21st April 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,484

THURSDAY, 21 APRIL, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

We have no clue on Chibok girls' location —DG DSS, IGP

•Service chiefs absent at Senate briefing —P31

Nigerian Tribune

Ondo begins bitumen exploration with 10,000 bpd —P33

@nigeriantribune

TribuneOnline

Corrupt national award recipients to lose honour —FG

Nigerian Tribune

N150

PDP zoning committee meeting deadlocked •Adjusts congresses' timetable

Evidence against Saraki got burnt in bank —EFCC witness —P9

—P35

—P2 •Says he never interrogated Senate president •Senate drops planned amendment of CCT Act, invitation of chairman •Senate committees, leadership positions to be reviewed

Reps query FIRS over unpaid N7.5bn

•Orders immediate audit of airlines —P10

Court orders DSS to pay N5m to detained Ekiti lawmaker •Says arrest, detention illegal —P32

From left, Divisional Head, SMEs, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr Abdulganiyu Mohammed; Divisional Head, Large Enterprise, BoI, Mr Joseph Babatunde; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh and the acting Managing Director, BoI, Mr Waheed Olagunju, during a meeting with BoI on the funding of Young Starters Agro Processing Venture, in Abuja, on Wednesday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI

Armed men raid farms, communities in Ibadan —P31

Despite 2016 budget delay, FG plans for 2017 •Says no currency swap deal with China

—P8

2 news

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

CCT trial: Senate set to review committees, leadership positions •To drop planned amendment on CCB/CCT Acts •I will resign if it will save Saraki —Senate Leader •Saraki innocent until proven guilty —Senate Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja THE Senate rose from a two-hour closed door session on Wednesday, to announce the formation of a committee to midwife unity among the senators.

The Senate also said that the committee would review the composition of the standing committees as established by Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, to ensure the sanctity of ranking, as well as review the Senate leadership positions to ensure “equity and justice.”

Rising from the session, which was suggested by Senator Hope Uzodinma, after raising Senate Standing orders 42 and 43, the Senate resolved to suspend work on the planned amendment of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Code of Conduct (CCT) Acts.

Senator Uzodinma (PDP, Imo East) had raised the Point of Order, asking that the Senate to discuss certain critical issues at the session.

He said the Senate was being wrongly perceived by some members of the public, adding that the chamber should not shy away from discussing issues wrongly perceived by the public.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the sitting, put the question as to whether everyone was in agreement with the motion by Senator Uzodinma, and with no one raising objection, the lawmakers went into closed session.

After the session, which lasted about two hours, Senator Ekweremadu announced to the chamber that it was agreed that the Senate should be united and that the lawmakers would set up a committee to entrench the unity.

He also said the lawmakers agreed to suspend the deliberation on the amendment of the CCB/ CCT Acts and also suspend debate on the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public petitions, which had recommended the suspension of the spokesman of the Senate Unity Forum, Senator Kabir Marafa.

The chamber also agreed to suspend the planned amendment of the administration of Criminal Justice Act. Marafa had been accused of attempting to drag the Senate in the mud, by making uncomplimentary statements in the media.

Besides the 12-member committee, two members from each geopolitical zone will also review the leadership structure of the Senate

in line with “equity and justice.”

In that regard, all senators, who have taken the Senate to court over one issue or the other, are requested to withdraw those cases, such that the Senate could regain its robust image.

Senator Ekweremadu announced that the sena-

tors, at the closed session, agreed to stand by Senate President, Saraki, in his trial at the CCT, adding that the Senate was of the view that the Senate President was innocent until proven guilty.

The Senate said the decision to stand by Saraki was in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic and

democratic practices all over the world, like South Africa, Brazil and Russia.

The Senate agreed that the committee of 12, to be made up of two senators from each geopolitical zone, would enhance reconciliation, adding that those who had sued the Senate should consider withdrawing the

cases, as part of the reconciliation.

The committee of 12, set up to restructure the Senate, includes Senators Godswill Akpabio and James Manager (South-South); Senators Sani Yerima and Suleiman Hunkunyi (North-West); Senators Buka Abba Ibrahim and Jodhua Idani

(North-East); South-East is to be represented by Senators Sam Egwu, Hope Uzodinma, the NorthCentral will be represented

by Barnabas Gemade and Abdullahi Adamu, while the South-West is to be represented by Senators Monsurat Sunmonu and Gbenga Ashafa.

reports and affidavit which they (the GTB) swore to show that some documents were burnt,” he stated.

While answering questions regarding whether or not he knew if the American Express Bank was a bank incorporated or not, he said his investigation only related to the debit card sent from the bank.

Also when asked if there was anything on the form containing the details of the telex relating an entry from the American Express Bank, Wetkas simply stated: “from my investigations, that does not necessarily have to be there.”

When Mr Usoro insisted on getting a response to that question, the witness said there was nothing referring to the American Express Bank and that Saraki was not investigated on assets decla-

ration before bringing him for trial, saying that the Senate President was only investigated through his bank account on money laundering.

He said Saraki was charged with operating foreign accounts, adding that the EFCC never had the opening package and financial statement of the alleged foreign account.

Meanwhile, the number of senators accompanying Saraki to the tribunal have gradually declined, since his trial was slated to continue on a daily basis.

At the beginning of the trial in 2015, Saraki was, at a time, accompanied by about 81 senators, while almost 50 senators followed him to the trial venue after the Supreme Court nullified his application challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him.

was himself under investigation for corruption by EFCC. The affidavit deposed to by Mr Paul Akase, claimed that neither the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the EFCC nor Umar had ever denied that CCT boss was under investigation.

It also claimed that by the 1999 Constitution the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, the power to investigate complaint of breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers was the exclusive of the CCB and not the EFCC.

The affidavit further stated that the EFCC’s usurpation of the CCB power had been admitted by the AGF in previous court action instituted by Saraki against the AGF, EFCC, Umar and other defendants.

It, therefore, stated that the interest of justice would be served if Umar excuses or disqualifies himself from sitting in a the panel of the tribunal to hear and determine the charges being prosecuted against the applicant.

No date had been fixed for hearing of the application.

Evidence against Saraki got burnt in bank —EFCC witness Says he never interrogated Senate president Sunday Ejike - Abuja

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HE star witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday, said documents against Saraki had reportedly burnt in a Nigerian bank, where the said fund was transferred from.

This was as he said although he led the team that investigated Saraki, he never met the Senate president for interrogation or obtaining statement from him.

The witness, Michael Wetkas, who was cross examined based on count-11 of the charge, which borders on foreign account operation when Saraki was governor of Kwara State, also told the Code of Conduct

Tribunal (CCT) that documents relating to Saraki’s alleged transfer of $73,233.28 were burnt before the commencement of trial.

The Federal Government is prosecuting the Senate President over an alleged false and anticipatory declaration of assets.

He told the tribunal during cross examination by a defence counsel, Paul Usoro, that the documents relating to the said allegation, contained in count-11 of the charge against Saraki, was reported to have been burnt in a Nigerian bank, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), where the said fund was transferred from.

“There is an affidavit and I believe it was fire outbreak,” he told the Danladi Umarled tribunal.

Wetkas told the tribunal that his investigative team

came across the information concerning Saraki’s foreign account through several telexes from the American Express Bank, provided to the team by GTB. He added that the requests made by his investigation team for the telexes was a result of a debit transaction noticed in Saraki’s account.

“There is no doubt that the transaction was actually carried out by American Express Bank,” the witness said.

“A debit in the account of the defendant was there and the narration was clear that money was transferred and where it was transferred from,” he added.

The witnesss said GTB was invited, adding that the bank confirmed what it earlier stated regarding the transfer and the burnt documents.

“There were also police

You are biased, Saraki tells CCT chairman Sunday Ejike - Abuja THE Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, standing trial over alleged false assets declaration, on Wednesday, accused the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Justice Danladi Umar, of being biased.

Saraki, in an application he filed against Umar, insisted that he could not get justice if he (Umar) continued to preside over his trial.

He urged the CCT boss to disqualify himself from further proceedings in the trial on the alleged falsification.

In the motion on notice filed by Saraki’s lawyer, Mr Raphael Oluyede, it was contended that the continued presence of Umar on the panel offended the provisions of Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The constitutional provision prescribes that “in the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to

secure its independence and impartiality.”

The applicant claimed that the unfolding events and the manner his trial was being conducted by Umar, there is likelihood of bias from the chairman and as such, he should withdraw himself from further prosecuting him.

The motion on notice was brought pursuant to section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the common law rule on likelihood of bias and the rules of natural justice.

The defendants in the motion on notice are Mr Umar and the second member of the Tribunal, Mr Agwadza Williams Atedze.

In a 20-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion, Saraki was said to be standing trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) being presided over by Umar.

The affidavit averred that the applicant had sought to enforce his fundamental rights in suit number FHC/ ABJ/CS/905/2015 before the Federal High Court in Abuja, on the ground that the independence and impartiality of the CCT could not be guaranteed while Umar presided over the trial

of the applicant.

It also averred that Saraki was being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and that Umar, as chairman of CCT, was an object of investigation by the same EFCC on corrupt practices.

The affidavit also claimed that by his conduct in the proceedings, the CCT boss had allegedly proved to be a willing tool in the hands of the executive branch of the government, which was responsible for his appointment and particularly, as he (Umar)

APC national chairman refutes online report on Saraki NATIONAL chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John OdigieOyegun, has refuted online media reports that the party would sacrifice the Senate Presidency on the altar of change.

Odigie-Oyegun made the rebuttal while speaking to newsmen at the party secretariat in Abuja, on Wednesday.

It will be recalled that a few days ago, an online report quoted the chairman as saying “Saraki would be well; I don’t think we will

lose that position.

“But sometimes, for change to take place, there is price you have to pay. So, losing the position may be sacrifice for change.”

But, in his reaction, Odigie-Oyegun said “this misunderstanding is still on?

Let me put it simply; there were basically two points that I was making.

“Number one, as a party of change or even as a party, we cannot interfere in a judicial process that is ongoing. That was clear.

“And, when they asked

about the Senate, I said under no circumstance can we compromise on the leadership of the Senate.

“We are the majority party and the issue doesn’t even arise, but unfortunately, the way it was put, the misinterpretation had been a little bit intense and that is clear.

“It just doesn’t arise at all.

The issue, the argument and the rest doesn’t arise.

If somebody wants to theorise and postulate, that’s a different matter. It doesn’t arise.”

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Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Lagos 5,700 youths to receive training in agro-business Bola Badmus

No fewer than 5,700 youths, drawn from the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of Lagos State will be benefiting from training and employment programmes bordering on agric business, manufacturing, internet business, exporting, tourism among others.

The programme tagged, National Image Youth Empowerment, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Summit put together by National Image Magazine will witness 100 youths aged between 18 and 45 years being selected from each of the council areas for the exercise.

Centres slated for the exercise are Lagos State Government Youth Centres in Epe and Ikeja from Monday, June 13-June 24, 2016; while the Rilwanu Jamiu and Balogun Oyewole, the suspects arraigned by the Department of State Security (DSS) for cloning the mobile number of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, at the Isolo Chief Magistrate’s Court, on grand finale of the event will include a lecture Wednesday. and accolade ceremony which will take place in Lagos in July 2016.

Programme coordinator, Mr Seyi Bamigbade, in an interaction with newsmen, said the training programme was meant to lend a helping hand to the Ademola Fowowe, for produe to the sensitive nature them in custody would be of defendants were bailLagos State government as Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin curement of USA citizen- of the case. the best option to protect able and there was no ap- it strives to create jobs for wo alleged fraud- ship passport application.

Okerinmodun told the them from threat. plication before the court the teeming unemployed sters landed in All the defendants pleaded court that some of the The Magistrate, Mrs seeking for their remand. youths in the state. trouble when they not guilty to the charge. accomplices were still at Adetola Adedayo asked She therefore, granted Bamigbade lauded Govwere arrested by The prosecuting coun- large and releasing the the prosecutor whether bail to the defendants in ernor Akinwunmi Amoperatives of the Depart- sel, Peter Okerinmodun defendant on bail could there was a written appli- sum of N1 million with two bode for his support by ment of State Service (DSS) prayed the court to remand jeopardize the trial and the cation to that effect but sureties in the like sum making the youth centres for allegedly cloning the the defendants who were evidence, adding that in Okerinmodun said there and they were remanded in across the state available phone number of Governor, not represented by any order to protect the lives of was none. Consequently, Kirikiri Prison pending the for the empowerment proAkinwunmi Ambode. counsel in prison custody the defendants remanding she ruled that the offences perfection of their bail. gramme.

The suspects, Rilwanu The programme coordiJamiu and Balogun Stannator urged for more supley Oyewole, who reside at port from governments, 10, Giwa Street, Oka Akoko private organisations and Street, and 65, Unity Street, well meaning Nigerians, Bola Badmus Ikotun, respectively, were just as he also expressed alleged to have committed Lagos State Environmendisclosed that more than 85 parking, causing traffic ob- around Ikoyi area, adding appreciation to the Lagos the offence on February 10, tal Sanitation and Special private and commercial ve- structions around the area. that 15 illegal shanties were State Ministry of Youths 2016.

Offences Unit (Task Force) hicles, including 19 motorAccording to it, the 19 mo- demolished by the officials and Social Development They were accused of clon- has urged every security cycles were impounded at torcycles were impounded of Task Force around the for its support for the proing the Glo number of Am- personnel across the state, gramme.

Club Road, Ikoyi for illegal for plying restricted routes area. bode, and used the number including police and milto send a text message for itary, to comply with the the transfer of a sum of N50 Lagos State Traffic Laws million from unsuspecting of 2012 or have his or her that Okesanmi and court that the defen- ikoyi Company. members of the public. vehicle or motorcycle imAyomide Owonibi Odekanyin dants and others, who They are facing a four- Olawoyin and others at Their offence is contrary pounded.

A 44-year-old man are still at large alleg- count charge bordering large received the stoand punishable under secThe Task Force made the Rasheed Okesanmi and edly, committed the of- on conspiracy, stealing len goods. tion 312 (2) and (3) of the call through its Public Aftwo others have been fences in March 2016, and receiving of stolen Earlier the defendants Criminal Law of Lagos State. fairs Officer, Mr Taofik Adeaccused of stealing car at R4, 317 Close, Ba- goods preferred against pleaded not guilty to the Also docked with the de- bayo in a statement made rims and tyres valued nana Island, Ikoyi La- them by the police. charge against them. fendants is one Aderemi available to Lagos Metro, at N7million.

The Magistrate Mrs A. gos at about 5:00 p.m.

The prosecutor also Bello who was charged with saying, “It is hereby issued The other people in Feddy said that the de- alleged that the defen- O. Sholadoye granted impersonation and fraud, that every security personthe suit are Felix Em- fendants allegedly stole dants unlawfully had them bail in the sum who was accused of imper- nel across the state must maunel 32, and Sha- three AMG rims and in their possession the of N1million, each with sonating a United States of comply with the Lagos State kiru Olawoyin 39. three tyres of Continen- properties mentioned two sureties each in America citizen.

Traffic Laws of 2012 or have The prosecutor In- tal 275/35 ZR valued above which they knew like sum and adjourned Bello was alleged to have his or her vehicles or motorspector Asu Feddy told N7 million, property were stolen proper- the case till May 18, for fraudulently collected a sum cycles impounded.” an Igbosere Magistrate of Prince Ibikunle On- ties. He further alleged mention. of N408,000 from one Isaac This was just as the agency

Fraudsters clone Ambode’s mobile line for N50m fraud

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Task Force warns police, army officers • Seizes 85 vehicles, 19 okadas, in Ikoyi

3 men accused of stealing rims, tyres

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Nigerian Tribune

metro Fire destroys 50 shops in Ladipo Market

Scene of a fire incident at a section of Ladipo Auto Market at Mushin, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN

Two policemen commended for returning N5m that fell from bullion van Olalekan Olabulo Two policemen, attached to the Lagos State Task Force on the Environment and Other Related Offences, Inspector Abiona Ezekiel and Sergeant Ogunbiyi Agbabu have been commended and rewarded by the Lagos State Government and the police for returning N5 million that reportedly fell from a bullion van, around Alausa Secretariat.

The two Task Force policemen, were on Wednesday, rewarded with an undisclosed amount of money and commendation letters by the state commissioner of police, Fatai Owoseni.

The state police boss, who presented the reward to the police officers, noted that the force would always ensure that men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force are encouraged to discharge their duties with professionalism.

The state government in a letter signed by the chief of staff to the governor, Samuel Olukunle Ojo also commended the policemen

and described their action as a fulfilment to the “change mantra.”

Five other policemen, including two inspectors, have been dismissed from service by the police Command for involvement in robbery incidents.

One of the Inspectors is already lined for criminal trial, while the second one, who is

at large, is being sought for prosecution. Also, two policemen from the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, who were reportedly involved in armed robbery activities, have been dismissed by the state police force.

CP Owoseni, while briefing newsmen on the update of the policemen, who were ac-

cused of armed robbery, confirmed that two of them have been arrested and that they have both been dismissed.

The Lagos police chief said that though the police inspector and two others are on the run, they had been dismissed from the force and they would be made to face the law court anytime they are arrested.

No fewer than 50 shops were destroyed by fire on Wednesday at Ladipo Auto Spares Market, Mushin, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that goods, particularly assorted vehicles spare parts, were burnt at the Osoro section of the market.

Mr Nkire Ezeigbo, Public Relations Officer, Ladipo Auto Dealers Association, told NAN that the fire started at about 3:30 a.m. from the Osoro/Akinwumi area of the market.

Mr Felix Okoro, Chairman of the Osoro section of the market, said no casualty was recorded but goods worth millions of naira were consumed by the inferno.

The Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Rasak Fadipe, said his men had responded promptly, adding that the fire was completely put out at 10:00 a.m.

NAN reports that the fire has temporarily slowed down business activities in the affected section of the market.

Millions of children under 5 years risk diarrhoea —Lawmakers Chukwuma Okparaocha

Mr Fatai Owoseni (left) presenting cash gifts to Inspector Abiona Hezekiah (right) and Sergeant Ogunbiyi Agbabu (second right) on behalf of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday.

Millions of children in Lagos under the age of five are currently facing the risk of diarrhoea, which has been killing many of them for years.

This alarm was raised by a lawmaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Gbolahan Yishawu, who called attention to the need for the state government to approve the usage of a new vaccine to help combat the menace.

Speaking during plenary,

Yishawu said that a lot of children under the age of five die as a result of diarrhoea which he insisted was preventable, but he was quick to add that based on investigations, the introduction of Rota Virus Vaccine for residents’ use would help reduce child mortality.

The Speaker of the House, Right Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, called for more investigation into the diarrhoea situation, with a view determining if the vaccine was really needed.

8 news Buhari can’t sign budget now —FEC

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

•As FG plans for 2017 budget •Says no currency swap deal with China Leon Usigbe -Abuja

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HE Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Wednesday, indicated that there would be more delay before President Muhammadu Buhari will sign the 2016 Appropriation Bill into law.

Addressing State House correspondents after a meeting of the council presided over by the president, on Wednesday, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udoma, said it was not ready, as government was still discussing it.

But he revealed that the Federal Government was already considering a timetable for the 2017 appropriation bill.

Udoma was joined at the briefing by his Power, Works and Housing counterpart, Babatunde Fashola; Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, who all gave updates on the various memos from their ministries deliberated upon by FEC. When asked about the status of the budget, which has been a subject of controversy, following claims by government that the National Assembly had substituted some key elements with other things. Udoma

said, “government is still talking.”

He revealed that the council has approved a timetable for the 2017 budget to make sure that it was passed on time.

“To make sure that 2017 budget is done on time, a timetable was approved for it,” Udoma stated, adding that, “I think the idea is to get to the National Assembly on time, so that they can pass it this year.”

Similarly, he noted that FEC also discussed a mechanism to monitor the 2016 budget, in anticipation of the president’s assent to the bill.

According to him, “on the expectation that we will soon have a budget, the monitoring and evaluation mechanism to make sure that the budget delivers what it promises was looked at by the Federal Executive Council and approved.”

He added: “In addition, council noted the report of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, which in partnership with National Planning Commission, organised an economic summit last year and made various recommendations, these recommendations were presented and noted.”

Fashola said he briefed council on the current power situation in the country and plans to solve the outages.

He said power generation

had dropped from about 5,000 megawatts to about 3,200 megawatts because of gas supply problems which arose from the rupture of Forcados operational platform.

“As a result of this, our power production has dropped from 5,000 megawatts to about 3,000, 3,200 megawatts, depending on other collateral problems. What was not enough at 5,000 is even now much more difficult to share at 3,000,” he said.

The minister, however, assured that government was having increasing success with some of its transmission projects, thereby restoring supply to areas which did not have power before.

“We are working to make sure that should this happen again in future, we will be better ready to respond by increasing the opportunities for local gas allocation and local gas production from the non-associated lines.

“We are confident we can meet the target of 10,000 megawatt set by Mr President by 2019. “This is a teething problem, it won’t last for long, our determination to overcome it is bigger than the problem and I’m very sure it will be overcomed,” he said..

Minister of State for Petroleum explained in his remarks the factors responsible for the persistent fuel queues in the country.

“These are as a result of four factors. The first, of course, are fiscal. By the time we came on board last year, there were over N600 billion subsidy that was not paid for 2014 and 2015 and marketers were at a point where they were running out of liquidity. They were very challenged to the extent that some had got out of the business and were not importing.

“We were able to pay that money around November with the intervention of the President, National Assembly and other stakeholders.

“But soon after, there were no credit lines and this put pressure on NNPC to provide product at almost 100 per cent capacity, because private sector were not supplying. This has been largely the problem.

“On the logistic side, refineries were not producing when we came in, meaning we had no reserves.

“When you don’t have reserve, the hiccups hit you right at the belly button because there is nothing to replace with.

“But what we have tried to do in the last one month is to try and flood the market with product. We are in the position to say between now and October, we have cargo in excess of what we should need. So, we have addressed the supply issue,” he said.

Minister of Communications, Shittu, said FEC dis-

Alleged over failed rail contracts: I’ll carry out forensic audit on rail sector, others —Amaechi •Audit report indicts NRC management •Reps threaten to arrest former SURE-P operators if...

Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja

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RANSPORT Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, on Wednesday, revealed that he was planning to carry out a comprehensive forensic audit of the railway sector and all the agencies under the ministry, to enable him have first hand information on their operations.

The minister stated this on Wednesday, when he appeared before the Honourable Johnson Agbonayinma-led ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives investigating the Ministry of Transport, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and the defunct SURE-P, over the contracts awarded between 2010 and 2014.

Amaechi, who insisted that he was not the Minister of Transport when all the contracts in question were awarded, said already, he had written to President Muhammadu Buhari for his express permission to

carry out the exercise, in order to get to the roots of all the mess.

According to Amaechi, who was responding to one of the questions from a member of the committee, “I was not the Minister of Transport when all the contracts were awarded and executed, but I have written to Mr President to permit me to conduct a forensic audit of the railway sector and all the agencies under me.”

He promised that once the approval was given, he would go ahead with the exercise.

This came just as a team from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation led by a director, Mrs Oluremi Odutola, indicted the management of the NRC over its refusal to recover and return to treasury of the several billions of naira from various contractors for payments of jobs not done.

The AGF team specifically frowned on a contract initially awarded for the

sum of N5.6 billion which, within months, moved up to N10.3 billion without any document to back it up and which the NRC was asked to recover the difference and be paid to the treasury, but was yet to be done till today, while there was another N19 billion contract which could not be accounted for till today.

Also, the team alleged that all the audit queries raised to the NRC management on the gross violation of financial regulations and disregard for due process, in line with the Public Procurement Act, were ignored, adding that even when reminders were sent, there was no response However, the acting Managing Director of the corporation, Mr Fiede Okheira, said due processes were followed in the award of all the Rail Contracts and that the Corporation had also responded to all the audit queries raised from the Office of the AGF. Responding, the committee requested for a comprehensive list of all the contractors

that handled the jobs with immediate effect, for them to come for more explanations on their performances and refusal to pay taxes running to over N2 billion to the Federal Government, as stipulated by law.

The committee, in addition, directed the acting managing director of the NRC to produce all the correspondences among the NRC, the contractors and the office of the AGF on all the contracts, in order to guide it in its investigation.

Also, officials of the defunct SURE-P programme, who were invited by the Committee to shed more lights on the failed rail contracts, were absent as the committee vowed to get them around by all means, including the insuance of bench warrant of arrest against them.

CORRECTION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH

I am Yakubu Saidat but erroneously written as Yakubu Sabdat in my Zenith Bank Account. Also, my date of birth was 5th May,1970 and not 13th July 1978, wrongly written. Henceforth, I wish to be known and called YAKUBU SAIDAT. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. GTB Plc., Zenith Bank Plc., and general public take note.

cussed a memo requiring approval of the final Acts and instruments amending the International Telecoms Radio Regulations.

He said for the first time ever, a Nigerian, Festus Dawudu, who is a Director of a Spectrum in the Ministry of Communications, has emerged as the Chairman of the World Radio Communication and International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Shittu also noted that negotiations had been suspended with MTN over the fine imposed on the telecommunications company for allowing unregistered lines to operate.

According to him, the negotiations were suspended because of the ongoing National Assembly’s investigation into the matter.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has clarified that the currency deal Nigeria signed with China during the president’s visit to the Asian country is not a swap as widely reported.

Addressing State House corespondents after FEC meeting, he said it was a way for Nigeria to benefit from the internationalisation of the Chinese currency.

Responding to questions on the matter, he explained: “It’s not really a swap. What it takes is that as the Chinese economy goes strong, there is some pressure on them from the trading partners, international financial institutions.

They agreed that the money should be internationalised.

“So, they started that for a while. They were protecting it also. They did not allow it to be fully exchangeable. But now, their economy is fully strong, they are looking for a way to internationalise the currency. Now, they were saying essentially that they wanted to segment it.

“For Southern Africa, South Africa is going to be the sort of a hub for the currency.

So, they are going to be the focal point for the Chinese to make that available for trade in that area.

“In West Africa, they are looking for a hub. Ghana is interested in being the hub for the currency to circulate it for those who want to use it. It is not compulsory. But Nigeria is a bigger country with bigger economy. So that does make sense.

“So, for us, the benefit is that it gives us small flexibility. So, if Nigeria is buying Chinese goods, for instance, it will be in our interest to use the Yuan, because we know there is a lot of squeeze for the dollar.

“But we still use the dollar.

But if not enough and there are some people who want to invest in the country, instead of crying that they cannot take dollar out, there might be Yaun that they would be happy to take out, because it is now internationalised as a currency and they can use it.

So, it gives us a much larger option.”

9 news Ekweremadu not our anti-corruption Ambassador —EFCC Thursday, 21 April, 2016

I didn’t beg to be your ambassador —Ekweremadu Saliu Gbadamosi and Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, dissociated itself from Tuesday’s purported decoration of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, as Anti-Corruption Ambassador of the commission by its National Assembly Liaison Officer, one Suleiman Bakari.

The anti-corruption commission, according to a statement issued and signed by its Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, made available to the Nigerian Tribune, in Abuja, stated that the said Bakari acted on his own and clearly outside his brief as the commission’s National Assembly Liaison Officer.

The statement added that the unprofessional conduct of the officer, who it stated was never instructed or mandated by its acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, or management and staff to decorate Ekweremadu, was a clear manifestation of “corruption fighting back.”

“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been drawn to some reports in the print and online media, on April 20, 2016 claiming that the anti-graft agency has decorated the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, as “Anti-Corruption Ambassador.”

“According to a statement issued to the press by the Special Adviser to the Deputy Senate President, Uche Anichukwu, the purported decoration, was carried out by the EFCC National Assembly Liaison Officer, one Suleiman Bakari, who was quoted to have said: “On behalf of my acting chairman, Mr Ibrahim Mustafa Magu and the entire management and staff of the EFCC, decorate you as an Anti- Corruption Ambassador and formally present this frame, as a token of our appreciation to your person and office, and as a symbol of the institutional partnership between the EFCC and the National Assembly.

“The EFCC totally dissociates itself from the purported action of Bakari, as he acted entirely on his own and clearly outside his liaison officer brief as he was never instructed by the Acting Chairman nor mandated by the management and staff of the commission to decorate Ekweremadu or any officer of the National Assembly as ‘Anti- Corruption Ambassador.’

“The commission views this highly unprofessional conduct of the officer as yet another manifestation of ‘Corruption Fighting Back.’

This leg of the despicable campaign, which is unfortunately being carried out by a staff of the commission, had been foreshadowed in recent weeks by other questionable acts.

“For instance, all through last week, some courts issued a string of anti-EFCC rulings looking like calculated attempts to derail the anti-corruption war, even as there were indications of the capture of a prominent section of the media by dark forces,” the commission’s statement read in part.

According to the EFCC, the insistence of the Senate to carry on with the amendment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Act, as well as its inexplicable provisions proposed for amendment of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, were forms of sustained fight-back against

the fight against corruption in the country.

“The picture of organised corruption marshaling its evil forces to launch a sustained fight-back becomes clearer, if cognizance is taken of the bewildering insistence of the Senate to carry on with the ill-advised amendment of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal Act, as well as the inexplicable provisions proposed for amendment of the AntiMoney Laundering Act,” EFCC stated.

The commission further declared that the award of Anti-Corruption Ambassador bestowed on Senator Ekweremadu was unknown to it, saying it could not be invested as purported on behalf of its chairman, management and staff.

According to the statement, “Let it be underscored that the statutory mandate of the EFCC is the investigation and prosecution of all economic and financial crimes

cases, which does not include phoney decoration of any individual as “Anti-corruption Ambassador.” That award and title are unknown to the EFCC and could not have been invested as purported, on behalf of the acting chairman, management and staff of the EFCC. “Further, the commission is not in the habit of awarding titles to individuals. Those who seek titles for reasons of waging a counter-onslaught against the war on corruption, in addition to massaging inflated sense of influence, know the quarters to approach for such dubious honours. Not the EFCC.” It, therefore, enjoined members of the public and stakeholders in the fight against corruption to disregard the said decoration, assuring that, “stern administrative action is being taken on the clearly misdirected officer who acted entirely without authorisation.”

Meanwhile, the Office of the Deputy President of the

Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Wednesday, reacted to the statement issued by the spokesperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Wilson Uwujaren, denying the decoration of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, as its Anti-Corruption Ambassador.

Ekweremadu, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, stated that the EFCC Liaison Officer to the National Assembly, Mr Suleiman Bakari, and his team, applied for and susbsequently paid a courtesy call on the Deputy President of the Senate in his Office, on Tuesday.

Bakari, according to him, solicited the support of the Senate and National Assembly towards the anticorruption crusade of the present administration, and even presented a frame with a bold picture of President Muhammadu Buhari, bearing the inscription: “If we

National award: Corrupt recipients will be stripped of honour —FG Appoints Belgore to head selection committee Clement Idoko -Abuja THE Federal Government has vowed to strip any recipient of the prestigious national honours award of the honour if found to be corrupt or dishonourable.

This is just as the Federal Government has appointed the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alfa Belgore, as chairman of the 14-member committee on National Honours Award.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, who inaugurated the newlyreconstituted committee, on Wednesday, in Abuja, said the combined investiture ceremony for the 2015 and 2016 National Honours Award would be held this year.

He reminded members of the committee that the national award had two purposes, first, to recognise and honour citizens and friends of Nigeria who have distinguished themselves in their various endeavours and contributed immensely to the development of the nation.

The SGF added that this recognition was also intended to serve as motivation for all Nigerians to emulate the exemplary conduct and services of those being honoured and inspire them for such national recognition.

The Director of Press, Mr Bolaji Adebiyi, in a statement, quoted Lawal as reit-

erating that for the national award to retain the prestige it was accorded, recipients who conducted themselves in any dishonorable manner would be stripped of the national honour.

This, according to him, was consistent with the stand of the present administration against all forms of corruption.

The chairman of the committee, Justice Belgore, expressed the appreciation of all members of the committee for the honour of ap-

pointing them and pledged that the committee would not disappoint the nation.

He said Nigeria was a great country and that bestowing honour on any Nigerian in any grade must be acknowledged as a great national achievement.

He promised that the committee would strive at all times to select the best for the National Honours.

The full membership of the reconstituted committee indicated that Justice Mohammed Alfa Belgo-

re (retd) will serve as the chairman with other members as follows: Justice Umaru Kalgo (retd); Justice Isaac Aluyi (retd); Mrs Bola Ogunriade and Nnema Josephine Ndukwu.

Other members are: Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari; Chief Bassey Edem; Mr Gabriel Afu; Ambassador Nonye Udo; Mr M. F. Abikoye; Mr. Y. M. Bichi; Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa; Mr James Ibidapo and Mr Gabriel Loto, who will serve as secretary.

Reps move to probe police over N18bn intervention fund Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja THE House of Representatives, on Wednesday, set machinery in motion to investigate the utilisation of N10 billion to fight insecurity in the country and N8 billion for upgrade of police training schools and colleges, in readiness for the forthcoming recruitment of police personnel in Nigeria.

The House subsequently directed its committee on police affairs to carry out the investigation and report back to the House within two weeks.

The House resolution was sequel to a motion moved

by Honourable Johnbull Shekarau on the subject matter.

He, however, said the Police Service Commission (PSC) which jurisdiction it was to organise the recruitment had commenced the processes of recruitment without corresponding preparation by the Nigeria Police.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari had recently released about N10 billion to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase, to combat the spate of insecurity in Nigeria.

The lawmaker added that the police boss, in a recent interactive session with the House Committee on Police Affairs, claimed that more equipment, including surveillance cameras, had been procured and

deployed across the nation for the purpose of checking the spate of kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country.

Despite police effort, he noted that the rate of kidnapping, high profile murders and other crimes in Nigeria were on the increase.

On police recruitment, the lawmaker expressed worry that despite the release of N8 billion to facilitate the recruitment of 10,000 police personnel, the police training colleges were still in dilapidated conditions, infested with rodents and not conducive for effective training of police recruits.

The motion was passed when the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, put it to vote.

don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.”

He added that Bakari, on behalf of the Acting Chairman, management and staff of the EFCC decorated Senator Ekweremadu as an AntiCorruption Ambassador of the EFCC. According to him “It is, therefore, my honour, Your Excellency, to, on behalf of my Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Mustafa Magu and the entire management and staff of the EFCC, decorate you as an Anti-Corruption Ambassador and formally present this frame, as a token of our appreciation to your person and office, and as a symbol of institutional partnership between the EFCC and the National Assembly.”

Anichukwu insisted: “As for the purported claim by the EFCC spokesperson that the agency has never and could not have decorated anybody as an Anti-Corruption Ambassador, since, according to him, “the Commission is not in the habit of awarding titles to individuals,” we wish to refer him to December 7, 2007, when the Nuhu Ribadu-led EFCC conferred the Role Model Award in the Fight Against Corruption, on certain persons, including a former President of the Senate, a taxi driver and a former Justice of the Federal High Court, at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

“That the said denial by the EFCC is coming in three different statements all within a few hours is, therefore, baffling, inexplicable and contradicitory.

“Taking cognisance of the command structure of the agency, we also wonder whether Mr Bakari could have acted on his own or read from a prepared text without recourse to the commission, which he represents, especially as the visit and decoration was never solicited in the first place.

“We leave the rest to discerning members of the public to read in-between the lines and make their own judgments.

“Ambassador or no Ambassador, the Deputy President of the Senate will not back down from his legislative efforts and advocacy as captured in his several public statements and lectures over the years, pushing for legal and institutional reforms such as Special Anti-Graft Courts; security of tenure and financial autonomy for the EFCC and related agencies. Only such reforms would fast-track justice and insulate the anti-corruption agencies from external interference and self-reversals.”

10 news

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

Taxation: Reps query FIRS over unpaid N7.5bn •Summon Kachikwu •Order immediate audit of airlines Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja

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HE House of Representatives, on Wednesday, questioned the decision of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to withhold tax refund due to some companies, which were victims of multiple taxation, even though the sum of N7.5 billion was approved and

released by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) for the purpose.

Chairman ad hoc Committee on the Accounting Procedures of the FIRS, Honourable Michael Enyom, raised the question as to why the FIRS would request and receive the said amount, only to sideline some companies which should have benefitted from the refund.

According to him, “in the case of tax refund, the N7.5 billion released on December 19, 2014 report arising from the committee’s investigation revealed that some of the said approved cases were not implemented, as monies received were not paid to all those who were listed in the request.”

He added that documents from the agency, which included list of tax waivers and its beneficiaries, list of all tax-

able entities from 2007 till date, evidence of bank deduction from source from 2010 till date, details of outstanding payment by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other companies and explanations as to why withhold taxes were not returned as provided for in the nation’s statute book.

Responding to the committee’s submission, chairman of the FIRS, Mr Babatunde Fowler, told the

committee that not all the monies were paid to those who made the request, because there was criteria used for consideration and payment in order to avoid paying an erring company.

He, however, told the committee that “there is an ongoing internal reorganisation focusing on staff training and retraining. We are also deploying a system, where all outstanding taxes owed by companies are

AGF petitioned over continued detention of Jonathan’s cousin Sunday Ejike - Abuja THE Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has been petitioned over the continued detention of a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Azibola Robert, who has been in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since March 23, in spite of the orders of an Abuja High Court that he should be released from custody.

The trial judge, Justice Olasunbo Goodluck, had, on April 7, after listening to counsel for Robert, Chief Chris Uche and Gordy Uche, ordered EFCC to immediately release Robert from detention.

Uche had, in a letter to the EFCC chairman, Magu, which was copied the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, regretted that in spite of being served with the two orders of the court, the commission had refused to obey the court’s order and had continued to detain his clients 10 days after the said court order, an act in defiance to the court.

Uche said “this is regrettable, considering the fact that the government is one that has stated its commitment to respect for the rule

of law and has pledged to prosecute the war against corruption within the ambit of the rule of law. “ It must also be remembered that it is before the same court that your commission arraigns and will arraign suspects.”

In his petition, Uche said: “We, therefore, request that you release our clients forthwith, as ordered by the court. Permit us to add that we shall be compelled to commence committal proceedings before the court if the court’s order is not complied with, in line with your commission’s motto that ‘no one is above the law’,” he declared.

EFCC had, on March 23, arrested Robert over alleged diversion of $40 million through One-Plus Holdings, a sister company of Kakatar Construction and Engineering Company Limited, meant for securing oil pipelines. The payment was said to have been made by the detained former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Frustrated by his prolonged detention, Robert, through his lawyer, approached the court for the enforcement of his fundamental rights.

In a motion ex parte dated and filed on April 5, Uche prayed the court to make

“an order granting his client an interim bail pending his arraignment before a court of law by the respondent (EFCC) or pending the determination of the substantive motion in this suit.”

Uche submiitted that the court was clothed with jurisdiction to grant the applicant bail, having regard to Order 4 Rule 3 and 4 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Rules of 2009, as well as Section 168 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 and Section 35 (5) of the 1999 Constitution.

In the suit No.FCT/ CV/1370/2016, Uche drew the court’s attention to the physical, mental and psychological torture his client had been subjected to in an underground cell of the EFCC since March 23, when he was arrested and urged the court to grant his client’s request.

Delivering a ruling on the application, the trial judge, Justice Goodluck Olasunbor, held that Robert’s detention by the EFCC for over two weeks, was unconstitutional.

She said the applicant had disclosed sufficient evidence before the court to warrant the granting of his relief.

Relying on the extant provisions of the constitution, the judge averred that un-

EFCC clears CCT chairman over alleged N10m bribe THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, conveyed a letter to the chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Honourable Danladi Yakubu Umar, exonerating him on the alleged N10million, bribed by one AbdulRashid Owolabi, in his petition to the commission.

The letter was addressed to the Secretary to Government of the Federation, captioned “Re: Investigation Report Re: N10million

bribery allegation against the chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja” with reference NO: EFCC/P/ NHRU/688/V.30/99, dated April 20.

The letter, which was signed by Emmanuel Adegboyega Aremo, Secretary to the Commission read: “Kindly recall our correspondence of March 5 (reference EFCC/EC/ SGF/03/56), with the above subject, please.”

It added: “We would like to reiterate the commission’s

position in regard to this matter, as earlier communicated to you and stated that the allegations levelled against Justice Umar were mere suspicions and consequently, insufficient to successfully prosecute the offence.”

“Today’s clearance letter was second to the previous one sent on March 5, 2015, during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, through the office of the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Pius Anyim.”

der section 35 (5) of the said provision, the constitution provides that a person who is under arrest or detention shall be brought before a court of law within a reasonable time.

“Accordingly, this application succeeds. The applicant is, hereby, admitted to bail pending his arraignment before a court of law or pending the determination of the substantive motion on notice in this suit,” the judge said.

She, however said the applicant’s bail shall be with two sureties. Each surety

shall be a serving or retired Director in any of the Federal Government ministries or parastatals and must be resident within the Federal Capital Territory.

The applicant shall deposit his international passport to the Chief Registrar of this court.

In the same vein, the court ordered the EFCC to release Robert’s colleague and Executive Director of Kakatar Construction and Engineering Company Limited, Mr Dakoru Atukpa, who had also been in detention for the same period.

recalled using automated platform. Right now, many companies on the basis of that are doing self assessment and have promised to remit all outstanding Value Added Tax (VAT) owed for a couple of months.”

The committee also deliberated on NNPC alleged non-compliance with the issue of tax return, but the FIRS boss informed the committee that the agency was still going on with audit exercises and as such, could not comment on NNPC. To this end, the committee agreed to summon the Minister of State for Petroleum and NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, to appear before it at its next week sitting.

The chairman of the committee, therefore, mandated the FIRS to initiate an audit of all the airlines and report back to it in two weeks.

Some of the international airlines present at the hearing were the British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, South African Airline and Emirate Airline, while its domestic counterpart included Arik Air, Dana Air and Bellview airlines.

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Nigerian Tribune

Scores of Arik Air passengers stranded across country’s airports

•As FAAN workers disrupt airline’s flights over N12.5 billion debts •Airline announces temporary suspension of flights Shola Adekola- Lagos

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cores of passengers were yesterday stranded across the country’s airports following the picketing of the Nigeria’s domestic airline, Arik Air, by the workers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over N12.5 billion.

The development has however forced the airline to announce suspension of all its flights.

As early as 6.30 a.m., the workers led by the aviation unions; Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) had gathered at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) where they prevented the airline staff from attending to their passengers.

Besides stopping the airline staff from attending to travelers, the FAAN workers withdrew their services from the airline which made it impossible for it to operate its early morning flights.

Following the confusion, all the Arik Airline passengers were caught up in the melee which also spilled over to other airports across the country where the airline operates to.

Thousands of passengers who could afford to buy new tickets from other airlines were seen trying to change their bookings to other available airlines like Med-View, Air Peace, Dana and Aero Contractors.

The aviation unions vowed that the withdrawal of service to the airline would continue until it pays at least N2 billion out of its N12.5 billion to the agency, stressing that all the reconciliation moves by the agency and the Federal Government had failed.

The Nigerian Police led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Mr Omololu Bishi, was at the rally to prevent breakdown of laws and order.

The protesting FAAN workers sang solidarity songs with different placards, saying, ‘Debtors pay up all you owe FAAN now,” “FAAN workers!! No money no work,” and “Arik!!! Pay your debts. N12.5 billion is too much,” among several other inscriptions.

The Acting Secretary-General, NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye, in his address to the workers, insisted that the airline must pay before services could be restored to it.

He explained that as the

protest was going on, there were lots of pressures on the unions from the ‘powers that be’ to restore services to the airline, stressing that the unions had not stopped the airline from operating, but only withdrew its services to it.

According to Abioye, Arik Air had not shown readiness to pay back some of the debts

it owed FAAN, noting that FAAN required money to upgrade its facilities, which the airline and some others had been complaining were not up to standards.

“These are the people that go around complaining that our infrastructure are not upgraded. How can they be upgraded when an individual entity owes us N12.5 bil-

lion? We will only leave here if the airline pays at least N2 billion today as part of its debts,” he said.

Also speaking at the venue, the President of ATSSSAN, Comrade Benjamin Okewu, declared that the unions and FAAN workers had not embarked on industrial action against the airline, but only withdrew the services they

render to the airline as a result of the massive debts.

Confirming the situation, Arik Air said its workers were actually prevented from gaining access to their duty posts thereby disrupting the day’s operations.

According to the image maker of the airline, Adebanji Ola, “the action by the workers’ union is connected

From left: Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr Rotimi Omotoso; Auditor General of the Federation/ Member, Governing Council (ICAN), Mr Samuel Ukura; President (ICAN),Otunba Olufemi Deru and Member, Governing Council, Mr Sunday Bammeke, at the ICAN Award of Accreditation /Recognition Certificates to tertiary institution and tuition centres, held on Tuesday in Lagos. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

with the long-standing and unsubstantiated claim by the FAAN of spurious indebtedness of the airline to the agency which is now before a Federal High Court in Lagos at the instance of FAAN. “For several months, the management of Arik Air and FAAN have been meeting to reconcile payment accounts between the two institutions.

The reconciliation process is still ongoing until the latest actions by the union.

“This is not the first time that FAAN workers’ union will be taking the laws into their hands by disrupting operations of Arik Air. “The current situation is deeply out of control of Arik Air and the management of the airline has been compelled to suspend all domestic operations for today. This will remain in force until such a time the situation is resolved.

“Arik Air sincerely apologises for the inconveniences the FAAN workers’ union action may have caused its esteemed passengers. We live to serve the needs of the people of the great nation Nigeria.”

Fuel scarcity: NUPENG calls for Kachikwu’s resignation Olatunde Dodondawa-Lagos

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called on the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources who also doubles as Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Ibe Kachikwu, to resign his appointment for failure to address the challenges facing the oil and gas industry and causing untold hardship on Nigerians.

In a statement signed by Comrade Joseph Ogbebor, NUPENG Acting General Secretary, the union stated that “due to Kachikwu’s inability to address the perennial fuel scarcity which has become an epidemic and a cankerworm since his appointment as NNPC Group Managing Director, he should resign.”

The union reiterated that the man-hours lost at filling stations is becoming unbearable and that he should resign forthwith as all the solutions proffered by him have yielded no results but pains on the suffering masses.

“Kachikwu’s anti-peoples policies are too elitist and not in tandem with the campaign promises of the Buhari administration.

“The proposed plan

by NNPC under Dr Ibe Kachikwu to cut contracting cycle in the oil and gas sector which will impact negatively on the workers in the sector from the current two to four years to six months will further worsen the unemploy-

ment situation in the country,” it said.

NUPENG added that the planned privatisation of the nation’s assets vis-à-vis, the refineries, depots, jetties through the backdoor to cronnies will further compound the challenges facing

the sector.

“This is borne out of the total failure of the privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, (PHCN) which brought us total darkness and massive loss of jobs.

The policies enunciated by Dr Kachikwu are obnoxious,

alien, unworkable and full of semantics and have failed from the on-set, hence the nation’s citizens have continued to suffer with redundancies been declared on a daily basis in the oil and gas sector since he assumed office,” it said.

70% of containers exit seaports without SON’s knowledge —DG Tola Adenubi - Lagos The Acting Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Paul Angya, has revealed that 70 per cent of containers leave the ports without the knowledge or approval of the agency.

This is even as the DG explained that the agency has set up a joint committee

with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to allow officials of SON more access to the ports.

Speaking at a Maritime Stakeholders forum held on Tuesday in Lagos, Angya stated that the committee is working out modalities to look at the possibility of allowing SON officials more access to the ports.

According to him, “SON is

not at the ports. We operate from outside the ports. We only go into the ports when the Customs beckon on us to come in. However, we need to be in the ports more than what we currently enjoy.

“Due to this need, we have set up a joint committee with the Customs to look at the possibility of allowing SON officials more access to the ports. We are currently

Firm to create 500,000 jobs, 50 megawatts of electricity

By Dare Adekanmbi A foremost international solar energy company, Asteven Solar Nigeria, has promised to create 500, 000 direct jobs by accelerating access to affordable power solutions to old and existing small and medium enterprises across the country through specially designed channels.

This is just as the company has concluded ar-

rangements to generate for Nigeria, a total of 50 megawatts of electricity through solar energy over the next two years.

The managing director and chief executive officer of the company, Dr Sunny Akpoyibo, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of the Nigeria Energy Forum 2016.

He explained that portable solar systems of different capacities would supply

power needs to existing SMEs and also spur new ones in the fields of technology, agriculture, education, health and business owners.

Dr Akpoyibo observed that Nigeria could bridge its energy gap that has become a major challenge and embarrassment to it by strategically leveraging on renewable energy, especially from solar that is in abundant supply.

begging for more access to the ports so that we can do our job.

“We are begging to be allowed to do our jobs. That is the situation of things now.

Where the Customs does not call us into the ports, there is no way we can do our jobs.

We only know what is coming into the ports when we are told.

“If we are not told that these containers are in the ports and are scheduled for examination, we won’t know. Many of these containers leave the ports without our knowledge.

“Due to this anomaly, more than 70 per cent of containers leave the port without SON’s knowledge.

The problem of substandard products is so alarming that it is diverting government priority from present challenges and there is need to stem the tide and the only way to do that is to speak the truth to ourselves,” he said.

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NDIC, CBN, Communications Ministry to create National Savings Bank Sanya Adejokun and Gbola Subair-Abuja

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s relevant authorities worry about the low penetration of banking services in the country and how to improve financial inclusion, indications have emerged that the moribund Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST) may birth the National Savings Bank.

Since most banks in the country including microfinance banks are concentrated in the urban areas, it is believed that NIPOST, with its wide rural penetration and presence is in a position to serve the purpose by adding banking to its functions.

Already, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Ministry of Communication have been discussing the modalities for effective transformation of post offices so as to serve as banks’ agents.

Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, gave this indication on Wednesday morning while answering questions on a radio programme in Abuja.

Also, Managing Director/ Chief Executive of Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim buttressed this position when he suggested the re-establishment of Nigeria Savings Bank to expand the frontiers of Nigeria’s banking system.

Responding to a question at a lecture titled: “NDIC and Engendering Confidence in the Financial Services Sector for Poverty Reduction and Economic empowerment” for participants of Executive Course No 38, 2016 at National Institute for Policy & Strategic Studies Kuru, Jos, Alhaji Ibrahim said that the desire to effectively use post offices and leveraging information and communication technology (ICT) to facilitate financial intermediation would not only mobilise savings but also give access to credits.

He drew the attention of the audience to Britain which in the last decade transformed its post offices into elegant avenues of harnessing savings and credits creation, adding: “Since we are talking of poverty alleviation, we can revisit the issue of National Savings Bank.”

Speaking on how the NDIC engenders confidence in the financial system towards poverty reduction and economic empowerment, Alhaji Ibrahim emphasised that being a part of the financial safety net, the Corporation

contributed to poverty reduction as it focused on deposit guarantee and protection of depositors’ interest.

He disclosed that as at December, 2015, the Corporation’s insurance cov-

erage was over 90 per cent of the 67 million depositors in deposit money banks (DMBs) whose deposit liabilities amounted to N17.5 trillion while the total sum of N165.5 billion belonging

to 8.4 million depositors of microfinance banks (MFBs) and N73.71 billion belonging to 0.73 million depositors of primary mortgage banks (PMBs) were also covered by over 95 per cent.

The NDIC CEO also said that the corporation was contemplating the introduction of e-deposit payment system towards facilitating depositor payout within the shortest possible time.

From left: Professor E.T. Ayodele; Professor Abiola Idowu; guest lecturer, Mr Sulayman Marshal; Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Professor Jonathan Adewoye and the representative of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Amos Ogunsiji, during the presentation of award to Marshal, at the maiden edition of the Faculty of Management Sciences lecture series, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, recently. PHOTO: TUNDE OGUNESAN.

Metering 1 million customers within 12 months not realistic —DISCOs Sanya Adejokun and Gbola Subair-Abuja

Many electricity consumers experiencing estimated billing will have to wait for more time as Electricity Distribution Companies popularly referred to as DISCOS have stated that providing one million customers with meter within 12 months is not feasible.

The DISCOS, in a meeting with the management of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in Abuja stated that though the implementation of a cost reflective tariff was a step in the right direction, but that the deadline by the Federal Government to the DISCOs to meter one million customers within a year was not realistic.

Speaking on behalf of the Successor Companies (SCs), the Managing Director of the Ibadan Electricity distribution Company (IBDEC), Mr John Donnachie, acknowledged the Federal Government’s efforts at managing the issues militating against the sector.

He said that the DISCOs and GENCOs had benefited from such efforts through the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Nigerian

Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. (NBET) and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN)’s N213 billion intervention fund.

The MD called for additional intervention through the Bureau to secure more investment from the Federal Government by financing the 40 per cent equity

held in trust by BPE for the Federal Government.

He added that the cap on the DISCOs’ Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) was a hindrance to meeting the deadline. The IBDEC Chief Executive explained that metering was a capital intensive venture and a key component for implement-

ing the new tariff which only massive investment in the sector would bring Nigeria closer to the Promised Land.

Also speaking, the Country Director, Energy Market and Rates Consultants (EMRC), Mrs Rahila Thomas, lauded the Federal Government’s efforts in the sector so far.

NERC warn DISCOs on poor metering, manipulated data •Says 403,255 meters installed in 2 years Adetola Bademosi-Abuja The Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) on Tuesday, warned electricity distribution companies, DISCOs against manipulated data with regards to meter installation as well as poor metering saying this would be treated as criminal acts.

This is even as the commission, noted that in two years, 403,255 meters have so far been installed by Discos.

In a meeting with chief executive officers of electricity distribution companies and meter manufacturing companies, in Abuja, the acting Chairman of the Commission, Dr Anthony Akah, described as unacceptable the low number of metered customers by the

eleven distribution companies since privatisation of the power sector.

He explained that the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) with 6, 159, 775 customers accounts, has barely 52 per cent metering level of 3, 206, 599 metered customers, while it noted a metering gap of over 47 per cent or 2, 953, 176 unmetered customers.

The figure which was presented to the operators showed that the electricity distribution consumers as at March 2016, have collectively metered 403, 255 customers since they took over operations on November 1, 2013.

About 38 per cent of this figure or 151, 724 were reportedly financed by the electricity distribution companies, while the bal-

ance of over 60 per cent or 251, 531 were financed by the customers through the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI)- an initiative of NERC to close the wide metering gap in the NESI. While expressing his dissatisfaction over the development, Akah said that the Commission was in the process of winding down CAPMI since most of the discos are not implementing CAPMI even as they are performing badly in their metering scheme.

“In line with the policy thrust of the Ministry of Power, we will work on progressive wind down of the CAPMI scheme. As NERC, we are going beyond our regulatory landscape because you have not embraced the scheme as it should.”

Nigerian Tribune

Makinde to speak at Africa’s Economic Summit in London The group Managing Director of Makon Group, Mr Seyi Makinde, has been invited by the prestigious London School of Economic and Political Science to deliver a lecture on the third annual Africa summit with the theme: Africa Within a Global Context: Thinking Beyond Investment.

This year’s summit will focus on the inventive facets of Africa’s economies and communities through creative lens.

The speaker is expected to examine opportunities and challenges in finance, Energy, Telecommunications, Technology and human capital by demonstrating which leaders, thinkers, enterprises and organisations have broken the mould.

In a letter signed by the Co-Director of the Business Conference, Eki Benedetta, explained thus “as founder and Managing Director of Makon Group with considerable experience in the energy sector as well as significant performance in local content development of resources as a speaker on the energy panel at this year summit.”

With this invitation, Engr Seyi Makinde has joined the likes of Dr Nelson Mandela, Dr Kofi Annan, the Nigerian Vice President, Prof Yemi Osibajo and Ghanaian President, John Mahama who had one time or the other addressed the summit.

SEC to support agriculture via commodity trading Kehinde AkinseindeJayeoba-Lagos

In a bid to boost agriculture and promote commodity exchange in Nigeria, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to roll out various initiatives to provide an enabling environment for commodities trading in the country.

Already, the commission is reviewing the Warehouse Receipt Bill currently before the National Assembly and has assured that it will actively advocate its passage.

This is in support of the policy thrust of the Federal Government to encourage investments in the agricultural and solid minerals sectors in a bid to ensure economic diversification and deepen capacity across the agricultural value chain.

Director-General of SEC, Mounir Gwarzo said this while delivering a keynote address at a training seminar organised by Africa Exchange Holdings (AFEX) on Commodity Trading and Risk Management in Abuja.

He said the 10-year capital market master plan which the market is currently implementing is the blueprint for the growth and development of the market over the next decade.

13

editorial

R

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The challenge of ghost workers

ECENTLY, the Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, complained about the ghost workers that they had to deal with. The Finance Minister said there were 23,000 ghost workers on the federal payroll while the Kaduna governor expressed curiosity about the immediate reappearance of the names of ghost workers on the state’s payroll just after they were expunged. In the same vein, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it had discovered 37,395 ghost workers on the payroll of the Federal Civil Service.

For quite some time, ghost workers in Nigeria have consistently proved to be more stubborn than their living counterparts. They have dared all attempts to exorcise them, remaining inviolably on the payroll of government establishments, swelling the figures but not the service. Sadly, successive administrations at all levels of governance have not been able to figure out how these ghost workers have been able to outfox the fiscal control mechanisms put in place by the government. No sooner are these control mechanisms instituted than the names reappear on the payroll, defying the auditors’ presumed proficiency.

It therefore appears that the establishment itself is guilty of complicity in the large scale larceny that usually ensues from paying wages and salaries into the bank accounts of phantom workers whose existence can neither be validated nor denied until they begin to make withdrawals from their accounts in their banks, where they become real human beings. There can be no doubt that when an issue like the problem of ghost workers become intractable, it must be the handiwork of a syndicate which presumably fronts for a powerful bloc.

Erstwhile Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, once launched a biometric programme to weed out ghost workers from the federal payroll. Those to be paid by the government were made to appear physically; and sometimes they were required to report at designated venues at specific dates by different panels with copious

documentation, all in the bid to verify their existence.

However, this created another form of expenditure, as the government had to pay the consultants who supervised the verification exercise.

For us, the issue of ghost workers on the government payroll exemplifies the legendary proclivity for corruption in the civil service by those whose job it is to guide the political office holders in terms of financial instructions and regulation. Rather than do this, they have preferred to turn against their oath of office and rob the treasury delinquently. The biometric programme and the recently introduced Biometric Verification Number (BVN) in the banks should be adequate to trace these felons and arrest them. But the immediate resuscitation of these ghosts once they are expunged from the payroll, not to talk of the reluctance to apprehend them, speak volumes about the other more insidious ailments which plague the country’s civil service.

Without any alternative form of thinking or orientation, corruption has ensnared the civil service to a debilitating point of complete inertia and it is now impossible for it to offer a solution. Since propriety has long been banished from the system, the remaining crop of civil servants are bereft of the proper and correct ideas, perhaps until the big stick of sanction which must include jail terms, is wielded against them. If the recommended technology is not supported by the will to enforce propriety in government establishments, the problem of ghost workers will certainly endure simply because it is the livelihood for a criminal clique. Enforcing the due process and propriety in government procedure is the only way to remove this reproach from the civil service.

It certainly will not be a tea party but a crop of decent visionaries willing to lead by example will turn the tables against the current corrupt but powerful and influential civil servants from the federal to the local government level. Incidentally, the survival of the entire system now depends on the efficient running of finances. The paucity of funds, as epitomised by the current inability to ensure regular payment of salaries, gratuities and pensions, dictates no less.

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Thursday, 21 April, 2016

yournews

•Before, it was the University of Bad!

SEND YOUR SHORT MESSAGES TO: 08054005323, 08055001746

•Now, it is the University of Ibadan. Photo: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

China trip: Dangote, Adenuga should loan Nigeria $2bn I am totally against Nigeria seeking for loan from China, when we have billionaires who can loan us the money. Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Alikko Dangote, is worth about $15billion, according to Forbes, while Chief Mike Adenuga is worth $10billion. We also have three other dollar billionaires in the country, and I think the Federal Government can approach these worthy citizens for loan.

I work in a company owned by Chinese inves-

Now is time for us to return to God This is the time for sober reflection, and it must begin from the president, to other political and spiritual leaders; this is the time to call for national repentance, renewal and restitution by all and sundry with prayer and fasting.

We need righteousness, unity and peace to reign in this country. Let us depart from politics of bitterness, hatred and resentment, and let us all return to God. •Pastor V.A Oluwansebebe, 07086470690

tors, and I witness firsthand how they use our people; we work for long hours with low pay, and I have come to realise that this is the nature of the Chinese.

I don’t think there will be

a difference when it comes to paying back the loan we are seeking from them. I am sure we will pay back the $2billion in ten folds.

I, therefore, believe our dollar billionaires should save us from this slavery;

we don’t want our future generation to be slaves of the Chinese people. If Alhaji Dangote can loan the government $1.5billion, Chief Adenuga should make available $1billion, Chief Femi Otedola,

Mrs Folorunsho Alakija and Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu should assist with $100million each, then we will have $2.8billion, and this is even more than what we want to loan from the Chinese.

I, therefore, hope the Federal Government can reach out to these patriotic citizens.

the country? The situation we find ourselves today will only encourage Nigerians to continue to leave the shores

of this country for greener pastures elsewhere.

Jimoh Mumin, 08034435211

•Tumini George, 09095687489

Fuel scarcity: Nigerians are suffering THE Federal Government cannot continue to admit that it knows that Nigerians are suffering due to the economic crisis we are facing, particularly the issue of fuel scarcity.

Everything has gone up, and food is beyond the reach of the average Nigerian. Transport fare has also gone up, and many people have now resorted

to trekking. Every now and then, government officials tell us that they are aware of the pains we are passing through, but in truth, they do not feel it.

They eat whenever they want; they get special packages when they travel out of their bases, and they live comfortable lives. Something should be done immediately to

Buhari, sign the budget now THE 1999 Constitution allows the president to spend 50 per cent of the budget pending the time all issues on it are resolved by both the presidency and the National Assembly. At the moment, the Senate sent the budget back to the president to sign into law, but the presidency is still disturbed by some discrepancies in the budget, and as a result, no one is sure when the issues will finally be resolved. However, as

stated earlier, the president can begin to spend money for the budget before it is legally approved.

The issues on the budget should be resolved as soon as possible because there is poverty in the land. Nigerians are suffering, and everybody hopes that with the passage of the budget, construction works will begin, and money will flow to the people.

•James Olorunmaiye, 08177105527

end the suffering Nigerians are experiencing at the moment; is it too much to ask for stable fuel supply in

On the sale of naira notes at motor parks IT is abnormal for new naira notes to be displayed for sale at our motorparks, particularly during weekends.

This is a national disgrace and economic sabotage.

We need to ask ourselves how these hawkers come by the notes they sell to partygoers, at a time when banks cannot pay customers with new notes. There is definitely a synergy between banks and those hawkers, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and security agents must stop this illegality. The hawkers should be arrested and prosecuted, and this will serve as a deterrence to others who benefit from debasing our national currency.

There is also the need for government agencies, and

even the CBN, to sensitise Nigerians on the disadvantages of handling our naira

notes any how.

Nosa Osawaye, 07030680798

FG, diversify the economy THE challenges we are facing at the moment has to do with the fact that we over-relied on oil. When the going was good, we didn’t save for the rainy period, and thus, we enjoyed the money while it lasted.

It is so unfortunate that a large chunk of monies were also stolen.

Now, due to the fall in the price of oil, we are suffering economically, and we are regretting the fact that we didn’t plan for the

rainy days.

As a result of this, I am urging President Muhammadu Buhari to focus on diversifying Nigeria’s economy.

Going round the world to call on investors to come to invest in the country will yield no positive result.

We just need to believe in ourselves and look at those things we can do for ourselves.

•Bamidele Akindele, 08022982373

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opinion

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

Nigeria needs no loan

By Tope Fasua

I

join Mr Femi Falana in asking the government to desist from incurring new foreign loans. This I do for several reasons. Mr Falana listed a number of sources from which government could recover up to $200 billion in order to fund the budget and even beyond. This is valid. The president himself has on several occasions regaled the nation with scintillating stories of recoveries of billions of dollars. On many occasions, the president talked of how many trillions they have ‘recovered’ in the Treasury Single Account (TSA). He has also talked severally about recoveries from those who looted the treasury in the past, and on the streets we see several houses decorated with the “EFCC KEEP OFF” insignia.

It, therefore, befuddles when the Minister of Finance released a ‘roadmap’ for the economy, and talked eloquently about how the 2016 budget will be ‘debt-funded.’ She went on to describe several borrowing scenarios, including how Chinese Panda Bonds were better than the European ones. Our president then went off to China, ostensibly to secure a $2billion loan, only for us to learn that the Chinese had approved a $6billion loan which needed no collateral, no agreement and no conditionalities, according to the statement I heard from the mouth of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

We also heard that the Central Bank of Nigeria signed an agreement whereby the Chinese currency, the Yuan, will become easily convertible to the naira and where Nigeria will become a hub/clearing house for the Chinese currency in our region. This also indicates that the Chinese wants trade between us and them to be more fluid. But they have much more to sell to us than we could ever come up with. Caution. What is more?

The Chinese are so clever, and like with the Western countries that have terrorised us economically for decades, they too know an undue advantage when they see one. They have been known to fund development projects where they bring their own peasants to do the job.

So, if I want to talk about conspiracy theories, I will say that it is a suicidal move on the part of President Buhari. This ‘conspiracy theory’ is important and should be taken serious because someone is spinning the news of Buhari’s visit to China and in particular the Yuan deal, as an attempt by Nigeria to ‘crash the US dollar by 70 per cent’.

Whereas Nigeria cannot ‘crash the dollar’, certainly not by that percentage, we have made a bold move and given other countries ideas. But it is still a bit foolish for anyone to suggest that Nigeria is deliberately triggering a global currency war that will see the Yuan replacing the dollar as global reserve currency.

Imagine, the report also states that Nigeria intends to diversify its entire reserves into Yuan, and our own NTA carries this on its website. Are we declaring war on the US? If we are, are we ready, capable and prepared? This is a very dangerous territory.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is the butt of jokes across the world, because of our penchant to beg many countries to lend us money, which we never use judiciously. All levels of government in Nigeria seem to be searching frantically for loans. Almost every state in Nigeria has sent series of delegates to every part of the world in search of loans. Yet no one has come here for loans; not even from places like Togo, Cameroun or Niger. Given the slightest opportunity, but for the way our governors have caged local governments and pocketed them, Nigerian local government chairmen will also be looking for foreign loans by now.

It’s that bad.

There is a reason why we are like this. The average Nigerian loves new ‘chassis’ things. We also love big things. What we don’t understand, and are not prepared to start learning is how and why we need to maintain what we have. That is evident in the decadence of infrastructure all around us. We also don’t understand the dictum that the difference between success and failure is in the details, and why we must have to start small and focus on the little things on our way to economic development.

These tendencies are just not in our DNA, simple.

This is the basis of what I call the ‘infrastructure myth’. We seem totally convinced that a commitment of resources to infrastructure will solve our problems and even create employment. I don’t believe this to be true, not even for the power sector, where such mythological stories have led to the pumping

in of trillions of naira in the past 16 years at least, with only a momentary accomplishment of 5,000 megawatts. Other countries achieved a lot more for much less. Our focus on ‘infrastructure’, as a way forward, blinds us to a bigger problem – valuefor-money. Oftentimes, those pushing for these infrastructure projects have their eyes firmly on the prize – the ‘egunje’ that will emanate from those huge projects. Everyone wants to be a billionaire in Nigeria and the Chinese are not known to be fussy around such matters.

That is why I was happy at what our Finance minister said to them at International Monetary Fund (IMF) just last week.

Hear her: “Nigeria is not sick and even if we are, we have our own local remedy,” the Minister said, in an apparent response to a question on why the government has refused to apply for IMF loans.

“We have resolved to build resilience into the country’s economy to hedge against future oil shocks. This is because dependence on oil brings about vulnerability and laziness. So we are doing a combination of things to diversify our economy, with revenue mobilisation to enable sufficient investment in developing the non-oil sectors… We have a great opportunities to reset the Nigerian economy and ensure that as we go forward, growth will be in a sustainable manner so that we won’t be vulnerable to oil price fluctuations, and with a truly diversified economy we would have enabled opportunities for wealth creation that would have trickles down to every Nigerian… The compelling business case in Nigeria is that the fundamentals remain very strong, a teaming, young growing population, rich in resources and with a government determined to finally get it right. The great thing is that long term investors recognise this and understand the difference between short term and long term issues and the case for Nigeria persuades one to plan for the longer term opportunities.”

I hope she pulls it through. I hope she sticks to her guns. I hope she and the rest of the team recognise that our youth hold the key and this goes beyond mere rhetoric. For starters, let no one rush us into any new loans. We have all we want in this country. We need to have a candid talk with ourselves, and we shall find, that we have what is more than money.

•Fasua is an economist and a public affairs analyst.

Letter to Ayo Fayose

By Benard Balogun I have just read your letter to the Chinese Government not to grant President Muhammadu Buhari’s government the loan he is seeking. My distinguished ore, l consider that your letter as needless, directionless, unnecessary, and portrays you as a man who does not tolerate opposing views. Early last year, during the campaigns, you made all manner of accusations against President Buhari. One of such was that President Buhari had no school certificate. I also remember you claimed that Buhari was terminally ill, among others. For me, I thought those were in the realm of political campaign and that when campaigns were over, common sense, not complex sense, would take over.

As I write this letter, I am genuinely pained and disturbed.

I am extremely pained because joining issues with somebody I have always proudly seen and called as ore adugbo between 1982 and 1986, when Ayo, your humble self, your sisters, your worthy parents (anointed man and woman of God) and my small self, lived on the same street on Orita Challenge, Odo-ona Elewa, by Babalola Estate. I still remember, with nostalgia, your days at Ibadan Polytechnic, your danfo driving experience and eventually your travel out of the country in 1986, which you, yourself, Ayo, told me as I veered to enter our street on OdoOna-Elewa in my Peugeot 504, 2000 series brand. When you returned in 1990 or 1991 and began your Spotless auto shop along Ring Road before Iyana New Adeoyo Hospital, l prayed for your success and growth.

I relocated to Abuja in 1999. I watched your inauguration as Governor of Ekiti State in 2003 live on television. With me that day, was a son of Ilewe Ekiti, an Assistant Director in the Federal Civil Service. People of my generation will still remember what transpired during the NPN/UPN crisis in the old Ondo State, which included the present Ekiti State in 1982. National Party of Nigeria (NPN) rigged out our Papa Michael Ajasin of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), while Chief Omoboriowo was his Deputy Governor on the UPN platform. There was a reign of terror. There was political upheaval. Many lives were lost and properties destroyed. That same Chief Omoboriowo, a three-

month-old governor, was at the stadium where you, Ayo, as an omode, when that sad episode happened in 1983, was being sworn-in as an executive governor without a drop of blood, no live lost, no property destroyed. When that incident happened in 1983, cast your mind, in retrospect, where were you then?

God has a way of bringing people out for glory and you are one of such privileged few. In 2004, I wrote a personal letter to you, my ore adugbo, which I asked an aburo from Ilewe-Ekiti to take to Ado-Ekiti and deliver to you. Did you get the letter? You cannot remember. The letter, essentially, was to congratulate and rejoice with you on your first anniversary into the exalted position of an executive governor of a state. Your fame had grown.

You were very close to President Olusegun Obasanjo. I prayed that you acquit yourself well and that you are now, indeed, a role model (as at that time) to children from the down-trodden rung. People of older generation had assumed that only children from old Bodija, New Bodija, Bashorun area and, indeed, Idi-Ishin, can only ascend such Olympian position. But you demystified that position. You created a new meaning and conveyed an unspoken message that children from Bere, Yemetu, Iyana Church, Academy, Molete and such other places can, indeed, become the executive governor of a state. God, in His own wisdom, had brought you out of Odo-Ona-Elewe, a son of an unassuming, gentle and easy-going man of God, of blessed memory, to that executive position, previously reserved for children of the big and mighty in the society. In that letter in

2004, I encouraged you to make a success of your tenure and of course, I believed you will make a success of it because I was reliably informed your wife is a Spirit-filled woman, who never took your matter lightly spiritually.

I must confess, ore, the day you were impeached was one of my saddest days. I felt genuinely bad and betrayed. Why did these bad-belle Ekiti State House of Assembly members impeach this man? Question, question all the way but nobody could come up with an answer. Your attempt at the Senate was a relieve for me but it never worked out well. But unknown to man, God has a plan for you. You would return to Government House in Ado-Ekiti, though Dr Kayode Fayemi was not doing badly. A fine gentleman, with urbane approach and disposition to life and governance. Like joke, like play, ore, you returned to Government House.

Since you returned it has been one form of attack on Mr. President or the other. Like a disciplined military officer that he is, he had never, for one brief second, replied all your unnecessary attacks on his person and office. I often asked myself, would you, Mr. Governor, tolerate any local government chairman in your state who becomes so frontally unfriendly and disrespectful to you and your exalted office, would you tolerate such a LG chairman?

All your previous attacks on President Buhari and his government were within the confines of the country but this letter to a foreign country, discrediting your country’s government with false information, I honestly think it is a huge joke carried too far Mr. Governor. Despite your constant attack on his person and administration, PMB has treated your state and matters relating to Ekiti with dispatch.

Finally ore, please be gentle and civil. You have not been particularly fair to Mr. President. You do not necessarily need to believe in his administration and policies but as a person, as an elder, he certainly deserves your respect. Just like you deserve my encouragement and support so that you carry the hardworking and industrious people of Ekiti to a safe haven.

•Balogun writes from Wuse District in Abuja.

16

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

Femi Olukunle Coordinating Editor 08158610216

FRSC to train drivers of public office holders —Oyeyemi

Ministry to set up committee on healthcare services for citizens with disabilities Adetola Bademosi-Abuja

Clemetn Idoko-Abuja PRESSIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved the retraining of all drivers of public office holders in line with his commitment to promoting public safety in the country.

Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeymi, who made this known, called on the state governments to key into the campaign to make the nation’s road safe for all users.

Head, Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, MrBisiKazeem, said Oyeyemi, said this when he meet with the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed on advocacy visit to the State.

Oyeyemi disclosed that as part of commitment of FRSC to road safety campaigns in the country, it had organised a training programme for Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) from the 36 states of the Federation including the FCT with Zamfara State participating.

He added that very soon there would be another training programme targeted at the State Testing Officers in the country with the aim of building their capacity for the assignments they carry out for the states.

THE Federal Ministry of Health has promised to set up a committee on enhancing access to healthcare services for citizens with disabilities in Nigeria.

Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, made the pledge during an advocacy visit to him by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) and presentation of its research findings and recommendations to the minister.

Adewole said he was ready to accept advice, proposals and recommendations from everyone in as much as it was set to improve the state of facilities and services offered by the institutions under the ministry.

He said: “As part of the Ministry’s plans, at least one sign language interpreter will be posted to each tertiary hospital across the nation to start with, and from there increase it. As a person with disability, you should be able to access any level; it is either you have a lift or a ramp, so that if you want to get to 4th floor, you can get there and that is very important.

“Even for the universities, the new directive from the National Universities Commission must be such that all peoples with disabilities can access any building including hostels; so things will change and I can assure you.”

An instance of a decent house in Abuja that attracts high rent.

FCT administration takes stiffer actions against high rent Christian Okeke -Abuja

F

ederal Capital Territory (FCT) administration is currently contemplating stiffer measures that would bring down high cost of rent in the nation’s capital.

The measure is outside the already passed Property Bill by the National Assembly.

As part of the efforts, the FCT administration has put necessary machinery in motion to ensure that all plots of land not developed within a stipulated period are revoked and re-allocated to willing developers.

The administration has already raised the alarm over the number of uncompleted buildings and empty estate houses in the city and plans to set up a committee to look into the issue.

Abuja Xtra gathered that the administration might soon come up with a law that would force down the current high cost of accommodation.

FCT minister, Muhammadu Bello, had expressed anger over the current situation and even questioned the rationale behind payment of rent on annual basis in the country.

He told estate surveyors, who were on a visit to his office recently, that the present administration, under President Mohammed Buhari, was deeply concerned with the high cost of accommodation in the territory and was working on measures that would guarantee

access to decent accommodation by the masses.

During the meeting, he wondered why in developed countries such as United Kingdom and the United States, tenants paid rents on a monthly basis, while the

reverse was the case in Nigeria.

He said: “Why should we pay rent annually in Nigeria? Why should we pay two, three years in advance?

“All the people you see here including the ministers get their rent allowance on

a monthly basis, only very few organisations in Nigeria pay rent allowance annually in bulk.

“Why can’t we start asking our tenants to pay rent monthly even if they are in Asokoro, Maitama or wherever.”

Ministry enlists stakeholders’ support in tackling herdsmen/farmers conflicts Clemetn Idoko-Abuja THE Ministry of Interior has appealed to the relevant stakeholders to join hands with the Federal Government in the efforts to resolve the age-long conflict between the pastoralists and sedentary farmers in the country.

Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau, who was concerned by the development, had summoned a strategic stakeholders meeting in Abuja to brainstorm on how best to bring to an end the wanton destruction of lives and property usually recorded during sporadic clashes involving Fulani herdsmen and farmers in localities.

The strategic stakeholders meeting had participants drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

Dambazau, in his opening remarks,said the meeting was convened as part of efforts to develop a definitive policy involving all the critical stakeholders, including security agents that would help in

addressing the perennial herdsmen and farmers clashes in the country.

He noted that there had been a number of investigations into the conflicts in the past and that there was the need to take a critical look at the reports while devising new strategies to finally address the conflict.

He said: “There have been a number of committees and think-tank type investigations into the conflict in the past. It is the intention of the ministry of interior to gather these together and note which have been implemented, highlighting the effects and failures of each in order to arrive at narrative and doctrinal certainties”.

The stakeholders at the meeting, however, recommended a multi-dimensional approach to the resolution of the conflict through an all-stakeholders dialogue, according to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting chaired by Dambazau.

The communiqué indicated that the meeting deliberated extensively on highlighted objectives and noted “the complex

nature of the conflict and its international dimension which necessitates a multidimensional approach to its resolution through an all stakeholders’ dialogue”.

The meeting further noted the significance of the Niger/Benue basin for various agricultural activities attracting both pastoralists and sedentary farmers.

Crew 1. Christian Okeke chidiabujatribune@ yahoo.com 08030947856 2. Clement Idoko idokoajiga@yahoo. co.uk 08034412281 3. Kolawole Daniel kolawoledaniels@yahoo.co.uk 08030763782 4. Adetola Bademosi gloriaadetola@ gmail.com 08182214290 5. Collins Nnabuife chideraacollins@yahoo.com 08039521408 Abuja Xtra email & GSM: abujaxtra@ gmail.com 08054501406

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arts&review

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

Is it fair for Shakespeare to overshadow Cervantes?

M

IGUEL de Cervantes and William Shakespeare died days apart, 400 years ago, each of them a giant in his own language and literary tradition. But a difference in the scale of quatercentenary celebrations in their respective countries and around the world is leading some fans of the author of Don Quixote to cry foul.

While “all the world’s a stage” for the British bard, thanks to the rollout of the massive Shakespeare Lives programme of arts events around the globe, celebrations of the life of his Spanish contemporary are perhaps “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”

Shakespeare Lives aims to reach half a billion people worldwide - the first screenings of The Complete Walk, 37 short films to represent the complete body of the bard’s stage plays, took place last weekend. The Spanish government’s action plan for Cervantes, on the other hand, seems far less ambitious... and leans heavily on exhibitions and conferences in big city museums and libraries.

The state could have done more to promote the Cervantes event - but the fact is that Shakespeare is much more popular This has provoked some rather unchival-

POEM

Barrack blues In a blaze of forged identities and the fever of mad crowds excusing bloodshed and wanton wickedness were they really awaiting fuel these bloated perverts pushing for perversion four seasons ago are they of this plane who bind themselves to demons who trade their future for a beer and their posterity for a half cigarette

•Miguel de Cervantes (left) and William Shakespeare. rous comments from bigwigs in the field of Spanish culture.

“We’ve had 400 years to prepare for this,” said Dario Villanueva, director of the Spanish Royal Academy, shortly after a letter from UK Prime Minister, David Cameron introducing Shakespeare Lives was published in major newspapers around the world.

“There are a few events lined up but the figure of Cervantes deserves a major gesture on the part of our top institutions.”

The Spanish Culture Ministry has admitted that the programme remains a “work in progress” and that some events will not emerge from the pipeline until 2017.

But Spanish novelist and commentator Andres Trapiello, argues that the difference in the commemorations has a lot to do with the authors themselves, and how the public relates to them.

“Sure, the state could have done more to promote the Cervantes event, but the fact is that Shakespeare is a much more popular writer,” he says.

A survey in 2015 revealed that only two out of 10 Spanish adults claimed to have read Don Quixote in full “His works last two or three hours in the theatre and have been made into

God knows how many films. Cervantes wrote a number of works but above all, Don Quixote, a 1,100-page work which you need to read with thousands of footnotes.”

Trapiello describes the difficulty of reading the early 17th Century classic - often described as Europe’s first modern novel as a kind of albatross hanging around the neck of contemporary Spaniards, many of whom have come to associate the name of Cervantes with a negative cultural experience.

“Everyone says they appreciate the importance of Don Quixote but there is this national frustration that they cannot read it. People get a complex about it,” he says.

“Every couple of years, they sit down and say, I am going to do it this time, but they get as far as the windmill story on about page 50 and give up.”

This story sees Don Quixote, a minor nobleman who imagines himself a knight errant, mistake windmills for hulking giants and charge them on his pathetic horse, Rocinante - it’s the origin of the English phrase “tilting at windmills”.

Of the 10 Spanish adults who claimed to have read Don Quixote in full, only half recognised the main character’s real name, Alonso Quijano.

SYNW set to honour JP Clark

Barack Dementia traverses the green earth consuming whores in luxury jets and wine in yummy water floats rome burns this rome burns without remorse rome burns this rome burns without reprieve and the squirrel laps up sugars of gold and the felon commands the latest striptease eh, in a blaze of fake holiness Barack Dementia whips Zaragoza bury the carcass fast amid the soil and let the mention of birthday drown in bitter tears —ABIODUN AWOLAJA

•SYNW president, Mr Wole Adedoyin (left), and literary icon, Professor JP Clark, in Lagos recently.

THE Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) is set to honour Professor JP Clark, and the literary icon has endorsed the organisation’s proposal.

At a meeting in Lagos recently, the president of SYNW, Mr Wole Adedoyin, said his organisation would soon be celebrat-

ing Professor Clark for his contributions to the development of literature in the country.

The literary icon, on his part, thanked the SYNW, urging them to do more so as to put Nigeria on the map of global literary recognition.

The fact that Trapiello’s translation of the book into modern Spanish sold 30,000 copies in its first year in print may indicate how much Spaniards long to get to grips with the book, and how difficult they find the original.

Meanwhile, English-language films of Shakespeare’s works have done a lot to popularise the bard in Spain.

Jose Rivas, a 25-year-old IT engineer from Madrid, says the first thing that comes into his mind when he thinks of Shakespeare is “Kenneth Branagh”. He reels off a list of plays he knows from the cinema, from Henry V to Much Ado About Nothing.

By contrast, he has never read Cervantes, and was unaware this was a special anniversary year for the giant of Spanish letters.

“I get the feeling that Shakespeare is truly admired in Britain, while Cervantes is almost being ignored here,” says Lupe Estevez, a children’s author.

When she read Don Quixote as a schoolgirl, she was surprised to discover how funny the book was.

“I couldn’t believe something like that could have been written in that era. But the way we treat Cervantes is so solemn and old-fashioned, in the TV and film versions there have been, for example. This generation has got it wrong in that sense.

I hope to see a new approach for our children to enjoy.”

The man tasked with making 2016 in Britain the year of Cervantes, and not just Shakespeare, says much of the criticism is unfair.

“What is the aim of an anniversary like this? It is more to promote the works and reach the average citizens than to make a lot of noise,” says Julio Crespo, director of the London branch of the Cervantes Institute, the Spanish equivalent of the British Council.

Both contributed to elevate the level of the language and culture to which they belonged in a similar way “You can spend a lot of money on celebrations that seem to be very impressive but don’t really have a serious content.”

He is at pains to underline how much the writers have in common. It was because both writers were traditionally thought to have died on 23 April that this became World Book Day, he points out. Both have been translated into more than 100 languages.

“They were different writers using different forms but both contributed to elevate the level of the language and culture to which they belonged in a similar way,” he says.

Trapiello, the Cervantes devotee, also declares himself to be an enormous fan of Shakespeare, citing the poetic richness of the English bard’s verse.

“Hamlet is my favourite play, but even in some of the weaker works, there are always amazing passages. For example, I don’t rate Romeo and Juliet especially highly, but the leave-taking scene between the two lovers is of extraordinary quality,” he says.

Ultimately, Trapiello feels that Shakespeare’s obvious dramatic qualities give his work a modern edge, which lends it more easily to film adaptations.

“Quixote, on the other hand, is a series of small anecdotes. It does not translate at all into the language of cinema,” he says.

“All films about Quixote have tried to be funny and they have all failed.”

•Courtesy: BBC

18

arts&review

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

Is it fair for Shakespeare to overshadow Cervantes?

M

IGUEL de Cervantes and William Shakespeare died days apart, 400 years ago, each of them a giant in his own language and literary tradition. But a difference in the scale of quatercentenary celebrations in their respective countries and around the world is leading some fans of the author of Don Quixote to cry foul.

While “all the world’s a stage” for the British bard, thanks to the rollout of the massive Shakespeare Lives programme of arts events around the globe, celebrations of the life of his Spanish contemporary are perhaps “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”

Shakespeare Lives aims to reach half a billion people worldwide - the first screenings of The Complete Walk, 37 short films to represent the complete body of the bard’s stage plays, took place last weekend. The Spanish government’s action plan for Cervantes, on the other hand, seems far less ambitious... and leans heavily on exhibitions and conferences in big city museums and libraries.

The state could have done more to promote the Cervantes event - but the fact is that Shakespeare is much more popular This has provoked some rather unchival-

POEM

Barrack blues In a blaze of forged identities and the fever of mad crowds excusing bloodshed and wanton wickedness were they really awaiting fuel these bloated perverts pushing for perversion four seasons ago are they of this plane who bind themselves to demons who trade their future for a beer and their posterity for a half cigarette

•Miguel de Cervantes (left) and William Shakespeare. rous comments from bigwigs in the field of Spanish culture.

“We’ve had 400 years to prepare for this,” said Dario Villanueva, director of the Spanish Royal Academy, shortly after a letter from UK Prime Minister, David Cameron introducing Shakespeare Lives was published in major newspapers around the world.

“There are a few events lined up but the figure of Cervantes deserves a major gesture on the part of our top institutions.”

The Spanish Culture Ministry has admitted that the programme remains a “work in progress” and that some events will not emerge from the pipeline until 2017.

But Spanish novelist and commentator Andres Trapiello, argues that the difference in the commemorations has a lot to do with the authors themselves, and how the public relates to them.

“Sure, the state could have done more to promote the Cervantes event, but the fact is that Shakespeare is a much more popular writer,” he says.

A survey in 2015 revealed that only two out of 10 Spanish adults claimed to have read Don Quixote in full “His works last two or three hours in the theatre and have been made into

God knows how many films. Cervantes wrote a number of works but above all, Don Quixote, a 1,100-page work which you need to read with thousands of footnotes.”

Trapiello describes the difficulty of reading the early 17th Century classic - often described as Europe’s first modern novel as a kind of albatross hanging around the neck of contemporary Spaniards, many of whom have come to associate the name of Cervantes with a negative cultural experience.

“Everyone says they appreciate the importance of Don Quixote but there is this national frustration that they cannot read it. People get a complex about it,” he says.

“Every couple of years, they sit down and say, I am going to do it this time, but they get as far as the windmill story on about page 50 and give up.”

This story sees Don Quixote, a minor nobleman who imagines himself a knight errant, mistake windmills for hulking giants and charge them on his pathetic horse, Rocinante - it’s the origin of the English phrase “tilting at windmills”.

Of the 10 Spanish adults who claimed to have read Don Quixote in full, only half recognised the main character’s real name, Alonso Quijano.

SYNW set to honour JP Clark

Barack Dementia traverses the green earth consuming whores in luxury jets and wine in yummy water floats rome burns this rome burns without remorse rome burns this rome burns without reprieve and the squirrel laps up sugars of gold and the felon commands the latest striptease eh, in a blaze of fake holiness Barack Dementia whips Zaragoza bury the carcass fast amid the soil and let the mention of birthday drown in bitter tears —ABIODUN AWOLAJA

•SYNW president, Mr Wole Adedoyin (left), and literary icon, Professor JP Clark, in Lagos recently.

THE Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) is set to honour Professor JP Clark, and the literary icon has endorsed the organisation’s proposal.

At a meeting in Lagos recently, the president of SYNW, Mr Wole Adedoyin, said his organisation would soon be celebrat-

ing Professor Clark for his contributions to the development of literature in the country.

The literary icon, on his part, thanked the SYNW, urging them to do more so as to put Nigeria on the map of global literary recognition.

The fact that Trapiello’s translation of the book into modern Spanish sold 30,000 copies in its first year in print may indicate how much Spaniards long to get to grips with the book, and how difficult they find the original.

Meanwhile, English-language films of Shakespeare’s works have done a lot to popularise the bard in Spain.

Jose Rivas, a 25-year-old IT engineer from Madrid, says the first thing that comes into his mind when he thinks of Shakespeare is “Kenneth Branagh”. He reels off a list of plays he knows from the cinema, from Henry V to Much Ado About Nothing.

By contrast, he has never read Cervantes, and was unaware this was a special anniversary year for the giant of Spanish letters.

“I get the feeling that Shakespeare is truly admired in Britain, while Cervantes is almost being ignored here,” says Lupe Estevez, a children’s author.

When she read Don Quixote as a schoolgirl, she was surprised to discover how funny the book was.

“I couldn’t believe something like that could have been written in that era. But the way we treat Cervantes is so solemn and old-fashioned, in the TV and film versions there have been, for example. This generation has got it wrong in that sense.

I hope to see a new approach for our children to enjoy.”

The man tasked with making 2016 in Britain the year of Cervantes, and not just Shakespeare, says much of the criticism is unfair.

“What is the aim of an anniversary like this? It is more to promote the works and reach the average citizens than to make a lot of noise,” says Julio Crespo, director of the London branch of the Cervantes Institute, the Spanish equivalent of the British Council.

Both contributed to elevate the level of the language and culture to which they belonged in a similar way “You can spend a lot of money on celebrations that seem to be very impressive but don’t really have a serious content.”

He is at pains to underline how much the writers have in common. It was because both writers were traditionally thought to have died on 23 April that this became World Book Day, he points out. Both have been translated into more than 100 languages.

“They were different writers using different forms but both contributed to elevate the level of the language and culture to which they belonged in a similar way,” he says.

Trapiello, the Cervantes devotee, also declares himself to be an enormous fan of Shakespeare, citing the poetic richness of the English bard’s verse.

“Hamlet is my favourite play, but even in some of the weaker works, there are always amazing passages. For example, I don’t rate Romeo and Juliet especially highly, but the leave-taking scene between the two lovers is of extraordinary quality,” he says.

Ultimately, Trapiello feels that Shakespeare’s obvious dramatic qualities give his work a modern edge, which lends it more easily to film adaptations.

“Quixote, on the other hand, is a series of small anecdotes. It does not translate at all into the language of cinema,” he says.

“All films about Quixote have tried to be funny and they have all failed.”

•Courtesy: BBC

19

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

education

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

Grade II Teachers’ Colleges:

To be or not to be?

T

HE feeling has often been expressed that there is need for the return of the Grade II Teachers’ Colleges which were abolished in Nigeria in the early 90’s. Many reasons have been adduced to explain this renewed call, but the most prominent ones among them is the perceived fall in the standard of learning particularly at the primary school level.

The Teachers’ Grade II Certificate was designed specifically for primary school teachers. Course duration at the college varied: teachers who had completed their secondary school education spent only three years at the college, while others with lower qualifications spent five years.

Speaking late last year to a national newspaper, Dr Farooq Kperogi, an assistant professor of Journalism and Citizen Media at the Kennesaw State University, Georgia, USA, described the replacement of the programme with the National Certificate in Education (NCE) as the “most thoughtless and asinine educational policy change in Nigeria’s history”.

“Judging by (my recollections) the quality of people who taught me in the first six years of my educational career,” he said, “Nigeria’s teacher-training colleges had high standards. The teachers understood child psychology and were trained to be allrounders; they taught all subjects with what seemed to me like effortless ease. I knew of no teacher who was not as proficient in the sciences as he was in the humanities. I later learnt that this was so because the colleges had a policy of not granting full certification

to students until they passed all 13 odd multi-disciplinary subjects they had learnt.”

The Director-General, Office of Quality Assurance, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs Ronke Soyombo, who spoke with Tribune Education last week, also remembered the “important role” played by the Grade II Certificate.

“I believe every part of education is very important,” she said. “Grade II Certificate was very important when it started. It helped particularly with children in nursery and primary schools, especially also on the pedagogy – how to teach children of that age. To me, if that’s the way forward, we want it. But it is a Federal Government policy.”

Also speaking with Tribune Education, the immediate past Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, Mrs Olayinka

Grade II Certificate was very important when it started. It helped particularly with children in nursery and primary schools

Oladunjoye, said the reason a College of Primary Education (the first in Nigeria) was established in Lagos was to address this lapse: “You know that in Lagos, we have a College of Primary Education at Epe,” she said. “The vision was to train teachers specifically for primary schools. For that teacher to go into the primary school, they would have to do a particular examination. We believe that if you’re a primary school teacher, there are certain criteria or attributes that you must have. What we were able to do was to ensure that primary school teacher is one who understands the fundamentals of primary school education. For the person to teach in a secondary school, they have to return to school, and learn the fundamentals of teaching in a secondary school.”

“Hurriedly” The Provost of Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Epe, Lagos, Professor Olu Akeusola who had earlier spoken extensively on the matter with Tribune Education averred that the Grade II Certificate was “abrogated hurriedly” without careful planning.

“In order to provide teachers that would teach at this primary school level, because primary education happened to be compulsory, the (Obasanjo) administration in 1976 introduced the Grade II Teacher Training College, so that anybody that passed the Senior Secondary School could go into the Grade II College for a oneyear Teaching Methodology course which

Calls for the return of Teachers’ Training Colleges have been increasing steadily in the past two or three years, ostensibly due to perceived fall in the standard of teaching at the primary school level. Is this the way to go? NAZA OKOLI writes. qualified them to teach in the primary school. Someone who finished Modern III would go for a three-year course at the college, while someone who finished his primary education would go in for a fiveyear course at the college. It continued that way from 1976.

“Then in 1990/91, it was discovered that there were a lot of Grade II teachers; a lot of teachers who weren’t doing well. And so it was felt that the standard of education was falling. The Babangida administration then decided that the minimum teaching qualification would be NCE in the primary school. So, Grade II was hurriedly abrogated.

“It was a wrong decision. Babangida who initiated it was wrong. The people who implemented it were wrong. The real 6-3-3-4 system is actually supposed to mean six years of primary education that is basic; three years of Junior Secondary that is technical. Then the three years of senior secondary education should have been divided into three: three-year senior secondary teacher-education which should have replaced the Grade II; three-year General education, and three-year senior secondary technical education.

“Those who finish from the three-year teacher education would then be the ones that could go for NCE or Faculty of Education; the three-year senior technical education would then go to polytechnics; and the others from the three-year general education would have gone to the Continues pg 20

20

education

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

Grade II Teachers’ Colleges: To be or not to be?

Continued from pg 19

universities. If we say that NCE should be used to teach in the primary school, we are deceiving ourselves; it cannot work.

“Education is pyramidal: it is wider at the base, and it thins up. When you are at the primary school, you do all the subjects; at the Junior Secondary school,

you do about sixteen subjects. At the Senior Secondary, you select only eight or nine. By the time you get to college of education, it becomes only three: Education and any of two teaching subjects.

That is where specialisation comes in. In the university, it is two: your major and your minor.

Nigeria has not developed to the extent of taking specialised

teachers to teach in the primary school. Our teachers in the primary school in those days taught everything. It was one teacher per class. One teacher would teach English, Arithmetic, Social Studies, Geography, and so on. Do we prepare these NCE students for that kind of work?

No. Then why should we expect from them what we never taught

them? Why are we implementing a policy we could not even finance?”

Nomenclature The call for the re-introduction of the Grade II Certificate, indeed, invites many questions. For example, is it to be administered as a higher qualification than it originally was? What is to be

COHEADS condemns alleged sexual harassment at Auchi Poly Supports FG’s anti-corruption campaign

By Laolu Harolds COUNCIL of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria (COHEADS) has condemned in strong terms alleged cases of sexual harassment at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi or any other polytechnic in Nigeria.

It called on the appropriate authorities to investigate reported cases with a view to identifying the culprits and bringing them to book to serve as deterrence to staff and students in the sector.

It also expressed support to the federal government’s anticorruption campaign and urged all anti-corruption agencies to ensure diligence while addressing issues relating to corruption allegations.

These were contained in the communiqué issued at the end of the body’s 133rd regular meeting held at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, between April 12 and 15, 2016, At the meeting, the Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Mas’ud Elelu, was elected the new chairman for the next four years.

COHEADS also made a strong case for “proper” funding of polytechnic education, and urged government to encourage industrial harmony in the sector.

Other officers elected are Dr. Matthew Akpata, the Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Idah (vice chairman), and Mr. Dauda

Gyemang, Rector, Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi (Treasurer).

The body appealed to the federal government to extend its HiImpact funding programme to all polytechnics to ensure even development of vocational and technical education in the country.

It also appealed to the government to support the

implementation of CONTISS 15 migration and other previously agreed academic allowances in the nation’s polytechnics with adequate funding required for the implementation “to maintain peaceful industrial harmony on our campuses.”

It commended the state governments that have successfully implemented CONTISS 15 in

their polytechnics and colleges of technology with full cash backing.

“We appeal to all staff unions in the nation’s polytechnics to exercise patience and allow peace to reign “on our campuses,” while efforts at resolving discordant issues are receiving attention, in the interest of polytechnic education in Nigeria,” the communiqué stated.

A cross section of Students Union leaders of FUTA at the retreat.

FUTA VC urges students’ leaders to foster peace, devt STUDENTS’ Union leaders in all institutions of higher learning across Nigeria have been advised to use their positions to foster peace and unity among all stakeholders and contribute to the current drive to make their institutions globally relevant.

The call was made by the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Professor Adebiyi Daramola, while declaring open a threeday leadership retreat organised for the new executives of the institution’s Students’ Union, held at the Premier Holiday Resort, Igbara-Oke, Ondo State.

Daramola said, “FUTA is committed not only to human resource training and development of its workforce, but also to the training of students’ leaders who are involved in the process of governance in our university.

“Thus, it has become the tradition of the university management at the onset of a new FUTASU Executive to organise leadership training for the new students’ leaders. I,

therefore, urge you to lead in a way that will foster peace, unity and harmony within the system.”

Professor Daramola said he expected that at the end of the retreat, the students would have

been positively impacted to lead a 21st century Students’ Union imbued with dynamic academic culture that promotes dialogue, consultation and positive initiatives.

UNILAG lecturer wins first Ayo Ogunye grant Naza Okoli A lecturer at the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Lagos, Mr Olawole Ogirima Olanipekun, has won the first edition of Professor Ayo Francis Ogunye Trust Foundation (PAFOTFUL) Research Grant.

The grant, which is worth one million naira, will be used by the researcher who is also a Ph.D candidate in the same department to come up with solutions to the problem of oil spillage and pollution in the Niger Delta region.

While presenting the cheque to the winner, the Vice Chancellor of the university and member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Professor Rahamon Bello, praised the initiator, Professor Ogunye, for his foresight.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the event, the elated winner of the grant said the money would go a long way.

Olanipekun said: “You know, a lot of researchers have been considering crude oil production as if it is a single contaminant.

But, when there is pollution, there are multiple hydrocarbons in the

environment which many are treating as if they are just a single hydrocarbon.

“We are not going to take crude oil as a whole, but we are going to take a model subscript, by taking hydrocarbon from crude oil and mix them together and take consortium from Niger Delta and mix them together and see how they are going to degrade.”

The Chairman of the panel of judges for the competition, Prof.

Oluwole Familoni, said a total of 30 entries were received from all over the country, while three were shortlisted.

the fate of the NCE – especially as it seems, itself, to be on the verge of extinction? In what ways would the TC II satisfy the eternal demand for higher qualifications?

Ultimately, if a TC II certificate holder is to be rated below NCE and degree holders, what is the guarantee that prospective teachers would wish to enrol at the training colleges?

Stakeholders commend Promasidor over Cowbellpedia STAKEHOLDERS in the education sector have commended Promasidor Nigeria Limited over the seamless conduct of the 2016 Cowbellpedia qualifying examination held recently nationwide.

A cross section of parents, students and teachers who spoke at the venue of the examination in Lagos and Ogun states also praised the National Examination Council and the states’ ministry of education for the smooth and hitch-free exercise.

They also urged government and other corporate citizens to emulate the great initiative by Promasidor.

Mr James Oluwatoyin, a teacher of one the participating schools at Ifo center in Ogun State, as well as Mrs Nifemi Ajelowo, also a teacher in one of the participating schools in Lagos praised NECO for the crisis-free examination and the credibility brought to bear upon the exercise.

Festus Tettey, Head of Marketing, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk, also expressed delight at the conduct of the qualifying written examination.

NIMC to partner UNILORIN on software development THE National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has indicated its readiness to collaborate with the University of Ilorin in the area of data capture software development to reduce government’s yearly spending on data capture management abroad.

NIMC’s Director of Research, Emmanuel Ogungbe, gave this indication last week when he led a three-man team from the commission to the university to explore areas of possible collaboration between the two institutions.

Briefing the vice chancellor on the NIMC team’s mission to the university, Mr Ogungbe explained that the commission was seeking local solution to the high maintenance fee of the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), lamenting that most of the technologies that support the national identity management project are foreign-based.

education OAU wins Microsoft Nigeria’s Imagine Cup 2016 finals

21

Laolu Harolds

T

EAM Humane, representing the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Friday emerged winners at the national finals of the 2016 edition of the Microsoft Nigeria Imagine Cup. Now in its ninth year in Nigeria, Microsoft Imagine Cup is the premier student technology programme and competition, and a cornerstone of the Microsoft YouthSpark initiative. It provides an opportunity for student technologists, developers and aspiring entrepreneurs from all academic backgrounds to collaborate, develop a technology application, create a business plan and gain a keen understanding of what is needed to bring a concept to the market.

This year national finals held at the Microsoft Office in Victoria Island, Lagos, and had 11 participating teams drawn from various tertiary institution within the country.

The winning team, Team Humane, which comprised Otaru Babatunde, Oyatope Blessing, Shoaga Victor, and Ayodele Obasegun, competed in the World

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

Citizenship Category.

Their solution, Humane, is a solution for the visually impaired, which enables them to interact and navigate freely on their mobile phones. The solution comes with an accompanying hardware known as the Humane handle, which interacts with Apps installed on a device using Bluetooth.

A visually impaired person would be able to navigate through various apps installed on his/her mobile phone using the handle and an integrated voice navigation system.

The team leader, Ayodele Obasegun, said “We were concerned about solving a major challenge leveraging technology; hence, we embarked on this project.”

Also speaking at the National finals, Director, Developer Evangelism, Microsoft Nigeria, Shina Oyetosho, explained that, “Microsoft is committed to empowering students to become the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and developers. The competition inspires student developers around the world to create innovative solutions that change the way we live, work and play while also growing the

Winners of the Microsoft Imagine Cup competition with Developer Experience and Evangelism Director, Microsoft Nigeria, Shina Oyetosho (left); and Chief Information Officer, Sterling Bank, Olayinka Oni (3rd right) at the National Final of the Microsoft Imagine Cup competition, held Friday at the Microsoft Office, Victoria Island, Lagos. skills they need to pursue a future in technology.”

Team Humane will go on to compete in the Middle East and Africa semifinals for a place at the world finals scheduled to hold

in Seattle, Washington DC, in July this year.

Other teams that received laurels during this year’s competition include Team Circuit from the Ladoke Akintola University

of Technology, Ogbomoso, with their solution Ulcerex, came in as first runner-up; while Team Elite from the Ajayi Crowther University, were second runner-up, with their IDP Finder Solution).

The Chairman of the Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Stephen Odey, in this interview with ANTHONY UBONG spoke on the controversy surrounding the screening/ verification exercise for teachers across the 18 local government areas of the state.

ercise. No teaching or non-teaching staff has been sacked; neither have I indicted any teacher. I am shocked that people can decide to incite Cross Riverians against what the governor has officially approved for this board as a statutory body to carry out.

Those allegations against me are malicious, baseless and unfounded. Despite the fact that the exercise has not been concluded, it will interest you to know that I have four certificates presented by four different teachers with the same certificate number, the same student registration number, and the same grade. It will also interest you that in one local government, a teacher voluntarily surrendered his forged certificate.

It will also interest you that, sadly, teachers that have not been able to clear their Grade Level 2 are enjoying salaries of Grade Level 12 officers. As a lawyer, I talk based on facts. The facts are before me here. If your certificate is suspected to have been forged, we note it; and when we get to where we can’t have copier, we will get information about you secretly. So, the allegation that I confiscated certificates is baseless because if your certificate is suspected to have been forged, it is my responsibility as their employer to do something about it.

I have some certificates suspected to have been forged, they are here.

It is my duty to verify them; and if at the end of the day it is found out that those certificates are not forged, I have all the contacts through my education secretary and these certificates will get back to the owners.

would you react to this?

It is ridiculous. I hold a PhD, and I am a lawyer. I am too refined to imagine pouring water on my fellow colleagues. Go to Sociology Department, they will tell you I was doing very well before Professor Ben Ayade appointed me as SUBEB chairman. So, how could I degenerate to that level to pour water on my colleagues?

Let somebody come out openly to testify that I did that, I will resign and leave this office.

I’m here to make a difference – C’River SUBEB chair

CAN you enumerate some of the successes you have recorded since you assumed office as chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board?

When I was appointed on the 12th of October, 2015, the governor charged me to revive SUBEB. I have passion for education and that is the motivating factor. During my time, a child in primary school can now write and read letters for their parents. It is disheartening to know that when I went on an on-the-spot assessment of some schools, even some pupils in Primary Six could not read. But based on the mandate given to me by His Excellency, the governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, I have decided that the system must change. I am here to see how Cross River State in terms of education at the basic level can move forward. You know the responsibility of SUBEB does not only end with primary

school; we intervene up to Junior Secondary School. So, the task is enormous.

But teachers in the state are not happy with you over the screening/verification exercise you conducted across the state. What really happened?

The system collapsed at a point and I think that in order to improve, we must inject new hands.

I came here to help Cross River State to see how we can move our basic education system forward. Having revived the SUBEB headquarters, I realized that we need to look at the manpower required to improve on our basic education carefully. Are they qualified? Are they competent? I said look, in order to enable me perform, I have to look at the calibre of teachers that I have in the system; coupled with the memo where people alleged that we have a lot of ghost teachers. (There are)

a lot of teachers that have died over the years but their salaries are running. We have a situation where somebody is married in Ibadan for over four years, but is still collecting salaries in Cross River State. I have one here where the teacher had died three years ago, but has collected January 2016 salary. Something is wrong somewhere.

The governor charged me to personally conduct the personnel audit, and I started work. I promised Cross Riverians that I am not going to be an armchair chairman. I don’t want to sit here for people to give me report; let me see things for myself. But to my greatest dismay, I was in Abuja and I read a publication where the Nigerian Union of Teachers that are supposed to give me the support and encouragement to see how the system can be properly sanitized, without hearing from me, started accusing me (in both the print and electronic media) of assaulting teachers and confiscating certificates. I am a lawyer and I know where my rights stop.

At the end of the screening exercise for teachers, Cross Riverians will be happy that somebody has come to make a difference in our education system. The report will shock Cross Riverians.

You were also accused of tearing and confiscating certificates in the course of the exercise. How true is this?

Whoever has gone to publish that report is unfair to me, because in the course of this personnel audit, no single teacher was asked to write a lesson note because that is not the aim of the ex-

During the protest, the teachers also alleged that you poured water on them and ordered them to sit on the floor. Some even threatened to sue you for assault. How

What would be the fate of teachers whose certificates were allegedly forged?

We have started confirming some from the report I have gotten from the National Teachers Institute.

We have written to UNICAL; we have written to CRUTECH. We have even written to one school where somebody purportedly presented the certificate and they returned it that the school does not exist. This is to enable you know that I prepared for this exercise because I knew I was going to face attack. I have written to the University of Jos. I have written to the Federal College of Education, Kontagura. I have written to all the institutions that I suspected they didn’t present genuine documents. They were thinking that out of Cross River State, it would be difficult for any chairman to take pains to go after them; but it is a duty that I promised the governor that I would deliver. If it is confirmed like I have started confirming, I can authoritatively tell you that I have about 20 names that were confirmed to have been forged, that one you can’t change it, even NUT can’t change it. It is the decision of the governor of Cross River State and the entire executive to decide what they would do with teachers that have forged certificates.

22

education

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

FEDPOFFA rector canvasses stakeholders’ support

Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (middle); Director, Student Support Service, Dr. Rukayatu Gurin (4th right); Commissioner for Higher Education, Mr Jude Sinebe (2nd left) and others, during a courtesy call by NUC on the governor in Asaba.

NUC seeks Delta’s support on entrepreneurial programmes Ebenezer Adurokiya- Warri

P

ROFESSOR Julius Okojie of the National Universities Commission (NUC) has visited Delta State to seek partnership for the commission’s entrepreneurship programmes the Annual National Entrepreneurship Week (ANEW) and the National Entrepreneurship Resource

and Knowledge Centre (NERKC).

Represented the Director, Student Support Services, Dr. Rukayyatu Gurin, Professor Okojie stressed that with entrepreneurship training added to the university curriculum, students would be better equipped for future challenges after school.

He commended the state’s wealth creation

programme, saying that partnering with the state government would help NUC re-orientate and mould the character of the youth towards a greater future.

Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, in his welcome address, opined that to make university graduates self-reliant and employers of labour, there was the need for the introduction of entre-

Akungba community not planning reprisal attack on AAUA students – Regent CONTRARY to speculations that the Akungba community will launch reprisal attacks on students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, upon resumption following a face-off between the two during the recent protest, the Regent of the community, Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon, said there is no such plan by her subjects.

Tribune Education recalls that AAUA students protested the death of one of their colleagues who died in an accident involving a commercial motorcycle outside the university campus on April 8th, 2016, which eventually led to the closure of the university.

But Princess Omosowon said last week Wednesday when the Vice

Chancellor, Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, led some management staff of the university to the palace, that “it is a rumour that our youths are planning to attack the students.”

She also debunked another rumour that a student died from charms used on him by a member of the community.

“I want to state unequivocally that there is no truth in such a report.

Though some members of the community are aggrieved over the unwarranted attack on them and the disruption of their lawful trading and economic activities, no one is planning any attack whatsoever,” she said.

“I want to assure the university community that my people are not planning any attack on

the students. They are our children. I have appealed to my people that what happened was one of the prices we have to pay for hosting the university that has brought a lot of economic and social changes to the town,” she added.

The vice chancellor, in his remark, thanked the people of Akungba community for showing restraint in dealing with the protest, which he said was hijacked by miscreants. He also lauded the regent for rising to the occasion by restraining her people.

Those in the vice chancellor entourage included the acting Registrar, Mr Sunday Ayeerun; the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr Bolanle Ogungbamila, and other senior university officers.

preneurial studies into university curriculum.

Governor Okowa noted that if entrepreneurial studies were made a core course in the university curriculum, students would be able to imbibe entrepreneurial and wealth creation skills as well as develop confidence and self-reliance to become employers of labour rather than job seekers.

“Your entrepreneurship programme is laudable.

We need to move from the present paper qualification to entrepreneurship to enable our youths grow.

“If our youths are better informed and skilled, they will have hope and be able to take care of themselves.

ACTING Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, Dr. Mrs. Ayodele Kuburat Olaosebikan, has appealed to staff and students of the polytechnic cooperate with the management in her drive to sustain the existing peaceful coexistence in the institution.

She made the appeal during an interactive meeting involving the polytechnic’s staff and management.

Dr. Olaosebikan also appealed to staff to always forgive one another and shun any acts capable of promoting conflicts in the system.

She also encouraged members of the staff to always approach the management with ideas that would facilitate more developments to the polytechnic.

“We have had some challenges that have not al-

lowed us to move at the pace we ought to. Please, let us put all grievances behind us. Let us forgive one another so that we can move forward. The institution has great potentials, both human and other resources; so, let us maximize them. Let us move away from creating rough weather, let’s stop promoting storms and be friendly to each other,” she pleaded.

The registrar of the polytechnic, Alhaji AbdulHamid Raji, in his remarks, described the acting rector as a strong pillar of the management.

“The Minister of Defence has now become the captain of the ship. We pray that God Almighty will give her wisdom and strength to further take the polytechnic to greater heights,” the registrar said.

Cultism: ABSU staff,

students now to take oath Celestine Ihejirika - Umuahia

HENCEFORTH, students of the Abia State University (ABSU) will now be expected to swear to an affidavit against any involvement in cult-related activities and other vices.

The vice chancellor, Professor Uche Ikonne made the disclosure while addressing the press on the 24th convocation ceremonies of the university.

He said his management had concluded plans to rededicate the university back to God. Speaking against the backdrop of the cult-related violence that claimed the

lives of two students of the university recently, Professor Ikonne stated that Wednesday April 13, 2016 had been dedicated by the university for cult members to renounce their membership, and that oath taking by management and staff would henceforth become a policy – and anyone who fails to comply will face the law.

To totally eradicate cultism in the university, the vice chancellor said the university in collaboration with hostel operators, land lords, traditional rulers and the chairman of the area would work together to make the environment save.

NECO declares support for FG’s policy on stamp duty Adelowo Oladipo- Minna

THE National Examinations Council (NECO) says it has fully embraced the Federal Government’s policy on stamp duty in all its transactions.

Consequently, all members of staff of the organisation have been directed to comply with the policy as enunciated by the federal government.

This was contained in a press statement signed

by NECO’s Head of Information/ Public Affairs Division, Mr. Azeez Sani, and was made available to newsmen in Minna.

The document stated that rising from a twoday meeting held with the newly appointed zonal coordinators and state officers, the Registrar/Chief Executive, Professor Abdulrashid Garba, admonished the staff to fully comply with the policy as well as the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in their respective zones and states.

Professor Garba said that the implementation of these noble policies is not only key to the change mantra of the present administration, but is also relevant in the realization

of the administration’s goals.

He warned staff against going against the directive and stressed that the TSA is intended to “ensure accountability of government revenue, enhance transparency and avoid misapplication of funds,” while the “Stamp Duty is intended to legitimise all transactions entered into by the council.”

The registrar also announced the release of utility vehicle to each of the eight zonal coordinators for proper conduct of examination activities in their respective zones.

23

Thursday, 21 April, 2016 Editor:

health

Sade Oguntola sadeboguntola@yahoo.com 0805 506 9260

‘Nigerians being a signatory to CET treaty is a tragedy’

Mr Olakunle Ekundayo, Managing Director, Drugfield Pharmaceuticals Limited spoke on the challenges facing the pharmaceutical manufacturing sub-sector and argued in this report

by SADE OGUNTOLA that the greatest undoing to the sector is policy inconsistency that had hindered the development of the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. Excerpts:

G

eneric brands of medicines are supposed to contain the specified amount of active constituents that are in innovator brands to ensure they are the same. Why is this not the case sometimes?

There are many generic brands of different drugs in circulation. For instance, there are many formulations of Arthemeter Combination Therapy (ACT) in tablet form for treating malaria that are manufactured by different companies from different parts of the world. Each company gives it its own brand name. Now, the innovator, who pioneered the molecule in the dosage form, becomes the reference point for generic brands of the same product.

If for instance, five of the brands are made in Nigeria and are subjected to general physiochemical tests prescribed for medicines, and depending on the level of each company’s sophistication (cGMP standard of practice), you may discover that maybe only three of the brands would fit the profile of the innovator.

A situation like this is rampant in Nigeria and should be expected when drugs are allowed to be imported from different corners of the world such as Vietnam and China in an uncontrolled manner. Although it is the brand of the same medicine, its effectiveness may not be the same.

All manner of drugs are imported into Nigeria, including those to treat serious ailments. This has contributed to the chaotic drug distribution situation that we have in Nigeria and the level is unimaginable. The

situation is not safe for anyone; the benefits of good medicines would continue to elude our people.

Cases of drug failure are bound to rise from such a chaotic situation where vitamins and prescription drugs including antibiotics are sold in open markets and along the streets like biscuits and sweets.

Moreover, if we produce more of what we consume, it would be different. This is because drugs that are produced in Nigeria are easier to regulate than those imported and especially from non-verifiable sources.

If you have treatment failures or drug complaints from made in Nigeria products, you know where to go. There are so many things that people can do; you can walk up to NAFDAC office near you, or the drug manufacturer because you can trace the address. You may choose to sue its manufacturer and so on. But where the drug is from Vietnam for instance, there is really little or nothing that you can do.

Unbridled drug importation is making so many drugs that are made in Nigeria face unfair competitions.

From hindsight of pharmaceutical

manufacturing, what should be done to ensure that cost of prescription drugs are reduced for Nigerians?

Many drugs that are manufactured and registered by NAFDAC here in Nigeria to treat the so-called serious ailments are much cheaper than the imported ones. For instance, Drugfield Pharmaceuticals make at least four different products for the treatment of glaucoma that is cheaper than the imported brands. But the mentality of “I only want to use an imported item and not made in Nigeria product” is part of the problem.

Until Nigerians begin to shed that ‘imported mentality’ and use what is made in the country which are cheaper and more readily available, and that if there are issues with any of them, the problem will persist.

I can assure you that if we begin to do that as a people, and the authorities also place more restrictions on importation of drugs that we have adequate capacity to produce here; prices of medicines generally would come down.

Back in August 2015, pharmaceutical firms said that the introduction of the Common External Tariff (CET) and the New National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NNDG) was threatening to close down Nigeria’s 150 pharmaceutical firms and cripple N300 billion worth of investment made so far in the sector. Has this been reversed?

CET, recently signed into law amongst ECOWAS countries, is one of the greatest tragedies of Nigeria as a nation. How do you as a country with a very high level of unemployment and many pharmaceutical manufacturing companies sign onto a treaty that allows importers of finished products to pay no duty on imported finished products and those who manufacture the same products here in Nigeria pay import duties that range between five and 25 per cent, including VAT on their raw materials, packaging materials, machineries and equipment?

It does not make sense. What you are saying is: why don’t you shelve local production with all its attending problems and start bringing in finished products and pay no duty. That is what it means, that is why I call it a tragedy. It is supposed to be the other way round to ensure the companies and workers future become even much more secure.

Paradoxically, despite all the hues and cries by manufacturers pointing out these dangers, nothing has been done to correct this anomaly. This is what is killing the industry now. We are hoping that the new government would correct these by making imported manufacturing inputs attract zero import duty and impose special taxes on imported finished pharmaceuticals.

But like in many treaties, opportunities should be provided to ensure that each government can protect its own industry and its own citizens.

With no tariff to pay as tax for importing fake and substandard products, importa-

tion of fake drugs will increase to make more money profit available to perpetrators.

How about the NAFDAC’s adoption of the Mobile Authentication Service (GSM SMS MAS) to checkmate this inflow of fake and substandard products?

Well, the implementation of that programme is in phases. Right now, it is applicable to antimalarials and the challenge really for us as a country is that there are just too many brands of ACTs that are being imported into Nigeria. This is aside the fact that the Mobile Authentication Service (GSM SMS MAS) system has its own challenges.

When the Mobile Authentication Service (GSM SMS MAS) is bad, using it to authenticate the genuineness of the drug becomes a challenge. It could be an embarrassment after scratching and there is no response, one will have no choice but to pay for a service you have not received.

Although the perpetrators are getting more daring in the art of counterfeiting and devising new ways of taking their products to the market, the way out is to put a lot of restrictions on frivolous imports into Nigeria.

Moreover, the job of policing becomes more challenging to the regulators even in Nigeria, especially now that funds are limited in the hands of government agencies that are saddled with regulation to tackle and combat things like fake drugs and substandard products.

How much as the high exchange rate of the dollar affected the pharmaceutical sector?

As far as manufacturing is concerned, we are at the worst time that you can imagine.

So many things are involved in the manufacture of drugs. Even in building a new factory, you may have to bring in expatriates for installation and all that. These are things you pay for in foreign currency.

And of course the low price of crude oil has really hit Nigeria below the belt because about 70 per cent of our foreign income that we use to finance our imports comes from oil, meaning that companies like ours will suffer. So now what is available is so little and does not go round and it is very challenging and very scary because if the trend continues we will see a lot of layoffs and factory/business closures What does that portend in terms of Nigeria’s health index, already it is bad?

A: It is going to get worse because there would be less access to needed medications. So the consequence is huge, we are just leaving by the day.

The government at the centre needs to really identify priority areas and make sure that the little foreign exchange that is coming in is well used. When you have a situation where about 60 per cent of the foreign exchange that comes in is used to import petrol, diesel and so on, then you know that there is a serious problem.

Sex, Sexuality&your health

natural health

Many benefits of garden egg Page 26

Surprising health benefits of sex Page 26

24

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

Dr. Ben Ajayi 0805 400 5447

you-and-eye@gmail.com

Do we see with our eyes?

“

How do people see?” Augustine asked members of the audience on the occasion of the World Sight Day. Now 14 years old, he was born a normal child but diagnosed as having retinoblastoma in both eyes at the age of two necessitating the removal of his eyes.

Retinoblastoma is a rapidly growing cancer that develops from the immature cells of the light-detecting tissue of the eye called retina. It is the commonest malignant tumuor of the eye in children.

It isn’t easy for any parent to accept the only treatment option available at the time which was the removal of the eyes. If not attended to in good time, the growth breaks through the coats of the eye and spreads into the adjoining tissues of the orbit and sometimes to distant sites.

Locally, it becomes really “angry” that it has been ignored and develops into a massive and unsightly mass. At this stage, parents are ready to accept any treatment option because the child’s suffering becomes unbearable to them. At this stage, death is often a question of time.

As Augustine spoke confidently, in perfect Queen’s English, I looked at his father’s face.

He was certainly very proud of his son who was a pupil in a normal secondary school in Lagos. When no answer was forth coming from the audience, Augustine asked again, in

a well measured voice, “Can anyone here tell me how people see?” There was eerie silence.

Then like a seasoned lecturer, he related how he had asked his sighted sister who accidentally knocked her toe against a piece of furniture, “Can’t you see?” She had replied that NEPA had taken the light and it was pitch dark so she couldn’t see. Hearing this, he was further confused. “So there are occasions when sighted people are blind too!”

Augustine could never remember having had any sight. It was therefore difficult for him to be able to tell what exactly he was missing. Even if someone had tried to explain it to him it would still be difficult for him to comprehend. It is like trying to imagine what it feels like having two mouths or three arms.

But really, how do people see things? Do we see with our eyes? The truth is that we

The truth is that we do not see with our eyes! I believe you must find this odd.

don’t see with our eyes! I believe you must find this odd. Don’t you? Yes we don’t see with our eyes! We see with our brains! Then, why do you have eyes? Aren’t images sent from our eyes to our brain? No! Never! Our eyes don’t send images to our brain. Images are constructed in our brain based on the simple signals sent from our eyes.

Our eyes see light and dark. Our brain interpret that to attempt to recognise what sort of thing those lines and motion might represent. Then our brain seamlessly cause us to perceive whatever that object might be. The nerve signals from our eyes are still the subject of much study, and mostly represent edges, shapes and motion. They do not send images. “Seeing” is a very complex higher-order brain function and the largest proportion of our brain is devoted entirely to this function.

Is it possible to construct a system that would transmit signals in form of light and dark to the brain so that a blind person can see? Yes it is possible. For a person blind from retinal disease such as Retinitis Pigmentosa and Age-related macula degeneration, hope is in sight through the Bionic eyes. A digital camera that’s built into a pair of glasses captures images in real time and sends images to a video processing microchip that is built into a hand held unit.

This processes the images into electrical pulses representing patterns of light and dark and sends the pulses to a radio transmitter in the glasses. A radio transmitter without a wire transmits these electrical impulses to a receiver implanted above the ear or under the eye. And a radio receiver sends pulses to a retinal implant by a hairthin implanted wire which stimulates the nerve cells behind the malfunctioning rods and cones. Impulses are sent by the nerves to the brain for interpretation. Thus the patient can see.

But Augustine’s eyes have been removed as a result of the retinoblastoma, so retinal implants are not possible. When retinal implants are not possible, electrodes can be implanted into the brain that can stimulate the visual cortex directly, but the real challenge is how to figure out which precise locations in the brain to stimulate to produce specific visual impressions.

With the advancement in technology this is a surmountable challenge and hopefully in his life time, Augustine will personally be able to tell us how people see.

This is a true story first published about three years ago. Augustine is now ready to go to the university to further his studies.

He would like to be a lawyer. He needs help.

Can you help?

Dr Abayomi Ajayi

ivf &you

info@nordicalagos.org

0700 6673422

Hysterosopy and IVF In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) is one the greatest technologies human has ever achieved although it has its limitation. But since its invention and introduction into the world, hope has been given to the hopeless and families at the edge of collapse had been restored.

In-vitro fertilisation is the process of handling male (sperm) and female (egg) gametes outside the body to produce an embryo. The embryo needs a fertile ground to grow to become a baby, the “fertile ground “is the lining of womb which must be free of any abnormality to allow implantation to take its normal course.

Failure of IVF treatment could lead to a mental, physical and financial disaster. Every effort should be geared toward achieving success for each couple presenting with fertility challenge. Endometrial receptivity (implantation) is an important step in achieving success in an IVF treatment in the presence of a quality embryo. Adequate check of the lining of womb (endometrium) prior to treatment could remove the rate limiting step to success by detecting any outstanding problem that might result in failure.

Hysteroscopy is a procedure that uses a thin, lighted tube called Hysteroscope which is inserted into the vagina to examine the cervix and inside of the womb to detect and treat any abnormality. These abnormalities includes polyps, fibroids (submucous or pendunculated), womb defects from birth (e.g Septum) and adhesions.

The procedure could be for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

Diagnostic: means visualisation of the cavity of the womb with a view to detect abnormalities. Diagnostic hysteroscopy is used to diagnose problems of the cervical canal and womb. It is also used to confirm results of other tests, such as hysterosalpingography (HSG). HSG is an X-ray dye test

used to check the womb and fallopian tubes. It can be performed many times in an office setting.

Additionally, hysteroscopy can be used with other procedures, such as laparoscopy, or before procedures such as dilation and curettage (D&C). In laparoscopy, your doctor will insert an endoscope (a slender tube fitted with a fiber optic camera) into your abdomen to view the outside of your womb, ovaries and fallopian tubes. The endoscope is inserted through an incision made through or below your navel.

Operative: means visualisation of the cervical canal and cavity of the womb with a view to detect and treat abnormalities. Operative hysteroscopy is used to correct an abnormal condition that has been detected during a diagnostic hysteroscopy. If an abnormal condition was detected during the diagnostic hysteroscopy, an operative hysteroscopy can often be performed at the same time, avoiding the need for a second surgery. During operative hysteroscopy, small instruments used to correct the condition are inserted through the hysteroscope.

Operative hysteroscopy is done to correct the following conditions: •Polyps and fibroids– Hysteroscopy is used to remove these non-cancerous growths found in the womb. There are

Endometriosis surgery can be complex and difficult, and surgeons need specialised skills

different locations for fibroids in the womb such as subserous, intramural and submucous fibroids. Submucous fibroids are better treated using hysteroscopy.

•Adhesions –Also known as Asherman’s Syndrome, uterine adhesions are bands of scar tissue that can form in the womb and may lead to changes in menstrual flow as well as infertility. Hysteroscopy can help the doctor locate and remove the adhesions.

•Septums – Hysteroscopy can help determine whether you have a uterine septum, a malformation of the womb that is present from birth; it can also be useful for corrective surgery if required.

•Abnormal bleeding— Hysteroscopy can help identify the cause of heavy or lengthy menstrual flow, as well as bleeding between periods or after menopause.

Endometrial ablation is one procedure in which the hysteroscope, along with other instruments, is used to destroy the uterine lining in order to treat some causes of heavy bleeding.

In many cases, hysteroscopy can be performed as an outpatient (same-day) surgical procedure.

Cost, convenience, accuracy, and patient acceptability of these procedures are clearly superior to those of traditional surgeries (open surgeries). Gynecologists have grown better acquainted with the benefits and techniques of operative hysteroscopy; it has become the method of choice for treatment of intrauterine pathology (abnormalities in the womb).

Over time, hysteroscopy has improved the gynecological practice by helping doctors to diagnose and treat problem inside the womb. This has resulted in better outcome for couple undergoing in-vitro fertilisation with inherent problem in the womb.

25 healthnews

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

2 per cent of Nigerian children are blind

By Sade Oguntola

C

ases of blindness are rife in Nigeria with an eye expert indicating that two per cent of blindness now occurs in children.

Group Medical Director, Eleta Eye Institute (EEI), Ibadan, Dr Gboyega Ajayi made the disclosure at the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone of Marilyn Miller Centre for Child Eye Health and Genetics to provide eye care for children, vitreo-retinal care among others to the teeming Nigerian population.

Ajayi, remarking that a child goes blind every minute somewhere in the world, declared that the number of children affected by blindness is enormous considering Nigeria’s population of young people.

The eye expert declared: “One child going blind is equivalent to the lifespan of 10 blind adults. Blindness early in life means a lot of suffering both for the child and the people taking care of him.

“Actually, I did not know that the need of child health was so much until we started the Eleta Eye Institute and we started to see children.

“Causes of blindness in children include cataract, glaucoma, retinopathy of prematurity, congenital anomalies of the eye and cancer of the eye.”

The centre which was to complement eye care services as well as train child eye specialist in the nation, Dr Ajayi said also decided on vitreo-retinal care because many people are going blind because of retinal detachment.

He stated that about 100,000 persons with retinal detachment are seen every year in Nigeria and over 95 per cent of the cases progress to blindness because they could either not afford its surgical treatment abroad or it was discovered too late.

“If it is detected early, it is a reversible cause of blindness. But in many people, it proceeds to total blindness without even a diagnosis,” he said.

Dr Ajayi said only one private hospital facility carries out vitreo-retinal surgery in Lagos although Nigeria has many trained vitreo-retinal surgeons who cannot function because the equipment they need to work are either not available or working.

Metropolitan Earlier, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin, said the importance of the eye to body was the reason the catholic church

established the Eleta Eye Institutes to touch lives.

Archbishop Abegunrin, saying that the institute needs further support as it extends its services to more people, called on health workers to approach their

work with love, calmness and watch their language when attending to patients.

“Let patients feel happy; that way there healing is not impeded,” he said.

EEI’s founder, Archbishop Emeritus Felix Alaba Job,

described the institute as a dream that started years ago to support eye care, following his realisation of quacks performing cataract surgery and out of every 10 cases, nine end up blind.

Archbishop Job, stating that people had also ac-

cessed free cataract surgery at the institute with support of philanthropists, described Marilyn Miller Centre for Child Eye Health and Genetics as a great thing for the healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

From Left: Dr Gboyega Ajayi; Mr Francis Arogundari; Archbishop Felix Alaba Job; Professor Bopo Osuntokun; Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin; Mrs Oyegoke and Dr Olaoye Jegede at the event, recently in Ibadan.

Nurses are your friends, Nigerians told

By Sade Oguntola Contrary to the opinion of many, nurses have been described as friends of patients, and a professional group always out for the good of patients.

Director, Nursing Services, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Mr T. A Ajibade stated this at the closing ceremony of five days maiden mandatory nurse-leader summit/ retreat for 173 nurses from the University College Hospital, Ibadan. It was with the theme “Clinical Excellence: The Role of the Nursing Leader in Moving Care forward.”

Ajibade said the notion that nurses are not friends of patients is wrong, add-

ing, “Nurses takes care of patients all round the clock.

We ensure that whatever is required for health is given and at the right time.”

He however stated that nurses are always expected to be up and doing in the hospital, adhere to the ethics of nursing profession and ensure that patients are always at the heart of what they do.

While asking that patients also appreciate the role of nurses in their care, Ajibade said ensuring clinical excellence was concise with the current health ideology of promoting, maintaining and sustaining the health care of Nigerians.

Attaining clinical excellence, he said was however possible only when there is

industrial harmony, stimulating environment, spirit of mentorship, assertiveness and adherence to the ethics of the profession.

To ensure nurses develop strong management capabilities and leadership qualities to lead the transformation, he suggested that they should have a clear professional role, have a clear part on how work should be done and develop clear standards for role expectations.

Earlier, Head Clinical Nursing department, UCH, Ibadan, Dr Patricia Oniawa, said the retreat became necessary especially now that patients feel nurses were not doing enough for them.

The nurse leaders retreat which addressed issues of patient care, magnify pa-

tient focus and how best to manage patient’s expectations, she said was a call also to nurses to see and manage patients as individuals as they were becoming very aware of their rights.

Oniawa declared that as advocate for patients, nurses should “relate very well with them; always be there for them; meet their needs and address them well.

“We know that their perceptions of nurses these days are not positive, but patients should still be encouraged to know that we are still there for care and to meet their needs. So, their attitude towards us should also be positive. We are there to give them information for them to make decisions.”

Increase support for palliative care at the community level —Expert President, Centre for Palliative Care, Nigeria, Professor Olaitan Soyannwo has urged increase support for palliative care, an holistic care for people with life limiting or incurable illnesses and aged, at the community level.

Soyannwo spoke at a oneday sensitisation workshop to introduce people, including medical workers at the Ibadan North Local Government council area, to the role of palliative care and CPCN’s new centre at Basorun, a suburb of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The new centre is aimed at taking palliative care to people in the community through training of professionals on palliative care and

carers to provide home care services when necessary.

Soyannwo said this had become imperative in Nigeria due to increasing cases of people suffering from pain and elderly in the country and to ensure services extend to the home of patients.

She declared: “There are lots of people living with pain in the community. We have pain due to old age, sickle cell disease, arthritis, and other health issues. There are also those that have complications of cardiovascular disease like stroke and diabetes.

“They do not have the well withal to go to the hospital for treatment every time.

For such people, health is brought nearer to them, right to their homes. Home carers for such people can be supervised by the health care professionals who work with primary health or secondary level of care.”

The expert, who said that abroad there are hospices and homes to care for these set of people, urges for increased volunteers for care of the aged and those with life limiting or incurable illnesses.

Medical Officer of Health in the council, Dr Monday Famakin said although geriatric care was a part of primary health care, actualising it at the community level

was a challenge because of dearth of staff.

He declared: “The community health extension workers are those to go to the community; they are supposed to spend between 60 and 80 per cent of their time in the community. But they have to stay in the clinic because the last recruitment was done about eight years ago.”

Earlier, Chairman, Ward 5 Primary Health Care Committee, Ibadan North Local government, Alhaji Jimoh Olaniyi, who noted that palliative care was more apt at the community level rather than in the hospital, promised his support in propagating it in the council area.

Fire services to partner on emergency rescue operations The Federal Ministry of Health and Federal Fire Service of Nigeria have agreed to join force to provide efficient Emergency Rescue operation Services in the Country.

This was made known when the Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, met with the Controller–General, Federal Fire Service of Nigeria, Engineer Joseph Garba Annebi in the Fire Service Headquarter Abuja.

The Minister said that provision of emergency services is the responsibilities of many Departments and Agencies of Government including Federal Fire Service of Nigeria.

He said that Federal Fire Service plays two major roles in emergency response, first is to control and investigate fire incidence and second to provide rescue services before taking the victims to the hospital.

“It is because of these two main functions that we need to have close collaboration between the fire service and Federal Ministry of Health and other agencies responsible for rescue operations”.

The Minister said that the essence of the collaboration is to work together and provide quick emergency response and harmonise areas of overlapping. Some departments or agencies have ambulances, some provide first aid treatment, we want to pool all our resources together and deploy them in such a way that we can work efficiently and cover the whole country.

“We want improved response, improved speed in such a way that we should arrive at scenes of incidence immediately and be able to render synergised service at minimal cost”.

Dr Ehanire also said that the two agencies would share ideas, exchange knowledge and skills on rescue operation so that whoever comes first at the scene can be able to perform little functions of the other before he come and take over.

In his remarks, the Controller–General, Federal Fire Service of Nigeria Engr. Joseph Garba Annebi said that fire service is actually involved in fire fighting as well as rescuing of victims from any disaster.

26

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

Many benefits of garden egg

By Vera Onana with Agency reports

G

arden egg is a fruit but an unusual kind of fruit, which is even used for the preparation of stew. Botanically known as Solanum melongena, it is locally called Igba among the Yorubas of the South-western Nigeria. This populous African fruit remains a delight for researchers given its nutritional and health benefits.

While so many people will prefer to eat imported apples in ignorance and for some others as a display of their financial buoyancy, the great benefits of the local egg plant cannot be over emphasised.

Garden egg is a rich source of fibre that tremendously helps in keeping blood vessels very flexible and relaxed.

It takes care of the heart as it has some minerals that are good for prevent some heart problems. It helps even diabetes patients to regulate their blood sugar level.

The garden egg is a natural source of variants of vitamin B Like thiamin, niacin, B6 and pantothenic acid which is needed by human body. But most interesting is the fact that the common garden egg supports weight loss. This is because it controls body cholesterol and reduces fat in the human body. As a vegetable with low calorie, it has been greatly explored for weight management practitioners.

In the intestinal tract, it Improves digestion and helps to deal with indigestion and gastrological problems. It is equally beneficial for people who experience constipation due to its high fibre content.

Garden egg is also a rich source of folate, manganese, Vitamin K, magnesium, vitamin C and copper. It also helps to improves blood circulation in the body and reduces the problem of body and joint pains.

According to Dr. Ndubuisi Nwakakwa, physician/consultant Acupuncturist at Green leaves clinic and Acupuncture Centre, Ilasamaja, Lagos “a high level of blood cholesterol, more particularly the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and heart disease. Garden

sex,sexuality

&your health With Monica Taiwo

strictly adult teenagers, adult & geriatric sexual well being

08187754992 (sms only) taiwomonica@gmail.com Of course sex is healthy, but did you know that a good sex life can provide specific health benefits? We spoke to the experts to find out just how sex improves our health (not that you needed any convincing).

It could make you thinner Do you dread working out? Do not break up with your treadmill just yet. But if it is late and you have not made it to the gym, don’t forget that sex counts as exercise, too.

“Sex burns between 75 and 150 calories per half-hour,” says Desmond Ebanks, MD, founder and medical director of Alternity Healthcare in West Hartford, Connecticut. It is comparable to other physical activities, he says, like yoga; 114 calories per half-hour, dancing; 129 calories per half-hour or walking; 153 calories per half-hour.

Sex may also help your muscles stay lean in the process.

“Sexual arousal and orgasm releases the hormone testosterone, which, among other things, is necessary to build and maintain bone and lean muscle tissue,” he adds.

It could improve your heart health You are probably already aware that heart disease is the number-one killer of women. Eating a healthy diet, and keeping your cholesterol low and sodium in check are great ways to stay on top of heart health, but so is having sex. “Sex is an exercise that raises heart rate and blood flow,” says Dr. Ebanks. “In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, researchers

Garden Egg egg is more helpful for reducing cholesterol than apples and oats.”

Its calorie content is less when in its wet form than when dried. When cooked in oil, it contains more than 300 calories due to absorption of extra fat.”

In addition, he stated that “Although garden egg is generally said to contain low amount of protein and other nutrients, it is also low in sodium and very rich in high dietary fibre. It is also high in potassium, a necessary salt that helps in maintaining the function of the heart and regulates blood pressure.

The benefits of garden egg to the human body are numerous and according to Dr. Nwakakwa, it supports good eye sight aside weight reduction.

“It consumption may be of great benefits to glaucoma patients’ he opined.

A study conducted by some experts, S. A. Igwe, Dora Akunyili and C. Ogbogu that was published in the 2003 issue of the journal of Ethno pharmacology on “Ef-

natural

health fects of Garden egg on some visual functions of visually active Igbos of Nigeria” found that eating plenty of garden egg can help lower eye pressure in persons with glaucoma.

For weight reduction, “this is the perfect recipe for achieving weight loss within a short period of time because it is very low in calorie, and that is why experts are encouraging people that want to lose weight to eat more of its fresh form, just as they say people that are told to protect their heart against cholesterol effects should make it their delight” said Nwakakwa.

Also, Jummai Hassan, a nutritionist with Wuse General Hospital, Abuja, said garden egg also known as eggplant “have low calorie, low sodium, low protein and is very high in dietary fibre and potassium. It’s a fruit that is classified under vegetables and anyone who really want to lose weight should eat fresh garden egg.

“When you take garden egg, it fills the tummy because of its fibre content which reduces the food you consume, thereby reducing the calories and body weight.”

She said that the high fibre content of eggplant helps to reduce bad cholesterol in the body, thereby protecting the heart. According to her, garden eggs help to regulate the blood pressure and regulate the function of the heart.

She said that because of the high fibre and low soluble carbohydrate content of the eggplant, it controls glucose absorption and reduces the risk of hypertension and is very low in calorie content, such that when a diabetic person consumes it, it suppresses the sugar level and brings the blood pressure down.

She added that garden eggs have anti-ulcer effect, which could be used as a treatment for ulcer while noting that they do not protect one from having ulcer but that the anti ulcer content in the fruit suppresses the ailment.

Surprising health benefits of sex found that having sex twice or more a week reduced the risk of fatal heart attack by half.”

It can help you get a better night’s sleep What do you do to help you sleep? When chamomile tea and other remedies aren’t doing the job, sex may help— especially if you’re having trouble sleeping due to anxiety or stress. “People having frequent sex often report that they handle stress better,” notes Dr. Ebanks. “The profound relaxation that typically follows orgasm for women and ejaculation or orgasm for men may be one of the few times people actually allow themselves to completely relax. Many indicate that they sleep more deeply and restfully after satisfying lovemaking.”

It can boost your immune system With all the concerns about cold and flu viruses, combating germs can sometimes feel like a full-time job.

Surprisingly, there may be something you can do in the bedroom to keep your immune system strong, says Dr. Ebanks, who points to a study by researchers at Wilkes

University in Pennsylvania. “Individuals who have sex once or twice a week show 30 per cent higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, which is known to boost the immune system,” he says. So, make this your new cold-and-flu season mantra: Wash your hands and make a bedroom date with your partner often!

It can improve your mental health It is the quickest way to boost your mood, fight depression and beat anxiety? Patricia Tan, MD, a board-certified internist in Arizona and medical expert for JustAnswer.com, says the answer is simple: sex; in a loving, committed relationship, of course. “Psychologically, sex improves one’s mental health by building intimacy and reducing stress,” she says. “The stress reduction component lowers a person’s cortisol level, thereby reducing the chances of increased blood pressure, hyperglycemia and increased acidity in the abdomen.”

It can help relieve pain You might change “Not tonight, honey, I have a headache” to “Yes, tonight, honey, I have a headache,” or so says Dr. Ebanks, who believes there’s a real correlation between sex and pain management.

“Through sexual arousal and orgasm, the hormone oxytocin is secreted in your body, which in turn causes the release of endorphins,” he explains. “Because of these natural opiates, sex acts as a powerful analgesic.”

It can help you with bladder control It may sound weird; the idea that sex can help you minimise incontinence— but it is true, say experts. Sex therapists have long recommended that women do Kegel exercises (flexing the muscles in your pelvic floor) throughout the day, but also during sex.

Courtesy HealthSite.com

27

Thursday, 21 April, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor taiadis@yahoo.com

As zoning formula tears Plateau PDP apart ISAAC SHOBAYO examines the fresh crisis brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State over zoning as the party prepares for state congress.

Two of the three strong contenders for the chairmanship position are perceived as allies of the former governor. One of them is Honourable Damishi Sango from Riyom local government.

O

ne experience that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State cannot forget in a hurry is the 2015 general election.

For 16 consecutive years, their party had governed the state with its structures spread cross the nooks and crannies of the state.

But, the jinx was broken by the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the last general election, when it humbled the PDP at the poll. While the party buffs engaged in buck-passing over the defeat, one issue stood out in the midst of the altercations. It was the belief among majority of the PDP members that their defeat was occasioned by the imposition of unpopular candidates on the party for the elections. It triggered serious frustration and anger that led to most party members working against the party at the poll. So, it was no surprise to many stalwarts of the party that the APC cashed on the opportunity to dethrone PDP as the governing party on the Plateau.

Nonetheless, most party faithful saw the forthcoming congresses of the PDP as constituting platforms to reposition the party at all levels. Various caucuses and influential members have hit the ground running ahead of the congresses. But it has also rekindled uncanny rivalry within the party. Characters that worked assiduously to undermine one another in the last elections are at each other’s throat again in their quest to capture the soul of PDP on the Plateau. Lately, the party has held series of meetings on the way forward, especially how to use the forthcoming state congress to reposition the party. One of the resolutions adopted by the leaders was sharing of positions among the three senatorial zones in the state.

The state top shots of the party recently met and in pursuant to the Party’s Constitution and the 2016 congresses and convention guidelines, allocations positions as follows: Northern Senatorial district: state chairman, vice chairman, organising secretary, financial Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Organising Secretary, Assistant PRO, Ex- Officio I, Ex- Officio II Plateau Central Zone: Deputy Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Publicity Secretary, Women Leader, Assistant Auditor, Assistant Legal Adviser, Ex- Officio I, exOfficio II. Plateau South district: secretary, vice chairman, legal adviser, youth leader, auditor, assistant financial secretary assistant secretary, ex- officio I and ExIt was learnt that Plateau Central and Plateau South had since complied with the sharing formula, but the chairmanship zoned to the Plateau North has caused serious upset and consequently thrown the party off balance again. The PDP stakeholders within the zone, in alliance with their associates outside the zones, are said to be making moves to impose a particular individual as the state party chairman. Some party members claimed the immediate past state governor and now Senator, Jonah Jang and his loyalists are behind the plot. Those opposed to the move felt that he ought to play a neutral role in who becomes the state PDP chairman because, according to them, his alleged overbearing influence and imposition of a governorship candidate on the party for the last general election led to the defeat of PDP. However, Senator Jang held a meeting of the stakeholders in the zone, where he denied hatching any plot to impose one of his loyalists as the state chairman of the party. Rather, he said he was interested in reconciling all aggrieved stakeholders in the party. A source at the meeting explained that the senator used the opportunity to call on all to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness, just as he made it clear that all those contesting for elective party offices

Damishi Sango

Jonah Jang

were eminently qualified. “They possess the qualities that can lead the party to victory in 2019,” he was quoted by the source. He expressed his readiness to work with whosoever emerges as the state chairman and other officers of the party.

Two of the three strong contenders for the chairmanship position are perceived as allies of the former governor. One of them is Honourable Damishi Sango from Riyom local government. He was one of the elders who stood by Jang during the 2015 election, when a group of elders deserted the serving senator. His critics are now saying the former governor wants Sango as the state party chairman to compensate him for his loyalty. The other ally of the senator is Honourable Chris Hassan from Bassa lo-

cal government, who was the Commissioner of Works for four years while Jang was in Government House. There are speculations that Hassan has step down for Sango.

The third contestant is a former member of House Representatives, Honourable Bitrus Kaze from Jos East.

Those party members, who see the other two aspirants as Jang’s loyalists, have thrown their weight behind his ambition. They are said to be spread across all the senatorial zones. It was learnt that a meeting called by the Plateau North zonal chairman, Mr Saleh Adudu, with the former governor in attendance to announce the sharing formulae, has further plunged the party into crisis. A source alleged that Adudu listed the positions allotted to each council area within the zone but with representatives of the Jos East, Jos South and Bassa vehemently protesting against zoning of the chairmanship to Riyom local government area where Sango comes from. A member of House of Representatives, representing Jos South /Jos East Honourable Edward Pawjok and a former member of the House, Honourable Bitrus Kaze, who is also a contestant, condemned the formula, insisting that such decision should not be taken by members of any clique but by all the major stakeholders before the meeting.

Despite the promise by Jang maintain neutrality in the whole exercise, some stakeholders said his body language suggested otherwise, with some stalwarts saying the current scenario was more about the voice of Jacob and hand of Esau. They said Jang and some of his supporters were instrumental to the formula that favours Riyom local government for the state PDP chairmanship to pave the way for the emergence of former Minister of Sport, Sango..

The inability of the zone to amicably resolve the zoning matter has further polarised the entire PDP family on the Plateau. Apart from Honourable Chris Hassan, who has conceded to Sango, other contestants like Kaze, have refused to give up on their ambition, claiming that the zoningof the post of state chairman to Riyom Local Government was not binding on them.

Meanwhile, Jang has consistently maintained his neutrality in the contest. In a statement signed by his aide, Comrade Garuba Clinton, the former absolved himself from the endorsement of Sango by his zone. He explained that as a loyal and disciplined party member and one of the elders of the party, it was in the interest of the party not to support anyone before the congresses but work with anyone who emerges. He reiterated that he had no preferred candidate, but that he would give support to whoever emerged as chairman. Jang called on all party members to work with the party so as to salvage Plateau from its current predicament.

But, one of the aggrieved aspirants, Honourable Bitrus Kaze said the zoning formula was not binding because there was no consensus by all the six local governments in the zone on the issue. According to him, in zoning the chairmanship position to the Plateau North, the PDP State Executive Council gave “a caveat that if all the local governments in the zone can come up with a consensus candidate, it will be rectified but if not, election of the chairmanship shall go on. So from the way it stands now, there is no consensus candidate; the election will hold,” he said.

28

politics&policy

Thursday,21 April, 2016

Scramble for S/East political space

Okorocha

Nwobodo

Following its poor performance in the 2015 election in the South-East geopolitical zone, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has initiated moves to assert itself in the zone.

South-East Bureau Chief Jude Ossai reports

W

HEN, in January 2015, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, arrived the Michael Okpara Square in Enugu from Awka, Anambra State capital, alongside with his APC stalwarts for a campaign, the national vice chairman of the party, Chief Emma Eneukwu and the Enugu State chairman, Dr Ben Nwoye, had told the visitors that only voter cards could remove the PDP from power. At the moment, the APC seems to be vigorously pursuing that course as the party is strengthening its structures in the state ahead of 2019 elections. Dr Nwoye had said then: “We need to expand the party beyond what we have at the moment. It is not necessarily to grab ministerial position that matters, but how rooted the party is. We did not win any seat in the recently-concluded election in the state.”

Already, the process of realignment is beginning to take shape in the state.

Some leading figures have left the governing PDP in the state for the APC. A former Minister of Sports and Second Republic governor, Chief Jim Nwobodo, led the pack, justifying his action on the need for Ndigbo to be in mainstream politics in the country, because of the danger of being in the opposition.

Interestingly, while a former national chairman of the PDP, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, is still keeping everybody guessing about his position, his wife, Dorothy, has moved to the APC. In a statement widely circulated, Dr Nwodo faulted reports that he had defected to the APC merely because his wife was present at a meeting

he did not attend. He said his wife, as an adult, had her own political life to live. He stated: “As one of the founding fathers of PDP, who has held the highest office in the party, I know the statutory procedure of resigning and would willingly do that if necessary.” According to him, although a number of issues within PDP remain embarrassing to the founding fathers, the truth is that “I am still a PDP member of the PDP and have not joined the APC.” To some Enugu residents, the issue is not about PDP loss becoming APCs gain. Investigations showed that the need to re-launch themselves politically might have informed the action of the defectors. For instance, many believe Dr (Mrs) Nwodo has a burning ambition for an elective office. Ex-Governor Nwobodo, who has had a running battle with his erstwhile political son, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, who held sway as governor of Enugu State for eight years, also appears to be on a search to recover some lost ground. The close relationship between incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the Nwobodos, as well as the Nwodos, has fueled speculations that Ugwuanyi could join the fray. The longstanding cordial relationship between the governor of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal and incumbent Enugu governor is another factor that has heightened the speculation.

Meanwhile, some analysts see a connection between the current political realignment in the state and the politics of the 2019 presidency. The defeat suffered by PDP in 2015 has not discouraged Ndigbo from clamouring for presidency. The call for Igbo presidency

resurrected at a meeting of the SouthEast APC leaders in Enugu recently, with most of the speakers stressing the need for Ndigbo to unite now and push for the presidency after the administration of President Buhari.

The convener of the meeting, Eneukwu, said APC in the South-East should not allow what befell it in the 2015 election to repeat itself. He said the party’s abysmal performance in the 2015 elections had been denying members certain opportunities so far. “This is the first meeting we are holding outside Owerri.

We used to hold this meeting in the Imo State capital, where we have an APC governor, but now we have resolved to rotate it among all the South-East states where we have bigwigs. If it pleases the meeting, after this outing in Enugu, our next meeting will hold in Ebonyi,” he said.

Izuogu, who was a notable PDP stal-

To some Enugu residents, the issue is not about PDP loss becoming APCs gain.

The need to re-launch themselves politically might have informed the action of the defectors.

wart in Imo State before he defected to APC, added that the Igbo were beginning to retrace their steps where they actually belonged. “In the past, the reactionaries of PDP misled us. The people, who we should be preaching to, were preaching to us. Five years ago, I followed former President Goodluck Jonathan to all the 36 states of the country to campaign.

When he won, after some time, I wrote to inform him that he seemed to have derailed. That was about three years ago.

But our people followed him and he lost.

But, I am happy that our people have realized their mistakes. The whole country today is APC. We must bring all SouthEast states to APC. When we finish with South-East, we will go to the South-South.

If we unite, the next President after President Buhari will come from Igbo land,” he said. Izuogu urged Ndigbo to stop fighting themselves but to unite so that they could achieve their ultimate political goal.

Ken Emechebe, who was a commissioner in the old East-Central, also harped on the need for Ndigbo to unite, noting: “What is important to us is that after Buhari, it is our turn. Nigeria was built on a tripod-Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba-and others have had their turns.

So, we should also have our own.”

Another contentious issue interrogated at the APC zonal meeting was how the Federal Government would capture the Second Niger Bridge, Enugu-Onitsha expressway, Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway and OnitshaOwerri expressway in the 2016 budget.

“We are confident that Mr President will implement the 2016 budget as promised. We call on all the groups agitating for separation from united Nigeria, particularly the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), to rethink and abandon the idea and join other ethnic groups in building a formidable united Nigeria where all Nigerians will be equally treated in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” they concluded.

“The APC South-East is open to welcoming prominent Igbo into the party.

We believe that the political aspirations of Igbos are realisable in the short run in South-East. We mandate all APC South-East chairmen to constitute a membership drive/mobilization committee in their various states to woo credible and notable Igbo personalities into APC. We believe that the SouthEast APC contributed immensely to the success of the party at the Federal level and we demand commensurate appointments from the Federal Government.”

The meeting further resolved to set up a committee to organise a reception for all the key defectors from the South-East to the APC. The communiqué of the meeting further disclosed that a committee was set up to meet with Mr President to harmonise Igbo interests. The leaders expressed their support for the leadership of Imo State governor and Chairman of APC Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu and his Labour counterpart, Dr Chris Ngige. Governor Okorocha.

Nonetheless, the politics of Enugu is still on the tripod of Enugu-North, EnuguWest and Enugu-East senatorial zones. A combination of two senatorial zones usually produces governor under the unwritten rotation of the position notwithstanding.

29

aviation

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

We are not pulling out of Nigeria

crucial moment

—B.A, Lufthansa

With Shola Adekola

0803 365 4818

Once upon a country and its expatriate quota policy In the next 10 years expatriates may take over all the high-end technical positions in the Nigerian aviation industry due to lack of well-trained and type-rated technical personnel in the industry.

These were the sincere words of the former President of the Aviation Round Table (ART), Captain Dele Ore. Ore, a pilot who rose to become the head of operations in the former national carrier spoke the minds of many key players in the sector as many players including the aviation unions had in the past drew the attention of the Feral government to the issue but ignored.

Ore while expatiating on the technical personnel issue warned that with the high level of expatriates taking over positions of local technical personnel, the next 10 years might be worse for the Nigerian aviation industry.

It is very sad that the Nigerian government continues to feel relaxed about the dangerous situation which if not addressed now may leave the running of the sector in the hands of foreigners in due course.

Again, it is on record today that there are many jobs that many Nigerians are qualified to handle in the sector but sadly such jobs are in the hands of expatriates.

Even some of the domestic airlines are guilty of this as they make use of expatriates in positions where Nigerians can do better.

There was a time when one of the local airlines had over 60 percent of its workforce as expatriates doing the work many Nigerians could do.

Thank God that the airline was not only forced to reduce the figure when it could no longer continue to pay their huge bills, the same Nigerians that it could not make use of them are the ones running the airline adequately now.

When the government ignores this serious issue with its indigenous airlines also backing it up with the use of expatriates loosely, why should the ordering carriers operating in the country be blamed if they refuse to recognize Nigerian trained professionals?

In other countries even in African countries like South Africa, the governments of those nations do not toy with their indigenous professionals.

As a matter of fact, foreigners bringing any business into their countries are compelled to train their citizens on the job as well as employ them.

Here in Nigeria, reverse is the case as the subsequent governments had failed in this area despite the advice from notable groups in the sector.

The height of the government insensitivity to this plight is that it even fails to woo the airlines including both the local and foreign to accommodate the Nigerian pilots who having gone through the professional trainings required presently roam about without employment and yet expatriates are everywhere.

It is at this juncture that the Crucial Moment is calling on the present government of President Muhammadu Buhari to compel the minister of state for aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and his counterpart at the ministry of labour to urgently look into this.

Failure on the part of government to tackle the abuse of expatriate quota and neglect of Nigerian trained professionals may bring negative effect on the sector in the nearest future.

A government that really understands the importance of its aviation sector will not toy with it under the guise of controversial policies that only promote the interest of foreigners over its own citizenry.

Nigerian Tribune

From right; Mr Ikechi Uko, Director of Administration, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); Mrs Victoria Adegbe, Licensed Aircraft Dispatcher and Ground Instructor with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); and Captain Data Tarfa, Presidential Air Fleet/Former Fleet Captain, Nigeria Airways Limited at the official launch of an aircraft dispatch handbook in Abuja, recently.

Passengers scramble for immigration form at Lagos airport Stories by Shola Adekola

C

onfusion reigned temporarily at the arrival and departure halls of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA last weekend following the shortage of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) passenger form given to travellers.

According to information gathered, at the terminal, most of the arriving passengers knelt down on the ground at the arrival hall of the airport to fill the form, which was hitherto given to them by either ground handling companies or airlines before going through checkin processes.

The form is filled by travellers either departing or arriving a country.

The decision of the immigrations officials to be given the form directly to air travellers has led to uncontrolled congestion at the arrival and departure halls of the terminal.

At the arrival hall, passengers of British Airways and other airlines that arrived in the evening of Saturday were seen kneeling down on the floor and scrambling for few available spaces to feel the form before they could proceed for other processes.

At the departure hall, there are only three small immigration counters, which could only accommodate five air travelers dedicated for such purpose.

Passengers with luggage and family also placed the form on the floor of the hall to fill.

A source close to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency (NCAA) who doesn’t want his name in print as he is not allowed to speak on the issue said the regulatory body was worried about the poor situation the passengers were exposed to by the immigration officers attached to the airport.

The source said that NCAA through the Consumer Protection Directorate, (CPD) had written a letter to NIS complaining of the inhuman treatment to passengers and

urged it to reverse to the old practice, but was yet to receive a response from the service.

The source declared: “The bad treatment of passengers by immigration is on the high side. Initially, this form was given to ground handling

companies or airline personnel to who in turn give it to passengers during profiling, but in the past few months, immigration stopped giving the form to them and now handle it on their own for the reason best known to them.

MedView to commence flight on Lagos/Dubai route July The management of Med View Airlines has revealed its preparedness to commence flight on the Lagos-Dubai route in July this year.

This is just as it has introduced different ranges of commissions to its Ghanaian travel agents who sell its tickets to air passengers.

The representative of the managing director of the airline, Captain Godffrey Ogbogu made the announcement while speaking during the airline’s meeting with its trade partners at the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, made the offers known to the agents.

Describing the forum as a milestone even as he seized the opportunity to unfold the route expansion programme of the firm, the managing director through Ogbogu hinted that

Med- View would take delivery of more airplanes as it plans to begin Dakar, Dubai, Singapore and Freetown routes, among others.

His words: “Presently, the route we are looking at is Dubai. We have almost concluded arrangements to begin the Dubai route in July. We are getting more aircraft for Dubai and other destinations.

We intend to do four times weekly flights to Dubai. Another route we are looking at is Freetown and Dakar.”

Equally, the airline is offering between five per cent and nine per cent commission to agents who sell its tickets on domestic/regional and international routes respectively.

The agents while applauding the offer, described Medview as the fastest growing carrier in West Africa.

Importance of Dispatcher to flight safety emphasised A Licensed Aircraft Dispatcher and Ground Instructor with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Mrs Victoria Adegbe, has called on the Federal Government and industry stakeholders to accord more respect and awareness to the job of aircraft dispatch as a key profession in the sector that plays a crucial role in the safety and efficiency of any flight.

Speaking at the official launch of the book titled ‘Dispatch Made Easy, an Aircraft Dispatch Handbook,” which she authored, Adegbe noted that unknown to so many, the Dispatcher is the one who essentially plans and ensures the smooth operation of a flight by checking the weather and deciding the safest flight path taking into account wind

direction at destination or alternate airports, deciding on the amount of fuel to carry, the maximum baggage that can be safely airlifted, and advise pilots if conditions or paths change.

Asked why she embarked on writing such a book, Adegbe remarked that during her training at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, there were no books of this nature written by a Nigerian that she could refer to as a resource material.

Speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Captain Data Tarfa, the Captain of the Nigeria’s Presidential Air Fleet and former Fleet Captain of the defunct Nigeria Airways, noted that the job of the Dispatcher and his role to the safety of a flight cannot be over emphasised.

Two of the leading foreign airlines flying into Nigeria have declared that they will not stop operating despite the difficulties they are facing in repatriating their revenues out of Nigeria to their various countries due to the Central Bank of Nigeria forex policy.

The Spanish national carrier, Iberia Plc in operating under the Oneworld alliance had yesterday announced its plan to pull out of Nigeria from May 12, 2016, citing dwindling low patronage for the action.

A source from the international airlines yesterday evening stated that the inability of the foreign carriers to repatriate over $600 million from Nigeria due to the CBN, policy, which prevents international airlines from repatriating their revenues out of the country was responsible for the action.

The Regional Manager, West Africa of British Airways, Mr Kola Olayinka has however assured that the airline would not leave Nigeria after 80 years of flying directly from its base in London to Nigeria.

Olayinka agreed that the nation’s economy was tough at the moment, but assured that the challenge would be resolved soon very soon.

On the purported $600 million stuck in Nigeria, Olayinka said the International Air Transport Association (IATA) would be in the best position to give the actual figure and he equally declined to be specific on the British Airways funds stuck in CBN. He however confirmed that foreign companies including airlines held a meeting with the House Committee on the Federal Inland Revenue in Abuja which he described as fruitful, but noted that its inability to repatriate its revenue was affecting its performances in the country.

“The inability of the foreign airlines to repatriate their revenues to their home countries is affecting our performance. But, I want to tell you that Nigeria is a strong market and this period will surely come and go. And the operators will come out stronger.”

Also, the Media Consultant to Lufthansa Airline in Nigeria, Mr Hakeem Jimo insisted that the airline would continue to operate into Nigeria from its base in Frankfurt.

He declared that the planned pullout of Iberia from Nigeria was not particular to the country alone as the airline had equally pulled out from Ghana, Istanbul and some other countries.

“We have been here for 60 years. There is no way we will stop flying into Nigeria because of this policy because we know it will come and go.

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Thursday, 21 April, 2016

anchor

maritime

Tola Adenubi

m:07068476673 e:adenubiadetola@yahoo.com

Nigeria, Sao Tome to kick-start regional cabotage regime Stories by Tola Adenubi - Lagos

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IGERIA and Sao Tome and Principe will kickstart the proposed regional shipping line which is being put together by the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM).

Disclosing this to the Nigerian Tribune in an exclusive chat, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NSC, Mr Hassan Bello, stated that the regional shipping line is being put together to encourage trade among African countries.

According to him, “the regional shipping line will benefit importers and exporters in the West and Central African sub-region.

It is basically being done in the spirit of integration because we think there should be more trade among African countries.

“The potential for an increase in the volume of trade is there but it is not promoted by transportation. Imagine, currently if Cote d’ Ivoire wants onions from Nigeria, the product will first be taken to Spain before it will now be taken to Cote d’ Ivoire. The situation is that bad.

“That is why we are putting this together. This is regional cabotage, and Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe will kick start the exercise. We won’t be starting with too very big vessels. We are looking at medium sized vessels like the Combo vessels.

“These vessels will stop at different locations within the sub-region. We have one vessel already with talks having reached an advanced stage. This will definitely increase our indigenous capacity. From there, we can compete favourably in merchant shipping business. Nigerians Shippers Council will be giving policy trust to the whole arrangement.

“It is a pilot project in West and Central Africa and it will cover the range between Dakar and Angola.

But for now, we are starting between Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe.”

It will be recalled that the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, NEXIM and the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) had announced a collaborative effort to establish a shipping line for trading within the West and Central Africa sub-region.

The establishment of the trans-regional shipping line was disclosed by the Acting Managing Director of the NEXIM Bank, Mr Bashir Wali at the just concluded ‘Transport Cost and Regional

Connectivity of African Countries.’

Wali, who was represented by his Technical Adviser, Hope Yongo, said that they decided to venture in the regional as a result of high transportation costs and excessive transit time that makes

intra-regional trade non-competitive and West African transport and logistics costs one of the highest in the World. The NEXIM boss also bemoaned the absence of dedicated safe and modern fleet to encourage and facilitate Atlantic Short-Sea Trade along

the West and Central African regions as well as inadequate transport infrastructure among member states and non tariff measures that are a barrier to: Increase intra-regional trade; Regional integration; and free movement of persons and services.

LFrom left: Legal Adviser, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Abdulsalami Suleiman; Consultants to the European Union, Holger Frommert and Chris Hedley; Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside; Director of Administration and Personnel Services, Jibril Ibrahim and Head Public Relations, Hajia Lami Tumaka, when the consultants visited NIMASA recently.

Confusion looms as ENL Consortium, workers disagree over terminal benefits THERE is palpable confusion at the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC) following disagreement between the management of the ENL Consortium, operators of Apapa terminal C & D and some of its workers over expected terminal benefits and dates of issue of appointment letters. This is even as the workers have threatened chaos at the ports if their demands are not met.

According to findings, the workers have agreed to quit their jobs but expect their terminal benefits to be paid either in cash or cheque. However, the management of the ENL Consortium prefer electronic payment into the accounts of these workers, who have been advised to submit their account numbers with the terminal operator.

Further findings also revealed that this set of workers, having collected loans during their time at ENL Consortium, are scared that electronic form of payment will afford the terminal operator the opportunity to deduct from source all the monies they (workers) took on loan while on service, and which ENL Consortium stood as their guarantor.

Briefing the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside,

Nigerian Tribune

on the reasons for their protest, the spokesman of the protesting workers, Mr Lekan Afolabi, said they have been working at the ENL Consortium terminal for the past 10 years without appointment letters.

He added that they were only recently issued the letters after they made their grievances known to the ENL Management.

He, however, appealed to the DG to intervene on the issue of their terminal benefits in order to avoid chaos in the Ports.

In a response to the workers

claim on issuance of appointment letters, the Legal Adviser of ENL Consortium, Barrister Uzamot Boye, in a statement, stated that contrary to claims in certain quarters, workers were issued with valid employment letters when they joined the company.

“It must be on record that these set of dockworkers elected to leave the terminals by themselves.

Those of them who want to continue working with us, and who are in the majority, are at their job posts as we speak but the few that want to leave are free to do so.”

NRC to begin coal movement from Eastern line to seaports THE Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is set to begin massive coal movement from the Eastern line to the seaports. This was disclosed by the NRC Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria during a media briefing with newsmen in Lagos recently.

According to the NRC MD, “the movement of coal from the Eastern line to the seaports is set to be launched by June 2016. Everything is already in place. The Director of Operations is already on top of this.

“Presently, we move products for LAFARGE from Ewekoro up North. We also move containers up North. We currently have 40 pressurised tank wagons which are brand new, and we hope the petroleum marketers can take advantage of this to move their petroleum products.

“Our pressurised tank wagons can move at least 800,000 litres at a go. Our pressurised tank wagons are state of the art. Moving petroleum products to the North via rail comes at a lower rate, so we hope the petroleum marketers take advantage of this.”

On the welfare of the workers, the MD explained that it is only a happy workforce that can put in their best for rail transport.

He therefore stated that the NRC management is looking t improving the welfare package of the workers to ensure the corporation gets the best out of them.

On revenue of the NRC, Okhiria stated that the NRC earns between N12 million to N15 million every week.

“I think we are doing well on the Lagos Mass Transit Trains as the corporation earns between N12 million to N15 million on a weekly basis. This is only for rail activities within Lagos only,” he said.

NIMASA seeks collaboration with MARAN THE Director-General and the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has expressed his willingness to partner the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) and other relevant stakeholders in his commitment towards robust, efficient, responsive and qualitative maritime administration in the country.

In his letter dated 6 April, 2016 and which he personally signed and addressed to the Acting President of MARAN, Mr Funso Olojo, the NIMASA boss promise to engage the support of well meaning

Nigerians and other stakeholders such as MARAN in his onerous task of repositioning the agency.

Peterside, who acknowledged the solidarity message sent to him by the association on his resumption of office, therefore solicited for the support of MARAN in ensuring the success of his tenure.

“I assure you that I will partner with well meaning Nigerians and stakeholders like you (MARAN) in the discharge of my duties and responsibilities as Director –General/CEO and in the realisation of the mandate of the Agency.

‘I count on your continuous support in accomplishing this very

important national assignment,” the NIMASA helmsman declared.

The association, in its congratulatory letter to the NIMASA DG, dated 24 March, 2016 and signed

by Mr Funso Olojo, has assured the new helmsman at NIMASA of its support in his task of achieving the core mandate of the agency.

The association has recognised the sterling qualities of Dr Peterside, especially his high cerebral qualities and political sagacity which it noted earned him the confidence of Mr President to bestow on him the task of rebuilding the apex maritime regulatory agency.

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news

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

We have no clue on Chibok girls —DG DSS, IGP •Boko Haram has not given up on recruitment —Defence hqtrs •US gives $40m for humanitarian needs Taiwo adisa, Chris Agbambu and Ademola Adegbite-Abuja with agency report

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he DirectorGeneral of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawan Daura; and the Inspector-General of Police(IGP) Solomon Arase, on Wednesday, said they had no concrete clue on the whereabouts of the abducted Chibok girls.

The security chiefs, who briefed senators at a closed session on Wednesday, said there was no clue yet on the actual whereabouts of the abducted girls who had already spent two years in the custody of the dreaded Boko Haram.

Though the service chiefs were conspicuously absent, sources at the closed session told the Nigerian Tribune that the senators were downcast to hear that the nation’s intelligence network had no clue on the whereabouts of the girls.

It was gathered that the DG, DSS, Daura, who briefed the senators on the abducted girls, said the government did not really know where the girls were being kept.

He was also quoted as telling the senators that a recent attempt to rescue 20 of the girls could not pull through, following the failure of the militants to keep their words.

Sources in the Senate also quoted the security chief as saying the recent attempt at rescuing the girls took off following interactions between the government and supposed representatives of the militants.

The sources said the Boko Haram militants had demanded that five of their senior hands already arrested by the government should be freed in exchange for 20 of the girls.

According to sources, the security operatives revealed that the supposed negotiators asked the security men to bring the 20 girls to a location in Maiduguri and that 10 of them will be exchanged for five Boko Haram militants in government custody.

It was also gathered that the government agents were to drop the five militants in a location where they would pick 10 of the girls, while they would locate the second batch of 10 in another location.

But the operatives were said to have told the Senate that though the five arrested militants were taken to Maiduguri as planned, the deal failed to sail through, as the Boko Haram failed

to produce the girls.

The Senate had, on the second anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls, summoned the service and security chiefs to brief it on efforts aimed at rescuing the girls.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who announced the departure of the security chiefs at the end of the briefing, said the senate agreed that the government should intensify efforts in their rescue.

He told his colleagues when the session was opened that “the senate was briefed by the director-general, state security service and the inspectorgeneral of police on the abduction of the Chibok school girls and efforts to rescue them between the last two years.

Meanwhile, Defence Headquarters, on Wednesday, said it had an intelligence report that, having been effectively decimated and degraded, the remnant or surviving splinter groups of Boko Haram are currently desperate to recruit more people into their ranks and files as a result of sustained onslaught against them by the troops.

It, therefore, advised the general public, especially those in the North-East, to constantly be wary and conscious of the various tactics of the desperate Boko Haram.

In a statement, Brigadier-General Rabe Abubakar, who is the acting Director, Defence Information, said it came to the knowledge of the Defence Headquarters that Boko Haram terrorists had now devised another means of recruiting unsuspecting youths into their fold.

According to him, in the clandestine dispensation, Boko Haram terrorists had resorted to providing loans to young entrepreneurs and artisans in the NorthEast as a way of inducing them for recruitment.

He said the major targets of the unholy business engagement were youths in the North-East, especially the butchers, traders, tailors, beauticians and other vocational entrepreneurs who could be easily enticed with such loan without paying attention to sundry inherent dangers associated with the acceptance of such goodies from this satanic group or unfamiliar source.

“After such loans, the beneficiaries are given the option of either joining the group or risk being killed if they fail to pay the loan as at when due, whereas the payment has been surreptitiously programmed to

fail by the benefactor, the Boko Haram,” he said.

In another development, The United States (U.S.) Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Samantha Power, has announced nearly $40 million in new humanitarian assistance to support people whose lives have been affected by Boko Haram insurgency.

Power said she made the

announcement in Cameroon, during a trip to the Lake Chad Basin region to highlight the growing threat of Boko Haram.

The U.S. State Department made this known in a statement that was issued on Wednesday.

There are nearly 170,000 Nigerian refugees, who have fled to Cameroon, Chad and Niger countries

whose citizens have also suffered from Boko Haram attacks and consequent displacement.

Also, the North-East Coalition Against Terrorism (NECAT) is set to hold a solidarity march in support of the Nigerian Army, following the success recorded so far in fighting and dislodging insurgency in the zone.

In a letter sent to President Muhammadu Buhari and copied the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, the coalition said the action became imperative with a view to honouring the gallant troops and Federal Government’s efforts at eradicating insurgency in Nigeria as a whole and North-East in particular.

One of the security men, Mr JImmy Aido, attacked by the Fulani herdsmen at Ardis Farms, Lagun, Iyanna Offa, in Lagelu Local Government Area of Ibadan, on his hospital bed, in Iwo, Osun State. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

Armed men raid farm, communities in Ibadan

By Oluwatoyin Malik, Moses Alao and Dare Adekanmbi

Armed men, on Tuesday, attacked a major farm in Lagun village, Lagelu Local Government, Ardis Farms, belonging to the former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Chief Ayodele Adigun, carting away cash and property running to over half a million Naira.

The armed men, it was gathered, shot the security officer of the farm, Jimmy Aido, who is in a critical condition at the Iwo Medical Centre, while also reportedly raiding Atagba, Offa and Adedokun villages.

According to eyewitnesses, the armed assailants, who allegedly spoke Fulani, Hausa and pidgin English, swooped on the farm around 9.00 p.m. on Tuesday, barking orders at the workers of the farm to bring out money and belongings and threatening to shoot anyone who disobeyed their orders.

The Farm Supervisor, Mr Olanipekun Ogunkolade, who spoke to newsmen, said the assailants who wore masks came with two guns each and made away with cash running into about N300,000 to N400,000 as well as mobile phones, shoes, pots of freshly-cooked soup and other belongings.

The attackers were also said to have stolen guns belonging to security men in the farm.

Also speaking with newsmen, the farm manager, Mr Emmanuel Ashava, who said some robbers, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen because of their mode of dressing and communication, had, earlier, waylaid motorists on the Lagun/Iwo road about three times on Tuesday, noted that he was not on the farm at the period of attack, but had immediately contacted the police and vigilante groups around. The assailants, he said, escaped before the security operatives and local vigilantes could get to the farm.

“When we started doing head count of our workers, we discovered that our security guard was missing and we traced him to where he was in the pool of his blood somewhere not too far from the farm. He was shot in the hand and thigh and left to die, but for our quick intervention,” he said.

Another farm hand, Haruna Usman, who identified himself as a Fulani, said he escaped being killed while returning to the farm in company of two other workers on a motorcycle, noting that he heard the assailants conversing in Fulani, Yoruba and pidgin English when they chased

him.

“As our okada approached the farm, there was nobody in sight, which was unusual. Immediately, I saw one of the robbers with a gun and we were still some distance away.

The robbers too were initially scared, thinking it was police that came, but the way I jumped off the bike and started heading for the bush made one of them to pursue me.

“The robber who was chasing me was speaking Fulani language to me, later he spoke Hausa, later he spoke pidgin English, telling me to stop and threatening that he would shoot me if I didn’t stop, but I kept running. Then he shot as the gap between us kept getting wider, and I screamed as if I was hit by the gun but ran in another direction, that was how I was able to escape to Lagun community to report to the manager.

At the Iwo Medical Centre, Iwo, Osun State, where Aido was receiving treatment, the senior medical officer, Mrs Adeola Adelabu, disclosed that the health condition of the victim was stable, but that he was still undergoing test.

Also commenting, the owner of the farm, Chief Adigun, expressed his frustration on the attack,

noting that on several occasions, he had gone to the police station to sign peace agreements with Fulani herdsmen that they would not destroy the farm, but that the agreement always ended up a futile exercise.

However, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade, has promised that the police would fish out the perpetrators and make them face the consequences of their action.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, he said the herdsmen had violated the letters and spirit of a communiqué signed about six months ago among stakeholders in the community, which prohibited night grazing.

Describing the incident as isolated, being the first after the agreement, he urged people not to blow the matter out of proportion, assuring that the command was on top of the situation.

“The report I received from the guard is that he is responding to treatment.

This is an isolated case; we have not had it since we started implementing the communiqué.

“I have already got in touch with the committee that is working in that community. I have spoken to the leaders. They are going to feed me back tomorrow,” he said.

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south-westnews

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

Court orders DSS to pay N5m to detained Ekiti lawmaker Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

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federal high court sitting in Ado Ekiti has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to pay N5 million to Mr Afolabi Akanni, a member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly it detained for 18 days.

Akanni, the member representing Efon constituency in the state assembly, was taken away by operatives of the DSS on March 4 and was not charged to court for the 18 days he was held.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in his judgement described the detention of Akanni as “illegal arrest and continued detention for 18 harrowing, excruciating and brain cudgelling days, without access to his lawyers and family.”

Justice Taiwo noted that the respondent in the matter, the DSS, had all along failed to either deny or defend the position, facts and allegations of the applicant, adding that in the eyes of the law: “There is no basis for the court to believe that all that the applicant had alleged against the DSS were not true.”

According to him, Akanni’s fundamental rights as a citi-

Assembly crisis: Constituents warn lawmaker against illegality Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja THE threat to recall the member representing Kogi State constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Honourable Zakari Mohammed, has divided the constituency as youths of the local government have asked the lawmaker to disregard the threat.

The people tasked the legislator not to support the alleged illegality and impunity currently rocking the assembly, following the removal of the speaker of the house, Momoh Jimoh Lawal, by five members of the house.

According to a statement by a socio-political group in the constituency, the Kogi Youth Network in Lokoja, the state capital, on Wednesday, argued that the lawmaker was elected for the development of the area, urging him to remain focused and committed to the people.

The statement signed by the coordinator of the group, Honourable Abubakar Babohi, called on the lawmaker not to associate himself with the activities of the five members of the assembly who participated in the illegal impeachment of the Speaker and other principal officers of the house.

zen of Nigeria, as specified by the principles of the rule of law and the African Charter on the Rights of individuals, had been violated by the DSS in illegally arresting and continually detaining him for 18 days.

The court also granted three of the four reliefs sought by the applicant’s counsel, Mr Obafemi Adewale, which included “whether the applicant’s unlawful arrest and detention is justified; whether the said intimidation, torture and continued detention is not a violation of his fundamental

human rights and a violation of the rule of law and whether the applicant is not entitled to damages.”

He was held at the DSS headquarters in Abuja, for 18 days without access to his lawyers and family despite the federal high court order for his release on March 8.

It was only after a claim of his alleged death in detention by state government that the DSS paraded him and announced that he was being held for alleged breaches to some security regulations.

Akanni’s counsel, Adewale, who appeared for him in

court on Wednesday alongside other members of his legal team, apologised for Akanni’s absence in court and explained to Justice Taiwo, that he (Akanni) was still in hospital outside the state, “receiving post-traumatic treatment.”

Adewale said of the judgement that it was “a courageous demonstration of the willingness and readiness of the judiciary to protect the sanctity of the constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental rights of the citizens of this country.”

According to Adewale,

“when it is found as a fact by the court, that a wrong has been committed, the victim is bound for compensation.

It is what the law says. This is not about Afolabi Akanni, it is not about the Ekiti State House of Assembly and it is not about Governor Fayose.

It is about the ordinary man on the street who has this right, but who is now facing an apparent trend all over the federation of a gradual return to the days of impunity when security agencies trudge relentlessly on the rights of the citizens of this country under various guises.”

From left, former Chief of Staff in Ondo State, Mr Femi Agagu; former Commissioner for Finance in Ondo State, Mr Wale Akinterinwa; All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu and former Commissioner for Public Utilities in the state, Mr Boye Adegbemisoye, during Akeredolu’s visit to Ile Oluji/Okegbo Local Government, on Tuesday.

LAUTECH to graduate 105 first class, 112 Ph.D holders

By Tunde Ogunesan THE Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, will, tomorrow, confer first class honours on 105 graduands and 112 doctorate degree holders in various fields at its 13th convocation ceremony.

This was disclosed by the vice chancellor of the institution, Professor Adeniyi S. Gbadegesin, while speaking with journalists during a press conference held at the newly built TETFUND hall, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, on Wednesday.

Professor Gbadegesin disclosed that this year’s convocation ceremony commenced on April 15 and will end on Saturday, 23rd, with the university conferring honours on a total of 10,317 first degrees on persons for the award of degrees in both 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 academic sessions.

In all, according to the vice chancellor, 105 made first class honours; 50 students in 2013/14 and 55 students in 2014/15 academic sessions while “for the first time, we crossed the 100 landmark for doctorate degrees with 112 stu-

dents for PhD.” Other categories, according to Professor Gbadegesin, include 2,434 students in the second class upper division, 5,527 students in second class lower division, 1,692 in the third class division.

Professor Gbadegesin further informed that Ige Olufemi Elijah of the Department of Mathematics and Sanni Saidat Abidemi of the Department of Statistics

emerged best graduating students for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 sessions respectively.

Ige emerged with 4.85 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) while Saidat emerged overall best student of the institution this session with 4.88 CGPA. Furthermore, the institution will also graduate a total of 14,349 individuals in postgraduate degrees on

Saturday, April 23.

On Thursday, April 21, the institution will hold its convocation lecture titled, “Maintaining Quality University of Technology in the 21st Century: Leveraging Globalisation, Sustainability and Technology” by an erudite Professor and Dean of the College of Management, University of Wisconsin-Stout, USA, Professor Abel Femi Adekola.

RUGIPO denies EFCC probe Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure THE authorities of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, (RUGIPO), Ondo State, on Wednesday, denied reports that the institution was being probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a N263 million fraud.

The institution, which denied the report in a statement signed by its Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Samuel Ojo, described the report as false and an attempt to cause unnecessary apprehension in the school.

He added that no staff of the school had ever been involved in any fraud to warrant EFCC probe.

Ojo stated that the two people who signed the petition have never been members of staff of the school, while the canopy under which they were hiding never existed in the school.

His words, “the attention of the school management of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, has been drawn to media report linking the school with EFCC probe.

“In view of the wrong notion this report might engender, the management wishes to make the following clarification for record purpose that; Messers Titus Igbalaye and Sol Enikuomehin, who purportedly signed as coordinator and secretary for the group of petitioners, have never

been members of our staff in the Polytechnic.

“That the group they purportedly represent, Assembly of Concerned Staff, is nonexistence in the institution.”

The group had alleged the management of RUGIPO of embezzling N263 million meant for projects in the school, while saying that about N195 million from the students’ online tuition payment and scratch cards should be investigated.

The duo stated in the petition that “A sum of N195 million, being school fees payment paid through online and scratch cards payment by the students of the institution could not be traced to the school account from 2014 till date.”

Nigerian Tribune

Intervene in Ede PDP crisis, members tell national chairman members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ede, Osun State, have called on the leadership of the party; the national chairman, the national secretary and the state executive members, including the leader, Senator Iyiola Omisore, to intervene in the lingering crisis ravaging the party in the community, in a bid to stop the party from losing face.

The members alleged that over time, the party has had issues of bad leadership, adding that the recent kangaroo approach to selecting leaders of the party in their community was one that would continue to breed ill feelings among its members.

They urged the party leadership to, as a matter of urgency, wade into the conflict in order to better position the party for the next election.

Chief (Mrs) Ladipo is dead Chief (Mrs) Comfort Kosemoni Ladipo is dead.

Mama Ladipo joined the saints triumphant on April 10, 2016, during a brief illness. She was aged 97 years.

A strong member of Christ Church Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, Mama Ladipo was until her death, the oldest member of the church on the hill.

Her final journey to eternal life begins on Thursday, 21st April, 2016, with wakekeep at Plot 30, Akiola Coker Road, new Bodija, at 5:00 p.m. Funeral service holds at Christ Church Mapo, at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, April 22, after which interment follows.

Chief (Mrs) Ladipo was survived by Chief Lekan Ladipo, a.k.a. Baba Ilu Oyinbo and the president, Ibadan County Club, Mr Segun Ladipo; Honourable Sunmbo Ladipo; Mr Wale Olaoye and many grand and great grandchildren.

Chief (Mrs) Comfort Kosemoni Ladipo

Thursday, 21 April, 2016 33 southwestnews Ondo begins bitumen exploration with 10,000 barrels per day Ogun establishes

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HE exploration of bitumen in Ondo State will kick off immediately with 10,000 barrels per day, even as the state government has signed a Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) with an American firm, Liquefied Resources, on the exploration and extraction of the commodity.

Secretary to Ondo State government, Dr Aderoti-

Ekiti witnessing reduction in drug abuse among students — NDLEA

Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced that Ekiti State is witnessing a reduction in drug abuse among students in the state.

The Commander of NDLEA in the state, Mr Sulaiman Jadi, made the disclosure in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, while speaking at the finals of the national essay competition for secondary school students on the theme: “Drug Abuse, Cultism and Youth Violence in Secondary Schools in Nigeria,” sponsored by a United States Army captain, Sunday Adebomi.

Jadi said the feat was a result of the efforts of a non-government organisation, Youth Saving Lifestyle Creation Initiative (YSLCI), in conjunction with the NDLEA and Captain Adebomi, who he said had been in the vanguard of sensitising young people in the state on the dangers of drug abuse.

The Ekiti NDLEA boss expressed happiness that they were “winning the war” against this menace, saying, “Ekiti is witnessing a drop in drug abuse among students. From September last year to March this year, we have only four cases of students in drug abuse.

This is a remarkable difference from the figure of 2013 and 2014. Then we saw that out of the 600 suspects arrested by our agency for drug related offences, 76 of them were students.

“I therefore want to commend the efforts of Captain Adebomi and YSLCI, who have been sensitising our students and youths.

mi Adelola, signed on behalf of Ondo State government while the President of Liquefied Resources, Mr Thomas Cooley, signed for his company at an event, which held at the state Executive Council Chamber with Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his deputy, Alhaji Abdulazeez Oluboyo, in attendance.

The exploration, which will take off immediately, will begin with 10,000 barrel per day and is expected to increase to 25,000 barrel per day soon, as Liquefied Resources is investing One hundred and Fifty Million Dollars in the project.

Speaking after the signing of the agreement, Governor Olusegun Mimiko said it is a landmark of sort to the economic development of Ondo State, as he said the initiative has been on the table for many years in Ondo State without result.

He said that his administration is committed to seeing that bitumen exploration scale through, also promised to inter-

face with the host communities on behalf of the company for a mutual cooperation.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to finally resolve the perennial power outage in the Southern senatorial district of the

state, the government, on Tuesday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), in order to restore light to the affected area.

Signing the memoran-

dum, the SSG, Dr Adelola, lauded the people for their patience, while calling on them not to vandalise electrical installations and promptly pay their indebtedness as agreed upon in the memorandum.

2 die in Okaka tanker fire accident

By Tunde Ogunesan TWO people lost their lives in an accident which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at Okaka, on Saki/Iseyin road, Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, when a fully loaded petrol tanker fell and caught fire.

An eyewitness informed the Nigerian Tribune that the accident occurred a week after an auto accident claimed 14 lives at Ipapo, in the same local government area.

It was gathered that the tanker, driven by a ‘motorboy’ with two other occupants, fell into a drainage, spilling its content as a result.

The development caused some residents with hous-

es nearby to scamper for safety, while they alerted others to the imminent danger.

The fire, Nigerian Tribune gathered, sparked off as a motorcyclist, identified as Idown Ganiyu, rode beside the fallen tanker. He was burnt beyond recognition.

The second victim, identified as Mrs Adeola Adepoju, who reportedly came to greet her daughter and was in a nearby house, also got burnt.

The two victims were taken to a private hospital and were “laid under a tree” by the doctor, who claimed that it was not the first time he would be handling such case.

When the situation reportedly got worsened,

sympathisers took the victims to another private hospital in Iseyin, but were rejected because of the degree of burns.

Mr Ganiyu, a father of four and Mrs Adepoju were reportedly brought back home and died within two-hour interval on Wednesday morning.

For close to an hour, men of the state Fire Brigade who came from Iseyin, had a hard time trying to put out the fire.

A car and several shops on the road were completely burnt, while properties worth millions of naira were also lost to the inferno.

Those who got injured in the incident were reportedly receiving treatment at a private hospital in the town.

Unpaid salaries: Osun APC seeks FG’s intervention Oluwole Ige-Osogbo AS many states of the federation battle to pay backlog of salaries owed their workers, Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday, called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene by assisting states in tackling salaries challenges.

The appeal was contained in a statement issued by the APC’s director of publicity, research and strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi.

According to the party, “we are approaching an emergency on this crisis, because not only is the crisis spreading like wild fire across states, it is assuming a dimension that would seriously affect the economy of the country.”

The APC, however, commended the Federal Government for its previous bailout intervention, but noted that “the intervention is not only inadequate; it has only marginally addressed the crisis.”

The statement reads in part, “To avoid an emergency that could create difficulties for the economy in the next decade, the Federal Government must address the problem now, even if it

means having recourse to our reserves. We decry a situation in which many states are owing their workers salaries between five and 10 months.

“What was cynically thought to be an Osun problem is now suddenly a national emergency which the Federal Government can ill afford to ignore. We cannot play the ostrich in a

situation as critical as this.

“Those politicians who only few months ago were mocking Osun State and cynically offering their salaries to pay workers in Osun have suddenly become quiet now that their own states are owing between six and 10 months’ salaries, especially in Bayelsa. The salary crisis is a critical factor in the eco-

nomic stagnation we are experiencing currently.

“Except it is handled nationally by the Federal Government, it is unlikely that the crisis will go away soon. We are therefore appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government to help the affected states out of this crisis,’ the statement added.

Lil Kesh, 9ice, Falz set for Ile Ife fiesta •As Bash emerges host IN what seems to be a gradual unveiling of the superstars storming Ile-Ife to perform at the much talked about Fiesta coming up in May, In-House Entertainment and partners, Mauve 21, have started revealing the artistes and celebrities to expect at the event.

It has been confirmed that Lil Kesh, 9ice and Falz would be performing at the Fiesta and they are the first set of artistes to be unveiled. More artistes would be unveiled in the coming days, and Ile-Ife can expect their favourite artistes to be unveiled. Bash the comedian has also been confirmed to be the host of the epoch-making event.

Ayo George; the project director, gave a hint of the lined up and what we should look out for during the Fiesta while speaking with select media platforms in Lagos recently.

“At the start of this whole plan, we told Kabiyesi, the Ooni of Ife, that fans were bringing the Lagos standard to Ile-Ife. Everything that can happen in Lagos can happen in IleIfe. “From the kind of celebrities and performing artistes to the ambiance, to the project delivery, brand association and a whole lot.

“For the first time in IleIfe, there will be fire-works immediately after the Oo-

ni’s address.

“A whole lot is under wraps for now, and will be unveiled at the event to promote Ile-Ife and also the Yoruba culture and heritage. We expect between 6,000 and 8,000 people attending for FREE, and this means a lot to the economy of the whole community,” George said.

Apparently, the coming event is going to be fun filled and full of pleasant surprises. May 28 will definitely be a day to remember for a long time as this event would open up Ile-Ife to the world of investors and tourists. Ile-Ife Fiesta is one of the many projects lined up to facilitate the industrialisation of Ife kingdom.

three new forest ranges OGUN State government has established three new Forest ranges in addition to existing ones, as part of its effort to curb illegal logging activities in its forest reserves across the state.

Commissioner for Forestry, Chief Kolawole Lawal, made this known while speaking with newsmen during an inspection tour to one of the newly established ranges located at Molafara, in Ijebu North Local Government Area.

Chief Lawal noted that creating a new range in areas such as Ijebu Igbo, Ago Iwoye and Molafara in particular, became imperative to forestall illegal felling of trees and to ensure proper policing of the forest reserves so as to nip in the bud, the illegal exploitation of the state’s forest resources.

“It became imperative to create or establish some new forest ranges as majority of our trees are being illegally exploited and taken to neighbouring states. On our way here, we caught a truck fully loaded with our trees being carted away to a neighbouring state,” Lawal said.

Osun moves to checkmate deforestation Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, on Wednesday, reiterated the commitment of his administration to agriculture and forestry development for the attainment of self-sufficiency in the production of staple commodities.

He stated this at the opening session of a public hearing by Inter-ministerial Committee on report of illegal entry and farming on Shasha forest in Ile-Ife, at the Local Government Service Commission hall in Abeere, Osogbo.

Aregbesola noted that the committee was set-up in order to foster the peaceful atmosphere that was needed for the development of the state in accordance with the six-point integral action plan of his administration.

He maintained that the importance of agriculture and forestry to national economy cannot be overemphasised, adding that the two sectors were veritable sources of food, shelter, life sustaining drugs and raw materials for the industries.

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Thursday, 21 April, 2016

Pipeline vandalism: Navy confiscates 26 boats with 200hp in Delta As group gives Navy ultimatum to return seized boats Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

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O further checkmate pipeline vandalism in Delta waterways, as well as other waterways crimes, operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS DELTA), Warri Naval Base, Warri, have confiscated 26 boats with 200hp and above from various jetties in the oil-rich city.

The 26 speed boats were arrested, without their owners who fled the scene, at the wee hours of Wednesday from Pessu market jetty,

NPA jetty, Uguwangue jetty and Udu bridge jetty in and around Warri metropolis in line with the ban on high capacity engine boats on January 15.

Commander of NNS DELTA, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, represented

by Base Operations Officer (BOO), Commander Shehu Tasiu, who led journalists to the naval jetty where the seized boats were berthed, said the arrested boats contravened the restriction on use of 200hp engine.

He also reiterated the subsistence of the restriction placed on night movement

in waterways in and around Warri to avert further economic sabotage and criminal activities.

“The crime in our waterways in Warri here has been crude oil theft, hijacking of vessels, sea pirates, kidnappers etc. We also have issues of pipeline vandalism.

“High capacity engine boats are being used when criminals are carrying out their pipeline vandalism, to escape arrest.

“Hence, the ban or restriction on high capacity engine, particularly 200 hp and above was enforced,” Commodore Mohammed stated.

Mohammed, while speaking with journalists, wondered that since the arrest of the boats, the owners had not shown up to reclaim their property.

He noted that owners of the boats, who had legitimate reasons for using boats with 200hp and above, should report at the naval base, warning that since commercial users of high capacity boats could not be ascertained, who might be hiring them, they should comply with the ban.

On the restriction on movement on waterways at night, the commander said:

“Whatever you want to do, do it in the day so we can see and ascertain what you are doing. The restriction is still on and the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies are enforcing it until we reach an acceptable level of security within the state, Niger Delta and Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, the Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (FHRACC) has given the navy seven days ultimatum to return the seized boats to their owners or face litigation.

National president of the group, Alaowei Cleric in a statement signed and made available to the Nigerian Tribune, on Wednesday, in Warri, described the order by the Nigerian Navy to seize 200hp outboard engine boats in the creeks of Delta State as most barbaric, unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional and condemnable by Nigerians.

Reps summon FCT Minister over constitutional breach Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

From left, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, New Horizon, Mr Tim Akano; Managing Director, ABE-Africa, Mr Bradley Wade; President/Vice Chancellor, Babcock University (BU), Professor Ademola Tayo; Senior Vice President, Management Services, BU, Professor Sunday Owolabi and the Senior Business Development Manager, CompTIA, Mr Gareth Ffoulkes-Morris, at the Youth Expo Tech 2016, organised by the institution in partnership with New Horizon, at the university, in Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, on Wednesday.

Guber contest: Again, Agi drags Ayade to Supreme Court Anthony Ubong- Calabar AN aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 governorship election in Cross River State, Mr Joe Agi, has again, headed for the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the election of the incumbent state governor, Professor Benedict Ayade.

Agi had earlier filed a suit at the Federal High Court and Appeal Court, respectively, praying the courts to disqualify Ayade, for allegedly submitting false information about his age to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The PDP’s aspirant, who came second in his party’s governorship primaries conducted in November 2014, alleged that Ayade lied on oath in INEC Form CF 001, that he was born on March 2, 1969 but filled in March 2, 1968 as his date of birth while completing the screening form.

He also argued that having breached the PDP’s Electoral Guidelines and

the Electoral Act 2010, the court should nullify Ayade’s election.

But the Federal and Appeal Courts had dismissed his case for lack of merit.

Determined to pursue the case to a logical conclusion, Agi again approached the Supreme Court to challenge the decision of the lower court.

In a brief he filed before the apex court, he prayed

the court to “make the consequential orders to safeguard the vested right of the appellant as the legitimate candidate of the first respondent as in the eyes of the law and material facts before this court, the third respondent did not lawfully participate in the primaries, having been disqualified for his fundamental violation of the mandatory provisions of

Articles 14 (b) and 15 (2) of the PDP Guidelines.

“This court is respectfully urged to allow this appeal; set aside the judgment of the lower court delivered on Friday, February 5, 2016 (Coram: Akomolafe-Wilson, Hassan and Ekanem, JJCA) and in its stead grant the appellant’s reliefs sought.”

The governor, however, is yet to file his response.

ICPC set to collaborate with BPE —Ekpo Nta Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr Ekpo Nta, has pledged the commission’s desire to collaborate with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to protect privatised enterprises in the country from assetstripping by the new owners.

Speaking against the backdrop of reported cases of asset-stripping by owners of privatised enterprises in the country, the ICPC boss commended the initiative by the BPE to partner with

the commission.

He assured that apart from getting involved as observers in the transaction processes of the Bureau, “ICPC will also collaborate in the post-privatisation activities of the BPE since some of the investors after takeover, often engage in assets- stripping thus, negating the essence of privatization.”

Nta, who made the disclosure when the management of BPE led by its acting Director-General, Dr Vincent Onome Akpotaire paid a courtesy visit to the

commission, said ICPC was interested in strengthening public institutions to ensure that public funds did not enrich individuals.

The chairman urged the BPE to constantly monitor privatised enterprises to achieve the objectives of privatisation for the benefit of the citizenry. He expressed optimism that the synergy which the Bureau sought with the commission would bring about the desired results, especially in the areas of investigation and intelligence gathering.

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, summoned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mohammad Bello to appear before its Committee on FCT, over alleged constitutional breach.

The committee is to report the outcome of its meeting with the Minister to the House within two weeks.

Specifically, the Minister is expected to explain why the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is collecting taxes in the nation’s capital and not the FCT Inland Revenue Service.

The House resolution was sequel to a motion on matters of urgent public importance moved by Honourable Abdulrazak Namdas.

In his motion, the lawmaker noted that the FCT Inland Revenue Services and its Management Board Act authorised the FCT to establish a board that would collect all forms of taxes and levies, which he said, was not complied with.

According to him, “the Minister of FCT has signed a comprehensive agreement with the Federal Inland Revenue Service to collect taxes for the FCT, in breach of the existing law.”

The motion was adopted after the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, put it to voice vote.

Nigerian Tribune

Develop passion for technology, Babcock varsity VC tells Nigerian youths

By Kahinde Adio The Vice Chancellor of Babcock University, IlisanRemo, Ogun State, Professor Tayo Ademola, has urged Nigerian youths to develop a superlative passion for technology in their life-long educational career pursuits.

He gave the advice on Wednesday, at the first – series of the university’s annual youth programme organised for secodary school students to intimate them with the relevance of technology in nation building.

According to the vice chancellor, technology remains an essential tool for development, especially in a developing nation like Nigeria.

This, the VC said, informed the reason the university organised a one-day discourse for some select secondary schools students in the country, to interact with experts drawn from the United Kingdom and South-Africa on their future careers.

According to Professor Ademola, such interactions would enable them to have access to right 21st century information communication technology (ICT) tool, that would make them selfsufficient and employable both in the national and International labour markets.

APC, LP may merge in Delta Ebenezer Adurokiya -Warri Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP), in Delta, are set to merge, the Nigerian Tribune has gathered.

Feelers revealed that there have been talks between leaders of the parties in recent times, over the possibility to lay down their pride and form a formidable force ahead 2019.

Sources disclosed that the talks are now at an advanced stage between stalwarts of the two parties, as it was gathered that leaders of other parties like the Accord Party (AP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) are also beginning to show interest in the merger.

Although the ruling APC at the federal level has no political or elective slot in the oil-rich state, LP has a representation in the person of Senator Ovie OmoAgege, who is representing Delta Central senatorial district at the Senate.

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Thursday, 21 April, 2016

PDP zoning committee meeting deadlocked Leon Usigbe And Jacob Segun Olatunji -Abuja

As party adjusts timetable for congresses

HE zoning committee set up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to zone its elective offices ahead its national convention is now in disarray, following its inability to reach a consensus on the zoning of the offices.

It was gathered that the committee, which met in Abuja on Tuesday night, was unable to agree on the zoning of offices which was proposed at an earlier meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, under the chairmanship of Governor Emmanuel Udom.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that following the development, the planned National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party meant to ratify the zoning arrangements had been postponed, to allow for time for the committee to complete its assignment.

According to the Nigerian Tribune source, the PDP zoning committee, which met in Uyo, last weekend, had reportedly planned to zone the national chairmanship position to North-East and the deputy national chairmanship to SouthSouth.

While it was gathered that South-West still retained the position of national secretary, there were moves to establish a second deputy national chairmanship pos-

ition, which had been zoned to the North Central geopolitical zone.

The position of national publicity secretary, presently occupied by the South-East, was said to have been zoned to South-West, while that of national woman leader was slated for North-West.

The office of national treasurer was said to have been zoned to the North-Central just as the South-East had been penciled down to produce the national organising

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secretary position.

Indications, however, emerged that the Tuesday meeting of the committee was deadlocked, as governors in attendance at the venue, the Trascorp Hilton, left barely one hour after it commenced.

Governors on the committee included Udom, Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Ben Ayade (Cross Rivers) and Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta).

It was gathered that the governors, who went into a

separate room for a meeting, later returned to the general meeting, but later reportedly stormed out and resumed their meeting at the Ondo State governor’s lodge in Abuja.

A party chieftain at the meeting, who declined to be named, noted that the meeting was deadlocked, adding that the meeting has “been adjourned indefinitely.”

The national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, however, explained that the

From left, Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mrs Amina Oyagbola; Minister of Communication, Chief Adebayo Shittu and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Telecel, Mr Aimable Mpore, during the opening ceremony of Innovation Africa Digital Summit 2016, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Nigerians donate only 47% of needed blood yearly —Expert As Rotary donates blood mobile to NBTS

By Wale Akinselure NIGERIANS donate only about 47 per cent of the 1.7million units of blood required yearly.

This was disclosed by a representative of the Safe Blood Africa Project, Mr Yinka Babalola, at the inauguration of Blood Mobile for National Blood Transfusion Service, South West Zonal Centre, Ibadan, on Tuesday.

The blood mobile, which aims to improve blood collection in rural and urban communities so as to meet the blood needs of the country, is a collaborative effort of Rotary Club, Iyakanku, Abbot and Ronaldo Foundation “Be the 1 Initiative”.

In his remarks, Babalola noted that the mobile blood bank would aid the process of collection and triple the blood bank and therefore, meet the increasing need for blood by victims of terrorism and accidents.

He emphasised that Nigerians, who regularly donated blood improved their health, saying that every healthy individual was able to donate blood between four and five

times every year.

The national coordinator, National Blood Transfusion Service, Mrs Oluwatoyin Smith, however, pointed out that voluntary blood donation had increased and the nation would meet its blood needs, if Nigerians continued to be committed to regular donation of blood to save the lives of others.

Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who did the inauguration of the mobile van, decried that the limited availability of blood continued to put a strain on assisting people who required blood transfusion.

While lauding the effort of the Rotary Club, Ajimobi, who was represented by the state Head of Service (HoS), Mr Soji Eniade, noted that

the Rotary Club’s Mobile Blood Bank donation, would be fully utilised to shore up the state’s capacity in blood banking.

President, Rotary Club of Iyaganku, Ibadan, Dr Mark Malik, specially appealed to the state government to ensure the sustainability of the project through funding the running and maintenance of the mobile van.

Couple found dead in their apartment in Ondo Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure

MEN of the Ondo State police command have commenced investigation to unravel the mysteries behind the death of a couple, Mr and Mrs Femi Oguntuase, who were found dead in their apartment after their breakfast meal.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Femi Joseph, who explained that his men had not been able to establish the cause of the couple’s death, said no arrest had been made.

However, Nigerian Tribune gathered from a source that the couple’s bodies were found in their residence located at New Site, Oba-Ile, in Akure

North Local Government Area of the state.

He said the body of the husband was found naked on the floor while his wife, Modupe, was in a wrapper with a bottle of palm oil found beside them.

Another resident of the area, who identified herself as Salewa, said the couple were seen in the morning of the fateful day hale and hearty, but the neighbours were surprised to learn about the development in the afternoon.

She said some bowl of pap and beans cake were seen beside the deceased which showed that they died after taking their breakfast.

“We saw the husband in the morning greeting everybody, but we were surprised to hear about their

death in the afternoon,” she said.

The resident added that the bodies of the couple were found in their room when one of the neighbours entered into the apartment, only to discover their lifeless bodies.

She said palm oil was found inside the deceased’s mouths which indicated that they might have eaten food poison and drank palm oil as antidote to suppress the poison.

The PPRO, however, said: “We got the report of the incident on Saturday and we are still investigating to get the cause of the death. The bodies have been deposited at the hospital for autopsy, it is after the autopsy that we will know the next step to take.”

meeting was adjourned to Akwa Ibom next week, to arrive at a final resolution Meanwhile, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has adjusted the timetable for its congresses and national convention A statement issued by the national publicity secretary of the party, Metuh, in Abuja, on Wednesday, indicated that ward congresses would now hold on Saturday, April 30, while ward appeal would take place on Monday, May 2.

Local government congresses will now take place on Thursday, May 5, with its appeal slated for Saturday, May 7.

State Congresses are now scheduled to hold on Tuesday, May 10, followed by state appeal on Thursday, May 12, while zonal congresses was fixed for Saturday, May 14, followed by zonal appeal on Tuesday, May 17.

The national convention however remain fixed for Saturday, May 21, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to the statement, the new timetable superceded the former.

Police condemns outbreak of violence in Kanke LG Isaac Shobayo - Jos

THE Plateau State Police command has condemned the outbreak of violence in Kanke Local Government Area of the state, which led to the destruction of 24 shops, residential houses, vehicles and other valuables by some irate youths in the local government area.

The state Commissioner of Police, Adekunle Oladunjoye, who said this while addressing newsmen in Jos, the state capital, on Wednesday, said the violence occurred on April 17 between the people of Kudu Village and Dawaki, all in Kanke Local Government Area, during a traditional festival.

Oladunjoye, who condemned the incident, said the violence was a shock to the people of the state, considering the prevailing peace in the local government and assured the people of the state that the police will be vigilant and as well do everything within its power to arrest the perpetrators.

He said with the gradual setting in of the rainy season, people are apprehensive of possible attacks in the state, adding that the police had already restrategised and beefed up security in the state.

Nigerian Tribune

Give adequate information to police to combat crime, AIG tells Nigerians THE newly promoted Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Mohammed Kastina, has urged Nigerians to give useful and adequate information to the police so as to assist it in combating and reducing crime in the country.

He said this when the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Adesun Security Outfit, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, paid him a visit at the force headquarters.

The AIG expressed appreciation to the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, for elevating him and urged members of the public to assist the police in achieving its aims and objectives.

Mr Adeyemo, while speaking during the visit, said that during the era of the AIG as the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, he said there was drastic reduction in criminal activities He described the AIG as a dedicated police officer, who brought a high level of professionalism to bear on his duties.

WASSCE : Monitor your children, Perm Sec counsels parents THE Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Oyo State, Mrs Aderonke Makanjuola, has charged parents to monitor and support their children as the 2016 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) commenced in the state.

She said this while monitoring the examination in Ibadan, the state capital, where she urged parents to encourage their children to work hard for the ongoing public examination so as to be able to perfom well.

She said the ministry had conducted cluster trainings for teachers across the state for effective teaching and learning, adding that measures had already been put in place to ensure that students perform well in the examination.

Some of the schools visited included Ikolaba Grammar School, Agodi (GRA) and Holy-Trinity Grammar School, Old-Ife Road, Ibadan.

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Thursday, 21 April, 2016

Lagos court dethrones traditional ruler ayomideowonibi-odekanyin-lagos

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HE Orijeru of Igboye in Epe Local Government Area, of Lagos State, Oba Micheal Gbadebo Onakoya was on Wednesday dethroned by a Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere.

Justice Iyabo Kasali restrained Onakoya from parading himself as the traditional ruler and Orijeru of Igboyeland.

She gave the order in the judgment delivered in a suit filed by representatives of Ewade Ruling House, who were contesting the nomination and enthronement of the traditional ruler.

It will be recalled that Justice Habib Abiru, who has now been elevated to the Court of Appeal, had earlier in 2008 in his judgment in suit no ID/1472/1992 filed by representatives of Erelu and Osikadewa Ruling Houses, dethroned the embattled king.

Justice Abiru declined to stay execution of his judgment in a ruling delivered on October 15, 2009 and likewise the trio of Justices C.C. Nweze, R.N. Pemu and F.O. Akinbami of the Court of Appeal on February 27, 2013 in different applications filed by the deposed royal father.

Also in her judgment on Wednesday, Justice Kasali declared the nomination of the second defendant, Onakoya, to the stool of Orijeru of Igboye as illegal and of no effect.

The trial judge declared that the second defendant (Michael Gbadebo Onakoya) is not a member of the Ewade Ruling House of Igboye and is not entitled to be nominated to the stool of the Orijeru of Igboye.

The court granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the second defendant from parading himself as a member of Ewade Ruling House at Igboye or presenting himself for the stool of Orijeru of Igboye on the platform of Ewade Ruling House.

The judge also gave an order of perpetual injunction restraining all the other defendants from recognising the second defendant as a member of Ewade Ruling House of Igboye.

The claimants in the suit are Alhaji M.A. Quadri, Chief Dauda Kadiri and Mrs. Oladipe Otunowo for themselves and as representatives of Osekelu branch of Ewade Ruling House.

Others are Chief Gbenro Otunowo, Mr. Yemisi Adegboyega and Mrs. Adeleke Ogunnubi, for themselves and as representatives of Okuyemi/ Okuboyejo branch of Ewade Ruling House.

The defendants, aside from the second defendant, are Head of the Ewade Ruling House, Otunba Abdulwasiu Musa-Adebamowo, the Lagos State government and the Attorney General of Lagos State.

Justice Kasali dismissed the 35 point averments of the second

defendant contained in his amended statement of defence and counter claims filed through his counsel, Babatunnde Oshilaja.

supplied textbooks for senior students.

He further said that his foundation had been paying teachers salaries at Ajiboyede Comprehensive High School, Ibara Orile, Ogun State since 2012, among other interventions.

Laoshe decried the situation where students learn science subjects without having standard laboratories.

“Go round the country, you will hardly find a school with standard science laboratory. I am sowing a seed that will germinate in 20 years. These days, only the children of the rich go to good schools. I have always said that interventions in the health and education sectors are critical. How do you pass Chemistry without ever been to a laboratory?

“We are building a nation on nothing; we are building a super structure over

tion by government for the stool of Orijeru of Igboyeland.

She argued that the claimants were not aware of nor partici-

pated in the meetings purportedly held by the Ewade Ruling House in August, 1991 which culminated in his unlawful nomination.

The Project Supervisor, Engineer Bec Fiara (left), taking the Ekiti State deputy governor, Dr. Kolapo Olusola (right) and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mr. Ademiloye Fasiku, round the road projects, during the deputy governor’s monitoring visit, on Tuesday.

Ekiti strategises to woo investors to local communities EKITI State government has described the various infrastructural development projects going on in the local government headquarters as the strategy of the present administration to attract investors to the local communities and boost the economy of the grass roots.

Former lawmaker donates laboratories to school in Ifo A former Deputy Whip of the House of Representatives, Honourable Lanre Laoshe, has donated two science laboratories to Anglican Grammar School, Okenla in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

This was just as he encouraged privileged members of the society to give back to their communities in order to eliminate existing inequality between the rich and the poor.

Speaking at the inauguration of the laboratories by the Lanre Laoshe Foundation recently, the lawmaker said the intervention was to ensure that students from underprivileged families can access qualitative education like their counterparts from rich homes.

He added that the foundation had also equipped all science laboratories at Abeokuta Grammar School, and

The trial judge also described as fraudulent, the documents used by the deposed ruler for his nomination, selection and subsequent recogni-

nothing. I am not looking for anything and I do not like to discuss how much these projects cost. I am only looking for what Bill Gates, the richest man in the world is looking for and we all know that he is looking for a world where inequality will be eradicated,’’ he said.

In his address, the Bishop, Diocese of Ifo Anglican Communion, Reverend Nathaniel Ogundipe, commended Laoshe for his selflessness.

He said the refurbished laboratories would assist students in passing their science subjects examinations.

“You will agree with me that the hallmark of science is that it generates theories and laws that must be consistent with observations.

Much of the evidence from these observations is collected during laboratory investigations,” he said.

The deputy governor, Dr Kolapo Olusola, stated this while addressing residents of Ikole and OmuoEkiti communities during his visit to monitor the ongoing dualisation of the main township roads in the two communities.

He explained that the dualisation of main roads in local government headquarters in the state would not only add to the beauty of the towns and minimise accidents, but also attract investors who will create employment opportunities in the area thereby reducing rural-urban migration of youths.

The deputy governor, who inspected the 2.8 kilometre Olokonla Roundabout Road in Ikole and the 1.162 kilometre road in Obadore, in Omuo-Ekiti, commended the construction firm handling the projects for a job well done.

In his response, the supervisor in charge of the projects, Engineer Bec Fiara assured that the company would deliver the projects within the next 10 days, adding that it would not compromise stipulated standards.

Some of the residents, who spoke with newsmen commended the administration of Governor Ayo Fayose for extending infrastructural development projects to rural areas.

A community leader, Mr. Bola Fatunla, thanked the governor for the dualisation of the roads, calling for more government pres-

ence in the towns.

Mr. Arije Olowoyo and Mrs. Victoria Fameesa also appreciated the governor for the initiative.

Community head writes Buhari, IG over invasion of farmlands THE head of Olorunsogo/Abeku community in Ogun State, Chief Muritala Adisa, has sent an SOS to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase; the Director-General, Department of State Service; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Governor Ibikunle Amosun over an attack on his community allegedly by people from Ile-Ife. In the SOS which was also sent to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Chief Adisa said some hoodlums, eight in number, recently invaded the community’s farmlands on the orders of a monarch.

He claimed that the people of his community who are Ijebus have been farming on the land for over 50 years.

“They (hoodlums) re-

sorted to stealing of cocoa worth millions of naira; in this regard, they resorted to killing and raping. People ran helter-skelter and up to this moment, we cannot trace the whereabouts of our people who were working on their farmlands,” he said in the message.

Chief Adisa pleaded that the authorities should intervene before an intercommunal war breaks out, noting that the pillars put in place by the SurveyorGeneral of the Federation were being removed to cause confusion along the communal boundary.

“Unless there is urgent intervention by the police and other security agencies, further attacks may lead to intra-tribal war between Ijebus and Ifes.

Finally, we implore you to kindly look into this issue to avert loss of lives and miscarriage of justice,” the community head wrote.

37

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

38

Thursday, 21 April, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Kanu inspired me —Iwobi

Friendlies:

Yusuf, Boboye, Amapakabo to lead Eagles against Mali, Luxembourg

By Oluwabunmi Ajayi ARSENAL sensation, Alex Iwobi has expressed joy at the words of encouragement he received from the former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu.

Kanu, had described Iwobi as an exceptional talent that “Nigeria is looking for”.

Iwobi told the Arsenal website that the captain of the Atlanta ‘96 Olympics winning Dream Team, Kanu served as his role model.

“As a kid, especially playing at Arsenal, I did look up to him. He was just a classy player and I have spoken to him a few times as well.

“We have had conversations about Nigeria, about myself and what I need to do. (He says) to just be relaxed and he congratulated me and told me I was doing well.

“To hear that (praise) from such a player like him is crazy and I just have to prove him right.

I don’t feel pressure, it is just a privilege to hear that,” said Iwobi, who made his debut for the Super Eagles last October against the Leopards of DR Congo.

Meanwhile, manager Arsene Wenger insists his wards will fight for the EPL title until the end of the season, as the Gunners host West Bromwich Albion tonight at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners with 60 points will return to the third on the Premier League table if they win tonight as Manchester City has 61 points to show.

Arsenal, it will be recalled, suffered a 1-2 loss at the Hawthorns last November.

Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja

N

IGERIA’S Super Eagles will take on the Eagles of Mali and the national team of Luxembourg in international friendlies in Europe in the next FIFA window.

The three-time African champions take on Mali, ranked four places above them at 63, at the Stade Robert Diochon in Rouen, France on Friday, May 27.

However, a reliable source informed Tribunesport that Super Eagles assistant coach, Salisu Yusuf, would thinker the team for the friendlies, to be assisted by the Rangers of Enugu coach, Imama Amapakabo and Abia Warriors coach, Kennedy Boboye, while the crew would be supervised by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical director, Shuaibu Amodu.

This came on the heels of the meeting by the technical committee of the NFF held on Wednesday in Abuja, to discuss vital issues affecting the game in the country particularly, the issue of hiring a foreign coach for the Super Eagles.

The committee, which met for many hours at the Glass House however, did not issue any statement on the outcome of the meeting.

Chairman of the committee, Barrister Chris Green, told sports journalists that he will brief the NFF president, Mr Amaju Pinnick and other board members first before making public their decisions at the meeting.

Tribunesport gathered that the committee would after the two Eagles friendlies, discuss the issue of hiring a foreign coach, which members agreed should be made open.

NFF’s FIFA Match agent, Jairo Pachon confirmed that the Super Eagles would face Luxembourg in Luxembourg on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at a venue yet to be finalised.

La Liga organisers will soon visit Nigeria —Dikko

Iwobi

CAF Champions League:

Enyimba moves to group stage Beats Etoile on penalties NIGERIA’S Enyimba FC on Wednesday night qualified for the group stage of the CAF Champions League, following its 4-3 victory over Etoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia via penalties.

The two-time African champions had surrendered their first leg three goals lead at the 25000 capacity Stade Olympique de Sousse in Tunisia, as the two-legged game ended 3-3 on aggregate.

The heroics of goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai aided Enyimba to advance to the lucrative group stage of the glamorous competition as he saved three of the spot kicks taken by the Tunisians.

Tournament’s leading scorer Mfon Udoh had missed his kick during the penalty drama as well as Christian Pyagbara, but Afelokahi’s sheer brilliance on the night was able to make up for the misses.

Izu Joseph of Shooting Stars Sports Club (right) wrestle with Heartland’s Ifeanyi Onuigbo during their Nigeria Premier League match day 12 clash last weekend at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan. 3SC won 2-1.

CHAIRMAN of the League Management Company (LMC), Alhaji Shehu Dikko, has revealed that as a result of the improvements being witnessed in the Nigeria Professional Football League, the leadership of Spanish top flight, La Liga, would visit Nigeria shortly.

Dikko, who is also the second vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), made this known when he declared open the first CAF A –Licence coaching course in Nigeria which began on Wednesday at the FIFA Technical Centre, Abuja.

“Nigeria football is looking to collaborate with La Liga to develop our game, through exchange of ideas and other things,” he stated.

Dikko, who represented the NFF president, Mr Amaju Pinnick, to declare the CAF coaching course open said: “We are very happy that our country is holding this elite coaching course at last. The most recent performances of the Super Eagles may not be heartwarming, but just as Germany did when they were also at a very low ebb several years ago, we have decided to retreat, look earnestly inward and prepare hard to rise again.

“We are starting with capacity enhancement of our coaches, through this elite programme, believing that this will definitely help the development of our game.”

Also, the chairman of the NFF technical and development committee, Barrister Chris Green, charged Nigerian coaches to establish track record through starting from the lower league and rising to the top.

“Henceforth, we would take seriously the issue of track record. This is why the NFF is delighted with this course.

“We have seen a lot of improvements in our League in recent years. That makes us very happy, but we are determined to continue to enhance the capacity of our coaches in the interest of the Nigeria game.”

39

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SIDELINES

no16,483

n150

THURSDAY, 21 April, 2016

“Whatever challenges are being encountered by private universities in Nigeria cannot be taken or considered in isolation of other events occurring either locally or on the international scene and surely cannot be regarded as amounting to a general failure of private universities in Nigeria.”

AST week I examined the factors which led to the establishment of private universities and the success as recorded by them so far. This was in reaction to the article of Mr. Laolu Harolds published in the Tribune edition of 11th April 2016 under the title “the other said of private universities; admission requests decline drastically.” Writing in the said article, Mr Harolds chronicled what he termed as facts indicative of the decline of private universities.

This week in continuation, I intend to show how wrong Mr Harolds is in relation to his claims on the decline in admission requests.

INTENTION OF THE WRITER WAS TO RIDICULE AND SCANDALISE PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES It is pertinent to highlight how Mr Harold’s point of view and invariably, his conclusions were affected or dictated by his preconceived albeit misinformed notions about nature the objective and the peculiarities of private universities. This is reflected in no small measure by the headline of the article itself to wit: “the other side of private universities; admission requests decline drastically.” This headline without little doubt would come to the mind of the ordinary man at Dugbe market in Ibadan or Balogun market in Lagos as one intended to ridicule deride and scandalise any and indeed all private universities in Nigeria. This alone is actionable at the instance of any private university in Nigeria. This would not be difficult to establish as the article, while stating the low admission requests recorded by some universities, was extremely one sided as there was no attempt to mention or even disclose that some other private universities had been recording increase in the number of students applying to them for admission. For example, Covenant University enrolled 1845, 2020, 3144 students in 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively. For Babcock University the figures for the same period were 1662, 2181 and 1985 while Afe Babalola University, established only six years ago enrolled 943, 1118 and 1247 for the same years of 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively. Rather than ensure a balanced report, Mr Harolds ignored these crucial facts.

VARYING FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTS ENROLMENT The point I have made is important for if

L

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

Olimpija FC coach, Marko Nikolic, has been banned for seven matches by the Slovenia Football Association for calling Blessing Eleke a ‘black idiot’ even after the Nigerian had scored an equaliser to save his team from home defeat. Perhaps, if the coach had the power, he could have changed Blessing’s name to ‘curse’.

afeonthursday

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Private universities: The hope of Nigeria’s tertiary education (2) equal attention had been made to the fact that some private universities continue to experience increase in the number of students seeking admission to them, the writer would have as a matter of necessity been forced to enquire as to the reason why some were not experiencing such an increase in enrolment.

Such an enquiry would have revealed that there are several factors at play in the issue of enrolment most of which have nothing to do, contrary to the claims made in the article to issues of staffing or drop in standards. For example the writer would probably have realised that like any business or enterprise, universities, be they private or public require time to break even.

He would even have realised that in the case of private universities, the reputation, lifestyle of the founders and philosophy behind the establishment of the university are all factors which would affect or determine student enrolment such that challenges being encountered by one may be so unique to it as to make a general statement that all others are also facing the same challenge to be not only unfair, but also unfounded and ill-motivated. This is even particularly so in the case of faith based universities which automatically would by virtue of that fact alone, have been assured of a catchment area from which they would attract admission requests. Would it then be fair to categorise other universities founded by private individuals as failures for the reason only that they may experience a longer break even period as they do not enjoy such privileges and on the contrary would have to rely on the goodwill, reputation and even philanthropy of their founders to break even? I think not.

In any event, the respected Prof. Peter A. Okebukola, a former Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC) in his book, ‘Perils and Promises of Private University Education in Nigeria’ which I referred to last week had this to say on the reasons for the low enrolment recorded by some private

universities. At page 15 he stated as follows: “Not long after the early days, at least three factors conspired to reverse the upward swing in enrolment. First is the relative stability which had returned to the public university system.

By 2002, apparently strike weary, the staff unions took a long break from the usual national strikes and academic calendars were hardly interrupted for long spells. The pull to public universities gained momentum and application to private universities took a plung.

Secondly, almost coincidental with the period of relative stability of academic calendar, the number of private universities grew and this caused the total number of applicants to each university to thin. The third factor was the increase in the national poverty rates which hindered parents from finding financial resources to pay the steep tuition for private university education.”

The above statement from an accomplished university administrator is surely more helpful than the unfair conclusions contained in Mrharold’s article. Furthermore, as I stated last week, success and failure are equal facts and realities of life.

Whilst some enterprises will fail, some will become stronger and perhaps become aided in that respect by the failure experienced by their counterparts. Secondly, the issue of declining enrolment is not unique to Nigeria. it is a global phenomenon which is being experienced even by colleges in the United States due to factors such as poverty, declining economy and even the advent of online courses. This much is revealed in an article titled “Small US Colleges battle death spiral as enrolment drops” written by Michael McDonald published in Bloomberg. In the said article, the writer analysed, with reference to empirical data the difficulties being encountered by some US colleges in the area of enrolment. He stated as follows amongst others: “It’s been five years since the recession ended and yet

their finances are worsening. Soaring student debt, competition from online programs and poor job prospects for graduates are shrinking their applicant pools…Dozens of schools have seen drops of more than 10 percent in enrollment, according to Moody’s. As faculty and staff have been cut and programs closed, some students have faced a choice between transferring or finishing degrees that may have diminished value…The number of private four-year colleges that have closed or were acquired doubled from about five a year before 2008 to about 10 in the four years through 2011, according to a study last year by researchers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, citing federal data. Plus, among all colleges, 37 merged in the three years through 2013, more than triple the number from 2006 to 2009, according to Higher Education Publications Inc., a Reston, Virginia-based directory publisher…“There will clearly be some institutions that won’t make it and there will be some institutions that will be stronger because of going through these difficult steps,” said David Warren, president of the Washington-based National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.”

Consequent upon the above, it is clear that whatever challenges are being encountered by private universities in Nigeria cannot be taken or considered in isolation of other events occurring either locally or on the international scene and surely cannot be regarded as amounting to a general failure of private universities in Nigeria. Not only do the facts on ground not support this, there are on the contrary signs indicating that private universities in Nigeria are indeed holding their own amongst their peers. Next week I will highlight some of these pointers.

The author will publish some of the comments already received on this topical issue in one of the subsequent editions.

Please send your suggestions and comments to the author on president@abuad.edu.ng.

Rio 2016: I want to run sub-19 secs in 200m —Bolt Sprint king Usain Bolt aims to crown his legacy with an unprecedented Olympic threepeat at the Rio Games, and to crown it all by running the first ever sub-19 seconds 200 meters.

Bolt has already swept the 100 and 200m sprints at the last two Olympics and added gold in the 4x100 relays in both Beijing (2008) and London (2012) with his Jamaican team-mates.

“Just to defend my titles, to do the three-

peat. That’s my main goal. That’s my main focus,” Bolt told Reuters .

“My secondary goal is to try and run sub19,” added Bolt, who set the world 200m record of 19.19 in 2009. “That’s something I really want and I hope that everything goes smoothly and I can get it. That would be a big step for me.”

Bolt said he has been gradually getting into shape after dealing with ankle problems.

“I’m feeling OK,” he said. “My coach says

my fitness is not exactly where he wants it to be.

“Starting out this season I had a problem with my ankles and it was a setback but not that bad. We’re getting back on track and he’s happy with the progress I’m making.”

Bolt said he would run his first race in Cayman, then in Ostrava and then to his coach’s June meet in Jamaica before the trials and then on to the Diamond League meeting in London.

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Bolt