job.” This was also revealed by the spokesperson of the University, Mr Olagoke Oke. The committee, it was gathered, had submitted its report to the management last week.

in the sum of N250,000, he has been remanded in prison custody since then. When the matter came up on Tuesday, the prosecutor, Sergeant Babaji Ishaku, informed the court that there was a new development on the matter. He told the court that Faith, who is the complainant in the matter, had written to withdraw the matter from court.

Ojuelegba trailer tragedy:

Truck owner arraigned

Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin Mr. Kilani Ojo Adesanya, the owner of the truck whose container fell and killed three people at Ojuelegba overhead bridge on September 2, 2015, has been arraigned before an Ebute Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court. Kilani was arraigned on Tuesday, on a two-count criminal charge of giving the truck to a driver without driving particulars. The truck owner was alleged to have permitted the driver of the truck, Wasiu Adeleke, to drive his truck with registration number EPE 46 XK without a valid driver’s license issued to him by the appropriate authorities. He was also alleged to have given the truck to the driver to drive on the highway without MOT test certificate, road worthiness certificate, and vehicle license issued in respect of the truck by the appropriate authorities. According to the prosecutor, Barrister Godwin O. Osuyi, the offences allegedly committed by Adesanya are contrary to and punishable under sections 36(1 &2) of Road Traffic Laws of Lagos State, 2012. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. His lawyer, Mr. W. O. Toriola urged the court to grant him bail on self recognition.

tribunebusiness

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Interbank market frozen as banks comply with TSA

Sovereign Trust FIRS, Customs others beat deadline on Tsa He said the central bank amount the central bank and many others had fully the Central Bank of Nigeria expresses F G S N C could reduce the size of the requires banks to set aside, complied with the direcAnother agency that had cash reserve requirement is currently 31 percent for tive. fully complied is the Nige- confidence igerian banks FIRS Director of Corpo- rian Customs Service, the made no bids (CRR) commercial lenders both public and private secrate Communication, Mr agency Public Relations Of- to rebound on the interbank are expected to keep with tor deposits. Meanwhile, facts emerged Emmanuel Ebota, speaking ficer, Deputy Comptroller money market it and inject some liquidity rom

bola ubir and

hima

wokoji

on Tuesday as they awaited instructions on how to comply with a directive to transfer government revenues into a single account with the central bank, dealers said. President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered that all revenues be paid into the “Treasury Single Account” (TSA) from Tuesday, as part of a drive to fight corruption and aid transparency. Reuters quoted one dealer as having said that “No trading is currently going on because no bank was willing to put out quotes until there is a clearer direction with the implementation of the Treasury Single Account. “The market is right now frozen, as no trading going on,” another trader said. Analysts have predicted that implementation of the government policy will drain naira liquidity from the banking system, potentially putting some banks in a dire situation. The overnight lending rate closed at 5 percent on Monday, but dealers said the rate was initially quoted at 200 percent on Tuesday. No deals were done using that rate. About 1.2 trillion naira, or 10 percent of banking sector deposits, is expected to be transferred to the government account with the central bank in the course of implementing the TSA policy, Bismarck Rewane, chief executive at Financial Derivative company said. “We expect an initial paralysis in the market and a disruption of operations of some of the banks, but they would overcome that,” Rewane said.

into the banking system to minimise the impact of the new account policy. The CRR, which is the

on Tuesday that the Federal Inland Revenue Service ( FIRS) , the Nigerian Customs Service ( NCS)

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has debunked rumours that the Bank is currently conducting recruitment exercises for applicants. Describing any ongoing recruitment as fraudulent, the Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Ibrahim Mu’azu, in a signed statement said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the CBN is currently not carrying out general recruitment. The attention of the Bank has been

Wale Adeniyi disclosed that the NCS was one of tne first agency to fully comply with the TSA policy directive.

From left, Executive Director, Finance and Control, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Oladele Alabi; Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Jibril Aku; Head, Personal Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Kingsley Umadia; Chief Risk Officer, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Felix Aremo and President, National Association of Oduduwa Students (NAOS), Comrade Adekunle Michael Adeniyi, presenting ‘Agent of Societal Transformation in Nigeria’ award to the Management of Ecobank Nigeria in Lagos, on Monday.

PwC harps on new auditors’ report standard Leading professional services firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria, has called on Nigerian companies and auditors to test-run the new International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) auditors’ report model at least once before the required reporting period. The call was made at a recent breakfast meeting held by PwC for stakeholders, during which key changes to the auditors’ report model and the implications of the new model for boards, managements, regulators and auditors were presented. Welcoming the participants which included senior finance executives,

audit committee members and regulators drawn from various sectors of the economy, Uyi Akpata, Country Senior Partner PwC Nigeria and Regional Senior Partner for West Africa, said PwC had always found it necessary to engage stakeholders on matters concerning financial reporting and noted that the session would be a first in the series as the country moves towards the December 2016

drawn to activities of some fraudulent persons using the social media to misinform the public about a purported general recruitment exercise in the Bank. “These dubious elements have also in the process collected money from some unsuspecting applicants under false pretext. The Bank does not receive money directly or through any representative for the purpose of job recruitment,” he said. As is their norm, Mu’azu emphasised that the Bank

will not embark on general recruitment exercise without due process, which will definitely be in accordance with the provisions of extant laws. “Whenever the Bank is ready to do this it will be duly publicised through its website, and other media platforms available to it, without a fee. We therefore warn members of the public, particularly anxious applicants, to be wary of fraudsters, as anyone dealing with them would be doing so at his or her own risk.”

implementation period. He comments: “The new IAASB standard is long overdue and a product of many years of discussions among stakeholders on how to make the auditor’s report better. The new model is exigent at this time when there is increased call even among the general citizenry for transparency, good governance and clarity in financial reports. “This new model gives

more insight into the auditing process and is sure to provide answers to many of the concerns raised over the years about audit reports. At PwC we are committed to being at the forefront on issues such as this and will continue to engage stakeholders in open forums as well as through individual private discussions as we explore this new model and prepare to implement it in our audit reports.”

Gbemi Solaja - Lagos Sovereign Trust Insurance has said despite dwindling fortune resulting from the harsh operating terrain, it is determined to regain its strength to control better market share and improve its profit level with the implementation of new business model and deployment of competitive strategies. The company disclosed that its gross premium for the year ended 31st December 2014 stood at N7.2 billion, representing 16 per cent decline over a sum of N8.6 billion recorded in 2013. Its profit before tax declined by 62 per cent from 2013 to N326 million in 2014, profit after tax decreased by 68 per cent to close the year at N294 million from N929 million recorded in the previous year. He attributed the significant decrease in profit before tax to N582.99 million prior year adjustments on claims reserve passed on the 2013 accounts, saying the adjustments reduced the value of claims charged against the profit for the year and consequently increased the profit before tax for 2013 from N274.85 million to N857.85 million, adding also that the adjustments were deducted from the retained earnings and did not affect total equity.

FG supports farmers with water pumps Farmers in Oyo State have been assured of the commitment of the Federal Government to boost irrigation activities and all year round farming in the

We are not recruiting —CBN By Doyin Adeoye

on the issue stated that the FIRS had no problem with TSA,stressing that from the onset, FIRS account is with

state. Managing Director of the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority, Mr Akin Soyemi, gave this assurance in Ibadan while handing over a total of 126 water pumps to the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture for tubewell operations by Fadama farmers in the state. Soyemi said the water pumps are expected to facilitate irrigation farming, promote employment and increase food production in the state, adding that the authority had earlier distributed about 140 pumps to the irrigation projects in Iseyin, Sepeteri, Ikere Gorge Dam, Ofiki, Igbojaiye and Igboora. Soyemi assured that the

Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority had also commenced the installation of Centre Pivot Irrigation Systems in its projects to aid all year round farming. He urged the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and the state Fadama Office to facilitate fair distribution of the equipment among Fadama farmers in the state. The Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Kehinde Gabriel, who received the pumps on behalf of the state government, lauded the authority for the gesture, noting that the occasion was timely now that there was unsteady rainy season and drought being experienced in the state.

He commended the authority for earlier providing 556 tube wells for 140 Fadama farmers in Ibarapa East and Central, Ido, Iseyin, Saki East and Oyo West Local Government areas of the State. He urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the pumps assuring that the Ministry would put in place effective monitoring team to ensure proper use of the facilities. Responding on behalf of theFadama farmers, Mr. Benjamin Adewunmi thanked the Authority for the items, and assured that the farmers would make good use of them. Mr Adewunmi, however, said the farmers would be happy if more Centre Pivot Irrigation systems would be provided for the state.

11 businessnews Stakeholders call for cancellation of PIB Tunde Dodondawa -Lagos

takeholders in the oil and gas sector have called for the scrapping of the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) after 10 years of being proposed but never passed by the National Assembly. The President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Chikwendu Edoziem, disclosed to journalists on Tuesday that the PIB was an amalgamation of several existing laws and “that if the over 700 pages bill cannot be agreed upon by the lawmakers due to political interests, then it should be unbundled.” Furthermore, Edoziem said part of the recommendations made by NAPE, after its recently concluded special workshop on repositioning the oil sector was for the PIB to be scrapped. According to him, “we recommended that PIB as it is should be unbundled and that the relevant sections of the extant Petroleum Act be amended to meet the current realities and to position Nigeria to be globally competitive as an oil and gas producing country. “Since the harmonised version was presented to the National Assembly in 2010, it was not possible for the over 700 pages to be passed into law. And considering the criticism the Host Community Fund generated in the course of the debate, I’m sure the new legislators we have in the National Assembly may never pass the bill. “So, how do we move forward? I don’t think a fresh debate is possible because we don’t have much time again. All we are saying is that unbundle the PIB, take those areas that affect exploration, fiscal terms, appropriate regulations

to the Petroleum Act and amend it so that we move forward.” He stated further that this had become impera-

tive because Nigeria is at risk of long-term disruption to oil and gas supplies, power generation, collapse of industries and signifi-

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

cant loss of revenue due to continued reduction in hydrocarbon (crude) exploration. Nigeria has lost several

From left, Divisional Manager, North, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr Rotimi Afolaogun; Chief Executive Officer, Tony Pharmacy, Kano, Mr Anthony Osimire and Field Sales Manager, North 2, Fidson Pharmaceutical Plc, Mr Lucky Oriabure, during the Fidson Retail Reward event in Kano, recently.

Glo backs Ojude Oba festival for 10th year Nigeria’s fully integrated telecoms company, Globacom yesterday reaffirmed its commitment to the sponsorship of cultural festivals in Nigeria saying, “if we don’t play a pivotal role in projecting Nigeria’s cultural heritage, no multinational may be willing to do it at the scale we have done it.” Globacom Business Director, Ogun State Ogunranti, speaking at the press conference to announce the commencement of the yearly Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu Ode on Monday, said its renewed partnership with the Ojude Oba Festival Planning Committee is geared towards celebrating the unique tradition and customs of the Ijebu people. This edition marks the tenth year of Globacom’s sponsorship of the festival. He noted that as a Nigerian company playing on the global pedestal, Globa-

com is committed to promoting the development of tourism in the country as well as preserve and project “our fabulously rich cultural heritage.” According to him, “Every year the Ojude Oba is held, we have observed with delight, the deep passion displayed by the people while showcasing their interpretation of their cultural identities through their dresses, songs and dance steps. Our joy knows no bounds when we see the joy and camaraderie radiating throughout the land”. In his welcome address, Ojude Oba Chairman, Planning Committee 2015, Otunba Wahab Osinusi eulogised Globacom for being one of the very few indigenous companies extending hands of fellowship to the development of the cultural heritage of the Nigerian people. He emphasised that the company’s partnership has

enhanced the festival as well as its tourism value saying with Globacom’s support, Ojude Oba has not merely transited from being a local festival celebrated only by Muslims, but has also

to take place at the Lagos Television Ground, Alausa, Lagos, from September 1719, 2015. The fair with theme, ‘Growing Business Opportunities with Nigerian rice,’ will provide a platform to the general public to experience firsthand the quality of Nigerian rice, and the business community on the huge opportunities in wholesale and retail distribution of the products. According to the orga-

nisers, the stimulation of market system changes will encourage growth and access; resulting in the creation of 10,000 new jobs and increased incomes for over 500,000 people, especially the poor and women in the rice value chain. The project will be implemented in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and Cross River states, though interventions will be extended to other states where impact can be maximized.

served as binding agent for all sons and daughters of Ijebuland irrespective of their religious inclinations while attracting tourists and culture enthusiasts from across the globe.

BoI CEO, experts to discuss banks, SMEs in Nigeria Chima Nwokoji -Lagos The Managing Director/CEO Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, will lead other banking and real sector experts to discuss banks and Small and Medium and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME) relationships in Nigeria at the 2015 Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) Annual Conference. Olaoluwa, who is the keynote speaker, will speak on the theme of the conference, which is ‘Banks and SMEs in Nigeria: Pros-

Fair to boost patronage of Nigerian rice holds in Lagos The stage is set for a three-day fair targeted at boosting Nigeria’s quest to attain self-sufficiency in rice production and processing. Organised by Growth and Employment in States – Wholesale and Retail Sector (GEMS4), with funding by DFID/UKaid and the World Bank, the Lagos Rice Fair is coming after the successful Kano Rice Fair. The Lagos fair is billed

billions of dollars worth investment to other competing countries in the Gulf of Guinea like Angola due to non-passage of PIB.

The Lagos fair will have in attendance over 13 major Nigerian rice brands. The initiative will give further impetus to Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to attain rice sufficiency through building local capacity in rice production. “Stimulating effective demand and consumption for Nigerian rice brands is crucial for food security and self-sufficiency,’ says Busuyi Okeowo, GEMS4 Senior Intervention Manager.

pects, Challenges and Success Stories.’ The conference, which is scheduled to hold from Saturday, 19th to Sunday, 20th September at the Peninsular Resort, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ajah Lagos, will also feature a technical session, which would be chaired by the Special Guest of Honour, Alhaji Ibrahim Muazu, Director, Corporate Communications at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) The technical session will feature presentations from real sector and banking experts including Mr. Eke Ubiji, Director General, Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) and Dr. Femi Egbesola, President, Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON). Others are Mr Gbenga Akinpelu, Group Head, Retail, First Bank Nigeria and CHidimma Lawason, Head of MSME & Agency Banking, Diamond Bank Plc; Bayo Ogunnusi, Group Head, SME Banking, Heritage Bank and Mr. Peter Bankole, Director, Enterprise Development Center, Pan Atlantic University.

Nigerian Tribune

12 business

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

daily summary (equities) for TUESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER, 2015

13 news

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Don’t misappropriate bailout funds, ICPC warns govs •Arrests lawyer for allegedly defrauding FG of N928m

HE Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has warned state governments not to mismanage the bailout funds released for their respective states by the Federal Government for immediate payment of workers’ salaries. The Chairman of ICPC, Barrister Ekpo Nta made this known at the Commission’s Headquarters while handing over different sums of monies totaling almost N1 billion, looted in the Federal Ministry of Environment and some schools in Ogun State to the appropriate owners. He vowed to ensure that the bailout funds are released for the purpose for which the Federal Government offered them. He said, “We understood that the bailout funds released to states by the Federal Government have not been going towards the proper channel. It is important to state here today that the bailout is from the Federal Government to the states to assist them in paying the salaries of workers. “We will from now on be following how the funds are disbursed in different states to ensure that they get to the appropriate beneficiaries. This is because it is government funds.” However, the ICPC during the occasion handed over the looted sum of N924 million to the Ministry of Environment represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Fatima Mede and the Director General of the Great Green Wall Project, Ahmed Goni. The money, which the ICPC recovered from different banks, was allegedly stolen from the account of the Ministry by some officials who are said to be facing prosecution at the moment. Nta also handed over a total sum of N58 million spread among The Federal Girls College, Sagamu, Federal Science and Technology College, Ijebu Mushin and the Federal Government College, Odogbolu, each of which took N28 million, N8 Million and N20 million respectively through their principals. The monies handed over to the schools was part of the total sum of N103 million fund voted for meal subsidies of students and capital projects in the aforementioned schools, where-

as the lump sum, according to ICPC, was diverted by a Federal Pay officer in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Nta vowed that since investigations were still ongoing on the diverted fund, it would recover the whole amount so far diverted and handed them back to the owners. He added, “ICPC will continue to recover looted public finds and other proceeds arising from criminal activities linked to corruption investigations and return same to government coffers or to the victims in line with our mandate.” Responding, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance thanked the ICPC for the recovered loot which he said was taken from the coffers of the Ministry barely a week after she resumed work. Mrs Mene said the money handed over to the Ministry by ICPC will go a long way on addressing some of the pressing issues, most especially the Great Green Wall programme by the Federal Government.

She said the recovered loot, which according to her was N75 million less than N1 billion was part of the funds voted by the government of Nigeria for addressing the problem of desert encroachment in 11 northern states as well as promoting agriculture in the state. Also, responding on behalf of the benefitting schools, the School Principal of Sagamu Federal Girls College, Mrs Owolabi thanked the ICPC for its good gesture in recovering and returning to the appropriate schools the loot. Meanwhile, ICPC have said it arrested a lawyer, Mr Adeola Adeyanju, for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government of N928 million. The commission made the disclosure on Tuesday, in Lagos, in its recent inhouse news bulletin. The bulletin said that the suspect allegedly forged the payment mandate of the Ministry of Environment. The commission, according to the bulletin, alleged

that the suspect moved the said amount from First City Monument Bank (FCMB), where the money had been domiciled to his Zenith Bank’s personal account. “On the same day the money hit his account, he again moved it to a Bureau de Change’s account where the money was converted and paid to him in dollars,’’ it said. The suspect’s counsel, Mr Onyechi Ikpeazu, according to the bulletin, had earlier sought for the enforcement of his client’s fundamental human rights from an Abuja High Court with an application for bail award of N100 million as damages. Ikpeazu, according to the anti-graft bulletin, claimed that the detention of his client was a violation of his human rights, stressing that the suspect was suffering from a strangulated hernia. The bulletin said the commission’s counsel, Mr Osuobeni Akpors, who opposed the bail application, noted that the suspect had

allegedly been a serial offender and that if granted bail, might abscond. Based on the facts before the trial judge, the suspect was denied bail,’’ the bulletin added. Mr Nta, has also revealed that the commission saved the Federal Government about N100 billion in 2014. Nta made the disclosure while presenting commission’s 2014 scorecard to the staffers of the commission recently in Abuja. The report, contained in the commission’s recent inhouse bulletin made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the money was saved from ghost workers in federal ministries and parastatal agencies. The bulletin said that Nta expressed the hope that ICPC’s collaboration with the Federal Internal Revenue Service would tackle tax evasion by some institutions to boost government revenue and that the commission secured more than 20 convictions for various corrupt offences.

Kogi guber: Councillors’ Forum urges Wada to be magnanimous in victory Christian Okeke - Abuja THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Councilors’ Forum on Tuesday urged Kogi State governor and winner of the party’s governorship ticket, Captain Idris Wada to be magnanimous in victory as he seeks re-election in office. The group also appealed to other aspirants who lost out in the primaries to deploy their political machineries in favour of the party, so as to ensure its victory in the November 21 governorship election. Chairman of the forum, Collins Onogu, while commending the national secretariat of the party over the smooth conduct of the primaries, noted that victory of the party in the forthcoming poll would go a long way to assist the party record further victories in future elections. “We should all ensure that at the end of the day, PDP wins,” he said. He went further to say, “Other aspirants, particularly Alhaji Jibrin Isa Echocho should work assiduously to ensure victory for the party in the forthcoming election. This is an indication that our party will bounce back to power.”

...Audu/Faleke ticket unbeatable

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Mr Edward Dickson (right), presenting a souvenir to the Assistant Corps Commander, Ann Odeleye of Oluyole Unit Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), during a visit to the Tribune House, Imalefalafia, Ibadan, on Tuesday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSHO-OKE

Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: FRSC reads riot act to motorists By Paul Omorogbe IN a bid to forestall the occurrences of road carnage this festive season, beginning with the Sallah break up until the Yuletide season and beyond, a riot act for road users, especially those on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, has been read out by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). Assistant Corps Commander, Oluyole Unit Command, Mrs Ann OladayoOdeleye, made this known when she led a delegation

from the FRSC to Tribune House, Imalefalafia, Ibadan, on Tuesday, and was received by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Mr Edward Dickson. “Consequent upon the incessant occurrences of road traffic crashes on the LagosIbadan expressway in recent times as a result of indiscipline and traffic rules and regulations infringement by reckless motorists, FRSC Oluyole Unit command has come up with a riot act to

curtail these avoidable carnages,” Odeleye stated. She said the Oluyole unit command whose jurisdiction covers the Ibadan end of the expressway, was all out against “bribery, lane indiscipline and wrongful overtaking especially along single carriage lanes and diversion points and overspeeding especially during the rainy season.” She added that there would be zero tolerance for late night driving, unlatched containers on trailers, overloading, road obstruction

and use of phones while driving among other road traffic offences. Responding, the MD/EIC, ANN Plc advised the FRSC to introduce stiffer penalties that would act as deterrent to potential traffic offenders. “For us in Tribune, safety is a critical element in development and we believe FRSC is doing something unusual in the area of accident prevention. There is need for FRSC to revisit how it executes deterrents. Offenders must be charged to court and disciplined,” Mr Dickson said.

A Pan-Kogi political advocacy organisation, KG 21 initiative has described the choice of Honourable James Abiodun Faleke as deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship election as a right step in the right direction. In a press statement released in Lokoja, the state capital, which was jointly signed by its Director General, Chief Ben Oguche and Secretary General Deinde Toyin Komolafe, the organisation lauded the wisdom behind his choice, which they believe will bring the much needed cosmopolitan perspective and generational balance required to place Kogi state among the most developed states in the Federation. They described the Audu/Faleke combination as an unbeatable tag team that all well meaning people of Kogi must support irrespective of tribe, religion and personal interest.

news

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

We’ll sustain our position as first investment destination in Africa —Buhari

Clement Idoko - Abuja

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Paris said that one of the key objectives of his administration’s ongoing economic reforms was to restore the confidence of investors in the Nigerian economy. A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said Buhari spoke while addressing leading French businessmen and investors at the headquarters of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF) as part of his three-day official visit to France. President Buhari also reaffirmed his government’s determination to curb corruption in Nigeria. “Our ongoing economic reforms are designed to restore business confidence and block leakages and wastage of public resources. We are also focused on the recovery of stolen wealth belonging to the country,” the president told

Only 293,072 voters got accreditation in Rivers guber election —INEC Sunday Ejike - Abuja THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has told the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja that only 293,072 persons were accredited for the last April 11, 2015 governorship election in the state. At the resumed hearing of the petition on Tuesday, the petitioners, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Dr Dakuku Peterside, called another witness, Mr Garba Micheal, who is a police officer from squadron commander, Mopol 56 in Rivers State to testify. Garba, in his testimony, narrated how over 70 people were arrested by his team at Korokoro in Tai Local Government Area. The arrested people were alleged to have in their possession election materials such as card reader, ballot boxes, ballot papers and result sheets among others. Under cross examination, the officer said he also arrested other security agents that were not taking action during the crisis for investigation.

participants in a Nigeria/ France Investment Forum. President Buhari said that his administration would do all within its powers to sustain Nigeria’s position as the number one investment destination in Africa. “With a blessed land, rich in agricultural and mineral resources, skilled and lowcost labour, large market, a robust and competitive private sector anchored on investment policies and

legislation to guarantee predictability and consistency with global business practices, we are poised for double digit growth. “There is much more to our country than oil and we are determined to consolidate on industrialising Nigeria and diversifying its economy. “The privatisation of key sectors of our economy, which was started under previous administrations,

will be pursued and expanded to include other sectors. This exercise will be conducted in an open, transparent and competitive manner. “We recognise the private sector as the engine of growth and a veritable partner in our economic agenda, and will therefore give the fullest possible support to foreign and domestic entrepreneurs. “Our administration is poised to redress the seri-

ous infrastructural gaps in Nigeria, raise production to create more jobs, build capital and stimulate further growth and prosperity of the country,” President Buhari told the entrepreneurs. Pierre Gattaz, the President of MEDEF, announced that the umbrella organisation of about 800,000 French manufacturing firms and businesses will undertake a trade mission to Nigeria next month.

From left, President, Heirs Holdings, Mr Tony Elumelu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Abubakar Lolo; Chairman, Dansa Holdings Limited, Alhaji Sani Dangote; President, French Business Confederation, MEDEF International, Mr Pierre Gattaz; President Muhammadu Buhari; Governor Abubakar Badru of Jigawa State; Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and the Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, during the Nigeria-France Presidential Business Forum, held at MEDEF Headquarters, Bosquet, Paris France, on Tuesday.

Confusion in Ifaki-Ekiti as 34-yr-old graduate dies mysteriously Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

THE death of a 34-year-old man, Mr Suraju Muyiwa Fadahunsi, who died in mysterious circumstances has created confusion and tension in Ifaki-Ekiti. The death of Fadahunsi, a

graduate of Mechanical Engineering, led to a mob action that nearly took the life of Mr Tope Adigun Omotayo, who was alleged by some members of the community to have used mystical powers to kill him. Fadahunsi’s mother, Ms

Bimbo Yusuf, told newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday that his son was “killed with a fetish means by Omotayo,” who she said had allegedly “confessed to using juju to terminate his life.” Yusuf claimed that her

Tribunal to rule on el-Rufai’s election THE Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kaduna, on Tuesday, reserved judgment in the case challenging the election of Malam Nasiru el-Rufai as governor of Kaduna State. The case instituted by Mr Polycarp Danladi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who came third in the April 11 election, sought the tribunal to nullify the election and order for a fresh one. Danladi had argued that the April 11 election was characterised by over voting and did not comply substantially with the Electoral Act. Counsel to the petitioner, Mr Olumuyuwa Olo-

wokure, after adopting his final address, urged the court to grant the petitioners’ reliefs. On their part, counsel to the first, second and third respondents, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, Mustapha Abubakar and Adetunji Oyeyipo, respectively, urged the court to dismiss the petition for lack of merit. The chairman of the three-man panel, Justice A. A. Adebara, after adopting the submissions of the counsel, reserved judgment sine die. He said that the tribunal would communicate the date set for the judgement through counsel to all the parties.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the hearing, Olowokure stressed that proper reflection of the result of the governorship election was not conveyed to the people of the state because of non-compliance with electoral guidelines. “We want the tribunal to look into that through the various evidences we have placed before them. “It is now left for the tribunal to decide whether we have established our case or not,” he said. Similarly, counsel to the first respondent, Mustapha said “To the best of our responsibility, we have been able to demonstrate to the court that the petition is lacking in material merit.”

family knew nothing about the cause of her son’s death until “Omotayo confessed to killing him after his burial,” and further claimed that “Omotayo had gone to collect sand from the deceased’s grave and cried that he needed it to ward off his ghost which he said was haunting him.” According to her, the son reportedly died a few minutes after answering a phone call on a site he was inspecting in Ibadan, Oyo State. He was to be buried almost immediately according to Islamic rites, but just before he was laid to rest, some aggrieved friends asked the Muslim clerics to wait and allow them perform some rituals that would make Muyiwa’s ghost haunt his killer. “He had come to take sand from his grave and he was crying that the ghost was slapping him,” she said. She lamented that “my poor boy had been searching for job for five years. His wife just gave birth to a child about 20 days ago. He wanted to start a frozen fish business in Ibadan, and was planning to relocate to Ibadan.”

Kalu laments abduction of Sun’s deputy MD’s wife Shola Adekola - Lagos PUBLISHER of the Sun and New Telegraph titles, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has condemned the abduction of the wife of the Sun’s Deputy Managing Director, Mrs Toyin Nwosu, describing the act as evil. The heavily armed gang, which stormed Nwosu’s Ago Palace Way, Okota home in the wee hours of Monday, robbed the family members of some valuables before abducting their victim and escaping to an unknown destination through the canal. In a statement issued by his media team and made available to the press on Tuesday, Kalu said “the armed robbery attack on the home of Mr Nwosu and subsequent abduction of his wife, Toyin, is unfortunate and disturbing. The journalist and his family members live a modest life and are law-abiding citizens of the country and as such don’t deserve this dreadful treatment.” The former governor urged the perpetrators to have a rethink and ensure the safe release of the innocent mother of four. While maintaining optimism in the efforts of the security agencies in the fight against kidnapping and terrorism in the country, he appealed to them to strengthen security especially on the waterways to prevent future occurrence.

OGSIEC assures of credible LG election OGUN State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has re-affirmed its readiness to conduct a credible and transparent election in all the 20 local government areas of the state as soon as the state government gives the go ahead. Chairman of OGSIEC, Alhaja Risikat Ogunfemi, dropped this hint during a prayer session organised by the commission to mark the end of the three year tenure of the immediate past local government chairmen. Alhaja Ogunfemi, in a statement by the head of media in the agency, Mr Kazeem Momodu, charged the staffers of the commission to brace up for the challenges ahead, advising them to remain honest, diligent and dedicated in order to achieve successful local government election, urging them to be prayerful and thorough in everything they do.

15 news

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Buhari can’t stop us —MASSOB

Judge detains 7 journalists S O -O Consequently, “our lead- emancipation.” Mocha, said that “Buhari police, soldiers and other seMeanwhile, the Anambra in Ogun cannot stop us from the ac- curity operatives barricaded er, Chief Ralph UwazuruiHE Movement for tualisation of a sovereign the road leading to Dim ke who wanted to preside State Commissioner of Pouzy

ruya

nitsha

the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Brafra (MASSOB), disclosed yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, that the clampdown on its members by President Muhammadu Buhari would not stop the existence of the movement. Addressing newsmen, the MASSOB Deputy Director of Information, Mazi Chris

state of Biafra even if he sends the entire security operatives in the country to South-East and SouthSouth geo-political zones.” He described the action of the Federal Government as an “act of cowardice because we are a non violent organisation fighting to actualise a Biafra Republic.” The MASSOB Deputy image-maker revealed that

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Library in Owerri, Imo State with Armoured Personel Carrier (APC), Tuesday. “Those who wanted to pass to and fro the area were thoroughly searched while our members that were coming for a meeting were prevented from entering the library venue,” he revealed.

over the executive meeting had to cancel it citing security reason and to avoid casualty on the side of MASSOB.” The Nnewi South Regional administrator, Tony Nwodo, revealed, “Uwazuruike urged United States to rescue the Igbo nation from the Federal Government’s marginalisation and we look up to America for our

Wife of the Ondo State governor, Olukemi Mimiko (middle), presenting a cheque of N14 million to the leader of Erekesan Markets Traders in Akure, Elizbeth Adeoye (left). With them are the wife of the deputy governor, Alhaja Fatimat Oluboyo (second right); Chairman, Ondo State Micro-Credit Agency, Banke Sutton (right) and a board member of Ondo State Micro-Credit Agency, Lady Lydia Olafunmiloye, at the disbursement of loans to small and medium enterprises, in Akure, on Tuesday.

Ondo disburses N2bn to small scale enterprises Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure ONDO State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, on Tuesday, disclosed that his government has, since inception, disbursed over N2billion as soft loans to business owners, entrepreneurs, market women and artisans in the state under its various Micro Credit Loan Schemes. Mimiko stated this during the recent inauguration ceremony of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) and presentation of cheques to beneficiaries, held at the State Cultural Centre, in Akure. The governor disclosed that the loans were designed to develop the economic and noted that empowering the small scale businesses would go a long way to expand the economy of the state. He assured stakeholders that he would continue to use the instrumentality of government to develop the people. He explained that the state government disbursed the sum of N534.43 million in January during the first phase of the scheme and said “today, under the

small and medium and enterprises scheme, we are disbursing N402.4 million. The next stage will be micro enterprises under which we are going to disburse another N220.49 million. “All of these are geared towards re-energising your businesses, especially at the micro and small enterprise level. I want to thank all of

you for your patience because it has taken some time to put all these together unlike the first phase, the micro enterprise phase which did not require collateral in terms of Certificate of Occupancy.” Speaking during the distribution of the cheques, the Chairperson of the Ondo State Mico-Credit Agency,

Mrs Banke Sutton, said that the loans were meant to help the productive poor and entrepreneurs to access capital and finance their businesses. Sutton said that the loans would help in reducing poverty and boosts businesses of potential beneficiaries and urged them to pay up on time to allow others to access the loan.

Court stops probe of Amnesty fund, bars EFCC, ICPC, DSS Sunday Ejike - Abuja

AN Abuja High Court on Tuesday stopped the probe of the alleged diversion of Amnesty Fund, put in place by the Federal Government to rehabilitate the militant youths in the oil producing South-South states of the federation. The court barred the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Department of the State Security Services (DSSS), Immigration, Civil Defence and Police from arresting or detaining the principal actor in the management of the fund Dr Kingsley Kuku. Justice Valentine Ashi or-

dered the anti graft agencies and the security agencies not to take any action on the alleged fraud pending the determination of a suit instituted against them. The former Director General of the Presidential Committee on Amnesty Fund, Dr Kingsley Kuku, had approached the court with an ex parte motion praying for his protection from arrest and detention from operatives of the anti-graft agencies. In the motion argued by his counsel, Mr Ademola Abimbola, the applicant complained that he had already been invited for interrogation by EFCC through a letter dispatched to him and that unless the court intervenes, he may be arrested

and detained by the anti graft body. Justice Ashi had, upon the motion ordered that the defendants in the suit be put on notice and to appear before him to show cause on why an order of injunction should not be granted against them. At the resumed hearing of the motion, EFCC counsel Mr Victor Ukagwu, asked the court not to grant any order to stop probe of any alleged improper financial transactions. He informed the court that EFCC had received 14 different petitions complaining of malpractices in the disbursement of the amnesty fund prompting a letter to its chief executive to shed light on the allegations.

lice, CP Hassan .H. Karma, has warned to undress any officer napped collecting bribe of any form, just as he said MASSOB had been long ban in the state. The commissioner said this yesterday at Ogidi Police Station in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, during a familiarisation tour round the stations under his command. “Corruption is not allowed, you will be sacked if caught. Your uniform is your license and if you abuse it by extorting money and carrying out other illegal activities you will be dismissed,” he said. He urged the officers and men of all divisions to steer clear of civil cases and land matters in their own interest and maintained that bail is free.

SAPETRO recalls 10 disengaged workers after pickets by labour union Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

THE management of South Atlantic Petroleum Limited (SAPETRO) has recalled the disengaged staff members after being picketed by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Monday. In a letter by the oil company, signed by Acting Managing Director, Mr Dan Oguche, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune, on Tuesday, the company assured the union leaders that the 10 disengaged staff members would be recalled. According to the letter, the oil firm has scheduled a meeting between it and leadership of PENGASSAN for Friday, 18 September, to discuss the modalities on how the disengaged staff members would be reinstated. The Lagos chapter of PENGASSAN picketed SAPETRO on Monday following the sack of 10 staff members without due process. Chairman, Lagos State zone of PENGASSAN, Comrade Abel Agarin, who led the picketing, said the sack was unjust and it shows that the company’s management was callous, insensitive and has no regards for labour, as they were in an ongoing meeting on getting the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that will be beneficial to all parties.

Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

SEVEN members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) were on Tuesday detained on the order of a High Court Judge, in Ota Judicial Division, Justice N I Agbelu, for three hours. Those detained were Samuel Awoyinfa (Punch), Daud Olatunji (Vanguard), Ernest Nwokolo (The Nation), Abiodun Taiwo (Daily Times), Sulaiman Fasasi (Nigerian Pilot),Wale Adelaja (TVC) and Johnson Akinpelu (Alaroye). The judge, who sits in the High Court 1 of the judicial division, told the “detainees” that a court is not a public place. The newsmen were at the court to cover the proceedings into a case of an alleged murder of 19-year-old Bidemi Akinde by one Alhaji Mutairu Owoeye over a land dispute. The journalists, who arrived at the court premises 11:44a.m. were detained on the order of the judge over their inability to produce a letter of permission from the Chief Judge and Senior Judiciary Office before entering the court. It was learnt that the Assistant Court Registrar (name unknown), a woman, who accosted the journalists said she had the authority of the judge to arrest and detain them. They were detained for three hours from 11:45a.m. to 2:44a.m. inside the administrative wing of the court. The detainees, while narrating their ordeal, said they were accosted by a police officer attached to the court when he knew they were newsmen. Justice Agbelu who later invited the journalists after presiding on a case, told them that the court room/ premises could no longer qualify as a public place. “I put you under arrest. You are under arrest. You will discover that this compound is fenced round, is that not so? It is not on the major road that you can just come in. If you are representing the public interest, you must know we have a head in this court. “I am a judge, I have an unlimited jurisdiction in the state. I can even say somebody should be arrested without question, but, in exercising my power, I have to inquire into many things. “You cannot say because you are representing public interest and you just burst into any compound or burst into my house. You have a right as a journalist, but, where your own stops my own starts,” the judge said.

16 news

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Osun: Students protest govt’s demand for parents’ tax clearance Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

HERE was pandemonium in Osogbo, capital city of Osun State, on Tuesday, when students in middle school trooped to the streets to demonstrate against the demand by the government for the three years tax clearance of their parents. The development grossly affected the Junior Secondary School Certificate (JSSC) examination that kicked-off across Osun State on Tuesday, as the students’ school officials barred students who could not present evidence of three years tax payment of their parents and guardians. Nigerian Tribune gathered that public schools students in Egbedore and Osogbo local government areas who were to write their JSSC examination on Tuesday were requested to produce three years evidence of tax payment starting from 2013 till 2015. Nigerian Tribune reliably gathered that from the tax regime, an adult artisan was expected to pay a sum of N1, 500 per year as tax, while the arrears of three years of tax beginning from 2013 amounted to N4,500. Also, evidences of tax payment were demanded from students resuming in new schools in the state. When the protest began around 12.45 p.m, students numbering over 280 from Osogbo High School and Laro High School, both located within Osogbo metropolis, stormed the streets to kick against the policy of the state government. The demonstrators later proceeded to the state secretariat in Abeere, thus causing traffic gridlock along the busy Gbongan/ Osogbo Expressway. While speaking to journalists, some of the students implored state government to shelve demand for evidence of three years tax payment by their parents before they were allowed to sit for their papers, contending that many of them could not obtain the tax clearance as of the time of its demand. Two of the protesting students, identified as Tajudeen Olalekan and Bushrah Gbolahan, said the students had made efforts to get three years tax

clearance of their parents, lamenting that many parents of the affected students have not cleared the

tax arrears since 2013 that was being requested for by the government. Addressing the students,

the Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Education, Mr Lawrence Oyeniran argued that the

tax scheme was introduced to ensure that parents with children in public schools pay their taxes.

...Protesting workers beat journalists to coma TWO journalists from the Murhi International Television (MITV) and ONTV, Abass Okandeji and Adeniyi Folorunsho, respectively, on Tuesday, escaped death by the whiskers, when protesting workers in Osun State almost lynched them in the course of their demonstration against the failure of Governor Rauf Aregbesola to pay their salary arrears. Nigerian Tribune

gathered that the incident occurred at the state secretariat, Abeere, when the journalists were trying to cover the demonstration of the civil servants. Sources informed Nigerian Tribune that the workers mistook the two journalists for reporters from the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), who they allegedly accused of bias reports against the workforce. The protesting workers

were said to have pounced on both Okandeji and Folorunsho and they were beaten to a coma. It took the intervention of their colleagues, Ismail Afolabi and Abdullah Afolabi of Heartbeat Magazine, together with some officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) before they could be rescued from enraged workers. The mobbed journalists were later rushed to the clinic in the government

secretariat, where they were admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). As of the time of filing this report, the journalists were still unconscious. Okandeji was said to have sustained injury on his chest as a result of several blows from his attackers, while Folorunsho had a deep cut on his left hand. The working tools of the journalists, including their cameras, were destroyed by the workers.

Wada promises true reconciliation, wins PDP ticket Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja KOGI State governor, Idris Wada, has said he would do everything possible to achieve true reconciliation among contestants for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the next governorship election in the state. Wada said this following his victory at the PDP governorship primaries, held at the Lokoja Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, the state capital, on Monday night. The governor had won the primaries, after scoring 709 votes to defeat Jubrin

Isah, known as Echocho, who scored 139 votes, while the third aspirant, Moses Amoto had no vote. Speaking after he was declared the winner of the primaries, Wada said he would immediately commence the process of reconciling with other aspirants, with the aim of working together in the general election. He, however, appealed to the aspirants and other stakeholders of the party to join him, in order to ensure that the party was victorious in the election. He said: “I want to appeal to the people, particularly those we contested

A lphonsus Agborh - Asaba DELTA State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, confirmed the last set of five nominees, whose names were forwarded to the House by the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, for appointments as commissioners and members of the state executive council. This brings the number of commissioners appointed so far by the present administration to 25. Those screened and had their appointments confirmed were Mr Peter Mrakpor, Mr Bright Edejewhro, Oghenekaro Ilolo, Nicholas Azinge and Ernest Ogwezzi. The House also screened and confirmed the nominees for appointment into the board of Direct Labour Agency (DLA).

OGSWC partners banks to improve customers’ service, revenue generation

Secondary school students during their protest in Osogbo, on Tuesday.

Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

Okowa appoints 25 commissioners

together, to join hands with me to make our party win the next election, so that we can continue with the transformation programme we have started in the state. “Now that the contest is over, I will do all I can for us to reconcile and work together as a team, because this is the only way through which we can record success in the election.” The governor, however, pledged to carry along every stakeholder of the party, soliciting their support and assistance towards the election. However, the main rival of the governor in the con-

test, Isah, midway to the announcement of the result of the primaries, conceded defeat and embraced Wada. The results, which were announced local government by local government, saw Echocho standing up to embrace the governor when results from 15 out of the 21 local government areas in the state had been announced, with Wada leading with over 500 votes. Speaking before leaving the stadium midway into the announcement of the results, Echocho said the exercise was a clear battle, adding that it was well fought and won.

CONCERNED about poor customers service by banks handling “pay-direct” water bill payment system across the state and its resolve to improve revenue generation, the Ogun State Water Corporation (OGSWC) has concluded plans to bring more banks on board to participate in its collection. Addressing the representatives of the banks at the corporation’s headquarters in Abeokuta, the state capital, General Manager of the corporation, Mrs Monsurat Agboola, revealed that the decision to bring more banks on board was to solve the challenges confronting customers in making payments into the existing banks handling the paydirect system and also to make it more competitive, in order to increase the revenue generation of the corporation. According to a statement by the corporation’s media officer, Mr Isaac Oseni, Agboola highlighted that incessant network failures had defeated the purpose of the introduction of the “paydirect” system meant to reduce human interference with the corporation’s payment system and provide customers’ service satisfaction.

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

tribune cartoons

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

GIANT IN THE TROPIC OF AFRICA

CHURCH BOY

FUNOLOGY

Samuel Peter

• Born on September 6, 1980 in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria. He began his boxing career in 1992, at the age of 11. • He is a Nigerian professional boxer and former WBC heavyweight champion.

SEGELUULU

• Samuel Peter is the first African world heavyweight boxing champion. • Outside the ring, Peter is a devout Christian who neither drinks nor smokes. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is now aged 35.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

There are 10 differences in the cartoons below. the differences should be marked in b

18 LETTERS TO THE

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letterstribune@yahoo. com or by sms to 08055001747 or 08054005323. It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Recruitment: Police should fight corruption with graduates

HE 26th President of the United States of America, Theodore Roosevelt, once said that ‘a man who has never gone to school may steal a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole rail road.’ Recently, a former Commissioner of Police called for the recruitment of graduates into the Nigerian Police as against persons with lesser qualifications, as according to him, in the publication of the Nigerian Tribune, September 7 edition: “With this calibre of people, training will be easy, and it would also help in reducing corruption.” It leaves one wondering if having a degree from a higher institution of learning truly count in curbing the menace of corruption, specifically in the police. Not outrightly overruling the submission of the exCP, one would ask; must graduates be recruited as Corporals before corruption is wiped out of the police? If for the sake of providing employment to willing degree holders

Kudos to CBN for stabilising naira I want to commend the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for stabilising the naira, and not letting the colonial policies of foreign institutions stampede it into taking irrational decisions. Foreign institutions like JP Morgan wanted the CBN to devalue the naira again, but CBN was able to resist this, and that was why the bank removed the country from its bond index. Nigeria is an independent country, and we will never develop if we continue to rely on the dictates of foreign governments and financial institutions. The interest of the country is paramount and not that of the international community. •Idayat Kassim, Ilorin.

among the rising population of unemployed youths, it could be understood, at least, to some extent, but eradicating corruption requires much more. Beyond recruiting graduates, there is more to be done in redeeming the image of the police and the nation by extension. To take this bull of corruption by the horns, there is a need to come to terms with the fact that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. Corruption is simply dishonesty and depravity for personal gratification. The level of education could even trigger a high level of corruption in which an individual is involved. It is about self discipline, fairness and sincerity, which are qualities of a sound moral standard. We learnt of what it was to be in the police force decades ago, but today, we find ourselves in this

anomaly where parents now warn their wards from joining the police. There is even the rare possibility of a child saying he/she wants to become a police officer in future. Just as corruption did not emerge abruptly, it will

not disappear suddenly. But folding of arms, doing nothing will amount to changing nothing. These, therefore, call for the resuscitation of our moral standards through the family, schools, religious gatherings and

the media, by intensifying campaigns for morals and against corruption. This will go a long way in eradicating the menace which has eaten deep into nearly, if not all, sectors of our society, a result of the nation’s present economic

crisis. •Fashakin Oluyomi Abraham, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State.

Buhari, focus on rail transportation FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan really achieved a lot by reviving the rail system of transportation which had been moribund for several years. However, a lot still needs to be done if Nigerians will embrace the rails again. First, the rail system has the capacity to carry more goods than 100 trucks can carry at a time; this means that if we can develop the rail system, then there will be fewer trucks on the roads, thereby reducing fatal road accidents, as well as the dilapidation of our

roads. The rail system is considered to be the safest mode of transportation. If one goes through the statistics of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), one will discover the huge number of people who are losing their lives as a result of road accidents in the country. We can save the lives of many Nigerians if we can simply develop the rail system. Again, it is only in Nigeria that the rail system is not valued; in developed economies, the rail system contributes in no small measure to the de-

velopment of the economy. More goods are transported faster, while accidents are reduced significantly. Nigeria has a lot to benefit if we develop our rail system; leisure travelling will also rise, as many Nigerians would simply love to travel from Lagos to Kano just to have the opportunity of seeing the countryside. Travelling on a train is another way of relaxation; one can relax as the trains move from one part of the country to the other. However, before we can achieve this, we will need to bring

modern coaches that are comfortable for the passengers. I am, therefore, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari not to jettison the achievements made in the rail sector during the administration of former President Jonathan. We need continuity in government, and that is the only way we can achieve our goals as a nation; if the projects of previous administrations are abandoned, then we will just have billions of naira in projects wasting away. •Nelson Ekwale, UNIBEN, Edo State.

DISCOs, provide 24 hours power supply I must say that power supply has been stable in Lagos State for a while now, and I know within a couple of years, we should be having 24 hours uninterrupted power supply. I must commend former President Goodluck Jonathan for the reforms he carried out in the power sector. It may not be perfect at the moment, but the foundation has been laid, and through this, Nigeria will emerge as an economic giant. It is hoped that the power firms will continue to invest more in their equipment, thereby giving Nigerians uninterrupted power supply. Uninterrupted electricity will definitely boost the country’s economy. •Yetunde Soares, Lagos.

editorial

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

The menace of trucks in Lagos

NE bizarre aspect of the carnage on Nigerian roads is the high incidence of loaded containers falling off moving trucks and crushing smaller vehicles. The gruesome manner in which the lives of the hapless victims are terminated has always been a source of serious concern. The gory sight at the scene of such accidents creates the impression that there are no regulations governing road traffic in Nigeria. It is worrisome that the obvious cause of the serious problem has been receiving rather scant attention from the appropriate authorities. It has for long been the standard practice for articulated vehicles to transport heavy containers unlatched over long distances. For the entire duration of their journeys from the seaport and other take-off points to their destinations in different parts of the country, these long vehicles have always been accidents waiting to happen. It is gratifying that the recent accident at Ojuelegba in Surulere, Lagos has stirred the state government into action. The unlatched container which fell off a 40-foot articulated vehicle on the overhead bridge was reported to have landed on two private cars on the road below and claimed three lives. The government has responded to the situation by directing the police to start the enforcement of relevant sections of its traffic law that places a restriction on the hours of movement of certain categories of articulated vehicles. It is disturbing that the trucks have remained a menace in Lagos State as their drivers have been reported to be defying the directive of the state government. While some were said to be claiming ignorance of the directive on their hours of movement, some others were found to be clearly recalcitrant. With the density of population in Lagos, the government should not wait until a container falls on an overcrowded bus during rush hours before it begins to take a tough line on the violation of a law enacted in the public interest. The report that a group of truck drivers has embarked on an industrial action in protest against the directive should not deter the government from pursuing a course of action intended to save innocent lives. The truck drivers should not be allowed to hold the government and the people to ransom and constitute a law unto themselves. The value of the containers they are evacuating from the seaports cannot be equated with human lives. Most of the accidents occurring on the highway are avoidable and should be pre-

vented. The truck drivers have, for long, been operating as if traffic regulations are only for the smaller vehicles. They harass other vehicles on the road and the manner in which they drive shows clearly that they lack road sense. They do not stop at check points and they pack their vehicles wherever they choose without regard for other road users. The rather helpless approach of law enforcement agents, who look on in the face of blatant disregard for traffic laws, has been reinforcing the truck drivers’ dangerous mindset that they are unchallengeable on the highway. Lagos State must be firm and decisive in the enforcement of its traffic law and other states should take a leaf from its book. The recent campaign by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) which combined enforcement with enlightenment was particularly targeted at the articulated vehicles. The corps was emphatic on the need for truck drivers to ensure that containers were latched on to the bodies of the trucks being used to transport them. The fact that the Ojuelegba accident occurred not long after such a campaign provides ample evidence that the truck drivers have learnt nothing and forgotten nothing. A combination of factors has made accident rate in Nigeria one of the highest in the world. Prominent among these are the driving habits coupled with the condition of and pressure on the country’s roads. The collapse of rail service in Nigeria in the late 1980s has since resulted in a near-total reliance on road transportation. Almost entirely, the movement of people and goods has been by road across the length and breadth of the country. Most of the time, smaller vehicles are struggling to overtake the slowmoving trucks on roads that are often congested and illmaintained. Impatience, recklessness and failure to observe road traffic regulations have been responsible for accidents that should not have occurred. The pressure of the usually-overloaded trucks has been largely responsible for the rapid deterioration of Nigerian roads. Articulated vehicles have since taken over the haulage of bulky goods that were in the past being safely and conveniently transported by rail. Our hope is that the government will get its priorities right by focusing attention on rail transportation because it is safe and cheap enough to serve every stratum of the country’s population. Nigeria has had enough of human and economic losses which have been a constant occurrence on its roads.

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20 opinion

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

The insanity of silly stealing By Tola Adeniyi

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari should not worry about building more prisons to accommodate the growing tribe of notorious plunderers of the nation’s treasury as it is being canvassed in certain quarters. I have read in one or two publications suggestions that Buhari should construct Kirikiri Maximum Prison 2, and Kirikiri Maximum Prison 3 solely for creating adequate space for the country’s senior thieves especially those who public opinion believes would be leaving the state house and their cabinet chambers for jail houses. I think what the President should seriously consider is the number of Psychiatric Asylums required to accommodate our men and women whose unprecedented level and style of stealing borders on insanity. What we have got on our hands are very abnormal human beings whose degree of stealing and to wit, corruption is beyond comprehension. Someone must be really crazy to ever imagine himself stealing N30 billion! Of course stealing did not start in 1999. Stealing or treasury looting did not start in 1989 either. 1979 could also not lay claim to being the beginning of corruption in Nigeria. 1969, when we were inching towards the end of our most unnecessary and avoidable Civil War did not make the mark of being the starting point of our collective madness in the field of corruption. After all, one of the major reasons given for the provocation and execution of the Majors’ Coup in 1966 was the damned bogey of ’10 percenters’; Federal Ministers, Premiers and top public office holders allegedly signing cheques and other sensitive financial documents with their toes and the shells of palm kernel! In other words some form of stealing and other incidents of corruption had been with us for quite a long time. Some people are even quick to point out that there was serious corruption in the conduct of our 1952 Census, and the Federal Elections which ushered in our Independence in October 1960. But in all of those, there was no sign of madness or callousness. The unfortunate Nigerian Civil War must take some blame for our gradual descent into abyss of corruption. It was dur-

ing the War, as alleged, that stupid unearned money started flowing into the Nigerian market. Some documents and documentaries relating to the War years allude to some officers cashing salaries, allowances and emoluments meant for their fallen colleagues! The era of payments for ghost workers was alleged to have peaked during this period. A number of public officers were also alleged to be cashing the money meant for hundreds of thousands of employees who had run away from their duty posts before and during the War years. Hence from 1967 onwards to 1970 and the years immediately after, there was a great rise in public consumption and appetite for luxurious tastes. The Udoji bonanza also played a role here. One may add that it was also the period that spraying currency notes on musicians’ foreheads assumed a serious dimension which has stayed with us till today. Armed robbery and get-rich-quick to keep pace with the Joneses became rampant necessitating public execution for armed robbers. It was thus a combination of two aphorisms, one of silliness by my friend Dr Kayode Lasaki that ‘once you come by stupid money you start developing stupid appetite’ and the other of greed by my former colleague Chief Onyema Ugochukwu talking of ‘having Champagne appetite on Coca-Cola income’ that had brought us to where we are today. Then came the lunatics! The first category of heinous thieves were those who were cashing on the misfortune of their colleagues who were killed in the War front, and those who constituted themselves to ghost workers collecting salaries and emoluments of people displaced by the War. Those were callous criminals. And one must hasten to point out here that the first generation of our thieves, those who the ‘coupists’ of 1966 referred

to were not particularly callous or selfish or ostentatious. Most of them had at best two houses; one in the capital city where they worked and the other in their villages/towns. And a good number of them rendered assistance to the needy in their respective communities. But 1999 clearly and extravagantly carried the baton of lunacy in looting which it has continued to hand over to successive years like in a relay race. Some readers may wish to make 1999 read 1979; so be it. When someone buys an item he or she does not need and may never need or use, such a buyer needs his or her brain examined. When someone chooses to steal something that he or she does not need and may never need such a person is either silly or insane. It is insanity of the highest order and perverted greed that will make a top ranking public officer who is married to a wife or wives steal the beds of other people’s wives working under him and thereby make cuckolds of the women’s husbands. It is insanity of the highest order coupled with silly greed that will make a public office holder to steal so much money that will harvest for him 10 houses each in about 10 choicest countries of the world. Even if a person lives up to 500 years, such a person can never exhaust 60 billion dollars in his or her life time nor can five generations after him consume such humongous sum. It is sheer madness that will blind any person to the stark reality of the shortness of our sojourn on the earth surface. People steal and steal and steal and continue to loot and loot until they die, and you ask why? What does a single individual do with 60 vehicles of all shapes, brands and sizes? I am happy that Professor Femi Odekunle, the criminologist is among those appointed by President Buhari to help him in his search for a road map to killing corruption in Nigeria. Aside from impounding the loot crazily taken by our top thieves, and apart from giving them maximum jail term, it is my considered view that such criminals on conviction should first be sent to Lambo Clinic at Aro Psychiatric Hospital in Abeokuta, or to other notable Lunatic Homes to purge them of their madness. •Adeniyi, a veteran journalist, lives in Lagos.

Nigeria: Potentialities or realities? By Ibikunle Hakeem Tijani

The second annual memorial lecture in honour of late Dr. Olusegun Kokumo Agagu was held on September 13th. Apparently, the great son of Nigeria, and a selfless servant of humanity died on my birthday. What is important is the legacy and relevance of the late doctor of petroleum geology, former governor, and minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This year’s keynote lecture was delivered by His Excellency, Mr. Edem Kodjo, former Prime Minister of Togo. The special guest speaker was Professor Ibrahim Gambari, former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and United Nations Under-Secretary General. My summation of the lectures by the distinguished speakers is as follows: “Nigeria: Potentialities or Realities.” Mr. Kodjo who was ably represented by a senior official of the Togolese embassy surmised that Nigeria need to move away from lip service of being the giant of Africa to harnessing its enormous natural gifts. This was validated by Professor Gambari, who gave personal accounts having being a participant in Nigeria’s effort at development of its potentials. Counting the wealth of the Nigerian State is difficult because of its uncountable resources. What is easy to do when it comes to resources is the number of natural endowments that are few. The title of His Excellency Mr. Kodjo’s lecture, in my view, is not fortuitous but cogent to the state of our dear nation, Nigeria. “Resource, Policy and Economics” was succinctly and flawlessly presented by Mr. Kodjo who noted that beyond potentialities of Nigeria, the realities are that it should be a permanent member of the United Nations and a powerhouse in the comity of nations. But to realize this, Nigerians, as Professor Gambari agreed with him in his remarks, must eschew corruption and vices that are already killing us as a nation endowed with enormous resources. This is what I refer to as the Nigerian reality. This brings me to an issue that has overshadowed my thinking in the last few months. The case of eradicating corruption in Nigeria. Nigerian leaders and citizens seem to be “people of the moment”. What do I mean? I mean that we have failed to sustain anti-corruption in our society. Whether we think about late General Murtala Muhammed, who, perhaps, in our recent post-colonial history and efforts at nation building, was at the

forefront of anti-corruption; or the Buhari-Idiagbon regime with the crusade of WAI; sustainability has been elusive and a facade when it comes to anti-corruption crusade. Beyond the moment and rhetoric, we need continuity and sustainability. Continuity is needed to ensure sustainable anticorruption crusade. One way is to ensure that the institutional organs to eradicate corrupt practices are sustained. Complementing ICPC and EFCC with the creation of the Anti-corruption Academy is a step in the right direction. The continuity of direct payment of Federal universities salary through the Central Bank, Integrated revenue collection, the one bank account directive for ministries and parastatals, etc. are ideal pathway to sustaining the moment. They must, however, be continued in the future. Anti-corruption is beyond ministers, governors, civil servants, etc. it can only be won sector by sector, unit by unit, agency by agency, and with collective will to be incorruptible. The family and kitchen table dialogue must be strengthened nationwide. Teaching and modelling best corrupt free citizenship should go beyond the National Orientation Agency and the ICPC Anti-corruption Academy. As the NUC and other education board charged with the regulation of the curricular in primary, secondary, and post-secondary institutions review the courses for general studies and ethics, stakeholders must start thinking about reformation, reorientation, and genuine urgency to rebuild what we teach, and how we teach across disciplines. If the Singapore model, based on the personal account of Profes-

sor Gambari is accepted, can search for the next head of ministries in their primary schools and groom them, what stop us to go to the primary schools and begin to teach best practices and the evil that is corruption? Knowledge production in our schools should not be limited to research, but ethics, modelling best and acceptable practices worldwide. Simply put, there is urgent need to develop the best pedagogy for the reorientation of everyone - youth or older generation. Massification of the Almajiri schools without teaching about cattle rustling as being wrong and unacceptable is a gross miseducation of the youth. Giving access to the Niger Delta youth to study overseas or within Nigeria without modelling good governance and financial responsibility is a gross misplacement of our potentials, and attaining our reality as a giant in the comity of nations. Dr. Agagu’s memorial lecture series is another avenue to ensure that we as a nation are not a moment. The thought provoking and succinct presentation by His Excellencies Kodjo and Gambari should go beyond the imposing Civic Centre along Ozumba Mbadiwe, the venue of this year’s lecture. Since potential ministers and eminent personalities were present, I think it is time we address what seems to be the main issue, corruption, head on, with a view to sustaining achievements thus far. Late Dr. Agagu before his demise is known to have contributed a bit in fighting the ugly and dangerous cancer - corruption - through his “Roadmap to Progress. Industrialization, infrastructural development, efficient civil service, food for all, security, sound health care delivery, poverty alleviation, justice, employment, etc. can only be achieved and sustained when corruption is eschewed, eliminated, and institutionally sustained nationwide. Nigeria must openly welcome efforts and assistance from international agencies in the efforts to eliminate the nauseatingly disease - corruption. Then, we can think about a permanent seat at the United Nations as His Excellencies Edem Kodjo and Ibrahim Agboola Gambari advocated. •Tijani is a professor and the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State. He can be reached at 08100379639 or profoye@gmail.com

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015 Editor: Bayo ALADE featuresdesk@yahoo.com 08055001747

features

The past state of this road had been a source of nightmare to residents, but today, we are going to heave a sigh of relief.

Governor Ambode inspecting Ipaja-Ayobo road.

Chukwuma Okparaocha -Lagos

or what seemed like eternity, residents of Ejigbo and Ikotun areas of Lagos have had to live in hardship as a result of the terrible state of the most important road in their neighbourhood. Though past governments in the state, particularly the immediate past administration in the state had made attempts to rehabilitate the Ikotun-Ejigbo-Isolo Road, all such efforts proved abortive thus making the road, believed in some quarters as one of the most terrible roads in the state. The ensuing and frequent gridlocks as a result of the deplorable state of the road have made the Ejigbo-Ikotun axis one of the most dreaded communities in Lagos, with residents choosing to keep the unusually cheap houses there at arms length, opting instead to empty their accounts in order to get accommodation in the heart of Lagos. But after what appeared to be years of neglect and near abandonment, there seems to be a ray of hope for the residents after construction exercise began on the order of Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. It is recalled that Governor Ambode paid an unscheduled visit to the area recently, describing the state of the road as ‘unacceptable’ and assuring residents that the road would get a face lift soon. In line with his assurance, the governor in the past few weeks had mobilised the Lagos State Public Works Corporation to commence work on the network of roads. When the Nigerian Tribune visited the community last week, heaps of small granite were seen littering sections of the road at Ikotun, where visible signs of construction work were seen from Oke-Afa all the way to Iyana Ejigbo, as well as other parts. Various road construction machines, including the ones used in compressing the soil were also seen at different locations. Some residents and motorists who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune admitted that though the heaps of granite and the construction works as a whole had seemingly worsened traffic on the road for the meantime, they were hopeful and optimistic that at least within a short time, things will change. Thus, the residents of Ejigbo and Ikotun led by the Ekerin of Isolo, Chief Samina Lawal, have continued to commend the Lagos State governor on the commence-

Road projects: Residents

wait on Lagos govt to end their nightmares

ment of repair works on the road which has also extended to Okota Road. A resident, Mr. Ramon Akingbade, said “Prior to the commencement of the ongoing reconstruction of this road, it was hell coming in and out of this community, especially anytime there was rain, but since the commencement of the project, we have been finding movement a little bit comfortable.” He pleaded with the construction firm to ensure it keeps up with the deadline for the project. Another resident Mr. Tajudeen Agbaje, praised the government for the project, adding that sacrifices must be made for development to take place. He said those whose properties were affected should see it as their own contribution to the community’s development. Commenting on the once undulating terrain of the road, which had been dubbed “death traps”, the elated resident said he would, forever, be grateful to the governor for saving every resident from perennial accidents on the roads. Similarly, the immediate past chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Kehinde Bamigbetan, said people of the area were elated that within 60 days of his administration, the governor promptly came to their aid. He pointed out that the road, which was last done about 30 years ago, could not cater for the population currently living in the area, hence the need for more permanent and total reconstruction. Similarly, Nigerian Tribune also paid a visit to the Ipaja-Ayobo Road which was also visited by the governor recently where the contractor handling the project was handed a 3-month ultimatum. Though investigations made by Nigerian Tribune suggested that there’s been a significant improvement in the state of the road since Ambode came on board,

residents want the government to stand by the 3-month period given to the contractor. Two of the residents at Megida community of Ayobo did not hide their optimism that their pains and sufferings as a result of the current state of the road would be over in three months. The first resident, Olawale Bamitele said they would, forever, be grateful to the governor for taking such steps in fulfilling his electioneering promises made only a few months back. The second resident who was spotted in front of the palace of the Baale of Megida community (Nigerian Tribune had made effort to speak with the Baale who was said to be unavailable), also gave an indication that the construction of the road would usher in a new era of development into the community. The resident, a young woman who preferred to be anonymous said it was kind of the governor to have “common people living in the hinterlands in his plans.” “The Ayobo-Ipaja Road will help us greatly. Apart from the fact that the road serves as our major link with main parts of Lagos, it will also help in linking us with other smaller communities as well. So it was very kind of the governor to have common people like us in mind,” she said. A trader, Mr. Chinedu Chigozie, was spotted at a section of the road popularly called Gate where a number of different kinds of construction machines, as well as partially graded roads, and drainage system under construction could be found. Chigozie who said though he lost part of his stall to the expansion work done at the commencement of the project, expressed happiness that what was being created would be of immense benefit to all. “In fact I am happy not minding that part of my shop was among the shops demolished, my interest is for the government to ensure the completion of the project as it will further create a more conducive busi-

ness environment,” he said. “The past state of this road had been a source of nightmare to residents, but today, we are going to heave a sigh of relief. We thought the announcement by the state government was another of such promises that were never fulfilled. Our greatest joy is that the road is coming with drainages,” he further noted. The Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, it will be recalled had in August pledged to complete the sevenkilometre Ipaja-Ayobo Road in Alimosho Local Government Area of the state within the next three months, thus giving the contractor in charge three months to complete the road. It is recalled that the administration of former Governor, Babatunde Fashola, had awarded the contract for the reconstruction of the dual-carriage road in May 2011, and initially billed to last for 18 months. Ambode, who noted that the completion was important to unlocking socioeconomic opportunities in the area, said he decided to inspect the project in order to quickly mobilise the contractor to expedite action so that the project could be completed on time. ”We have directed the contractor of the project to work day and night and ensure that the project is completed within the next three months. ”In the main time, they will provide palliatives to ease the stress experienced by residents and I plead that you give that maximum cooperation to achieve this. ”Alimosho deserves more than this road because you are the greater part of the state. We will work toward providing a fire station and water works in Alimosho,” he said. However, while many residents of both projects are brimming with optimism, others are of the opinion that only if the governor could truly deliver on this would he be regarded as a leader who truly has the interest of the masses at heart. Residents who share this notion are basing their argument on the fact that similar promises in the past had only led to more dashed hopes for them with the subsequent stoppage of work on the road project and some of its bad portions resulting in daily gridlocks on the road, thus causing them great hardship. “We are appealing to the governor to give Ayobo -Ipaja road priority among other ongoing road projects to be completed by him. ”This project has dragged on for too long; it is gridlock day and night and the situation is always chaotic. Completion of the project within the next three months will put an end to the sufferings we go through on the road,” a resident of Baruwa area of the community, Olakunle Aderemi said.

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015 22 features Contestants for Ago Are stool should sheathe their swords —Odofin

The Odofin of Ago-Are land, Chief Ayoola Makanjuola Joe, in an interview with TAIWO OLANREWAJU, spoke on the not-too- impressive dimension the tussle for Ago-Are stool had taken, noting that this was the first time such was happening and appealed to the warring brothers to sheathe their swords.

go Are, an agrarian town in Atisbo Local Government Area of Oke-Ogun, Oyo State had hitherto been very peaceful. Her citizens are known to be peace-loving and law-abiding. The search for a new monarch for the town, after the demise of Alhaji Jubril Oyesiji Oladoke, the late Aare of Ago-Are, who reigned for 39 years has, however, pitched the loving brothers against one another. For the sake of maintaining peace in the area and putting the records straight, the Odofin of Ago Are land and former Commissioner for Youth and Sports during the administration of former Governor Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, Chief Ayoola Makanjuola Joe (aka Makenson), urged the contending princes to allow peace to reign. Ayoola, who noted that royal stool tussle was alien to Ago Are while reminiscing said, there was only one ruling family in the town, the Edu family, which to him should make ascending the throne easier and tussle-free. However, all males from the family are entitled to the throne, thereby producing many contending princes for the throne anytime there was vacancy. This year, the story is not at all different as 15 able princes tried to make it to the throne. “But obviously, only one prince will finally emerge the Oba,” noted Ayoola. The 15 princes who made the list included Amusat Yisau Adewale Oladoke; Taoheed Oyekola Olakanla; Mudasiru Ayorinde Olakanla; Ayoola Lanrinre Ajekiigbe Olakanla; Luqman Shittu Garuba; Alhaji Saka Shittu Ko-

Ayoola Makanjuola Joe foworaola Olakanla and Alhaji Rasheed Oyewole Alimi Asiru Olakanla. Other contenders to the throne included Amusat Taoheed Oladoke; Bodunrin Oyetunji Kofoworaola Olakanla; Mukaila Ayoola Oyeniran; Saheed Adegboyega Oyelayo Olakanla; Alhaji Muhammad Olaide Opeloyeru; Moshood Ayatullah Olagoke; Ahmad Olasunkanmi Amusat and Jubril

Mutawakilu Oladoke. After series of meetings held on May 16, 23, 30 and June 13, 27 and 30, a memo addressed to the Head of Local Government Administration, Atisbo Local Government, Tede, dated July 8 and signed by the chairman of the Kingmakers of Ago-Are, Chief J.K. Adetoro, was made available to the family head, Edu Ruling House, Alhaji Lawal Oyebisi Olaniyonu and the caretaker chairman, Atisbo Local Government. The memo stated that at the election of a candidate to fill the vacant stool of the Aare of Ago-Are by the six kingmakers, Prince Bodunrin Oyetunji Kofoworola Olakanla came first with four votes while Prince Rasheed Oyewole Alimi Asiru Olakanla came second with two votes. Twelve of the vying candidates had no votes while Prince Amusat Yissau Adewale Oladoke had earlier withdrawn his candidature via a letter dated July 3 to the kingmakers. Ayoola noted that the election, which was held on July 7 at the residence of the Agoro of Ago-Are land, Chief Adetoro, had observers from the local government, the police and the state security service in attendance. “Aside from complying with due process, the election of the candidate for the vacant stool was also captured on video camera,” he added. The most interesting aspect of this issue, the Odofin noted, was that all the contending princes initially agreed and consented to the kingmakers’ verdict, wondering what

has suddenly turned the princes against one another. Ayoola, however, urged the contending princes to be patient and allow peace to reign, adding that in as much as the selection process had followed due process, the princes should neither foment trouble nor rubbish the whole process. “Do not use greed as selfishness to cause breach of peace,” he admonished while declaring that his interest was for people in his mother land to co-exist peacefully. “I don’t want the community to disintegrate,” he added. He noted that referring to Mr Olalekan Olaniyonu as the head of Edu family should stop as Olalekan is younger brother to the head of the family. Also, he said Prince Salam Kazeem O., the authentic secretary of the Edu Ruling family could not be factional secretary to a group. The Odofin also urged the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, under who the town is, to magnanimously consent to the choice of Prince Bodunrin Oyetunji Kofoworola Olakanla, who is the choice of the people of Ago-Are while also appealing to Governor Abiola Ajimobi to approve the candidature of the nominated prince. In telephone conversations with the head of Edu family, Alhaji Lawal Olaniyonu; head of the kingmakers, Chief Adetoro and one of the contending princes, Amusat Taoheed Oladoke, they all corroborated Ayoola’s submission and equally appealed to the Alaafin of Oyo and Governor Ajimobi to make the people of Ago-Are happy once again.

‘Youths need to inculcate right values to make society better’ By Oluwatoyin Malik A young lady, Miss Damilola Adeleke, who is the founder of Timeless Generation Inspired Foundation has enjoined the youth in Nigeria to inculcate the right values, as it would go a long way in influencing their day-to-day lives and make them better persons. Her plea was based on the rate at which youths lose focus and engage in vices, which has raised a lot of concern within the Nigerian society, especially among parents. Many reasons had been adduced to the negative attitudes being exhibited by some of the youths. While it is generally believed that peer group influence affect a number of them, others engage in untoward behaviour as a result of wrong values they have placed on themselves, making it difficult for them to cope with challenges associated with the age grade. Having noticed the moral decadence in some members of her generation, Miss Adeleke, who is in her 20s, recently brought some youths together, so that they could assess themselves and imbibe right values at a programme, organised by her foundation. It is noteworthy that Miss Adeleke is an M Sc. Holder in Economic Development and Policy Analysis from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom and also has B Sc. Economics from Bowen University, Nigeria. At the programme targeted at ladies and tagged 2015 Ladies Conference, with the theme: “My value, my life” which was held in Ibadan, Oyo State, recently, the convener said it was the NGO’s maiden edition “and

Miss Damilola Adeleke (right), speaking at the programme while other guest speakers look on. we are dedicating it to women. The foundation is not only for women but also female youths. We are not feminists but just starting the maiden edition with ladies.” Speaking with Nigerian Tribune on the programme, Miss Adeleke said: “The focus of the organisation is the youth. We want to create frontline leaders; we want to be able to inculcate right values in youths. This is because we realise the values and characters nowadays in our generation have gone bad. There is a lot of moral decadence.” She noted that today’s youths are more driven by corrupt practices. “They just want to make money through whatever means; they are not interested in how it is going to come. This leads a lot of girls into prostitution and a lot of guys into fraudulent practices such as internet fraud and all sorts. “We want to go back to the roots of everyone and try to correct those notions; the knowledge they got from peers, ideas that

they might have formed alongside. We want to teach them the right values.” She also explained why it was an all ladies’ affair. According to her, “this particular programme is targetted at ladies because we want to have a ladies’ gist. This is to make the ladies feel at home and to make rubbing minds easier.” On the expectations from the programme, the convener also stated: “At the end of the programme, we hope that every lady who has comes for the programme will be able to write down their values. This is because we realise that most ladies don’t even know what their values are. Now, if you ask someone: ‘what are your values?’ The person might just go blank. “We noticed that big companies and organisations have core values. A company like Nigerian Breweries says its core values are integrity, team work and leadership; and it works for them. As human beings, we also need to have our values.

“At the end of the programme, we have what is known as my value card. And we have an activity that will help the young ladies write out their values. This activity is going to be personalised; it is a personality check. “You will use your situations; things that you have gone through to assess your own values. Then you will need to prioritise the values to know which one to place above others. This will help in influencing one’s day-to-day activities and make one a better person. “For instance, if it is a success-driven person, she will know that if she finds herself in any place, she will need to work towards being successful. If you are woman of integrity, after today, if you have been able to realise that and by writing it out, you work towards it. When you know your values, it helps you to take decisions in life and makes things easier.” She hinted that TGIF would have an allmale programme towards the end of the year. “There would be a repeat of what we had with ladies. So the males are not left out; we have something that we are planning for them to address their values. You know, if the sexes are mixed together, they may not be able to open up because a lady may not want her male friend to know some personal things about her. Sometime in 2016, we will have a combined programme for both male and female,” she said. In her message for youths like her, Miss Adeleke had this to say: “What I usually tell other youths is that what you cannot afford, you can avoid it. There are so many things that we engage ourselves in that lead us into wrongdoing. We can avoid what we cannot afford it. It saves a lot of stress.”

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

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

Ekiti to showcase 16 cultural ambassadors A

ll is set for the hosting of 16 cultural ambassadors from 16 local government areas in Ekiti State for the emergence of Miss Ekiti Tourism billed for Saturday, 3 October, 2015. The event, which is the second edition is billed to pull over 2,000 tourism buffs to Ado Ekiti is being anchored by Topsay Travel and Tours, an outfit which specialises in beauty pageant and cultural promotion in Nigeria. According to the organiser of Miss Ekiti Tourism, Mrs Abimbola Famojuro, “We are set to ignite and stoke Ekiti State economy with the potent Midas touch of cultural tourism and we have mapped out the event to expose the tourism potentialities in Ekiti State to the multitude of tourism buff coming to witness the show. She pointed out that Miss Ekiti Tourism is going to be the best and most unique cultural beauty show ever in Nigeria which is set to emphasise the intrinsic basic norms and values expected of our young ladies, which should not only be imbibed by them but exhibited in their socio-cultural relations. Famojuro revealed that “it is not going to be one of the run-in-the-mill beauty pageant where you expected to see bikini on parade, but one where the cultural values and assets of a typical cultural society will be exhibited, exposed and promoted. She pointed out that Miss Ekiti Tourism has gotten the blessing of the state government which has endorsed the event just because of its set aim and objective of promoting and showcasing beauty pageant for the enhancement of cultural values and norms. Famojuro who showed the letter of endorsement by the Ekiti State Tourism which viewed the event as a giant attempt at exploring, exposing and promoting the tourism potentialities of Ekiti State commended Topsay Tours for its branding and packaging of Miss Ekiti Tourism with emphasis on adopting tradition dress and values as bench of selection. “It is not just to come and exhibit your God-given body for the fun of it, but a two-week affairs, which will demand the 16 ambassadors to be camped in a tourism site where they will undergo cultural training and learn more about cultural norms and mores of stabilising home and family.

Some of the ambassadors “These beauties of our time will then be expected to showcase and exhibit what they have learnt to the public at Adetiloye Hall.” She pointed out “We are camping them not just for them to learn only the values on which they will be tested, but also, we are going to sieve out their areas of interest where they will receive empowerment latitude and prompting for self development.”

Famojuro commended the Ekiti State governor for “his proactive strides and beaming the light of encouragement to the youths who have ideas not only to develop themselves, but to contribute to the development of Ekiti. She also revealed that the 16 beauties will visit all the notable tourism and other historical sites in Ekiti State. “We are going to ensure that all these 16 cultural ambassadors are conversant and

experienced interaction with tourism sites in the state and should be confident to tell the guests at the grand finale.” She revealed that all of them will be crowned based on the exposition of the uniqueness of their local government areas. “We are going to make each of them the symbol and tourism Ambassador of their local government areas with the responsibility of selling tourism culture to students and pupils of their local governments.”

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

tribunetourism The Gambia Boat Fishing fiesta to offer winners £6,000

or the discerning tourists, The Gambia is an all-season destination. No matter the time you visit, the testimonials abound. From the sand, sea and sun, there is always something for every visitor. Of course, the country’s burgeoning hospitality industry parades an array of world-class hotels and resorts, which offer value for money offerings to guests. But beyond frolicking on the beach sand or sun bathing, the West African country, aptly tagged ‘The Smiling Coast of Africa’ is once again smiling to tourists to visit and participate in its fishing expedition. From November 11 to 16, 2015, the rivers and seas in the country will be playing host to both local and international participants in this year’s edition of The Gambia International Boat Fishing Competition where visitors will be hosted to an enthralling discover y of sea and river creek fishing amidst related excitements. Participants are expected to apply all necessary fishing skills on selected fishing spots including; Barra Point, Cape Point, Fajara and Kotu. However, Dog Island, Wharf Njago, and Lamin Lodge will serve as alternative fishing spots on the river in case the ocean gets rough and deter the participants from performing their best at the competition. Also, the fishing spots are accurately selected with a valuable knowledge of the fish and fishing grounds offering the angler the rare opportunity to catch the “Big One”. Fishing methods would take the form of live baiting, dead baiting, drifting, trolling among others. The anglers would be provided with

live or dead baits or artificial ones depending on their choice of fish predator. The prized fishes would include both fast moving and dormant fishes. They include the famous Baracuda, the golden Snapper, the flamboyant Cassava Fish, Captain, Tarpon (also referred to as Silver Queens), Sting Ray among other species.

While the competition offers spectators and visitors quality excitement, there are mouth-watering rewards for the contestants, with £6,000 worth of prizes to be awarded on various prize categories. Hence, an entry fee of £125 per angler per day covering transportation, bait, water, boat and awards gala dinner is required to authen-

ticate the seriousness of the competition as entry into the competition closes on October 31, 2015. The competition, which is organised by The Gambia Tourism Board and their partners, and supported by Fish The Gambia, offers full insurance cover with support from Gambia Maritime Administration, The Gambia Fire and Rescue Services, Gambia Navy and Department of Fisheries. It is of note that ‘The River Gambia’, where the competition will be hosted, is one of the favourite and richest fishing spots in the West African sub region. It obtains its source from the Futa Jallon highlands in Guinea and opens up to the vast Atlantic Ocean thus providing a unique combination of flora and fauna.

Nigeria’s ambassador to Greece commends ncpc boss The Nigeria Ambassador to Greece, His Excellency, Ayodeji Ayodele has commended the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Mr John Kennedy Opara for using pilgrimage to positively impact on pilgrims in terms of adding values to their lives through different innovations. He made this commendation while receiving the commission’s boss, Board members of NCPC and the Chairmen and Secretaries of the state Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards (CPWB) during the states of readiness visit to Israel for the 2015 October/December pilgrimage exercise. He reiterated that Nigeria is a nation presently undergoing a process of recovery and to achieve a change, all hands must be on the deck. He reinstated the need for everyone to be closer to his creator and live a life of dignity. He urged NCPC to continually play the role

In his response, the Executive Secretary of the (NCPC), Opara, thanked the Ambas-

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Greece, His Excellency, Ayodeji Ayodele (left) and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Mr John Kennedy Opara.

sador for the warm reception accorded him and his team. He commended him for his rare style of leadership, passion, commitment and love for the nation. Opara affirmed that the commission uses pilgrimage as a tool for moral transformation and spiritual rebirth. “ In a step to achieving self sustenance, NCPC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission to introduce Christian Pilgrimage Lottery Scheme this year, which would afford Christians the opportunity to embark on pilgrimage with little or no cost.” He added that the Commission has included skill acquisition programme to the pilgrims’ activities in the Holy Land to ensure that youths become skilful and be able to find a source of income that would sustain themselves and their families when they return back home.

FCMB drums up support for Ojude Oba Festival

eading financial services provider, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), has congratulated the Awujale and paramount ruler of the Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, chiefs, sons and daughters of Ijebuland on the preparations for this year’s edition of Ojude Oba Festival. The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FCMB, Mr Ladi Balogun who spoke in a press conference to declare the bank’s bid for the 2015 edition of the festival said FCMB is proud to be a major partner and participant at the cultural masterpiece that equally serves as a

Previous winners of The Gambia Boat Fishing fiesta.

Golden Tulip Warri Airport Hotel names new GM With a commitment of offering excellent professional and personalised services to its guests amid a blend of sophisticated and aesthetically attractive facilities and plush environment, Golden Tulip Warri Airport Hotel, which is known as The Gold in the Niger Delta, has appointed a new General Manager to pilot it affairs. The newly appointed General Manager, Mr Sam. Obiri Aduama, who is no stranger to the Golden Tulip Hospitality Group’s brand standards, tradition and culture, was the former General Manager of Golden Tulip Kumasi City, Ghana and comes with a vast experience in the hospitality industry where he has worked over the last two decades in different positons and units. A graduate in Business Administration from the Atlantic International University School of Business and Economics, in the United States of America where he majored in Management. He took an Electrical Technician Engineering course at the Accra Polytechnic from 1983 to 1989 after his high school certificate from Koforidua Secondary Technical School in Ghana. He started his hospitality stint as Head Elec-

of conveying the message of change to other Nigerians.

trician with the Golden Tulip Accra, Ghana. He rose through the ranks from Assistant Chief Engineer, Communication Engineer, Technical Services Manager all in Golden Tulip Accra and the top echelon in Kumasi as the General Manger for a little over two years. He was also at a point in Golden Tulip Festac, Lagos. His professional, managerial and technical acumen over the years have also earned him and the various hotels in which he had worked over the years a number of awards and accolades. Aduama described the Golden Tulip Warri Airport as highly rated, well located and apportioned with the best hospitality facilities ready to offer rich blend of international standard flavoured with local ambience and cuisine. While pledging his commitment to taking the hotel to a new height and a signature hospitality home for leisure and entertainment for guest living or passing through the Delta State especially Warri. The Ghana-born manager, said achieving the top height, is a collective work as he is focused on working on the psyche of the hotel’s staff to anticipate and exceed guest expecta-

Golden Tulip Warri, Airport Hotel. INSET: General Manager, Mr Sam Obiri Aduama. tions while making return on investment. His vision for the hotel, he said is “to be a onestop secured hospitality destination in Nigeria where comfortable yet luxury accommodation, meeting and banquet, international and local cuisines, with world class recreation,

sports, beauty salon and entertainment facilities are available to host and maintain all guests and events coming to Warri and its surrounding areas.” Golden Tulip Warri Airport Hotel, which is situated in the heart of the oil rich Warri city,

P.T.I Junction, Effunrun/Warri aesthetically enchanting architectural masterpiece with the exterior enjoying glass finishing and decorative panel and boast of 192 rooms of different categories, all tastefully furnished and fitted with the best and modern hospitality amenities for the comfort and relaxation of its guests. Its other array of facilities include a finely laid posh restaurant manned by international and local chefs offering both African and continental delicacies with special Delta rich delicacies and various themed nights as well as capital bar with expansive lounge that is coolly fitted offering different brands of wines, beverages, cocktails and spirits for guests while it also allows for private meetings and business talks by guests. Added to the entertainment and leisure packages of the hotel is the Light House Cinema which is located within the large hotel’s complex. Conferences are one of the star products of the hotel with 3000 person’s capacity “Fame Dela” Hall offering rich ambience for various business and social events as well as different sizes of board rooms for small group meetings.

distinctive platform to reconnect with the values that sustain the town’s rich history, heritage and industrious uniqueness of the Ijebu people. According to Balogun, “In a goodwill message to the organisers, the Ojude Oba festival is a major platform through which the bank connects with the community, and promotes the nation’s diversity.” He stressed that the festival had become a long standing yearly tradition that the true sons and daughters of Ijebuland and tourists from other climes look forward to, as it equally serves as unifying factor and a tourist attraction. “FCMB has been a major supporter of the Ojude Oba Festival for more than a decade and it has indeed been a mutually beneficial journey.

Past Ojude Oba Festival. INSET: The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FCMB, Mr Ladi Balogun.

“As a socially responsible corporate citizen, we realise that globalisation and social transformation, though essential, could also become a threat to the cultural identity of a people. “We also recognise that respect for our heritage is important as a catalyst of cultural diversity and a guarantee of sustainable development,” the CEO stated. In the same vein, the founder of FCMB Group, Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun, the Olori Omo-Oba Akile Ijebu, in a message to Ijebu people delivered on his behalf by Mr Louis Ibe, the Head of Media and Reputation Management of FCMB, thanked and commended the paramount ruler, Oba Adetona for his distinguished and exemplary leadership over the years. Otunba Balogun further thanked all Ijebus

at home and abroad for demonstrating oneness as a people, urging them to ensure this year’s celebration surpasses previous years. He also prayed that the Kabiyesi’s reign “should continue to bring joy, prosperity and robust health, all in abundance to the entire Ijebu race, at home and in the diaspora. “For over a century, the Ojude Oba Festival has been an important avenue for promoting the rich Ijebuland’s cultural heritage on the global stage. “The festival attracts tourists from across the globe and Ijebu indigenes in the diaspora, boosting trade and the hospitality sector in the region. “It is observed that the event has remained a unique platform for the locals to promote their wares to a broad range of visitors thus connecting to economic advancement.”

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

energy

Nigerian Tribune

anchors Tunde Dodondawa

m:08029370304 e:mrdodondawa@yahoo.com

Security challenges frustrating remediation exercise in Ogoniland —SPDC Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

ollowing the recommendation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) calling for remediation action in Ogoniland, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) said it has taken proactive measures to clean up Ogoni land. In July 2006, the Federal Government had requested the UNEP to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the environmental and public health impacts of oil contamination in Ogoniland, Rivers State, together with options for remediation. The findings in the report, however, underline that there are, in a significant number of locations, serious threats to human health from contaminated drinking water, to concerns over the viability and productivity of ecosystems. The report, further uncovered that pollution has perhaps gone further and penetrated deeper than many may have previously supposed. Addressing journalists in Lagos at the weekend, on efforts so far made by the company, Igo Weli, the External Relations Manager, SPDC, expressed deep worries that if concerted effort is not carried out by government to prop up security around critical oil infrastructures, the entire exercise may not achieve its desired result. Weli said security should be considered an overriding

reflection as he observed that while efforts had been on to remedy the situation some unwholesome activities are still ongoing. He elucidated that as a responsible corporate organization, the company has exerted energy to respond to recommendation of the UNEP despite that overall action ought to be driven by government. “The issue of security is exclusive of government but the company, notwithstanding threats and challenges from community people wanting to deny them access to site, has continued to mobilise support and commitment to go on. For purpose of clarity, the UNEP report identified 22 areas of attention to SPDC, 50 to the Federal Government and four to Ogoni people,” he said. He said so far, the company has successfully addressed 16 while the rest is ongoing but also required collaborative effort to deal with in line with the report. According to him, “16 actions have been completed, five actions are currently ongoing, e.g. Relocation of Right of Way (RoW) encroachers; Decommissioning plan, 470 incidents documented along SPDC RoW in Ogoni, 368 remediated,32 at various stages 70 outstanding.” Weli also noted that SPDC Joint Venture (JV) has funded a regional water supply project at Eleme which currently provide access to potable water for about 30,000 indigenes across five clans from 103 outlets, and project is being expanded by Rivers State government to include more outlets.

He also assured that the company’s contribution to the $1billion remediation fund would be made when the required governance structure is put in place. In the area of healthcare, he said Primary Healthcare outreach to the communities through SPDC’s Health-In-Motion programme is currently ongoing. So far, the company has executed alternative livelihood programme (LiveWIRE) for 105 Ogoni youths and provided them with start-up grants to the trainees, most of whom have started businesses. It has also championed grassroots environmental campaign in partnership with SMEnv, NOSDRA, and local NGOs to deepen awareness on ills of illegal bunkering and oil theft, and has held 12 town-hall sessions across the four LGAs yearly. He advised government to redouble efforts toward stopping sources of contamination, oil theft and illegal refining as those activities are major causes of the problem. Earlier, a team member of External Relations Department, SPDC, Sola Abulu, shed light on the report, stressing that as erroneously held by some people that the UNEP report was not directed to Shell alone, other stakeholder action is required to execute the remediation programme. Abulu said it has become essential to provide insight to the report and to educate people that Shell is not singled out in the recommendation, just that a fraction of action is directed to the company.

Expert attributes lull Refineries can’t Goldman Sachs in oil & gas sector to account for N2.44bn predicts oil price uncertainty over PIBP27 crude —NNPC P27 may drop to $20/b P27

energy

Nigerian Tribune

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Expert attributes lull in oil & gas sector to uncertainty over PIB Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

n oil and gas expert has blamed the lull in the oil sector on uncertainty over Jon passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). The PIB has become controversial due to its non passage by previous members of the Nigerian National Assembly since almost 10 years of its introduction. The bill is expected to sanitise and reform the oil and gas sector. The Managing Director, Bell Oil &Gas Limited, Kayode Thomas, told Nigerian Tribune recently that the non passage of the bill is no big deal, but the uncertainty surrounding the bill is the issue. “I am not very sure that lack of PIB has had any major impact on the industry. I think the uncertainty around it has created impact on the sector. Perhaps, they should not have been talking about it until they were ready, because since the issue has been in public domain, it has created a lot expectations and anxiety. Though the PIB is a great initiative, we understand what government is trying to do but the International Oil Companies (IOCs) are not here for charity, they are here for profit. “We have to balance this. The issue is that while we are waiting for PIB, fiscal policies governed the industry still exist. So the question is, is the policies or PIB so important to government? I don’t think so. We have amazing people in authority who know what they are doing. If the PIB is that important, they will sort it out. Right now I don’t think it is a priority for them and that is why we have this delay. “Though some may say I am

politically incorrect but that is my genuine believe. The only saving grace we have is the Nigerian Content Act which to me provides a resemblance of regulations which prevail on IOCs. With the Act, the IOCs cannot do what they want as they have been doing for years now. Per-

haps, if the Nigerian Content Act does not exist, we would have been in more trouble. Though PIB is more detailed, its objectives are quite different. But we have something that protects the interest of local companies and also make the IOCs have a rethink on how they can conduct

Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos The nation’s refineries wasted or illegally disposed of 258,810 barrels of crude, which they re-

ceived for processing in April and May this year, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has disclosed. According to the petroleum information report, the refineries

•As OPEC daily basket price closes at $44.83/b Goldman Sachs has speculated further oil prices slouch saying it could plummet to $20 as a massive supply glut persists until the end of next year. However, the price of OPEC basket of 12 crudes stood at 44.83 dollars a barrel on Friday, when compared with $45.96 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

signed in 2015. We have stopped bordering ourselves about certain things that are outside our control, and until it is passed, we should begin to look at its impact on the industry. Right now, it seems like academic exercise until resemblance of seriousness is introduced into it,” he said.

Refineries can’t account for N2.44bn crude — NNPC

Goldman Sachs predicts oil price may drop to $20/b Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

their business in Nigeria. “The PIB will be passed when the people in government feel that it is about time. It is about priority. Again, it might take a while, and it may even be given a new name eventually in order to inject fresh ideas into it. But at any rate we still believe it may be

The Goldman Sachs commodities team slashed its forecast for average prices in 2016 to $45 per barrel from $57, but said the risks of a collapse to $20 were growing. The reason is because of possible OPEC consideration of pumping even more oil in 2016, led by increases in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran, as it believes the cartel’s resolve to defend its market share has been strengthened in recent weeks. “Despite the fiscal challenge that low oil prices create for OPEC producers, the alternative of reducing production would similarly undermine long-term revenues,” it noted. It remarked that prices will have to fall much further for OPEC to consider cutting production. It further noted that producers outside OPEC, including the United States shale oil companies, are proving more resilient to lower

prices than expected and that is because the cost of production is falling globally, because of greater efficiency and sharp declines in other commodity prices. Goldman Sachs says there will need to be a large decline in non-OPEC production next year, and much of that adjustment will have to come from the US. It however, noted that there is a growing risk that US producers will act “too late or not at all,” because their finances are in better shape than in the past, and because of a deeply entrenched view that the world will need more shale oil not less within a couple of years. It also noted that growth in global demand for oil will slow next year largely due to China’s economic slowdown, which will Continues on pg28

received the crude oil for the two months but failed to produce any refined product during the period. The report obtained on Friday specifically indicated that the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited, and Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited, which received the crude, could not account for the supplies for the period. As of Friday, the price of crude oil was $47.96 per barrel. Going by this, the cost of the 258,810 barrels of crude oil supplied to the refineries in the two months will therefore be $12.41million. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) exchange rate to the United States dollar was N197 on Friday. Therefore, the naira equivalent for the supplied crude to the three refineries during the period under review is N2.44billion. The NNPC stated in the report that the refineries, which received 204,720 barrels of crude in April, failed to churn out any refined product. It also said that the only refinery, WRPC, which got 54,090 barrels of crude in May, did not process anything either for the

month. Therefore, the total volume of crude oil supplied to the three refineries in April and May was given as 258,810 barrels, but nothing was recorded as processed petroleum products by the firms during the period. For instance, the report stated that in April, the three refineries received 204,720 barrels of crude oil and had total opening stock of 1.164 million barrels of crude. In the same month, the total crude available for processing was given as 1.369 million barrels but nothing was processed by the national oil firms in April, the NNPC report stated. While detailing the operations of the refineries and their various crude balance for April, the NNPC said: “This month, 204,720 barrels of crude oil and slop was received by the three refineries, KRPC, PHRC and WRPC. With an opening stock of 1.164million barrels, the total crude oil available for processing was 1.369 million barrels out of which zero barrel was processed. The respective average capacity utilisation during the month was 0.00 per cent, 0.00 per cent and 0.00 per cent for the KRPC, PHRC and WRPC, respectively.”

energy

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Chevron, H5 reach settlement over Ecuadorian lawsuit By Agency Reports

hevron Corporation has reached a settlement agreement with H5, a California-based e-discovery and litigation services firm. In the settlement, H5 has withdrawn its support from the litigation against Chevron in Ecuador and has assigned its 1.25 percent interest in the $9.5 billion Ecuadorian judgment to Chevron. In 2014, Chevron obtained court-ordered discovery from H5 for the company’s role in supporting and advancing the lawsuit led by Steven Donziger, which a federal judge found to be tainted by fraud.

variety of activities. It helped enlist funding from Burford Capital Limited, a UK-based litigation funder, and James Russell DeLeon, a Gibraltar-based businessman. It also played an integral role in bringing the Patton Boggs law firm into the case to pro-

vide legal support. Burford, DeLeon and Patton Boggs have all since withdrawn their support from the fraudulent lawsuit and settled with Chevron. H5 also assisted Donziger’s team in responding to Chevron’s discovery related to the Ca-

brera Report, an Ecuadorian court-ordered damages report that a US federal court later found was secretly authored by Donziger and Stratus Consulting, a Colorado-based environmental consulting firm. Stratus has also subsequently settled

with Chevron. On March 4, 2014, Judge Lewis Kaplan of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that the $9.5 billion judgment against Chevron in Ecuador was the product of fraud and racketeering ac-

“Chevron is pleased that H5 has ended its association with this scheme,” said R. Hewitt Pate, Chevron’s vice president and general counsel. “Chevron is also pleased that H5 has taken the further action of disclaiming any interest in the Ecuadorian judgment and relinquishing its interest to Chevron. It remains Chevron’s intent to hold accountable those responsible for what a federal judge found to be a fraud.” H5 became involved in the case in 2009, supporting a

IEA predicts decline in US oil output Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos Lower oil prices may likely compel non-OPEC producers including the United States to cut output by the steepest rate in more than two decades next year, rebalancing an oversupplied oil market, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said at the weekend. The IEA, which advises on the world’s biggest economies on energy policy, said global oil demand was poised to climb to a fiveyear high this year; thanks to lower prices. It steeply revised its outlook for demand for oil from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. The report is one of the most bullish for OPEC since the group shocked markets last year by deciding against cutting production, choosing to fight for market share and depress the output of higher-cost producers such as the United States. “The big story this month is one of tightening supply, with the spotlight firmly

fixed on non-OPEC. Oil price collapse is closing down high-cost production from Eagle Ford in Texas to Russia and the North Sea, which may result in the loss next year of half a million barrels a day, the biggest decline in 24 years,” the IEA said in its monthly report. The projected drop in output would be the largest since 1992, when non-OPEC supplies contracted by one million barrels per day (bpd) from the previous year, with the collapse of the former Soviet Union. The IEA said it now expected US light, tight oil production to shrink by 0.4 million bpd next year, after expanding by a record 1.7 million bpd in 2014. Meanwhile, global oil demand growth is expected to climb to a five-year high of 1.7 million bpd or 1.8 per cent in 2015, before moderating to a still-above-trend 1.4 million in 2016; 0.2 million more in the previous IEA report. In 2014, growth stood at a five-year low of 0.8 mil-

lion bpd. As a result, the world would need much more crude from OPEC, the IEA said. It estimated that the group would need to pump around 31.3 million bpd in 2016, 0.5 million bpd more than the forecast in the previous IEA report to balance the market. In the second half of 2016, OPEC would need to pump some 32 million bpd, which would be the first time the world would require more oil than the group cur-

rently produces. OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, has been pumping much more oil than the market needed over the past year, resulting in global oversupply and a price crash. Oil prices are set to remain at the current six-year lows for the rest of 2015, the boss of the country’s largest oil and gas company warned. In a related development, Ben van Beurden, the Chief Executive of Royal Dutch Shell, has stated that the oil industry should not expect

a quick rebound in the price of crude, just the day after another North Sea oil operator reported its first loss in 15 years. “The market will remain volatile in 2015, if only because for now, OPEC shows no sign of wanting to resume its role as swing supplier,” Mr van Beurden stated. “But for the longer term, I see no change to fundamental drivers of oil markets such as rising demand and the need for new supplies.”

Goldman Sachs predicts oil price may drop to $20/b Continues from pg27

hurt other countries, particularly those that rely heavily on commodity exports like Nigeria and Venezuela. And there is another reason to believe prices could fall much further before the oil market achieves a better balance. The collapse in prices from around $100

per barrel last year helped shore up demand in 2015, but that factor will fade. “Not only is emerging market growth slowing, but the benefits from lower prices are most likely behind us, as our modelling shows that they typically last 9-12 months,” Goldman Sachs noted. Moreover, the Nigerian Government led by Presi-

dent Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the need for economic diversification from reliance on crude exports to agriculture and tax revenues. The administration has appointed tested and trusted hands to reform the Federal Inland Revenue Services and the Nigeria Customs Services for improved revenue generation.

tivity, finding it unenforceable in the United States and holding Steven Donziger liable for RICO violations.

Global shale output decline will stabilise oil market — Russia Russia’s energy minister expects that cuts in global shale oil production, which has been hard hit by lower oil prices, will help stabilise the fragile oil market. Alexander Novak also reaffirmed that Russia, one of the world’s top oil producers, would not cut its own production as it would lead only to a short-term recovery with risks of subsequent slumps in prices. The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which accounts for around a third of global oil output, changed its policy in 2014 to defend market share and discourage competing supply sources, rather than cut its own output in the face of lower prices. “Shale oil has been leaving the market bit by bit. This is a good and positive signal, which allows one to say that the market will stabilise in mid-term,” Novak told Rossiya-24 TV in an interview aired on Thursday. After three years, in which US production grew on average by more than 1 million barrels per day (bpd) annually, US output is expected to expand by just 650,000 bpd on average in 2015 and then shrink by 400,000 bpd in 2016, according to the US Energy Information Administration. The price of oil, Russia’s chief export commodity, has more than halved since its peak in June 2014, mainly due to global oversupply and weaker economic growth in China, the world’s top energy consumer. Novak said the cost of shale oil production between $45 and $60 per barrel is seen as a benchmark for oil prices. He expects prices to be between $50 and $60 per barrel on average this year, in line with Russia’s budget forecasts.

businessnews

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

How Africa can solve its city slums problem — Omisore

fricans are pouring into towns and cities in search of jobs and other opportunities, but African cities - 25 of which are among the 100 fastest growing cities in the world, are not delivering the needed support services, including housing at the same rate as people are demanding them. Africa’s urbanisation rate of four per cent a year is already over-stretching the capacity of its cities to provide adequate shelter, water, sanitation, energy and even food for its growing population. As the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) launched in September 2000, UN-Habitat has largely succeeded in meeting the target of taking 10 million people out of slums by the time the MDGs expires this year in Asia, China and parts of India, but not in Africa. However, Tokunbo Omisore, past president of the African Architects Association, believes that Africa can solve its slums situation by planning and developing towns and cities that strike a balance in the provision of housing, water sanitation, energy and transport while luring investments to create jobs. According to Omisore, the problem lies in the fact that so far settlements have been developed for people but not with people, and he wonders if Africa wants the humane aspects of its cultural values and heritage reflected in its cities or has to replicate the cities of developed nations to become classified as developed. “Slums and sprawls demand understanding the reasons and problems re-

sulting in their existence and identifying the class of people living there,” said Omisore. “African governments focus on the infrastructural development of de-

veloped nations without consideration for the human development of our different communities and ensuring creation of employment opportunities which is key to the sus-

Gbemi Solaja – Lagos

the rural-urban links to arrive at African solutions for African problems, and called for a “campaign of marketing Africa and appreciating what is African.”

From left: Company Secretary, Sovereign Trust Insurance (STI) Plc, Yetunde Martins; Chairman, Ephraim Faloughi; Managing Director/CEO, Wale Onaolapo and Vice Chairman, Oluseun Ajayi, at the 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of STI Plc in Lagos.

LCCI urges Buhari’s intervention in CBN’s foreign exchange policies Gbemi Solaja – Lagos The Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently direct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reverse its policy on foreign exchange management to avoid further damage to the private sector and the economy at large The chamber noted that closure of the forex windows against certain businesses had caused great trouble for the economy and investors At its quarterly economy review, the President of the Chamber, Remi Bello added that some blue chip firms now default on their capital

inflows into the economy and were being undermined “The CBN measures are taking a huge toll on investors in the free trade zones. The policies are also a violation of the laws setting up free trade zones. Investors in the zone are currently in a quandary. “The goodwill that Nigerians enjoyed at the advent of this administration in the international business arena is beginning to be eroded by the foreign exchange crisis. There is risk of international isolation of Nigeria if current policies are not reversed,” Bello said. The chamber added that the economy was now faced with a scenario where there

Sovereign Trust confident of rebound after rough year Sovereign Trust Insurance has said despite dwindling fortune resulting from the harsh operating terrain, it is poised to regaining its strength to control better market share and improve its profit level with the implementation of new business model and deployment of competitive strategies. The company disclosed that its gross premium for the year ended 31st December 2014 stood at N7.2 billion, representing 16 per cent decline over a sum of N8.6 billion recorded in

tainability of our cities. People make the cities, not the other way around.” He posited that by redefining slums, policy-makers in Africa can work more on understanding

2013. It’s profit before tax declined 62 per cent from 2013 to N326 million in 2014, with the profit after tax decreasing by 68 per cent to close the year at N294 million from N929 million recorded in the previous year. He attributed the significant decrease in profit before tax to N582.99 million prior year adjustments on claims reserve passed on the 2013 accounts, saying the adjustments reduced the value of claims charged against the profit for the year and consequently increased the profit before

tax for 2013 from N274.85 million to N857.85 million. He added that the adjustment was deducted from the retained earnings and did not affect total equity. However, expressing optimism on future performance at its Annual General Meeting held in Lagos, its Chairman, Dr Ephraim Faloughi, said with an understanding of the dynamism of the business world, the company’s direction would be crafted to pro-actively envisage the likely opportunities that were inherent in the industry, while also working against possible threats.

was greater pressure to move funds out of the economy than to bring funds into the economy, likening it to a run on system. “This is a typical scenario which a confidence crisis could create. Future international trade transactions, financial and investment relations are now at risks. “Many small businesses

have moved to neighbouring countries to affect transfers to their suppliers abroad,” the chamber also said. The chamber resolved that the CBN should put in place policies that would encourage inflow of forex, adding that the Naira rate should be allowed to reflect the fundamentals of the foreign exchange market.

Nigerian Tribune

OPIC donates van, partner police on community policing By Joseph Ajayi Community Policing has been identified as one of the cardinal points for effective security measures to eradicate crimes and other social vices in the country. The Managing Director, Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC), Barrister Babajide Odusolu, stated this on Wednesday during the handing over of Security Patrol Van donated by the OPIC management to the Ogun State Police Command, Agbara Division. Barrister Odusolu represented by the General Manager, Agbara OPIC Estate, Taiwo Aridegbe, said security was a collective responsibility of every individual and concerned stakeholder, stressing the need for corporate support of the security agency. He noted that the vehicle donation was part of OPIC’s Corporate Social Responsibility in combating security threat which has plagued development in the area in the last decade. He, therefore, commended the Ogun State Police Command for its collaboration with the state government to foster peaceful environment in the state, adding that the safety of the people was part of the agenda of Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s administration to secure lives and property in the state.

FCMB wins most customer-friendly bank award One of Nigeria’s foremost financial services provider, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has added another feather to its cap having emerged the “Most Customer Friendly Bank” in the country, at the prestigious annual BusinessDay Bankers Awards held on Friday, at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos. The Bank which recently refreshed its brand with unique and differentiating identity was voted after a rigorous process where several parameters were considered by the award team. The bank, during the citation was said to have also resolved the highest number of customers’ complaints, relative to total complaints recorded in 2014 financial year. In a release by the BusinessDay group, the award was introduced in 2013, by the nation’s premier finan-

cial newspaper to reward excellence, achievements and recognise contributions made in the banking industry, and ultimately the nation’s economy. The publication further said that “since its introduction, it has engendered a healthy competition among deposit money banks in Nigeria, with a view to promoting the development of the banking sector in Africa’s largest economy”. Reacting on the awards, the representative of the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of First City Monument Bank Limited, Mr Ladi Balogun, Adam Nuru, who is the Bank’s Executive Director, Business Development said “we are happy to have come tops in the Most Customer Friendly Bank Category of the Awards by the BusinessDay Group which is a very credible

and highly respected professional organisation. “It is a testimony which confirms our unequalled commitment in offering exceptional quality service to our teeming customers and the Nigerian public”. “At FCMB, we pamper our customers who have made us who we are today. We go the extra miles to satisfy them. FCMB will continue to invest in customer experience while providing simple, helpful and reliable banking that is driven by excellent technology and inclusive lending practices,” Nuru submitted. The CEO dedicated the award to all employees and explained that the Bank has launched several simple, friendly, innovative technology-driven customer-centric offers and mobile banking applications to facilitate speedy access to solutions via self-service, even while on the go.

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015 Group Politics Editor Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 tai_adis@yahoo.com

The Senate on August 13 shocked the nation when it announced it was venturing into a probe of the power sector since 1999. It was a road once plied by the lower chamber of the National Assembly, which got its fingers burnt in the process. Group Politics Editor, TAIWO ADISA, examines the push this time and the initial findings of the power probe.

Senate: What manner of power probe?

N August 13, the Senate announced an unprecedented course of action, indicating its decision to institute a probe into the nation’s power sector since the start of the current democratic era in 1999. The daunting decision was taken sequel to a motion by the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, whose motion was principally seeking immediate reconnection of parts of Borno State to the national grid. Ndume had lamented the blackout in the Borno axis as a result of the ongoing war against insurgency. While moving the motion, the Senator had expressed concern that Nigeria with a growing population well over 150 million has been unable to produce stable power for its citizens, despite the huge investments in the sector. He said that while Nigeria, with such population, produces only 4,600 megawatts, South Africa with population of about 40 million people, produces 40,000 megawatts. He stated that the continued blackout in Borno, as well as the depreciation in power supply across the country, had slowed down economic activities and led to the collapse of a number of industries. According to him, whereas the installed capacity of Nigeria stands at about 5,000 megawatts, the output had at a stage gone down to as low as 1,950 megawatts. He declared that it was disheartening seeing countries with smaller populations doing far better than Nigeria in the energy sector. For instance, he noted that Iran, with some 70 million people, generates about 42,000 megawatts, while South Korea with about 35 million, generates about 60,000 megawatts of electricity. He submitted: “I buy diesel to run my generator set and that costs me N10, 000 per day. No country can be said to be near development when there is no power. “This Senate needs to investigate to give the government support. For years now, a lot of money has been spent but, there is nothing to show for it.” Senators, who contributed to the debate, backed Ndume’s submission, as they condemned the failure of the government and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to provide uninterrupted power supply across the country. The Senate therefore resolved to set up a 13-member ad-hoc committee to probe the power sector from 1999; ascertain the funds so far committed, and examine the management of the funds so far appropriated for the sector since 1999. The committee is headed by Senator Abubakar Kyari. Two weeks after the Senate assigned the

Saraki

As the senators suspend sittings, in preparation of the expected public hearing on the matter, it was apparent that the members had started feeling the pinch of the burden on their necks. For instance, the committee chairman did not take long to attribute the embarrassing power outages to possible sabotage. huge task to Kyari and others, Senate President Bukola Saraki, inaugurated the committee. At the brief ceremony in the Senate, he told the committee to ensure a thorough work so as to guarantee uninterrupted power supply to the country. He said the immediate concern of the 8th Senate was to use

every legislative instrument at its disposal to ensure that “light replaces the darkness” in Nigeria. The Senate President said: “You will recollect in my earlier address on the June 9 when I said that Nigerians will begin to see a proactive National Assembly that will de-

vote itself to rigorous thinking; a National Assembly that will roll up its sleeves to forge a new and prosperous Nigeria. “Our economy cannot be prosperous without us addressing the problems of the power sector. The sector is a key driver of the economy. Whatever we do in trying to address the problems of the sector is essential in trying to rebuilding economy. The power challenges that we have are real. They are serious and many. “There is work to be done concerning our power and that is why you will recollect that we debated seriously on all the issues in the power sector and in response, we made a resolution and agreed that an ad-hoc committee be quickly set up, to be charged with the responsibility of oversight and to tackle the issue of generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in Nigeria. “Our concern is to see that we can use every legislative instrument at our disposal to ensure that light replaces the darkness we have.” He acknowledged that the task before the committee was a huge and daunting one but insisted that no sacrifice was too much to guarantee Nigerians uninterrupted power supply. “I believe that the task before you is huge and it is to ensure that this sector must be productive, efficient, accountable and transparent,” he said. Senator Kyari also assured the Senate and Nigerians that his committee, would carry out its assignment objectively. Kyari said: “It is in line with this objective that the committee will be seeking explanations from the Management of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on the terms of their management contract with the Federal Government as it relates to assets inherited, funds injected into the company so far and the achievements recorded. “There have been a lot of unwholesome practices by some of these companies. The committee has to get down to the root of these problems, especially where provisions have been made in the past, through appropriation, prior to privatization and funds were not properly utilized. We must therefore find out what brought us to this sorry state. We are on a fact-finding mission and will pursue our mandate objectively.” On September 8, the committee set out on its duties, calling the strategic stakeholders to question. Naturally, the first pot of call was the Ministry of Power, which was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Godknows Igali. Other stakeholders on hand at the first sitting included the Director- General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Benjamin Dikki; chairman of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Sam Amadi and some of the Managing Directors of electriccontinues pg31

politics&policy

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Of past probes and the Senate continued from pg33

ity Distribution Companies (DISCOs). Senator Kyari left no one in doubt of the assignment at hand, when he declared that the power sector deserved a closer look especially the power value chain including the generation, transmission and distribution, adding that the abysmal performance of the generation segment had left Nigeria prostate at 4,600 Megawatts for a population of over 170 million people. He further said: “The issue of turnaround maintenance, gas pipeline vandalisation, just to mention but a few are some of the teething problems bedeviling the sector. We must address it now in order to stem this destructive tide. The committee will beam its searchlight in this direction to put things in proper perspectives. “Having realised that the Transmission Segment is the major linkage between the generation and distribution fronts, increasing our capacity in this direction is also very necessary, since power produced must be utilised immediately. Deteriorating infrastructures in this segment must be addressed forthwith. The committee attaches great importance to this and would work assiduously in ensuring that all these leakages or slippages in this area are brought to the front burner and death with. “It is in line with this objective that the Committee will be seeking explanations from the Management of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on the terms of their Management Contract with the Federal Government as it relates to assets inherited, funds injected into the Company so far and the achievement recorded. “ The Committee was told that the sum of N2.74 trillion has been expended on the power sector by the Nigerian Government between 1999 and 2015. While the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Igali told the committee that the sum of N948 billion was released to the Ministry of Power within the period, the balance of N1.6 trillion was spent by the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) which drew its funds from the Excess Crude Account (ECA). The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Mr James Olotu, who disclosed the expenditure on the NIPP, said that the projects had so far gulped $8.23 billion which is about N1.64 trillion. Igali however refused to speak with the usual tongue-in-cheek attitude of Ambassadors when he revealed that former military heads of state, who administered the country from 1983, when power was seized from President Shehu Shagari, to 1999, simply refused to equip the sector. He disclosed that out of 79 power generation units during the time, only 19 power stations were functioning and that there was no new power plant put in place from 1991 to 1999 when the Shiroro power plant came on stream. He stated that the power sector depreciated largely, as no engineer was recruited for 19 years of the military. Igali stated further that former President Olusegun Obasanjo laid the foundation of the revival of the sector, when he became President in 1999, adding that “When democracy came, the government inherited the sector that had not made capital investment for a long time and not a single engineer was recruited in 19 years. He stated: “Despite the effort at investment by government, we have not been able to invest in a consistent manner in the power sector.”Investment from government

Obasanjo

Yar’Adua

The probe of the Petroleum Technology Trust Fund (PTDF) in the 5th Senate remains a reference point. The controversy generated by the probe between Obasanjo and the then Vice President Atiku and the private sector must go up gradually but consistently as fluctuation will not help in our economic development. I do know that despite government’s effort at funding power sector, the nation continues to experience epileptic power supply, however it takes time to stabilize.” He said, Obasanjo inherited a power generation that peaked at 1,750 megawatt ensured the reform of the sector and key investments which started putting the sector back on track. He stated that although the sum of N1.5 trillion was appropriated for the sector in 16 years, only N959, 195,372,089 billion was released. He gave a breakdown of the allocation thus: “In 1999, N11,205,842,051 was appropriated, but N6,697,964,119 was released; in 2000, N59,064,381,817 was appropriated, N49,784,641,521 was released; in 2001, N103, 397,000,000 was appropriated, with NN70,927,000,000 released; in 2002, N54,647,252,061 was appropriated, N41,196,117,172 was released; in 2003, N55,583,099,000 was appropriated and N5,207,500,000 was released; in 2004, N54,647, 252,061 was appropriated, N54, 647,252,061 released; in 2005, N90,282,833,404 was appropriated, N71,888,606,274 was released; in 2006, N74,308,240, 085 was appropriated, N74. 3 billion released; in 2007, N100 billion was appropriated, N99.8 billion released; in 2008, N156 billion appropriated, N112 billion released and in 2009, N89. 5 was appropriated and N87 billion was released. He gave further details as including the figures for 2010, when the sum of N172 billion was appropriated but N70 billion was

released; in 2011, N125 billion was appropriated, N61 billion was released; in 2012, N197. 9 was appropriated and N53. 5 was released; in 2013, N146 billion was appropriated and N49 billion was released; in 2014, N69.8 billion was appropriated and N48 billion was released and in 2015, N5, 240,000,000 was appropriated with no amount released so far. He also said that the sum of N155 billion, from the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) was released as intervention fund for the Ministry to cushion the effects of the shortfalls in expenditure for the power sector between 2009 and 2013. He gave the breakdown of the intervention fund for the five years as including the sum of N30.8 billion released in 2009; N43.2 billion released in 2010; in 2011, N37.0 billion was released; in 2012, N11.5 billion released and in 2013, the sum of N32.6 billion was released. His submissions were largely interrupted by power outages which led to suspicions of sabotage. Power went out at least on eight occasions, with officials and Senators resorting to improvised power sources. Power went out at least eight times, in 10 to 15 minutes intervals, leading to the resort to usage of rechargeable lamps and torchlights and telephone camera lights. Apart from Igali and the Committee chairman, others whose submissions were interrupted included the Director- General of the BPE, Benjamin Dikki, Chairman of NERC, Dr Amadi and some top officials of Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs). A frustrated Kyari said that the lawmakers suspected sabotage and that the Senators would investigate the cause of the incessant disruptions.

A gloomy picture of the power sector environment was painted by the Managing Director of the Enugu Distribution Company, Mr. Robert Dickerman, who spoke on behalf of the Distribution Companies when he said that the companies are losing the sum of N20 billion on a monthly basis. He stated that power investors in the country are running huge losses due to a variety of factors including non-metering of over 50 percent electricity consumers, with another 30 percent of consumers not on the billing system of electricity providers. He also lamented that the promise of N100 billion subsidy made by the Federal Government was yet to be paid. The submission was supported by the Chief Executive Officer of Ibadan Electricity Generating Company, Adeoye Fagbembi, who also spoke on behalf of the six GENCOs. Director General of the BPE, Benjamin Dikki however calmed the nerved when he disclosed that the Central Bank of Nigeria has already paid N5bn out of the N100bn promised by the Federal Government. He agreed that the sector is presently being run at a loss by the investors but stated that the initial hiccups were envisaged by the Bureau which he said had embedded the challenges in the performance agreement reached with the investors. The following day, the Senate Committee went into closed session to review the submissions made so far. The Chairman, Senator Kyari however told newsmen that the N2.7 trillion figures reported by the media as expenses on the sector so far cannot be the final figure as according to him only two of the stakeholders have so far submitted figures. He said that when all the subsectors finished making presentations, the figure would surely go beyond what has been so far uncovered. As the senators suspend sittings, in preparation of the expected public hearing on the matter, it was apparent that the members had started feeling the pinch of the burden on their necks. For instance, the committee chairman did not take long to attribute the embarrassing power outages to possible sabotage. But the concerns are not just about possible sabotage of the committee. There are fears that the committee might have embarked on a wild goose chase. The House of Representatives committee on Power headed by Hon Ndudi Elumelu, between late 2008 and early 2009 embarked on a nationwide tour of power projects in the course of the celebrated power probe. The committee initially announced the loss of $16 billion by Nigeria on the sector under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The figures however never really tallied. While the committee bandied a $16 billion figure, the CBN released a figure in the region of $5 billion. Controversy eventually swallowed the work of the committee, leading to the House repudiating its report. The senate itself is not a stranger to controversial probes. The probe of the Petroleum Technology Trust Fund (PTDF) in the 5th Senate remains a reference point. The controversy generated by the probe between Obasanjo and the then Vice President Atiku Abubakar forced a probe within probe, after minority reports obstructed initial submissions. Can the Senate Committee come clean of scandals and controversy and get to the roots of the issues in the power sector? That is the huge challenge before Kyari and his committee members.

politics&policy

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

As Dickson crosses first hurdle… Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, last week, formally declared his intention to contest for a second term of office. DEPUTY EDITOR DAPO FALADE, who was at the event, reports:

HE early morning rainfall was initially seen as a demoraliser, with many fearing that the turnout would be poor. However, the reverse was the case and the attendance was huge, as several leaders, party faithful, members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, nay the entire South-South and, by extension, some parts of the South-West, converged, in large numbers, on the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in the heart of Yenagoa, the state capital, Monday, last week. At the centre of the event was the public declaration of intention by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson to, once again, contest for the post he presently occupies in the election scheduled for December 5, 2015. As early as 9:45 am, the stadium was already filled to capacity, as supporters of Dickson and numerous PDP members had seated, waiting for the formal declaration of the governor. Not even the rain could dampen the spirit of the gathering, including various women and youth groups, civil society organisations, the intelligentsia, leading bureaucrats, some notable faces in the Nollywood, including Zack Orji, Rosemary Mgbi, Yemi Black, Ngozi Nwosu, Stepnora Okere, Pere Bartholomew, Ofia and student union leaders and members. Ordinarily, the gathering would not have been spectacular in a state which PDP has been dominating since 1999. The party had, consecutively produced the governor of the state in the four elections conducted from 1999. But two factors are principally coming into the fore ahead the next governorship election in the state. First is the fact that this is not the best of times for the once-upon-a-time ruling party which spheres of influence dominated virtually all parts of the country. Its intention to rule the country for 60 years was upended in the last general election, a defeat the party has yet to recover from. While it is true that PDP still has a controlling influence in the South-South, having been able to retain its foothold in the region by overwhelmingly winning the elections in four of the six states that make up the zone: Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Cross Rivers, it is not without a doubt that the outcome of the petitions against the elections is unpredictable, especially as it concerns AkwaIbom and Rivers states. The All Progressives Congress (APC), buoyed by its takeover of the central government, is keen on winning the two states considered the financial engine room of the South-South zone. Another factor that made the turn out at the Dickson’s declaration for a second term of office more instructive was the speculation initially being spread that there was no love lost between the governor and some of his political godfathers, especially former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience. The insinuation then was that the former First Family, especially the wife, was not interested in Dickson returning to office in 2016. However, all speculations were laid to

Dickson rest as Jonathan and his wife not only made their first appearance at a political gathering since after leaving office on May 29, 2015, but also publicly announced, at the venue of the declaration, the incumbent governor as their preferred and anointed candidate for the governorship election in their home state. The event also witnessed the presence of other PDP heavyweights, including, the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and Governor NyesomWike of Rivers, as well as the first civilian governor of Bayelsa, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, whom some people had speculated earlier was eyeing the office on the platform of APC. The roll call was indeed endless, as many PDP leaders from within and outside the South-South all reeled out various messages in support of Dickson’s second term ambition. Jonathan, who came to the rostrum at exactly 3:38pm, spoke in Pidgin English, apparently identifying with his people at the grassroot level and more, importantly to

bring his message nearer home. He spoke about his conviction that there should be continuity in the state, given his experience as a former president, who knew and understood the peculiar problems of most of the states in the federation, as well as problems confronting the Federal Government. While many of the states are going aborrowing, the former president said Bayelsa, under the Dickson administration, remained one of the least indebted. Also while many states are still battling to pay workers’ salary, Jonathan noted that Dickson had done well in the payment of workers’ salary. He said Dickson had done creditably well by initiating several visible infrastructural projects and programmes, including road construction, hospitals, schools, agriculture, and so on. “When somebody is doing something good, it is good to talk about it. He has built a flyover in Yenagoa and the one I found most interesting is the Ebeni Bridge. This is because I remembered the day I became the state governor, if you look at Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states, you will know

The election that is coming is beyond Dickson; the election is for us as a people to redefine and reposition ourselves in the Nigerian geopolitics.

Jonathan that Bayelsa is more riverine than the other two because we have more rivers. Bayelsa is also more delta than Delta State because the whole of the state is mud. That was why I then said that, every year, I would be building one bridge. I could not do it then because there was no money, though that was my aspiration. But when you see somebody who is focused, you will know,” he said. The former president also gave Dickson kudos on security, saying, “I was the president before; I know that security is in the hand of the president, unlike in some other places like the United States, where the communities and even the local government areas have their own police and soldiers. We don’t have such and if the state is not in a good relationship with the Federal Government, the government at the centre alone cannot ensure security for the state. Dickson has, again, tried in the issue of security.” Taking a swipe at the Ijaw people for the lack of unity among them, Jonathan said, “What is worrying us is that we know how to spoil and destroy ourselves; we do take our mouth to kill ourselves; we sell ourselves to other people. We don’t like progress and success and if we continue in that spirit, Bayelsa will not develop. “We should allow Dickson to do his eight years. We have good boys and girls, men and women in PDP; we also have good boys and girls, men and women in the other parties. But we know that, this time, Dickson is the best person for us for another four continues pg33

politics&policy

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Governor Dickson; former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan and Alamiesyeseigha durint the rally. continued from pg33

years. Those who want to become governor should come and work with us. When Dickson finishes his second term of office, we will look for the best among them and give him the position. “Now that we are struggling to kill ourselves: I know what they have done before but I don’t want to talk. I was in the state for eight years and I was also in Abuja for eight years; we know ourselves. I don’t want to talk but at the appropriate time. I am begging everyone of us to come together, let us make the state grow. We should think about our children and our grandchildren; we should not be thinking about ourselves alone. “As leaders of the state, we promise you and the leadership of our party that we are totally committed to delivering Dickson. Most of the speakers said it all, that the Dickson project is our common project. The election that is coming is beyond Dickson; the election is for us as a people to redefine and reposition ourselves in the Nigerian geopolitics and I believe supporting Dickson is the best thing now. Dickson will never betray our interest; he will continue to work with us for our future.” When Governor Mimiko took over the microphone, he acknowledged the achievements of Jonathan while in office and declared, “Mr President, you must take solace in one fact your subscription to liberal democratic ethos, the civilised ethos of democracy is what has produced the opposition. So, when they attempt to demonise you, just thank God for your life. If it had not been for your disposition, there may never had been an APC government in Nigeria and perhaps, this country would probably be in the throes of warfare by now. But God has sent you, to use you to keep our nation together. The good Lord will continue to bless you.” Addressing the issue at hand, he told the gathering that PDP governors from other parts of the country were in support if the second term ambition of Dickson. “Since we came in, we have interacted with people. We are very proud of your investment in education; we are proud of your investment in health care; we are proud of your investment and concern about job creation; we are proud of your integrated industrial development plan. We have no doubt in our mind that you are

He is the best man for the job —Jonathan lifting your people from poverty. You are redefining the dignity of the Ijaw man by eliminating poverty in this land. “Let me end on this note: Nigeria has given the Ijaw man an uncommon opportunity; Nigerians elected an Ijaw man to be vice president of this country; Nigerians elected and stood by an Ijaw man to be acting president and we gave him our bites to be the president of this country. The question is this, ‘How is the Ijaw man going to pay PDP? Are you going to turn your back on PDP?’ Alamieyeseigha, in his solidarity message, said, “By God’s grace, PDP will continue to rule this state. The governor has done creditably well and we know that you will take us and the state to the next level. All Bayelsans should come out and vote for our governor on that fateful day.” Giving reasons the governor must return to office in 2016, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Friday Benson, said he had performed well. “As we are talking, over 50 projects are in my constituency. All the people of Bayelsa State, having got what we were looking for, why would we not continue to support our governor? We are ready to suspend anybody who will not deliver this party. If you are not able to deliver your ward; if you are not able to deliver your constituency, the leadership has decided, you will remain suspended,” he added. Speaking on behalf of the Bayelsa State Caucus in the National Assembly, Senator Oscar said all PDP lawmakers in the national legislature were unanimous in endorsing Dickson for a second term. “We

want to confirm that everything that has been said about Governor Dickson are true; they are correct; they are facts that can be proved. Another name for Governor Dickson is ‘Development’- infrastructural development, educational development, health development, power sector development, road development, manpower development. We can continue to count but today is a confirmation of what he had done. “I want to point out the fact that this people who are clamouring to take over power in Bayelsa State were overwhelmingly voted out in 2012 for bad performance. These people clamouring to take over power, I want to remind you Bayelsans, are greedy human beings; they are bread and butter politicians. A former militant leader, Mujahedeen Asari-Dokubo, was thunderous and warlike in his call for support for the re-election of the governor. He alleged that the Ijaw Nation had been betrayed and backstabbed by many people, both from within and beyond the state, charging that the people must resist all attempts by APC to win the election in December. “Nobody, nobody, wherever he is, can move the Ijaw Nation; we have never been conquered. The British should be asked and all those who have come against us with their money and their power; they know that the Ijaw Nation has never been conquered. This is beyond Seriake Dickson; it is not the fight of Seriake Dickson. It is my fight; it is your fight; it is every Ijaw’s fight. We will never be disgraced. On December 5, 2015, we will all be pres-

We have concrete records of performance in all sectors, not empty talks, not propaganda... It is the government of stability and political tolerance.

ent. They boasted to us that they control the army, the police, the Navy, DSS and INEC. We will meet them on that day”, Dokubo said. When Governor Dickson eventually took over the microphone, he was full of praises for his two political mentors and PDP leaders, Jonathan and Alamieyeseigha. He said the urge to contest again was to re-dedicate and consolidate on the restoration programmes started by his administration, almost four years ago, adding that the vision would be on how to deepen and consolidate security and stability, development and prosperity in Bayelsa State. “As we are here, some people assembled here in this same venue sometime ago and they said there will be few people; that there will be no PDP. I am sure that from wherever they are watching from today, they have seen all of you; all the leaders who make things happen in the various units, in the various communities, in the various wards and in the various local government areas. They have not seen anything yet. From what we are seeing from you, the enthusiasm and dedication that you have demonstrated always and especially today, there is no doubt that they will hereyour voice loudly on the December 5, this year”, he said. He noted that APC was not on ground in the state and to buttress his claim, the governor said PDP has all the 105 councillors; all the local government chairmen; 21 out of 23 legislators as against one by APC (while there is still a pending case on the remaining one); three serving senators and five members in the House of Representatives. “On top of this, you have a governor and a deputy governor-your countryman and talk and do governor. The other party does not have yet and they will never have too. He added that Bayelsa State had no room for APC, adding, “The other party also has no message for us. We don’t even know who their officials are in this state. The only thing we hear; the boasting we hear in town is not because they have programmes and a message for our people. It is not because they have you, the people, behind them. But they say they federal might; they have police; they have INEC. But we have you and we have God. So, they will lose and we will win. Will you because of that threat allow them to take Bayelsa by force? Will you allow them to intimidate you? “The good news is that they cannot win this state; they are not on ground in this state. They are not our match. We are with you, the country people, doing your work. They are operating from Abuja and Lagos. Are those the people you want? The good news also is that unknown to some of their leaders, even in this state, the other side has become a parastatal of PDP and after their primary, we will appoint for them an interim management committee but we will wind them up properly on December 5, 2015 in this glorious and proud land of a proud and illustrious people; the Jerusalem of the Ijaw Nation. “We have concrete records of performance; not empty talks, not propaganda in all sectors. You have a government that emphasises in transparency and accountability and we are changing the governance culture. Your government is the government of stability and political tolerance. When they were there; when those people contest elections, they do so with billets, dynamites and bombs. Here in this government, even when they came to campaign against us, you saw the tolerance we displayed. They were all over, holding rallies and nobody molested or harassed anybody. We even gave them this stadium to use.

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

inside

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08065167178

nigerdelta

Port Harcourt timber sellers and litany of laments Uduaksbasi Patrick - Port Harcourt

IMBER could be best described as wood prepared for building and carpentry. History has it that timber is one of the most popular materials in the world, as it could be used for heavy duty construction and interior designs denture, skyscrapers, boats and house roofing and several others. One could also say that timber is one of the few natural building materials that have a lot of advantages as it is not toxic; does not leak chemical vapour and is safe to handle and touch. Given its importance and values, timber business is a common feature and article of trade that could be found in almost all towns and villages globally. Because of its essential values, it will not be out of place to draw the conclusion that no part of the society can do without the use of timber because timber works could be found in virtually all the homes and human habitats. As obtainable elsewhere, there is a section in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, where timbers are also sold. The multi-purpose timber market is about the biggest market in the Port Harcourt metropolis. There, many people, including the low and mighty, are eking out a living as timber merchants, selling their prized article of trade.

Piles of hewn timbers However, dealers of the product have continually been lamenting neglect of the market by successive administrations in the state. They have been complaining mainly of lack of basic infrastructure that can make trading in the market less cumbersome and more rewarding. Speaking with InsideNigerDelta, the chairman of the Port

A saw mill in Port Harcourt

Harcourt Timber Market, Mr Casmir Uzoagba, said that the market had not enjoyed electricity in the last 15 years, adding that all the traders did was to use their own generators. “In the past 15 years in this market, we have been making use of generators. We do not have light and there is no transformer given to the market for light and it has been very difficult for us to meet our target”, he said. Uzoagba also disclosed that there was no security in the market as hoodlums disturbed sales in the area, while pirates did disturb those of them who brought in timber through the sea. “We also call on the government to fortify the security in this area. For us, we will suggest that the government build a police station in the area to curb crime and by doing so, there would be improved sales. “As the timbers are being transported to this place through the river, our colleagues run into so

Epie/Attisa clan Don’t abandon celebrates Paulker’s Maritime varsity, community Ijaws beg Buhari —pg39 —pg38 services

many of pirates who always strip them of their belongings. So many loggers coming in from Bayelsa State have been complaining. We need the intervention of the government”, he said. Another trader, who spoke with InsideNigerDelta, was Mr Okechukwu Worenwu. Worenwu, also a former chairman of the market association, said the government should help the market in constructing a good road to enable free flow of movements in the market. “Just like in other markets, they should construct or work on the road for us from the major road to the water front. We want the government to construct a good road within the market”, he said. The former market chairman also told InsideNigerDelta that despite the revenue paid to the state Ministries of Environment and Agriculture and the promises of empowerment made to them by the last administration, they had been sidelined. “We have been suffering. We have filled a lot of forms with the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture. We have been paying our revenues to the Ministry of Environment for airborne diseases and to the Agriculture Forest Guard under the Forestry Department. We are even members of FAAN. “The last commissioner in the

Ministry of Environment promised that he was going to empower us. He brought forms and we did everything they asked us to do, but until he left, he never empowered any of the persons in the market”, he said. Werendu further lamented the state of insecurity in the market and on the sea where the timbers were brought. He said: “The sea pirates, in the last three weeks, attacked people that were bringing in the timbers through the river and collected their engines worth one million naira. They were stranded but another boat was able to help them down to the market”.

CREW

Dapo Falade -Rivers 08078891924 lasep09@gamil.com Ebenezer Adurokiya -Delta 08060113609 ebenezeradurokiya@gmail.com Banji Aluko - Edo 08067030572 adebanjialuko@yahoo.com Alphonsus Agborh 08035838703 Austin Ebipade - Bayelsa 08065400743 austinebipade@gmail.com

35 insidenigerdelta Austin Ebipade - Yenagoa

VER what the they described exceptional services, Epie/Attisa people in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have heaved a sigh of relief from the perceived neglect they had had to grapple with as their son, Senator Emmanuel Paulker has rendered exceptional services to his community. The name Paulker stands tall in Epie/ Atissa clan not because he is a Senator, but for the uncommon services enjoyed by the people of Epie/Atissa clan. It’s also significant that Epie/Atissa people are the landlord to the state government, as almost all government edifices, agencies as well as “Creek Haven”, the Bayelsa State government’s seat of power, are built on the Epie/ Atissa land. However, the people found joy and succour in their son, Senator Paulker whose contribution to the development of Epie/ Atissa clan has given them course to forget the sad memories of neglect in the state. In a mood of gratitude, the traditional class, political class, women group, youth groups and the aged persons in the clan, rolled out their drums to appreciate Senator Paulker for the quality services delivered to the clan. While his serving a third term in the National Assembly is no longer news, Senator Paulker, in his testimony, told the people of Epie/Atissa that as a young boy, who hails from Opolo Community in the Epie/Atissa clan, he had a humble beginning- from his father’s mud settlement where he deployed hurricane lamp to study in order to obtain a good grade, adding that with a dint of hardwork, he graduated from University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he obtained his first degree in Biochemistry. Senator Paulker has, since being a young adult, continued to assume leadership positions till date. His sterling qualities endeared him to the traditional class, as they gave him the highest chieftaincy title “Oyon-Mu-Adukoni I of Epie Kingdom for the good works embarked on and completed in the Epie/Atissa clan. In 1999, he served as Commissioner for Land and Housing, and thereafter contested election to represent the Bayelsa Central Senatorial district in the National Assembly and won in 2007, 2011 and 2015, thereby breaking a record as the only Senator to return to the National Assembly for a third term. Within the period, Senator Paulker has given scholarships to and assisted over 50 youths to gain employments in different government establishments in the country. Other projects are construction/installation of 20 computers and other accessories with internet facilities and furniture in four communities, six classroom blocks with headmaster office/staff room and toilets in seven communities, comprehensive health centre in Opolo, replicated in seven other communities. Also to his credit are the rehabilitation of

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Epie/Attisa clan celebrates Paulker’s community services

Paulker the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, donor to constituency projects and supply of medical drugs to health centres in Igbogene, Amarata, Agbura, Tein-Biseni and opolo communities. Senator Paulker also embarked on drilling of borehole (Solar) and treatment plant, construction of overhead tanks as well as distribution of one kilometre PVC water reticulation network in six communities in Epie/Atissa clan, which was extended to other communities outside Epie/ Atissa within his senatorial district. Basking in the euphoria of the peopleoriented projects, the people of Epie/Atissa have reiterated their readiness to give him 100 per cent support to aspire to any lead-

ership position he desires to reciprocate the good works. Paramount Ruler of Opolo Autonomous community, Chief Richard Akintola, said Senator Paulker had distinguished himself as a statesman who did not want society to suffer surmountable challenges, particularly his Epie/Atissa people, stressing that instead of amassing wealth for self aggrandisement which is a common practice among political office holders, he (Paulker) chose to impact positively to make life meaningful for societal development and his people. He noted that several thatch roofs blown away by rainstorm in the clan were replaced by the Senator while aged persons in

Community youths hail NPDC contractor over empowerment Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri UGHIEVWEN Youth Leaders Association (UYLA) in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State has commended the management of LEE Engineering and

Construction Company, for support and assistance given to host communities as regard Utorogun Gas Plant. The company is a major contractor to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

Don’t abandon Maritime varsity, Ijaws beg Buhari Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri ELDERS and leaders of Ijaw in Delta State have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari not to abandon the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU) in Okerenkoko town, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. This plea came on the heels of media report that President Buhari had directed the management of the Nigerian Maritime Safety and Administration (NIMASA) to stop ongoing works at the site of the university.

the various communities had continued to enjoy monthly incentives from him (Senator Paulker) to improve their wellbeing. Akintola averred that the Central Epie Secondary School was the brain child of Senator Paulker, as was the Yenagoa Rural Development Authority while over 60 per cent concrete walkway had been constructed in the communities to outlaw cases of restricted movement within the communities owing to the challenge of muddy soil during rainy seasons. Continuing, he noted that through his (Paulker’s) private outfit, Emmanuel Educational Foundational Scheme (EEFS), deserving students of his Senatorial district, particularly his Epie/Atissa people, have continued to enjoy scholarships to institutions within and outside the country. Aside, Akintola posited that those with no formal education were not left out, as they also benefited through several skills acquisition programmes initiated by the Senator; and that the gesture had ended youth restiveness in Epie/Atissa clan, while those that had completed their programmes and assisted with starter packs and take off grants were now employers of labour in the state. The Opolo Paramount Ruler alluded that the people had expressed their readiness to stand by him even if he desired to aspire to govern the oil and gas rich state, against the backdrop that no son of Epie/Atissa had assumed leadership at that level. He, however, extolled the simplicity and sagacity of Senator Paulker, who has served as Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Upstream and Downstream in 2011, praying that other politicians in Epie/Atissa clan would emulate Senator Paulker’s philanthropic works and begin to impact positively on the society and give mankind a sense of belonging. The Senator, in his submission, attributed all he had done to the Almighty, stressing that without His guidance, health and protection, it would have been difficult for him to achieve the feats and thanked the people for their show of love to him and his family, even as he solicited their continued cooperation and support for his future endeavours.

The Ijaw leaders, in a statement issued by Chief Beck Hitler and made available to InsideNigerDelta on Monday, said the report could not be true as Buhari would not give such directive to frustrate the ongoing construction in the university. “The reported stoppage of the ongoing construction at the site of the university on the instruction of President Buhari cannot be true because the university is a Federal Government’s institute designed to benefit all Nigerians irrespective of tribes and political affiliation.”

“The Nigerian Maritime University at Okerenkoko, when completed, will benefit the Hausas, Ibos and Yorubas including every other tribe in Nigeria as they will send their children to the university and that is why President Buhari cannot stop the construction work at the university,” the leaders stated. They urged the people of Niger Delta region to continue to support the government of President Buhari in its efforts to transform Nigeria, particularly the development of the oil-rich region.

The youth leaders made this known at a meeting on Monday in Warri. They expressed gratitude to LEE Engineering and Construction Company for adhering to the local content act in its dealings with the host communities. Chairman of the association, Comrade Kenneth Mukoro, also revealed that LEE Engineering and Construction Company had trained youths of the communities and given them sustainable empowerments. He said the firm empowered the youths by subletting jobs to indigenous contractors, adding that other companies and NPDC contractors operating in the area should emulate LEE Engineering and Construction company. Mukoro further passed a vote of confidence on the company, assuring that youths of the host communities would continue to provide a peaceful and enabling environment for investors.

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Edited by: ‘Gbenga Opadotun olojaekuro@gmail.com 08037149731

I met only N500 in council’s treasury — New Wamba LG boss

HE Chairman, Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Mr Shuaibu MusaWayo, has said that he

met only N500 in the council’s treasury on assumption of office. “When I assumed office on March 24, 2014 as the chairman of this local

Hadejia LG constructs embankments to control flood Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa State, has commenced the construction of embankments on Hadejia River in order to check flood from flowing into residential quarters, the council secretary, said. The Secretary, Alhaji Abba Ari, told newsmen in Hadejia that the volume of water in the river was too high due to the rains. “The water is threatening the community and we are constructing embankments to control it from over flowing into the town,” he said. Ari said that the council had directed the Water and Sanitation Department to clear drains and evacuate wastes to ease flow of water. He added that the council was also draining water

at Mailolo and RaminGarko ponds. The secretary called on the people to desist from dumping wastes on water ways and keep their environment clean. Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives, Mallam Usman Ibrahim, has donated N200, 000 to Kafin-Hausa Community to facilitate the draining and clearing exercises. Ibrahim, who was represented by his Personal Assistant, Mr Isa Ashura, also donated 57 loads of sand to the community to enable them repair access roads washed away by flood. Ibrahim said the gesture was to assist the community and complement government’s efforts towards effective flood control.

government, running the council was very difficult because I met only N500 in the local government account. “The local government does not have befitting offices for the chairman, vice-chairman and secretary. “This prompted me to act immediately by giving all the offices a facelift to enhance effective government business with part of the N29 million SUREP Fund earmarked for the council,’’ he said. The chairman said he utilised the N29 million on the development of infrastructure in the local government. He said: “With the N29 million SURE-P fund, we renovated the General Hospital, Wamba, Wamba Market Hall, so that traders and buyers can have shelter, especially when rainfall. “I also used part of the fund to renovate the Speaker’s office and the legislative chamber. “Apart from that, I constructed a bridge on Millennium Quarters in Wamba and I also bought cars for council officials for effective supervision of the council’s activities. “I assisted a lot of people with hospital bills and

donated to the needy to alleviate their suffering,” he added. The council chief lauded the state governor, Tanko Al-Makura for his developmental strides in the state and called for its sustenance. He urged people in the council area to support President Muhammadu Buhari and Al-Makura to enable them deliver dividends of democracy to them. Musa-Wayo further urged the people in the local government area to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliation.

Polio: Dutse, Kiyawa LGs immunise 185,672 children No fewer than 111,010 children have been immunised against polio in Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State in the last round of immunisation. The Manager, National Programme on Immunisation in the area, Alhaji Suraj Muhammad, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse.

Lawmaker organises free medical for Bida LG residents Adelowo Oladipo Minna

About 400 people with various medical problems are to benefit from free medical treatment in Bida Local Government Area of Niger State. The member representing Bida North Constituency in the Niger State House of Assembly, Honourable BakoKashim Alfa, stated this in an interaction with newsmen in Minna, adding that the gesture was part of his campaign promises to mark his 100 days in the assembly. He further said that all those with eyes problem such as glaucoma, cataract, appendix and other medical and surgical cases, would be treated free, adding that the exercises would last for three days,

which would be announced very soon. Hon Bako added that another project which he wanted to embark on, was the distribution of free school uniforms to all the new intake into primary schools within the constituency In addition, he pointed out that part of his programmes was assistance to the victims of the recent downpour at Bida whose residential houses and commercial buildings were destroyed. He also explained that women empowerment was also part of his cardinal agenda, saying that each woman would be selected from every poling unit within the constituency for training in various skills acquisition.

Speaking further, Bako said the ecological problems affecting Bida and its environs in view of downpour that could not be handled by an individual, stressing that the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, was invited to assess the dam-

Gov. Tanko Al-Makura, Nasarawa State

ages to private and public properties in the affected areas. The legislator appealed to the people to be patient with the incumbent administration in the state, stressing that the expectations from the general public were too high.

The last round of polio immunisation was conducted between September 5 and September 9 across the 27 local government areas of the state. Muhammad said the state government supplied 66,360 doses of Oral Polio Vaccines for the conduct of the exercise. He said 121 non-compliance cases involving 224 children were recorded during the exercise in the area. The NPI manager said 15 out of the non-compliance cases were later resolved which led to the immunisation of 216 children, adding that eight cases were still pending. According to him, 2,736 children were absent during the exercise, but 2,710 were later made available for vaccination with 16 still pending. Muhammad said the NPI office would do everything possible to ensure that all

the pending cases were resolved immediately. He commended religious and traditional leaders in the area for their support in solving the non-compliance cases and success of the exercise. Similarly, Kiyawa Local Government Area of the state has immunised 74,662 children against polio in the last round of immunisation. The Head of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Department in the council, Alhaji Musa Gambo, disclosed this in Kiyawa. Gambo said the state government had supplied 82,000 doses of oral polio vaccines for the conduct of the exercise. He explained that the council chairman, Alhaji Nasiru Muhammad, provided 150 cartons of sweets that was used to entice children to participate in the exercise.

arrears of November 2011 salaries to staff of Gwer local council in contravention of government’s directive. Debating on the report, Mr Ianna Jato (PDP-Katsina-Ala, called for fair hearing by allowing the chairman to explain why he acted contrary to the governor’s directive. But other members unanimously voted for the sus-

pension of the chairman. Ruling, the Speaker, Mr Terkimbi Ikyange, said Uzuku should immediately proceed on a one-month suspension for flouting the governor’s directive. Ikyange also directed that civil servants involved in the act should be recommended for disciplinary action by the Local Government Service Commission.

Gwer LG boss suspended The Benue State House of Assembly has ordered the suspension of the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Gwer Local Government Area of the state, Mr Dele Uzuku. His suspension by the assembly was sequel to a report submitted to the house by Governor Samuel Ortom, who accused him of flouting the directive on payment of

salaries to council workers. The report deliberated upon by members emanated from the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. According to the report, the caretaker chairmen were directed to commence payment of current salaries to workers and not the outstanding arrears. Uzuku, however, paid the

37 news

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Okowa’s health programme gets a boost

Ekiti Imams and Alfas ask Muslims to reject ram gifts from Fayose

Receives 3 ambulances from SURE-P

Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

The League of Imams and Alfas in Ekiti State has warned Muslims in the state to reject rams or other food items presented to them by the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, during the coming Eid-el-Kabir. The clerics said in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, on Tuesday, that the action was to protest what they referred to as “marginalisation” by Governor Fayose in the appointment of his commissioners and special advisers. The Imams and Alfas said in the statement signed by Alhaji Quadri Oguntuase, Assistant Secretary, League of Imams and Alfas, Ekiti State; Alfa Fatai Jimoh, Representative of Ansar-udeen Missioner and Imam Abdul Rasak, Chief Imam, Ilogbo, that “no Muslim in the state should collect rams and other food items if presented to them in any form by the government.” They said: “Any Muslim that collects such rams or food items under any guise has taken Haram (Unlawful) and the punishment of the Almighty Allah awaits the person. (Quran 71 verse 28).”

Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose (second right); Wema Bank Managing Director, Mr Segun Oloketuyi (second right) ; the bank’s Executive Director, Mr Wole Akinleye ( right) and the Regional Manager, Mr Sesan Okere, when Oloketuyi paid a visit to the governor, at the Governor’s Office, Ado Ekiti.

NSA fires 12 directors Chris Agbambu – Abuja

he National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Mongonu (Rtd), has fired all the 12 directors in his office. The NSA inherited the directors from his predecessor, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), who is currently facing charges of illegal possession of arms.

Some of the directors were retired Senior Military officers and others who were seconded from various government agencies. They were handed the letters relieving them of their services in the NSA’s office, before he travelled with President Muhammadu Buhari to France, on Monday. Informed security sources disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune that General

Monguno had last week Thursday held a brief meeting with all the directors where he informed them of a lot of things going wrong in that office. According to the source, the issue of allowances and welfare of junior staff were jettisoned by the directors as they did not care how the personnel were faring. He consequently directed them to prepare their handover notes within one

week and hand over to their next in rank. The NSA further directed those deployed from other agencies and are still in service to return to their formations. The Directors of the various departments sacked are; Departments of Internal Security, Defence Affairs, Communication, Economic Intelligence, Special Duties and counter terrorism centre.

UI releases Post-UTME result, to admit 3,700 from 8,992 candidates Offers scholarship to best 5 candidates By Tunde Ogunesan

THE University of Ibadan, on Tuesday, officially released the result of its post UTME screening exercise conducted at the weekend. Addressing newsmen during the formal release of 2015 post UTME screening exercise conducted on Friday and Saturday, September 11 and 12, 2015, at the Senate chamber of

the university, the deputy vice chancellor, Professor Emilolorun Ayelari, who represented the vice chancellor, Professor Isaac Adewole disclosed that 20,800 candidates applied for the exercise while 19,268 participated in the exercise. Of the total applicants, 8,992 candidates scored above 50, a benchmark set by the university for consideration for admission.

However, Professor Ayelari stated that the institution would only admit 3,700 candidates out of 8,992 that wrote the post UTME last weekend, as that figure (3,700) is the university’s quota for this year. He also added that five candidates who scored the highest scores have been awarded automatic scholarship by the premier institution. The candidates are:

Adetunji AbdulRaham55328333ED, scored 86, law; Amaji Obinna Charles55110959DE scored 86, medicine and surgery; Adebiyi Tijesunimi55361970BC, scored 85, electrical and electronics engineering; Oke Dorcas55974720AJ, 83, medicine and surgery and Olowosulu Cassandra Olawumi56630251JB, 83 and also of medicine and surgery.

Ekiti makes education summit resolutions working guide for teachers Sam Nwaoko -Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State government has said the resolutions arrived at during a recent Education Summit it organised have been adopted to become a work guide for teachers in public schools in the state. The state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, who stated this in Ado Ekiti, on Tuesday, during a meeting with principals and head teachers of secondary and primary schools in the state, said the government would implement the resolutions of the summit to the letter. Fayose, who said he called a meeting with the teachers to brief them on the educa-

Nigerian Tribune

tion summit and the 2015 Teacher’s Day, called for their cooperation to fully implement the resolutions of the summit, saying “we need to join hands together and lift education in Ekiti out of the doldrums.” He said: “Resolutions of the education summit will be made available to you all and you must follow it diligently. We all agreed to the resolutions and don’t do anything to flout the recommendations of the summit. “Teachers are important and you are the foundation moulders and if the foundation is faulty, there is nothing we can do. You are

special and personal to me because the consequences of an untrained child are enormous.” Meanwhile, secondary school students in Ekiti State will pay N1, 000 while primary school pupils will pay N500 as development levies, the Ekiti State government has announced. This was part of the decisions arrived at during the recent education summit in Ekiti State, and the amount would be payable per term “towards educational development in the state.” A statement credited to the Commissioner for Education, Mr Jide Egunjobi, on Tuesday, said “N500

proposed for primary school is yet to be approved by the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose.” Egunjobi said “all stakeholders in the education sector, including parents and teachers consented to the introduction of the education development levy.” According to him, “before now, secondary school students were paying N100 as Parents Teachers Association (PTA) levy, N300 for Extra Lesson and N600 as examination fee, while primary school students were paying N100 as PTA levy, N300 for extra lesson and N200 as examination fee, making N600 per term.”

Ayelari, appealed to parents and guardians not “to pressurise members of the university community for admission. We go for the best and in the interest of the candidates to get admitted for the course of their choice.” He added that as it is “the practice of our institution, candidates that score 200 and above are invited for this exercise and that means we have 23,200 that scored over 200 in the UTME this year with 20,800 applying for UI post UTME exercise, 19,260 candidates eventually participated in the twoday exercise. “Last year, we had 9,000 candidates that applied for the exercise and over 6,300 candidates passed. Our pass mark for this year’s exercise is 50 and above. “For this year, 19,260 candidates came for the screening exercise, 8,992 candidates scored above 50 per cent at a 46.7 per cent success rate.” Justifying the admission policy of the university and how far the institution has fared, Professor Ayelari maintained that University of Ibadan has been vindicated by its policy.

GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa’s effort towards effective and affordable health care delivery for Deltans has got a boost with the donation of three ambulances to the state government. The governor, while receiving the ambulances from Dr Zolibe Anyamele, Programme Assistant for Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) in Asaba, observed that they would give a boost to the health care programmes of his administration. Two of the ambulances were water ambulances while one is for land. He stated that the ambulances would be deployed to the riverine communities where they are needed asserting, “They are going to serve cluster communities in the areas of their operations.” While noting that the donations of the ambulances “are right steps in the right direction at the primary healthcare level,” the governor reiterated, “That does not take away the challenges that come with it because for now, we do not know whether SURE-P is still going to stay funded because its primary source of funding is not available.”

Establishment of grazing reserves will end farmers/ herdsmen feud —Expert Collins Nnabuife -Abuja

The President of the Animal Science Association of Nigeria, Mr Taiwo Adeoye, has said that if more grazing reserves were established in Nigeria, the lingering crisis between farmers and herdsmen will be curbed. He also said that long distance trek by cattle adversely affect the meat productivity of cattle. Mr Adeoye made this known recently at the 20th Annual Conference of the Nigeria Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) held in Ibadan, Oyo State. According to him, “government as a matter of urgency should re-establish the grazing reserves to reduce the long distance trek by the herdsmen in search of pasture, which affect the productivity of our local breeds and to eliminate the attendant conflicts between herdsmen and arable crop farmers that have resulted in the loss of many lives and properties estimated in billions of Naira.”

38 news

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Elizade varsity seeks partnership with AAUA

Buhari, APC have no excuse —Rep member By Tunde Ogunesan

By Femi Ibirogba THE newly-appointed Vice Chancellor of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Professor Kunle Oloyede, has paid solicited collaboration with Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA). He disclosed this when he paid a visit to the Vice Chancellor of AAUA, Professor Igbekele Ajibefun. Professor Oloyede, who was accompanied by other principal officers of the university, sought for collaboration between AAUA and Elizade University. Professor Oloyede said: “We are looking for collaboration with sister universities such that we can create a new generation of graduates who will understand that it is not just good enough to work technically, it also has to be finished well. We are looking at how we can build our students to have sufficient awareness and developed minds in the area of entrepreneurship.” Oloyede, a professor of Medical Engineering with over two decades in Australia, added, “it is not just enough to call yourself a graduate in today’s world and come out looking for job. Jobs are very scarce irrespective of the country you are in. If no one is creating jobs, no one gets a job. In Australia, 90 per cent of jobs there are created by the small businesses. “There are significant opportunities in this country. We will not only be giving our students the basic education, but also the professional skills. You must have something you can take to an employer.”

From left, Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa; Stand up comedian, Obialor Sylvester (Odogwu); former Minister of National Planning, Chief (Mrs) Ebun Oyagbola and Chief Oyebola Akinola, at the Laffta Fest show organised by Glo in Abeokuta, on Sunday.

‘Regional integration realisable if...’ By Tunde Ogunesan

HE former military administrator of the old Western region, BrigadierGeneral Oluwole Rotimi (retd), revealed that the much touted regional integration among the SouthWestern states could only be realised, if the governors in the region shun partisan politics. General Rotimi disclosed this on Tuesday in Ibadan, at the public unveiling of Western Post newspaper and discussion on the topic, “The dwindling oil revenue : A case for regional integration.” He said the time has come for the South-Western state governors to forgo their political differences and think more about the development of a region, which was once regarded as the pace setter in the country. Rotimi, who was the chairman at the occasion, berated parents who take

delight in their children speaking foreign languages at the expense of the Yoruba language. According to him, the younger generation is finding it difficult to speak Yoruba language fluently, maintaining that the elders owe it as a duty to teach them and let them know their culture and language. “It is also important that there should be resuscitation of History in our schools so that the little ones would be able to learn about our past,” he added. Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who was represented by the state’s Deputy Gov-

ANOTHER seven persons on Tuesday surrendered arms to Benue State governor, Chief Samuel Ortom in the ongoing amnesty programme to militants in the state. The persons, who surrendered their arms, were led by the traditional ruler from Ushongo Local Government Area of the state, Ter Ushongo, Chief Ambrose Iyortyer, who stated that he came to present a group of young people from his domain in possession of illegal arms, who pleaded that they should be forgiven. He told the governor that

six of the young men had showed up after their leader, Liambee Adeede persuaded them on the need to forgo their criminal tendencies and be reintegrated into the society. Leader of the gang, Mr Adeede, in his remarks, said he was a member of Gana’s gang adding that Gana’s recent surrender had given him the boldness to publicly surrender arms in his possession too. He promised never to indulge in crime anymore and commended Governor Ortom for accepting them into his fold and the Ter Ushongo for handing them over to the governor.

The Director-General, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Mr Dipo Famakinwa, in his address said that the abandonment of the regional approach to development in 1966 after military takeover accounted for the nation’s woes. The Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola who was also represented by the Director of Communication and Strategy to the Governor, Mr Semiu Okanlawon said the state governor was in full support of the regional integration since the inception of his administration.

2 die in Port Harcourt fire outbreak Uduakabasi Patrick - Port Harcourt TWO women were reportedly killed in a fire incident that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, around

7 militants surrender arms in Benue Johnson Babajide - Makurdi

ernor, Chief Moses AlakeAdeyemo said it was lack of good governance in the past that made people to advocate for regional integration. In his words; “The six southwest states of Nigeria, which comprises Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo Osun, and Oyo have firmly expressed their desire to work and act together under a common set of development strategies, leveraging on common synergies and economies of scale, whereby the region and it’s people will experience enhanced human and social development outcomes across the spheres of existence.”

While acknowledging the roles of traditional rulers in the amnesty programme, the governor announced that the amnesty committee set up by his administration was working out detailed modalities to rehabilitate and reintegrate those who surrender illegal weapons. According to him the modalities included a retreat at which terms of rehabilitation and reintegration of the affected persons would be unveiled. He restated his determination to tackle security issues first so as to provide an enabling environment for investment into the state in order to create massive jobs, wealth and opportunities.

the CFC axis of Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Nigerian Tribune gathered that the fire started around 2.30 a.m. but could not be put off because of its magnitude and the fear that came upon the neighbours. An elderly man, who spoke anonymously with Nigerian Tribune, said a brother to the victims survived the fire, but was badly wounded and is currently responding to treatment at an undisclosed hospital. He said he could not ascertain the cause of the fire, but suspected that it could have been caused by a lit candle. “There was no light, (electricity). We have not had light for some time here and they were not cooking because it was late at night. “I heard the cry and shout of their brother who is currently in the hospital and my house is very close to their own. I was afraid so I ran out of my house and ran for my dear life too because

the fire has already entered my own apartment. “People could not come because they were all afraid. The boy is currently in the hospital and the police have come to evacuate the bodies of the two ladies,” he said. Another resident of the area also explained that they actually heard the cry and the shout of the victims but was scared of coming out of the house with her family because she felt it was a robbery attack in the environ. According to her, the victims were from Akwa Ibom State but resident in Port Harcourt, where they were earning a living. “I heard their voice, but we all felt they were attacked by armed robbers so we could not come out to rescue them. “They were grown up women. They have a mother that always come to visit them here in Port Harcourt but she lives in the village”, she said.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been enjoined to strive and ensure that they actually meet the expectations of Nigerians. This advice was procured by a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Joseph Akinlaja, while speaking with newsmen, recently. Honourable Akinlaja said, “Nigerians are expecting so much from President Buhari. Why is the APC leadership celebrating its 100 days in office? The expectations were high before Buhari took oath of office, for those who were shouting and clamouring for change, the impression they gave us was that when Buhari comes on board there will be radical transformation, that the president will hit the ground running. Now, what are their stories?” Akinlaja though submitted that Buhari has started working argued that, “I have not seen anything unusual in what he is doing. Has he been doing anything spectacular in the last 100 days? I don’t think so. Nigerians are expecting more from Buhari. There should be no room for excuses.”

Lagos tutor-general pays unscheduled visit to schools THE Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Education District I, Dr Ayandele Yinka has paid an unscheduled visit to schools under her district to assess their preparedness for the new academic session. In her remarks during the visit, Ayandele commended them for complying with the resumption date for schools in the state, adding that their compliance has indicated their readiness and preparedness to face the rigour of the new term. She advised all the students to attend school regularly and punctually, urging them to face their studies and keep up with their assignments and other school projects. He stresed that the only guarantee for a brighter and rewarding future is for them to acquire good education.

39 news

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Ganduje inaugurates water treatment plant

Tribunal dismisses ano State gover- government at the cost of Sunday, the governor said ceived during the first an input of our previous nor, Dr Abdullahi N137 million, in Garun that already the water has tenure of former Gover- government.” petition against He added, “But when we Umar Ganduje, Malam, headquarters of started flowing in the six nor Kwankwaso 12 years has commis- the local government area wards expected to benefit ago, lamenting that “this came back from our politi- Dasuki

sioned the Garun Malam Water Treatment Plant, constructed by the state

in the state. Commissioning the project at Fada Bakin Ruwa, on

from the water works. Dr Ganduje pointed out that the project was con-

project was abandoned, bastardised and neglected simply because there was

From left, chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Eze Duruiheoma; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi; Chief Judge of Federal Capital Territory (Fct) High Court, Ishaq Bello and the representative of Nigerian Children Parliament, Kogi Constituency, Aisha Ibrahim, at the launch of the Year of Action to End Violence Against Children, in Abuja, on Tuesday. PHOTO: Nan

Oyo CP promises to tackle farmers/ herdsmen clashes By Oluwatoyin Malik and Olakunle Kudoro

The Commissioner of Police for Oyo State Command, Mr Leye Oyebade, has assured that he will tackle the issue of clashes between farmers and herdsmen, particularly in Oke Ogun axis of the state, just as he promised to get to the root of the factors that have been causing the faceoff. Oyebade stated this on Tuesday, at the police headquarters, Eleyele, in Ibadan during stakeholders’ security meeting with different groups, comprising of NURTW, RTEAN, farmers, vigilance group, motorcycle riders, religious and traditional heads, hoteliers, civil society groups, youth leaders, students and ethnic group leaders, among others, while he stressed his determination to combat heinous crimes such as kidnapping and cultism and prevent any act of insurgency and terrorism in the state. He also canvassed for a robust public private partnership in the implementation of community policing being adopted by the current police administration, led by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, saying the task of security should be seen by all stakeholders as a joint effort, in order to achieve an enduring success. He enjoined members

of the public to provide useful information to the police, assuring them that such would be treated with utmost confidentiality. The police commissioner also spoke with the students, urging them to address their colleagues on the issue of cultism as nothing good could be derived from the unlawful groups.

He warned that the law would take its course over anyone arrested based on his involvement in cultism, as his command would not condone the activities of bad groups. “Any cultist caught with guns will be arrested, treated like an armed robber and prosecuted,” he stated further.

Furthermore, Oyebade enjoined all officers and men of the command to imbibe the virtues of humility, honesty and hard work in their operations while assuring that he would do everything humanly possible to curb the menace of extortion to the barest minimum under his administration.

cal sabbatical leave (2011), God in His wisdom reminded us that this is our project, therefore, the former Governor Kwankwaso revisited the situation and revived the project. He directed that this time around, the project would not be a joint project between the state and local government but would solely be undertaken by the state government,” the governor maintained. He, therefore, urged the local government authority to carefully maintain the project, hoping that the water works would be put to good use by the indigenes of the area. Dr Ganduje further assured the people of Garun Malam that the present administration would do everything possible to ensure they have enough and affordable fertilizer for rainy and dry season farming, adding that the ongoing five kilometers and other road projects in the domain would be considered for completion by present administration. In his remarks, Commissioner for Water Resources, Usman Sule Riruwai said, the plant is expected to supply 2.4 million litres daily, pointing out that it would be easy to operate and maintain by the local government.

US urges Nigeria to protect children from violence, exploitation Christian Okeke - Abuja THE United States Government, on Tuesday, urged the Federal Government to do everything possible to protect children from abuse. This was even as it condemned continuing subjection of children to exploitation and violence. Chargé d’Affaires of US Embassy in Nigeria, Maria Brewer, while speaking at the programme launch for the ‘Year of Action to End Violence against Children’ in Abuja, however, commended efforts being made in that regard. “Children must be protected from abuse, violence, exploitation and neglect. Violence against children is never justified. Violence is preventable. We look forward to continuing our work together to end violence against the Nigerian child,” she said. She observed that physical and psychological violence against children still

occurred in schools and homes, in addition to the violence that affected children living on the streets or exploited by adults. She said, “Nigeria conducted a Violence Against Children survey in 2014. This survey, the first of its kind in West Africa, provided the data to form a clear depiction of the nature and extent of the problem. “This bold first step was funded through PEPFAR,

in collaboration with the National Population Commission and the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC). The survey helped civil society and government leaders to formulate a plan of action to address this ongoing problem and suggest solutions. International cooperation also played a critical role in the success of the survey. “Through an agreement with UNICEF, the CDC

funded the field survey and provided significant technical support. They trained the interviewers and assisted in the collation and analysis of the data. “Building on the survey results, the Government of Nigeria convened a technical working group. The group, led by Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development, developed the Nigeria Violence Against Children Response Plan.”

Niger govt sacks 20 perm secs Adelowo Oladipo - Minna The Niger State government may have relieved no fewer than 20 permanent secretaries of their positions. The action takes immediate effect. Most of those sacked were those that were appointed by the immediate past governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that all the general managers promoted as Permanent Secretaries by former governor Aliyu were directed to revert to their former positions. One of those affected who spoke with Nigerian Tribune on the condition of anonymity on, Tuesday, in Minna, said they were asked to await letters of reassignments.

The news was said to have been conveyed to the affected permanent secretaries at a meeting held at the Government House. However, efforts to get confirmation from the state’s Head of Service was futile. Also, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Dr Ibraheem Dooba, could also not be reached for comment.

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Sokoto, on Tuesday, dismissed a petition brought before it against the election of a member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Abdussamad Dasuki (APC-Sokoto). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petition was filed by Alhaji Aminu Abubakar, the defeated candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party ( PDP) in the March 28 election. The Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) had declared Dasuki, son of the 18th Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, winner of the election for Kebbe/ Tambuwal Federal Constituency with 70, 653 votes. The petitioner, Abubakar, son of former Finance Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, garnered 13,350 votes during the poll. The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Anselem Nwaige, dismissed the petition for lack of merit. The petitioner had challenged the election of Dasuki, citing irregularities and non compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC’s manual for the 2015 general election.

Niger NDE kicks off training for 50 graduates Adelowo Oladipo - Minna The Director-General of National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, has said that the incumbent administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has identified corruption as the cause of unemployment plaguing the nation. He stated this on Tuesday, in Minna, as he flagged off the Preparation, Processing and Packaging Training Scheme (PPPTS) of the Small Scale Enterprises (SSE) Department of the NDE in Niger State for 50 graduates as pilot scheme. He stated further that the directorate has within the last two weeks inaugurated two new developments in different schemes to reflect the direction and aspiration of the federal government especially on the youths. According to him, “the unemployment of youths in the country was the concern of everyone but before now something was missing, until now that we have an administration that has identified it.”

40 news Tukur turns 80, quits active politics

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Lagos dissolves abandoned He said that if this was “I wish to enjoin politito play the game accord- unmitigated defections in S O -A ing to the rules and take the system. I deem it fit to cians to play the game ac- done with all sincerity of vehicle former national the interest of the country use this opportunity of my cording to the rules and purpose,Nigeria would chairman of the at heart. 80th birthday anniversary to take the interest of the soon regain its lost glory committee

Jacob egun

latunji

buja

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on Tuesday, turned 80 years and bowed from active politics, with a promise to remain a statesman and an adviser to all . Speaking in Abuja, on Tuesday, at a public lecture organised to mark his 80th birthday anniversary, Tukur advised politicians

The octogenarian, who was the first executive governor of the old Gongola State, charged political parties to submit themselves to the rules and regulations of their parties and also subscribe to ideologies of their parties. “Our political parties should strive to have concrete ideologies as this will certainly help to curtail

to announce my retirement from partisan politics. I have used several political platforms to serve my country. It is time to rest.” “I leave partisan politics for the younger generation. I want to be a statesman and an adviser, at the age of 80, I feel I can serve our dear nation more in the capacity of a statesman and father figure”, he said.

country at heart. Politics should be seen as an avenue for rendering of service to the country” he added. This came just as Tukur charged Nigerians irrespective of their political parties to support the President Muhammadu Buhari led-Federal Government in the pursuit to move Nigeria forward .

From left, Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), Mr Tunji Bello; representative of Lagos State governor, Mr Folarin Adeyemi; representative of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, Mrs Oluseyi Abegunde; chairman on the occasion, Chief Olusegun Osoba; guest of honour, Professor Adebayo Williams and the co-author, Mr Mike Awoyinfa, during the public presentation of a book, 50 World Editors, at NIIA, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Tuesday. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

95% trucks on Nigerian roads are over 30 yrs —FRSC Akin Adewakun - Lagos A fresh insight into the probable causes of incessant carnage involving trucks and other articulated vehicles on the nation’s roads was provided recently, as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), revealed that over 95 per cent of such heavy duty vehicles are not road worthy. Responding to a question on a television programme tagged: “State of the nation”, recently, the Corps Marshal of the agency, Boboye Oyeyemi, said that a huge number of trucks plying the nation’s highways had been in use for over 30 years and as a result, could no longer be expected to function effectively. According to him, the cost of an average truck today is about N30 million, a development, he argued, must have been responsible for the inability of most of these independent truck owners to afford new ones. While throwing his weight behind the Lagos State government’s decision to enforce the Road Traffic Law 2012, restricting the movement of trailers and other long vehicles to certain hours of the day, the agency’s corps

marshal, said that besides supporting the state government in ensuring full compliance, the agency had also launched its own campaign, Operation scorpion, aimed at ridding the nation’s roads of badly maintained trucks. ‘We realise that it has become imperative to come up with this campaign in order to minimise this carnage, especially, the ones involving trucks and other articulated vehicles on our roads.”

“What the campaign is all about is to ensure that these trucks plying the nation’s roads are actually road worthy and any of them found wanting, would be impounded. ‘For instance, we realise that it is only the multi-nationals and major marketers that are actually complying with those standards prescribed for trucks and articulated vehicles on the road, most of the independent truck

owners do not. That is why you see some of these petrol tankers spilling their contents whenever they fall because they do not use safety valve that would have prevented the content from spilling even when the tanker falls,” he said. Boboye reiterated the commitment of the agency to effectively manage traffic on the nation’s highways and reduce the carnage usually associated with the ‘ember’ periods.

Deployment of corps members now by online registration —NYSC Adetola Bademosi - Abuja Following what it described as concessional deployment cases, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has given prospective corps members, the opportunity to choose where they will be deployed for the national service through its online registration platform. This is based on the directive of Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, at the 2015 Batch ‘B’ pre-mobilisation workshop in Kaduna. The directive is expected to take effect from the 2015 Batch ‘B’ mobilisation.

A source at the NYSC headquarters in Abuja, on Tuesday, told the Nigerian Tribune, that the directive also includes those who want concession on marital or health grounds. He said even staff of NYSC were strictly warned not to forward any name for concessional deployment but rather, educate prospective corps members to go online to make their choices. However, he said corps members can still apply for redeployment three months after camp, if they are able to proffer genuine reasons for their redeployment plea.

A prospective corps member, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune, said the online choice of deployment was not favourable to many as the desired states are not in the options. According to her, she would have preferred Lagos as her choice of posting for marital reasons, but the two options she was given through the online platform were Kano or Borno. “I am quite aware of the process but it is not working out. You see, I am married and I have to be close to my husband but when I got there, the options available are Kano and Borno states.”

sooner than expected Tukur was also full of praises for the former President Goodluck Jonathan, for fashioning out a credible electoral system for Nigeria and for conceding of victory at the last presidential election. He counselled the political class to adhere to internal democracy, party discipline and supremacy, stressing that these were the great ingredients of strong party systems that drive the democratic process. Tukur noted that perhaps, on account of the long period of military reigns in Nigeria, Nigerian politicians had not yet to internalise and apply the principles of internal party democracy,” he said. ”I hope that with time, party democracy will be entrenched in our political parties system as this will strengthen our nascent democracy”. “The concept of party democracy is the idea of party discipline; saying that “true politicians should avail themselves of their constitutional rights to assembly with anybody or party,” he stated. Tukur said that to strengthen the nation’s democracy, that there would be the need to checkmate frequency of defections from one political party to the other. One of the guest lecturers and vice president of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr Toga Mackintosh, lamented the inability of Africa to forge a formidable integration to be a relevant player at the world stage. He cited weakness in planning, uncoordinated approaches to development and a reluctance to overhaul existing approaches, as some of the reasons why Africa has not been able to forge a formidable regional front. He proposed the generation of a critical mass of societal, human and institutional capacities, saying that that is the only way to maximise Africa’s benefits and sustain its relevance among the comity of nations. He further proposed an African graduate university of development studies. He said as the name implies, the institution will be focused as it will deal with sustaining development for regional integration. The ECOWAS chieftain said that the institution will help to drive economic and development concept, theories, as well as garnish administration polices.

Lagos State government has dissolved the Abandoned Vehicle Committee (AVC) and the Park Monitoring Committee (PMC), following the expiration of their statutory tenure. According to a statement signed by the permanent secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr Sewedo Whenu, the current administration expressed its appreciation to the chairmen and members of the two committees for their invaluable contributions of keeping the highways and roads free of all abandoned vehicles. The statement stated further that the diligent discharge of their assigned task had ensured the safety of commuters and other road users as well as those in motor parks. While wishing them success in their future endeavours, it emphasised that by the dissolution, members of the public, especially, the transport associations and the monitoring public, should not transact any business with any member of the two committees on behalf of the state government. The permanent secretary, however, assured the general public of government’s support in providing the enabling environment for socio-economic activities to thrive in the state.

Rescued girls A girl of about 12 years old, rescued at Sabo area, Ibadan, Oyo State, on September 7, 2014.

A girl of about four years old, rescued at Basorun area, Ibadan, Oyo State, on August 27, 2015.

Anybody with useful information that could lead to discovery of the mentioned children parents or relatives should, please, contact the principal social welfare, Ibadan/Ibarapa zone, Iyaganku, Ibadan or the nearest police station.

41 news

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

100 days: Buhari’s intangible success should be commended —Agbakoba Ganduje Bola Badmus - lagos

uman rights activist, Olisa Agbakoba, said on Tuesday, in Lagos, said that President Muhammadu Buhari ,has to be commended on what he described as the intangible success he had recorded in his first 100 days in office in terms of change culture which has made electricity supply more stable, queues at petrol stations disappear, peoples mindset become more positive, among others. Agbakoba, who is the former president, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said this at a press conference he addressed at his Ikoyi residence, even as he insisted that 100 days was too short a period to assess President Buhari’s performance in office. The human rights activist, while saying that the 100 days was symbolic and a concept pioneered by the former American president, Franklin Roosevelt, in 1933, when faced with the great depression and the total collapse of the economy, contended that the concept was not an accurate yardstick for gauging the presidential effectiveness, giving the difference in the two environments. “The 100 days concept is not an accurate yardstick for gauging the presidential effectiveness because the situation and the Nigerian environment have no comparison to the American experience. “Notwithstanding, I understand the importance of examining the president’s achievements in his first

100 days in office because expectations were high. The people voted the president in for ‘change,’” he said. “It must be said that the change is not going to be seen in the context of new

projects or new buildings or the commissioning of new roads or power plants but the change will be in the minds of the populace,” he added. However, Agbakoba said Nigeria could be seen as

physically paralysed but Buhari’s ascension to the presidential office had changed the mindset of the populace, declaring that changing the mindset and orientation of the people was a great

From left, Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Sure P Programme Assistant, Dr Zelibe Anyamele and Dr Gloria Ferife, during an inspection tour of two water ambulances and one ambulance bus donated to the state by SURE-P, at the Government House, Asaba, on Tuesday.

INEC affirms strict compliance with electoral guidelines at Delta tribunal Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s defence of his victory in the April 2015 governorship election on Tuesday, got a boost at the electoral tribunal with the Independent National Commission Electoral (INEC), staff affirming strict compliance with the electoral guidelines. At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, Okowa’s third witness, Mrs Mercy Ehikhametalo, an INEC staff, led in evidence by the lead counsel to the governor, Dr Alex Izyion, told the tribunal that elec-

toral guidelines were substantially complied with during the governorship election in the state. She said card readers were used during the election and that about 67.7 per cent of data from the card reader, were uploaded into server in Abuja head office before the server was shutdown. She also told the tribunal that INEC experienced some challenges with the use of the card readers during the elections, due to poor network from service providers.

She said the card reader had pin cards from Abuja and cannot be fraudulently manipulated, adding that during net work failure, the card reader could upload data to their saver in Abuja. She insisted that during the just concluded governorship election, neither the contestants nor the political parties tempered with the card readers. Also, against the claims of the petitioners, she told the tribunal that, it was after the elections that INEC staff uploaded results from

Be agent of change, Legal Aid Council boss charges staff Sunday Ejike - Abuja D irector- G ene ral of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Mrs Joy BobManuel, has charged staff of the council to cue into the change agenda of the Federal Government in the interest of the council. Addressing the opening ceremony of a training programme for staff of the council, Mrs Bob-Manuel, urged the staff to bear in mind that the country is in the era of change, adding that it is their responsibility to be agent of change. The training, tagged. “Office ethics and paralegal training”, was facilitated by the World Bank, under the umbrella of justice for poor project. The Legal Aid Council boss said the council is poised to repositioning its activities in line with the

achievement. According to him, under Buhari’s regime, power utilities are running better, queues at petrol stations have virtually disappeared, Apapa traffic congestion is gone.

change matter through constant training and retraining of members of staff, for a robust and efficient service delivery. She, however, warned that the council cannot afford to accommodate or tolerate any member of staff, who is not ready

to embrace the wind of change and be diligent in his or her duties. This, she noted, is because, the management will checkmate any form of lackadaisical attitude of members of staff towards their official duties all over the country.

The facilitators made the officers to understand that a paralegal is a person qualified through education and training to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of the law and procedures and who is not a qualified solicitor.

Gunmen kidnap UNIPORT VC’s son Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt Some yet-to-be identified gunmen, on Monday evening, abducted Ejira, the son of the vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Ndowa. The abducted Ejira, is the second child among the four children of the university administrator. The incident was said to have occurred when the gunmen, who were six in number, abducted the victim while attending to his

fish farm at Agbeta Ebubu in Eleme Local Government Area of the state. It was further learnt that the armed men stormed the place around 7.30pm, after robbing two neighbours within the compound and forcefully took away Ejira to an unknown destination. The university’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Dr William Wodi, confirmed the incident, saying the victim had shown interest in fish farming. Wodi explained that

while some of the bandits, who walked up to their victim, were armed with AK-47 rifles, others carried cutlasses, during the operation. “They came into the place at 7.30 pm on Monday, after attacking the two tenants within the area. They forced the tenants at gunpoint to take them to where the son of our vice chancellor is.” Nigerian Tribune gathered that no contact had been established between kidnappers and the

the polling units to the saver at their head quarters in Abuja, stressing that uploading of data was not automatic neither was it done simultaneously. Ehikhametalo informed the tribunal that, some polling units with large number of voters were provided with more than one card reader to ensure that all eligible voters voted during the election. The witness also told the tribunal that INEC embarked on training of ad -hoc staff on the use of the card reader and that not much mistakes were recorded during the election that could affect the outcome of the election. Earlier, the tribunal delivered a ruling where some documents were admitted, while few others were rejected, Justice Nasiru ahso adjourned further hearing on the matter to till September 16.

victim’s family since the incident happened and it could not yet be ascertained the motive behind the abduction The Rivers State police command had also confirmed it, assuring that efforts would be made to rescue the victim unhurt. The police Assistant Public Relations Officer (APPRO), Mrs Grace Iringe-Koko, said the police had since swung into action, with a view of ensuring that Ejira regained his freedom.

inaugurates 2 committees Kola Oyelere - Kano

Kano State governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has inaugurated committees on the adoption of scheme of service for local government employees and that of state prerogative of mercy. Inaugurating the committees on Tuesday, at the council chamber, Government House, Kano, Ganduje urged them to work within the limit of the laws guiding their schedules. The governor, specifically, charged the committee on local government employees to come up with initiatives that would ensure best administrative practices. The committee is under the chairmanship of Salisu Muhammad Gabasawa. On the committee on prerogative of mercy, which is to be headed by Sheikh Ibrahim Suleiman, he said that it is mandated to, among other things, find ways for decongesting the state prisons, through leniency to inmates, on compassionate grounds.

Alleged age falsification: Joe Agi heads to Appeal Court Ubong Anthony - Calabar Dissatisfied with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Joe Agi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant in the 2015 election, has formally filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, against the victory of the governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade. Agi, had earlier filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, praying the court to disqualify the governor for purportedly submitting false information on his age to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He had alleged that Ayade gave false information and declaration on oath in INEC Form CF 001 that he was born on March 2, 1969 and in completing the screening form gave March 2, 1968, as his date of birth. Agi, who came second in the December 2014 governorship primary, argued that having breached PDP electoral guidelines and the Electoral Act, 2010, the court should nullify Ayade’s election.

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

foreig naffairs

BMW’s chief executive faints on stage during car presentation Krueger looked visibly stunned and rubbed the back of his head as he was being led off stage by two members of staff. The 49-year-old executive collapsed just five minutes into his press conference. BMW spokesman, Maximillian Schoberl, said Krueger had been feeling unwell before going on stage. He said following the incident, Krueger was examined by a doctor after he underwent “a moment of dizziness” and was now “recovering well.” The i8 is BMW’s revolutionary new supercar. It is powered by an electric motor. It has a 1.5-litre threecylinder petrol engine. Unlike a traditional car, which uses its engine to power the wheels, the i8 uses its engine to recharge its lithium

ion batteries, which in turn drive the electric motor. BMW, the world’s biggest maker of luxury cars, is presenting a revamped version of its top-of-the-line 7-Series saloon at the Frankfurt show. Krueger was making his first appearance at the biennial trade event as BMW’s chief. He took the top post at the Munichbased carmaker in May. Krueger hadn’t been feeling well on Tuesday morning before the press conference, Schoeberl said. The incident happened after the CEO returned from recent trips abroad, the spokesman said. A roundtable briefing with journalists scheduled for mid-morning will take place as planned, with Chief Financial Officer Friedrich Eichiner filling in for Krueger.

with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

Turnbull sworn in as new Australian PM

a l c o l m Turnbull was sworn in on Tuesday as Australia’s new prime minister, becoming the country’s fourth leader in just over two years. Turnbull emerged as leader of the Liberal Party, following a surprise party vote late Monday that ousted Prime Minister, Tony Abbott.

The 60-year-old ex-banker, lawyer and journalist, told reporters he was “filled with optimism” as he headed for his swearing-in ceremony. “This is a turn of events I did not expect, I have to tell you, but it’s one that I’m privileged to undertake, and one that I’m certainly up to,” said Turnbull. Turnbull has vowed to oversee a less divisive gov-

ernment than the conservative Abbott, who on Tuesday, pledged to make the leadership transition as smooth as possible. “There will be no wrecking, no undermining, and no sniping. I have never leaked or back grounded against anyone and I certainly won’t start now,” Abbott said. The outgoing leader also decried the “poll-driven panic” he said has produced a

Malcolm Turnbull, center, is sworn in by Australia’s GovernorGeneral, Sir Peter Cosgrove, right, as Prime Minister at the Government House in Canberra, Tuesday.

Mr Krueger, pictured, looked stunned as he held his head while lying on the ground. Photo: reuter

Afghan refugee named UN award winner for girls school An Afghan refugee, who has dedicated her life to teaching refugee girls in Pakistan, has won the 2015 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award. Despite limited resources, cultural traditions against educating women and her own personal struggles from her life in exile, 49-year-old Aqeela Asifi, won over her

Aqeela Asifi. Photo: VOA

conservative Afghan community and persuaded parents to send their daughters to her makeshift tent school at the Kot Chandana refugee village in Mianwali, a district in Pakistan’s Punjab province. Since then, the teacher has guided more than a thousand refugee girls through their primary education. “When I began my mission to educate Afghan girls, I could not have imagined that one day it will win me this award. I cannot express my happiness,” she told VOA.

Photo: AP

“revolving-door prime ministership” and a “febrile media culture” that he claims “rewards treachery.” Abbott, who was elected in September 2013, has seen his popularity ratings suffer in recent months, thanks in part to a series of internal leaks, unpopular budget cuts, and an inability to spur economic growth. Turnbull differs from his predecessor on several key issues: most notably, he supports gay marriage and more stringent anti-pollution policies. Those differences are expected to be highlighted later this week when Turnbull announces his new cabinet. The shakeup is expected to improve the chances of the Liberal Party, which faces a tough challenge from the opposition Labor Party, in elections that are set for next year. Turnbull has for now ruled out early elections

North Korea intensifies nuclear weapon development North Korea appears to be intensifying nuclear and ballistic missile development efforts that could lead to further international sanctions against the Kim Jong Un regime. North Korea’s state controlled media KCNA said on Tuesday that the country’s main nuclear complex in Yongbyon was in full operation. The reactor was shut down in 2007. However, following North Korea’s third nuclear test in 2013, Pyongyang said it would restart the facility. Some military analysts

studying satellite images of the complex, asserted back in January that the nuclear bomb fuel reactor was again operational. But until now, there had not been any official confirmation. North Korea’s National Aerospace Development Administration indicated on Monday that it is preparing for a possible satellite launch that would likely utilise ballistic missile technology “The world will clearly see a series of satellites of [North] Korea, soaring into the sky at the times and lo-

cations determined by the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea,” KCNA reported. Outside analysts have speculated that North Korea has been planning a longrange rocket launch, possibly in October, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the ruling party. North Korea maintains that such launches are for peaceful, non-military purposes. But the United States and its allies say they are mainly aimed at developing long-range ballistic missile technology, which is banned

under United Nations Security Council resolutions. The announced nuclear enrichment and rocket launching developments, come weeks after a border incident threatened a major conventional military conflict between the two Koreas. Emergency high level inter-Korean talks resolved the standoff and both sides promised to hold reunions for families separated since the Korean War divided the peninsula in 1950, and to pursue further talks to reduce regional tensions.

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Charlie Hebdo may face legal action over cartoons

Charlie Hebdo mocked the death of Syrian kid Aylan Kurdi.

The controversial French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, may face legal action for inciting hate crimes, after publishing cartoons about drowned Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi in its latest issue. The first cartoon shows a clown

and what appears to be the toddler with a sign: “Welcome immigrants, so close to his goal. Promotion: Two children for the price of one.” The second cartoon, “Proof that Christians walk on water” shows

a man supposedly resembling Jesus walking on water as a partially submerged child says “Muslim children drown.” Heart-rending photos of the toddler’s lifeless body washed ashore on a Turkish beach last week

Israeli police storm Al-Aqsa Mosque for a third day Palestinians and Israeli forces have clashed at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque for a third straight day, as Israeli forces were seen on the roof of the holy site. Suleiman Ahmad, the president of Jerusalem’s Affairs Department, who was at the scene, told Al

Jazeera that at least 36 Palestinians were injured in the clashes early on Tuesday. “They have placed snipers on the rooftops and are using rubber bullets,” Ahmad said. The site of the mosque is revered as holy by Jews and Muslims and is

a frequent flashpoint of violence. Palestinians inside Al-Aqsa threw stones and fireworks at the Israeli forces and set up barricades to prevent them from closing the entrance to the mosque. The police forces eventually closed the doors to the mosque with the

Palestinians still inside. Israeli police were trying to allow Jewish activists to tour the courtyards of the mosque, which in the past has stirred angry reactions from Palestinians who fear Israel may change the rules for visiting the Al-Aqsa compound.

sparked global horror and debate on refugees. The magazine’s cartoons sparked outrage on social media. Peter Herbert, chair of the Society of Black Lawyers, tweeted that the group would consider reporting Charlie Hebdo’s actions as “an incitement to hate crime & persecution before the International Criminal Court”. In January, armed men who identified as being members of al-Qaeda stormed the magazine’s Paris offices, killing 11 people in the building and injuring another 11. The magazine had published images mocking Prophet Muhammad.

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Al-Shabab beheads Somali brothers for Spying The Al-Shabab militant group has beheaded two brothers accused of spying for the Somali government and for having dealings with Ethiopian troops, relatives said. They say the beheaded bodies of the two men, said to be 20 and 25 years old, were found Sunday in Raaso village, 60 kilometers south of Bulo Barde town in the central Somali region of Hiran. The headless body of a third unidentified man was found nearby. The two brothers were arrested by al-Shabab militants in Buqaqable town last week, hours after Ethiopian and Somali government troops suddenly vacated the town.

Villagers told VOA Somali the men were in Buqaqable when the Ethiopian troops and Somali government forces seized it from al-Shabab on August 10. Al-Shabab accused them of having dealings with the Ethiopian troops and spying for the Somali government, according to the locals. Relatives who requested to remain anonymous say one of the men was a recent graduate of high school, while the other was unemployed. On Saturday, Somali authorities said al-Shabab militants seized two towns in southern Somalia from retreating African Union forces, El Salindi and Kunturwarey.

No end in sight for Syria war

n the immediate wake of the Iran nuclear deal, there was a flurry of diplomacy, involving Washington, Moscow and Tehran, with talk that the time might be right to hammer out an agreement to end Syria’s four-year-long civil war. But with renewed commitments from Iran and Russia to shore up President Bashar al-Assad, there seems no end in sight for the ruinous war of attrition that has left an estimated 240,000 people dead. No one is budging their hard-held positions inside or outside Syria, despite the recognition by most parties involved that defeating the extremists of the Islamic State should be among the highest priorities — and that is unlikely to happen while the civil war rages. Last month, the U.N. Se-

Smoke is seen rising over Saif Al Dawla district, in Aleppo, Syria. Photo: AP

curity Council, backed a new push for peace in Syria, in a measure adopted by Damascus’ ally, Russia and the other 14 member states, marking the first time in two years that the council had agreed on a political statement on Syria. The 16-point plan drafted by France included a call for the “establishment of an inclusive transitional governing body with full executive powers, which shall be formed on the basis of mu-

tual consent while ensuring continuity of governmental institutions.” For the West, the mounting refugee crisis roiling Europe, has added urgency to the search for some kind of resolution to the barbaric conflict. Over the weekend, Germany’s Foreign Minister FrankWalter Steinmeier pushed “for a new diplomatic initiative”, in talks with his Russian counterpart, according

to his spokesman Martin Schäfer. Schäfer says the Syrian conflict is of mounting concern “due to the increasing amount of human suffering and need of refugees from the region, who are trying to seek asylum here [in Germany] or elsewhere.” Speaking to the BBC on Monday, Gen John Allen, President Obama’s envoy for the U.S.-led coalition combating IS, said the key to solving the refugee crisis is ending the war in Syria. “This instability has been created by Bashar al-Assad and that regime. He ultimately chose to make war on his own people. That ultimately created the crisis that we face today,” he said. Allen said not only has IS to be defeated but President Assad “had to go.”

Putin defends Russian military’s aid to Syria

A Somali soldier stands guard, in Mogadishu, Somalia. Photo: AFP

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, defended his country’s military support for Syria, saying on Tuesday that Russia will continue to aid President Bashar al-Assad’s

forces in their “fight against terrorist aggression.” Speaking at a regional security conference in Tajikistan, Putin said Assad is open to working

with the “healthy” opposition in Syria on a political solution to the conflict that has stretched on for four and a half years, but that the focus must first be on terrorism.

University teacher kills self after killing girlfriend, co-worker The Delta State University teacher who fled police after killing his girlfriend and a colleague told officers he ‘wasn’t going to jail’ before shooting himself dead. Shannon Lamb, 45, was on the run for 12 hours as a suspect in the killings yesterday before police finally closed in on him. But once cornered, the ‘geography of crime’ instructor ran from his vehicle and into the woods. Police heard a single gunshot before discovering his body. Dante Elben, Gautier Police Chief, told reporters that Lamb had spo-

ken with officers at some point on Monday and told them ‘he wasn’t going to jail’, CNN reported. Lamb, 45, had been at large since Monday morning when he reportedly opened fire at his place of work, killing assistant history professor Ethan Schmidt, 39, with two gun shots to the head. It came just hours after police claim he gunned down church outreach minister Amy Prentiss, 41, at their home in Gautier, Mississippi. Shortly after midnight (Eastern Time) police spotted Lamb in traffic and chased him down, according to

WREG Memphis. According to police, Lamb killed Prentiss at around 6am then drove 300 miles to his place of work. He called 911 at 10.20am to alert them to Prentiss’ death, then opened fire on the campus at 10.45am local time, killing 39-year-old married father-of-three Schmidt, police said. The murder weapon was not recovered, though officers found two shell casings by Schmidt’s body. As police launched a state-wide manhunt, they said Lamb was believed to be armed and driving a Dodge Avenger registered to Prentiss. Lamb, Photo: Delta State Univwesity

Assad has routinely used the word “terrorist” to describe rebels who have opposed his forces in the fight that has grown in complexity with the addition of Islamic State militants in large areas of the country. Putin also pushed back against critics who say Russia’s involvement in Syria is increasing the flow of people fleeing the region. He said without Russia’s support in Syria, the situation would be worse and the flow of refugees greater. His comments come a day after the U.S. Defense Department confirmed reports that Russia appears to be setting up an air base in Syria. Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told reporters Monday that the movement of Russian personnel and equipment into an area near the coastal city of Latakia “suggests the establishment of a forward operating base.”

otherNEWS

Nurse given to orphanage tracks down mother after 58 years Whitsell.

PHOTO: ROY EDWARDS

Mrs Ryan handed her daughter over to an orphanage when the little girl was only eight months old and the youngster was later adopted by a Catholic family to be a sister to their daughter and two boys.

Mrs Whitsell, now 59, said: “I had always been told my parents were dead after contracting TB. “I was instructed never to mention to anyone that I was adopted. It reinforced the idea that being adopted was shameful.

Elderly woman die in California wildfire

Authorities in California say an elderly disabled woman has been killed in one of two massive wildfires in the northern part of the state that have overwhelmed firefighters with their speed and intensity. The body of 72-year-old Bar-

bara McWilliams, who suffered from advanced multiple sclerosis, was discovered in the rubble of her home near California’s world-famous Napa Valley winemaking region. Firefighters dispatched to rescue McWilliams could not reach her house

because the neighborhood was engulfed in flames. The fire, which has been dubbed the Valley fire, has destroyed 400 homes and over 24,000 hectares of land since erupting last Saturday, and is threatening another 9,000

“Yet, throughout my childhood, I was convinced, somehow, that my mother was alive. I told myself that one day, when I was old enough, I would track her down.” Mrs Whitsell grew up in Birmingham, training as a nurse be-

structures. The inferno was only about 10 percent contained as of late Monday night. About 300 kilometers to the east, another fire was raging in the Sierra Mountains, having destroyed 135 homes by midday Monday.

fore getting married herself and starting her own family. It was then that she decided to try and find her mother. She said: “After I was counselled by a social worker, to prepare me for what I might find, I was able to get my original birth certificate. “My next port of call was the orphanage where I had been left as a baby. “To my utter amazement, there was a member of staff who had been there since I was admitted at the age of eight months. ”She was reluctant to tell me much about my mother but it was clear that she disapproved of her.”

Wednesday,16 September, 2015

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Arochukwu/Ohafia Road: Lawmaker calls for probe, govt’s intervention

he member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Uko Nkole, has described the Ohafia/ Arochukwu Road as a death trap that requires immediate intervention in order to save lives from accident that occur on a daily basis. The 34 kilometres federal road, which had been

destroyed by gully erosion, has made a journey from Ohafia to Arochukwu two hours instead of 30 minutes. The lawmaker, while speaking to newsmen in Arochukwu after a tour of some roads under his constituency, said there was need for the Federal Government to beam its searchlight on contracts that had been awarded for the construction of the road.

Nkole noted that the contract for the construction of the road had been awarded several times by successive governments with no visible progress and, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order a probe of all contracts awarded for the construction of the road from the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) era till date. According to him, the

road has suffered neglect since the end of the civil war 41 years ago and is getting worse by the day and causing untold hardship to the people of Ohafia and Arochukwu, who are mainly farmers and traders but have no good road to transport their goods and farm produce with a resultant negative impact on the socio-economic development of the area.

Also, a community leader, Mazi Jideofor Kanu, who spoke on behalf of Akanu/Ania group of villages, said the transportation of farm produce in commercial quantity from Ohafia, Arochukwu, Ihechiowa, Ututu to neighbouring communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states had been truncated as a result of the state of the road.

On his part, the President-General, Nzuko Arochukwu, Mazi Nnamdi Udoh, said it was needless apportioning blame on what had delayed the rehabilitation of the road and called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, deploy a competent construction firm to take over the project and complete it in record time.

Nasarawa appeals to communities over water scarcity

From left, member representing Oyo Federal Constituency, Honourable Akeem Adeyemi; Ayaba Aishat Folasade Adeyemi; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi and Ayaba Mojisola Adeyemi, during the inauguration of Honourable Adeyemi’s constituency office and distribution of 100 GCE forms, at the Durbar Stadium, Oyo, on Tuesday. Photo: Moses Alao.

Lawmaker opens office, distributes GCE forms to students The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has advised political office holders to always ensure that they do not abandon the people that elected them into office, noting that good representation entailed doing something positive for constituents. Oba Adeyemi gave the advice during the inauguration of the constituency office of the member representing Atiba/Afijio/Oyo East/Oyo West Federal Constituency, Honourable Akeem Adeyemi, and the distribution of 100 National Exami-

nation Council (NECO) General Certificate in Examination (GCE) forms to students from the four local government areas. Honourable Adeyemi, while speaking, noted that apart from the 100 forms distributed to students, an extra mural class has been organised for students in the four local government areas, which would take place at St Bernadine Secondary School, Oyo. The lawmaker said he would maintain an open door policy, hence the opening of the constituency office, calling on con-

stituents to access the office and leave suggestions, information and requests for him in order for him to serve them qualitatively. Speaking on behalf of community leaders from

the four local government areas, Chief S.O. Ogundiran, commended Honourable Adeyemi for what he described as a first-of-its-kind intervention in the community.

The Nasarawa State government, on Monday, appealed to communities in Kokona and Keffi Local Government Areas of the state to remain calm, following the persistent scarcity of potable water in the areas. The Acting General Manager of the state’s water board, Mr Samuel Adigizi, who made the appeal on Monday in Keffi, said the government was worried about the water scarcity. Addressing newsmen shortly after inspecting dilapidated pipelines along the Garaku-Keffi highway in Kokona, Adigizi attributed the development to a recent downpour that washed away pipelines supplying water from the Akwanga Dam to communities. “The Nasarawa State government under Governor Tanko Al-Makura is doing its best to provide potable water and other facilities to the citizenry. “It is unfortunate that the downpour which occurred recently washed away water pipelines thereby disconnecting pipelines

supplying water to communities. “The downpour has not only washed away pipelines supplying water but has also caused untold hardship to residents of these communities. “Government is doing its best to ensure the provision of potable water to communities across the state in the interest of the health of the people and to boost the socio-economic development of the state,’’ he said. The manager called on Kokona and Keffi communities to be patient with government on the issue as it was doing its best to ensure that the pipes were repaired to ensure availability of water in affected areas. Adigizi assured the communities of the board’s readiness to provide quality water to communities to meet their needs. He also called on stakeholders in the water sector to support the state government in its efforts to provide potable water to all communities in the state.

Kebbi NDE trains 50 women on local products The Kebbi State Coordinator, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Alhaji Muhammad Zogirima, has said that the directorate is currently training 50 women on the production of different local products. Zogirima made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nige-

ria (NAN) at Magajin Gari Model Primary School, Tudun-Woda, Birnin Kebbi, on Tuesday. According to him, 50 women have been engaged by NDE in Kebbi to get basic training on how to produce beads, flower vases, necklaces and bags. “The aim of this train-

ing is to enable the beneficiaries set up their own businesses and become self-reliant and employers of labour,’’ he said. He said the directorate would sustain the training programmes so as to continue to empower more women to contribute meaningfully to the

economic growth of the state. “The trainees will spend two weeks after which the directorate will empower those who excel with products to enhance their skills. “However, women, will be accorded special attention considering their vulnerability,” he said.

communitynews

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Kano to facilitate N2bn loan for operators of SMEs kola oyelere-kano

KANO State governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said that arrangements had been concluded to facilitate a N2 billion loan for operators of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the state. According to the governor, the loan, obtainable from the Central Bank of Nigeria, is interest-free and non-discriminatory provided prospective beneficiaries meet the requirements to access it, He, however, added that the move is part of efforts by the state government to enhance the commercial status of the state. Ganduje, who made this known during a

Abandoned flyover project at Obada, Oke-Sopin Road, in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State. PHOTO: ADENIYI SIJUADE

Ayetoro community bemoans effects of ocean surge

meeting with members of Kano State Traders Union (KASTU) at the Government House in Kano, noted that the state government was also making plans to renovate markets in the state, urging leaders of market associations to support the government by ensuring that all markets are kept tidy always. He also tasked traders and SME operators on the payment of levies, saying that government would work with them to flush out traders operating illegally in the markets. In his speech, the KASTU Chairman, Alhaji Liti Kulkul, advised the state government to evolve ways of revitalising commercial activities in the state, assuring that they would cooperate with the Ganduje administration to move the state forward.

LG assured that government noting that he knew the chairman of the local gov- was part of NDDC project. H G -A He, however, said the distributes would soon come to their level of damage done as ernment area, lamented the state government in condeplorable state of the area, aid. an indigene of the riverhe people of Ayespecially the Memorial junction with other rel- relief He said the state gov- ine area. etoro commuernment had received a reHe said further that Happy City College, which evant agencies would materials nity in Ilaje Local port on the ecological haz- though the sea had rehe noted had produced expedite action in profGovernment Area ard. ceded before his arrival, many illustrious sons and fering a lasting solution to flood of Ondo State have cried to the problem. “A report was sent to the the effects of the surge daughters of the land. out for assistance from He lauded the residents victims in The commissioner told governor of Ondo State seen while traversing the the state and federal govand to our ministry to length and breadth of the the residents that the for their maturity and in ernments over the damcontract maintaining peace and Jigawa come and see the damage community, underscored embankment age caused by ocean surge awarded in 2003 was not orderliness despite the being done to the comakeem

badamosi

kure

in the community. The appeal was made by youths in the community, who lamented that the surge had rendered many people homeless and impacted negatively on social and economic activities. Speaking on behalf of the community, Aralu Emmanuel, solicited government’s intervention in terms of providing relief materials and preventing recurrence. Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Environment, Sola Ebiseni, who visited the area, has assured the residents of the community of government’s prompt intervention. Ebiseni, who was accompanied by officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the local government area,

munity by ocean surge,” the commissioner said,

the negative impact of the disaster on the people. Ebiseni, who is former

done by the state government, saying the contract

challenges occasioned by the disaster.

Flood alert: Bayelsa traders want more proactive measures Some traders in Yenagoa have advised the state government to be more proactive in his response to the flood alert in the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had alerted flood-prone states, including Bayelsa, of possible flood between now and November 2015. NAN reported that some stall owners had started constructing embankments to prevent water flowing into their shops as a result of the alert. Some traders told NAN in Yenagoa, on Tuesday, that there was need for government to evolve timely and corrective measures in mitigating

flood risk whenever it occurred. A foodstuff dealer in Swali Market, Mr Udeh Sunday, said constructing sufficient drainage system would contribute immensely in checkmating flooding. “There should be free flow of water in all the streets and market places. We need adequate drains for water to flow into the rivers. “Some houses in the state have started to experience a bit of flooding because the drainages are not well built and even the existing drains are already blocked by refuse,” Udeh said. Mrs Catherine Onuegbu, another trader, also called on the state govern-

ment to step up plans in educating the people, and the opening of blocked drainages. “I have constructed an embankment round my shop as a measure to check flooding due to constant rain. “This market (Swali) is very close to the river and we do not want the recurrence of the 2012 flood disaster. “Here, water normally flows into the market once there is rain and enters our shops. “I am calling on the state government to find a lasting solution to flooding in the state. “We need adequate water channels all over the state. Bayelsa is one of the coastal states in the coun-

try and the state is prone to flood,” Onuegbu said. NAN reported that the Bayelsa Emergency Management Agency (BEMA) has set up Internally Displaced Persons camps in all the eight local government areas. Reacting to the development, Mr Torukuru Adakien, BEMA Head of Administration, said the agency had been working hard to sensitise those at the grassroots, especially traders in Swali market. Adakien said the agency had organised sensitisation workshops on waste management as part of effort to mitigate flood risks. He urged the traders not to erect shops on waterways.

The Chairman, Birninkudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Alhaji Khalid Ibrahim, has said that the council had spent N4.1 million on relief materials for victims of flood in Babaldu village. Ibrahim disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse, on Tuesday, shortly after the distribution of materials to some of the affected victims in Babalolu village. He said the items distributed were mainly foodstuffs and cash. According to him, the flood destroyed several houses and other properties. The chairman said that the council had taken measures to clear drains to prevent recurrence. He told NAN that the state governor, Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar, had visited the place and pledged to assist the victims.

46 tribunesport

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Awoniyi begins training with Frankfurt N

Toriola, Orji win OASTC U-16 tennis tourney By Ahmed Pele

IGERIA’s U-23 striker, Taiwo Awoniyi has begun training with German Bundesliga 2 side, FSV Frankfurt after securing his travel papers and visa in England. The 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner is on a season-long loan from EPL side Liverpool. “He has begun training with FSV Frankfurt after he got his necessary papers to fly down to Germany,” a source familiar with the player’s transfer informed AfricanFootball.com. Frankfurt, who finished 13th last season, are 12th on the table with seven points after six rounds of matches. The team’s next game is on Sunday against the new club of Nigeria forward, Obinna Nsofor, MSV Duisburg. Awoniyi who featured at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand it will be recalled played in the All Africa Games qualifying series for the Dream Team before he was dropped from the squad to Brazzaville 2015 to sort out his club career.

Awoniyi

Why I left FC IfeanyiUbah —Amokachi Daniel Amokachi, former head coach of FC IfeanyiUbah, has revealed that he has no ill-feelings leaving the Globacom Premier League side. Willie Udube, Bulgarian coach Mitko Dobrev, John Obuh and Amokachi have all coached the Nnewi side this season. Amokachi resigned his appointment as the Technical Adviser of the Anambra Warriors on Sunday night shortly after the team lost 1-0 to Sharks FC in Port Harcourt in a Week 29 tie. In a text message from the exinternational read on a TV Sports programme on Monday, Amokachi revealed that he took the decision in the interest of his career barely seven games after he was named coach only last month. The content of the text message sent by Amokachi read in part: “I have no

ill-feelings leaving FC IfeanyiUbah and the owner of the club still remains my very good friend, one that I can return to whenever I am broke. It is only if I approach him for financial assistance and he doesn’t answer me that I will know that he is angry with me.” However, Goal has gathered that Amokachi and his assistant Ike Shorounmu decided to call it quits with the Nnewi side because of the handling of the team by the owner, Chief Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah which has been allegedly described as inimical to its growth. Goal was told that Ifeanyi Ubah does not swallow defeat suffered by his club in good faith and that he allegedly forced his team to return to Nnewi after a league game the same night they lost to Heartland in Port Harcourt at the detriment of their

UN co-hosts Lagos beach marathon By Rotimi Ige The United Nations Information Centre has collaborated with Community Agenda for Peace (CAP) to host the fourth edition of Lagos Beach Marathon rece slated for Thursday, October 1, 2015. Barrister Obuesi Phillips, the initiator of the marathon race, said the event is designed to draw the widest variety of Nigerian youths, budding and established athletes to a must-see showcase of beach race. Obuesi stated that “they are not just going to run a beach race, there will

also be a musical concert, a raffle draw and lots of gift items to be won by Nigerians as they gather to celebrate the country’s independence.” This year’s marathon is said to be special in many respects, foremost being that it is being co-hosted by the Community Agenda for Peace (CAP) and the United Nations Information Centre, Lagos in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Organisation. Obuesi, who is the President of the Beach Race Club, organisers of the Lagos Beach Marathon, reiterated that

safety. This came before the unveiling of Amokachi. It was stated that the team obliged him save for former player of the side, Sani Kaita who opted not to risk his life and decided to end his romance with the team despite alleged several calls from the club owner for him to also return same night. Goal reliably gathered that a similar episode transpired last Sunday in Port Harcourt after the Anambra Warriors were beaten 1-0 by Sharks. It was said that directives came from Chief Ubah that the team should return to Nnewi same night after the loss to the Blue Angels. Goal was told by a close source that Amokachi ignored the directives and insisted that the team must stay till the following morning because of the players and the officials’ who may be exposed to danger if they embarked on the journey that night.

the event would be a bumper package for all participants, just as he opined that though beach race is pretty new in Nigeria but all hands are on deck to institutionalise it and make it a household sport in the country. Honourable Sammy Obodo, the Head of Admin, Community Agenda for Peace, stated that over 100 athletes and non-athletes alike have registered for the beach marathon so far, adding that even fun lovers, family members and other picnickers will also have the opportunity to participate in the event also as a way of celebrating Nigeria’s independence.

ISIAKA Toriola and Coleen Orji have emerged winners of the just-ended U-16 boys and girls tennis tournament organised by the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium Tennis Club (OASTC). Orji in the final decided at the newly-refurbished tennis courts of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, outclassed Kaosarat Adegboyega 6-0, 6-2 to claim the girls trophy. Orji while speaking with Tribunesport said the victory was a morale booster for her. “I am filled with joy to be the winner of this competition, and this is the beginning of better things to come in my career,” said Orji who also called on corporate bodies for sponsorships that would enable tennis to grow in the country. Finalist Adegboyega however, told Tribunesport that she lost to a better opponent. “She (Coleen) was better than me and that was the reason she won, but I am happy that I made it to the final. I hope to come back stronger in subsequent tournaments because what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger,” Adegboyega said.

Amokachi

However, the boys final between Toriola and Jamiu Muftahu had to be abandoned due to a downpour after the former won the first set 6-3 while, the latter was leading 5-0 in the second set. Toriola incredibly came back 48 hours to win the abandoned set and made it two straight sets of 6-3, 7-5. In his remark, Pa Tunji Afunleyi who donated one of the trophies competed for, lauded OASTC for its effort at developing tennis, saying future great tennis players could easily be discovered through such a grassroots tourney. He noted that organising tennis tournaments during vacation would also help students to have a fun-filled holiday through social interaction that the platform will provide. Also speaking with Tribunesport, the Director of the OASTC tennis Academy, coach Adepeju Faboyinde said she was impressed with the standard of the competition. “I am impressed that most of the players have improved but they need regular competitions to be able to compete favourably with their counterparts in other states of the federation,” said the former international tennis player.

47 tribunesport

Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Blessing Oborududu punishing her opponent.

AAG 2015: Oborududu eyes

sixth African title Nigeria women’s 63kg wrestler, Blessing Oborududu says her mission at the 11th All Africa Games is to win a record sixth title in Africa. The five-time African champion in an interview said her is target is to surpass the record set by her current coach, Tangi Oyinbrakemi on the continent. The Olympian who failed to feature at this year’s World Wrestling Championship in Las Vegas due to the decision of the Nigeria

Wrestling Federation assured Nigerian of a slot at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. “My coach, Tangi Oyinbrakemi sets a record in Africa and I am aiming to surpass that record in Congo Brazzaville. We spoke and I told her (Tangi) that this time around I will not leave any stone unturned. “It was painful that I could not participate at the World Wrestling Championship this year, but I am assuring Nigerians that I will secure a ticket and hoist Nigeria’s

AAG 2015: D’Tigress,

D’Tigers in semis

Team Nigeria basketball women’s team, D’Tigress, on Tuesday qualified for the semi-final of the ongoing 11th All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville. The D’Tigress advanced on 73-65 scoreline at the expense of their Gabonese counterparts in one of the quarter-final games decided at the Makelekele Sports Centre. Nigeria senior men’s

basketball team, D’Tigers are also through to the semi-final while their opponents are yet to be ascertained as of the time of this report. Meanwhile, the arrival of the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhassan Yakmut in Brazzavile on Monday night has boosted the morale of the athletes.

flag in Brazil,” Oborududu said. At the African Wrestling Championship in Egypt, Oborududu defeated Egyptian Haiat Farag Youssef by FALL, 6-0 to win her fifth African title.

Mikel, Rahman to host Igiebor’s Tel Aviv N igerian midfield kingpin, John Obi Mikel and Ghanaian defender Baba Rahman could also be in action in a UEFA Champions League Group G match between Chelsea and Maccabi Tel Aviv tonight. Again the match could allow the Super Eagles midfielder a chance to hoist the African flag after he started in their 1-3 loss to Everton last weekend. The Blues have conced-

I will keep scoring for Al Ain—Emenike Nigeria international, Emmanuel Emenike has expressed hopes to continue scoring goals after he netted a brace on his league debut for Al Ain. The former Karabukspor of Turkey star scored twice in a 2-0 win over Al Wasl last Sunday to take his goals’ haul to four in three games in all competitions. “I am happy to continue the scoring form for Al Ain, it’s something I always want to do and I hope to keep it up in the subsequent games,” Emenike told AfricanFootball.com.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner and highest goal scorer stated that “Scoring goals means a lot to me especially at this time because everybody expects goals from me and so I am working hard every day to justify their confidence. “It’s good to keep the club in front and my goals have a lot to do with that.” He continued: “I need to justify the confidence many have in me as well as the huge expectations of the club and fans. “I believe I will score more goals with the help of my team mates.”

Eminike

ed 12 goals in just five EPL games and that’s a concern for the defending champions which could prompt the Portuguese tactician to field the Black Stars left back. The Blues will have to erase their English Premier League woes as they continue to see a poor start in their title defence. Jose Mourinho is a troubled man and will be pressed to look for a solution to bounce back to winning ways. They have three losses, one win thus far with one draw in the EPL and welcoming the Israel-based side presents a golden opportunity to turn the corner. The visiting team have done well in the Israeli Premier League after winning two of their opening games and losing one. They drew 2-2 away to FC Basel and played to a 1-all stalemate at home during the Champions League

Preliminary stages. However, coach Slavisa Jokanovic could be prompted to call upon his

Today’s Champions League fixtures Leverkusen vs BATE Borisov Chelsea vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Dinamo Zagreb vs Arsenal KAA Gent vs Lyon Dynamo Kyiv vs FC Porto Valencia CF vs Zenit Roma vs Barcelona Olympiakos vs Bayern Munich

Nigerian midfielder Emmanuel Igiebor to possibly start and compound the hosts’ troubles.

Igiebor

SIDELINES

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Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

Falcons star, Ebere joins PSG Nigerian international, Ngozi Ebere, has been signed by Paris St Germain Ladies of according to reports in France. The 24-year-old player joined the Paris club on Monday on a two-year contract that will keep her in the French capital until 2017. The Super Falcons defender is excited with her move to the French club and said she is “motivated by this new challenge.” “I am very motivated by this new challenge that awaits me here in Paris. It’s a dream come true,” said Ebere after completing her move to the Paris side. Manager of the Paris St Germain Feminines, Farid Benstiti, views Ebere as the perfect partner for highly-rated French defender, Laure Boulleau. But Benstiti despite being optimistic of the quality that Ebere will add to their defence, pleaded for time for the Nigerian to adapt. “She will be the complement of Laure Boulleau, who was in demand during recent seasons. She has great potential and qualities that were shown in the last World Cup. She will need time to adapt, but her qualities will enable her to be ready soon enough,” the PSG manager said of his new Nigerian acquistion. Ebere joins Paris St Germain from Rivers Angels. The defender was part of the Nigerian women’s national team to the African Women’s Championship (AWC) in 2012 and 2014 as well as the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, where PSG first scouted her.

11th ALL AFRICA GAMES SEPT. 4 - 19, 2015

Niyi Alebiosu

reporting Amusan wins gold in 100m women’s hurdles As NSC showers naira rain on medallists

AAG results

Men’s football semi-finals 1 Senegal 3 Congo B/Faso 3 Nigeria 1 Women’s football semi-finals Cameroon 2 Nigeria 1

Ebere

Brazzaville 2015:

Adesokan wins gold, sets new world record

EIGNING Paralympic champion, Yakubu Adesokan on Tuesday won the gold in the men’s 49kg powerlifting at the ongoing 11th All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville. Adesokan who also won the last edition, Maputo 2011 lived up to his rating when he lifted 182.5kg in his third attempt to also set a new world record at Stade D’Ornanou, Brazzaville. Algerian lifter settled for the silver

Moses savours West Ham debut Nigerian winger, Victor Moses produced a decent performance on his West Ham United debut as the Hammers beat Newcastle United 2-0 at Upton Park on Monday night to move to the fifth on the EPL standings. Moses showed his pace, power and overall ability in a debut that certainly won over the West Ham faithful at a sell-out Boleyn Ground. Speaking after the match, Moses who lasted 88 minutes on the pitch before he was replaced by Andy Carroll said the victory was basically down to the team talk of manager, Slaven Bilic. “I thought all the lads did really well out there. We knew what to expect, the manager said ‘Go out and express yourself, make sure you enjoy the game’. “I thought we worked hard together as a team, we deserved the game and we dominated really. We created a lot of chances really,”

The largest party in Africa, the Peoples Democratic Party, has cut the salary of its workers by about 35 per cent, including the running cost of its National Working Committee. With its billionaire members made up of men and women of timber and calibre one would have thought that the party will never have to struggle to stay afloat. Chai, that means the rich also cry.

in the event. The Oyo State-born powerlifter who in July this year settled for the silver medal at the IPC World Powerlifting Championship held in Kazakhstan, this time made it a golden finish. “What else will I say than to thank God for making it possible. I’m so excited. One thing is for one to work hard and it is another thing for one to achieve success. I can’t thank God enough for this victory,” the man who first sets the world record at the London 2012 Paralympics with 180kg lift told Tribunesport. He stated that his silver finish at Kazakhstan 2014 propelled him to up his performance. “After the Asia championship in Kazakhstan, I gave myself personal target of gold medal at the All Africa Games, and with God I was able to fulfil my target,” Adesokan said adding that the authorities should

he told the club’s official website, www.whufc.com. The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner who is on loan from Chelsea stated that his move to West Ham has been very eventful. “I think I’ve settled in quickly. I just wanted to go out there and enjoy it. Everything fell into place and it felt good out there. “You can see that we’ve got a lot of quality. Going forward we were all enjoying ourselves,” he said. Moses has also set his sights on the weekend’s English Premier League game against leaders Manchester City. “Now the most important thing is the game on Saturday and trying to get three points at City. “It’ll be tough, Manchester City have been the best team so far, playing there is always difficult anyway. We need to go there and be positive, try and upset them and Adesokan win the game.

ensure early preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympics. “I urge the National Sports Commission (NSC) to allow us start the preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games early, because it would help us a lot. We have world champions and with intensive preparation, we would remain unstoppable,” he said. Meanwhile, Lateefat Tijani earned Nigeria a gold medal as well as she also sets a new African record in 45kg category with her 90kg lift. Nigeria’s Ben Nsini was beaten to the gold in the 41kg as she lifted 90kg behind Egyptian opponent who lifted 92kg. Head coach of Nigeria’s powerlifting team, Are Feyisetan told Tribunesport that his lifters won’t disappoint Nigerians. Ben Isini won silver 41kg 90, he lost the gold medal to Egyptian who lifted 92kg.

AMUSAN Oluwatobiloba on Tuesday clinched the gold in the women’s 100m hurdles at the ongoing 11th All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville. The 18-year-old who returned in a time of 13.15 seconds explained that her triumph was as a result of the improvement in heats the previous day. “I am happy for this. It is an improvement in technique from the heats of yesterday,” Amusan said. Nigeria looked close to making it a one-two finish in the women’s 100 hurdles final as the athletes in second and third places ended up in an almost photo-finish. But it was her compatriot, Lindsay Weyinme, who finished two places behind her to claim bronze in a time of 13.30 seconds. Senegalese sprinter, Gnima Faye, finished in a season’s best of 13.28 seconds to win silver. Meanwhile, the camp of Team Nigeria on Tuesday evening was thrown into wild jublilation during the cash presentation to the athletes who won medals in their various events so far. The ceremony was anchored by Mr Peter Nelson, the deputy Chief de Mission of the Team Nigeria to the ongoing Brazzaville 2015. Gold medallists received $2,000 for every gold medal won, while silver medallists were rewarded with $1,500 each as bronze medallists got $1,000 each. The coaches were rewarded with $2,500 each while the cycling women’s team made up of six athletes were given $6,000. Weightlifter Otunla Baliqis stole the show on the occasion when she received $6,000 after winning three gold medals in the women’s weightlifting 53kg category. Nelson in his remarks commended the athletes and urged them to utilise the money judiciously. He further explained that the bonus was to motivate the athletes to excel and to show appreciation for a job well done. “The ceremony here today is to encourage you all and to show that the government is much concerned about you and ready to support you. This gesture will also serve as a tool to encourage other athletes to excel at the Games and in future competitions,” Nelson said.

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. Ag. EDITOR: TINU AYANNIYI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 16/9/2015.