17th February 2016 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,438

WEDNESDAY, 17 FEBRUARY, 2016

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Ali Modu Sheriff emerges new PDP chairman

•Vows to return party to power in 2019 Arms purchase fund: •Ribadu shuns party interview How Haliru, son •South-East, South-South Senate caucuses reject him squandered N300m —P6 —Witness —P7

Jonathan's appointees sabotaging Buhari —Oyegun

Senate stops new electricity tariff —P7

—P2

•Accuses NERC, DISCOs of exploiting Nigerians

Alleged Ibadan killer-wife arrives court in ambulance —P40

Kogi: 5 members impeach Speaker —P2

From left, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari, when the Ooni visited the Aso Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Court rejects Seriki's move to stop Olubadan's installation —P41

news

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Senate stops new electricity tariff •Accuses NERC, Discos of exploiting Nigerians Taiwo Adisa And Ayodele Adesanmi-Abuja

HE Senate, on Tuesday, asked the Ministry of Power, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Distribution Companies (Discos) to withdraw the new electricity tariff imposed on consumers from February 1. The lawmakers, who debated a motion moved by Senator Suleiman Nazif, said due process was not followed in taking the decision. The lawmakers asked the Committee on Labour and Productivity to organise a public hearing involving the NERC, the Discos and the organised labour. Senator Nazif, who moved the motion, stated that arbitrary increase in tariff by the Discos failed to follow the stipulated processes contained in Section 76 of Power Sector Reform Act 2005. He argued that the new tariff would have a multiplier effect on the economy, adding that the manufacturing companies were being forced to pay more. He said most of the consumers were not metered, contrary to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) of November 1, 2013, which, he said, indicated that within 18 months, all consumers would have been metered. According to him, the Discos were guilty of continuously exploiting Nigerians. He said: “The distribution companies have continued to exploit Nigerians by estimated billing system for the majority of consumers, while deliberately refusing to make pre-paid meters available. Privatisation in any part of the world is meant to inject fresh funds into the concerned sector and not to impose ridiculous tariff on helpless masses. “The increase is only intended to protect the investment of a select few and not to serve the interest of Nigerian masses who are already battling with the prevailing economic recession. The increase in tariff will pave way for additional heavy burden on consumers, coupled with challenges in the economy. It will adversely affect the purchasing power of Nigerian workers and the entire Nigerian masses and, by extension, aggravate restiveness in the country.” Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who contributed to the motion, stated that the new tariff was wicked and needed to be randomly condemned. He also stated that the tariff increase amounted to troubling the hapless Nigerians, who, he said, were already

wallowing in abject poverty and acute state of insecurity. The Senate, thereafter, asked the stakeholders in the electricity sector to suspend

the new tariff, while also asking its committees to conduct further investigations into the matter. It will be recalled that the

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, had, about a week ago, during his appearance before the Senate Committee

on Power, justified the 45 per cent increment in electricity tariff. He explained that an Act of the National Assembly actu-

ally empowers the NERC to increase tariff, hence the federal parliament will not be able to stop the implementation.

Boko Haram not bouncing back —FG Taiwo Adisa, Chris Agbambu And Christian Okeke-Abuja

THE Federal Government, on Tuesday, said there was no resurgence of Boko Haram activities in the country and that the terrorists remained massively degraded and largely defeated. It said the recent string of attacks in recent times by the group was not an indication that Boko Haram was bouncing back. According to the government, the fact that the terrorists operated in a few local governments did not equate to holding and controlling territories. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who addressed a press conference in Abuja, said there was the need for citizens not to say or do anything that would demoralise the armed forces

who daily fought the terrorists and sometimes paid the supreme price. He stated that the current bombings by the degraded Boko Haram would not surprise anyone who was conversant with the ebb and flow of insurgency. According to him, the administration was not unaware of the pockets of attacks and was taking appropriate measures, in line with global best practices, to ensure an effective response to the bombings. The measures, according to him, included strengthening of intelligence and security, especially in the affected communities, and stepping up of the reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement efforts. He said: “It is important that we explain further to

our compatriots that the recent spike in suicide bombings and attacks on vulnerable communities are not unusual at the phase of insurgency in which we are now, which is the phase in which the insurgency is defeated or degraded by the military.” Alhaji Mohammed debunked the speculation that the sect was always emboldened to carry out more attacks after each statement of being decimated by government. He alleged that it hurts the insurgents to know that government was already aware that they lacked powers to launch massive attacks, and said such further attacks were targeted at extending their propaganda. He said: “They are hungry and that is why they are angry. Before they have territories and were run-

ning government. “We saw their headquarters in Bama, but today, that is no more. We will continue to say that they are decimated and lacks power to launch attacks. “In recent times, there has been a spate of suicide bombings and attacks on highly vulnerable communities in the North-East by Boko Haram. “We strongly condemn these mindless attacks on innocent citizens and commiserate with the families of those who have been killed or injured in the attacks. “Many commentators have latched on to these attacks to infer a resurgence of Boko Haram, while some have even made outrageous statements regarding the territories controlled by Boko Haram. Fortunately, no

Kogi assembly crisis gets messier as 5 members remove speaker, chooses APC lawmaker as new speaker •I remain speaker —Lawal Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

THE Kogi State House of Assembly was, again, thrown into confusion on Tuesday, as five out of the 20 members sat to remove Honourable Momoh Lawal as the Speaker of the assembly and replaced him with Umar Imam. Apart from the Speaker, the people also said they had removed Honourable Kolawole Matthew as the majority leader, while the post of deputy speaker was yet to be filled, as they were still consulting over who should occupy the post. But Lawal, who was flanked by the remaining 15 members of the assembly, said he remained the speaker, saying it was laughable for only five people to carry out the purported impeachment. Tension and apprehension had enveloped the assembly complex located opposite of the state high court, as men of the Department of State Security (DSS), mobile and regular police, were drafted to the complex to maintain security, following the hint that some members were about to carry out the impeachment. However, at about 12 noon, five members, including Friday Sani; Umar Imam; Abdulahi Bello;

Lawi Ahmed and Sunday Abbah, went into the assembly and locked themselves inside without allowing newsmen and the public to witness the proceedings. After over one hour, the people emerged from the chambers and Sani told newsmen that Lawal had been impeached, saying he had been elected as the majority leader. He said Lawal was removed because the assembly no longer worked, as he (Lawal) had been running the legislature like a “sole proprietor” with its attendant effects on the performance of the assembly. According to him, 15 members of the assembly had earlier agreed and signed that the Speaker should voluntarily resign after the emergence of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the governor of the state. He said: “The resolution we reached at our sitting today include the removal of the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, the new speaker is Honourable Umar Imam, only one principal office was stepped down today and that is the position of the deputy speaker and the reason being that we need further consultation of members to arrive at a

decision, because there are two good contenders. ‘We have come to a point where we can not operate in this state without an assembly. We all know the role an assembly like that of Kogi State should play in the governance of the people of the state, but by the time the speaker can not reconvene the assembly, may be because of the threat of impeachment, so we can not continue. “The reason for the removal is not far from the fact that the assembly can not sit, we need a situation where the assembly can sit, we need a leadership that can be accepted by the members of the Kogi State House of Assembly and that is why the change is imminent and we have done it.” However, addressing newsmen at the speaker's lodge, Lokoja, Lawal said it was wrong for the members to meet at the office of the chief whip and carried out an impeachment without a formal sitting in the chambers. The embattled speaker also said 15 members met on Tuesday and passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of the assembly, wondering why the pro-impeachment group got the number they were

parading. He said: “By the powers vested on the speaker after consultations with members, I issued the proclamation that the assembly will resume on Thursday, any sitting outside Thursday is illegal. The assembly is an institution, it is not a place where somebody will sit in his office and say the speaker has been impeached. On the allegation that Lawal agreed to resign after the meeting with Bello, he said: “the governor is not the one that elected me as the speaker. The assembly is an institution, the members are the ones to decide if I should resign and not the governor. "The governor heads the executive and we are a different arm of government, how can governor interfere in the affairs of the assembly, the governor has no right to call for my resignation. “No 15 members signed the purported impeachment notice, this morning (Tuesday) 15 members came to my house to pass a vote of confidence on the leadership of the Kogi State House of Assembly. We are 20 in the assembly, how can five members again sign my impeachment paper, that is illegal, it is fake and a forgery.”

less a personality than the president, strongly backed by the governors of Borno and Yobe states, have debunked such unsubstantiated claims. “For better understanding, one must recogise the different types of the termination of insurgency. One involves a situation in which the insurgents succeed, in which case the group subdues the government and society, imposes its will and re-organises the economic and sociopolitical structures of the society accordingly. “The insurgency in Iran that brought the current regime in the country to power is an example. When this happens, the insurgency is often christened as a revolution by the victorious insurgents. There is also the negotiated settlement, including amnesty for insurgents. Examples abound in some South American countries like Guatemala, and, to an extent, Eastern and Southern Africa, where previously recalcitrant colonial or apartheid regimes had to negotiate with anti-colonial and anti-apartheid movements. “And then there is the phase in which the insurgent group is defeated or degraded by the government, which is the current experience of Nigeria. “Each of the three types has long-term consequences. However, none of them provides immediate cessation to terror attacks, as evident in cases like Northern Ireland, Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Iran and other countries that previously recorded insurgency. “Terror attacks and activities in the form of suicide bombing, sabotage of infrastructure and propaganda often continue for years after the cessation of mass insurgency. “Since the advent of this administration, Boko Haram insurgents have been considerably degraded as a result of coordinated and unrelenting efforts by the military. “The administration has succeeded in galvanising our neighbouring countries and the global community, including major powers, towards the defeat of insurgency and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the communities and population most affected by terrorism.

news Buhari meets Ooni of Ife, Adeboye in Aso Rock

Leon Usigfbe-Abuja

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari met separately with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi and General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday. The royal father, who spoke with State House correspondents after his closed door meeting with the president, said he met with him over the peace and progress of the country. “The meeting with the president was about peace and progress of the nation which he stands for and I stand for. What is also key is youth empowerment. That is the main purpose of this meeting,” he said. Asked about his acceptance among the people, he said it was in the hands of God who made him king, adding that whoever had not accepted him now would do so sooner or later. According to him, “I have a clear strategy: if you don't want to accept me, I will accept you. It is very important and I will be very persistent about it because it is a divine calling. “It is not by my power nor by my might. It is a calling from the King of kings who actually appointed me to this throne. So, I will be very persistent. “About acceptability, if you do not accept me today, you will accept me tomorrow. It is a clear mission and I will be persistent about it.”

Wednessday, 17 February, 2016

On his plan for the people of his kingdom, the Ooni remarked that he was working with the Federal Government to develop the agricultural sector, par-

ticularly with rising price of cocoa. He said: “There is a lot. I am currently working with the Minister of Agriculture. We have been able to assemble over

200,000 youths within a space of 30 days. It is unbelievable. “We are encouraging them to go back to the farm. Something happened in Nigeria that we

did not notice. Last year October, crude oil price started going down astronomically, but cocoa price went up over 100 per cent and nobody noticed it. “Nigeria in the early

From left, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; President Muhammadu Buhari and the General Overseer, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E. A. Adeboye, when the cleric paid a visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Senate extends budget defence sessions by one week •Adjourns plenary Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi-Abuja

THE Senate, on Tuesday, extended the time allotted to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to defend their budgets before its standing committees by one week. The senators, as a result of the extension, adjourned plenary till Tuesday, next week. The decision to extend

the budget defence sessions and suspend plenary was arrived at after the senators held an executive session at the start of Tuesday's sitting. The lawmakers had suspended plenary two weeks ago to allow the standing committees process the budget by hosting the MDAs in budget defence sessions. Sources in the Senate told the Nigerian Tribune, on Tuesday, that

the senators, at the executive session, agreed to complete their work on the 2016 budget by March. It was confirmed that the meeting was principally called so that the senators could be on the same page as far as the budget was concerned. It was learnt that the senators agreed to suspend plenary for one week after which the Senate Standing Committees would start appearing before the

Committee on Appropriation to defend estimates of the parastatals under their watch. Sources in the Senate further said the lawmakers had no issues agreeing to the quest that the budget defence sessions be extended, in view of the inconsistencies noticed in the drag estimates of budget 2016 submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari, on December 22, 2015.

Woman assaults grandchild over bowl of rice in Ogun Olayinka Olukoya-Abeokuta

A woman, identifed as Mrs Bose Adebayo, is now cooling her heels with the men of the Ogun State police command for assaulting her grandchild, Tope Oke, over a bowl of rice. Nigerian Tribune learnt that the accused

person stamped the victim with a hot pot on her cheeks, because she ate the rice without her permission, thereby inflicting injury on her. It was gathered that the grandmother was angry with the eight-year-old and

The development was reported to a non-governmental organisation, Child Protection Network and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. Nigerian Tribune gathered that the case had

been reported at the Ibara Police Station. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the story, adding that the suspect would be charged to court.

Court restrains INEC from excluding PDP from rerun Isaac Shobayo-Jos

Tope Oke

beat her up. An eyewitness, who does not want her name in print, said the primary two pupil of St. Jame’s Primary School, Ijeun-Titun, Abeokuta was rushed to the State Hospital, Ijaiye, for medical attention.

AS the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prepares for rerun and supplementary elections to fill the vacant seats in the Plateau State House of Assembly involving Langtang South, Pankshin North and South, a Federal High Court sitting in Jos has restrained the electoral body from excluding the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Saturday's rerun for Langtang South state con-

stituency. The INEC had fixed February 20 for the rerun, but excluded the PDP from fielding any candidate on the premise that both the lower and appeal tribunals had upturned the victory of its candidate, Honourable Vincent Bulus, for being an ex-convict and, as well, banned him from contesting future elections for the next 10 years. However, the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice D. V. Agishi, on Monday, ruled against the

decision of INEC and ordered the commission to insert the logo and name of the PDP into the ballot papers. PDP had sought for an order of interim injunction restraining INEC, its agents, privies or assign or any other person acting on its behalf from excluding it from participating in the election. Agishi said it would not serve the interest of justice if the PDP was excluded from the election, adding that it was wrong for the

electoral body to exclude the party from the election. Speaking on the ruling, PDP’s Organising Secretary, Mr Mike Dachom, and counsel for the party, Mr Sunday Odey, described it as a triumph for democracy and rule of law Dachom said now that the party had secured the first hurdle, officials would be meeting to decide who would fly the flag of the party in the election since the former candidate was disqualified on account of criminal records.

1930s and 1940s was the largest exporter of cocoa in the world and the farmlands are still there. “So, what we have been able to do now is another positive indicator for the nation’s economy. We have been able to assemble youths and we are giving them five acres per youth so that they will go back to the farm. “The Federal Government is supporting us very well. So, it is going to be a model that will be replicated in all parts of the country. “As a royal father, I am also encouraging the youth not to look for fast ways of making money, let us go back to the basis.” He said President Buhari was receptive to the ideas, saying, “he is a progressive president, he is very happy.” Led by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Pastor Adeboye met with the president for about 15 minutes. He declined to speak with the media when approached for interview.

Pension: Reps probe nonremittance by employers of labour Jacob Segun Olatunji And Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

THE House of Representatives, on Tuesday, ordered immediate investigation into the alleged non-remittance of workers' contributions to the Pension Fund Administrations (PFAs), by employers of labour in the country. In addition, the House directed its Committee on Pension to obtain a comprehensive report on the operations of the scheme so far, including a list of defaulting employers and the amount involved. The resolution followed the adoption of a motion entitled: “threat to the continuation of the contributory pensions scheme by non-remittance of workers’ contributions by employers,” sponsored by a member, Honourable Joseph Edionywele. Moving the motion on the floor of the House, at the plenaryon Tuesday, Honourable Edionywele pointed out that the scheme appeared to be in breach with the Pensions Act. Honourable Edionywele lamented that the non-remittance by organisations would not only jeopardise the smooth and successful operation of the scheme, but lead to the suffering of pensioners.

4 news

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Rivers rerun was postponed due to lack of fund —REC

Says card reader will be used Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt

HE federal and state legislative rerun in Rivers State was postponed from February 6 till March 19, to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to raise enough fund to ensure a hitch-free exercise. The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, made the clarification in his maiden meeting with leaders of the various political parties and other stakeholders at the state headquarters of the electoral commission, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday. This was as the REC disclosed that the controversial card reader would be used to complement the exercise, noting that the problem was not with the machine, but some people who wanted to use it to their own selfish ends. He said 28 political parties would be participating in the election, noting that accreditation and voting would be conducted between 8.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. on the election day. As ordered by the court, INEC was scheduled to conduct election for 22 seats in the state House of Assembly, 12 seats in the House of Representatives and the three senatorial districts in the state. There had been speculations on the legal implications of the postponement, championed majorly by leaders and members of the two main political parties in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, clearing the air during the meeting, Ikoiwak said the postponement of the

rerun was in order, adding that it would also enable the commission to ensure the conduct of an election that would meet the set standard. He said the postponement was not peculiar to Rivers State, adding that elections were also postponed from their initial court-ordered dates in states like Adamawa and Akwa Ibom states, among others. He said the Rivers rerun was postponed “because of inadequacy of the commission; inadequate in the sense that the preparation was not adequate, there were other logistics problems that, in the face of the election, it could not hold. So, effectively, the commission decides to move it up to Mach 19. “I want to make this point clear because I have heard from many quarters and by some people who also want to know whether the election on March 19 is under the law.

The law allows the commission to postpone an election that has been fixed. In the eyes of the law, it is assumed that that elections held on the day that it was fixed. “Section 26 of the Electoral Law allows INEC to appoint a date for elections and also gives INEC the power to postpone the election to a date that is convenient for it to hold the elections. “So, what we are doing is postponing the elections from February 6 to March 19. February 6 was the actual day that was fixed to meet up with the directives of the court of 60 days and 90 days, respectively. “The commission has the power to postpone it if the commission has certain things that will not allow the election to take place effectively; if it has what it is called pungent reasons. If there is no money to con-

duct the election, I don’t think whether there is any other pungent reason than where you don’t money to conduct the election. “The commission has to source for money because it is not an election that was prepared; that is, it is not an election that the commission had planned that, in February 2016, there was going to be elections in Rivers State. This election is as a result of what happened and the court pronouncement. “It, therefore, means that the commission needs to source for money; the commission needs to look for other logistics, including printing of ballot papers and other materials. The commission has come up with customised papers. “So, in this election, the commission cannot now say, because it is an election that was ordered by the court, that the standard that

had been set should not be carried out. With all these, the commission decided to postpone the election that was fixed on February 6. “I have to make this very clear so that contestants should go and do their campaigns and contest the election, without that prejudice in mind that somebody will use the constitutional means to undo me,” he said. Speaking on the use of card reader for the rerun exercise, the Rivers REC said the election would be conducted with the full complement of the card reader. “That is the position of the constitution. It is not at variance with the register (voter); it is supposed to complement the register. It was not supposed to be an instrument that should be discarded. “I also want to say it here clearly that we are going to train those who will use the

Buhari promises election-free process in Africa

As Liberian president visits Nigeria Leon Usigbe - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has pledged Nigeria’s cooperation with Liberia, to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections in five African countries in 2016. The president made the pledge during a joint news conference with visiting Liberian president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday. Buhari revealed that both leaders discussed how Nigeria and Liberia could support countries involved in elections to conduct this year. Buhari said: “As we all know last year, security is

very important, but we had five elections, including our own in the sub-region. “This year we are going to have five and we hope that we will work together and make sure that the elections are successful. “We are going to have one in Benin, Niger, Ghana and two other countries. “What affects any of the country of the region affects all of us. So, it is in our own interest to discuss and see how we can support individual country with the elections that are coming.” The president also assured that Nigeria, in conjunction with members of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, would continue to tackle the

activities of terrorists in the West African sub-region. He expressed delight over the progress made so far by the Sirleaf-led administration in Liberia and assured that Nigeria would assist the country in its development effort. He added that Nigeria would jointly embark on rehabilitation of the ailing industries, in order to get the economies of the two countries back on track. In her remarks, President Sirleaf expressed Liberia’s gratitude for Nigeria’s assistance to her country. She added: “I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to come back to Abuja.

“This time, to be able to meet with President Buhari. “First of all, to repeat once again, my various appreciation for the support that we have had for many, many years. “Most recently, when we had the difficulties of the disease of Ebola, Nigeria stood by Liberia. “So, I came to convey those thanks. I came to renew the strong bond of friendship between our two countries.” Meanwhile, while receiving a team of British Members of Parliament, led by Honourable Chi Onwurah, at State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, President Buhari said: “We are going to re-

Fish depot with 700 million product shut over expiry date fraud Olalekan Olabulo - Lagos POLICEMEN from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, on Tuesday, sealed off a fish depot with over N700 million product. The company was accused of revalidating the expiry date of the product, when the policemen and the state ministry officials invaded its premises. The company, Hanno Industries, located at 114, Oba Akran Road, Ikeja, was under surveillance for close to two weeks by the police. Following a tip-off from sources that the company was revalidating expiry

card reader in the field. Let me say it here, I discovered that it is not the problem of the card reader. 50 per cent of the problem are caused by those in the field; by those who will not want the card reader to be used and influenced somebody to remove the battery. “Immediately you remove the battery, the card reader will revert itself to the day it was manufactured and you cannot use that card reader. So, most of the problems are created in the field by certain persons who believed that when they go there, they will want to distort the issue at hand. But we are going to use the card reader”, he said. Ikoiwak however solicited the support and cooperation of all stakeholders in the state, including the leaders of the political parties, the various aspirants, the electorate and the security agencies, for INEC to be

dates on some of its expired product, the RRS swooped on the premises and cordoned off the cold room on Tuesday evening, to forestall the contamination of the site of evidence. The officials of the health ministry inspected four cold rooms containing tonnes of fish worth several millions

of naira before sealing off the company. Led by Mr Kuforiji Adebayo, an environmental health officer, the health officials said the government was sealing off the cold room to pave the way for laboratory investigations of the fishes found in the cold room.

Manager of the company, Sabir Alli, however, said the stickers found littering the lobby of the cold rooms fell off because of the shifting of fish cartons to create space for the accommodation of new consignment. He pointed out that the company was not revalidating expiry dates of its product,

adding that those that were to expire in March would be sold off before expiry date. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmus, confirmed the sealing off of the premises, adding that police would liaise with the Ministry of Health and appropriate bodies in charge for further investigations.

Dasuki files fresh application to quash trial Sunday Ejike - Abuja FORMER National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), has filed a fresh application before a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to stop his

criminal trial before Justice Adeniyi Ademola. The Federal Government had arraigned Dasuki on charges of unlawful possession of fire arms, breach of trust and money laundering. At the resumed hearing

on Tuesday, the prosecution counsel, Dipo Okpeseyi, informed the court that the matter was slated for trial and the prosecution was ready. But in strong opposition to the prosecution counsel’s

submission, Dasuki’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, told the court that his client was not ready for trial, following his prolonged detention by operatives of the Department for State Services (DSS). continues pg5

build Nigeria and there are vast opportunities for Britain and us. We share very close ties and our expectation of you is high.” The president said the country expected a lot from Britain in its rebuilding process, due to the affinity shared by the two countries. Buhari lamented that Nigeria had found itself in a phase of development, “which is not a very welcome one. We are disorganised because we relied on mono-economic product for too long and now that oil price is down, we have to go back to agriculture and solid minerals. Tin, columbite, cocoa, groundnut, and others, used to be the basis of our economy, but then, oil came and everybody began to look for cheap money. Now, we need to start all over again.” In his remark, Honourable Onwurah, Nigerianborn MP for Newcastle, said the team was in the country “to promote positive engagement between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, since we are stronger when we build on ties of the past.” She said her team was interested in how the Diaspora could support the economic progress of Nigeria, as well as promotion of trade and diversification of the economy. Also on the delegation made up of three MPs, was the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright.

5 news

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

15 SANs, 150 lawyers flood court for Ricky Tarfa •As court grants him bail Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin - Lagos

IFTEEN Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) and about 150 lawyers flooded the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, on Tuesday, as top lawyer and SAN, Ricky Tarfa, wa arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge bordering on obstruction of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

EFCC had alleged that Tarfa, on February 5, hid two suspects, Nazaire Sorou Gnanhoue and Modeste Finagnon, both Beninoise, in his Mercedes Benz Sports Utility car, thereby shielding them from being arrested and wilfully obstructing the course of justice. The suspects were alleged to have fraudulently converted some sophisticated manufacturing equipment belonging to Rana Prestige Nigeria Limited for their own use.

They are also being investigated for alleged tax evasion running into millions of naira. Tarfa was alleged to have prevented two operatives of the EFCC, who were officially detailed to effect their arrest, from carrying out their statutory duties. At Tuesday’s proceedings, Tarfa’s defence counsel, Niyi Akinola, who led 14 other SANs and about 150 other lawyers, in his application for bail brought pursuant to Section 115 of the

Ricky Tarfa surrounded by lawyers when he was arraigned at Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Oshiomhole signs 2016 budget into law Banji Aluko - Benin City GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, on Tuesday, signed the state N116.6 billion 2016 Appropriation Bill into law. The budget, which will be the last of the Oshiomholeled administration, provided for a recurrent expenditure of N57.1 billion and

a capital estimate of N59.5 billion. Speaking shortly after assenting to the bill, the governor recalled that the budget was a huge drop from his second budget in 2009 of about N150 billion, adding that the state now has a smaller budget due to the fall in resources acruable to the state.

Dasuki files fresh application to quash trial continued from pg4

Daudu told the court that the defendant enjoyed the constitutional right to be given adequate time and facility to prepare for his defence. “The conduct of the prosecution in this matter has made us not to enjoy any of these constitutional rights. “The worst is that for about seven weeks now, we don’t have access to the accused person except when he is produced in court. “This attitude constitutes serious attack on the rule of law,” Daudu declared. Subsequently, Daudu urged the court to adjourn the suit to enable him to reply to the counter-affidavit filed by prosecution in response to Dasuki’s applica-

tion to quash the charges, despite subsisting court orders admitting the defendant to bail. In his response to Daudu’s submissions, Okpeseyi averred that Dasuki’s trial was of national and international importance, adding that in compliance with the spirit of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, there was no need for an adjournment. Okpeseyi drew the trial judge’s attention to the fact that Dasuki’s detention by the DSS had nothing to do with the current charges before the court. In a short ruling on whether to adjourn the suit to enable the defence counsel file his reply, Justice Ademola adjourned the suit till March 3 in the interest of justice.

“Now, we have a smaller budget at a time of mounting expectations from the people of Edo State. Previous governments that did nothing, the people expected nothing because they had no reputation of delivering anything. “So we are having more demands in infrastructure at a time of dwindling revenue, because of the fear of many that they don’t know what the next governor will do. “But I am very confident first that by the special grace of God, our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), will produce the next governor and because it is a family tradition, that governor will sustain and build on the foundation that we have laid,” he said. The governor noted that a foundation had been laid for the infrastructural development of the state, adding that the state was now blessed with competent men and women, who had imbibed the spirit that government and governance are about the people. It will be recalled that Governor Oshiomhole, on December 14, 2015, presented a budget estimate of N111.5 billion to the state House of Assembly for consideration and passage.

Administration of Criminal Justice Law, urged the court to grant the defendant bail on self recognition. Akintola told the court that the defendant was granted administrative bail by the EFCC and had consistently reported to the office of EFCC by 8.00 a.m every day. He stated that the defendant had submitted himself for trial and was prepared to defend the charge filed against him by the commission. He added that being a SAN, the defendant would not jump bail, adding that he had over 16 lawyers in his law firm. But, opposing the application, EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to dismiss the application for bail and remand the defendant in prison custody. He urged the court to discountenance the argument that the defendant was Senior Advocate of Nigeria, adding that in consideration of crime of this nature, the personality of the defendant was not relevant.

He also urged the court to disregard the submissions of the defence lawyer that Tarfa was granted bail on self recognition, stressing that he was granted administrative bail, following an undertaken by the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). After standing the matter down for several hours, Justice Aishat Opesanwo, in her ruling, granted the defendant bail on self recognition.

The court, however, ordered that the defendant should not travel out of the country without informing the court. The court added that the prosecution did not deny the fact that Tarfa was granted administrative bail and had not defaulted. The matter was adjourned till March 14 for hearing of the application filed by Tarfa, asking the court to quash the charge and April 20 for trial.

6 news Modu Sheriff emerges new PDP chairman

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

•Vows to return party to power in 2019 •S/East, S/South Senate caucuses reject him •Ribadu shuns party interview Taiwo Adisa, Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji -Abuja

ORMER governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, was, on Tuesday, sworn in as the new substantive national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), beating back strong opposition from some members of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT). He was sworn in after a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, which voted for him among four nominees considered. Sheriff, speaking after his swearing-in, vowed to work with all members of the party to return it to power in 2019, while he also appealed to members to forget about existing differences and cooperate with him. His selection followed the recommendation of the national caucus of the party. However, it hit a snag earlier on Tuesday, as key organs of the party, the national caucus and the Board of Trust-

ees (BoT) disagreed on his choice. After initially announcing him as the choice of the party’s national caucus, the BoT kicked against it, jeopardising what was expected to be a smooth ratification of his appointment. The national caucus, made up of all 12 governors of the party, its National Assembly leadership and other stakeholders, had met in Abuja on Monday night, where they agreed to back Sheriff. When he was presented to BoT on Tuesday, there was stiff opposition from members who were thought to be worried about the image of the former governor. Sheriff, a founding member of defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), was a late entrant into the race for the chairmanship, following the inability of stakeholders in the North-East to present a common candidate. PDP governors who had gathered for the NEC meeting to give Sheriff the final approval, had to wait in the acting national chairman’s office to give the BoT the op-

portunity to reach a decision. The national publicity secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, had, earlier on Tuesday, said all the national organs of the party chose the same person, which turned out to be the former Borno governor. But this also turned out not to be accurate, as the BoT apparently kicked against Sheriff as chairman. Metuh later came to announce that BoT was having a problem agreeing on the choice of the national caucus and had to go on break to reconvene later. He, however, rejected any attempt by individual party members to go against the interest of the party, but assured that there would be no imposition of any candidate. The party spokesman also said those opposing the choice of Sheriff had not come up with an alternative choice, saying that such persons had not been properly briefed on the decision of the national caucus to select Sheriff. “We have decided that the North East Caucus should meet and bring a candidate

to replace the national chairman that resigned, Adamu Mu’azu. But when they met, they were not able to narrow it down to one person. So, what they did was to send to us five people; one from each state of the North-East. “They sent Girigiri from Yobe State, Ambassador Wilberforce Juta from Adamawa State, Abba Gana from Borno State, Shehu Gabam from Bauchi State, Senator Kumo from Gombe State. Taraba did not have any other person. “So, these five people were invited to come and see the national caucus on Monday to take a decision. “At the meeting that we had with them, we decided that it was important that we enlarge the scope and the number of people that will come. “So, we extended and invited some other people to come and show why they want to be chairman. “One or two governors confirmed that Ribadu had shown interest in becoming chairman; so we extended invitation to him to come. “We were told that Modu

APC holds reconciliatory meeting with Ekiti stakeholders Kolawole Daniel -Abuja

EPUTY national chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Segun Oni, on Tuesday, convened a meeting with stakeholders of the party in Ekiti State, at the APC national secretariat in Abuja. The meeting was attended by over 60 frontline APC stakeholders from

the state, including former governor, Chief Niyi Adebayo; APC state chairman, Chief Jide Awe; Senator Ayo Arise; former member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Opeyemi Bamidele; Honourable Bimbo Daramola, among others. Adebayo, who spoke to journalists after the meeting, affirmed that “we have been having some issues with some of our members.

“Some left the party to go and contest in the last election under different platforms and we have met today and we can say categorically that finally, all the issues that separated us at a time has been resolved and everybody is back in one big family now.” On the state of affairs in the state, he said “I don’t think there is anybody in Nigeria who will say he is happy with what is hap-

pening in Ekiti State. “The state is being turned into a pariah state and it is unfortunate that this sort of thing is happening and that is why we in the opposition are putting our house in order and we believe that if we all stick together and make sure that the party is in stable state, we will be able to wrest power back from the current governor.”

APC inherited a battered country —Dogara Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday, said the All Progressives Congress (APC)led Federal Government should not be blamed for the current economic challenges facing the country. Dogara spoke when he received in audience unemployed aeronautic engineers and pilots from Bauchi State, who called on him in his office. According to a statement issued by his spokesman, Turaki Hassan, the Speaker said although some people said those currently at the helm of affairs in the country should not push blame to those responsible for the

country’s woes, the government was working hard to sanitise a rotten system which, he said, would take some time. He acknowledged that the APC-led government campaigned on the grounds of change with promise to fix the country, adding, however, that “we have sowed in the wind and we are now where reaping whirlwind and as long as the earth remains, there will be seed time and harvest time.” According to him, “you know that we are facing challenges in the country at the moment, though people don’t want to talk about it in the sense that they keep saying that we campaigned on the grounds that we are going to fix the country, so we

shouldn’t complain. “But the problem is that you must put the blame where it is while you face the issues and find solutions to it.” Dogara urged the unemployed youths in the country not to despair, as the present administration was doing everything possible to create job opportunities. “The investment in education, skills and knowledge is never a wasted investment,” he said. Dogara expressed optimism that with the kind of people leading Nigeria and with determination as well as sincerity of purpose, the problem of unemployment would be surmounted. “Don’t despair because no training is wasted; but it is our responsibility to open

the private sector for job opportunities,” he said. He said it behoved on all to put hands on deck to sanitise the system, so as to create the enabling opportunities for employment. Speaking earlier, the leader of the team, Captain Bala Jibrin, had said the pilots and aeronautic engineers, sponsored by the Bauchi State government in the United States, graduated in 2011 but had been unemployed and requested the speaker to facilitate their employment. Jibrin, a former Commissioner of Education in Bauchi State, said the government spent about N1 billion to train the 20 youths, cutting across the 20 local government areas of Bauchi State.

Sheriff, at the weekend, expressed an interest. We invited him to come and tell us. “Because Honourable Wakil had come down from the United Kingdom to participate in the process, we invited him as well. “On Monday, apart from those five people, we interviewed Ali Modu Sheriff and Mohammed Wakil. But we were told that Ribadu was not comfortable with an interview. “After the interview process, they were narrowed down to two persons. And a little over an hour ago, the national caucus discussed. “The governor first of all discussed and brought a candidate, the National Assembly discussed and brought a candidate, the BoT discussed and came up with a candidate, the National Working Committee discussed and came with a candidate. “So, we brought the candidate at the national caucus. One interesting thing was that unanimously, it was the same candidate that every single organ of the party brought to the national caucus. “So, the national caucus endorsed that they will bring to the Board of Trustees its choice, after which both organs will bring the nomination to the National Executive Committee (NEC),” he had said. Though former EFCC chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu had earlier indicated interest in the post, he was said to have been uncomfortable with the idea of being interviewed for the job and, therefore, declined to show up when invited on Monday night.

Reacting to the development, the South-East and SouthSouth caucuses of the PDP in the Senate rejected the choice of Sheriff as the national chairman of the party. The senators, who immediately kicked off consultations as soon as it emerged that he was having the upper hand in the bid to emerge the party’s helmsman, were said to have concluded on the need to reject him as PDP chairman. Sources in the the Senate said on Tuesday that the senators had resolved not to have anything to do with the PDP led by Modu Sheriff. One of the senators said: “we are worried at the news of possible emergence of Senator Modu Sheriff as chairman of the PDP. We are worried that some persons are not thinking of the need to move the party forward. “We feel there is every need to raise the credibility of the party after the debacle of the last general election. It is not fair that we saddle the PDP with the burden that the chairmanship of Senator Modu Sheriff would bring to the party at this time. “We all know the issue that has been around Senator Sheriff. For sometime now, his name has been consistently linked with the Boko Haram issue and we need to allow him to clean his name rather than bother him with the leadership of the PDP at this time. “If those pushing for the former senator succeed, I can tell you that the nation will witness massive defection from the PDP. We in the South East and South South are ready to leave the PDP.”

Bus, 2 trucks, others razed in another Warri fire Ebenezer Adurokiya -Warri BARELY two weeks after Ogbe-Ijoh market was razed, another fire, on Tuesday afternoon, gutted the Trailer Park, sharing border with Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) otherwise known as Delta Ports, in Warri, Delta State. The inferno left behind in its trail a burnt 18-seater bus, two trucks and an office at the park. Nigerian Tribune gathered that the fire was caused by a bus driver who was making an attempt to evade some policemen at the Trailer Park. He was said to be conveying diesel suspected to be sourced from illegal refiner-

ies in the creeks. The bus was said to have suffered overheating and suddenly stopped when the driver wanted to make a quick U-turn at the trailer park to evade the policemen. A witness said before the fire started, the content of the bus was already leaking which aided the fire. But for the timely intervention of fire service men from the NPA as well as Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, which provided water, the about-an-hour inferno would have caused more damage to the area. Confirming the incident, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of NPA, Delta Ports Division, Warri, Mr M.E. Abah, said investigation would be carried out and culprits brought to book.

news

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Jonathan’s appointees sabotaging APC govt’s initiatives —Oyegun Leon Usigbe - Abuja

HE National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the sack of 26 heads of federal agencies because they were sabotaging government initiatives. Government, on Monday, announced the disengagement of heads of Nigeria Television (NTA), Petroleum Development Trust Fund (PTDF), Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), among others. Fielding questions from State House Correspondents after leading national officials of the party to a meeting with President Buhari on Tuesday, Oyegun said APC was not desperate to occupy the positions vacated by the sacked

PDP government appointees, but it was within the party’s right to occupy the posts. He said: “APC members were not concerned about the positions. We are concerned about the internal sabotage that is going on in a lot of the PDP filled positions which are critical to our national growth and development. “It is happening in INEC, it is happening in a lot of

other institutions and that is what the concern of the party is, not necessarily taking over.” On the confusion trailing the 2016 budget, Oyegun attributed it to the complexities arising from the adjustment of ministries from over 40 in the past administration to a little above 20 in the current dispensation. According to him, “There is absolutely no confusion.

This is a serious issue. I want you to please understand the complications that come from adjusting a structure from over 40 ministries to just over 20 ministries and the necessary adjustments of figures and movements of institutions that entails. “It was very complicated, so it is natural that adjustments have to be made to the process and that is just what is happening.”

The party boss explained that the leadership was at the Presidential Villa for consultation and to raise two issues bothering the ruling party. “We just came to pay our respect to our president, and praised him on things that are going on. We raised our concerns on one or two issues and altogether we had a very pleasant and rewarding meeting,” he said.

Give more appointments to women, group urges Buhari JacobSegunOlatunji-Abuja

A women group under the umbrella of Children and Women’s Rights Network (CHRINET) has called on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to consider more qualified women for appointments into strategic offices, saying that “women are still under-represented in the administration.” This was contained in a communique issued by the trio of Hajia Salamatu Mohammed of Kanobased Women for Change; Mrs Helen Akintunde of Progressive Women’s Club of Badagry and Mr Moses Adedeji of Children’s Rights Network, Lokoja and made available to newsmen in Abuja after its one-day interactive session. The group stressed their commitment towards fostering the Federal Government’s change agenda in their respective communities and organisations. While citing the example of the Managing Director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Mrs Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, the group asserted that “the integrity and transparency being employed in the effort to reposition PPMC provides a sterling example of what capable and empowered women can do in leadership positions.”

Director of Administration and Human Resources, National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs Yetunde Oni (left), receiving the keys of a Hilux truck from the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), Ms Cristina Albertin, donated by the office to NAFDAC, on Tuesday.

Arms purchase fund: How Haliru, son squandered N300m —Witness Sunday Ejike - Abuja

JUSTICE Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of a Federal High Court in Abuja was, on Tuesday, told how the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Mohammed Bello and his son, Abba, squandered the sum of N300 million of the $2.1 billion of the fund meant for the purchase of arms to fight the Boko Haram insurgents in the country. A prosecution witness and detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ruqayya Ibrahim, who was led in evidence by the counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, told the court that she was part of the special task force that investigated the allegations against Haliru and his son. According to the witness, who was attached to the forensic accounting unit of the anti-graft agency as an analyst, investigation into the matter revealed that there was a letter dated March 2, 2015 from the Ministry of Finance, requesting the sum of N300 million from the Central

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for expenditure and that N30 million out of the said amount was for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for security issues. The witness said on March 3, 2015, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) wrote to the Ministry of Finance in respect of the N30 million and added another N31 million that had nothing to do with ONSA, adding that the AGF wrote to the CBN on March 6, 2015, authorising the release of the N30 million, which was paid into ONSA account with the CBN in March last year. Ruqayya told the court that in the same month, N300 million was transferred into the account of Bam Project and Property Limited with Sterling Bank Plc from Jabbamada Global Services Limited. “Our analysis revealed that on March 17, N300 million was credited into Bam Project and Property Limited (a company owned by Abba Bello) account with Sterling Bank

Plc from ONSA,” the witness said. She said the money was paid into Abba’s company account on the instruction of his father, the former PDP chairman, the third defendant in the matter, adding also that “the payment was made as a result of Bello Haliru supplying the name of the company to Bashir Yuguda, a former Minister of State for Finance for the purpose of payment for the PPD 2015 election. “In the course of investigation, we found out that the disbursement of the money was made to two companies, Kumo Gono Limited got N137 million and North Pole Limited received a little over N163 million and on March 26, 2015, Abba Bello, the owner and sole signatory of Bam Project, made a cash withdrawal of N20 million in two tranches of N10 million each. “On March 28, Abba Bello paid N50 million to the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) for the purpose of mass housing development and

another transfer of N2 million to Julius Beger Plc was made for the supply of furniture to his client,” the witness added. Ruqayya, while being led in evidence by the prosecution witness, Jacobs, said Abba admitted that the money paid into the account of his company were on the instruction of his father for the purpose of PDP election. She said Abba confessed that his company, Bam Project, did not carry out any contract for ONSA, adding that the transfers made to Kumo Gomo, North Pole and Hijra Textiles were on the instruction of his father for PDP campaign activities. The former PDP chairman, who was arraigned with his son and their companies, Bam Projects and Property Limited, over their alleged involvement in the $2.1 billion arms deal, were granted bail on January 7 by the trial judge. They both pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the EFCC.

Nigerian Tribune

Boko Haram: Troops kill 5, arrest 2, free 350 hostages Chris Agbambu – Abuja

TROOPS of the Nigerian Army in various sectors in Operation Lafiya Dole have been carrying out raids, patrols, cordon and search operations in a bid to clear remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in their respective areas of operations. One of the patrol teams of 254 Task Force Battalion carried out clearance operation at Kubwa village, Borno State, in which two suspected Boko Haram terrorists were arrested. Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel S.K. Usman, said that another patrol team of the same unit carried out clearance operation at Yakshari Village, off Wajiroko on Ajigin-Talala road and proceeded to Korode. According to him, “some suspected Boko Haram elements, on sighting the troops, ran and abandoned six motorcycles and beans looted from the inhabitants of the area. The team recovered 21 motorcycles and Boko Haram flag abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.” The army spokesman disclosed that a civilian vehicle encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the area which badly affected it, while the troops also discovered another IED at Mauvi Village which was safely detonated. Colonel Usman said that troops of 7 Division Garrison, 112 Battalion, Army Headquarters Support Group and elements of Armed Forces Special Forces conducted a joint fighting patrol to suspected Boko Haram terrorists enclave in Gajibo, Maula, Gamai, Gamare, Maiwa, Warsale, Tangli, Tushi, Sowa, Hasanari, Changuwa, Malamaja and Marya towns in Mafa and Dikwa local governments areas. He added that in the encounter, five Boko Haram terrorists were killed, an AK-47 rifle, 10 motorcycles and one logistic truck belonging to the terrorists were recovered, and that the troops also rescued 350 people held hostages by the terrorists. Among those rescued were five girls abducted from Cameroon. He said that in order to boost troops morale, the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Brigadier General V. O. Ezugwu, visited 26 Task Force Brigade and commended troops of 121 Task Force Battalion for the successful joint clearance operations at Kirawa and Ngoshe with Cameroonian forces.

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Lagos

We laid 2-week ambush to arrest gang that killed 9 in Sango —SARS Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin OPERATIVES of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Ogun State Police Command had to strategically wait for more than two weeks, before they could arrest two suspects, who allegedly killed nine people in

Sango Ota area of the state. Lagos Metro also gathered that the arrested suspects hid under the guise of cultism to rob and kill residents of Ijoko, Sango and Agbado. The leaders of the gang were identified as Rasak Ogundairo and Idowu

Tijani, who both confessed to being members of the Eiye Confraternity. A source at the Ogun State SARS told Lagos Metro that, “Our officer in charge insisted that we must be patient and discreet with the investigations. For more than two weeks, we kept run-

ning after these people, until one of them was eventually arrested and he led us to where two other people were arrested.” The state police boss, Abdulmajid Alii stated that an accomplice in the gang’s activities, Taimi Ogunkunle has also been arrested by the police.

The Ogun police boss also said that the suspects had confessed to killing nine people in the Ogun communities. The police boss said that Ogundairo was the first to be arrested with double barrel cut-to-size pistol, one single barrel pistol and 14 live cartridges.

According to the police boss “the suspect confessed to have killed five persons in the Ijoko area and led the police to the arrest of the two other members of the gang.” Abdulmajid also stated that Tijani also confessed to have killed four people among who were Soje, Babajeje and Agali.

Professor remanded in prison over leadership tussle in institute Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

From left: Director, Department of State Security (DSS), Mr Olakunle Ajamu; Governor Akinwumi Ambode and the Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Brigadier-General Bulama Biu, during the governor’s visit to operation ‘Watse’ base in Isawo, Ikorodu, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN

Ambode orders ‘appropriate’ force against Ikorodu vandals, cultists Bola Badmus LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, has directed all security agencies to take appropriate actions against vandals and cultists in the state, saying that his government would not fold its arms and allow miscreants to disturb the peace enjoyed in the state. The governor gave the order during a security tour of Isawo in Ikorodu area of the state, disclosing that he personally came on the visit to issue a warning to the vandals. “I personally came here to give a strong warning to vandals. Just last week, an operative of the taskforce had his fingers chopped off by hoodlums in Oshodi. I direct all security agencies

to go ahead and use appropriate force in militating against vandalism and cultism. This is in the overall interest of everyone,” Governor Ambode said. The governor commended the Joint Security Taskforce (Operation MESA), who monitored the area for their

diligence in curtailing activities of the vandals, saying they had made a lot of progress since the commencement of their operations in the area. Ambode, who reiterated the state government’s commitment to supporting security agencies in eradicating

vandalism and other vices, said plan was underway to construct the road from Isawo to Arepo in Ogun to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to ease traffic on Ikorodu Expressway stating that this would help in improving security and improve economic activities and stan-

dard of living of residents. The Commander of the Taskforce, Lieutenant Colonel Julius Ogbebe, in his response, commended the governor for the visit, saying that they had been recovering illegal products from vandals and arresting them as well.

Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

ers are Richard Daniel, 36, and Micheal Adejo, 23, both workers in the company. The men, it was gathered, worked as staff of Rainbow Network Limited which specialises in the production of hides and skin and that the manager of the company, Mr Gbenga Ayodele, discovered that some sacks of Ponmo were missing from the ware-

house. After investigations, the company sacked Thomas, the security guard on duty the day the theft was committed. According to the Police, at about 1:00 a.m., the five men were sighted at the warehouse carrying some sacks of ponmo and were about to escape when the security guard on duty raised

the alarm and they were arrested. They were arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates Court where they all denied committing the act. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Akanni, granted the five factory workers bail in the sum of N250, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum. She adjourned the case till March 9, for mention.

Factory workers nabbed for stealing Ponmo FIVE factory workers, on Tuesday, denied stealing hides and skin popularly known as Ponmo, which was valued at N2.8 million and belonged to Rainbow Network Limited. The accused are three security guards; Nathaniel Ojo, 33; Olokwu Daniel, 30; and Jude Thomas, 25. Oth-

A professor, Joseph Mba, has been accused of forging some documents in the name of the Institute of Strategic Management Nigeria Limited. The Special Fraud Unit (SFU), had been called when the Professor was accused by the institute of forging a Special Resolution dated June 11, 2012, with the intention of changing the name of the institution to the Institute of Strategic Management Limited. The said document was said to have been allegedly signed by one Dr Austin Uwandulu to make it appear as if it was genuine so as to prejudice the Institute. He was also accused of forging another document purportedly originating from the Institute on June 12, 2012, where he stated that one Samuel Ojo, a lawyer, had been appointed as the secretary/legal adviser. The police further accused the Professor of conspiring with some persons still at large to forge a Special Resolution of an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Institute also dated June 14, 2012. According to the police, the accused had claimed that at the purported meeting some persons were appointed as the director of the Institute. The fake document was said to have been signed by Mba and Ojo, who he had been parading himself as the secretary/legal adviser of the company. Mba however pleaded not guilty to the charge when he was arraigned before a Federal High Court.

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

metro

Nigerian Tribune

Edited by

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

ACP’s death: Why we are not making arrests yet — Police Olalekan Olabulo

Residents of Oworonsoki crossing one of the wooden bridges in the area. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Man stabs neighbour with broken bottle Bola Badmus A 56-year-old man, Babatunde Ishola has been accused of stabbing another man with a broken bottle. The incident occurred at Anuoluwapo Street, Shomolu, during an altercation

which degenerated into a fight between Babatunde and the victim identified as George Friday. According to the police, Babatunde stabbed George on the head thereby causing him serious injury in his head. He faces a two-count

charge of unlawful assault and misconduct. The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 166 and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011. At a court sitting at the Yaba Magisterial district, Babatunde pleaded not

guilty to the offences. He was granted bail in the sum of N200,000 and was remanded in prison pending when he will fulfil his bail conditions. The Magistrate, Mrs E. N. Johnson adjourned the matter till the March 24, for mention.

Attack on General Hospital: Lagos Assembly

renews call for state police Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin DUE to the attack at a general hospital area of Lagos by hoodlums, the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, renewed its call for state police in the country. The House said it was hopeful that the Federal Government, being headed by a President, who emerged from the All Progressives Congress (APC), which had been championing calls for state police, would urgently look into this demand and give necessary approval. The demand came from Moshood Oshun, the representative of Lagos Mainland Constituency 2 who stated that few months ago, hoodlums struck in his constituency, and that they had been attacking other areas of the state since then. The hoodlums, it will be recalled, had attacked staff and patients at Orile Agege General Hospital, stabbing some of them and stealing their belongings.

The grouse of the hoodlums was that the doctors decided to save the life of a man identified as Taye, who they had injured in a fight. Oshun wondered if the police in the state could effectively quell such dis-

turbances because of the limited number of policemen to serve the state with a population he said exceeded 20 million. He said the state needed more police officers and that it would work well

The present state of defunct PHCN facility at Apongbon. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

THE police in Lagos State on Tuesday said that they were not making any immediate efforts to arrest anybody at the Ajah hotel, where a police Area Commander died on Sunday. The police in the state also said that nobody had, as of Tuesday evening been arrested in connection with the incident that led to the death. The image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmus also insisted that the deceased Ekpo had gone on a routine exercise at the hotel .

Court orders EFCC to produce accused foreigners in court Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

with the introduction of state police. Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who supported this demand for state police, said the House had often called for state police since the fifth Assembly.

TEN days after the arrest of two Benoniise, Gnanhoue Sourou Nazaire and Senou Modeste Finagnon by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged stealing, the commission failed to produce them in court. This prompted the trial Judge, Justice Toyin Taiwo of an Igbosere High Court in Lagos, to order the EFCC to produce them in court. It would be recalled that the foreigners were arrested inside the court room alongside their counsel Ricky Tarfa, on February 5, 2016. The Judge ordered that they should be produced in court at the next adjourned date, today. They were alleged to have stolen some money which belongs to Rana Prestige Manufacturer Industries Nigeria Limited.

She added that Ekpo was until his death a known face at the hotel and that he had gone there on countless occasions. Badmus also added that last Sunday was not the first time that the deceased police boss had gone to the hotel A police source at the state police command, who pleaded anonymity while speaking with Lagos Metro said “investigations are on going but nobody has been arrested.” He also added that “we are still waiting for the outcome of the autopsy to determine what really happened.” The police source added: “we are not arresting anybody because Ekpo was used to that hotel and they knew that he could swim very well. He had lived in Ajah for a long time and almost everybody in that hotel knew him as a police officer. He was once a DPO there.”

58-year-old man who allegedly raped 10-year-old girl, freed on bail Gbemi Solaja A 58-year-old man who allegedly raped a minor in a market has been granted N50, 000 bail. The accused, Abimbola Abdulsalam is currently facing a-count charge of defilement before a Yaba Magistrate Court for defiling the 10-year-old girl (names withheld). It was gathered that Abdulsalam allegedly had sexual intercourse with the minor on February 6, at about 7:30 p.m., at Adaranijo Market, Shomolu. He, however, denied committing the crime when he was arraigned. He was granted bail in the sum of N350, 000 with two gainfully employed sureties. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A. F Adeeyo adjourned the matter till April 4.

businessnews $3bn debt forced NNPC to adopt crude oil swap deal —Oniwon 10

Jacob Segun Olatunji And Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

ORMER Group Managing Director, (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Austin Oniwon, on Tuesday, told the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Crude oil swap deal that NNPC resolved to embrace the crude oil swap agreement as a result of huge debt of over $3 billion it incurred. He disclosed that the crude oil swap arrangement did not begin with him as there was an oil swap agreement between the country and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia entered into in 1989. The former NNPC boss, who appeared before the House panel chaired by Honourable Zakari Mohammed, also told the panel that the NNPC does

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

not need Federal Executive Council to convert crude oil to petroleum product. According to him: “It is not the first time we are going into an oil swap agreement. I recall that there was one entered into with Saudi Arabia in 1989. The reason then was that our crude was not suitable for the production of lubricants.” Addressing the commit-

tee on why the NNPC decided to adopt the crude oil swap deal, the former NNPC boss maintained that “I met a debt of over $3 billion when I took over as Group Managing Director and it became a primary responsibility to see what I can do, because our cash flow was in serious trouble to the extent that we could no longer service the federa-

tion’s account and pay for products. “We had to look at options available and opted for oil swap because of the cashless situation, by using the services of our creditors.” Speaking further, he said that when the Warri, Port-Harcourt and Kaduna refineries which were supposed to produce NNPC share of 445,000

barrels of crude oil for public consumption could not produce as expected, the corporation had no choice but to sell the crude and covert it to refined petroleum product. He added that the 445,000 barrels of crude oil was shared among the three refineries namely Warri: 125,000; Port-Harcourt: 210,000 and Kaduna: 110,000 barrels.

Customs releases new guidelines on disposal of seized, overtime goods THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has approved a new procedure for the disposal of seized and overtime goods in its bid to address some of the perceived irregularities relating to the past procedure including fake online auctions. Consequently, the NCS confirmed that it is setting up four different committees to handle the disposal of these categories of goods. The committees include: assessment committee, disposal committee, seizure committee and overtime committee. According to the new guidelines signed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Colonel Hammed Ali (rtd), perishable items with or without defendants are to be properly disposed of by the relevant committee. For goods classified as general goods, the new guidelines stated that these are to be disposed of after condemnation by a competent court of law: “Condemnation shall be done after 30 days of seizure, so far as there is no notice of claim or litigation.” The guidelines also stipulated that all overtime cargoes are to be published in the Federal Government’s gazette when they fall due over 30 days.

Former Group General Managers of NNPC, Mr Andrew Yakubu; Mr Austine Oniwon and Dr Joseph Dahwa, at the investigative hearing of the Adhoc committee on crude oil swap contract agreements, in Abuja, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN

Dwindling revenue: Outgoing BPE DG seeks passage of recorm bills Gbola Subair-Abuja

OUTGOING Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Benjamin Dikki, has appealed to the federal government to pass into law the reform bills initiated by the bureau to boost the Nigerian economy, especially in the face of dwindling revenue from oil. At the formal handover to the most Senior Officer Dr

Vincent Akpotaire, at the bureau, on Tuesday, in line with the federal government’s directive for all the chief executives of the federal government agencies who were relieved of their appointments on Monday, Dikki said the passage of the bills especially the railways, transport and road bills would boost the Nigerian economy and bring about the expected change

for Nigerians in line with the change mantra of the present administration. He called for the concession of the Nigerian Airports and the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to open up the Nigerian economy for private sector participation.Dikki called for urgent privatisation of the refineries, saying that the option of Turn-AroundMaintenance (TAM) had

Longe, Eleso for Feb Startup grind fireside chat STARTUP Grind, Lagos Chapter, said it is hosting the next edition of its monthly fireside chat with Femi Longe (Co-founder, Co-Creation Hub and Director, Open Living Labs) and Tunji Eleso (Managing Partner, Growth Capital by CcHUB). The Startup Grind aims to develop the technology ecosystem in Nigeria by educating start-up founders and connecting them with opportunities. Therefore, according to Emmanuel Adegboye, a stakeholder in the initia-

tive and event, “this particular fireside chat is really important because Co-Creation Hub, being at the centre of the development of the ecosystem and the ICT cluster in Yaba, has developed as a result of the founding of CCHub there. “They incubate startups, some of which have successfully exited and they recently launched a N1 billion growth capital in partnership with Venture Garden Group, Bank of Industry and Omidyar Network. So what we aim to achieve with the fireside

chat is to get Femi Longe and Tunji Elesho, who was director of pre-incubation and now manages the Growth Capital, to share what it takes to successfully launch and grow a start-up in Lagos, and how entrepreneurs can benefit from their programmes. “More importantly, from their combined experience, they would be able to share historical perspectives on the tech ecosystem and walk us through their projections for the future and how they think entrepreneurs can create that future.”

been a distraction over the years; and government cannot afford to waste resources at this critical time the economy is faced with. Dikki called on the management and staff of the BPE to put aside their differences and unite for the good of the organisation and thanked them for their support and prayers which enabled the bureau to register noticeable achievements during his tenure. “My wish is that you all strive to be united, no matter the differences of opinion, so that BPE can be stable and maintain its rightful place as a credible organization. We should not give our detractors the ammunition to deal with us,” he stated. Responding, the Acting Director General of the Bureau, Dr Vincent Onome Akpotaire promised to build on the legacies and initiatives of the outgoing Director-General. He extolled Dikkis sterling qualities and drive for the reforms and privatisation programme of the Federal Government which he executed with zeal.

Promasidor names judges for 2016 Quill awards

PROMASIDOR Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk and organisers of the Promasidor Quill awards has announced the list of judges for the 2016 edition of the coveted journalism awards. The panel of judges, which will appraise entries for the awards, has as its chairman, Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole (OFR). According to Andrew Enahoro, the company’s Head of Legal and Public Relations, Cole, a veteran journalist, is returning as chairman of the panel of judges. He added that Kadaria Ahmed, a veteran journalist and television personality; Reze Bonna, a trained Architect and celebrated photographer; and Ray Echebiri, a British Chevening Scholar/seasoned financial journalist; will work with Amb. Cole in screening the entries submitted. On the justification for their selection, Enahoro said selection of the judges was hinged on their high profile based on their wealth of experience and integrity.

Ecobank announces leadership change SAMUEL Adjei has been appointed Managing Director for the Group’s recently combined region, Central, Eastern, and Southern African (CESA) Countries, consisting of 18 subsidiaries Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), parent company of the Ecobank Group, on Tuesday announced a leadership change in its most profitable subsidiary, Ecobank Ghana Limited. Adjei, the current Managing Director of the Ghana Subsidiary, has been appointed Managing Director for the Group’s recently combined region, Central, Eastern, and Southern African (CESA) Countries, consisting of 18 subsidiaries. Mr. Adjei will step down as MD of Ecobank Ghana on the 30th of March, 2016. Adjei, credited with the bank’s outstanding performance in the last several years, assumed the position of Managing Director for Ecobank Ghana in 2006, and has since built the bank from eight to 78 branches, and to an enviable position of the leading bank in Ghana.

businessnews Nigeria optimistic as leading oil producers agree to cut output 11

OlatundeDodondawaWith Agency Reports

he decision to cut oil output by four leading producers may have raised the hope of Nigeria regarding 2016 budget which was benchmarked at $38 per barrel. Brent crude rose to $33 per barrel on Tuesday as against $30 per barrel it closed Monday after Qatar said that four of the world’s largest producers agreed to freeze output at January levels, provided that other major exporters followed suit. Qatari energy minister Mohammad bin Saleh alSada told a news conference on Tuesday in Qatar that the step would help to stabilise the oil market, which has experienced price declines not seen since the early 2000s because of the pace at which supply has outstripped demand. Analysts said that while the decision is a step in the right direction to bring supply and demand back into balance, global inventories remain near record levels and are likely to dampen any price rallies. The oil ministers of Russia and Venezuela attended the meeting in the Qatari capital, together with Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi, who said the group’s next steps would be assessed over the coming days. “It’s really the first supply management decision taken since November 2014, so even though there will be some that will try to discount it and say it’s not a cut, it’s a change. It is a big change in policy,” Petroma-

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

trix strategist Olivier Jakob said. “It’s quite typical to have some volatility when (headlines) come out, but I think over the medium term, people will start to review their positions.” Oil prices have fallen by more than 70 percent in the past 20 months, driven down by near-record production both from OPEC members and other producers, such as Russia. The closed-door meeting indicates the mood may be shifting among producers

that have been determined to defend market share rather than prices. Venezuela’s Oil Minister, Eulogio Del Pino, has visited major oil producers in recent weeks to rally support for the idea of freezing production at current levels in an effort to halt the downward spiral in prices, sources have said. The drop in the oil price has eroded the finances of even the more affluent oil-producing nations, forcing governments to cut spending, increase deficit

The equities market closed today on a negative note, as NSE All Share Index depreciated by 1.26 per cent to close at 24,514.91 basis points, compared with the 0.56 per cent appreciation recorded previously. The slight decline in the market came after six-day gaining streaks at the Nigerian Bourse as market capitalisation reduced by N107.5 billion naira to stand at N8.43 trillion as against N8.54 trillion recorded on Monday. Market breadth closed negative as May and Baker Nigeria Plc led 16 gainers against 19 losers topped by Champion Breweries Plc at the end of trading session,

crude price decline.” In the meantime, U.S. crude prices could come under pressure as inventories remain close to record levels and U.S. refiners cut back processing runs. U.S. crude could fall to below $20 as a drop in demand outweighs cuts to output as domestic producers shut wells, BMI Research said in a note. Nigeria’s 2016 budget is under severe threat as crude price continues to move south due to glut in the crude international market.

From left, General Manager, UBER, Ebi Atawodi; MTN executive, Amina Oyagbola; General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Richard lweanoge and Marketing Manager, UBER, Margaret Odunukwe, during the announcement of UBER/MTN Yelloride Partnership in Lagos recently. PHOTO: ALABA IGBAROOLA

Customs intercept arms, ammunition shipment from USA at seaport Tola Adenubi - Lagos The Tin can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a 40-foot con-

tainer with 980 rounds of 9mm type live ammunition and a taurius pistol imported into the country from the United States of America (USA).

Equities market breaks 6-day gain, sheds N107.5bn KehindeAkinseinde-Jayeoba -Lagos

forcasts, borrow more and push through politically unpopular reforms. The Chief Executive Officer, HIP Assets and Investment Ltd, Mr. Rotimi Adebiyi, told the Nigerian Tribune that the decision to cut supply as control outputs is a welcome development, but “it will be difficult to get all major producers like Iran, U.S and other members of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). If that is not achieved, cut is supply few producers may never halt

an improved performance when compared with previous outlook of 13 gainers and 25 losers. A breakdown of the showed that May and Baker Nigeria Plc led other gainers with five per cent increase in its share value to close at 84 kobo per share while Glaxosmithkline advanced by 4.98 per cent to close at N21.93 per share. Eternal oil’s share price moved up to N1.92 kobo while Portland Paint’s stood at N3.90 kobo. On the flip side, Champion Breweries lost 15 kobo or five per cent from its share value to close at N2.85 kobo per share. Caverton declined by 4.86 per cent to close at N1.76 kobo per share, while Learn Africa Plc’s stock depreciated 4.65 per cent to close at 82 kobo

per share. Market turnover closes positive as volume moved up by 2.62 per cent against 9.01 per cent decline recorded in the previous session. Fidelity Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc were the most active to boost market turnover with a stake of 170,280,123 volume of shares. Zenith Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc top market value list having staked N413.6 million and N1.7 billion respectively. Portland Paints and Product Nigeria Plc led the list of active stocks that recorded impressive volume spike as it traded 15 million volume of shares worth N58.5 million in just two deals.

Disclosing this to journalists, Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Bashar Yusuf said the ammunitions including a camouflage military face cap camouflage belt, a pair of hand gloves and a pair of shoes were concealed along with other personal effects in two vehicles. He said the arms and ammunitions and a suspect who was arrested in connection with the seizure and have been handed over to the Department of State Security Service (DSS) for further investigation. “A 40-foot container with number CLHU452754/2 with these items have been seized and it is with us and we are transferring them as appropriate to the relevant agency. The items were concealed because nobody can just import these things without a full authorisation to do that.” “No unauthorised passenger or trader should trade in arms and ammunition all over the world. It is not allowed. You have to go through due process;

authorization with permit before you move even one piece across the border of another country. “The suspect is with the Directorate of State Security Service for further investigation so that we will get to the full details of how he came about these items as well as if there are collaborators within Nigeria or outside Nigeria. It is within their purview to do that,” he said. Officer in charge of DSS at Tin Can Island Port, James Udo while noting the danger such importation could have on members of the public, if it had escaped customs’ atention, stated that security must be a collective responsibility. He said DSS would conduct further investigation on the importation to unravel those behind it. Meanwhile, the command said it generated N24.8 billion as revenue in January 2016 as against N20.9 billion collected in the corresponding period of last year.

Nigerian Tribune

Access Bank rewards employees Chima Nwokoji-Lagos Access Bank Plc has rewarded some employees for their contributions to successful deployment of PayWithCapture, a revolutionary mobile payment application that allows users make payment via generated QR code. The employees, in appreciation of their contributions to attainment of institutional goals, were rewarded with mobile devices, television sets and return tickets to choice locations across the globe at a ceremony held at the bank’s headquarters last Wednesday. Speaking on ‘PaywithCapture’ Access Bank’s Chief Digital Officer, Channel Service Group, Jo Osojie, said “introduction of ‘PayWithCapture’ is beyond an institutional initiative, to a concerted effort aimed at putting customers in control. At Access Bank, customers are at the center of our operations, and with ‘PayWithCapture’ they remain in that space.” This act of corporate gratitude according to the bank, is reflective of Access Bank’s character and disposition to relationships with stakeholders.

Food Nigeria exhibition holds May Food Nigeria, organised by Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions will kick off 18 -20 May 2016 in Lagos, Nigeria at the Eko Convention Centre. The event will provide a platform for international and regional food and beverage companies to network and cultivate business ties in Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria. The exhibition will host more than 150 international companies across 2,500 sqm of exhibition space. The companies will represent more than 20 country pavilions welcoming an expected 6000 attendees. The event is supported by the Association of Food Vendors in Nigeria (AFVN), the National Agency for Food and Drug (NAFDAG), and NASON. TG Expo, organiser of the Turkish pavilion says, “As a national agency we are delighted to bring numerous companies to the Turkish pavilion at Food Nigeria. We see a great interest from Turkish companies keen to launch their products and well known Turkish delights to the growing Nigerian market.”

news

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Osun doctors protest unpaid salaries

It’s blackmail —Govt Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

EMBERS of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Osun State chapter, on Tuesday embarked on a street protest to Osun State House of Assembly complex to demand for the payment of their outstanding salaries by the state government. The doctors, who had been on strike for four months implored Governor Rauf Aregbesola to pay

their outstanding salaries and also address other demands raised as conditions for calling off the industrial action. Displaying placards with various inscriptions such as “Save Our Souls”, Pay Our Salaries”, “Doctors Are Suffering”, the striking doctors urged the lawmakers to prevail on the governor to accede to their requests in the overall interest of the masses. The doctors, numbering over 500, marched from

the popular OSAMDO House to the state house of assembly complex, where they were received by the lawmakers, led by the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Adegboye Akintunde. They expressed concern that the lawmakers have failed to intervene since their face-off began with the state government. Lamenting the hardship medical doctors have faced due to non payment of their salaries since September, 2015, the state chairman

of the NMA, Dr Suraj Ogunyemi, said that doctors in private hospitals would soon join the strike if nothing was done by the state government. Responding to the demands of the protesting doctors, Honourable Akintunde appealed to the doctors to remain calm, promising that the house would look into the matter. He, however, called on the executive members of the NMA to come for dialogue today (Wednesday), with a

view to find a lasting solution to the crisis. Meanwhile, the state government, on Tuesday, described as mere blackmail the protests by the striking doctors saying it has made more than enough concessions for them to have shifted their positions and reason with the government. It called on well-meaning Nigerians to objectively examine the issues involved in the demands of the doctors and see whether they were in tune with the realities of the current worsening global and national economic situation and how it affects Osun. In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, the state government maintained that the doctors were demanding the impossible just as it said that the state under Governor Rauf Aregbesola had offered the best condition of service to all its workers including the doctors before the current financial challenges facing the entire country.

Surveyor-General Office disowns budget Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, inspecting the guard, during her visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Saraki’s trial: Senate moves to suspend Marafa TaiwoAdisaandAyoAdesanmi - Abuja THE Senate on Tuesday, begins move to sanction one of its outspoken members, Senator Kabiru Marafa, a staunch member of the Senate Unity Forum (SUF), for granting what it considered an offensive interview, recently. The Zamfara Senator was quoted in one of the national dailies as saying that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, should resign his position, over his trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal. An aggrieved Senator Ahman Yisa Misau (APC Bauchi Central) who raised a matter of privilege in the chamber, on Tuesday, said comments by Marafa in the interview, had breached his privilege. The motion was seconded by Senator Mathew Urhoghide (PDP Edo South). But Saraki, in his ruling, referred the matter to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions and gave the committee two weeks to report to the whole House.

Saraki said: “This is not new to the Senate on issues of this nature, and I therefore refer it to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions so that they can report back in two weeks time.” Senator Ahmed Misau, in his motion, said “Senate President, I want to task all of us to rise to the challenge of handling the issue before it goes off hand. We should not allow an individual to bring this dis-

tinguished Senate down. I suffered for 10 years contesting for Senate, before I eventually succeeded in 2015.” He explained that Marafa “granted an interview misleading the public and telling lies against this institution, the Senate. I think I have been called more than 500 times from my constituency in respect of this publication. I am a kind of person who struggled very hard to be here in this

Senate. I know how much I suffered, God in his infinite mercy granted me this privilege in 2015 and I will not allow somebody who enjoyed the seventh Senate to come and not allow us to do our work properly. “Mr President, I think the leadership has to do something about this, the Senate should do something about this. We cannot allow one person to continue to tell lies against the Senate and misleading the public.”

Fayose insists Buhari must withdraw 2016 budget Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has insisted that the best step President Muhammadu Buhari could take on the lingering budget scam is to withdraw the document, saying “the controversies surrounding the Federal Government 2016 Budget cannot be addressed by mere sacking of the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation and appointing a new one.” Fayose, in a statement made available on Tues-

day, said “the budget must be withdrawn from the National Assembly and a new and error free one represented.” Governor Fayose, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, also queried the request by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for a “special funding arrangement for public media organisations to enable them scale up their sensitisation campaign against insurgency

in the North-East.” According to him, “Nigerians need further explanations as to why special fund will be needed on Boko Haram that he (Lai Mohammed) said had already been defeated.” He said “what the controversial 2016 budget required was a holistic approach, not just making one person scapegoat” and maintained that “padding of the budget with strange figures, now being denied by ministers, was a clear intention to steal in advance.”

Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja THE Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGN), Ebisintei Awudu, on Tuesday, disowned the N1billion 2016 budget profile allocated to the office by the Federal Ministry of Works. Awudu disowned in its entirety the N1billion budget profile presented to the Senate Committee on Works. Awudu spoke for several hours to defend details of the budget before the committee, chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC Kano South). According to the Surveyor-General, no single input was made into the details of the budget to which he and other directors in the office were being interrogated. He said his office presented N5 billion 2016 budget proposal to the supervising ministry, Federal Ministry of Works, only for the ministry to change it to N1billion with different details. The Senate committee, however, directed the Surveyor-General and the Coordinating Director in the office, Barde Jatau, to go and prepare a fresh budgetary proposal for 2016 based on N1billion enveloped offered them by their supervising ministry.

Nigerian Tribune

Lagos Assembly orders LCDAs to prepare 2016 budget ChukwumaOkparaocha-Lagos THE Lagos State House of Assembly has called on the Transition Committees in the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) to prepare their 2016 appropriation. The call followed a motion moved on Tuesday by Mr Kazeem Alimi, the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government. Alimi said that the council budget should be prepared and forwarded to the assembly for grassroots development. “Year 2016 appropriation of the 20 local government areas and 37 LCDAs in the state should be prepared by the transition committee. This House, therefore, calls on the executive secretaries of the 20 LGs and 37 LCDAs to forward same to the assembly since the councillors are not in place,” he said. In his remarks, Mr Rotimi Olowo, Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, said since the budget of the state had been successfully passed, it was imperative for the House to pass that of the council areas. The Majority Leader, Mr Sanai Agunbiade, said “the law of the state provides for local government committee to manage the affairs of the local government in the absence of democratically elected councillors. The Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Mr Yinka Ogundimu, added, “The motion is timely by making sure that the budget is passed so that the local government will not be acting out of financial regulation.” The Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, said “The exercise should be used to evaluate the transition committees at the local governments. “The House Committee should look at what the transition committee in each council area has been doing since the last one year and how well they have been holding forth,” he said. “The essence of having the transition committee is to make sure they perform. If anyone of them is found incompetent, we should take the opportunity to look into that,” he further stated. The speaker subsequently raised a joint committee of Budget and Economic Planning, Local Government Administration and Public Accounts (Local) to look into the budgetary provisions of the council areas.

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

16 photonews

From left, Treasurer, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Professor Benjamin Osisioma; President, Mr Anthony Nzom; Kwara State governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, First Vice-President, ANAN, Alhaji Shehu Ladan and the Second Vice-President, Professor Muhammed Mainoma, during a courtesy visit to the governor, at Government House, Ilorin, on Monday.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (right) and the Osile of Oke Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, during the royal visit to his palace.

From left, wife of the Regional Pastor, Region 2, The Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), Mrs Esther Adeogun, the Regional Pastor, Pastor M. O. Adeogun; wife of the new Aremo Area Pastor, Mrs Grace Ayoade; the new Area Pastor, Pastor Benjamin Ayoade; the Inspectorate Pastor, Region 2, Pastor Abel Afolabi and his wife, Olufunke, during the installation of Pastor Ayoade as Area Pastor, at GOFAMINT Aremo Assembly, on Sunday.

From right, Dr Temitope Balogun, Dr Temitayo Amoo and other guests, at the 2014/2015 matriculation ceremony of UNIOSUN, Ikire campus, on the school campus, recently.

From right, South West Zonal Director, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Mrs Yejide Oseni; Mrs Bolanle Salako, chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Oyo State branch, Ishola Adeyinka and Dr (Mrs) M.O. Afolabi, during health promotion training for community pharmacists in Oyo State, held at Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN) Hall, Akobo, Ibadan. PHOTO: YEMII FUNSO-OKE

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

tribune cartoons

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

GIANT IN THE TROPIC OF AFRICA Murtala Muhammed

FUNOLOGY

• General Murtala Ramat Muhammed was born on November 8, 1938 in Kano, Nigeria.

CHURCH BOY

• He attended Barewa College, Zaria. Muhammed joined the Nigerian Army in 1958. He received his officer training at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, UK and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1961. • He was the military ruler (Head of the Federal Military Government) of Nigeria from 1975 until his assassination in 1976.

SEGELUULU

• Murtala Muhammed was killed, aged 37, along with his AideDe-Camp (ADC), Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa in his black Mercedes Benz saloon car on Friday, February 13, 1976. • Today, his portrait adorns the 20 Naira note and Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos is named in his honour.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

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

18 LETTERS TO THE

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

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.

No to further bailout for states

T was recently reported that some state governors were planning to reach out to the Federal Government for further bailouts in order to meet their domestic spendings. In as much as the state governors have not come out categorically to call on the Federal Government for the bailout, then I want to believe the report is false. However, whenever the governors come out to call for a bailout, then I will urge President Muhammadu Buhari not to grant the request. Most of the state governors just mismanaged the last bailout given to them by the Federal Government. Today, most are still owing their workers several months’ salaries. When the bailout was

On low ranking of Nigerian varsities I was so happy when I read in the Nigerian Tribune of January 24, 2016, when President Muhammadu Buhari expressed concern over the low ranking of Nigerian universities. Sincerely speking, the president observed and commented well. However, I believe the reason our universities are lowly ranked has to do with the incessant clash between members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government. Now, I want to appeal to the President to set up a Committee which will include the Minister of Education, vice chancellors of universities, ASUU members, as well as people who have vision for the development of Federal universities; members of the Committe will come together to discuss ways through which we can develop our university system to global standard. •Aderemi Augustus Olatunde, PO BOX 3067, Mapo, Ibadan.

approved, workers and retirees thought it would be used to offset the backlog of their arrears, but only a tiny fraction was used to settle them. The rest went to the contractors who the governors were owing for the different projects in their states. When the bailout was to be approved, it was specifically stated that it should be used to settle workers and retirees, but the governors, who are like emperors in their various states, diverted huge chunk of the money. Now, if they are saying they want more bailout, then the Federal Government should simply tell them to use their Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) to settle their debts. The Federal Government can no longer be supporting the mismanagement of resources by these state governors. In fact, Nigerian poli-

tics is funny; in developed countries, those who go into public service feel they have the capacity to solve societal problems, but in Nigeria, politicians seek public offices because of power and wealth. Whoever finds himself in political positions today is already made, but this should not be so. If we are having problems economically, then it is the responsibility of our political office holders to look at ways through which such problems can be solved. Nigeria is like a family, with the Federal Government being the husband, while the states are the wives. If the man of the house is having financial difficulties, then the wives should be able to bear the expenses in the home until the financial situation of their husband improves. Apart from the president, the governors are the most influential in the country,

and this is enough reason for them to be problem solvers. If the Federal Government is having problem financially due to the fall in the price of crude oil, then nothing stops the states from even loaning the central government money. This is why I will always

advocate for a Confederation; this system of government gives all the power to the zones, units or states, while the central government is funded by the confederating units or states. The only thing that unites the whole country will, therefore, be the military, judiciary, police, and

the president, who will just be the face of the country. I am, therefore, calling on state governors to stop disturbing the Federal Government with bailouts, instead, they should look for ways to generate extra money themselves. •Nelson Ekwale, Benin, Edo State.

Agenda before new Kogi governor PERMIT me to use this opportunity to call on the Kogi State governor, Mr Yahaya Bello, to develop the state using the various mineral deposits in the state. Kogi is one of the most blessed states in Nigeria, with mineral resources scattered across different communities in the state. We have gold, coal, bauxite, iron ore, among others, and the recent decision by the Federal Government to allow states to

mine their resources is a positive one. Mr Bello is a businessman, and it is hoped that he will use his business acumen to steer the ship of the state in the right direction. We hope that during his tenure, he will not only rely on the Federal Government for survival, but create jobs with the resources the state is endowed with. By the end of his first tenure, we hope that hundreds of thousands of Kogi

youths would have been gainfully employed. It is so unfortunate that the governor has a lot to do in order to develop the state. It is just as if previous administrations did nothing while they held sway; the hope of Kogi people are now on Mr Bello to transform the state. The new governor should first parley with civil servants, who had suffered immensely under past administrations. Governor Bello should make his tenure workersfriendly. After that, he should focus on education, health, and then jobs creation. The task before the new governor is enormous, but he can achieve success if he carries the people along. He should know that he is in power to serve Kogi people. •Ibrahim Adokai, Ganaja, Lokoja.

FG, complete Ibadan-Ilorin Expressway THE recent spate of accidents on the Oyo-Ogbomoso road is giving everybody in the state cause for concern. Before the completion of the Ibadan-Oyo Expressway, many lives were lost on the old road, but the new expressway has reduced the accidents drastically. I, therefore, want to urge the Federal Government to complete the second phase of the project, which is from Oyo to Ilorin, so that lives can be saved. •Ahmed Adisa, Ilorin, Kwara State.

editorial

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Anyaokuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s six-region proposal

ORMER Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, recently proposed a fundamental restructuring of the Nigerian federation in order to achieve concrete development in the country. According to him, a major impediment to development is the warped nature of the federalism in Nigeria where the states are too incompetent to exist as a separate level of government, thus making nonsense of the federalism. Going by his argument, it would seem that only the central government exists within the Nigerian federation as the country has reached a point in which many of the 36 states are not even able to pay salaries of their own workers and had to rely on a recent Federal Government bailout to address such issue. In the same vein, the 36 states, with the full panoply of executive, legislative and judicial bureaucracies, have become a drain on the resources of the country with hardly any development to show for it. In order to stave off this continuing drain on resources needed for development and provide more viable states that could be credible levels of government, Chief Anyaoku was of the opinion that the country should be restructured along the line of the current six geopolitical framework which would serve as regions while the current states could be developmental areas if so desired. To Anyaoku, with such a six-region structure, there would be less requirement for recurrent expenditure as Nigeria currently expends on the 36-state structure and the six regions would be viable enough to provide credible platforms to engage the supremacist and unitarist longings of the central government. The proposal is thus both to properly place the Nigerian federation and federalism on a firmer footing and to ensure that more resources go into actual development rather than recurrent expenditure. Chief Anyaokuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposal is a testament to the abiding concern of very many Nigerians with the problems of the federation and the need to address the structural and attitudinal problems responsible for the lack of concrete development in the country. Nigeria has always been praised since independence for its potentialities rather than the translation of such potentialities into reality. And part of the reason for that failure to translate potentiality into reality has been the suffocating unitary structure standing as federal structure where all power and resources start and end with the central government, with the states unable to raise any significant internal resources and revenue, becoming appendages of the central government and having to go every month for fund allocation at the federal level before they could function.

Indeed, with the states not providing any serious platform for governance engagement especially since the imposition of backdoor unitarism by the military, it was not surprising that they virtually became personalized structures for governors and thus further reducing their potentials as sources and instigators of development. Yet, the point has to be noted that what was at issue was not the existence of states as veritable levels of government under federalism, but the fact that Nigeria has chosen to practice federalism without its tenets. Rather than states being created on the basis of interest and resource viability, they were created in Nigeria to satisfy the parochial interests of the military overlords. And instead of the states to exist under well defined fiscal federalism that would give them substantial control over resources in their domain, Nigeria would prefer to call its system federalism even where states are denied any control and are made to play second fiddle to the central government. The way out of the present quagmire in Nigeria is therefore a sincere and truthful return to the tenets of federalism, with Nigerians negotiating the broad principles that would guide government and governance within the overall framework of federalism. The implication of this position is that whereas we join Nigerians in saluting Chief Anyaoku for courageously laying bare the unsustainability of the present governance structure in Nigeria, the solution would have to go beyond a simple return to six-region structure in order to have appreciable positive impact. Nigerians must change not just the structure, but also the animating principles of governance by readying themselves to submit to real fiscal federalism and principles that would make it impossible to devote the largest part of government resources to the personal emoluments of government officials. Nigeria must institute efficient governmental structures and do away with the inefficiency that currently defines government. The country must come to terms with the reality that there would not be development in any real sense, no matter the tinkering with the number of states or regions, until government is seen as being meant to serve the people and their interests and not just the leaders, such that government is not constructed around the perquisites of the leaders, but around the services it is expected to efficiently provide for the people. Real federalism and a conscious tinkering with governance principles to make government attractive to only those who want to serve the public interest would have to accompany the structural proposals such as the one from Chief Anyaoku before such proposals would be able to deliver on the objective of concrete development for the country.

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opinion

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Economy: Opportunity in adversity By Chris Ngwodo

OR decades, successive Nigerian governments have sermonised about the need to diversify the economy, moving it away from dependence on crude oil exports. For years, this has remained a foul-weather aspiration rather than a policy imperative. Now, plunging global oil prices have triggered a crisis of public finances, and undermined fiscal assumptions for national budgeting. The stone-cold reality is that the Nigerian state is broke, with governments at all levels struggling to finance capital projects and sustain recurrent expenditure. However, a season of adversity is also a season of opportunity. If ever there was a time to wean Nigeria off oil, this is it. To begin with, we must change the way we think about the economy. An economy is not about crude oil or solid minerals; it is about people – their skills, hopes and aspirations. To truly diversify the economy is to mobilise Nigerians as Nigeria’s most important economic resource. It is to leverage their dreams and ambitions for national growth. Secondly, oil is actually Nigeria’s secondary income source. Her real mainstay is her informal economy – a vast unmapped matrix of productivity that includes services, trading, small and medium scale manufacturing. This is a virtual shadow economy that sustains Nigeria during seasons of adversity occasioned by oil price volatility. This sector provides 80 to 90 percent of the economic needs of the majority of the population, supplying everything from household appliances, plumbing, healthcare, recreation, automobile servicing and consumables. If Nigeria were as absolutely dependent on oil as is popularly believed, she would have long folded up. The inability of many state governments to pay their civil servants over long stretches would have ignited massive social unrest. But the underrated shadow economy has long served as a buffer between governmental failure and massive social upheaval. Oil revenues matter but the undocumented labours of ordinary Nigerians are far more significant in sustaining Nigeria. Declining oil prices have occasioned panicked hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth in official circles. This suggests a lack of foresight by people who should

presumably know better. An economy built on a volatile commodity increasingly susceptible to technological disruption (shale oil, alternative renewable energy, etc.) is always unsustainable. The vast size of the informal sector is a sign of economic repression. Inebriated by easy oil rents and its accompanying subsidised sloth, state governments and local governments have, for years, attacked the productive hubs of the shadow economy with all kinds of predatory taxes, extortionate levies, hare-brained gentrification and urban renewal schemes. Improving the scenery for the rich seems more important than empowering the poor, working and entrepreneurial classes. Doing business in Nigeria is suffocated by unnecessary red tape, a predatory bureaucracy, and non-availability of favourable institutional credit. Consequently, entrepreneurs looking to make an honest living typically go underground. Thinking innovatively about our present debacle requires us to see our economic environment in a new light. Think of mechanic villages and computer villages (where software and hardware techies operate) as organically-evolved entrepreneurial clusters and tech hubs. Think of Alaba, Idumota, and Iweka Road, Onitsha as industrial and marketing hubs of Nigeria’s massive entertainment industry. Think of business centres as virtual offices and our great open air markets built on adaptable supply chains and social networks as dynamic

wholesale and retail hubs. Witness our motor parks where competition thrives alongside anti-trust codes to prevent unfair advantage. Liberating the shadow economy would mean ushering our great markets into higher standards of cleanliness, organisation and quality-control. It would mean tailoring infrastructural investments to overlay and support the shadow economy’s value chains. For example, high speed rail lines between the food basket of the far North and the Middle Belt and urban centres would drastically shrink supply timelines, avoid wastage of produce and ultimately lower cost of food in urban markets while injecting vital liquidity into farming communities. Investments in the power sector could highlight defacto industrial and economic clusters, tech hubs and commercial districts and reduce operating costs borne by these businesses. Enabling the shadow economy means hitching our polytechnics, vocational institutes and colleges of science and technology to the apprenticeship programmes that undergird the real expertise in the informal sector, thereby formally certifying and dignifying the sector’s value-adding actors, and promoting quality assurance, parity of esteem and dignity of labour in a society that erroneously glorifies sedentary white collar idleness over real problem-solving. Enabling the informal sector is the best way to empower Nigeria’s teeming young legions. Finally, diversifying the economy requires the reform of a dysfunctional political architecture that is practically anti-growth. It demands devolution of powers and responsibilities away from the disproportionately empowered central government to state and municipal authorities. The overbearing federal presence in the economy suffocates entrepreneurial initiative. Empowering the informal sector means liberating the municipal tier of government which is closest to it. Local governments should be the locus of economic activity and community development, and should exercise autonomy over locally-sited resources. There is no reason, for example, why we cannot establish local and regional stock exchanges. •Ngwodo is a writer, consultant and public affairs analyst.

Azura-Edo power plant: Bringing hope to power generation in Nigeria By Donald Inwalomhe

SOMETHING unprecedented is happening in Edo State that deserves the attention of everyone who loves development. It is the 450 megawatts Azura Edo Power Plant. Yes, Azura Edo, is, indeed, unexampled with some firsts. Before I write on the novelty of Azura-Edo, permit me to explain what Azura-Edo is. It is a power project that was conceptualised in 2010 and jointly incubated by the Edo State government under the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomole and Amaya Capital, the key promoters of Azura Power West Africa Ltd. It is a two-phase 1,000 megawatts power project that is currently in the first phase, which is expected to generate between 450 to 500 megawatts of electricity when completed. That said, it is instructive to point out that the power project is the first Nigerian power project to benefit from the World Bank’s Risk Guarantee Status that is covered by the global bank’s Partial Risk Guarantee structure for developing needs of emerging global markets. That is not all. It is the first private financed power plant in Nigeria. The project is expected to attract about $1 billion, which is made up of $700 million in the construction of the power plant and $300 million associated with the gas infrastructure that will power it. Located in Ihovbe/Orior Osemwende communities, off Benin-Lagos Bypass, Benin City, the Azura-Edo power plant is expected to provide over 4,000 direct and indirect jobs for the people of Edo State and beyond, from the construction to the post-construction period of the project.The Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant (IPP) is expected to create the template for the successful development of IPPs in Nigeria, and Edo State is playing a pioneering role in determining the future of Nigeria’s power sector. It is a project conceptualised under the Public/

Private Partnership arrangement to unlock the economic potentials of the state and make Edo the nation’s energy hub. The potentials of Azura-Edo, when completed are limitless. No wonder joy filled the hearts of all the parties involved in the project last week when Azura Power West Africa Managing Director and Amaya Capital Director, David Ladipo, dropped the hint that the first debt drawdown for the project had taken place on December 29, 2015, with notice to proceed issued to Siemens and Julius Berger the following day to embark on engineering, procurement and construction. This cheering news came after a long and complex gestation with frequent setbacks. After laying the foundation of the project in 2014, work at the project site lost steam that same year as it appeared that the past administration allowed political considerations to supplant public interest.

It took the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari to breathe life back into the project, culminating into the event of December 29, 2015. Last month, work on the $1 billion Azura-Edo site resumed. Mr President also gave the assurance that the Federal Government would work with the private sector to support lofty projects such as Azura-Edo and grow the Nigerian economy. No doubt, if the right steps had been taken, the Azura-Edo project would have gone beyond its current state. This is the reason many Nigerians have started to laud the new synergy among the Edo State government, the World Bank, the private sector and the Federal Government. The power project is a clear demonstration of the confidence of the international community, including the World Bank in the economy of Edo State, under the leaderships of Comrade Oshiomhole. It is an indication that the state is investor-friendly as the government has put in place a conducive environment needed to attract investors to the state. The next challenge is how Edo State, in particular, will be the biggest beneficiary of the 450 megawatts of electricity that will be added to the national power output since existing rules favour emptying generated power to the national pool. This was why Governor Oshiomhole during the last administration, expressed concerns over power distribution in the country. The current arrangement does not encourage states to invest in power since their people are not direct beneficiaries. This is an aspect of our power reform that is begging for change. If amended, it could be the foundation that will propel an unimaginable upsurge in our power generation. •Inwalomhe, a public affairs analyst, sent in this article via inwalomhe.donald@yahoo.com

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

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

The magic of ViewPoint Resort, Ibadan Plans post Valentine’s thrill, Sunday 21 ! By wale Ojo Lanre

ES, the Valentine’s Day has gone with its razzmatazz, emotional outburst, gifts exchange and festivities, but the memory still lingers on in the world of many. To some, Valentine’s Day proposals and relationships are not genuine, inconsequential, ephemeral, vain and fleeting, hence no seriousness is attached to the day rather than seeing it as ritual . In fact, there is a picture making the round on the internet and social media which depicts that the Valentine’s Day struck relationship as not only regrettable, but deceitful. In the picture, a boy is depicted as running after a lady, begging and asking her to be his Val before the Val’s Day and after the day had gone, it is a picture of the lady running after the boy! The meaning is that most of the love engagements and vows made on Valentine’s Day are not based on the heart of seriousness or genuine feeling, but just on pretentious emotional exercise and fulfilment of the ritual of the day. However, the management of ViewPoint Resort, located at No 10 Federal High Court Road, Off Adeoyo Hospital Road, Ring Road, Ibadan which is bristling with in-

novation and boiling with new concepts in hospitality has decided to inaugurate the first post–Valentine’s Thrill on Sunday 21 February, 2016. According to the president of ViewPoint Resort, Mr Isaac Godpossiblitiy, “the Post- Valentine’s Thrill “is a product of thinking for lovers and helping in making sure that the emotional assurance garnered by lovers on that day is pushed beyond a fleeting sensation to a reality which will be beneficial to the family, society, lovers and promote longevity.” He pointed out “We are trying to facilitate the consummation of the vows, the promises, the relationships and the new love struck on that day, stoke the re- ignited love by couples and open new window of love for those who missed the fun and thrills of Valentine’s Day.” Mr Possibility revealed “the post- Valentine’s Day Thrill is also an avenue to let buyers of hospitality and public into the new fun land called ViewPoint Resorts, which has been modelled to be the best funtertainment enclave in Ibadan.” He further pointed out “We want to unveil a new concept of hospitality and entertainment in Nigeria which will cater for men and women of class, taste and of discerning desire to consummate fun. Thus, we are commencing with

tourism

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Introduce Cultural- tourism studies, make Yoruba compulsory in schools OPU charges SW Governors @ Congress

Guests at the congress.

Delegates from other countries

Mr Kolawole Adio, Chief Executive officer, International College of Aeronautics, Lagos Guest Speaker, Otunba Gani Adams, Chief Convener, Oodua Preogressive Union, Professor Sophie Oluwole, Chairman, Captain Adetokunbo Adesina and some traditional rulers at the World Congress held in Ile-Ife. By wale Ojo Lanre

HE Governors of South – West of Nigeria which comprises of Ondo, Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti states have been called upon to introduce cultural – Tourism Studies and make Yoruba Language a compulsory subject in all the primary and secondary schools in their states. Members of Oodua Progressive Union (OPU), a panYoruba organisation formed in 2011 and convened by Otunba Gani Adams made this call in a communiqué issued at the end of its Second World Congress held at The Pleasure Hotel , Ile-Ife of Osun State on Tuesday 24 January 2016. The pan – Yoruba organisation which is dedicated to promoting and defending the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba race among the people in the Diaspora with chapters in 64 countries pointed out “It is high time our Governors in the South West introduced Cultural – tourism studies and make Yourba a compulsory subject in all primary and secondary schools in the region.” At the second World Congress of the organisation which was superintended by Professor Sophie Oluwole was attended by over 25 traditional Obas from Yoruba land. Professor Oluwole who commended Otunba Adams for taking the bull of Yoruba cultural heritage revitalisation by the horn called the attention of the congregants to the alarming rate at which our culture and values are being suffocated by foreign indoctrination and vogue. “I am happy reading your aims and objectives. I am also glad that you are committed to the sustenance of Yoruba cultural heritage and values. But I must call your attention to the fact that some of you over there have sold, abandoned and rejected their traditional values and culture just because they are brainwashed to see it as evil, fetish and primitive culture. “ She called on OPU members to “gird your loins and set forth to showcase the values, exhibit our culture and let your friends and acquaintances see and realise that your culture is not inferior neither is it primitive.” In his opening speech, Otunba Adams, revealed “Since its formation in 2011, OPU, has become a global phenomenon with branches in 63 countries across the world and no fewer than 23 branches are still in the pipeline . Today, we have established the Oodua Voice, an international

radio and broadcasting outfit that promotes the Yoruba Language and propagates our unique culture.” He disclosed “Our plan this year is to establish a big African Restaurant and supermarket in a country in Europe and to establish ventures which will boost our membership economically in other continents.” Otunba Adams while calling on OPU members said, “today, we have a new mandate. We are setting a new goal, and the goal is that members of the OPU from each continent in the world should come up with new ideas that will enable further progress in all the states in the South West. “ He revealed the new template of action of OPU: “The OPU branches in Europe should build historical monuments in Ile Ife, the source of Yoruba nation, the OPU in America should build theirs in Oyo, OPU in Asia should have theirs in Lagos, OPU across Africa should build theirs in Ondo. OPU South America should establish historical monuments in Ogun while the North America Chapter should build theirs in Ekiti, this is the new mandate. Therefore, we will definitely play our roles as the watchdog and voice of the Yoruba nation. This is the great legacy that we hope to leave behind for generations unborn.” In preparing OPU members for the task ahead, the guest speaker, Mr Kolawole Adio , Chief Executive Officer, International College of Aeronautics, Lagos in his paper “Introducing LEAN Thinking to Oodua Progressive Union “put the congregants through the essence of proper planning , focused leadership and targeted and achievable goals . He pointed out “A fruitful organisation must have an inclusive operable structure that will give a sense of belonging to all members, the leadership must set the course with directive policy, elected officers must develop the management plan and general members must remain flexible and committed to the personal transformation required to do the business of the organisation in a new leaner way.” The Ajero of Ijero, Oba Joseph Adewole, prayed for members of OPU and charged them not to relent in their efforts at promoting and reviving the dying Yoruba cultural values and heritage in their different countries. At the end of the meet, the members issued out a 12-point communiqué which include that Yoruba Cul-

ture, Tradition, Value and Norms are fast evaporating in the consciousness and behavioural pattern of Yoruba indigenes home and abroad. •That this malaise is heightened by the encroachment and influence of western culture and indoctrination. •That the pristine value of the traditional institution is being threatened by the emergence of self-appointed and acclaimed head of fraternities who parade themselves, roam the streets and attend occasions with beaded crowns. •Views with disgust the proliferation of non-Yoruba ethnic kingship in Yoruba land which has become a threat to peaceful co-existence and anathema to the tradition and culture of Yoruba land. The summit condoled with the people of Ibadan on the exit of Olubadan of Ibadan and applauded the smooth appointment of a new Olubadan without any rancour. The gathering also commended the new Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi (Ojaja 2) and the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi for spearheading the new quest for Yoruba unity. It also applauded the re-integration of Lagos State into the Oodua conglomerate and the subsequent acceptance by Lagos State Government. The congress commended the Yoruba traditional rulers for their support so far towards the establishment of OPU in 63 countries across the globe and noted with pride that the attendance of the traditional rulers at various launching of the OPU, which has not only added value but established their link to the root of Yoruba land. The summit adopted the establishment of Oodua Heritage Centre in all the South West states. The congress called on the governors of all the South West states to make Yoruba Language a compulsory subject in both private and public schools. The summit agreed to launch OPU in at least 23 countries in 2016. The summit lauded the convener, Otunba (Dr) Adams for making the OPU housing estate affordable to all members while also encouraging other members worldwide to avail themselves of this unique opportunity.

tourism

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Equilibrium Resorts debuts in Oyo Place where pleasure, comfort meet By wale Ojo Lanre

EHIND the Secretariat of Oyo West Local Government, Ojogbondu while heading for Iseyin or linking Oyo town through the abandoned Oyo – Ogbomoso Express road is another world of fun, entertainment and haven of hospitality called Equilibrium Resorts. It is not just a matter of fun or vain glorification that the indigenes of Oyo Alaafin relay with pride their cognomen of being the pacesetter which does not only set the pace but will never emulate or imitate any ethnic group. Thus the axiom ‘Ajise bi Oyo lari , Oyo ki se bi baba enikanokan’ is not only a matter of mouth or mere wishful saying but a reality in deeds and actions as exemplified by the location, service delivery, values, mission and purpose of Equilibrium Resorts. In all the areas of life, the Oyo indigenes are not only industrious but always allow the pacesetting attributes and values to radiate in any venture in which they are involved. It is this aura which has been the luring spell to Equilibrium Resorts, a heavenly world of accommodation, restaurant, luxurious bar and events garden. It is a new expression of hospitality concept where comfort meets pleasure at point of alignment leading to optimum enjoyment in service delivery, facilities, comfort and customers’ relations. Located on Plot 3 -4, Gedu scheme, Behind Oyo West Local Government, Secretariat, and Ojongbodu. The Resorts is planted on an acre of land with enough space for lover’s corner, events garden, kiddies arena, open restaurant and bar. Within the two acres is a 38-room affair. Rooms which are well portioned and decked with expected facilities which make sleeping in other land a home away from home affair. The beds, bedding, electronics, the conveniences are squarely fit-

Outside bar of the Resorts. INSET: Garden and accomodation centre. ted to enhance comfort. Guests and travellers in Oyo are sure of a hotel accommodation where clean and potable water run in the room with no fear of epileptic supply of power as the three giant generators are at standby within seconds of power outage. The chefs are cross continental, churning out both local and international menus with specialties in the variety of pepper soups for both in-house guests and the garden lovers. The Events Garden is created for socials, weddings, chieftaincy, birthdays, naming, ceremonies get-togethers and other social events with the management at hand to assist. The ever polite, warm and soft spoken staff are on hand to hearken to your de-

mand with heart warming smiles and good conduct in a jiffy. Apart from the varieties of music oozing out of the giant speakers, the location prevented and provided a secluded arena away from the maddening crowd. According to the manager, Mr Omoyoye Ogunleye “Equilibrium Resorts , Oyo is not only offering a brand new experience in hospitality service, but is out to balance the equation between customers’ desire for value for their hard earned money as well as dream for comfort in one hand and provision of excellent service on the other. This is our niche and forte of strength and service. We align the two together. Yours is to have a taste of our service today and you are happy to testify that at Equilibrium Resorts, there is a point of convergence between maxi-

mum comfort and hospitality service. This is what we stand for.”

NCPC boss visits orphanage homes THE Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC),

Mr John Kennedy Opara attending to some of the children at one of the orphanage homes.

Mr. John Kennedy Opara recently visited three orphanage homes in Abuja where he

prayed, interacted and donated food items to the homes as part of his birthday celebration. At the Mother Theresa Orphanage Children Home, Gwarinpa, the NCPC boss accompanied by his family and management staff of the commission prayed for the children of the home and the healing of the sick ones among them. The Executive Secretary condoled with the children and the workers of the home over the sudden demise of the founder of the home – Yeye Bolanle Dare who died recently. Mr Opara urged the workers to continue the work they are doing as God would sustain the Home, “we will make sure the children continue to grow from strength to strength”. The Executive Secretary prayed for the repose of the soul of the founder of the home. The NCPC boss was also at the City of Refuge Orphanage Maitama, Abuja where he prayed with the children and donated

food items to them. Mr Opara was also at the Darlez Care Orphanage Home in Area 8, Garki, Abuja where he prayed with the children and encouraged them to always have faith in God and love one another. According to him; “it is the love of God that brings us together as one”.

Next-week Do you know where this magnificent hotel is located ?

Children must be considered in tourism package — Prince Kayode Oni

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

er that the I feel more confident than ev s with the power to save the planet rest individual consumer. inator of the — Denis Hayes, National Coord 197 first Earth Day in 0

Mixed reactions trail ICAO’s new standard emissions

By Doyin Adeoye THERE have been various reactions trailing the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) CO2 Standard for new aircraft. The ICAO, at the 10th meeting of its Committee for Environmental Protection (CAEP) on Monday, 8 February, finalised a proposed performance standard for new aircraft that will mandate improvements in fuel efficiency and reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The standards are aimed at makers of small and large planes alike and will apply to all new aircraft models launched after 2020. According to Earthjustice, a legal backbone for more than a thousand environmental organisations, this standard would be too weak to protect the climate. “The standards would not reduce carbon emissions from airplanes compared to business as usual. Greenhouse pollution from airplanes is expected to more than triple by 2050, making it the fastest-growing source of transportation emissions,” it said on its website. Because ICAO’s proposal excludes in-service aircraft, and aircraft have operational lifetimes of 25 to 30 years, the standards would take decades to cover the current fleet. “These standards set the bar embarrassingly low, ensuring that almost all aircraft will already meet the requirements well before they go into effect in 2023,” said Sarah Burt, Earthjustice’s legal expert on aircraft pollution. However, UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon highlighted the groundbreaking nature of the deal, saying “The ICAO’s new rules come after years of negotiations and are the first time that governments have set emissions standards for the aviation industry.” French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, also hailed the deal, saying: “In keeping with the

Paris climate agreement, this new standard will be a key component of the civil aviation sector’s contribution to reducing CO2 emissions It must be complemented by a carbon emissions offset mechanism, which the ICAO is due to adopt in September 2016 during its triennial assembly. As COP21 president, I will be keeping a close eye on this.”

Positive social media posts on climate action up 700% in 3 years THE growth of positive social media commentary on climate action and economic growth has skyrocketed 700 per cent over the last three years, according to new analysis. A new analysis from the New Climate Economy (NCE) think-tank has found that positive social media messages regarding climate action and economic growth have increased nearly eightfold over the past three years, based on research done covering media published between January 2013 and culminating just after the conclusion of COP21 in Paris, on 13 December, 2015. According to the NCE, the flagship project of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, this dramatic shift in thinking “is indicative of a broader change in how business leaders, investors, and governments understand the relationship between tackling climate change and economic growth, and increasingly see the two goals as mutually compatible.” The NCE team analyzed over 430,000 relevant English Language social media posts from Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and online forums, and found that positive messages about economic growth and climate action has increased by approximately 700 per cent. This figure was reached by comparing the year and a half before June, 2014 to the year and a half following. Culled from cleantechnica. com

ecoscope

Achakpa Priscilla is the National Coordinator, Water and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and the Executive Director, Women Environmental Programme (WEP). She speaks with DOYIN ADEOYE on involvement of women and youths in African environmentalism, among other issues. Excerpts:

HAT are the objectives of the Women Environmental Programme (WEP)? WEP is a non-governmental, non -profit, non-religious and voluntary organisation whose vision is to see a society where the environmental, economic and political rights of women, children and youths are protected. Our mission is to empower women and youths to effectively address the environmental, economic and political issues that affect them. The organisation has grown from strength to strength at national, regional and global levels, while still ensuring its primary focus which is the grass roots women and youths. We have the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) status and an observer status to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council/ Global Ministerial Environment Forum and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). With this status, WEP can participate as a major group organisation in contributing to the intergovernmental decision-making process in the UN-System and we are at the moment one of the Organising Partner (OP) for the Women Major Groups (WMG) as well as the Women and Gender Constituency at the UN. Would you say gender plays a role in environmental management? The world is unique for every human being, but in general, women’s lives vary greatly from those of men because of patterns of socialisation related to gender. In terms of the environment, women around the world play distinct roles in managing plants and animals in forests, drylands, wetlands and agriculture; in collecting water, fuel and fodder for domestic use and income generation; and in overseeing land and water resources. By so doing, they contribute time, energy, skills and personal visions to family and community development. So women’s extensive experience makes them an invaluable source of knowledge and expertise on environmental management and appropriate actions. A lot still needs to be done on the incorporation of gender sensitivity in Nigeria’s environmental

Eluagu’s sculpture

with Doyin Adeoye

m:08058130577 e:doyinadeoye@tribuneonlineng.com t:@kreatif_ink

RUSHPIN works with the government and people of Nigeria at all levels to improve sanitation access and hygiene behaviour for 2.2 million persons. It targets 1,271 communities in six Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Cross River and Benue States, through a demand-led process and increased government commitment in the sector. The programme will reach these 2.2 million persons with sanitation and hygiene messages. By doing so, 1.3 million people are expected, not only to change from open to fixed place defecation, but to use improved sanitation facilities. The RUSHPIN programme has recorded remarkable progress following the signing of the MoU and involvement of the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) Foundation. In its third year, the programme has reached 820 communities, out of which 506 have attained an Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. In all, 210,725 individuals now live in ODF environments and an estimated 267,997 people, thus far, have received targeted hygiene messages.

Achakpa on using environment to empower women, youths

Achakpa policies. What would you recommend? Women have continued to play greater roles in the management and sustainability of their environment. However, it is sad to note that they are sparely involved or completely absent in most of the decisions and policies made. What needs to be done in this regard is for women to wake up by voting for women in politics, as well as sensitisation and awareness on the need for the involvement of women in policies and decisions

Women have continued to push, advocate, organise, mobilise at all levels to ensure that their rights are recognised and implemented.

in the management of their natural resources. Also, the girl child must be encouraged and supported to study sciences to enable them compete favourably with their male counterpart. Knowledge is power and without knowledge, women cannot influence policies that affect them.

gender issues, the domestication of these policies and conventions still remains a stumbling block for the attainment of women and environmental management. However, it is worthy of note that women have continued to push, advocate, organise, mobilise at all levels to ensure that their rights are recognised and implemented.

What rights do women have in relation to the environment? Despite large obstacles, women have proven to be highly effective agents of change, organising all over the world to demand and work towards a healthy environment. Although limited, there have been recognitions of women’s contributions and potential towards survival and development. For most societies in the present world, discriminatory social structures and attitudes at personal, community and institutional levels, persist in deeply entrenched patterns of gender inequality. Many women encounter steep barriers related to their family and socio-economic status, including their living conditions in isolated or impoverished areas. They combine household and reproductive tasks such as cleaning, cooking, shopping, childbearing and care giving, as well as the provision of water, fuel and other products, with productive activities in the fields or through other forms of income generation. Despite several conventions at national, regional and global levels which have incorporated

Many still don’t have access to clean and drinkable water. How would you react to this? The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that was adopted by over 150 heads of states including that of Nigeria in 2015 had Goal 6 specifically targeting accessibility of water and sanitation, recognising the fact that access to clean water is a basic human right. However, the MDGs could not meet this target and therefore access to safe drinking water still remains a mirage in many urban and rural communities in Nigeria. Even where it is available, the supply is often erratic and even worse, the water is sometimes contaminated because it is piped through a network of old, rusty and unhygienic drainages. With a specific goal on water and sanitation, I am optimistic that Nigeria would be able to achieve the adopted agenda 2030. What inspired the Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN) inaugurated by WSSCC in 2013?

What does the Girls and Women Initiative in Nigeria (G-WIN) intend to achieve? In recognition of the fact that the nation’s resources and opportunities currently places girls and women at a disadvantage, and in realisation of the potentials inherent in the average girl and woman in Nigeria to sustainably contribute to the overall growth and development of the community and the country, former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, approved the implementation of the Girls and Women Initiative in Nigeria (G-WIN) project. Five federal ministries: the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, Works, Health and Communication, implemented the G-WIN project. The main objective of the G-WIN project is to improve the lives of poorest girls and women in Nigeria by redirecting government funds to delivering concrete results for girls and women. It also emphasises the fact that supporting girls and women leads to better outcomes for the nation at large. The project was specifically implemented in Abia, Bauchi, Delta, Plateau, Kebbi, Osun and Taraba and over 700 women and girls were trained and given starter packs as take off grant for their businesses.

I made my sculpture to inspire people —Eluagu By Doyin Adeoye ALTHOUGH the sculpture ‘Your Destiny is in Your Hands,’ was made in 2013, it became social media frenzy last week when the originator, Eluagu Williams uploaded the night view on his Facebook wall. Made from pet bottles, Eluagu constructed the 13.6feet structure, which he said was birthed out of his desire to inspire people, as well as make something worthwhile out of waste. Speaking with Ecoscope, Eluagu, who is a graduate of the Department of Fine Art, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) said: “I did it as a final year project in 2013 and it was mounted in January 2014. Although I majored in Sculpture, it was a risk doing the artwork because it wasn’t as if there was a prototype to follow, but I wanted to do something unique, as well as inspire people with the sculpture. “I worked with pet bottles, which many people throw away and feel that it is just waste. I basically just wanted to turn something people feel is useless to something useful. The name of the artwork ‘Your Destiny is in Your

Eluagu Hands,’ is to inspire people in Nigeria and the world at large. “This is a trying time for many people, considering the challenges many people and nations are facing today. So I wanted to inspire people that no matter what happen, their destiny is in their hands and they can strive to rise above it and use those challenges as stepping stones to greatness,” he said. A unique way of recycling waste, the major material used in the construction were used pet bottles Eliagu said he picked around. So not only did the sculpture beautify the environment, it also aided keeping the planet save and clean. Taking about 90 days to complete, Eliagu said the gesture of the hands in the sculpture, which appears shaky, shows that in the course of life, we go through challenges to get to the point we want. A true talent, he is also into wood carving and clay modelling. On his message to other young talents out there, he said: “They need to be humble and be close to God, no matter their religion, because spirituality is key for any creative person.”

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

anchors

energy

Tunde Dodondawa

m:08029370304 e:mrdodondawa@yahoo.com

Crude oil price:

IOC’s investment under immense pressure As crude oil price continues its free fall, indications have emerged that several investments in exploration projects by International Oil Companies (IOCs) across the globe are under threat. OLATUNDE DODONDAWA writes.

S analysts continued to predict that the glut in the international crude oil market which has resulted into lower crude price may push the price to as low as $20 per barrel, cost of production including research and development costs plus exploration cost remain high. This has put immense pressure on the existing projects which may force parties to the projects including the banks to review their contractual obligations. More than a year into a downturn sparked by OPEC’s decision to keep pumping to defend market share, prices are still 70 per cent below their 2014 peak and companies are beset by plunging profits, dividend cuts and mass layoffs. The oil industry’s annual IP Week gathering in London has been dominated by warnings that the worst of the slump isn’t over. Crude is trading below $30 a barrel in New York after falling to a 12-year low last month, but production is still taking longer than expected to decline and record oil stockpiles just keep on growing, according to bankers, traders and executives who attended the IP Week conference. For instance, the British Petroleum (BP) is planning for oil prices to stay low for the first six months of the year and expects surplus production to only start diminishing when storage tanks fill up in the second half. “We are very bearish for the first half of the year. In the second half, every tank and swimming pool in the world is going to fill and fundamentals are going to kick in. The market will start balancing in the second half of this year,” Chief Executive Officer, Robert Dudley said at the just concluded International Petroleum (IP) Week conference in London. United States energy companies have continued to deploy few rigs for oil and gas explorations as a result of low price in international market. Baker Hughes reported that the cuts in oil drilling rigs in the seventh week of declines to the lowest levels since March 2010. It indicated that drillers removed 31 oil rigs in the week, the biggest cut since April last year, bringing the total rig count to 467, oil services company, Baker Hughes Inc. said in its closely followed report. The agency has it that this compares with 1,140 oil rigs operating in same week a year ago. It maintained that in 2015, drillers cut on average 18 rigs per week for a total of 963 oil rigs for the year, the biggest annual decline since at least 1988. The agency maintained that before this week, drillers have cut on average of 10 rigs per week so far this year. It indicated that the deepest cuts this week were seen in the most active state, Texas, where rigs declined by 19 to 262. The agency disclosed that this marks a decline to less than half the level seen in the state a year ago, when 654 rigs were active. It maintained that the largest de-

The shale oil output projections at current activity levels imply that drilling has to start to rise soon to keep the market from swinging too heavily into excess demand by the end of 2016.

clines were seen in the Granite Wash formation, where rigs dropped by five to eight operating rigs, and the Eagle Ford, where four rigs were removed for a total of 60 rigs. Moreover, ExxonMobil Corporation joined a slew of oil companies in cutting spending amid the slump in oil prices. The company said this week; it expects to cut worldwide capital and exploration expenditures by 25 per cent this year. But even as crude futures have remained low after by plunging some 70 per cent over the past 18 months, analysts say that production cuts may not follow shortly. “Curtailed budgets have slowed investment which will reduce future volumes, but there is little evidence of pro-

duction shut-ins for economic reasons,” Robert Plummer, Vice President of oil investment research at consultancy Wood Mackenzie, said in a report. The research found that aggressive cost cutting in the U.S had enabled more of the shale plays to make money and survive at lower prices. “In the past year we have seen a significant lowering of production costs in the U.S, which has resulted in only 190,000 barrels per day being cash negative at a Brent price of $35,” said Stewart Williams, Vice President of upstream research at Wood Mackenzie, adding that the majority, only become cash negative at Brent prices wellbelow $30 per barrel.” Other analysts have held that a recovery in drilling is needed to staunch rapid declines from shale wells. “Without a recovery in drilling, the fall in output will become severe given the relatively low recent pace of productivity gains,” analysts at Standard Chartered said. “The shale oil output projections at current activity levels imply that drilling has to start to rise soon to keep the market from swinging too heavily into excess demand by the end of 2016,” Standard Chartered said, noting that it means getting prices back above $50 fairly quickly.” Affected investments in Nigeria several deepwater oil projects, with a combined capacity of 875,000 Continues on

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energy

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

‘Local content will not suffer crude price decline’ Continued from

P26

barrels per day, have been affected by the slump in crude price. The projects, which are expected to start coming on stream in 2020, are Shell’s Bonga Southwest and Aparo (225,000bpd) and Bonga North Shell (100,000bpd), Eni’s Zabazaba-Etan (120,000bpd), ExxonMobil’ s Bosi (140,000bpd), Satellite Field Development Phase 2 (80,000) and Uge (110,000bpd) and Chevron’s Nsiko (100,000bpd). Industry analysts have said that several projects, especially expensive ones, would be affected if the global oil prices remain low. Analysts have argued that a number of deepwater projects may suffer delays or cancellation, including one in Angola, three in Nigeria and one in Ghana; while in shallow waters, two projects in Angola, one in Nigeria and two in Ghana may suffer delays. There are concerns that Egina Oil platform project valued at $3.8 billion may be stalled due to slump in global oil price. The project was awarded by Total E&P Nigeria to Samsung Heavy Industries, with a mandate to integrate a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) platform at the LADOL base in Lagos, as the local content partner. The Managing Director of the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) base, Dr Amy Jadesimi, had assured that there is cause for alarm stressing that the project won’t be affected. “There are two sides to these terms of our business and local content. The falling oil prices actually play in our favour. The premise of LADOL and the lots of new entrants coming into the market is that we are actually creating value. We are lowering costs and we are making it easier for foreign companies to do business in Nigeria both by lowering their costs and increasing the efficiency of their operations,” she said. Jadesimi hinted out that due to oil price fall, oil companies will embark on portfolio management. “When they are looking at the West African market, you can’t ignore Nigeria. Now we have a big project coming up for Shell, Bonga South-West that many people have been watching and counting on. They were supposed to spend $40billion in Nigeria over the next decade.” Moreso, Nigeria’s plan to raise crude oil production to 4 million b/d by 2020, as well as lifting its reserves to 40 billion barrels from 32 billion barrels, is under immense threat from current low crude prices. Persistent depressed oil prices may limit industry scope to manoeuvre in growing long-term production and reaching the target. Analysts argued that global oil prices were not the only problem, with oil theft, growing security challenges, and an unstable fiscal environment are factors hindering reserves growth in Nigeria. Local content will not suffer crude price decline —NCDMB The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Denzil Kentebe, has assured that Nigerian content scope for new and on-going oil and gas projects will not be reduced because of the substantial drop in crude oil prices. The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act spelt out percentages that must be achieved for every activity connected with operations in the upstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry and these benchmarks

Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State, Petroleum are enforced by the board on projects through various mechanisms. Speaking with the Managing Director of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Mr Nicolas Terraz, recently, Kentebe regretted the negative effect the fallen oil prices has had on the Nigerian oil and gas industry, which included contracts being reviewed downwards, delays in approving new contracts, drop in drilling campaigns and even attempts to negotiate away local content in projects. Rejecting the perception that local content increases cost of projects, Kentebe called for a holistic review of every contract scope and realistic and honest efforts to adjust costs across the board.” He stressed that industry stakeholders have to look at the long term and realise that a strong and viable local supply chain ultimately helps in reducing cost of projects while creating a local conducive atmosphere for business to thrive. The Managing Director of Total E&P, Nicolas Terraz, confirmed that his company had no intention to downsize its workforce in Nigeria and other locations. He stated further that the company had taken steps to cut costs in view of the fallen oil prices. Some of these strategies according to Terraz include improving efficiency, eliminating waste, reducing expatriate workforce and accelerating succession plans for Nigerian understudies. FG, NECA bicker over imminent job loss The Federal Government through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has urged oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria not to sack workers due to low oil price. According to him, “keep the existing jobs as nothing lasts forever. We have a downturn today, but you can be sure it will not last forever. If you are not creating new jobs, let us keep the ones we have. That is what this government is pleading and we must emphasise that is what we want.” He said because oil and gas sector remains the financial backbone of the Nigeria’s economy for now, any threat of industrial unrest therein should be nipped in the bud. He added that he has received a plethora of petitions from unions in the sector, bordering on industrial and employment relations such as casualisation, redundancy, threat of retrenchment and unfair labour practices among others. However, the Nigeria Employers’ Con-

sultative Association (NECA) disagreed with government’s position and warned that government should not to decree job security. The Director-General of NECA, Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, stated that job security cannot be decreed by ministerial pronouncements, but can only be encouraged and promoted through strong macro- economic fundamentals and an enabling environment. “We have noted the recent meetings of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Ngige, with employers’ representatives in some sectors of the economy and his directive not to retrench. The minister seems not to have shown an understanding of the fundamentals of managing a business in an economy that has been bedevilled by a drastic fall in the price of crude oil, scarcity of foreign exchange and gross erosion of purchasing power. The truth is that retrenchment is not a palatable option for any business. No employer will take pleasure in declaring redundant employees which it has invested in developing over the years. “It is part of the inalienable right of an employer to determine the optimal staff level it will need to sustain its operations. Where an employer has found it necessary to carry out retrenchments, it would respect the laws of the land and laid down procedures for redundancy. Employers’ expectation from the Minister of Labour and Employment is that he will work together with other government agencies in the establishment of the desired enabling environment that will ensure business sustainability, competitiveness and job creation,” he said. Oshinowo further advised Ngige to understand that the Ministry of Labour and Employment runs on the principle of repartition, which entails regular interactions with trade unions as represented by NLC/TUC, the employer as represented by NECA, and government as represented by the Federal Ministry of Labour and respect for their rights and interests on issues that relate to Labour and Industrial Relations.” He appealed to the minister to show respect to the social partners by being timely and punctual at meetings which he has called. Absence of market forces oil producers to expand crude storage stakeholders have begun to strategise ahead of market stability as United Arab Emirates (UAE) has offered free oil to India in return for

a storage deal at India’s planned underground facility as the supply glut worsens and some analysts predict that peak storage could send prices crashing further. The UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has agreed to store crude oil in India’s maiden strategic storage facility, sweetening the deal by saying India could take two-thirds of the oil for free. It’s a great deal for India, which is almost fully reliant on imports to meet its crude oil needs. India lured Abu Dhabi in with the building of a massive underground storage facility system that will be able to take on 5.33 million tons of crude as a bulwark against global price shocks and supply disruptions. ADNOC is eyeing half the storage capacity at one of the new underground facilities, Mangalore, which has a 1.5-million-ton capacity on its own. Abu Dhabi plans to stock 0.75 million tons or 6 million barrels of oil, here and 0.5 million tons will belong to India. The deal is reflective of a wider, global storage panic and talk of what could happen when ’peak storage is reached. A number of analysts have suggested that oil prices might crash to $20 per barrel or even $10 a barrel, if storage tanks become full. Storage is now at the highest level in at least a decade. In the U.S, crude storage levels hit 487 million barrels in early November, closing in on the 80-year high of 490 million barrels hit earlier this year. According to the U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA), about 60 percent of the U.S working storage capacity is filled. Globally, the picture isn’t much better, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) saying that 1 billion barrels were added to storage in 2015 alone. OPEC has reported that crude oil stockpiles in OECD countries currently exceed the running five-year average by 210 million barrels. This has given impetus to more creative storage ideas and will at least be a boon to massive storage projects such as India. Floating storage, a more expensive option is now looking more attractive as well. But to make this work, the math has to be in order, which means that front-end crude spreads would have to be wide enough to cover the cost of storing oil in pricey floating facilities. Late last month, Bloomberg reported that trading giant Glencore had chartered four very large crude carriers (VLCCs) to store oil off Southeast Asia. But there’s still onshore storage capacity, and we’re not quite to the point where the floating option is widespread. The U.S still has 100 million barrels of available storage and we should see more storage capacity by the end of this year. The Middle East is also slated to add capacity in the coming years, with the UAE specifically planning to expand its capacity to take on another 10 million barrels. The analytical panic is perhaps premature. We’re not facing peak storage’just yet, but Abu Dhabi is playing it smart and safe. Still, the UAE estimates the oil glut at two million barrels a day and growing, and its own storage expansion plans will benefit from this. After all, it houses the biggest oil storage port on the Persian Gulf, Fujairah Oil Terminal FZCon the Hormuz Strait. Fujairah received its first shipment just this month of one million barrels, and storage capacity is slated to increase 75 per cent this decade.

energy

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

BEDC meters 44,000 customers to curb crazy billing Tunde Dodondawa - Lagos

HE Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has stated that the number of customers on installed pre-paid meters in its network has now risen to 43, 612. This followed complaints by stakeholders that installation of prepaid meters would address the challenges of estimated billings popularly known as crazy billing. The BEDC also said it added 47 injection substations to provide relief to overloaded network and provided 500 distribution transformers. The distribution firm said that it had also constructed 10 dedicated transformers for key customers and replaced failed power transformers and provided 398 distribution transformers. Giving a breakdown of the meters, BEDC said “We installed 40,612 meters under Credited Advanced Payment for Metering Implementation (CAMPI) and metered 3,000 preCAPMI customers.” In addition to this, the company said that it commissioned 18 new power transformers in various districts across BEDC coverage states. It also said it has set up a very effective customer complaint unit that has resolved over 50,572 customer complaints. The company said that corporate customers within its network were now beginning to enjoy better and quality power supply. “We have deployed new payment channels such as Point of Sales (PoS), web-based payment, bank payments, Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

and scratch card payment means,” BEDC said,. We had recorded successful metering of all 33kv outgoing feeders in the newly constructed TCN stations in Asaba, Oghara and Omotosho. “We have also achieved extensive metering of 216 (nos) 11kv feeders; carried

out the successful deployment of 922 High Voltage Distribution System (HVDs) poles mounted meters in Etete business unit as a pilot scheme and developed a standard process flow for other business unit to follow,” it stated. Other achievements according to the BEDC,

Babatunde Fashola

are the engagement and training of 120 analytical graduates with specialties in Electrical/ Electronics, Mechanical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Accounting in conjunction with Vigeo Power Academy and Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State.

Funke Osibodu

China crude oil imports fall from record high CHINA’S crude oil imports fell 20 percent in January from record high volumes the previous month to their lowest level since October, official customs data showed on Monday. January crude oil imports were also down 4.6 percent on a year earlier at 26.69 million tonnes, or 6.29 million barrels per day. China’s imports reached a record 7.81 million bpd in December to close out 2015 with an average 6.71 million bpd – a

figure well above China’s still growing demand for oil. China took advantage of low global oil prices last year to add up to 185 million barrels to its reserves, Reuters calculations show, while oil demand – refinery throughput plus net imports of oil products – grew 3.1 percent. In January, fuel exports rose 45.2 percent to 3.01 million tonnes, or 679,700 bpd, after hitting a record 975,500 bpd in Decem-

ber, as China continued to export more diesel amid weakening demand for the industrial fuel. Diesel exports in the first quarter of 2016 may high a record high for that period,

to see the fundamentals (of supply and demand) take over,” he said, indicating prices would pull higher in the third or fourth quarter. Dudley cautioned however that $100 oil would not return any time soon. World oil prices meanwhile rose Friday, with US crude rebounding from a 2003 low to reach almost $30 per barrel, on reports OPEC was willing to organise output cuts that could curb global oversupply. However, prices have nevertheless slumped by about 70 percent since mid-2014 with the market awash with crude. Patrick Pouyanne, chief executive of French oil and gas giant Total, agreed that prices would charge

higher towards the end of the year. “I think that the price will be higher at the end of the year 2016 than it is today,” Pouyanne said Thursday at the IP Week conference. – ‘It’s quite a crisis’ – The recent slump in the cost of oil has slashed the profits of energy companies, prompting them to cut or defer investment and axe thousands of jobs. Total also revealed it would invest up to $2 billion less in 2016 than originally planned, as it grapples with ultra-low prices. “It’s quite a crisis that this industry is facing, added Pouyanne. Dudley meanwhile estimated that about “$400 billion of projects

flooding Asia with supply at a time when profit margins are close to six-year lows, industry sources have said. Net fuel exports were 350,000 tonnes in January.

tomer complaints. “With the new feeder separation, corporate customers are now beginning to enjoy better and quality power supply such as Guinness Nigeria Ltd and Delta Steel Mills in Delta state. “We constructed over 360 route length of new distribution network to strengthen and expand existing network,” it said. BEDC it will be recalled had recorded a major milestone as the first distribution company to benefit from a grant funding by United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). This feat was achieved at a time when global lenders were beginning to evade investment in Nigeria’s power sector due to fears that the electricity tariff order in operations in the country could notguarantee good return on investments for the new owners. The BEDC however, overcame these challenges by securing grants funding from the USTDA. BEDC’s core investor consortium Vigeo Power Limited (VPL) with the assistance of Citi Asset Management Limited (CAML), initiated offshore funding to ensure that strategic investments initiatives to be taken by BEDC will be based on adequate research and planning. The grant funding was offered for the purpose of technical assistance to update and modernise the electricity distribution network for BEDC in Nigeria.

Depot owners defy FG, sell petrol at N82 Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos FOLLOWING partial deregulation of the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry, depot owners have defied

$100/b oil would not return any time soon —Oil bosses STAKEHOLDERS in the oil and gas industry have expressed optimism over a sharp rebound in the beleaguered crude market later this year. Bob Dudley, Chief Executive of British Energy Major BP, forecast at the International Petroleum (IP) Week industry conference that “the daily (oil) supply and demand will be balanced in the second half. “Every storage tank and swimming pool will be full of oil,” Dudley told delegates, acknowledging the vast global supply glut that sent prices plunging close to 13-year lows under $27 (24 Euros) per barrel last week. And then, the market starts to pull the plug. “And I think we will begin

“BEDC had since commenced procurement and kitting of technical staff such as linesmen, meter engineers with safety kits to roll off disaster management plan initiative. BEDC has set up very effective customer complaint unit that has resolved over 50,572 cus-

Nigerian Tribune

have been deferred or cancelled” by the global energy sector in response to the market’s recent collapse. He warned that’s going to lead to another reaction in the oil market. BP recently posted the group’s biggest annual loss in at least 20 years, ravaged by tumbling oil prices. Energy companies tended to over-invest in times of high price levels in the commodity cycle, according to Pouyanne. “When the prices are high we over-invest, when the prices are high we have an impact on the demand (but) when the prices are low we under-invest and we have a positive (impact) on demand,” he told delegates.

federal government directives to sell premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol at N77.50 per litre. A check by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that private depot owners in Apapa are selling petrol to marketers between the price N85 and N86 per litre. Some members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) who craved anonymity urged the Federal Government to investigate the claims and prosecute the perpetrators. “We marketers within the South-West of Lagos, Ibadan, Ore, Ilorin and Ekiti found it extremely difficult to load at Apapa depot due to bottleneck at the depot. It takes a minimum of four days to load product at Apapa private depots which grossly affects our business and investment. “Private depots also take undue advantage to sell petrol to marketers at N85 and N86 per litre as against official depot price of N77.50 to marketers,” they stated.

The marketers appealed to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to urgently set up a task force to supervise the sale of petrol in some private depots that sell above the official pump and depot prices. The marketers said that some of the private depots owners displayed N77 on their billboard as ex-depot price, but they have also created other accounts into which customers pay additional money, thus increasing the ex-depot price through the back door. On adequate fuel supply, the marketers urged government to hasten the repairs of the Atlas Cove system 2B pipelines to curb long queues of trucks at the private depots in Apapa. “We have not been able to load petrol in all NNPC depots in the South West since September 2015 due to pipeline vandalism. There might be scarcity of products soon because marketers now face serious problems getting the products in Apapa,” a source said.

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016 Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 0811 184 5048

features Bemjamin Ochoyad

Mrs Abibat Salako

Ogun State at 40

Alhaji Ola Balogun

Chief Jide Ojuko

What the people say Ogun, the Gateway State, was agog recently when the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, was on hand to inaugurate some projects put in place by Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to commemorate 40 years of the creation of the state. The projects were spread across the three senatorial districts. Some of the projects included : model schools, ground breaking of Judiciary Complex, flyovers and roads expansion; farm settlements; modern primary health centres to mention a few. The projects, according to Governor Amosun, would last many years to come and add value to the economic status of the state. OLAYINKA OLUKOYA sought the views of residents across the state on these projects, some of which had long been completed but set aside for the 40th celebration. Ogun State is now the industrial hub of the south west — Chief Jide Ojuko, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs

GUN State is the best with the various infrastructural facilities in place now. My own submission is that the state started from good to better and we are now at our best. At our best in the sense that Ogun State is no more a civil service state; it is now fast becoming the industrial hub of the South Western Nigeria. Ota in particular is witnessing tremendous change which had not been there before. Our economic and social lives are daily valued. Many shops in Ota that used to cost N1,500 per month have now been raised to about N5,000. Things have changed. Our people are now reaping the effects of the development.

His projects will benefit the next generation —Alhaji Abdulrazaq Ola-Balogun, President, Ogun State Cooperative Federation Limited We appreciate the projects put in place by our governor. We are very happy that somebody at the helm of affairs this time round, is developing every sphere of life in the state. This development will last for long and I am very sure that it will benefit the people now and the next generation to come.

His road construction boosted our business — Mr Benjamin Ochoyad, member, Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders of Nigeria I am an “Okada” rider in Ota in Ado-Odo Local Government Area of this state. I appreciate the governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun for the road he constructed here. The construction of the road has boosted our business. When the road was bad, it affected our business. Now, we are enjoying what the man has done. We appreciate the project.

We are praying for the governor — Alhaja Abibat Salako, business woman We thank our governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun for turning around the fortune of this state. The infrastructural development across the state is worthy. He has done well and we are praying that God will continue to strengthen him and give him more wisdom to direct the affairs of this state.

The gov is trying but.... — Obadeko Tosin The governor is trying but I think the government is deceiving us. The road design and street lights you saw was just a three-day project because of the visitation of the president and not for the people. Don’t let us be deceived. I live in Ijebu-Ode and I know how bad the state of the roads is. No infrastructure or changes in schools at all. Public schools in

Ijebu-ode pay school fees including primary school. The classrooms are dilapidated. Some primary schools I know do not have toilets; some have fallen fences which make outsiders have access to them anytime. I am not saying he didn’t do anything but he has not done averagely well, especially in Ijebu-Ode. Another example is the express road that links Awujale’s palace which was done years back but since then, the street lights are not functioning but they quickly did the right thing when they knew Buhari was coming.

Amosun should not relent — Adams Bello, Insurance marketer The governor has proven to us that something good can come out of Ogun State and I believe more are still coming. I want to advise him not to relent . He should continue to do projects that will put the state in the leadership position it is known for.

So far, so good — Samuel Akelola, Student It has been a great achievement so far. We give glory to God for letting us make it up to this time. What the governor has done since he came to power is no small achievement.

Amosun has abandoned Obafemi Owode LG — Kemi Sakin, Obafemi Owode resi-

dent I want to congratulate our dear governor. But he should please do something about Obafemi Owode Local Government Area especially areas like Ibafo and Magboro. It has been years and we have not seen any work done as regards power supply and good roads. I urge his leadership to look critically into these areas.

nor. Even though the impact has not been completely felt now, he should kindly introduce a human face to infrastructural projects considering how poverty has hit us in this country. And he should please give attention to the Oja Odan to Ilase road. He should urgently complete it and can also introduce toll to raise IGR.

Amosun is really working — Olalekan Biliamin, entrepreneur Governor Ibikunle Amosun has changed the face of this state with the legacy projects. The most attractive and eventful one is the President Muhammadu Buhari Estate and the ongoing construction of ultra modern plazas in Omida and Sapon and Isale-Igbein areas of Abeokuta. Truly, Ogun is ready to take its rightful place in the economy and tourism circles. Amosun is really working towards rebuilding Ogun State.

Ijebu North East needs It has been 40 years Amosun’s attention — Tho- of success story — Mr. ny Ree, Ijebu North East resi- Majekodunmi Oladimeji, business man dent The governor is giving good governance to the people of Ogun State but it should cut across all the 20 local government areas. He should stop using senatorial district for distribution. Most of his works are cited in major towns of each senatorial district. For example, no visible project was done in Ijebu East, Ijebu North East and Ogun Waterside. Senatorial districts are meant for the Federal Governement, so he should let the dividends of democracy go round the local government areas and even to the wards.

We thank God for the progress the state has recorded in the last 40 years. I give kudos to Governor Amosun for the giant strides. His performance is very excellent. I don’t know much about the civil service but regarding infrastructure, it’s obvious he has done great job.

I will score Amosun 80 per cent — Mr. E. Adeoye, retiree Ogun State is doing well

The gov should prioritise under the administration Oja Odan/Ilase Road — Bola of Senator Ibikunle AmoOlusola sun. One must give honour I watched and I give thanks to God for giving us people like Amosun as one of the governors of Yoruba race at a time like this. I am from Oyo and not Ogun State but the truth must be told. Ogun has the right gover-

to whom honour is due. As a retiree in the Ogun State Sports Council, I will score him 80 over 100 per cent. He has done well for this state.

30 features

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

S part of activities lined up for the celebration of life and times of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, the burial committee constituted by the Oyo State government put together a symposium with the theme: “Ibadan’s Unique Royal Succesion Tradition.” As early as 9:30am on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, the venue of the programme which was the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, was almost filled to capacity though the programme was scheduled for 10:am. The symposium, according to the chairman of the organising committee, Dr Emmanuel Ojo, the immediate past Special Adviser to the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi on Political matters, was put together by the state government to celebrate the late Olubadan. Under the chairmanship of Emeritus Professor Olu Akinkugbe, discussants, which included a former governor of Oyo State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo; former editor of the defunct Daily Times newspaper, Chief Areoye Oyebola; an Ibadan High Chief Lekan Alabi; Professor Adedotun Ogundeji and other eminent personalities took turns to speak on the topic. Dr Olunloyo who craved for a review of the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system, noted that the Olubadan chieftaincy tradition, Chiefs Law and Subsidiary Laws were with contradictions and obstacles which required prompt review in order

Nigerian Tribune

Chiefs presently on the lower ladder of Olubadan or Balogun line but are already in the age range of 70 years and above should be allowed to step down for their successful children who are within the age range of 35 to 45 years.

From left, High Chief Senator Lekan Balogun, chairman on the occasion; Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe and Representative of Oyo State governor, Alhaji Lekan Alli.

Echoes from Olubadan’s farewell symposium Stakeholders in Ibadanland met recently to have what they termed a ‘farewell symposium’ for the late Olubadan of Ibadanland. At the symposium, they came up with various recommendations that could give the age long procedure of selecting a new Olubadan a new direction. NURUDEEN ALIMI reports. to make ascension to the throne of Olubadan a rancour-free process. Olunloyo argued that the Olubadan chieftaincy promotion was associated with series of resentment, citing the contention of Seriki and the Iyalode chieftaincy lines as a reference point. He said both were craving for due recognition. He further hinted that no government could legislate

on the issue of traditional chieftaincy because of the principle of separation of powers. “There are six obstacles in the way of an Olubadan until the laws are reviewed. Some of these obstacles are in the Chiefs Laws and some are in the Subsidiary Law.” Olunloyo, however, suggested that lines and the steps up the ladder be reduced.

Chief Lekan Alabi (left) exchanging pleasantaries with Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe and other guests.

“We also need to remove all obstacles in the Chiefs Law. The current Olubadan-designate is qualified to ascend the throne. The Supreme Court judgment the Seriki line is relying upon to stop his installation is an unenforceable law.” On his part, Areoye Oyebola suggested that the Olubadan-in-council should call a meeting of Heads

of compounds known as “Baales” who are either the eldest or the most successful heads of various compunds, especially those compounds which have produced past Olubadans and Baales in Ibadan. “They should be advised that henceforth, in nominating Mogajis, preference should be given to those who are within the age range of 35 and 45 years, well educated, successful in business or their professions and must also publicspirited. They should be informed that their nominess must no longer be people with poor education and un-ascertainable means of income,” he noted. Oyebola was also of the opinion that chiefs presently on the lower ladder of Olubadan or Balogun line, but are already in the age range of 70 years and above should be allowed to step down for their successful children who are within the age range of 35 to 45 years. “It is noteworthy that from the record given in Oba Yinusa Bankole Ogundipe’s book, ‘Kingship and Chieftaincy in Ibadanland’, it is observed that out of 16 Olubadans who

reigned before his ascension to the throne in 1999, three reigned for just a year while one reigned for less than a year and seven others reigned for between two to six years and just four out of 16 before him reigned for fairly long periods. “Also in the past, many relatively young Ibadan indigenes who had achieved remarkable successes in different areas of life were given honourary chieftaincy titles. “It will be in the interest of our great city, if in future, such persons are encouraged or persuaded to become Mogajis at the time they are being offered the titles with the hope of joining the two traditional lines when vacancies occur.” In her submission, a historian of renown, Professor Bolanle Awe, opined that the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy required alteration in order to encourage younger men to become Olubadan. She also made case for the Iyalode line, saying women must not be left out of the mainstream. The Aare Alaasa Olubadan of Ibadan, Chief Lekan Alabi, informed the gathering that like other Yoruba towns, the traditional system in Ibadanland was monarchial in nature, but with a unique system which was hierachial as in the military, the head of which was the Olubadan. Alabi pointed out that while all other Yoruba towns and cities operated the hereditary system which makes rulership the exclusive preserve of certain families or a family, Ibadan operated a quasirepublican succession system of traditional administration.

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor tai_adis@yahoo.com

Those opposed to card reader are election riggers —Igini A former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River State, Mr Mike Igini, in this interview with BOLA BADMUS, speaks on INEC card reader and the raging controversy following recent ruling the Supreme Court, and sundry issues. Excerpts:

S one who publicly canvassed for the use of the card reader for election, what do you make of its rejection by courts and the ongoing controversies about it? It’s a tragedy for Nigeria over this reversal of our democratic fortune. Any answer I give to this question will not be complete without properly contextualizing the historical necessity of the card reader and the consequences of the outcome of the ongoing controversy. Elections in Nigeria has often be bedevilled by serial efforts to undermine the electoral process to ensure predetermined outcomes, whereas the whole essence of the design of election processes is to make the outcome as uncertain as possible to increase the credibility of the processes. Due to the constant attempts by contestants/candidates and their sponsors to diminish this uncertainty by manipulating the election process, management structures and managers have undergone many reforms. For instance, between 1959 and 1999, the name of the election management agency in Nigeria has changed five times from ECN in 1959, to FEDECO in 1979, then NEC in 1986, NECON in 1993 and finally INEC in 1999. In addition, the governance body of the Institution has been reconstituted 13 times between 1958 and 2004, making it about 18 times if you add the reconstitution of the leadership since 2004 to 2015, namely Maurice Iwu, Chief Soyebi, Professor Jega, Mrs. Zakari and Professor Mahmood Yakubu. Furthermore, the process has undergone many changes, changes to voter registration, to voting in the form of hidden balloting (Pre-Nwosu’s era), open balloting (Humphrey Nwosu’ period), and currently, the Modified Open balloting (Post-Nwosu era). We have also had modifications in the ballot papers and result sheets with customisation LGA by LGA to polling units, modifications in time of delivery of materials, release of results from wide time frames to immediately after vote counting at the polling unit, collation of results, changes to

Igini collation and returning officers as well as presiding officers to graduate cadres and federal civil servants and university lecturers. A lot of doubts have been cast on the legal status of the card reader

It is left to the election managers to devise an objective way of ensuring that satisfaction is reached with minimal equivocation using a simple device like the Card Reader.

for the 2015 election and its possible use in future elections, given the judgment of the Supreme Court is at stake? First, nobody has shown us the provision of either the constitution or the electoral Act that the card reader has breached, except this constant confusion over the card reader with respect to voter authentication and voting that are seperate procedures; as evidenced by the decisions of the tribunals in many State Houses of Assembly Tribunals matters across the country that did not attract the attention of Nigerians until these recent governorship matters. I have been very worried since last year and l voiced my concern over the future of our elections if the Card Reader is not given its prime revolutionary place in our electoral system. My colleagues both in the Bar and Bench involved in election petition matters should remember that the accreditation process is different from actual voting carried out at different times and should not be confused or mixed together, as it appears has happened, leading to the decisions reached by the courts most unfortunately. The act of voting begins with handing the identified/authenticated voter a ballot paper to cast

a ballot. But before a person qualifies to express that choice, a presiding officer by law must first be satisfied that the voter is qualified or eligible to vote and is in the place where he/she is duly registered as required under Section 49(1) (2) of the Electoral Act. In effect, you are saying the use of Card Reader did not violate Section 49 of the Act now in contention? Absolutely not. The Card Reader for verification of identity helps to objectively satisfy the Presiding Officer to qualify the voter at the time of accreditation to be issued a ballot paper, so that he or she can cast a ballot at the time of voting. It is a condition precedent to voting as stated in Section 49 of the Electoral Act and not the actual voting as has been interpreted wrongly. Section 49 talks of the satisfaction of the Presiding Officer and issuing ballot paper to a voter to proceed and vote. But its common knowledge that accreditation usually precedes voting and all the processes regarding accreditation are contained in the guidelines and manuals. Frankly, in terms of legality, I don’t see where any confusion should come in. INEC introduced this process of verification because it is an operational process during an election, it doesn’t need to go back to the National Assembly to seek approval for the development of an operational process for voter identification, since the National Assembly by the instruction of the Act has already said the Presiding Officer should be satisfied that the voter is authentic. It is left to the election managers to devise an objective way of ensuring that satisfaction is reached with minimal equivocation using a simple device like the Card Reader. But there are those who insist that the Card Reader is a violation of the Electoral Act as some of your colleagues have argued in court and the recent position of the Supreme Court appears to justify their positions? I don’t agree that the Supreme Court judgments prescribe a redundancy for the Card Reader. We must make that distinction because in Law, the distinction of meaning and hermeneutic clarity is very important. We must not forget that in the last election, a number of people who were accredited, some went home and never came back to vote, while others didn’t show up at all. Now, with just a manual register alone, an induced and satisfied Presiding Officer can tick all the names at any time as having voted but with a Card Reader, this is difficult if not impossible. This is because the Card Reader records the time every voter was accredited on the memory and here lies the distinction between accreditation period which is different from voting time.

politics&policy

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Qualities Mimiko’s successor must possess —Akinmade Honourable Kayode Akinmade, Ondo State Commissioner for Information, speaks with ABIODUN AWOLAJA on the impact of the Mimiko-led administration in the state, the forthcoming governorship election in the state, and sundry issues. Excerpts:

T’ the inception of the present administration, Governor Olusegun Mimiko promised to work for the people. In your candid opinion, can you say he has fulfilled the promise? I can say with every sense of conviction that the Dr Olusegun Mimiko-led government has kept faith with the promise to work for the people of the state. Today, Ondo State is not only a global benchmark in a couple of initiatives, the diligent and sincere implementation of our programmes has attracted the commendation of statesmen throughout the nation, even across political divides, and elicited public acknowledgement of our modest achievements. Some of these initiatives include, but are not limited to, the Abiye Safe Motherhood Programme, Mother and Child Hospitals, Trauma & Surgical Centre, Kidney Care Centre, Urban Renewal Programme, modern neighbourhood markets, the ultra-modern automart, water supply schemes, housing estates, School Free Shuttle Scheme, and the emplacement of over 600 community-driven projects, among others. The state now has an International Events Centre otherwise known as The Dome, which is fast becoming the cynosure of all eyes. What are the qualities you expect from the next governor of the state? This, to me, is a personal and direct question, and I answer this also as a critical stakeholder in the Ondo State project. I am in my middle age and have young children. My expectations like the average indigene of Ondo State, is very high, considering the current economic downturn which stares Nigeria in the face. This dictates that the next governor must be God-fearing. He must not rely on the arms of flesh because that will certainly fail. He will definitely in require inspiration from the Supreme Being to be able to navigate the current challenges our country. He must be able to inspire and challenge the people to dream, have hope and work assiduously towards taking Ondo State to El dorado, given the quantum leap which the state has experienced in the last seven years. The next governor must be a bridgebuilder who will take every indigene as his own, without undue favouritism to any group of people. The next governor must be able to leverage on the gains achieved by this administration. For instance, the power plant embarked upon by this administration must be made to function; commerce and tourism must receive great impetus; community development which has come a long way with massive Quick Win Projects otherwise known as Confidence Building Projects which are dotting the landscape of the state, must be sustained; while peace and security, which are now taken for granted must be further promoted. Governor Mimiko does not maintain thugs and, therefore, we do not want a return to thuggery and insecurity as the order of the day in our state.

The APC is saying power will shift from the PDP next year. How do you react to this? Well, if wishes were horses, beggars might ride. In 2012, the boasting was more and they finished a distant third, so wait and see. But you must know that the people of Ondo State are politically advanced and educated. So, what is the governor’s succession plan ? You can see that aspirants have started showing up and proving their mettle within the various political parties. One thing to be stated clearly is that no matter how fierce a succession plan is, the decision ultimately resides with the people. The thinking, as it stands, is a dispassionate one. The desire is for the emergence of a people-centric government that will continue with people oriented programmes. This is to sustain the achievements already recorded in education, health, agriculture, urban renewal initiatives, and much more. It will be a calamity for somebody to come on board and reverse the transformation programmes, for instance, in education, by turning our pupils out of the mega-schools and converting them to something else on account that the schools are too good for primary education. It will indeed be a disaster for the School Free Shuttle buses to be turned to molue and the students deprived of the comfort of free commuting to and fro school, while the burden of transport fare from which parents had been relieved are brought upon them again. As it were, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is leaving no stone unturned to put forward its best. Though Mr Governor is the leader of the party, he has refused to meddle with the internal democracy of the party and, as such, everybody is being given the opportunity of fair contest, so that nobody with interest is cheated and nobody is given undue advantage. A level playing field is what obtains in the party and that is why some people have continued to bombard Mr Governor, asking where they should go and who to follow. But Mr Governor, being a democrat, will not abuse his power, and therefore has left everybody to make up his/ her mind and when a consensus emerges through a democratic process, the governor can then throw his weight behind the party candidates. Even though we are inching towards the eve of the gubernatorial elections in Ondo State, the government does not want to be distracted from its development trajectory as it wants to finish strong and vibrant, so the politics of succession is not being allowed to becloud the business of good and responsive governance and that is why there is no noise about Mr Governor supporting A or B. But there is also this zoning issue, is that not in consideration? You must understand that zoning is for administrative convenience and balance in the polity. The most important issue is the quality of leadership. Merit ought not to be sacrificed on the altar of mediocrity. Leadership must have a large heart, good following; a rallying figure who will not sacrifice progressivism and good governance on the

Akinmade

The politics of succession is not being allowed to becloud the business of good and responsive governance and that is why there is no noise about Mr Governor supporting A or B.

altar of nepotism and favouritism. Having said all this, the PDP and the government are on the same page on the need to consider all the issues, including zoning and quality leadership. The issues must be mutually inclusive for Ondo State to get nothing but the best. How do you do reconcile that with the allegation that the governor has incurred a huge debt for his successor to inherit? Huge debt? There is no truth in that claim. It is a frivolous allegation. We are constantly and consistently meeting our obligations to our creditors. Ondo State is one of the least indebted states in Nigeria. Without casting aspersions, there are some big states in the South-West owing 100 times more than

Ondo State. The allegation is very far from the truth; we are the least borrowed in the whole South-West. If you take a look at the bailout, salary arrears, loans, etc, you will see that Ondo State is doing well. As we speak, we are credit worthy in banks, as we are able to access loans, unlike other states which are unable to access such facilities any longer. Will the defections from PDP to APC not affect the chance of the PDP at the governorship poll? Defection is not a new thing and, in any case, defection is both ways: from PDP to APC and from APC to PDP. You will recall that, when some people, in fact those being regarded as big wigs defected from PDP to APC in the last presidential election, the PDP surprisingly rose to its feet and trashed the APC in the election of the following week. It is the people that will decide, the market women who were formerly trading under the scorching sun and rain but now trade under conducive and befitting structures. It is the pregnant women who had their lives endangered but now have access to free quality health care facilities for them and their babies. Those who will decide are car dealers who now trade in beautiful environment; the artisans who have been empowered; the youth who now fair better and could dream of a better future; parents whose children are in better schools and who have been relieved of school fare because their children now enjoy free school shuttle. The election is for the masses and they will decide.

politics&policy

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Those after my job are not sincere— Kaduna dep Speaker

John Audu Kwaturu is the Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly representing Kachia constituency. He speaks with journalists on his purported suspension by his ward executives, how the All Progressives Congress (APC) saw the whole drama, and why the police are handling the crisis. MUHAMMAD SABIU was there. Excerpts:

ECENTLY, you wrote a letter against the APC leadership in Kwaturu ward. What is this crisis all

about? I want to say that no one is above the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I strongly believe that the administrations of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state and President Muhammadu Buhari are committed to working in accordance with the rule of law. First, I want to blame those reporters that hurriedly published the allegations made against me without verifying them. They think they can just rubbish the office of the Deputy Speaker following accusations by some individuals. I want to say without mincing words that I remain the Deputy Speaker. With God, we stand and believe that whatever thing one does, the truth will always prevail. I have no problem with my party at the Ward level, Kwaturu. The 26 executive members and the District Head of Kwaturu and leaders were here in my office. As leaders in our community, we’ve been making efforts to see that things go well in the constituency, state and the nation as a whole. Those involved in my so-called suspension are people that are desperate; extremely so, if there is any other word to qualify it. People want to get power by hook or crook.

the ward chairman and asked what was happening, and he said he didn’t know anything about it. When he appeared before the state chairman, he said the signature on the communiqué was not his. So, this is a case of forgery. And it’s just the law taking its course. I’ve never been to a police station in my life.

Kwaturu

What about the allegation that you wrote to the police, requesting the arrest of ward leaders ? I did not complain. What I said was that there was a case of forgery. Those involved in the saga forged the signatures of the 26 executives and the ward chairman and read a communiqué saying that I had been suspended from the party. I called

But had there been friction between you and the ward leaders? Not at all! I don’t have any problem with any party executive at the ward. The state zonal Woman Leader, as well as the party Zonal Leader were in this office yesterday and we went to state party office and told the party leaders about what transpired. We’ve never seen this kind of hooliganism. The law is taking its course on them. Investigations are ongoing. Kaduna State government will not tolerate hooliganism. The present administration in the state is guided by discipline, law and order and that’s why we have peace today. I urge the desperadoes to calm down and allow the will of the people to prevail. We’re a government elected by the votes of the majority. The people you referrd to, are they from your ward? One of the complaints against you is alleged high handedness. I don’t know them. I don’t know who they are or where they came from. But what I’m

trying to tell you is that the letter they wrote and distributed to some dailies that I had been suspended by my party was not true. And my party, the 26 excos, at the local government level, state zonal woman leader, traditional rulers and stakeholders of Kwaturu Ward were all in the House. They said that they were not aware of the letter. So, we don’t really know these people but the police are on top of the situation, investigating to know who they are. How will you react to the alleged fraud in the contruction of primary schools in your constitueny, linked to you? Well, again, here is another gimmick. I don’t do contracts. I have never owned any company and have nothing like that. I’m not even interested in executing any contract. It was also alleged that you want one of your proxies to be the next local government chairman? It sounds very funny! All appointments are being made by Governor Nasir El-Rufai. I don’t have power to appoint anybody. We’re leaders that follow the constitution. He is the Kaduna State governor. He is a law-abiding citizen of this country and he has been leading under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So, we respect the constitution. Appointments are done accordingly, and I don’t give or make appointments.

Ambode’s N25 bn wealth creation policy novel—Abiru Honourable Rotimi Lateef Abiru is the Chief Whip, Lagos State House of Assembly. He speaks with BOLA BADMUS on issues of national interest. Excerpts: IT has been some time now since the Lagos State House of Assembly commenced work this session? Well, the 8th Assembly was inaugurated on 8th June, 2016. Since its inauguration, we have had to take two statutory responsibilities. The first has to do with the confirmation of the list of commissioners sent to us by the Executive. The 8th Assembly had constituted its own committees. Of course, we decided to wait this time around to look at the commissioners that would manage the ministries for us to know who among them would actually be managing the respective committees. The committees have since begun their oversight functions. Also, on 17th of December last year, the governor of the state, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, sent to us the 2016 Appropriation. It has since been passed by this noble assembly. But beyond the major responsibilities, the house has also passed a number of resolutions. As we speak, we have passed 45 resolutions. These span from the regulation of noise pollution in the state to the call for the construction of a flyover at around Agege Pen Cinema. We have also called on the Federal Government through the

Minister for Works and Infrastructure to release funds that the state government actually spent on federal roads. How much? As at the last count, the money was put at about N52 billion , good enough, very recently, I heard the pronouncement of the honourable minister that the Federal Government would be reimbursing states, particularly at this point in time when the revenues of states are actually dropping. I think it would do a lot of good for such money to be released to states. Of course, we have also confirmed members of various boards and agencies of government such as the Judicial Service Commission and Security Trust Fund. Again, we have amended a couple of laws. I can recollect that the law setting up the Lagos State University (LASU) has been amended and this is because of some of the incessant strikes that we noticed in LASU, which had to do with the tenure of the Vice Chancellor. In a few amendments we did, we considered that LASU could be residential too, that government should try and provide hostel accommodation for students who need them. We have also passed the law setting up the framework for a N25 billion Wealth Creation Policy of government in which the government intends to provide about N6.25 billion on a yearly basis for a period of four years, so as to help people grow their businesses. I think this is a nobel idea on the part of government. We hope that those that would benefit from such

Abiru

monies would make adequate use of the monies. To what extent do you think the Nigerian legislature as a whole enjoys the confidence of Nigerians in general? It is the most unfortunate part of the challenges we are faced with. A lot of Nigerians do not really see what the legislature does because we do not roll out policies of government. But, I wish to say that for any successful democratic administration, there must be some level of hard work and cooperation on the part of the legislature and the executive. For instance, when Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola was the governor of Lagos State,

people actually applauded his work, saying that he delivered the dividends of democracy at that time. But it is only the executive that really acknowledges the legislature because they know that without the support of the legislature, there would be some form of distractions on the part of the executive. Members of the public do not see us because we don’t award road contracts. We can’t make street lights come up as the present governor is doing. He has almost lit the entire Lagos State. Of course, you would appreciate that there is a Committee of Energy and Mineral Resources that oversees that ministry here. If, for instance, the committee is not cooperating with the commissioner there, obviously, things would be different. This is the kind of challenge we face when it comes to the people; they do not really appreciate the legislators because they do not really see us. All they hear about us are the negatives that the people talk about legislators. Take, for instance, the issue of official vehicles for senators and members of the House of Representatives. Can you see the controversy that it has generated? Yes, I agree that things are not quite right with the economy of Nigeria, but that does not mean that the man you have elected to represent the people should live in penury. A poor man can’t really fight for a poor man. Now, if you have voted or elected somebody into political office, definitely, his status changes and such a person too needs to be made comfortable so that he can fully discharge his duties and responsibilities.

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016 Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

maka nd’igbo

Enugu trade fair market in 2014

As Ndigbo prepare for 27th Enugu Intl Trade Fair Jude Ossai - Enugu

NTIL 1990, trade fairs held in Enugu, the Enugu Sate capital, were domestic ones. At the period, participants at the trade fairs were mainly from eastern states. But since 1990 till date, the Enugu fair has gone international, with participants including foreign business men and women as well as multi-nationals converging on the trade fair complex on Enugu/Port Harcourt Express each year for business transactions and cross-fertilisation of ideas. Maka Ndigbo, which went round Enugu metropolis to sample opinions, gathered that the people of the Southeast geo-political zone, are fully prepared for this year’s trade Fair. Mazi Okonkwo Eze said he was already set for the 27th International Trade Fair, saying that he had intimated his business partners in Dubai on how they would take part in the Fair. “We are going to attend this year’s fair despite the economic meltdown and I pray that the organisers do their work well by providing security for us”, he added. For the President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture,(ECCIMA) Reverend Ugochukwu Chime, this year’s trade fair is going to be unique as it would be a departure from the past. Reverend Chime, who had officially launched the flagging off and the promotional campaign of the fair, noted that it was in line with the reality of the time that informed their decision to have,

as the theme of the fair, “Diversification of the Nation’s Economy: From Rhetoric to Coordinated Action”. According to him, the Agricultural Sector would receive extra attention in their specially designated area during the Fair towards boosting indulgence in Agricultural production and commercial farming. It remains a critical sector towards our diversification efforts, so also for the mining

and solid mineral sector. The ECCIMA boss disclosed to Maka Ndigbo at a recent press conference in Enugu that President Muhammadu Buhari was expected to declare open the Enugu Fair scheduled to commence from March 25 to April 4. “Over seven countries have already indicated interest in participating in the event as it remains a critical sector towards

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Transaction ongoing at one of the previous editions of Enugu Trade Fair.

34 Artillery brigade, Obinze, arrests 9 oil thieves, 3 kidnappers —pg35

our diversification efforts, so also for the mining and solid mineral sector. “We have gone through and come to another full circle in the hosting of the Enugu International Trade Fair. The preparations and planning for the hosting of this 27th edition started as far back as the beginning of the 2nd Quarter of last year. I am, therefore, pleased to inform you that we have made meaningful progress towards the successful hosting of this Fair”. “It is my pleasure to inform you that a good number of corporate bodies/business organisations as well as government agencies have made very serious indication and commitments to participate in this Fair. The level of enquiries and interest being made from prospective participants is quite reassuring. “We are confident that the 27th Enugu International Trade Fair would be a success as the following indices and factors portrays. “The Fair has been strategically reengineered in such a way that it will have meaningful and positive effects and outcome for all stakeholders, particularly for exhibitors and participants” he stated.

Obiano demands N27 billion from FG

•Performs symbolic pass over of 280 meters long Aguleri-Otu Bridge

—pg35

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

35 makand’igbo

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

34 Artillery brigade, Obinze, arrests 9 oil thieves, 3 kidnappers Joe Nwachukwu -Owerri

S war against economic sabotage in the country continues to make waves, the 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Imo State, has arrested nine suspects over illegal bunkering, three kidnappers and one suspect over possession of firearms. Briefing newsmen on behalf of the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General

Kay Isinyake, the Army Public Relation Officer (APO) of the brigade, Captain A.Y. Jingina, said that the brigade had operation entitled “PULO-SHIELD with the responsibility of curbing illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and kidnapping, Narrating the stories of the arrest of two trucks belonging to Dangote that were involved in oil deal, he said that one of the trucks, with the registration number KMC

136 ZY, loaded 22,000 litres of substances suspected to be crude oil, adding that the truck was arrested through a tip-off. Brigadier General Isinyake said that on January 7th, 2016, his men deployed to Port Harcourt – Owerri road arrested four suspects namely Anas Mohammed, the driver of the truck belonging to Dangote, his conductor, Abdul Majid Aliyu, Christian Nnochiri, the loader of the product and Ejima Emeka, the owner of the crude oil product. According to him, they were carrying unquantified volume of substances suspected to be AGO in Dangote Sino truck with identification number ICT 15D 03 and white in colour while the number plate was removed for concealment. Continuing, he explained that on January 5th, 2016, soldiers deployed to Port Harcourt – Owerri road, arrested a truck that had in-build of tanks suspected

to be AGO with registration number ACA 744 XA, saying when the suspects sighted the soldiers who were on duty, they abandoned the truck and took to their heels. Brigadier General Isinayke pointed that his men arrested two kidnappers, one Emeka Nwanu (20 years) and Ugo Ijo (31) who kidnapped one Engineer Yusuf Oladayo Kayode and Architect Owoeye Ayedeji with intention of awarding them road contract to be funded by Chevron. On their arrival to the agreed venue, Etekwuru plantation in Ohaji/Egbema LGA of Imo State, he said the suspects kept their visitors inside the bush for five days within the period and the kidnappers used their ATM cards to withdraw a sum of N1.4m. He said the arrested suspects would be handed over to the appropriate quarters for prosecution.

NEMA advocates legislation on compulsory insurance for traders Jude Ossai -Enugu THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advocated the enactment of an enabling law that would make insurance compulsory for Igbo traders and anyone doing business in the

The suspects during parade by 34 Artillery Brigade, Owerri.

Obiano demands N27 billion from FG

Performs symbolic pass over of 280 meters long Aguleri-Otu Bridge Suzy Oruya -Onitsha GOVERNOR of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has reiterated his demand for a pay back of N27 billion from the Federal Government being the state resources his government spent on the federal roads. Obiano’s government had initially demanded N25 billion, but now extra N2 billion has been incurred making it now N27 billion which he is asking the Presidency to refund to enable the state commit resources to other areas. This is even as the governor declared the Nkpor Bridge on the Onitsha – Enugu Expressway that was sliced in two by devastating gully erosion finally ready for use by commuters. Declaring the road open to commuters during the week at Nkpor, Governor Obiano observed that it took barely a month to seal off the huge gully carved out by erosion during the rainy season, cutting the road into two and praised the construction company that handled the repairs for delivering the job on schedule. According to him, with the completion of repair works on Nkpor Bridge, the Okija axis of the Onitsha – Owerri Road and a section of the 33-Road that leads to Kogi State, the Federal Government is now indebted to Anambra State to the tune of N30bn that accrued as refunds. “I am using this opportunity to ask the Federal Government to help us with the refund because we need a lot of money to do other projects that we have on our hands. I’m happy that some reconciliation has been done between us and the Federal Ministry of Works. I am looking forward to help from the Federal Government for the massive

funds we have injected into the repair of federal roads. That will go a long way in helping with what we are doing in Anambra State,” Governor Obiano explained. The overnor expressed happiness that with the repair works completed ahead of the heavy traffics, commuters would be saved the suffering that would have resulted from the bad spot, pointing out that it was a major road that linked Anambra to Imo, Abia and Rivers states. A press statement from Obiano’s SSA Media , James Eze, stated that the Governor also used the opportunity of the road tour to perform a symbolic crossing of the 280 meters long AguleriOtu Bridge on the 48km road that leads to the Oil Fields of Aguleri. Speaking on top of the newly completed

The new bridge at Aguleru-Otu, Anambra East Local Government Area.

bridge, Governor Obiano revealed that it connected seven different communities to the mainland of Aguleri and the rest of the state. “It is the longest bridge ever built by Anambra State. It links 7 communities. EziAguluOtu, Enugu Otu, Isiokpo Otu, IyioraAnam, Umuoba, Orient Petroleum and Aguleri Uno. Speaking further, Governor Obiano observed that the “bridge will carry the load of a lot of heavy duty trucks that will be conveying petroleum products to different parts of the country. So, this is a very important bridge and I am very happy that CCC did a very good job in completing this bridge in record time. It is a very important and strategic thrust by my administration.

nation’s markets. Such legislation, if put in place, the agency said, would go a long way in reducing the huge financial burden being faced by the agency in rehabilitating markets fire disaster victims in the Southeast region, and Nigeria in general. Out going South-east Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Major James Eze, made the suggestion at the weekend in Enugu while reviewing activities of the agency in the zone in 2015 as well as its proposed programmes for 2016. Eze insisted that the insurance issue should be taken seriously against the backdrop of incessant fire outbreaks in states of Southeast zone over the years which had thrown victims into serious economic hardship. According to him, “if traders insure their wares in the market with insurance firms, they will be entitled to claims in the event of fire disaster, provided they pay their premium” He said Southeast zone, which comprises Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra states, had its own share of natural and human instigated disasters during the year under review, even as he urged state governments in the zone to strengthen their respective State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) for optimal performance. The zonal Coordinator hinted that the agency “responded to these disasters promptly and undertook disaster risk reduction measures to mitigate the impacts” He added that NEMA also embarked on relief interventions in thirteen communities in Anambra State, while Enugu and Ebonyi communities received seven each. The zone in 2015 equally packaged several workshops/trainings on pre and post election non-violence, flood, erosion control, efficient waste management and increased flood awareness campaigns for various stakeholders in disaster handling. It also carried out (simulation on market fire) in various markets in the zone, just as the agency trained men of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC on how to use certain equipment for the rescue of accident victims.

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

inside

Femi Olukunle Coordinating Editor 08158610216

nigerdelta

A cross section of the farmers at the event.

Total E&P, promoting agriculture as alternative to oil Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt

N the face of the present realities whereby crude oil has greatly nosedived, many economies, especially in Third World, are finding it difficult maintaining a balance in the implementation of the national budgets and thereby evolving socio-economic policies that can help shape the lives of the people. As a way out of the problem, it has been advocated that the people begin to look inward and find credible and sustainable alternatives to oil, which had been the major source of income for the countries for several decades. Picking up the gauntlet, oil giant, Total Exploration and Production Nigeria (TEPNG) Limited, has been evolving series of practical steps aimed at cushioning the effects of the oil slide. Though a major global player in the oil sector, the oil company believes in the need to embrace agriculture as a business and enterprise venture. Since 1994, the oil major has been involved in the diversification of the economy of its host communities through the provisos of extension and other support services to farmers. Last Tuesday, TEPNG organised a Network Day programme for farmers in its OML-58 host community within the Seed Multiplication Centre (SMC) in Oboburu and Elele, Rivers State. The programme, held within the company’s premises in Port Harcourt, was in technical partnership with the African Regional Aquaculture Centre (ARAC) and the Federal College of Education (FCE) Technical, both in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local

Government areas of the state. In his opening remark at the event, Deputy General Manager (DGM), Sustainable Development, TEPNG, Mr Cyprian Ojum, said the dream of the oil company to prepare the people for a life outside oil had been on for a while, but noted that with the Network Day, it was beginning to take shape. He said the agriculture scheme was one of the initiatives of Total, adding that the partnership with some experts, farmers and training institutions was aimed at moving agribusiness forward in its host communities and, by extension, the entire Rivers State. “It has not been easy but we are optimistic that the project will move ahead, especially with the new partnership. Nigeria ought to have diversified when revenue from oil was high, but Nigerians are now being forced to do this due to the present realities”, he said, regretting that the country would have been better for it if it had earlier diversified from being a mono-economy. Also speaking, Manager, Enterprise Development, TEPNG, Mr Philippe Desriac, described the maiden network day meeting as an important idea aimed at “creat-

Some management staff of Total E&P Nigeria Limited at the Network Day, organised by the oil company for farmers operating on the Seed Multiplication Centre (SMC), Oboburu and Elele, Rivers State, held in Port Harcourt, last week. ing an enabling environment for the development of sustainable agriculture and aquaculture in Egiland”. He emphasised that in the face of the present economic realities, agriculture and aquaculture was an actual priority for the Nigerian government. “Even if our company is making business all over the planet, that doesn’t attenuate our feeling of local responsibility. I am convinced that farming naturally stim-

FADAMA: ‘Federated

Why we introduced Association has made GMoU plus to significant progress empower Deltans in Bayelsa’ —Chevron

—pg35

ulates activity, while also boosting employment. I want to remind (all) that farm is part of our business; the sustainability

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continues from pg37

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

37 insidenigerdelta

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Why we introduced GMoU plus to empower Deltans—Chevron Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

HEVRON Nigeria Limited (CNL) has explained why it is partnering the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND) to train 40 youths from Delta State on agribusiness. Coming at a time the country is passing through economic hardship occasioned by low crude oil price and the need to diversify the nation’s economic resource base through other ventures, especially agriculture, the company believes the programme will discourage youths’ involvement in unwholesome acts such as illegal oil bunkering, kidnapping and other social vices. General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, CNL, Mr Deji Haastrup, while speaking on the benefits at the launch of Agripreneur Programme at the office of PIND over the weekend at Egbokodo Warri, noted that the entrepreneurial trainthe-trainee initiative was a “new direction of the community development concept which focuses on business development, income generation and economic empowerment as well as third party partnership and collaboration that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” While explaining that it was also in partnership with the Egbema Gbaramatu Central Development Foundation (EGCDF) and the Itsekiri Regional Development Community (IRDC), Haastrup said the pilot programme would gulp over N188 million with the main objectives of empowering youths from the area to embrace agriculture and agribusiness as an incomegenerating activity. He added that during the training, which is expected to span 24 months, the youths, most of whom are graduates, would be trained in aquaculture, cassava, plantain/banana production and processing, among others. Haastrup stated that the initiative, otherwise called GMoUplus, which is an off-shoot of the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU), was a product of a research carried out in the Ijaw and Itsekiri communities. According to him, the research identified agriculture as a major means of stimulating socio-economic development, using agribusiness as a means of generating income and providing employment in the Ijaw and Itsekiri axis of the state. Speaking further on the 11-year-old GMoU, Mr Haastrup said it had engendered a potpourri of infrastructural and non-infrastructural projects including

provision of potable water, rural electrification, school buildings, cottage hospitals, road and drainage networks, scholarships and micro credit schemes, among others. In his remarks, General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) - National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Mr Dafe Sejebor, described the Agripreneur programme as another testimony of the positive effects of the GMoU.

IN his genuine effort to reposition Warri Kingdom and engender a new wave of development, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, has inaugurated a 25-man advisory council of eminent sons and daughters of the kingdom. Members of the council were inaugurated on Saturday at the Olu Palace in Warri, Delta State. The Ojomo of Warri, Chief Yahaya Pessu, the Ikeri of Warri, Chief Isaac Jemide and the Ogwa-Olusan of Warri, Chief Brown Mene are among prominent mem-

He, however, pledged that the Ijaws would continue to provide enabling environment for smooth operations of oil multinationals including CNL. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Delta State, Mr Austin Chikezie, who was represented, said since the agribusiness initiative was in line with the SMART agenda of the state government, the 40 trainees would be absorbed into the wealth generation scheme of the state after the training.

General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, CNL, Mr Deji Haastrup (middle) in a group photograph with officials of IITA, PIND, EGCDF, IRDCs and beneficiaries of the programme.

FADAMA: ‘Federated Association has made significant

progress in Bayelsa’ Austin Ebipade, Yenagoa THE Federated Association of FADAMA has made significant progress in Bayelsa and that was the submission of the state chairman, Mr Yola Perezi. This he stated when he received the national leadership of the FADAMA project in the state, in Yenagoa. Perezi reiterated that FADAMA Federated Association had made significant progress in terms of sustainability , having saved the sum of fifty million Naira (50,000,000.00) for business , secured new office apartment after the expiration of the old rent, rendered 80 per cent assistance to FUG to secure the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (SMEDF) Central Bank Loan approval, achieved 80 per cent completion in the FADAMA 111 coordination office and in several occasion collaborated with Bayelsa State government, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and state

Olu of Warri names Sagay, others in 25-man advisory council Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

Sejebor, who was represented by Mrs Clementina Arubi, said the programme was coming at a time the country was passing through economic misfortunes occasioned by low crude oil price, adding that there was the need to diversify into agriculture. Meanwhile, Chairman of EGCDF, Chief Michael Johnny, decried the continued casualisation of Chevron workers of Ijaw origin and the company’s delay in awarding contracts to indigenous contractors.

bers of the Advisory Council. Other members include Itsekiri Women leader and Niger Delta activist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, renowned Itsekiri historian and leader of Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT), Pa. J.O.S Ayomike and renowned academic and constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay. Other prominent members of the council are former Delta State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Ajuyah (SAN), the Akulagba of Warri and new entrant to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Ayirimi Emami.

FADAMA 111 project to facilitate the commencement of the USS 200 million from the International Development Association ( IDA ) as additional funding to FADAMA 111 project implementation in the state. Perezi explained that the FADAMA concept was thought out during dry season farming in the North to give life to many people who would have been roaming the streets, saying this explained why the World Bank collaborated with the Federal Government of Nigeria and FADAMA. According to him, at the end of 2012, 4,929 FADAMA Community associations were formed nationwide, comprising 60,303 FADAMA user groups while Bayelsa State had 95 FADAMA Communities Associations (FCAs ) making up one thousand two hundred and fifty FADAMA user groups (FUGs) of twenty persons per FUG, giving a total membership of twenty - five thousand with different sub projects on ground , such as market stalls, cold room, bore holes, fish ponds , plantain farms, cassava farms / processing plant, fish farms and snail farms. The FCAs and FUGs cut across all the wards and LGAs of the state. He noted that owing to the benefit of the project, Governor Seriake Dickson had signed the intent letter and also approved the sum total of thirty five million, eight hundred and seventy two thousand ( 35, 872, 000.00) being the first annual counterpart fund payment . Perezi used the opportunity to throw his weight behind government interest in agriculture due to the dwindling price in oil and is determined to ensure that the project is meant for actual farmers and not portfolio farmers as its target is the

grassroots development. He explained that loans and grants were not free and that whoever had ulterior motives should have a rethink and quit the programme because the incentive were for those who wanted to upscale their business and members, while members were expected to guarantee each other.

Total E&P, promoting agriculture as alternative to oil continued from pg36

of the farm is our priority. We want to develop innovation and test new technology. The plan is to transform this farm as a hub to train people and to help them to develop their own farm...if they want”, he said. Speaking on why the need for a partnership, Mr Eze Obulor, also of Total E&P, said it was to enhance the productivity and profitability of agribusiness. He said it would also add value to the efforts, noting that the technical partners, ARAC and FCE (Technical), were into new research works, imparting knowledge to enhance and improve profitable farming. Obulor said the SMC at Oboburu and Elele were moving into a new phase namely, from distribution of agricultural products to commercialisation, aimed at improved productivity and profitability. Through this, he said the partnership project, domiciled at the SMC would soon be able to stand on its own.

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I, formerly Miss Ganiyu Fatimo Romoke now MRS. BALOGUN FATIMO ROMOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Abegunde Olakunle Olayiwola now MR. ABEGUNDE LUKE OLUGBENGA. All former documents remain valid. Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Adu Funmilola Ololade Eniola now ADEJIMIADU FUNMILOLA OLOLADE ENIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Bukola Regina Adekunle now MRS. BUKOLA REGINA DOSUNMU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyetunji Titilope Mayowa now MRS. ADEBIYI TITILOPE MAYOWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Nasir Bashirat Abosede now OLOWOLAGBA BASHIRAT ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olaosebikan Iyabo Moyosola now MRS. HAMZAT-OLAOSEBIKAN IYABO MOYOSOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olusayo Ajagbonna now MRS. OLUSAYO OLUWOLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Dickson Dupe Ore now ARIMAH DUPE ORE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Beauty Salmon now MRS. BEAUTY PEREKEME. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Amenrior Monica Onyenmhen now MRS. OTUNUYA MONICA ONYENMHEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Sokoto Monsurat Keji (Miss) now SOKOTO MONSURAT ADEWALE (MRS). All former documents remain valid. Lagos State Civil Service especially Ministry of Public Transportation, First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ganiyu Omolara Motunrayo now MRS JUBRIL OMOLARA MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Rukayat Ahmed now MRS. RUKAYAT ABDULLAHI. All former documents remain valid. Kogi State Environmental Protection Board (KOSEPB), UBA Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajayi Oluwakemi Opeyemi now MRS. AYENI OLUWAKEMI OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Omodamori Philip Bamidele now OGUNJIMI PHILIP DELE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ada Ajah Princess now OGBU ADA PRINCESS. All former documents remain valid. Cooperative College Ibadan, Access Bank Plc., FCMB., General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Edafe Ogheneseruemu now EDAFE ONODJAYEKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Chief (Alh) Sule Oladeji Raji (the Asipa Baale of Tella) am the same person bearing Yisau Oladeji. Henceforth, I wish to be called and addressed as RAJI SULE A. OLADEJI. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. GTBank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Francis Adejoke Hadizat Loise now MRS. OMOTOSO ADEJOKE HANISA LOISE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Temidayo Tosin now OGUNLEYE OLUWATOSIN TEMIDAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ibraheem Adewale now TAOFEEK ADEGOKE AKOREDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oshilim Jennifer Nkechi now MRS. YOUNG NKECHI JENNIFER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akinjiyan Olamiposi Ola now MRS OLANIYI OLAMIPOSI OLA. All former documents remain valid. Banks, Universities and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyeleke Saudat Adenike now MRS. AFOLABI SAUDAT ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Local Government Pensions Board, Osogbo and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Muritala Latifat Adebola now MRS. SULAIMAN LATIFAT ADEBOLA MURITALA. All former documents remain valid. Federal Ministry of Education and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeniyi Eunice Adebowale now MRS AYO-FALADE EUNICE ADEBOWALE. All former documents remain valid. All authority concerned and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Folarin Oyebukola Fatimoh now MRS. OJO OYEBUKOLA FATIMOH. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Hospital Management Board, Guaranty Trust Bank (G.T.B) Plc., and general public take note.

I, Yinusa Bashiru am the same person bearing Bashiru Ayodeji Amoo. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as YINUSA BASHIRU. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Fidelity Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Muraina Sobaloju Tijani now MURAINA SOBALOJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Akinmulewo Ajodun Angela now OJULARI ILEROMI VICTORIA. My correct date of birth is August 8, 1970 and not March 27, 1983. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ayansiji Akeem Oyelekan am the same person bearing Hammed Akeem Oyelekan. Now, I want to be known and addressed as AYANSIJI AKEEM OYELEKAN. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Chinenye Mariagorathy Okona now MRS. AKINOLA CHINENYE MARIAGORATHY. All former documents remain valid. OAU, NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Iriogbe Patience Happiness now MRS. OLADIPO PATIENCE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Yakubu Julius now UMORU HASSAN JULIUS. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adekeye Ponmile Abiola now MRS OYEBODE PONMILE ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Abajue Colette Chigozie now MRS. IKEM COLETTE CHIGOZIE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Orunmuyiwa Ranti Grace now MRS. FADEYIBI RANTI GRACE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Samuel Christopher now SAMUEL IWEGBU OLUCHI. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Akingboju Oluwatosin now AKINGBOJU OLABODE ISREAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olayiwola Oluwatosin Damilola now AJANI RUKAYAT AFOLASHADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Arefor Patience now MRS. HABIB PATIENCE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Omidigi Adegboyega now OLUDARE KEHINDE DANIEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME/DATE OF BIRTH

I, formerly Gold Gbafade now OKOJINA ROSEMARY SELE. My correct date of birth is November 22, 1992 and not June 12, 1990. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Pukeme Kulala now OWODO OLE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adesida Ololade Elizabeth now MRS. ADEYEMO OLOLADE ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Fajana Taiwo Toyin now FAJANA TAYE TOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adijat Mojoyinola Gbadamosi now MRS. ADIGUN MOJOYINOLA ADIJAT. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Ministry of Lands and Housing and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, TUAGHA ENAMEGUOLO EMMANUEL am the same person as TUAGHA OGHENEOCHUKO JOHNSON. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. EcoBank Plc., UBA Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Miss Dada Omolola Alice am the same person bearing Mrs. Abogunrin Omolola Alice. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS. JOLAYEMI OMOLOLA ALICE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Deborah Alade now MRS. POPOOLA ADEBISI MAVIS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Disu Taiwo Muhibatu now MRS. LOWYE TAIWO MUHIBATU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Olounkemi Sulaimonu Alliyu now ADENIYI SULAIMAN ALLI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Adeyele Agnes Oluyemi now MRS ADEBOWALE AGNES OLUYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Ologun Ayodeji Oluwatosin now MRS OYEDEJI AYODEJI OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ayeni Osayame Temitope now MRS. GBADAMOSI OSAYAME TEMITOPE . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Mufutau Aminat Omobolanle now MRS ERAVWORHE AMINAT OMOBOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Ikechukwu Sandra Gloria now MRS OMIJIE SANDRA GLORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Babalola Raimot Opeyemi now ABDUL LATEEF RAIMOT BABALOLA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Akpan Jonathan Thomson. I now wish to be known and addressed as AKPAN JONATHAN. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olaobaju Iyanuoluwa Grace now MRS FAOLA IYANUOLUWA GRACE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Ogundeji Olanniyi John now OGUNMOLA OGUNNIYI JOHN. All former documents remain valid. GT Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Morakinyo Gabriel now SANNI TAJUDEEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogutuga Olayinka Ebunoluwa now MRS OYEDEJI OLAYINKA EBUNOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that I, Adesanwo Kayode Olabisi am the same person as KAYODE ADESANWO. All former documents remain valid. FCMB and First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Nwonrin Philomena Yemi now KAYODE PHILOMENA YEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mr Kasali Ademola Oseni now MR HUSSAIN GASALI ADEMOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Anthony Emem Ima now MRS EMEM OLOWOFOYEKU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adedokun Folake Helen now MRS OLADEJI FOLAKE HELEN. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akintayo Aminat Ajoke now MRS OSHODI AMINAT AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Bello Osenatu Taiwo now MRS BELLO TAIWO OSENATU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Akpa Bose Mary now KOLA BOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oluwadayo Busola Ogundeji now MRS OLUWADAYO BUSOLA ADEYEMO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

formerly Miss Ewuola Lydia Oluwatoyin now MRS ADESIYAN LYDIA OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Alo Olutoba Olabiyi Bamidele am the same person as Alo Bamidele Olutoba, Alor Olutoba Olabiyi, Alo Olutoba Olabiyi. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ALO OLUTOBA OLABIYI BAMIDELE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. GTBank Plc, and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ijalana Bukola Comfort now MRS OMOSULE BUKOLA COMFORT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Babalola Grace Omolola now MRS GRACE OMOLOLA OKEOWO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Amusat Sulaiman Shuaib now AMUSAT SULAIMAN OPELOYERU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adedokun Victoria now MRS OGUNGBILE VICTORIA OLUWASAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr Abubakar Moruff Olohunlohun now MR ABUBAKAR MORUFF AKINYEMI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ademiluyi Rebecca Oluwatosin now MRS ADEYEMI REBECCA OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid. OAU, Ile-Ife, NYSC, UBA Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

That I, Yusuf Ahmed Alabi am the same person bearing YUSUF AHMED ADEYEMI ALABI. All former documents remain valid. MAPOLY and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adekoya Esther Jumoke now MRS KOLEOLA ESTHER JUMOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akintunde Morufat Bunmi now MRS GIWA MORUFAT BUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Owolabi Tunmise Temitope now MRS OJEDELE TUNMISE TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Alimi Kimiludeen Akinkunmi now ALIMI KAMILUDEEN AKINKUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Moshood Adekola

Tiamiyu now MOSUDI ADEKOLA TIAMIYU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Akeem Adegoke now ADEGOKE AKEEM YUSSUF. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mojisola Esther Suberu Akinleye now MRS. ADENIYI MOJISOLA ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Arit Edet Etim now MRS VICTORIA OKON DANIEL. All former documents remain valid. Ministry of Health and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adebayo Aminat Bukola now MRS MOSHOOD AMINAT BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Oyenike Mary Sunday Oyelade now OYENIKE MARY OLALEKAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Amadu Muhahmed now MOHAMMED AHMED DENLATU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Rufai Jelilat Abimbola now MRS HAMZAT ABIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Bilqees Ishola now MRS BILQEES TAIWO ISHOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Yakeen Osioyemi now YAKEEN WAKEEL AMOO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Akindele Bolaji Rukayat now MRS ATSOR BOLAJI REBECCA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Wahab Asisat Adebimpe now MRS TIJANI ASISAT ADEBIMPE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State SUBEB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Omotoso Opeyemi Olukemi now MRS OLOFIN OPEYEMI OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Waheed Dasola Matanmi now MRS OLALEYE DASOLA MATANMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Comfort Olasunbo Adebesin now MRS COMFORT OLASUNBO ALFRED. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Olusegun Ddebiri Toluwani now OLUSEGUN TOLUWANI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Shittu Shakirat Oyindolapo now DR. (MRS.) SHAKIRAT OYINDOLAPO ABDUL GANIYY. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr Adesina Rasheed Bayole now MR ADESINA RICHARD BAYOLE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olayemi Virginia Ishola now MRS OLAYEMI VIRGINIA ADELEKE. All former documents remain valid. Bank of Agriculture and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Soetan Abosede Elizabeth now MRS FOLARIN ABOSEDE ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oyebowale Cecilia Oluwayemisi now MRS OLADOSU CECILIA OLUWAYEMISI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH

I, formerly Miss Olorunsogo Olorunwemimo Deborah now MRS BABATUNDE WEMIMO DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Mustapha Muibat Adebola now MRS AYANLOLA MUIBAT ADEBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH I, Mr. Abdul Rasaq Adesola was born on 1st day of December, 1964 not 1st day of December, 1959. All documents bearing these names refers to me and remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Kolawole Funmilayo Elizabeth now ALAWODE FUNMILAYO IMOLEAYO. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Olabode Mojisola Olutoyin now MRS OBE MOJISOLA OLUTOYIN. All former documents remain valid. Ibarapa Central Local Government LGEA, Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.

I, formerly Folorunsho Otaru now FOLORUNSHO IBRAHIM OTARU. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, Oyewole Abiodun Stephen am the same person as Oyewole Abiodun Mathew. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OYEWOLE ABIODUN STEPHEN. Born on 31st day of December, 1996 not 28th day of December, 1987.All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. GTBank Plc, Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Ewlum Chukwuaroka Victor am the same person bearing EWLUM VICTOR SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Jemilat Abiola Olayiwola now MRS JEMILAT ABIOLA OLAYIWOLA AYOADE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogbolu Olayinka Ruth now MRS OMORINOYE OLAYINKA RUTH. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Iwo Branch, Wema Bank Plc, Iwo and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Tijani Kabirat Olabisi now MRS AGBOLUAJE KABIRAT OLABISI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Shaibu Yakubu Isiaka now ADEMOH YAKUBU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ayodele Oluwaseun now AWAPE MOJISOLA OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olaiya Gbonjubola Rabiat now MRS OMOWUMI GBONJUBOLA RABIAT. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Akande-Ogunrinade Esther now MRS OGUNRINADE ABIOLA OLUBUNMI. All former documents remain valid. Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Osun State, Hospital Management Board, Osogbo, National Open University of Nigeria and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Babade Toluwanimi Adetutu now MRS BELLO TOLUWANIMI ADETUTU. All former documents remain valid. Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Babatunde Tolulope Margaret now MRS ADEYEMO TOLULOPE MARGARET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Raji Oluwakemi Bola now ADENIYI OLUWAKEMI BOLA. All former documents remain valid. Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Oluwadare Tolulope now OLUWATELURE SEGUN JOSHUA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Olaoye Ayobami Oluseyi now MRS OYENIBI AYOBAMI OLUSEYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Egbeyemi Oluwakemi now MRS OLATUNJI OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. Ibarapa Central Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Osewa Oluwatoyin Funmilayo now MRS ADEBAYO OLUWATOYIN FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State SUBEB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ajuwon Moromoke Kafayat now MRS OLAOYE MOROMOKE FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Adagunodo Simbiat Olayinka now MRS OLUKAYODE SIMBIAT OLAYINKA. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oke-Baatimo Oluyinka Olukemi now MRS AKINBOADE OLUYINKA OLUKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Abe Atinuke Ruth now MRS AYENI ATINUKE RUTH. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogunrinde Yinka Grace now MRS AJIBADE YINKA GRACE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss GbolagunArulogun Modupe Janet now MRS BELLO MODUPE JANET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mr Ogunrinde Olutoyin now MR DANIELS EZEKIEL ALABA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Obi Charlene Chidera Pamela am the same person bearing Obi Chidera Pamela. Now, I want to be known and addressed as OBI CHARLENE CHIDERA PAMELA. All documents bearing both names are mine and valid. General public take note.

south-westnews

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Ambulance brings Ibadan alleged killer-wife to court

Substantive case likely to commence today at High Court There was no suspect in court, only a masquerade – Deceased’s lawyer Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

WENTY-eight-yearold Yewande Oyediran (nee Fatoki), a lawyer with the Oyo State Ministry of Justice, who was docked on a onecount charge of unlawfully causing the death of her 38 years old husband, Oyelowo Oyediran, again appeared before Magistrate Kehinde

Durosaro of the Oyo State Magistrate Court 1, Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Tuesday, amidst great security and was given a VIP treatment. Yewande was brought to the court in a separate bus, the Agodi Prisons Ambulance with number PS 638 A01, with a prison pick up as escort while other inmates brought in the Prison Black Maria were screaming that

journalists should report it well that they came late to court because of her. She was escorted into the court, with her face covered, by eight heavily armed prison officials in a bid to prevent the press from taking her picture and when the case was called, the prosecutor, Inspector Adewale, informed the court that the advice from the state Di-

rectorate of Public Prosecutions was ready. “The case is for mention but I was made to understand that the DPP advice is out,” he stated. In his response, Yewande’s counsel, Mr Seun Abimbola, who led six other lawyers in the defence, stated that he was not aware that the DPP advice was out and Magistrate Durosaro adjourned the matter till March 1, 2016

Mrs Yewande Oyediran, suspected killer of her husband, amidst security personnel at Court 1, Iyaganku magistrates’ court, Ibadan, on Tuesday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

‘Mimiko to use rest of tenure to consolidate projects’ By Abiodun Awolaja THE Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, will devote the rest of his tenure to the consolidation of projects embarked upon in the last seven years. The projects have become benchmarks, not only for sister states, but also the developing world, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Honourable Kayode Akinmade, has said. Mimiko, whose second term of office as governor of Ondo State kicked off in February 2013, is billed to hand over to the next governor of the state in February next year, following the governorship election which will be held in the state later this year. Akinmade, speaking during an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, noted that the measures embarked on by the governor in the last lap of his tenure would form the take-off point for the incoming administration in the state. The commissioner added that the Mimiko administration had executed projects which were endorsed by the World Bank and the

United Nations as a benchmark for the African continent. These projects, he noted, included the various health initiatives like the Abiye, the Safe Motherhood Programme and the apex tertiary health facility, namely Mother and Child hospitals, now operational in Akure and Ondo towns. He said: “We have a conglomeration of tertiary health institutions at the

Ondo Medical Village, a health tourist centre which is now University of Medical Sciences in Ondo. “The state won the BillMelinda Gates award in the fight against Polio among others, just as the present administration blazed the trail in urban renewal Initiatives that fetched Governor Olusegun Mimiko the United Nations Scroll of Honours award. “The governor’s creative

ingenuity, doggedness and commitment have brought a new lease of life into the education sector with the Caring Heart Mega Schools, a novelty in education that breaks class barriers by delivering quality education to the doorsteps of both the urban and rural poor where they live and play, equipped with quality manpower and facilities of the 21st Century as obtainable in advanced countries.”

How we fund capital projects despite economic challenges —Fayose EKITI State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has explained how his administration was able to execute some capital projects in the face of serious economic challenges, saying the administration is leveraging on goodwill with corporate bodies and ensuring prudent management of resources. The governor also said ensuring that capital votes were used for capital projects was another factor. Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Eki-

ti, on Tuesday, the governor stated that the determination to impact positively on the lives of the people despite economic depression was a catalyst spurring the administration on. “When the budget, which guides the activities of a government in a year, is prepared, there are many segments, but in the expenditure aspect, we have two main components, that is the recurrent and capital expenditures. The recurrent expenditure states what the government will

spend on salaries and wages in the year. The capital expenditure explains what the government will spend on projects and it is financed with the capital votes. “There is no budget that consists only of recurrent expenditure/ votes or capital expenditure/ votes. A normal budget has the two. Moreover, funds meant for recurrent expenditure, that is payment of salaries and wages cannot be diverted to capital expenditure or vice versa. If that is done, that is fraud.”

for mention. However, counsel to the deceased, Kehinde Adesiyan, who led five other lawyers on a watching brief, stated that what was in court was just a procedure and not a suit since the Magistrate Court did not have jurisdiction to hear the matter. According to him, he was not aware that there was a suspect before the court but a masquerade, as no one knew who was under the veil, adding that what had happened was alien to law and against the constitution. He stated further that he was sure that a matter had been filed before a court of competent jurisdiction and the matter is commencing this morning (Wednesday). He added that “though the Prison has a responsibility to protect inmates, what they are doing in this case is on the extreme. “This is just a procedure for remand; there is nothing to this particular matter because this court has no jurisdiction to hear the matter. I can authoritatively say that a substantive suit has been filed before the Oyo State High Court which has the jurisdiction to hear the matter and the case will commence on Wednesday, at Ring Road. She will take her plea and the case will commence fully. “I will say that no one is before the court, there is no suspect in court today, but a masquerade. What they are doing is unknown to law and alien to jurisprudence. That a suspect will appear before the court and no one will be able to ascertain the identity is strange. That has gone beyond protection. No one appeared before the court as a suspect today. It was a masquerade.” The suit before the Magistrate Court delineated MI/153c/2016 is tagged Commissioner of Police Vs Oyediran Yewande and the charge was signed by the Officer in Charge of Legal/Prosecution in the Oyo State Police Command, DSP (Barr) Fawole Funke. The single charge read: “That you Yewande Oyediran ‘F’, on the 2nd day of February 2016, at about 6.10am at No 30, Abidi Odan, Akobo Area, Ibadan in the Ibadan Magisterial District, did unlawfully cause the death of one Oyelowo Oyediran ‘M’ aged 38 years by stabbing him with knife on the neck which later resulted to his death thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal code Cap 38 Vol II Laws of Oyo State.”

Nigerian Tribune

Oyo NOA director commends speaker on people-friendly policies THE Oyo State Director of the National Orientation Agency, Mrs Dolapo Dosunmu, has commended the unique administrative and leadership style of the eighth Speaker of the Oyo Assembly, Honourable Michael Adeyemo, for being responsive and attentive to the yearning of the people of the state. Mrs Dosunmu made the remark when she led her management team on a working visit to the Oyo State House of Assembly, a visit which was aimed at developing and achieving harmonious working relationship with the Assembly; particularly in the areas of bridging the communication gap between the government and the public, thereby building a responsible and value oriented citizens. The Speaker of the state Assembly, Honourable Adeyemo, expressed readiness to partner with the NOA by forming a workable team comprising the forum of local governments in the 33 Local Government Areas of the state, the Oyo State House of Assembly and the National Orientation Agency to assist the agencies deliver on its mandate to the people effectively. Hon Adeyemo also called for the re-introduction of civic education in schools curriculum to enhance and regain the lost value system and patriotic ideals while also charging religious leaders to eschew emphasis on prosperity in their teachings and rather encourage teachings that will advance national development.

Amosun eulogises late Chief Imam of Owu OGUN State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has described the late Chief Imam of Owu, Alhaji Noah Alani Olayiwola Sodeinde, as a great man who rendered selfless service to humanity in his lifetime. Amosun stated this, on Tuesday, while speaking at the eighth Day Fidau held in honour of the late Chief Imam, who died on February 9, 2016, aged 73. The late Sodeinde retired from public service in December 2012 as Principal, Ijemo-Titun High School (Senior). He had risen to the level of a school Principal in 2001 at Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, Ishaga-Orile from where he was transferred to Ijemo-Titun High school in 2007. The eighth Day Fidau was well attended by Muslim faithful from far and near.

41 south-westnews Olatunbosun, Popoola, Orelope, Atanda set to return as Oyo LG chairmen Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

By Tunde Ogunesan and Wale Akinselure

EVEN immediate past caretaker chairmen, Wasiu Olatunbosun,

Ibadan North West; Opeyemi Salami, Akinyele; Idris Nojeemdeen Abass, Ibadan South East; Yekeen Popoola, Irepo; Saheed Alaran, Iseyin; Adelore Atanda, Ibarapa

East; Orelope Kolawole, Oluyole, are set to once again be appointed by Governor Abiola Ajimobi to head their respective local government areas. This was made known

when Speaker, Oyo House of Assembly, Honourable Michael Adeyemo, on Tuesday, reeled out the names of nominees of would-be transition committee chairmen in the 33

Alfa Yusuf Rasaq Ewenje and his wife, Sakirat, on her hospital bed at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on Monday. Inset are the babies.

Woman gives birth to quintuplets in Ibadan

Husband seeks support from govt, well-meaning Nigerians By Tunde Ogunesan A 28-year-old woman, Mrs Sakirat Rasaq, on Monday, at exactly 8.45a.m. was delivered of quintuplets (three males and two females) at the Oyo State Special-care baby unit, ward four, south west, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. Mrs Rasaq, a purdah, according to her husband, Alfa Yusuf Rasaq Ewenje, 32, a full-time Islamic cleric, in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, was referred to the UCH from Adeoyo Hospital, Ibadan, after being placed on bed rest since the pregnancy was three months old. Allfa Rasaq said, “we first got wind of the blessing from Allah when she had a scan at three months. At that point, we knew she was having five babies in her tummy.” He further informed that the result of the scan took them to Adeoyo Hospital from Apete Medical Centre, Apete, Ibadan, where she had originally registered for antenatal. And even at Adeoyo hospital, he revealed that the medical team had intimated them that “the best option for us is to have the baby at the UCH.” He said that, they took to that advice and “had the baby around 8.45 a.m. on Monday morning.” The father of seven children at 32 years revealed:

“We did a scan when the pregnancy was three months and the scan confirmed this. From there, we took her to Adeoyo hospital and they told us that she needs bed rest and that from there, they started managing her till Monday that we came here for delivery.” The couple, who resides at No 23, Akeem Street, Ijokodo, Ibadan, already had two children-one boy and a girl. Umoor Farouk, five, and Mistura, who is three years old. Though, Alfa Rasaq said he is happy and was aware of the impending arrival of the children, he however, appealed to the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and his wife, Florence, to come to their aid. He said he had exhausted the little amount he had in his savings, considering the enormity of the current situation and “the fact that I am a full time cleric who is only making little from quranic lesson, I am taking my quranic learners.” In spite of this situation, Alfa Rasaq already had a big dream for all his seven children. He said “my dream is for them to be leaders in this country, so that no matter my present situation, people will know them for good. “Though, I am greatly handicapped now because I only make living out of my quranic teaching class, I want well-meaning peo-

ple to come to my aid. I am using this medium to appeal to the governor of Oyo State, Senator Ajimobi and his wife; Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole and the Federal Government to come to my aid so that my joy won’t

turn sour.” His wife, Mrs Rasaq, on her bed told Nigerian Tribune that “she found favour from Allah.” She expressed her appreciation to God and also appealled for assistance from well-to-do individuals.

local government areas of the state. The Speaker read the list on the floor of the House in a less than 30 minutes seating from the letter sent to the House by the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. The letter with reference number GOV/2016/05/08 titled “Nomination of Transition committee chairmen for 33 local government areas,” reads; “It is my pleasure to forward the names of caretaker nominees for the 33 local government areas for a period of four months for your confirmation. “I trust that the House will give the list accelerated consideration.” The Speaker said “We’re here just to read their names and the screening committee which comprises of committee on local government. We are not confirming any of them now; we are going to wait till the report of the screening committee on local government before we talk about the confirmation. “They should forward 40 copies of their credentials to the office of the clerk within two days and they should also assemble on the day to be decided by the screening committee,” Adeyemo said. The 26 other newly nominated chairmen are, Lukman Anwo, Afijio; Okeniyi Gbolagade, Atiba;

Ogundeji Olusola, Atisbo; Ademola Adewuyi, Egbeda; Yinka Akinbode, Ibadan North; and Lekan Afuye, Ibadan North East. Others are Rauf Folarin, Ibadan South West; Azeez Oladejo, Ibarapa Central; Tunji Omolewu, Ibarapa North; Wahab Oladejo, Ido; Niyi Adeagbo, Itesiwaju; S. M. Egunjobi, Iwajowa; Moses Babalola, Kajola; Abiodun Oladeji, Lagelu; Biodun Alade, Ogbomoso North; and Sunday Adedeji, Ogbomoso South. Also found worthy are, Yinka Jesutoye, Ogo-Oluwa; Ogunrinde Williams, Olorunsogo; Okunlade Samuel, Oorelope; Sina Adeagbo, Ona Ara; Jacob Bamigboye, Oriire; Tirimisiyu Azeez, Oyo East; Oladeji Tajudeen, Oyo West; Moruf Salau, Saki East; Kazeem Adegoke, Saki West, and Ibrahim Gbodeniyi, Surulere. Adeyemo added that the confirmation of the nominees was subject to screening to be conducted by the House Committee Chairman on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, which is chaired by Honourable Bolaji Badmos. Upon confirmation and subsequent swearing in by Ajimobi, it is expected that the chairmen would be given a three months’ mandate, as Ajimobi had hinted of the conduct of a local government election in June.

Court rejects Seriki’s move to stop Olubadan’s installation, adjourns till March By Tunde Ogunesan JUSTICE Muktar Abimbola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, on Tuesday, refused to grant an application filed by head of Seriki line, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, seeking the order of the court to stop the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Olubadan-in-council from appointing/installing new Olubadan. Oyediji through his counsel, Mr Abideen Adediran, through an application filed on February 8 had sought the order of the court to stop the Olubadan-in–Council from appointing the new Olubadan after the demise of the 40th Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, on January 19. Adediran told the court that they were aware that the respondents; Governor of Oyo State, Attorney General of the state and the Olubadanin-council, have completed plans to appoint the new Olubadan of Ibadan land.

Justice Abimbola said that the respondents should be put on notice so that they could file their response. He told the claimants not to worry, saying the court has the power to still remove the Olubadan if he was appointed illegally as being claimed by the claimant. Justice Abimbola, however, granted a motion on notice seeking to serve the defendants by pasting a writ of summon on the wall of the chamber of the Olubadanin-Council located at Mapo in Ibadan South west local government. The head of Seriki Chieftancy line, Chief Oyediji is claiming that it is the turn of their line to produce the next Olubadan, following the death of Oba Samuel Odunlana. The plaintiff is challenging the alleged consistent occupation of the throne by the Olubadan chieftaincy line and the Balogun Chieftaincy line. Their lawyer drew the at-

tention of the court to its subsisting order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from filling any of vacant high chief positions and that of the Olubadan. He alleged that the Olubadan and the Balogun lines had disobeyed the order

of the court by filling all the vacant high chief positions“Ekerin, Asipa, Otun and Osi,” accordingly. Adediran prayed the court to set aside all the purported appointments. Justice Abimbola then adjourned the case till March for argument.

Gbolagunte’s funeral rites begin today By Nurudeen Alimi THE burial rites for the Head, Department of Mass Communication, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Mr Kunle Gbolagunte, begin today with a valedictory service scheduled to hold at the Conference Centre situated on the North Campus of the institution. There will also be a commendation service tomorrow at Ibukun Oluwa Baptist Church, Eleyele-Ologuneru road, Ibadan. This will be followed by a wake-keep at Chief Gbolagunte’s house, Aborerin, Eruwa same day. The burial activities will be

rounded off on Friday with a church service at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Aborerin, Eruwa, while the remains of the deceased will thereafter be interred at CAN burial ground, Igboora road, Eruwa. Gbolagunte, a graduate of Mass Communication from the Polytechnic, Ibadan was until his death on February 2, 2016 the Head, Department of Mass Communication of the institution. He was also a Ph.D student at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, where he also had his Masters degree in Mass Communication.

news

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

It’s national shame for Ajaokuta Steel to remain moribund —Fayemi Ademola Adegbite - Abuja

INISTER of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said that it is

a collective shame for all Nigerians to have allowed Ajaokuta Steel Plant to remain moribund inspite of the sovereign resources that have been invested in it. Fayemi, who stated this

in his office in Abuja, bemoaned that Nigerians and successive governments allowed such project of magnitude in nature to remain moribund, despite its immense potentials. He said his recent visit to

the site with a delegation from the ministry, was an eyesore, assuring that the plant would soon be resuscitated to provide employment opportunity for the youth and boost the socioeconomic development of

From left, Austrian foreign Minister of Science, Research and Economy, Bernadette Gierlinger; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr (Mrs) Nike Akande; chairperson, Science and Technology Committee, LCCI, Mrs Joanna Maduka and the Director-General, LCCI, Mr Muda Yusuf, during a business forum with the Austrian minister, at Commerce House, Idowu Taylor Street ,Victoria Island, Lagos, onTuesday. PHOTO: ALABA IGBAROOLA

the country, among other things. The minister further explained that based on current data, Nigeria’s solid minerals sector made up about 0.34 per cent of Gross Domestic Products (GDP), which meant that based on current official exchange rates, the mining sector contributes N400 billion in value to the economy. Fayemi stressed that, while that was a significant role, it was smaller than its true potential, as the vast majority of the mining assets had yet to be exploited. He said what has been happening was that the sector has more or less been operating sharply below capacity, with many mining operations manned by small scale miners, as opposed to the large players. The minister called for collective collaboration of all the stakeholders to enable the ministry achieved its set goal of diversifying the nation’s economy through solid minerals.

ICT: Varsity registrars may lose job —Ex-Registrar Biola Azeez - Ilorin

REGISTRARS in the nation’s universities have been alerted of challenges posed by Information Communication Technology (ICT) to their job, warning that many may soon lose their job. Speaking at the first registry annual lecture series of the University of Ilorin, on Tuesday, a former chairman, Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities, Dr Omojola Awosusi, advised university administrators in the country to make use of advantages presented by ICT to reduce such incidents as plagiarism as in developed world. “I wish to alert my colleagues and participants that when Nigeria is hit by

the bug of the University of the Future, the nation will overdo things. The changes will be too fast and too plenteous to handle. It’s just in Nigerian character”, he said. Talking on the topic, “The university of the future: challenges and prospects for the university administration”, the university don said that use of technology would speed up university administration of the future, adding that registrar would get his directive down the line faster and obtain feed back speedily. He made examples of use of I CT applications such as Turningtin, Skype, Doodle, facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Wiki, ChatOn, TeacherTube, Moodle, among, saying that the use

could promote efficiency and higher productivity. Awosusi also said that there would be great prospects in the university of the future when administrators hone their attitudinal, technical and communication skills. “An administrator must learn negotiation skills,

conflict resolution skills and other technical expertise that are of necessity in the university. Communication skills do not die in men who master them. The oral communication skills, written communication skills and non-verbal communication skills. The administrators will be rel-

NSCDC arrests man for duping 9,000 IDPs of N27m James Bwala - Maiduguri

BORNO State command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a suspect for duping 9,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) of N27 million for the supply of food items in Maiduguri resettlement camps. Parading the suspect, Bukar Ladan, on Tuesday,

in Maiduguri, the NSCDC commandant, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, said his men made the arrest in Mairi ward of the metropolis, following intelligence reports. He said the suspect also confessed to the collection of N300 each from the 9,000 IDPs currently taking refuge in various camps in Maiduguri, the

Tomato farmers lose 50% products to poor storage —Ganduje Kola Oyelere - kano

KANO State governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has said that tomato farmers suffer almost 50 per cent loss of what they produced, especially, when market are saturated, saying unless there is cooperation between farmers and processing companies, the wastage may persist. He, however, expressed readiness of the state government to partner with Rockefeller Foundation to

advance development in the state agricultural sector, at ensuring sustainable production of vegetables. Governor Ganduje said: “By your (Rockefeller) coming in, I think you are providing an enabling environment for farmers, especially, those who are dealing with perishable goods to prosper.” He told the management of the foundation, led by its Managing Director, Mamadou Bitaye, on Tuesday, that farmers in Kano,

evant in the university of the future if they are good communicators”, he said. Awosusi, who was also a former registrar of Ekiti State University, identified plagiarism as a common misdemeanour in academic environment with its attendant time-consuming investigation process.

had been sensitised, motivated and organised by the government to engage in tomato farming. “They are aware that the oil money we used to enjoy is no more there. So, now, the economy is in their hands but they need to wake up so that the economy can truly be in their hands,” he said. Ganduje urged the Rockefeller Foundation to help farmers in Kano with new technology for preservation, processing and packaging of commodity, saying that the

cooperation between the foundation and agric stakeholders, especially Dangote Tomato Processing Company, would provide enabling enviroment for farmers to boost their productivity. In his remarks, the Managing Director, Rockefeller Foundation Africa, said the organisation started in Kano with a mission to assist tomato farmers in training, modern technologies and modified seeds to maximise yields and prevent post-harvest loss.

state capital. “Our men discovered that some of the women IDPs in camps were complaining that they had paid for the supply of food items, which were not delivered to them. “It is very unfortunate that some people will go to this level and defraud this people who had suffered in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents,” he said. On how Ladan was arrested, Ibrahim said: “After reaching the suspect’s house, we discovered that he did not have anything worth N10, 000. We don’t know what they are using the money for, but we are still investigating him. The kingpin behind the duping; is still at large, but we are doing what we can in bringing them to book.” The commandant, therefore, warned IDPs to be vigilant and curious of the activities of dubious people within and outside the resettlement camps in Maiduguri and Biu.

Bauchi gov appoints new aides Isaac Shobayo - Bauchi

BAUCHI State governor, Mohammed Abubakar, has approved the appointment of four special advisers from the four local government areas that have no commissioners in the newly constituted state executive council. The governor, during the swearing-in ceremony of the special advisers, promised that his administration would ensure equitable distribution of social amenities to all sectors of the state and adherence to due process in all government dealings, as well as uplifting the standard of living of the people. Governor Abubakar, who further assured that all parts of the state will continue to enjoy equal opportunities under his administration ,added that upliftment of standard of living, especially, the rural populace, will be the main thrust of his administration. According to him, urban populace would not be left behind in our drive to provide all essential services to the people irrespective of their political or religious inclination”.

NGO launches ‘safe delivery’ campaign in Kaduna Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

A non governmental organisation (NGO), Prime Diamond Initiative for Community Health(PDICH), has launched the ‘Safe delivery’ campaign in hospitals aimed at ensuring that 1,300 pregnant women give birth safely in Zaria, Kaduna State. Speaking at maternal and child health seminar in Zaria, its founder, Mrs Nasa Ebiere, decried high rate of maternal deaths in the country. Ebiere said that Zaria was chosen due to non -compliance of delivery in health facilities by pregnant women. According to her, over 1,000 pregnant women in Zaria would be assisted with baby kits and encouraged to deliver in health facilities: “Everybody has a role to play in reducing maternal deaths in our society. We must support government to succeed in reducing child and maternal deaths. She was of the view that maternal deaths which clustered around labour delivery like haemorrhage, infection, hypertensive disorder, maternal sepsis, unsafe abortion, malaria, HIV/AIDS, diarrhoea, pneumonia are all preventable diseases.

43 news

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

KEDC explains power outage

Lagos commends British Council’s contribution to education

Muhammad Sabiu -Kaduna MANAGEMENT of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company(KEDC) has said the current intermittent interruption of power supply was due to low power allocation from the national grid. It also attributed the power outage to vandalism of gas pipelines and other oil facilities in the southsouth and south-west regions of the country. The Chief Engineering and Technical Services Officer of the company, Mr Bello A. Musa disclosed this in Kaduna, on Tuesday, while fielding question from journalists. He revealed that the Transmission Company of Nigeria announced a drastic shortfall in the national power generation, and mandated all distribution companies, including KEDC to maintain limited power allocation. He also disclosed that the distribution companies were also directed at short notice to further drop load to avert complete system collapse, thus, the power rationing embarked upon by the company. According to Bello, “Kaduna Electric was allocated only 181 megawatts today for distribution in Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states, the operational territory of the company as against 410 megawatts that was hitherto allocated to the company.” He expressed confidence that the Federal Government would soon bring to an end the menace of vandalism of gas pipelines and other oil facilities.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (left) and representative of the Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr Masaya Otusuka (right), during the official commissioning and completion of the overhaul of Unit 2G4 Generator, at Jebba Hydro Power Plant, in Niger State, through the Special Japanese Grant Aid Project for Emergency Repair, on Monday.

I didn’t bother to ask NIMASA why it credited my account with N221m —Witness Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin -Lagos

witness, Mr Emeka Emenalo, on Tuesday, told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos that he did not bother to ask the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) why his account was credited with N221 million he did not solicit for. Emenalo was giving evidence in the ongoing trial of Patrick Akpobolokemi the immediate past DirectorGeneral of NIMASA. Akpobolokemi was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside six others, on 22 counts bordering on allegations of conversion and theft to the tune of N2.6 billion.

Google, others partner PIN on Internet Freedom Forum Yejide Gbenga -Ogundare SOME social media platforms have expressed their readiness to partner with the Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) on this year’s Internet Freedom Forum coming up in Abuja next month. Platforms that will support PIN to host delegates from Cameroun, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe for the forum are AccessNow, Google, Facebook, Civicus and Internews, and the theme is Rights are Rights, Online or Offline. Internet Freedom Forum is an annual forum that creates a platform for conversations on indices around Internet Freedom around the world. Internet Freedom

Forum 2016 (#IFF2016) focuses on indices around Internet Freedom in African countries and the need to codify citizens’ right online. The Executive Director at PIN, Gbenga Sesan, said the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill, which seeks to codify online rights in Nigeria, will be reviewed at the forum and presented as a model for adoption by other African countries. The keynote address for the event is expected to be delivered by Nani Jansen, Legal Director at Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI). Nani has acted in freedom of expression cases before national and international courts, as well as human rights tribunals, including the European Court of Human Rights, among others.

Charged alongside Akpobolokemi are Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan – and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Ltd, Kenzo Logistics Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd. At Tuesday’s proceedings, Emenalo who was led in evidence by Lanre Olayinka, counsel to the third and fifth defendants, stated specifically that he did not contact NIMASA when he saw the money in his account. “I only called my brother Uche to notify him that NIMASA had paid the said amount into my account,”

Emenalo said. The witness also attested to the fact that he withdrew over N300,000 for himself while he gave his sister Ijeoma N900,000 and N700,000, respectively. “ The money is not meant for our family business. I only gave my sister Ijeoma some of it,” Emenalo said, adding that he was only doing his brother a favour when he requested that he used his account for getting money from NIMASA.” Emenalo, who is the sole proprietor of O2 Services Plus Nig. Ltd, had a balance of N40.00 in his account

when the said transfer from NIMASA occurred. He had earlier told the court that sometime in 2015, his younger brother had informed him that the contract would be got through the instrumentality of the third accused (Nwakuche). According to the witness, his brother instructed him to transfer any money paid to his company’s account as would be directed as soon as he is alerted. He told the court that as soon as he began to receive bank alerts, he informed his brother, who in turn informed the third accused.

Lawyers beg court for copy on ruling against Tompolo Yejide Gbenga -Ogundare TWO lawyers, Mr Tayo Oyetibo and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, have appealed to Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, to intervene and ensure they get a certified true copy of a ruling given by the judge in the case filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria against Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo. The lawyers want Justice Buba to intervene in the criminal proceedings pending before him to enable Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tomopolo, to have a copy of the ruling delivered by the court on Monday, February 8, 2016. Tayo Oyetibo and EbunOlu Adegboruwa, had argued an application on behalf of Tompolo, to set aside the warrant of arrest issued against him. The judge delivered a bench ruling, dismissing the application and

re-issuing a fresh warrant for Tompolo’s arrest. According to Adegboruwa, who spoke on behalf of the duo, they had immediately applied for a certified true copy of the ruling, with a view to studying it and advising Tompolo, on possible chances of an appeal, but they met a brick wall in the court, without any success in obtaining the said ruling. “By law, Tompolo has fourteen days to appeal against the ruling,” Adegboruwa said, adding that they are worried about the delay in releasing the ruling, despite visiting the court almost on a daily basis, since February 8, 2016. They argued that it would seem that the court is giving preferential treatment to the EFCC in the case, citing the example of January 12, 2016, when the EFCC filed an application for substituted service on Tomopolo, “the judge heard the application on the same day and

granted it and the order was enrolled almost immediately while the case was heard on January 14, 2016 and a bench warrant was issued against Tompolo, all in less than seven days.” As early as 8.a.m on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, Adegboruwa had stormed the court with his lawyers, to appeal to the judge to intervene to secure the certified true copy of the ruling and around 9.30a.m, the court registrar announced to all lawyers waiting in court, that the judge will resume sitting a little behind time. Not long thereafter, Justice Buba entered the court room and as soon as he sat down, Adegboruwa made an oral appeal to the judge, expressing his frustrations in respect of the ruling. He said it was necessary to appeal to the judge to intervene because of the time limited for Tompolo to exercise his right of appeal.

LAGOS State deputy governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule has commended the contributions of the British Council towards the development of the education sector in the state. Adebule, who gave the commendation in Lagos today, at a reception she hosted for some delegates from the United Kingdom, who are in the state under the British Council Connecting Classroom Programme, noted that for the state to achieve better education delivery, the cooperation and partnership of international institutions such as the British Council is imperative. “The enormous contributions of the British Council towards the development of education in the state cannot be overemphasized, among which are the provision of Digital Hubs in three public senior secondary schools, organisation of several training and workshops for teachers, head teachers, officer in the ministry and the sponsoring of Lagos State teachers and officers to international workshops,” the deputy governor said.

Lawyers set up coalition against corruption Yinka Oladoyinbo -Lokoja LEGAL practitioners across the country have pledged their support for the anti-corruption war of the Federal Government with the establishment of a non-governmental organisation known as the Coalition of Lawyers Against Corruption (COLAC). The North central zonal coordinator of the coalition, Mohammed Musa, told newsmen in Lokoja, on Tuesday, that the coalition came into existence because of the level at which corruption had eaten into the fabrics of the country. According to him, the war against corruption could only be won if individuals and professional organisations support the government. He described COLAC as team of lawyers acting as watchdog against the canker worm, saying the people were ready to make sacrifice to ensure a sustained war against corruption in Nigeria.

communitynews

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Milk producers pledge to increase availability in communities Muhammad Sabiu-Kaduna

Officials of Plateau State Emergency Management Agency, during an inspection of the scene of the fire incident which destroyed the senior staff quarters of Government Girls’ Sciences School, Shendam,

MILK producers have vowed to ensure that milk is available in every community in the country. The pledge was made by the Managing Director, Kaduna Federation of Milk Producers Cooperative Association (MILCOPAL), Dr Ishaq Bello, at the presentation of Bunaji/Friesian breeding bulls to Kagarko and Kuse Villages’ Milk Producers Cooperative Associations at Maganda in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Dr Bello said the bulls were meant for breeding with local cattle in order to produce an enhanced breed of cattle that would increase the production of milk by at least 25 per cent.

the seven years Ogoniga (Ogoga), a Benin prince, spent with him when he arrived in the town. “The first Olukere is called Oloje and this meant that he was a masquerade worshipper. Though, he was a powerful herbalist and that was why he was made the chief priest of this community and his main job is to worship the Olosunta, which Ikere people see as their saviory.

“As far as history is concerned, Olukere is not a ranking chief. He is just a chief priest and he should stop referring to himself as a king. He is not even recognized by the state government. “Even Ile Ife, where he claimed to have got his crown, history shows that he hailed from Obalorin compound in Ilode and this family was never a direct descendant of Oduduwa.”

Ogoga/Olukere: Ekiti govt is right on declaration —Ogoga •May go to court to seek redress Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

HE Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu, has expressed support for the declaration by the state government that the Ogoga is the only king in Ikere and announced that he might have to seek the court’s intervention in the persistent rivalry that has created tension in the town following Olukere’s reactions to the declaration. Olukere has always been having a running battle with Ogoga over who is the real king, which culminated in the tearing of Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin’s billboard erected in the heart of the town last week. Briefing newsmen in Ikere Ekiti on the recent protest over the destruction of the billboard, which Olukere had blamed Governor Ayodele Fayose of allegedly supervising, Ogoga pleaded with the people to eschew violence, assuring that the rivalry would not be tolerated again in the town. The monarch warned his rival to stop parading himself as a king, saying he remains a classless chief, whose job is to appease the gods. “Olukere is being misled because none of his predecessor flexed muscle with me. But if all alternative means of resolving this matter fail, then I shall go to court to seek redress, because I can’t allow this to continue.” The Odolofin of Ikere

kingdom, Chief Ayodele Alonge, who spoke on behalf of Ogoga-in-Council, insisted that the Olukere is not the founder of the town, but remained the chief priest and occupies number 44 in the chieftaincy hierarchy. On the claim by Oba Obasoyin that Ogoga is not a crowned prince, the chief replied that Ogoga inherited his crown from Benin from time imme-

morial, being a direct son of Oranmiyan, who established the kingdom. He said: “Ikere was founded at about 11th century by one Aladeselu, so the claim by Olukere that he owns the land does not hold water. “That was why every elected Ogoga must spend a minimum of seven days as part of the rites at Aladeselu’s house, representing

Alfa Nla, Oke Koto, Moricas communities commend gov for road construction Olalekan Olabulo-Lagos

RESIDENTS of Alfa Nla, Oke Koto and Moricas communities in Agege have commended the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, for the construction of their roads. The residents and motorists, particularly commended the governor for completing a major road in the area, which was being constructed but abandoned by the immediate past administration in the state. They observed that the completion of the Alfa Nla Road had greatly reduced traffic gridlock in the area. A resident of Alfa Nla, who identified himself as Abdulazeez, told Community News that “ the governor has restored the trust of residents of the area in the Lagos State government . According to him, residents had lost hope with regard to the completion of the road, when the immediate past governor could

not finish the construction, before leaving office . “I must confess that I have been very impressed by Governor Ambode’s performance. He was not the one that awarded the contract but he went ahead to complete the project less than a year after assuming office. “He has not only restored the trust of residents here in the government but he has also showed that government is a continuum.” Another resident of the area, Kazeem, also stated: “ the governor has really done something great for the people of Agege in less than a year after he assumed office. “He wasn’t the one that awarded the road contract but what he has done is greater than just awarding the contract. If he had neglected it, the road would become worse in the next four to eight years. “Many of us had thought that was the end of the story, when the last adminis-

tration could not finish it, but the governor has really impressed us.” Innocent, a driver, who plies the road on a daily basis, described the reconstructed road as very important to the whole of Agege. “To tell you how important the road is, drivers had no choice than to con-

tinue to use it, even when it was dangerous to do so,” the commercial bus driver said. “For almost four years, the last government continued to work on the road . It was abandoned and we thought that was the end of the project but Governor Ambode proved us wrong,” Innocent said.

He called for upgrade in methods of production in the industry to meet modern standards saying: “Our producers must realise the need to adopt modern methods of production as this is the only means to sustainable production and improved livestock”. Bello further reiterated the need to adopt modern techniques of milk production, saying, “insufficient grazing land, high cost of concentrate feeds, animal diseases and cattle rustling among others are a constant reminder of the ills of the present traditional system of pastoral production”. He added that the need to have a smaller, highly productive and well managed herd with more output can never be overemphasized as it is a more profitable and sustainable option. Also present on the occasion was the representative of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs C. Wintolo, who lauded the efforts of the cooperative in enhancing the production of milk in the country. She stated that the ministry was aware of the problems of the industry, promising that they also would be overcome. She called on the milk producers to improve their marketing scope in order to enhance profit making while stressing the need to continue to be active in cooperative activities in order to achieve good results. In his goodwill message, the Chief of Kagarko, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, expressed gratitude to MILCOPAL for its efforts in enhancing milk production. He also thanked God for sustaining the cooperative and called for unity and understanding among the Fulani in his chiefdom.

Bad roads, others bane of Bariga —Lawmaker Bola Badmus-Lagos THE Chief Whip, Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Rotimi Abiru, has lamented the poor state of infrastructure, especially roads in Bariga, which are generally below sea level, calling on the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to consider the area as one of the priorities that need the urgent attention of his government. Abiru, who represents

Shomolu Constituency II, made the call while speaking with Community News. He recalled that even the World Bank, in a recent report, affirmed that Bariga was one of the blighted areas in the state, which needed huge resources to address. “Bariga is a lowland area, we have challenges of shanties. Most of the road infrastructure deteriorate quite rapidly. Olohunkemi road and

Oderemo roads are in very bad condition. The construction of Lady-Lak Road by the state government is ongoing, we thank the governor for that,” the lawmaker said. Honourable Abiru, therefore, urged Governor Ambode to ensure that attention is directed at the list of bad roads in the area, among other pressing needs, which he disclosed, he had since forwarded to the governor in form of a letter.

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former UN Secretary General, dies at 93

OUTROS BoutrosGhali, an Egyptian diplomat who led the United Nations in a chaotic 1990 tenure that began with hopes for peace after the Cold War, but failed to cope with genocide in Rwanda and Bosnia and ended in angry recriminations with Washington, has died. He was 93. According to New York Times, his death in Cairo was confirmed on Tuesday morning by the office of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Mr. Ban later made a brief appearance before reporters at the United Nations, saying he was “deeply saddened” and calling Mr. BoutrosGhali “a memorable leader who rendered invaluable services to world peace and international order.” A generation before violent protests boiled over in Cairo in 2011, Mr. Boutros-Ghali was a keystone of Egypt’s old guard diplomacy, a senior minister to President Hosni Mubarak and to his slain predecessor, Anwar el-Sadat. He seemed to meet the tests of character and experience when, in 1992, he became the sixth secretary general of the United Nations, the first

African and the first Arab to hold the post. The scion of a politically

Boutros Boutros-Ghali

presidential palace, he accompanied Mr. Sadat on his historic olive-branch mission to Jerusalem in 1977, then played a pivotal role in the Camp David accords. He was at the White House when Mr. Sadat, Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel and President Jimmy Carter signed the 1979 treaty ending a 31-year state of war between Egypt and Israel, a breakthrough in the history of the Middle East conflict. There were doubts about Mr. Boutros-Ghali. Was he, at 69, too old for a five-year term? Could an Egyptian Arab who had favored a Palestinian state be evenhanded in the Middle

East? He went out of his way to reassure Israel, and Arab and African endorsements helped overcome the first President George Bush’s misgivings. Strong-willed and, independent, Mr. BoutrosGhali took the helm determined to subdue

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron won a commitment from the European Parliament chief on Tuesday that the assembly will “do its utmost” to back any fair deal on the European Union reforms Cameron is seeking this week ahead of a referendum on whether Britain should remain in the EU. The Guardian said Cameron wants European

witnesses said. There was a heavy police presence in Kinshasa and the second city Lubumbashi, but no reports of violence. “For us, this (strike) is an important action against an irresponsible government,” said Abdul Mpia, 39. By contrast, others said the strike was causing hardship in a city where many make a living as street sellers or market traders.

leaders at the two-day summit starting Thursday to boost national decisionmaking for London, including ways to limit welfare payments to EU workers coming to Britain. The British leader held talks Tuesday amid warnings that any reform package could be vetoed by lawmakers after the referendum because it will not be secured by a change in the EU treaty. At the same time, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told EU legislators the bloc is not planning for any British departure, the so-called

A deadly train crash in southern Germany that killed 11 people was probably caused by human error on the part of the train dispatcher, prosecutors said Tuesday. As well as the deaths, more than 80 people

David Cameron “Brexit.” “I am not entering into the details of a plan B, because we don’t have a plan B, we have a plan A, Britain will stay in the European Union as a constructive and active member,” Juncker said.

otherNEWS

aggression and pursue peace after the fall of Soviet Communism and a relaxation of East-West tensions that had long hamstrung the United Nations. He also resolved to attack the organisation’s bloated bureaucracy and chronic money problems.

Prosecutors believe human error caused German train crash

Cameron in Brussels ahead of key talks on EU future

Congo general strike stops most economic activity in capital A one-day general strike in Democratic Republic of Congo called to pressure President Joseph Kabila to quit power when his mandate ends in December paralysed most economic activity in the capital on Tuesday. Reuters said traffic on the normally bustling streets was greatly reduced, the shared taxis that ferry much of the city’s workforce were not running and the central market was empty,

active Coptic Christian family, at home in a Bedouin’s tent or a

Even if European Parliament President Martin Schulz said he wanted any deal to remain within the framework of the EU treaty, he did promise cooperation where possible.

were injured when two commuter trains slammed into each other on a singleline track near Bad Aibling, 60 kilometers (40 miles) southeast of Munich, early on Feb. 9. Prosecutor Wolfgang Giese said his office has opened a criminal investigation against the 39-year-old dispatcher on suspicion of negligent homicide, bodily harm and interference with rail traffic. “Had he (the dispatcher) behaved according to the rules, the trains would not have collided,” Giese said. He didn’t identify the man, who was interviewed by police Monday in the presence of his lawyer. Investigators believe the dispatcher, whose job involves directing rail traffic and ensuring safety on the tracks, sent a wrong signal to the trains. After noticing his mistake, he tried to alert the drivers using an emergency call but failed to prevent the crash, prosecutors said.

Ugandan candidates make final appeals to voters before election

Leading opposition leader and presidential candidate, Kizza Besigye (centre), being arrested by riot police after attempting to walk with his supporters along a street in downtown Kampala, Uganda, PHOTO: VOA.

CANDIDATES in Uganda held final rallies on Tuesday ahead of the country’s presidential and legislative election. The VOA reported that voters will decide on Thursday whether to give President Yoweri Museveni a fifth term or elect an

opposition candidate and have a new leader for the first time since 1986. Museveni took power in a coup and won landslide elections in 2006 and 2011 that observers said were marred by irregularities and intimidation of

opposition parties. On Monday, Ugandan police detained opposition candidate Kizza Besigye as he campaigned in the country’s capital. Witnesses said police fired tear gas at a Besigye event and took him into custody.

Cameroon claims to have liberated Nigeria’s Boko Haram stronghold

Joseph Kabila

CAMEROON said its soldiers have liberated the northeastern Nigerian town of Goshi from Boko Haram and handed it to the Nigerian government. According to VOA, a spokesman for the government of Cameroon said more

than 160 Boko Haram fighters were killed and hundreds of hostages, both Cameroonian and Nigerian, freed. C a m e r o o n Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said between February 11 and 14, Cameroon’s military

launched raids on Goshi, where intelligence reports indicated Boko Haram fighters were running training camps and bomb factories. He said the terrorists were also training teenagers, especially girls, and Cameroonian soldiers patrolling in the brainwashing them to Cameroonian town of Fotokol, on the border be suicide bombers. with Nigeria. PHOTO: AFP.

tribunesport

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

Dalung moves to renovate National Stadium Lagos

‘Barcelona will win Champions League again’ ZENIT full-back Domenico Criscito believes that Barcelona’s “extra-terrestrials” will fire the Catalans to a second successive Champions League title this term. The Blaugrana lifted the trophy last year, defeating Juventus 3-1 in the final in Berlin, but no side has retained the European Cup since it was rebranded in 1992. And Criscito believes Barca have what it takes to make history, although he is hoping Zenit - who face Benfica in the first leg of their round of 16 tie on Tuesday - can go all the way this season, not least because such an achievement would undoubtedly boost his hopes of forcing his way into Italy’s Euro 2016 squad. The left-back, who missed Euro 2012 due to his alleged involvement in the Scommessopoli betting scandal, only to then be completely cleared of all charges, has not represented his country since 2014. Criscito will therefore be hoping to catch Antonio Conte’s eye with his performances for Zenit, although the defender admits that neither the Russians nor any

other team in Europe can prevent Barca from becoming the first side since AC Milan in 1990 to successfully defend the European Cup. “I hope to go forward in this competition and that this visibility can help me to get back into the national team,” Criscito told Goal. “It’s one of the main targets I set myself at the start of the season and I hope to be able to do it because I care so much about the Azzurri jersey. “I would like to put the misunderstandings of the past behind me and start over again, experiencing once more the feeling that only this jersey can give you. “However, in the Champions League, there are great teams, really great teams and then the extra-terrestrials. For me, I think Barcelona will win it again, because they are simply on another level.” Criscito has the utmost respect for former clubs Juventus and Roma, particularly from a tactical perspective, but he fears for Italy’s remaining Champions League representatives, who take on Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, respectively.

By Niyi Alebiosu

Messi

Spalletti not planning to cage Ronaldo AS Roma coach, Luciano Spalletti has no plans “to cage” Champions League top scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo when the Italian club

takes on Real Madrid tonight in last 16 meeting. Ronaldo is the Champions League’s all-time record scorer with 88 goals,

Charity shield: Enyimba,

Akwa Utd clash in Abuja NIGERIAN champions Enyimba FC are in battle again, few days after they drew the short end against Ugandan champions Vipers FC in a first round, first leg CAF Champions League encounter in Kampala. This time, the People’s Elephant are up against Federation Cup winners Akwa United in the annual Charity Cup match, in what is billed to be a titanic session at the National Stadium, Abuja on Wednesday. The Charity Cup traditionally opens the football season. Akwa United are brimming with immense confidence following a run of marvelous results, including beating better –fancied Lobi Stars to win the Federation Cup and conquering fellow continental campaigners (Enyimba FC, Warri Wolves and Nasarawa in two rounds of the Super Four organised by the League Management Company. On Saturday, the boys from the Land of Promise boldly promised more, by beating

more experienced Vita Club Mokanda of Congo 1-0 in Pointe Noir in a CAF Confederation Cup first round, first leg match. Ubong Moses Ekpai, whose goal in Pointe Noir has made the return leg against Vita Club Mokanda an easier session, would seek more goals, with goalkeeper Olufemi Kayode, former junior international Samuel Okon, Namso Edo, Ubong Friday, Kufre Ebong and U-23 star Godspower Igudia also set to impress. Enyimba boast three of the best goalkeepers in the land, Olufemi Thomas, Moses Ocheje and Theophilus Afelokhai. They also have on their books Super Eagles’ aces Chima Akas, Kalu Orji and Ezekiel Bassey, as well as other decent names like Chinedu Udoji, Ugwu Uwadiegwu, Christian Pyagbara, Bartholomew Ibenegbu, Daniel Etor, Mfon Udoh, Andrew Abalogu, Oladapo Olufemi and Nzube Anaezemba.

and leads this season’s tally with 11. While the Portuguese striker will be fancied to extend his haul against Roma, whose 16 goals conceded in the group stage was more than any other side through to the last 16, Spalletti is making no special provisions for Ronaldo. “Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world, he can always make a difference. However, I’m not going to cage him, I’m not going to order three players to mark him,” the Roma coach told reporters on Tuesday. “I don’t want to say that my players have one third of Ronaldo’s quality. If so, we’d need 33 players to deal with him.” Defender Kostas Manolas added: “If we feel we’re only one third of Ronaldo, then we’d be better off not playing at all. We’d already be beaten.” While Real romped through their group by scoring 19 goals as they won five of their six fixtures to amass 16 points, Roma squeezed into the knockout rounds with just six points after winning only one match. Despite their poor showing, Spalletti refused to accept that Roma are outsiders. “I don’t think there’s a favourite,” he said. “We’ve got a 50 percent chance of going through.” Spalletti has overseen a mini revival at Roma since replacing Rudi Garcia as coach on January 14, winning four league games and losing only once. “I’m very optimistic, as I’ve seen my players improving all the time,” he said. “I wouldn’t be amazed if it was my team who went through.” Roma host Real on Tuesday while the second leg will take place on March 8.

Technical report on the current state and new concept for the National Stadium Surulere Lagos was presented Tuesday in Abuja to the Minister for Youth and Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung. The report evaluated by a consortium of architects and estate surveyors from MAYSU Construction had taken ten weeks to conclude. Thirty architects, six quantity surveyors and five structural engineers evaluated the state of decadence at the Stadium, re-drew the original architectural plan of the edifice built in 1972 and came up with the cost of repairs and renovation for the stadium. At the presentation ceremony, the Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung harped on his administration’s resolve to invest in the completion of abandoned projects. “If this is all we are able to achieve after our sourjourn here, we would want posterity to ascribe that to us. We are not interested in making names in building new projects but we want to be remembered for giving our own modest contribution in trying to complete those projects that were abandoned and to also look at those projects, edifices and facilities that were our source of pride that are in a state of disrepair. The National Stadium Surulere is one of such projects”. Barrister Dalung recalled that the National Stadium used to be the pride of the nation and could not comprehend how the stadium had deteriorated to such an embarrassing state. “No country can develop its image in the face of such neglect therefore we are here to try to redraw history as the consultants present to us the concept of a new National Stadium, Surulere Lagos. Subsequently, we will discuss with the management and look at the most viable option to adopt in order to realize our dream, whether it will be through concession, leasing or Public Private Partnership. All these will be decided after the analysis of the cost implication but definitely, we will leave the National Stadium better than we met it” Dalung stated. Barrister Dalung however emphasized that

his focus will not be limited to Lagos alone but also on sports structures and Youth development centers scattered all over the country that have also been abandoned. He observed the complete absence of the maintenance culture but assured that as part of the change agenda, the maintenance culture will be revived. Presenting the drawings to the Hon Minister, the leader of the delegation and CEO of the construction company Arc Hart Bankat expressed delight in the opportunity given to the company to do the survey and present the drawing and technical report. Answering questions on what the cost of the project will be, Arc. Hart said the presentation was a proposal for now and would not want to go against the procurement act. If approved, Hart said, the cost will be discussed while all documentations will be duly submitted. He also gave assurances on the pedigree of the company. “ Our company comprises over one hundred professional and active staff, over a thousand ad hoc staff and has been in existence since 2013. Once discussions are concluded by the management and certain approvals are given, a time frame and details will be given on the completion of the project”. The presentation of the Technical Report on the National Stadium Surulere is a follow-up to the minister’s visit to the facility last year. The Stadium was last used in 2004 and currently in a state of disrepair.

Dream Team to face Brazil in friendly —Siasia COACH Samson Siasia has disclosed the Nigeria Olympic team, Dream Team VI, will face Brazil in a friendly next month as part of their preparations for the Rio Olympics. “We are working on a friendly against Brazil for next month, we will get more details about this game next week,” said Siasia. The match was earlier scheduled for last year in London, but was later shelved after the Nigeria Olympic team complained it was too close to the U23 AFCON in Senegal. Nigeria eventually won the U23 AFCON in December to qualify for the Rio Olympics in Brazil in August. Nigeria, inspired by skipper Nwankwo Kanu, beat Brazil 4-3 in a pulsating semi-

final to reach the final of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics on their way to clinching a historic Gold. Five-time world champions Brazil are yet to win Olympic soccer Gold.

Siasia

Wednesday, 17 February, 2016

corporatesport

With Niyi Alebiosu adeniyi70@yahoo.com 08116954642

GOtv Boxing NextGen Search:

Organisers peg age at 28

18th Nestle Milo Basketball Championship:

Sponsor announces exciting initiatives

OR 18 years, the Nestle Milo Basketball Championship has remained the Nation’s flagship grassroot competition which gives the Nigerian youth the opportunity to showcase their basketball skills. And this year, Nestle Milo is set to surpass its own record with some exciting new initiatives that the company will unveil at a press conference to be addressed at its corporate head office in Lagos tomorrow morning. Unlike the game of football which is dominated by the boys at the secondary schools level, Nestle Milo carefully chose the game

of basketball to ensure both boys and girls get the same experience in the game and that more, importantly, they get the right foundation for development. The President FIBA Africa zone 3 Col. Sam Ahmedu confirms that Nigeria is already reaping the dividends of the Nestle Milo Basketball Championships in schools. “Take a close look at the line up in our national teams both men and women, you will observe that the products are from the Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship”. Col. Ahmedu, recalled that what started 18 years ago as Nestle Milo

Basketball Clinic later metamorphosed into a full fledged championship which has now spread like wild fire engulfing secondary schools across the country. Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, president of the National School Sports Federation, commended Nestle Milo for sponsoring the championship for 18 straight years. National School Sports Federation is one of the stakeholders, and technical partners to the tournament ‘’If other Corporate Organisations can do what Nestle Milo is doing in basketball for other sports, the sky will be the nation’s

limit.” Nestle Milo the sole sponsor tries to communicate, to the students, the great values of sport as a teacher through determination, discipline, honesty, and confidence. According to the Category Manager Beverages, Mr. Femi Akintola, “sports is a great teacher and children’s participation in sports helps set the foundation for a solid future. They learn determination to succeed, discipline to persevere and many more life values by participating in sport. We will continue to provide them this platform”

ORGANISERS of the GOtv Boxing NextGen Search have announced that participating boxers at the event, which holds between 17 and 18 February, should not be older than 28. This, they explained, is because the event is conceived to find new professional boxing talents, who can take the sport to greater heights in Nigeria. Mr. Remi Aboderin, General Secretary, Nigerian Boxing Board of Control, under whose auspices the event is being organised, explained that the aim of the sponsors, GOtv, is to revive the sport by raising a new generation of boxers, who will take over from the current crop. “The sponsors are minded to deliver a conveyor belt that will regularly feed the sport with a stream of young and skilled boxers. “Ideally, the age limit should be lower, but we have put it higher because of the long period of decline the sport experienced. The decline robbed many talents of the chance of hitting the big time in their prime. “With the age limit of 28, we are certain of finding adequate boxers from whom the sport can still get a few more years before age catches up with them,” he explained. GOtv Boxing NextGen Search, which is being held in partnership with the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame (LBHF), will hold over the two days at the LBHF Gym, Olatilewa street, off Lawanson road, Surulere, Lagos. It will feature sparring sessions by boxers, who will be assessed by accomplished boxing coaches. Selected boxers will be privileged to attend a sport and medical seminar, enjoy free medical examination on 19 February. They will also have their boxing licences paid for by the sponsors.

250 golfers for IGC Insurance golf open By Olawale Olaniyan

APPROXIMATELY 250 golfers from across the country have confirm their participation in this year’s Insurance Golf Open scheduled for this weekend at Ibadan Golf Club, Onireke Ibadan. The 2-day tournament is expected to bring together amateur and professional golfers to compete in different categories. Speaking with Corporate Sports, the Coordinator of the tournament, Chief Babajide Olatunde-Agbeja who is the initiator stated that Insurance Golf Open has come to stay just as he said this year’s edition will be in grand style due to the participants and prizes to be

won. According to him, “Insurance companies in the country are promoting sporting activities at all levels and we are calling more participation from other corporate organisations in improving the game of golf and other sports in order to further enhance the human capacity. “We really appreciate the effort of these companies for making it a fourth year in a row despite the economy situation of the country, they but still fulfill their promises in making this tournament in a yearly event.” The major sponsors of the competition are Mutual Insurance while Niger Insurance,OldMutual, FBN

Insurance, Gni Great Nigeria Insurance, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance, Leadway Assurance, Goldlink Insurance, Equity Assurance, Law Union and Rock Insurance, Capital express assurance, Cornerstone, AIICO Insurance, Lasaco Assurance, Union assurance Wapic among others are co sponsors. The tournament will officially tee off on Saturday, February 20, by 7.00am while the closing ceremony is also billed for the same day by 4:00pm. The Cocktail party is scheduled for Friday by 6:00pm. The current winner is the IGC Captain, Akin Funmilayo who also promised to retain the title.

From right; The Head of Marketing, Niger Insurance, Gbenga Owokalade, The Mutual Benefits Assurance Managing Director, Mr Olusegun Omosehin, former IGC captain, Chief Babajide Olatunde-Agbeja and Head of Communication, Mutual Benefits Assurance, Evelyn Ofo during the ceremonial tee off of the 3rd edition of Insurance Golf Open held at IGC, Ibadan. PHOTO: OLAWALE OLANIYAN

SIDELINES

NO 16,438

N150

WEDNESDAY, 17 FEBRUARY, 2016

The picture of the money recovered from robbers by the police in Osogbo, Osun State at the weekend is indeed intimidating given the sheer volume and height of the loot. Unfortunately, human greed is larger, thicker and taller!

Quadri, Meshref to represent Africa at ITTF World Cups N IGERIA’S Aruna Quadri and Egypt’s Dina Meshref will represent Africa at the 2016 ITTF World Cups after the duo emerged champions at the ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup in Khartoum, Sudan. To become the new continent champion, Aruna Quadri avenged the defeats he suffered in the hands of Egypt’s Omar Assar in 2015 when he walloped the Egyptian 4-1 to lift the trophy while Dina Meshref who has been training in Singapore in the last three months defeated Congo Brazzaville’s Han Xing by same margin to be victorious in the women event. Just like it happened in 2014 in Lagos when Quadri and Meshref claimed the titles, it occurred again in Sudan as both became the new champions of Africa. With this victory, Quadri will return to Germany where he had his

Quadri

Today’s Champions League fixtures Gent v Wolfsburg Roma v Real Madrid resurgence in 2014 when the 2016 edition of the ITTF World Cups hold. For the women event, Meshref will want to amend her first round exit at the 2015 edition of the World Cup when this year’s event hold in a yet to be decided venue. For the third time, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri will be representing Africa at the ITTF World Cups after

Nigeria wins hosting right of Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Nigeria the hosting right of this year’s Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations. In a letter addressed to NFF President, Amaju Pinnick on Tuesday, CAF noted with excitement the decision of Nigeria to switch the event from 2017 to December 2016. The letter read, “Considering indeed that the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup might be held early 2017, and that CAF in odd years do organise three major events back-to-back, namely the Africa Cup of Nations followed by the U-20 and U-17 Cup of Nations from January to April 2017, the CAF Executive Committee decided to ease the overall calendar of events by organizing the Beach Soccer Cup of Nations ev-

Ogba pledges support for NFF

ery even years from now on. “Hence, we look forward to a tremendous competition and to meet your team as soon as possible to start the preparations of the said competition.”

CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Youth and Sports, Senator Obinna Ogba has promised to continue to lend strong support to the Amaju Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), stating that he is very much impressed with the performance of the administration so far. Ogba spoke in his office at the Senate on Tuesday, while receiving a delegation of NFF Executive Committee members, led by Pinnick. “Let me congratulate you on the very good job you are doing. Of course leadership is always associated with challenges, so there must be challenges here and there. But the important thing is that your team is putting up great efforts and you are united. “The truth is, we cannot win all matches, and the earlier we realize that, the better for us as a people. I appeal to you to remain united and committed to the development of Nigerian football in all areas,” said Senator Ogba. Ogba insisted that only one person can be NFF President at any time, and pulled no punches in declaring that “this is a properly – constituted authority and I firmly believe in the rule of law.

the 2014 ITTF Star Player defeated his arch-rival, Egypt’s Omar Assar 4-1 to win the 2016 ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup in Sudan. Quadri who has been playing second fiddle to the Egyptian in their four last meetings was in fine form in the final of the men’s singles with a 11-8,8-11,7-11,6-11,9-11 victory over the North African. This win will make it the third time Quadri will be participating in the ITTF World Cups. His maiden outing was in 2009 in Russia while in 2014 in Dusseldorf, Germany he stunned the world with his performance which shot him to the top 30 in the world. The victory over Assar will surely rub off on the world ranking of Quadri who is at present rated 37 while Assar is 32.

Court freezes Neymar’s assets THE federal court in the state of Sao Paulo has taken action against the Barcelona star, Neymar who has been accused of tax evasion back in his homeland Barcelona forward Neymar has had assets frozen back in his native Brazil. The 24-year-old is facing charges of tax evasion between 2011 and 2013, but has denied any wrongdoing. The federal court in the state of Sao Paulo has intervened to block £34.5 million worth of his assets, however, with a yacht, a jet, properties and three companies belonging to his family all

affected. The authorities have ordered Neymar, who is accused of setting up companies as a means of paying a lower rate of tax, to hand over £11 million - the figure he is said to owe. “He can still appeal the decision, but it is a step forward,” said Iagaro Jung Martins, an auditor with the federal tax agency. “If he pays what he owes, the case is closed. Our legislation isn’t too harsh.” Neymar is also facing allegations of corruption and fraud in Spain, an issue that relates to his transfer from Santos to Barcelona in 2013.

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