25th February 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,444

THURSDAY, 25 FEBRUARY, 2016

Osinbajo, Saraki, Atiku, Tinubu in crucial meeting in Aso Rock —P4

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

EFCC arrests Uche Secondus

•Jonathan's ADC sues EFCC over illegal detention —P3

@nigeriantribune

Student dies during alleged ritual process in Ogun —P15

Nigerian Tribune

N150

Saraki: Watch your utterances, Reps caution Marafa

2016 budget was padded, Buhari admits •Vows to punish culprits •Arrives Medina to pray for Nigeria

—P13

—P3 MTN withdraws suit, pays $250m fine to NCC —P11

WAEC disowns 'provocative' statement on Finance Minister —P4

Military rescues another 150 from Boko Haram •As Borno evacuates 9,000 IDPs in schools —P16

From left; Ondo State deputy governor, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo; Governor Olusegun Mimiko; former Secretary General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Alhaja Fatimat Oluboyo; Mrs Olukemi Mimiko and the state Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, among others, during the inauguration of the new Outside Broadcasting Van of the state TV station, in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Ondo State and seventh anniversary of Mimiko-led government, at The Dome, Akure, on Wednesday.

Student makes history, graduates with 5.0 CGPA in UNILAG —P13

Volatility: West African markets reject naira —Pp4,11 transaction —Investigation •Anyaoku opposes naira devaluation

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Thursday, 25 February, 2016

3 news

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

2016 budget was padded, Buhari admits

•Vows to punish culprits •Expresses commitment to agric revival Leon Usigbe - Abuja

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has conceded to members of the Nigerian community in Saudi Arabia that the 2016 budget he submitted to the National Assembly was padded by some entrenched interests who he has vowed to punish.

Speaking on late Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he said that all those involved in the “padding” of the 2016 budget would face the most severe punishment.

According to a statement sent on Wednesday from Riyadh by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari disclosed this while addressing the Nigerian community in Saudi Arabia, where he condemned the distortion of the budget proposals by entrenched interests.

The president said the unauthorised alterations had completely changed the document from the one he presented to the National Assembly.

“The culprits will not go unpunished. I have been a military governor, petroleum minister, military head of state and headed the Petroleum Trust Fund.

“Never had I heard the words “budget padding.”

Our Minister of Budget and National Planning did a great job with his team. The minister became almost half his size during the time, working night and day to get the budget ready, only for some people to pad it.

“What he gave us was not what was finally being debated. It is very embarrassing and disappointing. We will not allow those who did it to go unpunished,” Buhari was quoted to have said in the statement.

The president also assured members of the Nigerian community that his administration was working diligently to fulfill its campaign promises, particularly on security, employment and anti-corruption.

Reaffirming his government’s zero tolerance for corruption, President Buhari said the war against corruption is a monumental task he was determined to tackle successfully.

“We have zero tolerance for corruption and other unethical practices. We will deal decisively with anybody found wanting,” he said.

Buhari also used the opportunity to brief Nigerians in Saudi Arabia on his administration’s efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency

and terrorism in Nigeria.

“Our armed forces have done a great job of dealing decisively with Boko Haram.

We are collaborating with our neighbours in the operations of the Multinational Joint Task Force to handle security threats in the sub-region and we have significantly destroyed the capacity of the insurgents,” he said.

Speaking on efforts being made to diversify the Nigerian economy, he stressed that more opportunities were now open for local and foreign investors in the country.

In a related development,

President Buhari has said his administration was fully committed to increasing the productivity of Nigeria’s agriculture and solid minerals sectors, to save the nation from the harsh effects of lower crude oil prices.

Speaking at a meeting with leading members of the Council of Saudi Arabia’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry, in Riyadh, late on Tuesday, he said with declining revenues from crude oil exports, Nigeria’s hopes of economic resurgence now laid in the rapid development of its immense agricultural and solid

mineral resources.

According to another statement issued by Adesina, Buhari invited Saudi Arabian businessmen to invest in both sectors, saying that his administration would welcome greater foreign investment in support of its efforts to rapidly diversify the Nigerian economy.

Buhari said Nigeria had regrettably depended too much on crude oil exports to the neglect of other resources and was now paying a price for failing to diversify its economy early enough.

“With the downturn in the global prices of oil, we now

have to prospect our solid minerals. We have to return to agriculture. Mining and agriculture are our hopes now. We will welcome investments in these areas.

We will appreciate an inflow of more resources and expertise to help us achieve our objective of economic diversification,” he said.

Governors of Osun, Ogun, Katsina, Borno and Zamfara states, who were part of his delegation, took turns to address the Saudi Arabian businessmen on investment possibilities in their states, assuring them of good returns.

Chairman of the Council

From right, President Muhammadu Buhari; a Saudi official; Governors AbdulAziz Yari and Ibikunle Amosun of Zamfara and Ogun states respectively; Buhari’s State Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Lawal Kazaure, among others, praying at the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, on Wednesday.

of the Saudi Arabian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Dr Abdulrahman Al Zamil, said agriculture was an important area of investment for its members, adding that they were already in Brazil, the United States of America and Sudan, “where we have huge farms.”

Declaring that they were willing to invest in Nigeria, Dr Abdulrahman Al Zamil said the Saudis are leading investors in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya and Ethiopia.

Buhari, 4 govs arrive Medina to pray for Nigeria PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari and four governors are currently in Medina “to pray for greater peace, prosperity and progress in Nigeria.”

The governors are Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abdul Aziz Yari (Zamfara), Bello Masari (Katsina) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun).

The president left Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, after holding series of meetings with top personalities, including Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, king of Saudi Arabia. He also met with the Nigerian community in the middleeast country.

The president is expected to visit Doha in Qatar before returning to the country next week.

EFCC arrests Uche Secondus

•There are plans to arrest Ekweremadu, Akpabio, PDP cries out •Jonathan’s ADC sues EFCC over ‘illegal detention’ Saliu Gbadamosi, Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday morning, arrested the deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus.

Secondus was, until last week when a former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, emerged the new helmsman at the PDP, the acting national chairman of the former ruling party.

A source within the antigraft commission confirmed the arrest of Secondus to the Nigerian Tribune, adding that he was arrested by operatives and brought to the EFCC office.

According to the source, the opposition party chieftain was picked up in connection with the ongoing investigations in the oil sector.

Another source informed that Prince Secondus was allegedly mentioned as a beneficiary of some illegal funds, during the period he (Secondus) was serving as acting national chairman of PDP. The source stated that the commission wanted to trace the source of the fund used to purchase the cars, which were said to be given to Secondus.

As of the time of filing this report, the PDP chief was still with the EFCC and it was not sure if he would be granted an administrative bail by the commission.

In another development, Nigerian Tribune has learnt that the anti-corrup-

tion agency is waiting to get a date from the court in order for it to arraign the immediate past Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro.

According to a reliable source, the commission had perfected every arrangement to drag the Benue State-born politician before the court over his involvement in the 2014 Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) tragic recruitment exercise, in which he was alleged to have defrauded about 6.5 million Nigerians.

The EFCC will be slamming 11-count charge against Moro and three other persons with one company, Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd, which provided the online enlistment and recruitment services for the botched recruitment exercise in which no fewer than 23

applicants died, while many others sustained varying degrees of injury.

Others to be arraigned alongside the former minister are Anastasia Daniel Nwobia, F. O Alayebami, Mahmood Ahmadu, who is said to be at large now.

Meanwhile, following the arrest of Secondus by EFCC, the PDP has decried what it observed as the “oppressive and unfair treatments” against its key leaders by the Federal Government.

It has also alerted the nation to plans by the antigraft body to arrest the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and the Senate minority leader, Godswill Akpabio, both members of the party.

In a statement issued by its national legal adviser, Victor

Kwon, in Abuja, on Wednesday, the opposition party noted that the arrest and detention of Secondus “is part of the grand script by the APCled Federal Government to decimate the opposition.”

Also, the national publicity secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, is also currently being prosecuted in connection with $2.1 billion arms scam in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

“Indeed, intelligence available to the party shows that the Federal Government, using its various agencies, is bent on destroying any opposition to the ruling party, as all indications show that the government is more interested in humiliating the PDP than fighting corruption. continues pg10

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Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Osinbajo, Saraki, Tinubu, Atiku, others in crucial meeting Leon Usigbe - Abuja

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ICE President Yemi Osinbajo met with key leaders of the of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, in what is thought to be aimed at resolving the crisis of confidence in the ruling party.

Among those present at the meeting presided over by the vice president in his office included Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki; national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yusuf Lasun; Secretary to Government of the Federation, Babagana Babachir Lawal and a former Interim National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande.

Others were Senate Lead-

er, Mohammed Ali Ndume; APC National Vice Chairman (South-West), Segun Oni; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbon-

naya Onu; former National Chairman of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Chief Tony Momoh, among others.

The meeting, which started at about 11.00 a.m, was described as a “a consultative” meeting and closed to the media.

It took place while President Muhammadu Buhari was still away in the Middle East and Osinbajo is expected to brief him on the

From left, national chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, during a consultative meeting of APC chieftains, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN

Anyaoku opposes naira devaluation Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure FORMER Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on Wednesday, frowned on the call for the devaluation of Naira, saying devaluation would inevitably produce a further rise in inflation to the detriment of the common man.

Anyaoku, who stated this in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during a symposium organised by the state government to mark the 40th anniversary of the state and the seventh year anniversary of the Olusegun Mimiko-led administration, said devaluation of the country currency would further lead to an unacceptable drain in the country’s external reserves that was already “worryingly depleted.”

Anyaoku, who was the chairman of the Anniversary Symposium entitled: “Curtailing Nigeria’s centrifugal forces” said those calling for the devaluation of Naira had failed to put some certain factors into consideration.

He said “those calling for official devaluation of the Naira need to come up with a good answer to Nigeria’s present problematic situation with its currency.

“An incontrovertible fact is that with the current level of the country’s dependence on imported goods resulting in a monthly import bill that

is about four times the value of its main export (crude oil) that is traded in United States Dollars, official devaluation of the Naira via-a-vis the Dollar will inevitably produce a further rise in inflation to the detriment of all of us, especially the masses. Besides, in such circumstances, devaluation will lead to an unacceptable drain in the country’s external reserves that is already worryingly depleted.

“The crux of the challenge we face with the current world price for crude oil is to devise policies for reducing the level of the country’s dependence on imported goods while in the meantime, allowing the Naira to float in the non-official currency markets with ad-

equate safeguards being effectively enforced by the government against roundtripping in the management of our foreign exchange.”

The former Commonwealth scribe, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to urgently convene a meeting of carefully chosen and selected economic experts across the country, who would discuss how to bail the country out of this economic quagmire.

Speaking on the centrifugal forces militating against the development of Nigeria as a nation, since independence, he listed the forces to include three ranges— the benign socio-cultural groups, which he said consist of groups like the Arewa, the Afenifere,

the Ohaneze, the Ijaw Council and other similar organisations.

The other two forces are what he called “the more activist and potentially divisive, but still largely nonviolent groups, like the OPC, MEND, MASSOB and its splinter group, the IPOB; and the seriously violent groups like the Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen.

He, however, opined that restructuring of the Nigeria nation through true federalism remained the only way out of the nation’s predicament, saying federalism would go a long way in ushering in positive development and political stability.

“My view which I articulated most recently at the

Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy is that restructuring the country’s present governance architecture by adopting a truer federalism will go a long way in enabling us to achieve the speedier development and political stability that would more effectively eliminate the causes of the centrifugal forces existing in Nigeria,” he said.

Other speakers who participated in the symposium included Senator Ben Bruce, Yinka Odumakin, Senator Shehu Sani, former Information Minister, Labaran Maku and former Labour Party chairman, Dan Nwunyanwu, all advocated true federalism for the country to move forward.

outcome.

It will be the first time Atiku would be attending a political meeting in the Presidential Villa since the advent of this administration and his second time overall, having recently attended Jumat prayers with the president.

The meeting ended at about 2.45 p.m, with all participants who were approached by State House correspondents declining to speak.

However, it was gathered that what may have received the attention of the meeting apart from lack of trust among top members of the APC, was its ongoing financial crisis which had been unable to attract the sympathy of both President Buhari and its sponsors.

However, Special Adviser (Political) in the Office of the Vice President, Senator Femi Ojudu, told newsmen that the meeting was a routine consultative one.

He dismissed suggestions that it was meant to address the brewing crisis of confidence growing in national hierarchy of the APC. In a two-paragraph statement issued later by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, he said the meeting was useful and resourceful towards achieving the goals of the party and government.

It said: “Select leaders of the APC, drawn from the party’s national headquarters, the legislative and executive arms of government had a consultative meeting on issues affecting the party and the nation.

“The meeting, which held at the vice president’s conference room, was very useful and resourceful towards achieving the goals of the party and the government.”

WAEC disowns ‘provocative’ statement on Finance Minister

By Laolu Harolds THE West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on Wednesday dissociated itself from statements credited to its Registrar, Dr. Iyi Uwadiae, which cast aspersion on the person of the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, over the latter’s purported allegation of fraud in the examination body.

At a press briefing on Saturday, February 20, 2016, while giving a report on the findings of auditors on various boards in the country,

the minister accused ‘an examination body’ in the country of fraudulent activities.

While attempting to give her audience an idea of the level of financial mismanagement by the said examination body, which she did not name, Mrs Adeosun committed an error in arithmetic. She added N6 billion to N16 billion and said the total was N24 billion.

Almost immediately, a report surfaced on social media platforms purportedly authored by WAEC, in which the examination body took the minister’s allega-

tion personal.

It berated the minister, especially zeroing in on the arithmetical error, and offered to give her a free WASSCE form should she think it fit to resit her Ordinary Level Mathematics.

But WAEC said on Wednesday it never made such disparaging statements.

A statement signed by the Head, Public Affairs, Mr Abiodun Aduloju, described the publication as “worrisome and embarrassing to WAEC,” saying its registrar did not make the statement and could not have re-

sponded to an allegation in which the name of his organisation was not even mentioned.

It reads: “The Registrar does not reside in Nigeria and has not granted a press interview or engaged in an informal chat with any Nigerian media representative or authorised anyone to speak on his behalf concerning the Honorable Minister’s statement.

“Dr. Uwadiae is an experienced public personality and seasoned diplomat, who holds sacrosanct the entrenched culture of mu-

tual understanding and respect that exists among all operatives and representatives of the governments of the five-member countries of the council.”

It appealed to the “originators, peddlers and transmitters of this provocative and malicious publication” to desist from their dastardly act which, it said, is designed to cause disaffection between the two notable citizens of the country and destroy the 64-year-old collaboration between the examination body and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

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Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Thursday, 25 February, 2016 6 news TSA: Senate orders termination of CBN contract with Systemspecs

•Slashes commission from N800bn to N656.5m •We acted in national interest —Systemspecs Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesami-Abuja

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HE Senate, on Wednesday, recommended the termination of a contract the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) entered into with Systemspecs, an e-revenue collection platform provider for the use of REMITA in aid of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.

The lawmakers also recommended the payment of N656.5 million to Systemspecs as its commission for the N800 billion revenue it mopped up for the Federal Government instead of the N7.6 billion earlier collected by the firm and operating banks at one per cent commission.

The Senate, which, on Wednesday, adopted a report of its Joint Committee on Finance, Banking, Insurance and Public Accounts, which investigated alleged payment of N25billion commission to Systemspecs for use of REMITA, also insisted that the government should not pay the one per cent commission earlier recommended.

In approving the 10 recommendations made by the joint committee, which was presented by the chairman, Senator John Enoh, the Senate directed that the CBN should ensure total refund of the funds, all deductions ealier made in respect of the use of REMITA and the affected Deposit Money Banks .

The Senate also asked the CBN to open up the space to other e-collection providers for competition, effectiveness, efficiency and greater robustness.

Senate further directed that all agreed fees and payments for e-collection service should not be borne by MDAs, but provided and disbursed from

a central pool.

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, in his remarks, said the Senate’s action on the TSA operation was not against the idea per se , but finding out how it was being managed to save the nation from any sharp practices.

He said: “I think the message we are sending out today is very clear that our interest lies in ensuring proper use of funds, this Senate will stand firmly for that and this goes back to the issues where people wonder the usefulness or value of the parlia-

ment and I think this is a good example, by this action, this country is saving close to between N22 to over N30 billion, which is higher than the appropriation of a lot of ministries, department and agencies of government (MDAs).

“When motion for this investigation was raised in October last year, a lot of noise was made that it was just because the Senate didn’t want to support TSA, but this report categorically applauds the TSA, but the issue is that the cost of doing the transaction should not undermine the good pur-

THE proposed trial of former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, and six others could not go on on Wednesday due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Raliat Adebiyi of a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had charged Akpobolokemi over alleged N754.7million theft belonging to the maritime institute.

EFCC had arraigned

ers across multiple platforms, and 24/7 user support for 50,000 FGN TSA users of Remita platform.”

A statement by Systemspecs’ Managing Director, Sola Fanawopo, said: “It is fulfilling to note that the Senate report did not accuse Remita of under-delivering on the substance of the contract and that our efforts are recognised as having played a significant role in the life of the nation when it mattered and that the disagreement has only been on the commercial terms of our contract. The Senate commit-

tee further recommended that SystemSpecs’ efforts should be rewarded – albeit on a scale which is quite debatable.

“Since inception over 24 years, we have chosen to be guided by sound ethical principles and have walked away from many transactions we believe can challenge the standards we have set for ourselves. This is attestable to by the numerous multi-national, indigenous public and private sector organisations and individuals we have been privileged to work with over the years.”

Death toll in Benue communities hits 20 Johnson Babajide-Makurdi

FOLLOWING attack on some communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, on Tuesday, indigenes of the council area are worried over the presence of helicopters hovering over the communities in the council area.

Member representing the constituency in the state assembly, Honourable Sule Audu, who expressed concern, said no fewer than 20 persons were killed in the invasion of the suspected Fulani on Tuesday.

Audu also expressed fears over the condition of several persons who were said to be missing, adding that bodies of others suspected to have been killed were yet to be recovered, just as he said the death toll might have increased.

“As I am speaking to you now, a large number of the attackers are still crossing over to Agatu. A source in Nasarawa State just told me that they are being transported through motorcycles to Loco from where they cross over to Agatu,” Sule explained.

He said he had reported the matter to the police and had been assured that policemen had been drafted to the area to quell the crisis.

Honourable Audu also disclosed that a delegation of Agatu elders met with

the accused persons on 13 counts before the court on January 25.

The matter, which was adjourned till Wednesday for commencement of trial could, however, not go on, as the court did not sit for the day.

The matter was further adjourned till Friday, February 26.

This is the fifth charge that the EFCC would be filing against Akpobolokemi.

His alleged accomplices in the charge are Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega Olopoenia and Gama Marine Nigeria Limited.

the state governor, Samuel Ortom, to find a lasting solution to the incessant crisis.

He expressed worry over the presence of two helicopters, which were sighted in Agatu on Wednesday.

The choppers, which were alleged to have taken off

from Nasarawa State, the law maker said, had become a serious concern to the people of Agatu.

A former councillor in Agatu Local Government, who preferred anonymity, said on phone on Wednesday, that there was still serious fighting in Ayila, a

situation, he said, would increase the death toll.

Several efforts to confirm the development from the state police spokesman, ASP Moses Yamu, failed as he failed to pick his calls or respond to text messages sent to his phone.

Military on red alert to combat militants —CDS THE Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonishakin, has said troops have been placed on high alert to combat any militant attack in the Niger Delta.

Olonishakin made the disclosure on Wednesday, at the inauguration of 25 locally-built gunboats donated to Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder, in Port Harcourt, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the military was currently assessing the situation in the Niger Delta, with a view to maintaining law and order.

According to him, the nation could not tolerate any criminality by individuals and groups, especially at a period it was faced with serious economic challenges.

N754.7m theft: Trial of Akpobolokemi, others stalled Ayomide Owonibi-OdekanyinLagos

pose of the TSA and I think that was what we have done today.”

But Systemspecs, the parent body of REMITA, said on Wednesday, that the company acted in the interest of Nigeria.

The company also said its services in respect of REMITA was more than just collecting funds for the government, but included, “payments, accounting information exchange and update, full real-time integration with GIFMIS, integration with the national financial services ecosystem, enabling pay-

Among other things, the EFCC alleged that the accused fraudulently converted to their personal use a sum of N346,844,680 released to them by NIMASA for the implementation of Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Member State Audit Scheme.

Akpobolokemi and others were also accused of forging a document entitled: “Re: Request For Payment as consultant for VIMSAS Administration Services,” dated May 25, 2015 purported to have been issued by Aroward Consulting limited,” with an intent to commit fraud.

“The Defence Headquarters is up and doing and we want to warn them (militants) that the military will not take it lightly in cases of disturbances.

“Any threat by them will be met with appropriate military actions.

“We have directed our troops to be on red alert, as well as ensure that criminals and vandals who sabotage national assets are brought to book,” he said.

Olonishakin expressed optimism that the 25 gunboats newly acquired by the Nigerian Navy would help in drastically reducing oil theft, sea piracy and other forms of illegalities in the nation’s maritime environment.

Also, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ekwe Ibas, said the navy employed the services of local engineers to construct the gunboats to save cost and cut capital flight.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari had approved local construction of additional 50 security patrol boats to be delivered in the coming months.

According to him, the gunboats, which had reached advance stages of completion, would be fitted with anti-ballistic protection and latest technology.

“Delivery of the additional 50 gunboats will ensure that the nation’s backwaters are saturated with patrol boats for improved security of our maritime domain.

“The boats will enable us to meet with stiff opposition sea robbery, crude oil

theft and other illegalities within the creeks and waterways,” he said.

Ibas said plans were on to acquire more patrol vessels for the navy to enable it to maintain constant presence at sea.

Responding, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, said local manufacturing of military hardware would create job opportunities for the youth and improve the capacity of local ship manufacturers.

He said the state govern-

ment would provide logistic support to ensure that the gunboats maintained 24 hours daily presence at the creeks and waterways.

“The boats will be fully mobilised to ensure that oil theft, sea piracy and other forms of criminality is drastically reduced to help accelerate development in the Niger Delta,” he said.

Wike said the state government would continue to cooperate with the armed forces to promote law and order.

Man, 27, remanded in prison for stealing 286 bags of cement in Osun Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

A Magistrate Court, sitting in Osogbo, on Wednesday, remanded a 27-year-old man, Olapade Taofeeq, in prison custody for allegedly stealing 286 bags of cement in Osogbo.

The accused person was alleged to have committed the offence sometime in the month of June, 2015 at Testing Ground Area, Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Fagboyinbo Abiodun, informed the court that the accused stole 286 bags of cement valued at N514,800, adding that the stolen gods belonged to one Oladepo Adeleke.

According to him, the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34, Vol. 11 Law of Osun State, 2003.

But the accused pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of stealing levelled against him, just as his defence counsel, Mr Okobi Najite, applied for his bail in the most liberal term.

Najite, who pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, said the suspect was still presumed innocent until contrary was proved by a court of law.

However, the police prosecutor objected the bail application on the ground that the accused, having jumped the administrative bail being given to him in 2015 before he was later apprehended, would definitely jump bail if granted.

In her ruling, Magistrate Fatimoh Sodamade ordered the accused to be remanded in Ilesa prison custody pending the determination of the case in the next adjournment. She, thereafter, adjourned the case till April 14, 2016.

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Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Senate summons Industries Minister, NBC over DStv Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja

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HE Senate, on Wednesday, summoned the Minister of Industries, Trade and lnvestment, Mr Emeka Enelamah, Director-General, Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Director-General of Consumer Protection Council (CPC), over what the chamber termed unwholesome practices by Multichoice Nigeria (DStv).

The chamber also mandated the Committee on Information to organise a public hearing for all stakeholders, including the relevant civil societies, in order to foster the way forward and report back to the whole house within four weeks.

These were sequel to motion sponsored by Senator

Isah Misau (PDP Bauchi Central) entitled: “Concern on unwholesome practices

by Multichoice Nigeria (DStv).”

He noted that Multichoice Nigeria, a subsidiary of South African- based Multichoice Africa, owners of DStv pay television had been known to dominate the Nigerian satellite television market, thereby enabling it to engage in negative and unhealthy trade practices.

Misau further noted that in the past few years DStv had constantly been in the news over one legal battle after another from aggrieved subscribers, who were dissatisfied with the programming service and unreasonable subscription hikes across their various bouquets, which he said led to growing public complaints and petitions.

He said his complaints included arbitrary increase in the subscription charges, refusal to adopt the ‘pay as you use’ model applicable in other climes where Multichoice operated, moving major programmes from low subscription bouquets to high subscription bouquets, poor service delivery and the absence of toll free lines for customers complaints amongst others .

He said: “Many concerned Nigerians are aggrieved and in constant demand to stop DStv’s arbitrary price hikes.

Recent increase in DStv subscription is outrageous and totally unacceptable.”

He told the Senate that following the high number of complaints, the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) commenced investigation into activities of the Digital Satellite Television oper-

ated by Multichoice Nigeria Limited, adding that the complaints included alleged consumer rights violations, in line with its mandate to provide redress for consumer abuse.

According to him, the CPC submitted that “these complaints in effect allege that the DStv service does not conform with international best practice and is specifically designed to exploit Nigerian consumers, who have suffered losses by not being able to fully enjoy or receive the benefit or actualise the full purpose for which they purchased or subscribed the service.”

Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Na’Allah, who also contributed to the motion said: “We have found ourselves in the situation, where certain people position themselves for a busi-

ness in such a manner because you have exclusive monopoly. This does not help any growing economy in any country and I think the moral courage to reverse this situation in the overall interest of Nigeria rests with this Senate.”

He explained that it is important that we support this motion because when we say change, it is change in every spheres of our life.

“People must not be allowed to take what is not due to them, irrespective of where they operate; people must operate within the laws of the country and Nigerians must be protected on the way and manner people operate their business in this country.”

Deputy Senate President Senator, Ike Ekweremadu, in his contribution, stated that he was concerned about

Ricky Tarfa withdraws suit against EFCC, others Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin - Lagos RICKY Tarfa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of corruption, on Wednesday, withdrew the N5 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit he filed against the anti-graft agency and four others over an alleged violation of his right to privacy.

The EFCC lawyers, Mr

Wahab Shittu and Rotimi Oyedepo, who also appeared in court, said they were not opposed to the withdrawal of the suit, but urged the court to award a punitive cost against Tarfa.

“My Lord, we have no objection to the discontinuance of the suit, but we want the court to award a punitive cost against the applicant; our names have been flying around in the major newspapers since yesterday,” Shittu said.

Following the withdrawal of the suit, Justice Moham-

med Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos, awarded a punitive cost of N10, 000 against Tarfa in favour of the five respondents.

The respondents in the N5 billion were the EFCC; its acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu; Mrs Rashidatou Abdou; Mr Femi Falana and the MTN Nigeria Communications Limited.

Tarfa had sought before the court, an order declaring that the unauthorised act of using his iPhone 6 with mobile number 08034600000 in calling one Alhaji Ado in

Don’t lose your cultural values, Ooni charges Nigerian youths Oluwole Ige - Osogbo THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), on Wednesday, charged Nigerian youths not to lose their cultural values and identities, saying there was need to promote and protect the African culture and tradition.

He maintained that students should not allow Western civilisation and culture to submerge African and Nigerian cultures, with the growing innovations in the technology industry.

Oba Ogunwusi gave the charge in his palace, when the students of Queensland Academy, Okota, Lagos, paid him a courtesy visit as a part of the school’s ongoing South-West excursion programme, tagged “Know your country.”

While underscoring the

richness in Yoruba culture and tradition, the monarch stated that “do not lose cultural values. If your parents are from Yorubaland, make sure you understand your cultural values and language. The same thing goes for those of you from Igbo and Hausaland.

“The most important issue is that we must be conscious of one Nigeria.

We should be proud of our cultural heritage and background. Everything started from the black race, which is the oldest continent. Civilisation started from Africa. We have to be proud of our cultural heritage anywhere we go,” Oba Ogunwusi remarked.

He continued: “Know where you come from. Try to learn, understand and speak your native languages well. Appreciate your culture and tradition. Do

not lose your cultural values. That is who you are and that is what you should stand for.

“I can see prominent female ministers, journalists, doctors, lawyers, engineers among you. Remember that you owe your parents and the country something and that is, good moral conduct and values. Remember the children of whom you are,” Oba Ogunwusi added.

In her remark, , the school proprietress, Mrs Adenike Okudoh, lauded the Ooni for his hospitality, just as she urged him to partner with the school in its ongoing agricultural programmes across the country, which were aimed at encouraging youths participation in farming, stressing that this approach would boost employment opportunities, food production and security.

Kaduna, on mobile number 08061272929, on February 9, 2016, while the said phone was with Magu and the agency without any reasonable cause or any court order was unlawful, wrongful, illegal and a gross violation of his rights.

Specifically, he had asked the court to declare that the unauthorised act of accessing his bank details, client’s information, private and confidential information contained in his iPhone 6 with number 08034600000 and Samsung 6 phone with number 08077341616 by EFCC and Magu without any reasonable cause or any court order was unlawful, wrongful, illegal and a gross violation of his fundamental rights.

Tarfa also asked the court to declare that the unauthorised act of accessing the phone call records/call log of his phone with mobile number 08034600000 by the respondents and forwarding same to Sahara Reporters

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Anthony Osimel Oshiobor now ANTHONY OSIGBHMHE OSHIOBOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adeniyi Rasidat now DAUDA RASIDAT ABEBI. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Oloruntoba Dupe am the same person as Ademola Dupe. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OLORUNTOBA DUPE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid.

General public take note.

and other online news agencies without any reasonable cause or any court order is unlawful, wrongful, illegal and a gross violation of his rights under the constitution.

EFCC had arrested Tarfa over allegation that on February 5, 2016, he hid two suspects, Nazaire Sorou Gnanhoue and Modeste Finagnon, both Beninoise, in his Mercedes Benz Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), thereby shielding them from being arrested and wilfully obstructing the course of justice.

The suspects were alleged to have fraudulently converted some sophisticated manufacturing equipment belonging to Rana Prestige Nigeria Limited for their own use.

In the process, the EFCC seized Tarfa’s phones and his Mercedes SUV. Tarfa was alleged to have prevented two operatives of the EFCC, who were officially detailed to effect their arrest from carrying out their statutory duties.

the exploitation of Nigerians by so many companies and service providers and the inability of the CPC to do something about it.

He said: “A lot of companies and service providers are exploiting Nigerians everyday, including the power sector, in which we pay for electricity we don’t enjoy and for banks everyday, they are cutting our money from one service or the other and it is still on.”

However, Senator Olanrewaju Tejuosho, opposed the motion, saying many companies in Nigeria had attempted to offer this same service but failed.

He said: “Some companies had offered the service earlier on, I don’t want to mention their names, but they failed. The service DStv offers is a luxury service. It is not compulsory for every Nigerian to watch DStv, we have the free TV, we have our NTA, we have our Channels television and they are not asking for subscription.”

He explained “the DStv population in Nigeria cannot be up to two per cent of the entire population of this country, adding that inasmuch as we don’t want any company to come from outside the country to enjoy the monopoly, I believe we have to make sure that our laws allow other competitors to come in.”

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, in his ruling, said the motion went beyond the issue of DStv, adding that “this is talking about protecting Nigerians’ rights in the area of services.”

He stated: “However, we must play our role to ensure that we protect Nigerians and ensure that the best global practices are what is happening in our own country. So, I would want the committees as directed, to look into the matter, particularly to ensure that the CPC played the role they should play in ensuring that the rights of Nigerians are always protected.”

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Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Lagos

Edited by

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

I rob car owners who give me free ride with toy gun — Suspect

T

WENTY-FIVE years old Paul Bassey has narrated how he used a painter’s gun-like spraying instrument to rob a Good Sa-

Nigerian Tribune

maritan, who gave him a lift.

The suspect, who was a few days ago arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), also confessed that he had many successful

robbery operations, using the toy gun.

The suspect had just dispossessed a car owner of his vehicle and other valuables, when he was intercepted by

operatives of the RRS along Lekki-Epe Expressway.

According to one of the RRS officers, “we were on routine patrol duty when we suddenly saw a vehicle on high speed coming behind us. The said vehicle overtook us and its driver forcefully opened the door and started shouting for help. Immediately, we gave the car a hot chase which led to the arrest of a young guy, later identified as Paul Bassey.”

On arrival at the RRS Headquarters in Alausa, the suspect confessed to the crime, saying “I was a lone operator and employ the tactics of stopping private car drivers to seek for lift.

Once I enter into the car, I will point the iron-made gun at their head to subject them to my control. If they cooperate with me I will only collect their belongings and let them go but if they drag with me, I will use my stainless toy gun to hit them.

“I did operate very early in the morning and late at night because they won’t know that I was using fake gun to threaten them,” he said.

The owner of the recovered vehicle, Mr David Oriakhi, who also followed the suspect to the RRS’s Headquarters in Alausa, said he regretted offering a stranger a lift.

The victim narrated that “I left my boss’ place around 5:00 a.m., hoping to get to my house before 7: 00 a.m.

The suspect waved to me at VGC Roundabout and I decided to help him. On getting inside the car, he pointed a gun at me asking me to hand over my belongings to him, which I did but to my greatest surprise, he asked me to turn back at VGC Roundabout and head towards Epe. “At this point I got apprehensive but at the same time was looking for necessary help. When I turned towards Lekki-Epe Expressway, on getting to Ajah Roundabout, I sighted stationary RRS officers, then, I decided to ram my vehicle into them and shouted for help. This was how they chased us and the vehicle was intercepted and suspect arrested.”

The image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmus confirmed the arrest of the suspect to Lagos Metro.

11 LASU students suspended over ‘illegal’ party where colleague died Naza Okoli THE Lagos State University (LASU) has announced the suspension of 11 students in connection with the death of the Miss Omolara Gbadeyan, a 200-Level student in the Department of Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, Faculty of Management Science. The suspended students are members of the executive committee of the History and International Studies Students Association, organisers of the party which led to the death of Gbadeyan.

Gbadeyan was confirmed dead two weekends ago at the General Hospital Igando where she was rushed to after allegedly drinking a mixture of alcoholic drinks.

According to the official bulletin issued by the university’s Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations, the organisers of the party neither sought permission from, nor informed, the authorities, which was contrary to the regulations of the university.

According to the report, the suspended students include Babatunde Arubo (Chairman), Paul Shenjobi (President), Esther Kudayah (Vice-President), Matthew Balogun (General Secretary) and Bidemi Eletu (Treasurer).

The statement added that the affected students were no longer allowed to participate in any student-related activity and should appear before a disciplinary committee.

Cultists seize Sango, kill Igbo trader, truck pusher ...traders from Ghana, Cotonou barred Olalekan Olabulo TWO people were again killed on Tuesday night by gunmen, suspected to be cultists in Sango area of Ogun State.

A yet-to-be identified Igbo trader and a truckpusher, simply identified as Apa were shot dead by the rampaging cult members.

The attack was said to be a reprisal from suspected Aiye members, whose colleague, Jide was last weekend killed by members of Eiye Confraternity and was said to have occurred less than one hundred metres away from the base of the Quick Response Squad, where an Armoured Personnel Carrier was stationed.

The trading activities around the ever-busy Ogba Fadina have been paralysed as traders from Ghana and Benin Republic were not allowed in.

A trader around the area, who simply identified himself as Blessing, told Lagos Metro that “the cult boys just stopped at the entrance of this place and opened fire at the people, who were inside.”

She also pleaded that “the government should call the people involved to order and settle the matter, because it is really affecting our business. Apart from Apa, who is well-known, we don’t know the other man, who was killed. He had come to wait for his goods. He came from the East,” Blessing said.

When contacted, the image maker in charge of the state police command, Muyiwa Adejobi claimed not to be aware of the latest cult clash.

He, however, promised to get in touch with the police at Sango and call back, but he had not as of the time of filing this report.

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Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

metro

Residents now secretly inform us about dilapidated buildings, schools — LASEMA Bola Badmus LAGOSIANS are no longer waiting for man-made disasters to happen in their domains as they now confidentially inform the government agency responsible for quality control in the construction sector, of below-par structures.

The provision of toll-free line by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) is said to have hugely helped in this regard.

LASEMA revealed on Wednesday that this red alert assistance from the members of the public had saved the massive cost that usually goes into rescue efforts during disasters.

The agency also disclosed that it had adopted monitoring and surveillance of domestic, industrial and public facilities into its main activity of disaster management.

LASEMA General Manager, Mr Michael Akindele, while speaking on the activities of the Surveillance and Monitoring Unit of the Agency, pointed out that this was part of efforts geared toward reducing disaster risks in the state.

Akindele further explained that the new approach was a practical one to reducing emergencies/disasters

thereby reducing the huge expenses borne by the state government on relief assistance to victims of disasters.

The LASEMA General Manager stated that the Agency was taking proactive steps to carry out immediate monitoring/inspection of reported distressed buildings and thereafter work in partnership with other government Agencies to prevent disasters from occurring.

CCTV exposes receptionist, guards assisting robbers to raid hotel Olalekan Olabulo A hotel receptionist and two private security guards and four other members of an armed robbery gang, who posed as hotel customers to rob have been arrested by the police in Lagos State.

The CCTV camera at the hotel exposed the receptionist and the two security men, who were all said to have shared from the proceeds of the robbery incident.

The suspects had successfully operated at Opracini Hotel, where they made away with money and other valuable items, before they were arrested by the police.

The armed robbers reportedly moved from one room to another in the hotel, where they ransacked

Apprentice rapes master’s 6-year-old daughter Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin A 32-year-old horticulture apprentice, Abeng Oji, has been arrested for defiling a six-year-old girl.

The accused, who hails from Obubra area of Cross River State, allegedly committed the offence on January 30, at Ologolo community in Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

It was gathered that Abeng had access to the house of the girl since he worked as a horticulturist apprentice for the father of the girl. The police said, “The accused had access to the girl’s house, therefore had unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl, after finding out that the par-

Scene of an accident involving a commercial bus which was completely burnt with one passenger feared dead on Third Mainland Bridge, on Wednesday. INSET: Another view of the accident.

ents went out.”

The alleged offence contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

Obeng however denied defiling the child when he was arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate court.

Section 137 provides life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of the offence.

The Magistrate, Mr W. B. Balogun, granted him bail of N5 million and ordered that the sureties should be property owners within the jurisdiction of the court, with Certificate of Occupancy.

Abeng was remanded in prison pending when he will fulfil his bail conditions and the case was adjourned till April 13 for mention.

belongings of the hotel lodgers.

Lagos Metro gathered that a receptionist at the hotel, provided the gang members with the keys to all the rooms in the hotel.

The private security operatives at the hotel also allegedly connived with the armed robbers.

The two security men at the hotel were said to have given the necessary information on how to beat the security trap at the hotel.

One Ogbogo and a prostitute had posed as lodgers in the hotel and provided an avenue for other members of the gang to penetrate the hotel.

The image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmus confirmed the arrest of the suspects to Lagos Metro, saying, “On February 22, 2016 at about 0540hrs, there was distress call of robbery at Opracini Hotel at 16, Fatai Close off Balogun Street, Iju Ishaga Lagos.

“On the strength of investigation and from the report of CCTV footage in the hotel, some of the suspected robbers and accomplices were arrested.

“The suspects have been transferred to SARS Ikeja.

The command remains resolute in ridding the state of all forms of criminalities.”

Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

Justice Adedayo Akintoye at the High Court,” Alako said.

Mrs O.A. Ogunbowale ad-

journed the matter till April 19 for the court to be presented with documents con-

firming the transfer of the case from the Magistrates’ Court.

Case file of ExxonMobil staff who raped tenant’s niece transferred THE case of an ExxonMobil staff James Ikenna Onuoha who allegedly defiled the 14-year-old niece of his tenant, has been temporarily halted, due to the reported transfer of the case file to an Igbosere High Court from the Magistrate court.

Onuoha it will be recalled allegedly had forceful intercourse with the victim at 25, Samuel Amoore Street, Idowu Estate, Ike-Ira Nla, Ajah.

Mr Jamiu Alako, a senior state counsel from the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), informed an Igbosere Magistrate Court where the matter was being heard that the case has been transferred to the High Court.

Onuoha was arraigned on January 14 on a four-count charge including having unlawful sexual intercourse with the teenager in her uncle’s home. He had pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N2 million and two sureties in the like sum.

“My information is that the case has been filed before

Ongoing construction of a pedestrian bridge, being built by the Lagos State government at Berger Bus Stop, on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

10 news

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Port Harcourt: Police, gunmen engage in shootout Casualty figure rises to 18 in Rivers’ military invasion Dapo Falade -Port Harcourt

T

HERE was palpable fear and tension as the police engaged some gunmen suspected to be robbers in a shootout at the GRA axis of Port Harcourt metropolis, the Rivers State capital, at about 7.20 p.m., on Wednesday.

Sporadic gunshots sent motorists and passers-by scampering for safety as the GRA and its environs became deserted.

An eyewitness disclosed that traders and passers-by took to their heels, even as security operatives were still trailing the hoodlums as of the time of filing this report, while the entire area had been cordoned off by policemen.

An unconfirmed report had it that the suspected robbers had attacked a new generation bank located in the area, even as speculations were rife that they made away with a huge amount of money snatched from a man.

“I don’t actually know where the robbers operated, but I noticed that some people were running helterskelter as they shot into the air to scare people in order to escape.

“I also learnt that some policemen were moving in a hurry, probably to catch the criminals,” the eyewitness said.

When contacted, the state police spokesman, Ahmad Mohammad, confirmed the incident, though he said he was yet to get the full details

of what happened.

He said the police were currently on the trail of a group of suspected criminals, adding that “I am not sure now if it is a case of bank robbery or whether it is a house or vehicle that was attacked. I will give you the details later when I am fully briefed.”

Meanwhile, more than 18 persons have been reportedly killed in the heavy shootout that happened between some soldiers and ex-militants in Yeghe community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Nigerian Tribune gathered late Wednesday evening that about 18 persons were killed in the shooting.

A source who did not want his name in print confirmed the casualty figure, as he said

there may be an increase in the number of dead, given the scores who allegedly suffered severe bullet wounds, which extended to Bori in Khana Local Government Area.

Chairmen of Gokana and Khana local government areas, Austin Sor and Tambari Sydney, respectively, condemned the military invasion in their areas.

Reacting to the killings and destruction of property, Sor chastised the military of claiming that there was no casualty, stressing that the level of destruction in Yeghe community was provocative.

Similarly, his Khana counterpart, Sydney, said he was yet to ascertain the number of deaths, believing that the figure would increase.

S/Court rejects INEC’s application on Anambra PDP crisis Sunday Ejike -Abuja THE Supreme Court, on Wednesday, declined to review its judgment delivered on January 29 on the leadership crisis of the Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The court said the judgment was clear, as it related to the leadership of PDP in the state only.

In a ruling delivered by Justice John Okoro, in an application filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking the review, clarifications and consequences of the judgment, the apex court held that the judgment, by its ordinary meaning, did not need to be subjected to any clarification.

Besides, the court held that what was brought before it was the issue of leadership of PDP in Anambra State and not on the implication of elections that was conducted thereafter.

In the unanimous ruling, Justice Okoro, however, said the dispute on whether the certificate of return should be withdrawn from the serving lawmakers and given to the list of candidates of the Oguebego-led faction of the state PDP was not an issue before the court, adding that the court never made any pronouncement to that effect.

The court also held that order 8, rule 16 of the Supreme Court expressly states that the court shall not review its judgment once delivered, except there is a clerical mistake or slip which, in the instant case, never happened.

He held that the action

sought would amount to re-writing the judgment and giving order where nothing had been shown that there was a clerical mistake in the apex court’s verdict on the matter.

While reacting to the ruling, INEC’s counsel, Chief Adebgoyega Awomolo, said the decision of the court had resolved the blackmail and confusion that were employed by parties in the suit for their own purposes.

On his part, lead counsel to the Ejike Oguebego faction, Chief Chris Uche, said the ruling had cleared the way for them to benefit from the judgment delivered on January 29.

PDP Anambra State chapter had filed a notice of contempt charge against INEC’s leadership over the alleged persistent disobedience to the Supreme Court judgment that resolved the leadership of PDP crisis in the state.

The notice of contempt was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Oguebego leadership which last month secured the Supreme Court verdict as the authentic PDP executive committee for Anambra State.

In the notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court otherwise known as form 48, the INEC chiefs were warned

Obsolete laws making Nigeria losing business to neighbouring countries —Dogara Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, on Wednesday, lamented that Nigeria is losing business to neighbouring countries due to poor business environment caused by obsolete business laws and lack of infrastructure.

The speaker said this when he received council members of the Section of Business Law of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

A statement issued by the speaker’s special adviser on media and public affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan, also added that Dogara charged the business lawyers to focus on deepening business laws in Nigeria, in order to create a better environment for investment.

“We have lost competitive edge even in the West African region. Businesses have migrated to countries with better business and legal regimes.

“If we don’t put the right business environment in place, there’s no way we can attract investment to this country,” he stated.

Dogara said the best way to go around the problem is by having forums to improve on the laws of the country, to reflect the dynamics of the present society and by eliminating unclear laws surrounding business transactions in the country.

Earlier, leader of the delegation, Mr Babatunde Ajibade, had informed the speaker that the council sought to partner with the House of Representatives to host a conference on law reform and economic development in Nigeria.

that unless they obeyed the court order on the authenticity of the Anambra State executive committee led by Mr Oguebego, the commission would be guilty of contempt of court and liable to be committed to prison for two years.

The INEC chiefs were alleged to have refused to stop giving recognition to the list of candidates nominated for the 2015 general election in Anambra State by a group already declared illegal and unlawful by both Federal High Court in 2014 and the Supreme Court last month.

Plaintiffs in the court action are Oguebego and Honourable Chuks Okoye, the chairman and legal adviser of the PDP executive in Anambra State respectively, who, on behalf of themselves and other members of the executive, challenged their unlawful dissolution and the setting up of the caretaker committee of one Chukwudi Okasia by PDP national secretariat.

Wike recalls suspended council chairmen RIVERS State governor, Nyesom Wike, has recalled the suspended caretaker committee chairmen of Abua/Odual, Ahoada East and Ahoada West local government areas.

A statement by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani, noted that the affected chairmen were to resume work with immediate effect.

EFCC arrests Uche Secondus Continued from pg3

“Finally, we state that this war on the PDP and its leaders has indeed gone too far. It has now become a mockery of democratic practice,” the statement said.

In the same vein, Mr Ojogbane Adegbe, a colonel and aide de camp (ADC) to former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has filed a legal action against the EFCC over his detention.

In the suit filed through Ogwu Onoja, his counsel, Adegbe is claiming N100 million damages for his detention, which, he said, “violates his fundamental

rights.”

Onoja urged the court to declare that his client’s arrest and continued detention by EFCC since February 11 was unconstitutional and violated his right to personal liberty guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

He urged the court to make an order directing the EFCC to immediately release the applicant from unlawful detention.

The applicant’s counsel contended that EFCC’s action violated Articles 5,6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, while the case was fixed for February 26.

Resident drowns in Ketu well while fixing faulty pumping machine Olalekan Olabulo and Sylvester Okoruwa -Lagos THERE was confusion on Wednesday afternoon around Loveday Street in Ikosi Ketu area of Lagos State, as a resident, working on a faulty pumping machine, fell in a well.

The deceased resident was identified simply as Emeka and he was noted in the area for doing all sorts of menial jobs, including car washing.

His body was later recovered by fire fighters from the Lagos State Fire Service who came to the scene of the incident.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the deceased was contacted to help fix

a faulty pumping machine when he got trapped in the well.

Residents of the area, who noticed his difficulty to come out of the well quickly, contacted the fire service officials, who came to recover his body from the well.

A resident who simply identified himself as Sylvester stated that the Wednesday incident was the second in about a week.

Efforts to get the reaction of the director of the Lagos State Fire Service, whose officials recovered the lifeless body from the well, failed, as his mobile phone line was not available at the time of filing this report.

Commotion in Ibadan over suspected kidnapper

By Paul Omorogbe THERE was confusion at Ososami area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday afternoon, over a case of a suspected kidnapper whose mission was foiled.

According to eyewitnesses, the drama began when a commercial bus being pursued by a number of commercial motorcycle operators ran into an oncoming vehicle negotiating a bend into a street close to the end of Osasami Street, leading to Obafemi Awolowo Way. When the collision oc-

curred, the driver of the commercial bus jumped through the window and took to his heels.

He was pursued and apprehended by the commercial motorcyclists and bystanders in the area. The bike men were said to have began their pursuit of the bus said to be coming from Apata area when they saw school children escaping through its windows and door.

The driver was beaten by the crowd and was questioned by them. He reportedly responded that he was running away from a soldier who was pursuing

him. However, no soldier in his pursuit showed up at the scene.

Two women were said to be in the bus. One was said to be dazed and incoherent and was made to sit down on a bench, while the other woman was in her right frame of mind.

A printer, who was among those who pursued the driver and apprehended him, said the other woman supported the driver’s account.

He said it was she who put up a defence for the driver and later put a call to the police who came and whisked them away.

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Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Volatility: West African markets reject naira transactions —Investigations Tola Adenubi -Lagos

I

NVESTIGATIONS have revealed that some markets in the West African sub-region have started rejecting transactions in naira following the free fall of the currency against the dollar.

When the Nigerian Tribune visited Topa market in Cotonou and Benin market in Seme, both in Benin Republic, it was discovered that many of the traders no longer agreed to transactions in naira, as they insisted that the would-bebuyer change it by himself or herself into the local currency, CFA Francs, before buying goods and services from the markets.

According to a trader, Margaret Ake, “we started rejecting the naira when we observed that we were losing money due to the free fall of the currency. Take for instance, the naira is currently changing at 1,850 CFA Francs for N1,000.

“If I engage in trade on that basis with a customer, I might be at risk of losing money at the end of the day because the naira could just drop again in the exchange market, thereby meaning all the transactions I made the day before based on that particular exchange rate, I

suffer for it.

“We have noticed that the naira is volatile in the exchange market. It keeps changing, so to be on the

safer side, we all had to agree to start rejecting the naira for every trade transaction here in Topa market.”

When our correspondent

went round Benin market located along the Seme border in-between Nigeria and Benin Republic, it was observed that the exchange

From left, Director, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr Tunde Ikuerowo; Company Secretary, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Co. Plc., Mr Sola Adeyegbe; Chairman, Dr Olatunde Ayeni,CON; MD/CEO, Mr John Donnachie, Board Members, Capt. Idahosa Wells Okunbo and Mr Garth Dooley, at a meeting of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Co. Plc held at Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

Agip confirms leak at Taylor Creek fields in Bayelsa Stops production of 120 barrels per day output Austin Ebipade -Yenagoa ENI, Italian energy firm has confirmed an underwater gas leak and oil spill from an oil field operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Kalaba community, in Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA) of

Bayelsa State.

Eni, parent company of NAOC which made the confirmation in an email, said it had shut down the oil well, which produces some 120 barrels of oil daily, feeding the leaking pipeline.

The oil and gas leakage is coming from an under-

water gas pipeline beneath Taylor Creek at Kalaba community, Okordia Clan in Yenagoa council area of Bayelsa.

“I can confirm that on 21 February, we received reports of spill on the flow line from the Taylor Creek 1T well, in Nigeria.

MTN drops lawsuit against NCC, pays N50bn to FG FG denies knowledge of payment

By Bode Adewumi MTN Nigeria, has withdrawn its case against the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) at the Federal High Court of Lagos in response to a request by the authorities.

The Federal Government, however, denies knowledge of the payment.

Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr Ferdi Moolman, while speaking on the development said: “This is a most encouraging development. It demonstrates a willingness and sincerity by both parties to work together towards a positive outcome.”

Furthermore, MTN Nigeria has paid N50 Billion to

the Federal Government as a gesture of good faith and commitment to continued efforts towards an amicable resolution.

The NCC had imposed a N1.04 trillion fine on MTN Nigeria in October 2015, for its failure to disconnect 5.1 million improperly registered lines within the prescribed deadline. Sub-

Tony Elumelu hosts associates of Nigeria leadership initiative THE Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) in conjunction with the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) on Wednesday hosted an intimate discussion between select Associate Fellows of the NLI and Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and the United Bank for Africa (UBA).

The talk, titled ‘Leadership for High Impact’ was designed to give NLI’s Associate Fellows access to the billionaire investor and philanthropist, to ask questions and receive insights on leadership.

“Over the course of my career, I have learned that when you achieve a certain

rate for the naira kept changing as trading drew to a close.

While the naira exchanged for 1,600 CFA Franc to

amount of experience and a certain amount of success, it is important to reflect on what principles, practices and decisions led you to success.

“When you find those key elements, it is important to pass that knowledge along, so that others may learn from your success, and also your mistakes. That is what today was about,” Elumelu said.

Through its flagship initiative, the 10-year, $100 million Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme: The Tony Elumelu Foundation is committed to empowering the next generation of Africa’s entrepre-

neurs.

“NLI believes that leadership is both transferable and trans-generational; the leadership dialogue with Mr Elumelu provided an opportunity to transfer values, knowledge and experience from an accomplished leader to young, emerging and aspiring leaders,” said Dr Yinka Oyinlola, NLI’s CEO. Mr Elumelu is a Senior Fellow of the NLI. Last May, he met with London-based NLI fellows at Oxford University on the sidelines of a speech he delivered there titled: Africapitalism as a Catalyst for the Development of Africa.

sequently, the fine was adjusted by 25 per cent to N780 Billion, an amount that was considered inimical to the survival of the business. MTN Nigeria subsequently sought judicial determination as a means of protecting the local ecosystems valued and supported by MTN’s business.

Speaking about the withdrawal of the court case and the N50 billion payment, Moolman stated that “ We are hopeful at this stage.

Along with the authorities, it is clear that we are collectively committed to working towards a solution that is of mutual benefit to all parties.

“Our industry in Nigeria is an incredibly important example of the remarkable progress in ICT particularly as a much needed catalyst for socio economic growth and development at this time.”

When contacted on the issue, the Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr Tony Ojobo said the commission is yet to receive such a formal notification from MTN Nigeria, but promised to make the commission’s position known as soon as possible.

“As soon as the event occurred, the well production was immediately stopped (120 barrel Eni’s share, mainly gas).

“Currently, a joint investigation visit (JIV) is being undertaken with representatives of the authorities and the communities involved ascertaining what went wrong and starting the repair activities and the pipeline recovery,” an Eni spokesman stated.

Residents of the community said that the gas leaking at high pressure was causing giant bubbles at the Taylor Creek which serves as the sole source of water to the communities.

Chief Roman Orukali, Paramount Ruler of Kalaba Community had regretted that the incident had polluted the creeks and urged the oil firm to make contingency arrangements for water supply to the people.

“What we are seeing is the bubbling of gas leaking from the pipe of NOAC. This was discovered in the early hours of Saturday.

“I got to hear about it first when some children alerted us that there was a leakage.

“As a trained field monitor, I also came around to see what was happening in the environment. When I pulled down here by canoe, I discovered that it was true; gas was actually bubbling.

“Incidentally, this Creek is our only source of drinking water and where we carry out almost all domestic activities. Right now, the water is polluted and we have nothing to fall back on, Agip should provide us water,” Orukali said.

N1,000 in some places across the Seme border and Topa market around mid day of Wednesday, by 3 p.m. of the same day, it was already exchanging for 1,850 or 1,800 CFA Franc to N1,000 in the same markets.

Another trader, a Nigerian this time, Alhaja Safinatu, stated that due to the volatility in the naira exchange rate, many of the traders had started shunning the naira as a means of trade transaction in the last two months.

“Prior to this Forex issue, N1,000 exchanged for about 2,800 CFA Franc. But since the naira became unstable, the exchange rate has been swinging in-between 1,600 CFA Franc or 1,850 CFA Franc to N1,000.

“So I don’t blame the traders because the volatility does not give them security to trade in naira since nobody wants to lose. We just hope everything gets back to normal again,” she stated.

New GMD/ CEO for Primewaterview IN an effort to reposition the company, the Management and Board of Directors of Primewaterview Limited, a foremost real estate company based in Lagos, has appointed Mrs Morola Olabisi Babalola, as the new Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, GMD/ CEO of the company.

The appointment which takes effect from December 21, 2015, follows the resignation of the erstwhile GMD/CEO of the company, Mr Adetunji Ogunwusi.

A graduate of economics and a Masters Degree holder from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) respectively, Mrs Babalola is an astute professional with over 15 years’ cognate experience in major areas of real estate development and facility management. She is also an associate member of IFMA with particular interest in workplace revolutionaries.

She has occupied various top management positions within the Primewaterview Group having served as a General Manager for many years within the real estate portfolios worth billions of naira.

She has represented the interest of the group at various capacities. Her expertise in turnaround management and negotiation are exemplary and well documented within the group and the industry as a whole.

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IMF calls on Nigeria to lift foreign exchange curbs

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HE International Monetary Fund (IMF) called on Wednesday for Nigeria to lift foreign exchange curbs and let the naira reflect market forces more closely, also urging more fiscal discipline and structural reform to bolster growth.

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected naira devaluation and backed hefty restrictions Imposed by the central bank to prevent a collapse of the naira as Africa’s biggest economy is whacked by a slump in oil revenues, its lifeblood.

Companies have laid off thousands, cut production and even closed operations as they struggle to get enough dollars to pay for imported spare parts and raw materials.

The naira is trading as much as 40 percent below the official rate on the black market. Devaluation would encourage investment and make domestically produced goods more affordable.

“The exchange rate should be allowed to reflect market forces more and restrictions on access to foreign exchange removed, while improving the functioning of the interbank foreign exchange market,” the Washingtonbased fund said in a statement, after consultations with top officials in Nigeria.

Currency curbs had significantly affected parts of the private sector and the economic outlook for Africa’s top oil producer was challenging,” it said.

Nigeria needs to import anything from milk to machines as authorities have failed to end its depen-

dency on oil, a fact Buhari wants to change but which business leaders say will be impossible to achieve if plants cannot import raw materials.

The IMF also said it expected the West African nation to grow by 3.2 per cent this year, below the official forecast of 3.78 per cent. It urged boosting non-oil revenues, raising infrastructure spending and collecting more taxes.

“With oil prices expected to remain low for a long time, continuing risk aversion by international investors, and downside risks in the global economy, the outlook remains challenging,” it said.

The views of the IMF are relevant as Nigeria wants to borrow from the World Bank to help fund a budget deficit of three trillion naira. Sometimes the IMF gets involved in such programmes asking for policy changes.

The government wants to borrow up to $5 billion abroad for the budget and has also held talks with China and the African Development Bank. It has also considered issuing Eurobonds although nothing concrete has emerged publicly on that.

Buhari was elected last year on an anti-corruption ticket, promising to create jobs in the nation of 170

million, where only superrich elite has benefited from its energy wealth.

He unveiled a record budget in December to improve power supply, build roads and invest in telecommunications but had to withdraw it due to flaws and optimistic oil price calculations.

On Wednesday, the former military ruler vowed to punish those he blamed for adding unauthorised alterations to the draft.

“The culprits will not go unpunished,” he said, according to a statement of his office.

The IMF has welcomed his plans to lift capital expenditure.

Equities market shed 0.86% as Guinness top losers Kehinde Akinseinde-JayeobaLagos

THE equities market closed on a negative note on Wednesday, as All Share Index of the Nigerian Stock Exchange depreciated by 0.86 per cent to close at 23,883.34 basis points, leaving its Yearto-Date (YTD) returns at -16.62 per cent.

Market turnover, however, closed positive as volume moved up by 33.60 per cent against 94.16 per cent decline recorded in the previous session.

FCMB Group Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc were the most active to boost market turnover with a total of 158,335,543 volume of shares being traded.

Zenith Bank Plc and Nigeria Breweries Plc top market value list as both traded shares worth N261.8 million and N207.5 million respectively.

Japaul Oil Plc, however, led the list of active stocks that recorded impressive volume spike at the end trading having staked 1,081,700 volume of shares in two deals.

Analysis of price movement showed that Africa Prudential Registrars Plc gained 12 kobo or 4.98 per cent from its share price to close at N2.53 kobo.

Cutix Plc also appreciated by adding 4.64 per cent to its share value to close at N1.58 kobo as against N1.51 kobo it traded.

From left, Product Manager, OTC, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr Femi Ajala; Astymin Get Alert Promo Winner, Mrs Emmanuel Oluwakemi and Product Manager, Anti-Malarial, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr Tunde Balogun, during the cheque presentation to the Astymin Get Alert Promo Winner at Fidson Healthcare Plc Corporate Head Office, recently in Lagos.

Schneider Electric sponsors Nigerian athletes to 2016 Paris marathon By ’Wale Olapade

SCHNEIDER Electric, the global specialist in energy management and automation has announced that it will sponsor the Nigerian male and female winners of the recently held Lagos State Marathon to the 2016 Schneider Electric Paris Marathon scheduled to hold in Paris, France on April 3, 2016, as part of the

company’s launch of its brand and business campaign called Life Is On. The Paris Marathon, one of the biggest marathons in the world, is in its 40th edition. The 42.195km scenic race, which will go through the beautiful city, passing many iconic sights in Paris, complies with international road race (IAAF and FFA) regulations.

Speaking on the sponsorship, the Country President, Schneider Electric Nigeria, Walid Sheta said “We are excited to support and sponsor two Nigerian athletes to this year’s Paris Marathon because the experience will further motivate our athletes and spur them to greater achievements.

The Schneider Electric

‘AIB not responsible for enforcing safety recommendations but NCAA’ Shola Adekola-Lagos

THE Commissioner of Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Dr. Felix Abali has cautioned the public against making speculative remarks during accidents or incidents in the country’s aviation sector.

This is just as he declared. that the major function of the AIB was to make safety recommendations in case of an incident or accident but not to enforce compliance adding that it was the

responsibility of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to do so.

Speaking at the stakeholders forum on draft amendment to AIB regulations held in Lagos, Abali hinged his position on Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) which gave the AIB specifically the sole responsibility of investigating any accident or incident that has to do with air transport in Nigeria.

According to Abali, the purpose of accident or incident investigation is not meant to apportion blames but to prevent a similar occurrence.

While understanding the sentiments that accidents or incidents generate not only in Nigeria but globally whenever it occurs, he insisted that the AIB would continue to carry out its functions in line with the ICAO rules without any sentiment or emotion.

Paris Marathon provides the perfect opportunity to link our brand to the spirit and values embodied by the timeless challenge of the marathon, but with a focus on the people, the technologies, and the ability to do things differently.

Walid further noted that the Marathon resonates with the company’s 2016 global theme Life is On, which encapsulates the vibrant human energy directed towards life either at work or play.

“We think access to energy is a fundamental right for everyone on our planet and we engineer solutions to make energy safe, reliable, efficient, sustainable, and connected. In a lot of ways, Marathons connect people from all places,” He said.

The Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission and head of the organising committee for the Lagos State Marathon, Deji Tinubu, also commended the efforts of Schneider Electric.

Nigerian Tribune

Vitablom introduces new product to boost earnings Kehinde Akinseinde-JayeobaLagos

IN a strategic move to expand its products offering and boost operations and sustain competitiveness, Vitablom Nigeria Limited has concluded arrangements to commence production of fibre sheets.

By this plan, Vitablom Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc is set to acquire fibre sheet production plant.

Addressing the shareholders at the company’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos recently, Vitablom’s Chairman, Mr Taiwo Adeniyi, explained that the rationale behind the proposed investment was to enhance synergy between Vitablom Nigeria Limited and other foam making companies.

Adeniyi, who reviewed the operating environment, lamented that the global economic crisis had impacted negatively on the activities of many companies worldwide. According to him, despite the challenges, Vitablom was able to weather the storm with good financial result.

Abuja Disco decries vandalism of electricity equipment Adetola Bademosi-Abuja

THE Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) on Wednesday decried the rising cases of vandalism of various electricity equipment in its Distribution Network, in city centers of the Federal Capital Territory FCT. It said no fewer than 10 different power system equipment have not only been vandalized, but in most cases carted away by unknown persons in less than one week.

In a statement issued by the Head of Press Unit, Mr Ahmed Shekarau in Abuja, he said this has become increasingly rampant in Wuse area of the FCT Central Region.

The statement identified some of the wrecked power systems to include;”a feeder pillar which was vandalized and taken away from No.2, Bangui Street, Wuse II. “the low voltage side of two transformers which were vandalized along Monrovia Street, also in Wuse II, with all the bus bars, feeder pillar units and low voltage cables taken away by the vandals.

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Reps order probe of NAPIMS over $260m ‘illegal’ contract Jacob Segun Olatunji And Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

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HE House of Representatives, on Wednesday, ordered the immediate probe of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),by its Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) and Public Procurement over an alleged $260 million ‘illegal’ contract.

This followed the adoption of a motion entitled: “Need to investigate NAPIMS alleged illegal award of $260 million contract,” sponsored by Honourable Babatunde Kolawole rep-

resenting Akoko SouthEast/South-West Federal Constituency of Ondo State.

While arguing the motion, the lawmaker said there was a need to curtail profligate use of the nation’s resources, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly in the face of the dwindling oil revenue.

According to him, “there is the need to investigate the report of an alleged $260 million contract given by the National Petroleum Investment Management Services ( NAPIMS), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in fragrant violation of

due process and without approval from both the NNPC’s board and the corporation’s Group Executive Committee (GEC), as required,.”

“NAPIMS allegedly fraudulently granted approval for ESSO Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, to award four single source contracts for projects in Exxonmobil’s Usan Deepwater Project, at a total value of $260 million without any form of tendering process,” he stated.

Honourable Kolawole revealed that NAPIMS had allegedly, through three memos, dated October 13, 2014; February 10, 2015 and April 16, 2015, single handedly nominated four

companies to execute the contracts without following due process.

He further noted that the NNPC management washed its hands off the contract in a recent advert, saying it never gave approval for the said contract as it “pre-dates the current management of the NNPC, as well as the management of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), the corporate service unit of the corporation.”

According to the lawmaker, “this shallow excuse is not a sufficient excuse to fritter away $260 million, at a time when the nation is seeking ways to fund the 2016 budget and to weed out unnecessary

From left, representative of Doctors Without Borders, Dr Simba Tirima; Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Head of Mission of Doctors Without Borders in Nigeria, Mr Aruna Philip, when the group visited the Senate President in Abuja, on Wednesday.

Naval ship rescues hijacked vessel in Rivers Chris Agbambu-Abuja

A Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS CENTENARY, on Wednesday, carried out a successful operation leading to the rescue of a supply vessel, MV BOURBON,

about 55 nautical miles off Brass, Rivers State.

The rescue mission followed an alert from the ship’s owners, which prompted the Nigerian Navy to dispatch NNS

CENTENARY to locate and rescue the ship which was accomplished at about 2.00 a.m on Wednesday.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Navy Captain S. Dahun said both vessels

Student makes history, graduates with 5.0 CGPA in UNILAG Naza Okoli-Lagos

A student in the Department of Psychology, university of Lagos (UNILAG) Mr Ayodele Dada, has made history by graduating with 5.0 CGPA. Dada, according to the Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Rahamon Bello, who made this known on Wednesday, at a press conference, held at the Senate Chambers of the university, scored A in all the courses he took in the programme.

“A record has been set,” said the vice chancellor. “I congratulate Mr Dada and the staff of the Department of Psychology for this feat,”

he added.

Prosessor Bello disclosed that the university, will, next week, graduate a total of 10, 907 students.

“Out of this number, 5, 472 will receive first degrees while 5,435 will receive postgraduate degrees,” said Bello.

A further breakdown of the results showed that out of the first-degree graduating students, a total of 178 students will be graduating with First Class degrees, while 1, 617 passed in the Second Class Upper Division.

Two thousand, four hundred and ninety-six (2, 496) students will graduate with Second Class Low-

er degrees, 884 with Third Class, and 50 with Pass degrees. 274 are unclassified degrees in Medical Sciences and Pharmacy.

The 2014/2015 Convocation ceremonies which will begin on Tuesday March 1, and end on Thursday, March 3, will witness the installation of the 7th Chancellor of the University of Lagos, His Eminence, Alhaji Abubakir Ibn Umar Garbai ElKanemi, CFR, Shehu of Bornu.

The convocation lecture, entitled: “Positioning Nigeria as the Technology Hub of Africa,” will be delivered on Monday, February 29, by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnya Onu.

were currently heading towards the Federal Lighter Terminal, Onne, Port Harcourt, where the naval authorities would conduct further investigation.

According to him, one Russian and a Nigerian were abducted from MV BOURBON before NNS CENTENARY was able to contact and rescue the vessel from the hijackers.

He said efforts were currently ongoing to ascertain the whereabouts of the abducted crew.

A Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS OKPABANA, recently rescued MT MAXIMUS, a foreign oil tanker, hijacked by gunmen, off the coast of Ivory Coast.

The ship was laden with 4,700 metric tons of AGO. In that operation, Nigerian Navy personnel killed one pirate and arrested six others.

The ship had a crew of 18 from Pakistan, China, Sudan, South Korea and Ghana.

expenses from the annual appropriation.”

He noted that the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin, recently, in an interview, lamented the huge sum of N1 trillion annual crude production cost ( of which this is part) and the need to closely scrutinise it.

The motion was passed with overwhelming support when the Speaker of

the House, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, called for a vote.

The House joint committees on Petroleum (Upstream) and Public Procurement were, thereafter, given a period of four weeks to investigate the matter and report back to the House.

He, therefore, called on the members to support the bid to curtail such profligate spending by probing the alleged illegality.

Saraki: Watch your utterances, behaviour, Reps caution Marafa Jacob Segun Olatunji Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

and

SOME members of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, cautioned Senator Kabiru Marafa to respect the sanctity of the legislature and stop making reckless statements not expected of a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The lawmakers advised Senator Marafa to respect himself and the National Assembly and stop attacking the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, who is also the chairman of the National Assembly over his trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

In a statement signed by 11 members of the House of Representatives and made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Wednesday, the lawmakers insisted Senator Marafa should subsume his personal interest under the popular will.

Those who signed the statement included, HonourableS Kabir Ajanah; Mustafa Dawaki; Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi; Supo Adeola; Adamu Kamale; Rita Orji; Chukwueke Anohu; Zakari Mohammed; Gabriel Onyewife; Ali Issa and Victor Nwokolo.

They contended that their interest in the matter arose out of the realisation that Senator Marafa’s personal attacks on the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, “is beginning to cast a slur on the integrity of the entire National Assembly over which the Senate President presides as chairman.”

The lawmakers further argued that “the Senate, not the National Assembly, is an institution of state which ethos must not be allowed to be desecrated by the proclivities and cowboy antics of an individual.”

According to the lawmakers, “it is, indeed, regrettable that eight months after the contest for leadership in the Senate ended, Marafa and his co-travel-

lers have remained in the electioneering mode.”

“From Senator Saraki’s emergence as Senate President, to the composition of Senate committees onto intermittent disruption of plenary and the making of false claims in media interviews, Senator Marafa has, at every turn, never minced words regarding his quest to get Saraki out of office,” they lamented.

“Senator Marafa’s claims that there were fifth columnists working against the interest of the executive in the Senate.”

Fire outbreak kills 3-year-old girl, destroys agric produce in Jigawa Adamu Amadu-Dutse

A three-year-old girl, Hajara Aminu, has been killed in a fire accident, at Kudai village, in Birniwa Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

This was disclosed by the Jigawa State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdul Jinjiri, in a telephone interview with the Nigerian Tribune. He said the little Aminu was sleeping in her mother’s room when the fire started.

The police public relations officersaid seven houses was razed by fire, including the house of the village head.

According to DSP Jinjiri, the inferno, which started when the villagers were observing afternoon prayer from the house of village head, also killed domestic animals.

The police spokesman added that the fire also destroyed all the victims’agricultural produce, harvested in the last rainy season.

DSP Jinjiri revealed that the source of the inferno was yet to be known, as investigation was still ongoing.

south-westnews Glo has elevated Lisabi festival —Oba Gbadebo 14

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HE Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, has eulogised next generation network, Globacom, for raising the bar of the Lisabi Festival since it began partnering with the custodians of the yearly festival six years ago.

The first class traditional ruler who made the disclosure on Monday, at a press conference to announce the activities surrounding the 2016 Lisabi Festival in his Ake, Abeokuta palace, noted that the festival was now recognised on the world map of festivals, owing to Globacom’s support and efforts of its chairman, Dr Mike Adenuga, Jr. While describing Dr Adenuga as a “living legend, “Oba Gbadebo also recognised some outstanding Egba indigenes including late Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, late Canon Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, late Prof Saburi Biobaku, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Senator Ibikunle Amosun, among others whom he said, were modern day ‘Lisabis,’ reputed for their valour, patriotism and monumental achievements.

Glo Business Director, Ogun, Mr Ayo Ogunranti, in his remarks noted that the theme of the 2016 Lisabi Festival, “Wealth creation through Small and Medium Enterprises,” was germane and fundamental to the re-

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

vamping of Nigeria’s economy. He added that Small and Medium Scale Enterprises are the machinery of growth that Nigeria needs to embrace, cultivate and stimulate at this crucial period and in its bid to wade through the myriads of economic challenges confronting the nation.

Ogunranti said Globacom placed high premium on the sector, recalling that this explains why the company partnered with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

The company felicitated with the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Gbadebo on the 40th anniversary of Ogun State and in view of the immense transformation of the state in general and Abeokuta in particular under their leaderships.

According to Globacom, its collaboration with organisers of the Lisabi Festival was to preserve the legacies of hard work, courage, integrity, honesty, love and patriotism so as to inculcate the noble value in the younger generation of the country in general. “These are the same attributes that history has recorded in favour of Lisabi Agbongbo Akala. These are the values that Globacom seeks to celebrate,” Globacom enthused.

Activities marking the 30th Lisabi Festival were announced at the press con-

Commuters may pay more for ‘Ajumose’ buses in Oyo

By Wale Akinselure

COMMUTERS within Ibadan metropolis and Oyo State may have to pay more to patronise the mass transit buses, popularly known as “Ajumose” buses.

General Manager, Oyo State Pacesetter Transportation Company Limited, Mr Wole Akinleye, gave this hint in an interaction with journalists on Wednesday, where he intimated of a review of the pricing scheme of the buses’ operations owing to increasing cost of operation.

Akinleye said the cost of maintaining the fleet of 100 Ajumose buses had continued to increase due to current economic realities.

He also decried that some commuters override bus operators and fail to obtain tickets commensurate with amount paid while others have the thinking that the transport services had been entirely paid for by the state government.

“It is good for the people to enjoy dividends of democracy but it should be commensurate with the services

rendered. With the current economic reality, we have increasing costs, there has to be adjustments. This is a social/commercial operation so we have to ensure that the operation is profitable.”

ference by the Lisabi Festival Committee 2016. The activities begins on Monday, February 29, 2016 with booming of guns on Olumo Rock, public mobilisation by women, woro dance on sectional basis and semi final of Lisabi Football Competition at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

The final ceremony of the

traditional Ayo game competition as well as the finals of the Secondary School debate and Children social programmes are billed for Tuesday, March 1st, while the Inter School Quiz competition and the finals of Lisabi Football Competition will hold on Wednesday, March 2nd.

On Thursday, March 3rd,

a seminar on the theme of the 2016 Lisabi Festival “Creating wealth through Small and Medium Enterprises” and the annual visit to the hero of the year will hold, while a Jumat thanksgiving Dua is slated for the Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta on Friday, March 4. Royal banquet in honour of the Alake, sponsored ex-

Hoodlums clash at Oja’ba area in Ibadan Tunde Ogunesan

HOODLUMS around Oja’ba area in Ibadan, on Monday, held the residents to ransom as two anonymous groups attacked themselves, leaving three people dead.

But the Oyo State police command said only one person died.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that trouble started on Tuesday evening, when one of the groups tagged as ‘Idowu boys’ was hell bent on retaliating an assault which reportedly led to the death

of one of its group members by the unnamed group.

This, sources confided in Nigerian Tribune, led to laying ambush on the opposing group with the help of another group named Zaccheus boys, around Gege Adero, Ibadan.

The boys, it was gathered relied heavily on broken bottles during the Tuesday evening attack while by Wednesday morning, it had metamorphosed into using sophisticated weapons.

Early callers around the area scampered for safety

on Wednesday, as the battle had degenerated into the group members’ chasing themselves into the inner compounds within the community.

The presence of policemen and other security agencies with armoured tanks, doused the tension.

The hoodlums were said to be brandishing sophisticated weapons in a brave manner that actually forced some business ventures to close down shops for some hours.

Unconfirmed sources in-

Condemns students’ unrest in ABUAD SOME National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) leaders in Ekiti State have cautioned against crisis in Ikere community over the status of the controversial Olukere of Ikere traditional stool.

The students also condemned the destruction of property by protesting Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) students recently and charged them to desist from acts capable of tarnishing their image.

A statement by Musa Suraj, chairman of NANS/ Joint Campus Committee, Ekiti chapter and Sunday Asefon of the National

clusively by Globacom will hold the same day.

The Grand Finale of this year’s Lisabi Festival will take place on Saturday, March 5 at the Ake Palace Grounds while the festival will be rounded off with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, March 6, 2016 at the Cathedral of St Peter, Ake, Abeokuta.

From left, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State; president and chairman of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Chief (Mrs) Debola Osibogun and the Registrar of the council, Mr Seye Awojobi, during a courtesy visit to the governor, in Ibadan, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN.

NANS wants peaceful resolution of Ikere-Ekiti chieftaincy crisis Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

Nigerian Tribune

Council of Yoruba Youths and Students, appealed to the government of Ekiti State to resolve the Ikere issue.

They also appealed to all interested parties in the Ikere face off to embrace peace and seek redress in court, rather than making inflammatory pronouncements.

They also condemned the state’s House of Assembly for its pronouncement on the Olukere, whom they had asked to stop parading himself as a king following a resolution at its plenary on Tuesday.

Suraj and Asefon stated that such action could “further exacerbate the already tense situation in the town.”

They said: “As products of tradition, Ekiti students condemned in strong terms the fierce battle between the

two kings and the elites in the town, which can cause mayhem in a student populated area.”

...NAPSS too ON Tuesday, the National Association of Peace Studies Students (NAPSS) paid a solidarity visit to Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State to access the level of damages carried out by the rioting students.

The destroyed areas that were accessed by NAPSS included the Talent Discovery Centre Hall, the Wema Bank ATM machine at the Wema Bank premises in the school, four food cafeterias and

about 27 destroyed cars.

NAPSS president, Oyewole Michael; NAPSS secretary, Olushola Oladoja; NAPSS zonal head, Adio Orlando Odunjo, led the team.

Based on the level of destruction, the NAPSS has once again, outrightly condemned the students’ action. The NAPSS president, Comrade Michael, described the act of the erring students as ‘’barbaric and an act of wickedness from the pit of hell.’’

formed that three people had died while several others sustained various degrees of injuries.

An eyewitness who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune said “we don’t know what actually caused the crisis. We learnt they started by Tuesday evening, attacking themselves with broken bottles. But this morning, it has graduated into gun fighting.

“We’re hooked here and unable to display our wares since morning. This is terrible,” the source noted.

But another source said that “six people had been killed so far.”

“The casualty is up to six because we heard some of them saying it is four against two now.” According to him, “we however don’t know the group they’re fighting as at now.”

When contacted, the Public Relations officer of Oyo State Police Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, though confirmed the incident, but said only one person died.

Ajisebutu said, “Only one person died. The Commissioner of Police has ordered 24-hour security coverage of the affected areas with a view to protecting lives and property. Some arrests have been made. Normalcy has returned as the police warn against acts causing breach of public peace.”

south-westnews 7th anniversary: People’s welfare, business growth our priority —Mimiko 15

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NDO State government has assured the people of the state that it would continue to create conducive environment for businesses to grow, provide good health facility and prioritise the welfare of workers always.

The state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, stated this during this month’s

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

edition of the state organised family oriented programme ‘Gbebiro,’ dedicated to the commemoration of the seventh anniversary of the government and the 40 years anniversary of the creation of the state, held on Wednesday, in Akure.

Mimiko pledged that the present administration would continue to work for the people of the state in

order to ensure that they enjoy dividends of democracy.

He opined that the government was intensifying efforts to ensure that women were included in governance and empowered to make them industrious and contribute to the sustenance of economic development and growth in the state.

While appreciating the workers, the various artisan groups, religious leaders, and market women for their support the governor, represented by his deputy, Alhaji Abdulazeez Oluboyo, urged them to cooperate with the government to further impact the lives of the people positively.

He appreciated the wife of the state governor, Mrs

From left, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in Ondo State; Honourable Isaac Kekemeke, state chairman of APC; Mr Ade Adetimehin, deputy chairman and Honourable Rotimi Rahman, the state secretary, during Akeredolu’s declaration of intention to contest the next governorship election in the state on the platform of APC.

Student dies during alleged ritual process in Ogun —As police recover N7.5 million ransom from kidnappers Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

A Senior Secondary School (SS1) student, in one of the popular secondary schools in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, had been reported dead, during an alleged ritual process, last Saturday.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the 16-year-old victim lost his life following alleged administration of a liquid substance on him by three of his classmates.

The victim, was alleged to have embarked on money making ritual with other colleagues before the incident happened.

Information had it that the deceased, who had since been buried, was given a substance alongside others to swallow by one of them whose father is a native doctor.

He was reported to have fallen ill two days after and eventually died while another is presently receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital.

The other students involved in the crime have been arrested by policemen attached to Adatan Division for interrogation.

On Tuesday, authorities of the school (names withheld)

summoned a meeting with the parents of the entire student populace where the incident was discussed.

A senior official of the school confirmed the incident and that the incident happened outside the school.

The official said the incident was a reflection of the level of moral decadence in the society and that the state Ministry of Education had equally commenced investigation into the matter.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said reports on the incident were conflicting and that the command had begun full investigation into the matter.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command have recovered a sum of N 7.4 million paid as ransom to some suspected kidnappers.

This was disclosed by the state Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, while parading suspects of various crime acts at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) headquarters at Magbon area of Abeokuta, the state capital.

Ali explained that the suspects, numbering 11, were

arrested from various parts of the state.

The said money, according to the police boss, was recovered from the kidnappers of a 35-year-old woman (name withheld), at Ejinrin road, Ijebu-Ode. Ali said that two members of the gang, Femi Nejo and Gbenga Taiwo arrested by the police confessed to have engaged in series of kidnapping activities.

Ali said that Nejo confessed that they kidnapped one Ismaila, Dele Eleja and Baba Yellow.

The police boss also said that four suspects were arrested for vandalism, adding that one of them was a guard with a private security company outfit engaged to monitor pipelines at Igbepa in Sagamu Local Government Area of the state.

Items recovered from the suspects include 50 pieces of 50 litres jerry cans filled with petroleum products and one operational vehicle marked LAGOS KTU 64 XB. He also confirmed the arrest of some sea pyrates at Iyana-Ilogbo, who were travelling to Abeokuta on a mission to kill.

Ali said the suspects from Warri in Delta had confessed to the crime while the robbery suspects were said to have snatched an Acura Jeep with customised registration number 22G from one Mrs Gbenga at gunpoint at Italapo area in Ijebu-Ode.

Olukemi Mimiko, for contributing her quota to the improvement and development of women in the state, saying various families have felt her impact in their businesses and home via the empowerment at ‘Gbebiro’ and her pet project “Maternal Pulse Foundation” praying that her legacy would outlive her.

Also speaking at the event, the wife of the governor, Mrs Olukemi Mimiko, called on women to make meaningful contributions to their homes in order to facilitate peaceful living, especially in this period of dwindling global economy.

According to her, it is important that women rise up to the task of assisting their husbands so that their children do not suffer.

While appreciating God for keeping the women and as well as their families since their departure from the last meeting in 2015, she expressed appreciation to the women for their unflinching support for the Dr Olusegun Mimiko-led administra-

Nigerian Tribune

tion, which according to her has enabled it record unprecedented success in the transformation of the state, which has now become a cynosure of all eyes.

Mrs Mimiko, while thanking Dr Mimiko for his continued support for the women of the state, appreciated the women for their support and cooperation with the present government.

She called on all to ensure violent free and credible elections in the forthcoming local government and governorship elections and added that women must never allow any of their children to be used as political thugs during the elections.

The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Olasinmi Akindele –Odunmbaku, said to make the good work for women to continue, for women to be noticed and to attain better position that this present administration has started, women should support the PDP.

Osun govt bans use of cell phones in public secondary schools THE Osun government on Wednesday banned the use of cell phones and motorcycles by students in public secondary schools across the state.

The state’s deputy governor, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, gave the order in Osogbo, during the Education Stakeholders Meeting with representatives from five local government areas.

Laoye-Tomori said that the ban became imperative in order to instil discipline in the state’s public secondary schools.

She decried the poor per-

formance of the students during internal and external examinations, saying the results did not reflect the huge spending in educational reforms.

The deputy governor then urged communities to set up committees that would monitor activities of students in schools in their localities as means of checkmating them.

She said that “due to the unruly behaviour of some students, any student caught with cell phone, charms or dangerous objects would be expelled from school.”

Students destroyed over N500m valuables during riot —SNIIT council Oluwole Ige -Osogbo CHAIRMAN, governing council of the Southern Nigeria Institute of Innovative Technology (SNIIT), Ifewara, Osun State, Dr Kola Christwealth, on Wednesday, valued properties burnt by students of the institution during a recent riot at about N500 million.

He, therefore, urged the police to effect the arrest of suspected arsonists who carried out the dastardly act so that they could be prosecuted.

Christwealth, who made this disclosure at a press conference in Osogbo, lamented that the irate students set ablaze laboratories, mini television studio;

mini radio studio; hostels; staff quarters; administrative block and vehicles in the institution during the crisis.

He alleged that the students set the whole campus on fire after they had looted movable appliances, including laptop computers and other equipment.

While describing as false, claims that the riot was precipitated by non-accreditation of the school’s programmes, Christwealth maintained that the institution was approved by the Federal Ministry of Education, while some of the courses were accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

He recalled that the riot

started on Sunday after he addressed the students on the need to register for professional examination, with a view to brightening their chance while seeking for job opportunities.

Christwealth further hinted that the the students started complaining when they were told that interested students would register with professional body of their choice, apart from the fees charged by the school for their diploma programmes.

“I want to call on the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS) to ensure that those who committed this crime are arrested,” he said.

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news

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Military deploys hi-tech mine clearing equipment in North-East

NGO organises workshop for stakeholders in Borno James Bwala - Maiduguri with Agency Report

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HE Nigerian Army said on Wednesday that it had deployed its newly acquired hi-tech mine clearing equipment in the ongoing military operation against Boko Haram in the North-East.

This is contained in a statement issued by Acting Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman, on update of the counter-insurgency.

Usman said other supporting weapons and ammunitions had also been launched in the ongoing op-

erations across the area.

He said the commissioned equipment were the first mine clearing machines in the inventory of the Nigerian Army and among the best in the world.

The army spokesman said the introduction of new equipment for the NorthEast operation had begun to yield results.

Usman disclosed that Nigerian troops in joint operation with their Cameroonian counterparts had destroyed many of the insurgents’ hideouts around Bank-Kumashe axis.

He said several suspected insurgents were killed in the particular operation while different kinds of items were recovered.

According to Usman, 150 persons, mainly children, were rescued at Kodo community in Borno by troops in the ongoing offensive against the insurgents.

He said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Tukur Butatai, while taking briefs from field officers at the command and control centre in Maiduguri, commended the efforts of the troops.

In a related development, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Herwa Community Development Initiative (HCDI), in partnership with International Civil Society Action Network and International Alert, has organised a one-day policy brief dissemination workshop for traditional/religious leaders, security operatives and other government stakeholders in Borno.

This followed relative peace and liberation of communities that were hitherto under the control of insurgents by troops in recent

Borno govt evacuates 9,000 IDPs in schools

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai (middle), accompanied by senior officers, during inspection of new military equipment in Maimalari Barracks, in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN.

Troops rescue another 150 from B/Haram Chris Agbambu - Abuja

TROOPS at Kodo in Borno State have rescued another 150 people, majority being children, from Boko Haram terrorists.

In addition, a house with Boko Haram flag at Fatake caught fire with several ammunition destroyed and three insurgents killed.

Acting Director in charge of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman who disclosed this also noted that troops of 7 Division carried out major operations against the Boko Haram terrorist locations in Talala and Kumshe axis.

He stated that the joint operation, which was carried out with Cameroonian forces was quite successful as a number of the terrorists were killed, their weapons and equipment either destroyed or captured.

According to him, the joint operation between elements of 7 Division and the Cameroonian forces along Banki-Kumshe axis, led to the killing of 20 Boko Haram terrorists, destruction of four AK 47 rifles and capture of a

time, particularly in Borno which is the epicentre of Boko Haram.

The occasion took place on Wednesday at the Grand Pinnacle Luxury Hotel along Pompomari Bye-Pass in Maiduguri Metropolis.

Addressing participants, the Coordinator of HCDI, Mallam Mohammed Ngubdo Hassan, said the workshop was organised to prepare the minds of stakeholders and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) that may soon go back to their liberated communities and begin a new live.

gun truck mounted with an Anti-Aircraft Gun (AA Gun) and two AK 47 rifles, as well as a 60mm mortar and a Dane gun.

He said three soldiers sustained injury and a vehicle damaged as a result of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Usman disclosed that troops also encountered about 10 other IEDs along the route of advance which were cleared. Most of the terrorists ran in disarray towards Fatake where troops on blocking position cleared them.

He said, “It is important

to state that 5 Brigade and 7 Multinational Joint Task Force were doing well in their respective area of operations. This is made possible by the steady supply of needed logistics into the various formations and units fighting the Boko Haram terrorists.

Airforce curtailing insurgents’ freedom to enclaves —CAS Chris Agbambu – Abuja

AS the Nigerian Airforce continues its onslaught against Boko Haram insurgents, degrading their capacity to carry out brazen attacks, the freedom of the sect has been curtailed restricting them to their enclaves.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while declaring open a three-day retreat for commanders in the Airforce.

He noted that the projection of air power by the Airforce against the insurgents in the North-East has continued to shape the battle space by creating the enabling environment for the

Nigerian Army to effectively conduct land operations.

The Airforce boss said that apart from the provision of air support for Operation Lafiya Dole in the North-East, the Airforce has also contributed immensely in the conduct of internal security operations nationwide Air Marshal Ababakar disclosed that in this era of foreign exchange, the Nigerian Air force through its enhanced research and development efforts has had notable breakthrough towards self sufficiency This, he said, resulted in the production of 500 units of Alpha-jet bombs release pyro-cartridges as well as a prototype stand alone in-

tervalometer locally.

Also, the Airforce achieved some level of success in overhauling Alpha Jets brakes assembly in collaboration with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, Nnewi, Anambra State.

He said that the Airforce has also signed memoranda of understanding with institutions such as Nwena University and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in order to strengthen strategic partnership in research and development.

The air chief announced that the Airforce, within the past seven months, has trained about 640 personnel both locally and overseas in flying and non-flying related specialties.

THE Borno State government has moved some 9,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in schools in Maiduguri to other facilities to enable students to return to classes, an official has said.

The Executive Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Ahmed Satomi, made the disclosure to newsroom in Maiduguri on Wednesday.

Satomi said the IDPs were evacuated and transported to Bakassi and Dalori camps in Maiduguri with the aim of re-opening public schools closed within the state capital.

“The IDPs were occupying schools like Government Girls’ Secondary School, Yerwa; Government Girls’ Secondary School, Maiduguri; Women Teachers’ College; Arabic Teachers’ College and Government College.

“We are trying to reunite them with their families.

This is the first time the government is allowing the men and their families to live under one roof.

“It is our responsibility to safeguard the IDPs; we have befitting tents for them according to their family sizes.

“Our hope is that the 23,000 unaccompanied children in the IDPs camps find their parents among the displaced persons.”

He said: “Many IDPs who ran to neighbouring countries, like Chad, Cameroon and Niger are gradually returning.

“Those from Gamboru who ran to Fotokol were also found and will be transported to the state capital to reunite with their families.”

Nigerian Tribune

War crimes, illegal refugees’ return marred 2015 human rights —Amnesty International AMNESTY International said war crimes and illegal refugees’ return marred 2015 human rights.

It said on Wednesday during the Amnesty Annual Review of human rights around the world in London that many governments were brazenly breaking international law by doing so.

Salil Shetty, Amnesty’s Secretary General, said more than 30 countries illegally forced refugees to return to places where they would be in danger last year.

He said “the rights of the refugees were in jeopardy; they were being treated with utter contempt by many governments around the world.’’

He added that short-term national self-interest and draconian security crackdowns led to an “unprecedented assault on human rights” in 2015.

The secretary general noted that war crimes or other violations of the “laws of war” were committed by governments or armed groups in at least 19 countries.

Shetty said one of the most egregious examples of countries turning their backs on asylum seekers took place when human traffickers left thousands of people from Myanmar and Bangladesh adrift on the open seas without food and water.

He added that hundreds were thought to have died from thirst and hunger as countries in the region played “ping-pong in the sea” with the asylum seekers.

The Amnesty scribe said that in Europe, Hungary was strongly criticised for sealing its borders to keep out thousands of desperate refugees and obstructing collective regional attempts to help them.

“More than one million refugees and migrants arrived in Europe last year, many fleeing war zones.

“With the exception of Germany, the response to the crisis had been woeful,” he said.

17

Thursday, 25 February, 2016 With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

From left, Secretary to Kwara State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold; former Grand Khadi, Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Abdulkadir Imam Fulani; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; President, Old Students Association of Ilorin Teachers College, Alhaji Usman Balogun and the Emir of Okuta, Alhaji Abubakar Idris, during a courtesy visit by Old Students of Ilorin Teachers College to the Government House, last week.

From right, Reverend S. J. Olagunade, Minister in charge of First Baptist Church, Ilaro, Ogun State, Pa Gbadebo Adegbite, his wife, Maria and Mr Sunday Osho, at the birthday service of Pa Gbadebo, held at the First Baptist Church, Ilaro, Ogun State, recently. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

From left, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Redeemers University, Professor Kayode Adekeye; Director, World Bank Funded African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Professor Christian Happi; Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Debo Adeyewa and the Registrar of the institution, Mrs Bolatito Oloketuyi, at a press conference on new research breakthrough on Lassa fever, held at the Redeemers’ University, Ede, recently.

From left, Regional Supply Chain Director - North, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Aliyu Paiko; a lecturer from the University of Abuja, Dr Hamzat Nauzo; Principal of Government Secondary School (GSS) Minna for 49 years, Right Reverend Father J.D. O’Connel and a veteran newscaster with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Cyril Stober, at the 50th anniversary of their alma mater, GSS, Minna, Niger State, recently.

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, receiving a souvenir from the Vice Chancellor, Nigerian Turkish Nile University, Professor Huseyin Sert, when the university’s authority visited the Senate President, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Church, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan (second right); benefactor of St. Gabriel Chaplaincy, Sir Dr. Obiorah Okonkwo (middle); Director, Pastoral Affairs, Catholic Secretariat, Reverend Father Ojaje Idoko and others, during the laying of foundation and turning of sod of St. Gabriel Catholic Chaplaincy and guest house of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria, in Durumi District, Abuja, on Wednesday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI.

Mr and Mrs Temitope Oni recently had their traditional wedding engagement in Osogbo,Osun State. The couple are flanked by their parents.

Mr and Mrs Oluwakorede Alayaki after being joined together at Reconciliation House, Ijapo Assembly, Ijapo Estate, Akure, Ondo State, recently.

For bookings, contact ’Laolu Afolabi on 08054681741 or Tommy Adegbite on 08116954631

18

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

yournews

SEND YOUR SHORT MESSAGES TO: 08054005323, 08055001746

Buhari, focus on electricity

Creating jobs for Nigerians There is high unemployment rate in this country.

All the steps taken by government towards reducing this have not achieved anything tangible.

It is believed that over half of Nigeria’s graduates are unemployed or underemployed.

The solution to reducing unemployment in the country is through making vocational skills compulsory in secondary and tertiary institutions.

When we have graduates who are skilled in certain professions, they won’t rely much on searching for jobs after leaving school. This is one area the Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Education can partner.

Tinuke Omideyi, 08030461538

I know if General Muhammadu Buhari can bring about uninterrupted power supply in the country, then Nigerians would give him a pass mark. Stable power supply will bring other development along with it.

I don’t think it is something very difficult to do, but with the generators cabal, it won’t be easy.

President Buhari should be hard on those who are sabotaging the power sector. I, however, don’t want to support the recent increase in tariff. It will lead to further hardship on the part of poor Nigerians.

President Buhari should look for other ways to raise fund for the power sector.

Gbade Hakeem, 08072977112.

Our future is bright Despite all the challenges we are facing as a nation, I know that our country shall be great. We just need to have the fear of God; we should seek the kingdom of God and every other thing will be added unto us. When we fear God, we won’t cheat our fellow citizens; we won’t cheat our country of its resources, and we won’t work towards destabilising it for our own gain.

We all need to keep praying for Nigeria. It is just a matter of time before we overcome our challenges, and when this happens, we will be unstoppable.

Citizens of other countries will be struggling to come to Nigeria, just as our youths are now also struggling to travel to the United States.

Our country shall be great, and that is very, very soon.

Pastor Israel Alabi, 08070928355.

•For the love of ice cream even on wedding day! Photo: Dada Joseph

How to tackle corruption

I

F we are serious about tackling corruption in this country, then we should ensure that convicts serve their jail terms without an option of fine. If a public official steals N25billion and after trial, he is asked to pay N3million as fine, then this will not deter others from committing the same crime. In fact, I know many people will go this route if they have the opportunity of stealing such a huge sum of money. Corruption is our biggest problem in the country, and if we don’t tackle it head-on, then we will not achieve anything.

Some people see President Muhammadu Buhari as a

disciplinarian, but what of when he leaves office? We should get things right, now.

In China, anybody who involves himself/herself in financial crime against the state is sentenced to death. The Chinese know

the state governor to those administering the local government to do something about it.

Terrible roads have a way of slowing down the economic activities in an area, and it is as a

that corruption would derail their progress if it is not tackled, and today, the country is prospering. Nigeria should tow the same line too. We may not be giving such corrupt people death sentences, but they must serve their jail terms,

which should not be lesser than 15 years. This is the only way to save the country from being ruined by corruption.

Tumini George, 09095687489.

Ojodu-Berger needs pedestrian bridge I am calling on the Lagos State government to construct a pedestrian bridge at the Ojodu-Berger area of the state. During the early morning rush-hour, or in the evening, Lagosians, especially the aged, stay for many minutes by the side of the road, while waiting to

Ogwuashi-Ukwu roads in terrible state The roads in OgwuashiUkwu, capital of Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State are in such terrible state, and residents have been appealing to those in positions of authority, from

Preventing crime with CCTVs

result of this that something should be done fast about the terrible roads in Ogwuashi-Ukwu.

•F.A Kareem, 08098245620

cross the expressway.

If the bridge is constructed, those who can’t cross the road will simply take to the it. It is even safer using the pedestrian bridge.

I hope Governor Akinwumi Ambode can do something urgently about this.

Mobolaji Alaka, 08136449554.

PERMIT me to use this opportunity to draw the attention of the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, to the deplorable condition of the Ute-Owo Road in Ose Local Government Area of the state.

The road, which has consistently witnessed all manners of neglect, needs to be rehabilitated without delay.

The condition of the road is

really affecting those who travel on it on a daily basis.

It is true that the governor will be completing his term this year, he can still do something for the people of this area.

If the road is rehabilitated, it will go a long way in ameliorating the suffering of the people of the area.

Dupe Ashama, 08020726156.

Ute-Owo Road needs rehabilitation

I think it is high time we fixed Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in all our streets to prevent crime.

In developed countries, these cameras help in preventing crime, as well as arresting criminals.

American security officials analyse crime with the help of CCTVs. If a crime is committed in the US, within a couple of hours, the police will be able to release photographs of the suspects.

I was happy when Nigeria awarded the contract for the Lagos and Abuja street CCTVs, but till date, nobody knows what has happened to the money budgeted for this project.

One of the disadvantages of having a high crime rate is that tourists and investors would be avoiding the country, and at this period in time, we need both so that we can have a rebound in our economy.

The Federal Government should first probe what happened to the first CCTV project that was awarded, before getting another contractor to handle the new project, which will go a long way in curbing crime in Nigeria.

Stanley Umoh, 08029518875

19

editorial

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Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Violent herdsmen’s nationalities

HE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, was recently reported as saying that the violent Fulani herdsmen who have for long become a menace to farmers in different parts of the country are not Nigerians but migrants from either Mali or Niger Republic. The police boss who was being received in audience in Akure by Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, said Nigerian herdsmen were law abiding. He went on to counsel farmers who have been at the receiving end of the herdsmen’s atrocities to be careful and cautious in their response to the situation.

It is rather disappointing that what Arase, the helmsman of the Nigeria Police, had to say was to advise the farmers – the constant targets of the herdsmen’s brutalities – to be careful and cautious in the face of unprovoked attacks. His categorical statement blaming herdsmen from neighbouring countries for the atrocities being committed along their grazing routes from the far North to the southernmost parts of Nigeria was not substantiated with any fact or figure. Without providing any shred of evidence, he exonerated Nigerian herdsmen from blame and described them as law-abiding.

The frequency of the herdsmen’s onslaughts on farmers and their farmlands has, for many years, been quite alarming. The various losses suffered, apart from human lives wasted, if quantified in monetary terms, will no doubt be enormous. The menace of the herdsmen has for a long time been a serious security problem which must have been relegated to the background by the Boko Haram insurgency.

From the Middle Belt to the three geo-political zones in the South, there is hardly any state in which the nomads and their cattle have not been wreaking havoc. The losses have been extensive in human and material terms.

What proof has Mr. Arase to show Nigerians that the ubiquitous and violent herdsmen are mostly, if not all, foreigners? What evidence does he have to establish that Nigerian cattle rearers are law abiding? Has he carried out a country-wide headcount of herdsmen? The government has for some time been toying with the unworkable idea of carving out grazing routes and establishing grazing reserves for the herdsmen. Was it being proposed for the benefit of foreigners?

Any foreigner who enters into another country without valid papers is an illegal immigrant. Is the IGP saying that

the violent herdsmen who have been misbehaving with such impunity are foreigners who do not have the right to be in Nigeria? In how many of the scenes of conflict between farmers and herdsmen have the police been deployed since Arase assumed office as the overall boss?

How many arrests have been made and how many have been confirmed to be foreigners? How many have been charged to court and punished as required by the law and how many have been deported to their countries?

One of the basic responsibilities of any government is to ensure the security of its citizens. No responsible government looks the other way when an immigrant, legal or illegal, tramples on the rights of its citizens. The Inspector-General of Police is giving an impression of utter helplessness on the part of the government and the police in particular in the face of constant and brutal assaults on the rights of Nigerians by a band of lawless foreigners who have no right to be in the country.

What sort of caution or care does the police boss expect from peasant farmers peaceably labouring on their farms to earn their keep when rampaging herdsmen drive their cattle into their farms to devour what they have been nurturing for months if not years? On Tuesday, April 6, 2013, the House of Representatives condemned what it described as the brutal killing of 10 youths at Ogume in the Ndokwa West local Government Area of Delta State by Fulani herdsmen. The brutal killing of the young people was sequel to a disagreement between the herdsmen and the villagers who had complained about the destruction of their yam and cassava farms by the herdsmen’s animals.

Such has been the pattern in many other parts of the country.

The police as a law-enforcement agency should see it as a bounden duty to always give succour to victims of injustice.

Most of the affected farmers are engaged in subsistence agriculture. It will be rank injustice if the crops on their farms and on which their lives depend are allowed to serve as fodder for the herdsmen’s cattle. It is interesting that Arase has chosen to preach caution to the farmers whose means of livelihood are being destroyed. He probably has an advice on how to beat a child and make sure he does not cry. What is required now is a decisive action to check the menace of the Fulani herdsmen. The argument about their nationalities is a needless diversion.

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20 opinion

Thursday, 25 February, 2015

Of taxation and good governance

By Eze Onyekpere

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E are living in interesting but difficult times in Nigeria. Opportunities for reframing and re-designing the agenda for development and democracy have been presented in the nature of a fiscal crisis with the crash in the price of crude oil, which is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. Whether we recognise the challenge as an opportunity and take advantage of it will be a key factor in the continued progress and sustainability of Nigeria. To take advantage of this opportunity will involve a change of the culture, attitudes and philosophies surrounding governance at all levels.

It is imperative to start by recognisng that Nigeria’s oil rents were largely stolen and badly mismanaged. The rents are no longer as large as they used to be; so, the question of mismanaging the little that is available is totally out of the picture for now. The efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to recover stolen funds are, indeed, commendable. However, even if all the stolen wealth is recovered, it will still not meet our needful demands for financial resources to start the development chase. In this case, governance should be about multi-tasking with various task teams contributing to the larger goal of good governance, deepening democracy and development. Thus, there is already a strong team on the anti-corruption agenda. We need strong task teams in the various facets of the economy from power to roads and railways to general economic policy and directions on the value of the naira, local content and increasing value added.

Herein lies the essence of change; we cannot afford to continue doing more of the same things and expect new results.

There are many areas we can change to kick-start the process. For instance, the extant leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives promised transparency, accountability and opening up of the National Assembly. However, we still have a 2016 budget estimate in the parliament that is just a bulk sum; there are no details. This goes against the grain of all canons of transparency and accountability.

In 2014, the Centre for Social Justice got a court order compelling the erstwhile Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, to publish the details of the statutory transfers, including the details of the allocation to the National Assembly.

She failed, neglected and refused to obey the order and con-

tempt proceedings to ensure that she obeyed the order suffered several adjournments at the instance of the court until she left office. Beyond opening up the budgets of the National Assembly and other agencies getting statutory transfers, the 2016 budget estimates need to be cleaned of frivolities, inappropriate and wasteful expenditure.

The good news is that there is life beyond oil rent and the enclave economy of oil and gas. Since we failed to take advantage of oil rents during the period of boom, we should quickly make a detour and come back to our senses and have a national dialogue on how to fund governance through taxation.

The fixation on borrowing to finance the deficit is not the way forward, even if it offers a temporary reprieve which we will soon face its downsides in the next couple of years. Already, we are spending close to 35k out of every N1 to service debts and this will definitely increase in years to come. So, what are we left with to revive and boost our economy?

Taxation which has been neglected over the years comes to the rescue. I make bold to state that our democratic deficits in the lack of real citizens’ participation in governance is based on the source of funding of governance. Oil rents discouraged the rulers from engaging the people in dialogue about development priorities and how to properly manage public finances. The rulers also did not need a dialogue on how to raise revenue which came in from rents.

Thus, rulers could carry on without the necessary engage-

ment and dialogue with the people required in every modern state. On the other hand, citizens were alienated and did not see the resources government managed as their own. No nexus existed between the people and oil rents except persons living in communities that suffered environmental degradation from oil extraction. Elections were rigged as they became a do-or-die affair and the state got captured by a few men and women of power.

With the absence of dialogue and engagement between the people and their government came the unbundling of the social contract. Government did not feel it had any duty to account for resource management to the people and the people made little or feeble demands. Thus, the self-fulfilling prophesy of a weak collapsing state emerged. In an efficient and effective taxation system, the state is focused on getting revenue through taxation and in the process, can only tax taxable income which is a product of production of goods and services. Therefore, the state will be interested in providing the enabling environment for such production to go on before it can earn revenue. It will then ensure it collects the revenue to run its affairs.

Once the bulk of Nigerians begin to pay appropriate taxes and many more get into the tax net, demands for accountability and transparency are bound to increase. Fiscal governance issues will no longer be left to experts and the activists. I do not see why sufficient numbers of Nigerians are not enraged when about a hundred million is budget for kitchen wares every year at the federal level or when the presidential air fleet includes about ten aircrafts. No sane person should tolerate a situation where a poor neighbour who could barely pay his rent becomes a local government chair person and within six months, begins building mansions across the city.

Yes, if local government tax authorities squeeze your hard earned money from you, the minimum you can do is to insist on it being properly used in an area where you can derive maximum benefit. We will part with our money in exchange of favourable policies protecting our interest. And if Nigerians pay tax, they would likely begin to be more conscious of protecting their votes to disallow rogues from entering public office to mismanage tax payers’ money.

•Onyekpere is a public affairs analyst.

AI and the Nigerian Army: Separating facts from fiction

By Philip Agbese

Last week, there was a reported meeting between the Nigerian Army and the international non-governmental organisation (NGO), Amnesty International (AI) in Abuja, Nigeria.

From what we gathered, the meeting was at the instance of the Nigerian Army. Although it was a closed door meeting, feelers from the meeting pointed to the fact that the Nigerian Army briefed the organisation and also answered all the questions it raised in its numerous reports and documentaries.

The meeting was, indeed, a welcome development as both sides acknowledged that it was first of its kind; it was the first time that any armed service of any country accorded the NGO such respect. Similarly, for the Nigerian Army, noted for its tendency to insulate itself from exposure to such organisations in the past, the interaction was the first time.

Therefore, there were high hopes and expectations, especially from the military and the citizenry as it provided an opportunity to explain or answer the allegations levelled against it over time by the AI. For whoever has doubt about the genuine intentions of the Nigerian Army, under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, needs to have a rethink as he has always matched words with deeds.

They have defeated the terror group, Boko Haram, thus making it possible for many communities to return home to pick the pieces and continue with their lives.

A feat that could not be achieved in six years was accomplished within six months! The concerted efforts to improve civil-military relations brought about renewed vigour in interfacing with so many stakeholders, NGOs, Civil Society Organizations and the media.

It has also been collaborating with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), International Committee of the

Red Cross (ICRC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) amongst others. The collaboration led to training workshops and continued consultation for the benefit of the society.

It is not surprising that the Army initiated a meeting the AI. Unfortunately, the comments of the leader of the delegation to the meeting were to say least, very disappointing.

After acknowledging the commendable commitment of the Army for a thorough investigation of all the allegations and explaining the line of action taken or disciplinary measures meted out to those found wanting, the NGO was not satisfied but brought new sets of unrealistic demands.

It is really curious to understand the motive and interest of AI or what they want to achieve. Whatever it is, such motives I dare say, were not in the best interest of our collective wellbeing, or for the peace and security of our great nation.

Apart of being rude, the posture of Amnesty International really left so many questions as to its sincerity.

Moreover, there are lots of loopholes in the process of its investigations to discredit any report produced from such ex-

ercise. The Nigerian press and, indeed, all Nigerians should be very cautious of the AI. Their reports mainly were based on hearsay. Those that AI decided to access and interact with in arriving at its conclusions are those criminals and misguided elements who propagate anarchy and misinformation.

AI needs to review its mode of investigations. It must recognise sovereign states and the legally constituted organs of the government like the Nigerian Army. It must recognise the layers of administration and authority within such government institutions.

The Nigerian Army has its established legal system; therefore, infringements, if any, on the rights of individuals by personnel of Nigerian Army are independently and impartially investigated by the higher administrative command of those involved.

The AI must accept this and respect every institution of a sovereign state. In similar vein, our local human rights organisations are advised not to blindly echo antagonistic positions of the so-called human rights watchdogs at the detriment of national security and our sovereignty.

I think it is about time that AI should critically examine all those allegations and know that they were nothing but cheap blackmail and should therefore consigned to the dustbin of history. AI officials should also apologise to the Army and all the officers they falsely accused.

I shall, at this point, echo the wise words of General Yakubu Gowon, former Head of State that “AI should also apologise to Nigerians and the Army and all the officers they falsely accused.

“The Army should make its investigations and the punishments meted out to all those found wanting public to enable Nigerians and indeed the whole world appreciate its efforts.”

•Agbese is a public affairs analyst.

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Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Femi Olukunle Coordinating Editor 08158610216,

842 missed Christian pilgrimage in FCT in 2015 —Report

Students of one of the schools in FCT receiving lecture

Christian Okeke-Abuja Despite the fact that 1,200 seats were allocated to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for 2015 pilgrimage by the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), only 358 were able to make it, meaning that a total of 842 missed the exercise.

The development was contained in a report recently presented by the leader of the FCT Ministerial Delegation on 2015 Christian pilgrimage, Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda, to the FCT administration.

Abuja Xtra gathered that some of the intending pilgrims missed the exercise after filing all the necessary forms and submitting their international passports for cross-checks and visa.

Many of the affected persons claimed no tangible reason was given to them by the FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board as to why they were not finally mobilised for the exercise.

However, a source at the Board hinted that most of the people who missed the pilgrimage were initially slated to be sponsored by the administration on the trip.

The source said that many things later went wrong along the process.

According to the source, administrative challenges, lack of funds and other logistics were at the heart of the disappointment.

Be that as it may and in order to fully utilise subsequent allocation to the FCT, the Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, who already received the report, has mandated the Board to, as a matter of urgency, commence early mobilisation of intending pilgrims for the next pilgrimage exercise to Israel.

He said there was the need for the territory to enjoy fully the number of allocations from the NCPC. Bello admitted that there were times when it might be a bit challenging for any pilgrims’ board to fill the right allocation, but argued that decision makers would always have to be guided by what he described as historical trend.

According to him, all the issues raised in respect of 2015 pilgrimage in the report would be looked into while the administration would provide needed support.

The minister stated that he felt the need to encourage the board to try as much as possible to meet up whatever allocations had been given to it.

He said: “If historically you have not been meeting up with whatever has been allocated to you, chances are that at the time when you want some increases, you find that it becomes very difficult to get.”

FCTA Administration to tackle proliferation of substandard schools Christian Okeke-Abuja

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he Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration is to tackle proliferation of sub-standard private schools in Abuja.

The schools are to be made to maintain

acceptable minimum standard.

FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello, while speaking on the situation, noted that if such schools were left the way they were, their activities would be counterproductive to the territory’s educational system.

He accused proprietors of such schools of exploiting influx of people into the territory to set up sub-standard schools.

He said: “Sub-standard private schools that take advantage of the unfettered influx of the people into the city remains a challenge but the current Administration would redress it to ensure provision of high quality education for our children.”

The minister commended the principal, teachers and students of Government Secondary School, Garki, for maintaining high standard of environmental sanitation in their school and urged other public institutions in the territory to emulate the school.

Crew 1. Christian Okeke chidiabujatribune@ yahoo.com 08030947856 2. Clement Idoko idokoajiga@yahoo. co.uk 08034412281 3. Kolawole Daniel kolawoledaniels@yahoo.co.uk 08030763782

A student having a discussion with her teacher.

Ministry plans measures to halt declining education standard —Pg.22

Late Murtala Orderly, 69, lives in rented house in —Pg.22 Maraba

4. Adetola Bademosi gloriaadetola@ gmail.com 08182214290 5. Collins Nnabuife chideraacollins@yahoo.com 08039521408 Abuja Xtra email & GSM: abujaxtra@ gmail.com 08054501406

abujaxtra Ministry plans measures to halt declining education standard

22

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Clemetn Idoko-Abuja

T

he Federal Ministry of Education has said it will put measures in place towards halting the declining state of education in the coun-

try.

It stressed the importance of equipping teachers with competence needed for effective and efficient teaching of reading in schools, lamenting that poor performance of pupils and students in both internal and

From left, Deputy Corps Marshal, Motor Vehicle and Administration, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Theophilus Charles;Chief Marketing Officer, NICON Insurance Limited, Mr Samson Davies;Director, Road Traffic Services, Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), Federal Capital Territory, Mr Danjuma Garba and Corps Marshal, FRSC, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi during a one-day capacity building workshop for chief vehicle inspection officers in collaboration with NICON Insurance Limited in Abuja recently. Photo: Sunday Osunrayi.

external examinations was largely due to their poor reading habit.

Speaking during a training programme for teachers from North-East geo-political zone of the country in Lafia, Nasarawa State, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Folasade YemiEsan, said government was worried by the decline in reading culture and organised the training of some primary school teachers in order to build their capacity in techniques for teaching reading and comprehension.

Yemi-Esan said there was the urgent need to produce teachers who could impact positively on the learning achievements of children and improve the school system.

According to her, it is expected that the training programme bring to bear performance-oriented teachers who would stop at nothing in promoting positive reading

Late Murtala’s Orderly, 69, lives in rented house in Maraba Sunday Ejike-Abuja

Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Olusegun Awolowo (right) and the Director General, National Bureau of Statistics, Dr Yemi Kale during NBS DG’S courtesy visit to NEPC in Abuja. Photo: Sunday Osunrayi

From left, Head Mistress, LEA Primary School, Vaguwar, Kano Central, Hajiya Fausat Lawal, Director, Project Monitoring, Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Madfaki Monday, Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State SUBEB, Mr Ibrahim Sambo and Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC),Alhaji Dikko Suleiman, during the Commission’s inspection ot UBEC Federal Government Projects in Kaduna State.

SIXTY-NINE-year old retired Master Warrant Officer, Michael Otuwe, who was Orderly to the former Head of State, late General Murtala Mohammed, has said that he is still in a rented two-bedroom house in Maraba, Nasarawa State. He told Abuja Xtra that he would be the happiest man on earth if he could have a house of his own.

When Abuja Xtra encountered the retired Warrant Officer in Nyanya, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, he said that he presently worked in the office of Riskua Murtala Muhammed in Maitama and stated that the late Head of State picked him as his orderly when he was a Lance Corporal because of his neatness.

Michael Otuwe

We planned Euston British school to be exceptional —Marie Mrs. Marie Joseph is an expert in education from Malaysia. The administrator of Euston British International School recently spoke on education system in Nigeria and the need for review of school curriculum among other issues. Adetola Bademosi brings excerpt: Can you briefly give a background information of yourself and how you found yourself in Abuja?

I am a Malaysian and I have been here in Nigeria for about four and half years.

Actually, the school is for my best friend, so I helped her to set the school up and it took us three to four years to buy the land and build the school.

What is your vision and plans for the school?

My mission is to make the school the best in Abuja because I come from Malaysia where education is our goal. So I want to make this education harp. I am here to make sure the school sets up well in Nigeria-British curriculum. We merged the

working on the mentality of parents and schools. Take for instance, a Primary one pupil should be seven years old and not five years old.

British and Nigeria Curriculum together to bring out the best. It may be a long task, but we will get there. The school started as BabyLove in 2010 and it was incorporated as Euston in 2012. As at 2012, we were 46 but we are above 80 now.

You are from Malaysia where Education is much appreciated. What are the new things you are bringing to the school?

Discipline and self control is our watchword and we intend to do that here.

How would you rate Nigeria’s education system and how do you intend to improve on that?

A lot of works need to be done by

habits in the children.

She stated that the ministry would not relent in seeking ways and means of restoring the standard of education in the country.

Also speaking, the Director, Education Planning, Research and Development, Dr Ebenezer Adeola, said the workshop was part of the ministry’s Read Campaign Initiative aimed at checking mass failure in public examinations.

He said that the capacity building workshop was to empower the teachers to deliver the kind of education that would prepare children for life in a competitive 21st Century that demands innovation, creativity and critical thinking skills.

The Federal Ministry of Education had carried out similar capacity building workshop in other five geo-political zones of the country.

Marie Joseph

According to him, “He (Late Murtala) told me that he noticed how immaculate I was in my Army dress when we did master parade. He picked me to be his orderly when I was a Lance Corporal. I was young and I just had to be clean.”

Otuwe said he was with Murtala in all his postings and during the civil war that he was made the first General Officer Commanding, Two Division of the Nigerian Army and beyond.

“I worked with him till he was killed and that was for 11 years and within the period, he had only three children - Aisha, Zakari and Fatima.

On what happened on the day late Murtala was assassinated, Otuwe said the late Head of State was a very good man as he did not allow the goods (personal effects) of General Gowon to be thrown out but to be removed gently and for the house to be renovated before he relocated from Dodan Barracks.

“That was why he was shuttling from Ikoyi without pilot cars, motorbike outriders, armed military and security bodyguards among others. He only rode in the official Mercedes Benz car with two flags: the national flag on the left and the armed forces flag on the right.

“On that fateful day that he was assassinated, we passed through Federal Secretariat in Ikoyi which was undergoing renovation and covered with zinc. When we reached Alagbon Junction, the traffic man did not notice the flags. He would have allowed the traffic in our direction to continue moving, but he stopped the five or six cars in front of us. Then I saw some people in agbada (Babanriga) and when they lifted them up, they brought out AK47 rifles and fired at us.

“Already a masked man had shot the driver, Sergeant Adamu Michika in the head and he fell on the arm-rest where the suit case containing the General’s mufti was. I took cover and fell on the driver.

The General and the ADC also took cover.

When the assassins left and were heading to National Broadcasting Corporation Radio House - to announce the takeover, one of the Majors turned and saw when the ADC opened the door to help the General, the Major shouted and notified his colleagues that they were alive. This made them to turn and rushed back and emptied their bullets in us. I was the only survivor as I was shot in the arm and the hip.

“The troops loyal to General Murtala came after the soldiers and they took us to the mortuary. I recovered from coma when the breeze from the air conditioner and the pain woke me up.”

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Thursday, 25 February, 2016

education

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

Funding, other logistics threaten FG’s 500,000 teachers’ recruitment project

The federal government has constituted a committee on the proposed recruitment of 500,000 unemployed youths as teachers, but funding remains one of the critical challenges to the success of the project, CLEMENT IDOKO writes

S

TAKEHOLDERS agree that the quality of basic education in Nigeria has gone down owing to acute shortage of qualified teachers. The poor state of teaching and learning infrastructure, especially in public schools across the country, has also affected quality of education generally.

This was why when President Muhammadu Buhari was presenting the 2016 budget to the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives recently, he unveiled a few initiatives designed to improve the quality of education.

One of them was the plan to recruit 500,000 unemployed graduates as teachers and deploy them to mostly rural areas to solve the lingering problem of shortage of teachers, while at the same time alleviate the problem of unemployment.

Stakeholders in the education sector have lauded this initiative given the global shortage of teachers at the primary education level. A 2014 study by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) said the world needed about four million teachers by 2015 and would need 12 million by 2020.

Nigeria currently needs over $1.8 billion to fortify its teaching force; but Tribune Education gathered that funds for implementing the recruitment of the 500,000 teachers were not captured in the 2016 budget proposal presented to the National Assembly by the president.

Out of the N6.08 trillion 2016 appropriation, education got a sizeable allocation of N369 billion. But the funding of the recruitment, training, deployment and salaries of the proposed 500,000 teachers was not captured in the budget. Even at a modest N40,000 per month, the salaries of the 500,000 teachers alone will cost N240 billion a year.

While inaugurating the National Committee on Actualisation of Recruitment, Training

and Deployment of the proposed 500,000 teachers, the federal government had noted the funding challenge, and asked the committee, which is chaired by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwukah, to recommend appropriately on how the project should be funded.

Anwukah, who inaugurated the committee on behalf of the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, revealed that the project would cost the federal government over N240 billion yearly to pay the 500,000 teachers that will be recruited. This is outside the cost of the crash programme proposed for the successful candidates.

Other members of the committee include the Permanent Secretary, all directors of the ministry, and leadership of all relevant parastatals of the ministry such as the Universal Basic Education (UBEC), Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), among others.

Professor Anwukah stated that the committee would deliberate on a number of issues, including the possibility of sourcing the 500,000 teachers from the pool of graduates and Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) holders, the role of states and the modalities for distributing the teachers among federal and states. Others

Education got a sizeable allocation of N369 billion... but even at a modest N40,000 per month, the salaries of the 500,000 teachers alone will cost N240 billion a year

are ownership and sustainability of the project and the cost implication.

Anwukah said the committee was inaugurated to recommend the methodology for recruitment, training and deployment of the 500,000 teachers. It was also mandated to determine the pedagogical, communication and other skills critical to such teachers.

He also said the committee was expected to spell out the nature and duration of the remedial and refresher courses the selected trainee teachers would need to go through, and to also determine the viability and sustainability of the proposal in the first instance.

He said: “How do we identify the potential 500,000 teachers? Is it possible to source these teachers from the pool of the already trained but unemployed NCE and graduate education teachers? How will they be distributed to the states after recruitment and training? Is it by equality of states or will it be based on justified needs of the states? What will be the role of the states in funding and supervision of the project?

“How sustainable will the project be? Is it going to be a one-shot affair or is it going to be annual and continuous? What is the name of this project? Is it basic education course? We must give it a name. Who owns the project, the federal government or the states? In that wise, what is going to be possible interplay as a result of the fact that education is on the concurrent list?

“The untrained graduates (those who have not been trained in education), what could be the plan in terms of training them to be qualified teachers? Are we going to advertise and they apply and we give them provisional em-

ployment subject to their pending teaching qualification and how long will that be?

“If we place moratorium on them after giving them provisional employment, will it be six months or one year to obtain the teaching qualification before your appointment is ratified? The NCE graduate with two teaching subjects, what will be the retooling plan?

What about education degree graduates? If we add them with the NCE graduates, can the number add up to 500,000 as I said earlier, and how will this thinking influence the advert we are going to do?

“Then, most important of all, costing. Probably, let's put the monthly pay of each recruit at N40,000 and multiply by 12, we have N480,000 per year. And when we multiply N480,000 by the 500,000 teachers, we have N240 billion a year for this project.”

One of the critical stakeholders in the education sector, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has commended the federal government for the initiative, but asked that only professionals be employed, from the pool of NCE holders.

NUT Secretary-General, Obong Obong, urged that the policy should only accommodate professional teachers – graduate teachers and NCE holders, and not people who have not been duly trained as teachers, no matter their qualifications.

“The NUT will support the federal government in the actualisation of this policy, but wishes to caution the government against the temptation of using this policy as a means of compensation for political patronage as it was the practice in the past," he said.

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education

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

‘Govt should learn from private varsities how to run its institutions’ Dr. Kayode Ogunleye is the Public Relations Officer of the Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities. He is also the Registrar, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, a private institution established by the Nigerian Baptist Convention. In this interview with KEHINDE ADIO, he proffers solution to problems of university admission, among others. Excerpts

W

hat is registrar’s role in the running of a university?

According to the law that established university institution, the registrar is the secretary to the Senate and the council of the university. He is the chief administrative officer directly responsible to the vice chancellor for the day-to-day running of the university. The registrar is the custodian of all the records of the university.

Industrial actions have been a major problem in the administration of Nigerian tertiary institutions.

What is the solution?

Let me use Bowen University as an illustration. At Bowen, there is no room for staff to go on strike. When things are done the way they should be done, there will be no cause for members of staff to go on strike. However, government has to take the welfare of the staff with high esteem.

Staff members also must follow the due process of expressing their grievances. It is not all the time that the staff will take advantage of unionism to break the law and order that guide the smooth running of the university. As good as unionism is in the university development process, it has been abused. Unionism has done more harm than good in the Nigerian university system.

Government should borrow a leaf from private universities on the effective management of their institutions.

This will guarantee peace in the system.

When there is no peace in an institution, academic stability will be threatened and quality will be affected. I make bold to say that private universities have proved that academic stability can be achieved in Nigeria.

support the development of university education in Nigeria?

The Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities (ARNU) is a functional association with a lot of responsibilities to better the development of university education in the country. We engage in capacity building of our members to enhance the quality of their administrative services in their various institutions. Aside that, we meet periodically to rub minds on how to move Nigerian universities forward through seminars and workshops.

How can we address the university admission problem, as we have more candidates chasing few university admission spaces every year?

Recently, we issued a communiqué after our national conference held at the University of Jos that Distance Learning system with entrepreneurial education should be encouraged; and that the development would go a long way to ease the problem of university admission in the country.

Because of the increase in the population of students seeking admission into university without a corresponding increase in the number of universities in Nigeria, the development of Distance Learning has become inevitable. This is what operates in some advanced countries across the globe.

Open Distance Learning is a global acceptable educational system that can be developed to absorb excess students looking for tertiary education in the country.

bers of candidates subscribe to Bowen University for admission annually.

For instance over 4,000 candidates applied for admission, out of which about 2,000 were considered for screening, from where we picked the best among them.

ful of its intake in terms of academic and moral responsiveness. We do not compromise standard in all the institutions or organisations under the Nigerian Baptist Convention.

So, our major prerequisite for admission is based on academic merit and moral standard. As a matter of fact, large num-

How do you maintain peace on your campus?

Bowen University is a faith-based institution with a guideline which everybody must respect. There is a functional code of conduct on the campus that guides social and academic activities. At Bowen, we follow strictly the institution’s working time schedule, as lecturers and students must be in their various classes as scheduled.

No roaming about on the campus. During general prayer on campus, the vice chancellor is punctual; so the management sets a standard as role model which other staff and students must abide by.

Although, it is not possible not to have some strong-headed people, especially among the students, the university’s law and order control the situation. And in a situation where we have some lapses, we follow due process to discourage it. For any erring students, we have a rehabilitation programme to reform them.

How do you guarantee quality assurance control of their graduates as well as availability of qualified lecturers?

There is no problem if the operators will follow standard laid down by the National Universities Commission (NUC). For instance, the University of Ibadan is running it and there is quality there.

On the issue of manpower, I do not think there can be any problem in the sense that Nigerian universities have produced many doctoral degree holders without job.

What admission policy does Bowen University adopt to ensure quality input into the university?

Bowen University is one of the private universities in the country that is mind-

What is your association doing to

The Vice Chancellor, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, Professor Sola Fajana, presenting the N50,000 cheque to Mr Abegunrin Peter Abimbola, the winner of a quiz competition organised by the university recently. With them is the registrar, Mr Wale Aderibigbe.

Olashore Lancaster Foundation students commence trip to UK

By Laolu Harolds OLASHORE Lancaster Foundation Students are set to commence their trip to the United Kingdom. The trip, which is scheduled to hold between March 5 and 19, is organised in partial fulfillment of the Lancaster University Foundation Programme (LUFP) qualification.

The Foundation is an offshoot of the Olashore International School, Iloko-Ijesa, Osun State. The aim of the academic and cultural orientation tour to Lancaster University is for the students to get orientation about degree programmes, familiarise themselves with their future courses and careers, meet other students, learn about the British culture and customs, handle the currency, use public transport, taste British cuisine, shop and experience the social, cultural and political life in the UK, amongst others.

During the two-week visit to the UK, the LUFP students will also participate in community development and volunteer programme which further develop their transition to independence.

As part of its offerings to give its graduating students the best education and a

platform for smooth transition into the universities abroad, Olashore International School established Lancaster University Foundation Programme in 2007 after signing a partnership with the Lancaster University in the UK to provide seamless transition of its students from the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to British universities.

The purpose of the Foundation programme is to provide students with the necessary skills needed to go on to study for an undergraduate Bachelor degree at Lancaster or any British university.

Students embarking on this programme will spend one year in Olashore International School, Nigeria and three years at Lancaster University or any British university.

The Lancaster University Foundation Programme (LUFP) welcomed its first students in October 2007 and has had over 100 students join universities across the United Kingdom and beyond.

Some of the unique features of the Olashore Lancaster Foundation programme include study skill sessions, academic and cultural orientation trip to UK universities, opportunity to apply to five UK universities, guaranteed progression to uni-

versities, visa processing support, as well as safe and serene en-suite accommodation and the learning environment.

According to the Programme Coordinator, Mr H. B. Rufai, “the Olashore foundation programme is well known, approved and accepted by UK universities. Lecturers from Lancaster University visit Nigeria in November and June for an intensive study skills sessions during the one year programme at Olashore International School.

Applicants must have completed secondary education with good grades in WASSCE before they can enroll for the one year foundation programme, and when the programme is half-way, the students are taken abroad for taster lectures, volunteering programmes and community development.

There are three choices of pathways for every student. These are Business & Management; Science & Computing and Literary & Social Studies. Every student is required to offer core modules and also choose any three subjects from the pathway subjects depending on their career intentions, ” according to Rufai.

The school principal, Mr D. K. Smith, emphasized the essence of the Lancast-

er University Foundation Programme (LUFP).

“The idea of the Lancaster Foundation came up after working in affiliation with Lancaster for few years, under the leadership of the former principal. The essence is to allow for easy and smooth transition from here to Lancaster University or any University in the UK through the help of this foundation programme.

“Lancaster University has existed for more than 50 years now, and has progressed to being one of the top 10 universities in the UK consistently. Based on the award we got in 2015 that has positioned Olashore as one of the top schools here in Nigeria, we want to affiliate ourselves with top schools. Transiting from secondary school to universities in big cities may prove difficult, but Lancaster University Foundation Programme at Olashore has made it smooth and effective, so that it is not new to them.

“Not only do we develop student’s academic and language proficiency, but we also provide students with opportunities to expand and enhance their study skills, attributes and personal development which enable our students to get most from future university experience.

25

education

Mountain Top university distributes free tablets to pioneer students

Thursday 25, February 2016

World Bank to support Nigeria’s annual school census

Clement Idoko- Abuja

T

HE World Bank has pledged to provide technical and financial support to Nigeria towards the successful conduct of the 2015/2016 Annual School

Census already flagged off nationwide by the Federal Government.

World Bank’s Representative, Dr Tunde Adekola, who disclosed this, said the World Bank, United Kingdom (UK)'s Department of International De-

velopment (DFID) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) would support all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the conduct of the exercise.

He noted that the World

Bank and other international development partners have been working with the Nigerian government to improve on the quality of education as well as Nigeria Education Management Information System (NEMIS).

Naza Okoli-Lagos MOUNTAIN Top University has offered free Samsung tablets to all its pioneer students.

Addressing the students at the Multipurpose Hall of the university, situated along the Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Elijah Ayolabi, however warned them against visiting the “wrong websites.”

“I pray the liberty you are going to get using this tablet will not turn to bondage. These tablets have been freely given to you by the Visitor. He has done his own part. However, he is not going to monitor you on the usage to know the type of websites you visit, but the management has installed a control that can monitor what you do with it.

“Once the device puts a question mark on yours, it means such a person has forfeited his own and in order to get another one, you have to pay for it,” Ayolabi said.

The vice chancellor said the device was designed to help students study in the comfort of their bedrooms as their course materials are already installed in the system.

“This tablet is meant for research. Use it to conquer the world and to secure your future. Use it to know the latest updates about your field of study. Use it to learn materials about scholars in your fields. If you know the mission behind this tablet and you use it accordingly, you will be made before you graduate from this institution.

As a management, we have made an attempt to make your stay here better and to enhance your learning,” he said.

A total of 161 tablets have so far been distributed.

According to Ayolabi, 100 computers have also recently been procured by the institution for the school's e-library and computer laboratory.

Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Adebiyi Daramola (right) with the Executive Secretary, ANAFE, Kenya, Professor Aissetou Drame Yaye, after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions recently. With them is the Principal Assistant Registrar, Public Relations of the university, Mr Adegbenro Adebanjo.

Proprietress, teachers and students of Peak International Nursery, Primary and Secondary School Ikenne Remo, during their excursion to Tribune House, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado Ibadan on Tuesday. PHOTO: D’ Toyin.

LASU holds quality assurance retreat Naza Okoli-Lagos The Lagos State University (LASU) last week held a two-day retreat on quality assurance for all segments of its staff and students’ associations.

Tagged ‘Fostering Community-wide Quality Assurance Culture in Lagos State University for Efficient Service Delivery and Academic Excellence’, the retreat was intended to evaluate quality in such areas as curriculum design,

programme content, student experience of learning, teacher competence, research, and community service.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun, in his opening remarks, described the outing as the beginning of a culture of excellence.

He said: “The basis of this retreat is the directive of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to all Nigerian universities in 2007 to establish quality

assurance units and provide periodic updates to the commission on the activities and impact of the unit through the University System Annual Review Meetings. LASU is one of the few universities in Nigeria that is yet to have a unit to quality-assure its teaching, research, service delivery and community service activities.”

In his keynote address, the former Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, Professor Peter Okebukola, said

the implication of a quality assurance system is that graduates of the university would be deemed the same in quality irrespective of their year of graduation.

“The elements of quality assurance will include external examiners system, institutional audit, routine monitoring, accreditation, ranking, Post-UTME, and APER,” he said.

The opening ceremony was also attended by a representative of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Idiat Adebule.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who flagged off the 2015/2016 annual school census exercise recently in Abuja, said this was intended to generate credible and reliable data in the education sector.

He added that the exercise would involve enumeration of all schools, pupils, teachers and facilities in the basic and post-basic school levels in the 36 states and the FCT, to collect and collate education data for enhanced educational planning, administration and informed decision making in Nigeria.

Adamu also disclosed that the Ministry of Education would host the Nigeria Education Management Information System (NEMIS) Software on the Internet for real-time online data entry and processing.

According to him, this will enhance uniformity in data reporting so that endusers will have timely reports for decision making and research.

He said: “The current trend in the conduct of the Annual School Census is informed by the provision of the Nigeria Education Management Information System (NEMIS) Policy of 2007, which provides for the collection of education data starting from school.

Thus, the Education Management Information System (NEMIS) processes have since 2009 been decentralised to the states to enhance efficiency in the collection, collation, management and dissemination of education data in Nigeria so as to ensure the availability of credible, reliable and timely education data.”

He expressed optimism that beginning from this year, Nigeria's education data at the basic and secondary school levels would be cleaner, more accurate, more accessible and up-todate.

The minister called for the cooperation of the states and local governments to ensure the success of the exercise.

Minister of the FCT, Mallam Muhammad Bello, speaking at the flag-off noted that school census was required in order to generate comprehensive data on which planning and policy direction are built.

26

education

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Minister canvasses compulsory Islamic education

A

blend of Western and Islamic education is the panacea for the ills afflicting Nigeria and stifling sustainable development, says the Minister of Communications, AbdurRaheem Adebayo Shittu.

The minister made the observation while on a courtesy visit to the Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari.

He advocated that all children in primary and secondary schools should receive basic Islamic education in addition to Western education, to offer them sound training and boost moral rectitude when they assume positions of responsibility in

the society.

“Education is a tool for the advancement of humanity. Combining Western education with proper Islamic education will give us future leaders who are diligent in their profession and who will lead the nation with the fear of God,” he emphasized, even as he urged Governor Masari to consider making all public schools in the state to run the two streams.

The minister also visited Riyaduh Quran Islamiyyah Nursery/Primary School, Sautus Sunnah Academy and Al-Qalam University – all in Katsina town. The two schools are run by Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah wa’iqamatis Sunnah (also

known as JIBWIS), while the university, sponsored by the Katsina Foundation, was established in 2005.

Impressed by its achievements and potential, Shittu described the university

as “a gold hidden under the sand” and volunteered to be its ambassador. He also urged management to embark on a strong advocacy to attract prospective students, especially from

the southern part of the country.

The minister advised the university to explore ingenious means of generating revenue through a strong entrepreneurship pro-

EKSU wins South-West oratory contest

•As Okojie, Ojerinde, Bogoro laud VC THE delegation of Ekiti State University (EKSU) to the annual oratory contest held at the University of Lagos, Akoka, has emerged victorious defeating six universities from the South-West geo-political zone of the country.

Known as the Professor Femi Raji Oratory Contest, the competition is held annually by students of the English Departments of the South-West universities to test the oratory skills and presentation prowess of English undergraduates.

The EKSU team, led by Anjorin Oluwadamilare Gideon, discussed the topic ‘NYSC: A Tool for National Unity’ and the presentation was adjudged to be the best ahead of University of Lagos, Bowen University, University of Ibadan and other contestants.

A statement by the Deputy Registrar, Information & Corporate Affairs of EKSU, Ajibade Olubunmi, quoted the vice chancellor, Professor Samuel Oye Bandele, as commending the award winners for making the institution proud.

The EKSU team will now represent the zone at the national competition scheduled for Abia State University in March.

Meanwhile, the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, has commended the smooth change of leadership at EKSU. He made the commendation last week when a delegation from the university, led by the vice chancellor, visited him in his office in Abuja.

Professor Okojie, while receiving the EKSU team, said that as a former vice chancellor, he understands the enormous pressure attached to the responsibili-

ties of the office of a vice chancellor.

He commended the smooth transition of power from the former vice-chancellor, Professor Oladipo Aina, to the incumbent vice chancellor, Professor Oye Bandele.

In his remarks, the Professor Oye Bandele thanked the NUC chief for appointing Professor Oladipo Aina as a visiting professor to the NUC. He informed his host that his administration at EKSU had successfully held the first Internal Revenue Generation (IGR) summit and an Academic Summit in just two months in office.

He also disclosed that the university is making plans to start new academic programmes to award bachelor degree in Tests and Measurement, Marketing and Insurance.

In the same vein, the former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Professor Sulaimon Elias Bogoro, has commended the impressive and judicious use of funds given to EKSU. He made the commendation during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja by the management of Ekiti State University.

The executive secretary congratulated Professor Bandele on his deserved appointment as the vice chancellor of EKSU. Professor Bogoro expressed delight that EKSU has a record of timely completion of projects and judicious use of resources.

Also, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Dibu Ojerinde, has applauded the emergence of Professor Bandele as the vice chancellor of EKSU.

The Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, presenting a scholarship award cheque from West African Gas Pipeline Company to Miss Rachel Oluremi Oluwayemi, a 100 Level student of the Guidance and Counseling Department of the university in his office last Tuesday.

Governor Ahmed advocates use of Nigerian languages in schools Biola Azeez– Ilorin GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has called for the use of Nigerian languages as languages of instruction as part of strategies to mitigate poor performances in Nigerian schools.

He made the call on Friday when the national leadership of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The governor noted that most students perform poorly in school due largely to the use of English as language of instruction, which hinders their interpretation of materials of instruction.

“Most of those who perform woefully in school have language problem; they can’t interpret questions.

If these instructions were written in the languages they understand, they will interpret the questions and do well in examinations,” he noted. The governor expressed concern that if concerted effort is not made, Nigerian languages will disappear, especially if they are not languages of

commerce and instruction.

“A number of dialects are virtually gone, and other languages may go unless conscious efforts are made to promote and sustain them through commerce and instruction,” he said.

Responding, President,

Nigerian Academy of Letters, Professor Olatunji Olahuntimehin, said the Academy of Letters as the highest body in the humanities leads the way in humanity studies for national development.

gramme, noting that the new agricultural policy of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has several incentives for agricultural business.

While emphasizing the role of information technology in promoting knowledge and mass enlightenment, the minister said relevant government agencies in the ICT sector will collaborate with the institution to enable it realize its objectives as enumerated by the vice chancellor, Professor Sheu Ado. Earlier, the vice chancellor disclosed that the institution, which presently enrolls 4,500 students, is accredited to run 22 degree courses and has 150-strong staff.

It recently got the nod of the National Universities Commission to offer postgraduate programmes in Arabic and Islamic studies.

“We offer public lectures and consultancies while community services are being rendered to nearby villages, as well as building network with local and international organizations in Pakistan and Malaysia”, he disclosed.

In a bid to tap from international linkages, the university has signed memorandum of understanding with seven foreign universities, five in Pakistan and two in Malaysia on exchange programmes for students and members of staff.

Initially named Katsina University, Katsina, at birth in 2005, Al-Qalam University is an Islamic institution envisioned to impart functional knowledge and sound moral education; distinguishing itself from other conventional universities in conduct of moral and academic regulations to produce educated, morally sound and God-fearing graduates.

100 students benefit from AAUA Work Study Scheme NO fewer than 100 students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, AkungbaAkoko, Ondo State, have been given appointment letters to take part in the institution’s 2015/2016 academic session (First Semester) Student WorkStudy Scheme (SWSS).

The scheme, which took off in July 2010, allows willing students to work for two hours daily and receive a monthly stipend to support themselves financially while studying in the university.

Distributing the appointment letters to the students last week, the director of the scheme, Dr Iyabo Omoniyi, counseled the beneficiaries to justify the sacrifice being made by the university manage-

ment by working hard and demonstrating commitment to the services of the university.

Dr Omoniyi said, “Despite the continuing fiscal recession, the university management has kept faith with the Student Work-Study Scheme. I, therefore, want to advise you to justify the sacrifice that the management is making. You must report to your respective duty posts promptly and work hard.”

A cross-section of the beneficiaries who spoke after receiving their letters appreciated the university for the gesture.

Oluwatosin Omilegan, a 300-Level student of Economics, said, “I put in for the scheme in order to enhance my financial sta-

tus. And I am prepared to spare two hours to work in the university. I pray that God will continue to bless the university so that the programme can continue.”

Also speaking, Olasunkanmi Ajayi, 200-Level Social Science Education, said, “I considered the scheme as something of major advantages as it is good for proper time management, financial support and gaining work experience.”

Another beneficiary, Jesusola Ajiboye, of the Religious Studies and Philosophy Department, said ”I put in for the work-study programme to enable me gain work experience that will help me in my future endeavours.”

27

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Group Business Editor Sulaimon Olanrewaju

m:08055001708 e:lanresulaimon@yahoo.com t:@lanresulaimon

aviation

anchor Shola Adekola

m:0803 365 4818 e:sholanig@yahoo.com

Captain Noggie Megisson is the Executive Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON). In this interview with Shola Adekola, he spoke on topical issues ranging from the controversial Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) Nigeria signed with different countries and multiple entry points granted foreign airlines to many government hostile aviation policies, among others.

D

O you think the re-introduction of customs duties by the federal government is a policy summersault?

It is not government really because that summersault was done based on a caveat and it wasn’t made a policy and was not put into the constitution and stamped. As we say everybody is looking for money in the government, the customs and excise have looked at it and say, okay the waiver given you by the past government has expired so please come and pay.

It expired and for the government to renew it, customs say they don’t want to hear that they should come and pay. And we have been trying to get to the government to say there is no need at this time.

For example, for the past one week, less than 50 per cent or 20 per cent of the flights are flown in Nigeria because you cannot fly at night, no runway lights, no markings on the runway, you cannot fly during the day, no navigation aids, so you park the aircraft. Let’s forget the airlines being suffering financially on these issues, let’s look at the businessmen that have business to do in these different region.

It is also crippling the industry and crippling the economy of the country indirectly because people that would have gone to go and do business they have cancelled and postponed businesses and appointments. So if you take the loss of manpower and capital, sitting down, managing directors, accountants sitting down at the airport for day and hours on end and people like me that ended up traveling after three days by road to come to Lagos, I have not even gone by road in five years, just to get to Lagos.

Just imagine the loss of revenue

Aviation is a goldmine that can be tapped like oil

— Capt. Megisson

during this time. And what is the cost of the navigation aids? It is not the weather as I keep on saying; weather will come, rain will come Harmattan will come it happens every year before we were born it came, after we will die it will still come, so it is nothing new; it is just that you are not prepared for it.

Don’t wait on the day the woman wants to deliver, after nine months you start to run to the bank manager, telling him that your ATM is not working and your wife is about delivering, you’ve had nine months to plan.

What is your overview of the industry?

We are all Nigerians, we know what is happening in the oil sector, oil today is at $26 per barrel; our budget was almost set at $48.

Today we even crippling down, we are hearing that the government is already having the idea, and recently the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu said at $20 per barrel of crude oil, Nigeria will survive. So we are already putting $20 in view, the future prospect buyers in the world are hedging at $15 a barrel, so we know we are in for a rough ride.

So there is really no need to do the ostrich system and put your head in the sand and your body outside. We need to look at the reality. There is a meltdown on foreign exchange and there is a meltdown in the economy. Whichever way we need to look at it we need to tackle the problems in aviation, without being political about it, we need to tackle our future as a country seriously. And this is the time we need all hands on deck, be you on the mining sector, be you in the oil sector, transportation or avia-

tion or agriculture all hands need to be on deck in Nigeria at this time. And from my own point of view, from my own small position as the Chairman of AON, we in the aviation sector are trying to come on stream and to put our own contribution in getting Nigeria ahead.

It is not that easy as you all know, the foreign exchange we know is pretty difficult to access right now.

We have met the Central Bank last year November and the Central Bank Governor promised to give priority to this. And as you say and as I tell people, about 80 per cent of the cost of aviation is directly affected by the foreign exchange.

From the fuel that we buy although in Naira but it is hedge against the dollar because they have to import it in dollars. And it goes with whatever the rate is, the international rates per day, to the spare parts to our insurance, to as minimum as even the simulator training by the pilots.

The Bilateral Air Service

You cannot sit down and let $4 billion or $6 billion dollars leave your country daily when your total income as a country is maybe at $25 a barrel.

Agreement (BASA) signed by the federal government is most often tilted against Nigeria’s interest. How do you react to this?

The BASA as we always say, at this time of our national economic situation it is obvious that we as Nigerians need to sit down and start to look inwards. You cannot continue to feed other people’s children at the expense of your own children in-house. Your children are suffering from kwashiorkor and you are giving food to somebody else that is being subsidised by another government food. So it is only clear at this time that Nigerian government needs to review all BASAs. BASA is a bilateral trade agreement. Our government must review them.

The BASA must be reviewed to put it in a place where it is mutually benefiting. I don’t want to go down the road where we begin to raise issues up again, where we said people have come to this country to come and discuss BASA agreements and they come with aviation technocrats with 20, 30 years’ experience on the other side of the table and on the Nigerian side does not have even one aviator sitting down at the other side.

Many instances can be mentioned.

There are instances where people have tried to sign the sixth freedom right; there is nobody that has the sixth freedom. There is not even fifth freedom between the two closest allies in the world, the British government and the American government do not even have the fifth freedom rights.

Aviation, for example, contributes 27 per cent to the GDP of United Arab Emirates. But when I say aviation, I am not talking

about airlines, I am talking about aviation. There are many services in aviation, we should look at aviation and try and harness our potentials in aviation. This is not the time to play big brother and say come and do five landings at the expense of your local airlines. We have airlines here today coming into our country and doing five landings inter-city hubs; those same airlines do not allow commercial operation in their own countries above 19 passengers. These do not happen in their countries.

Aviation is a goldmine that can be tapped the same way the oil was tapped when we went into Joint Ventures with the oil companies through tapping and Nigeria had a controlling share, 40 to 60 per cent. We should now start to take aviation the same way, if you are making a turnover of N2 billion from us and 60 per cent of your passenger load is coming out of Nigeria, government should have a policy that will make the country harness from such huge passenger traffic. We have numbers to show.

Early last year I gave the figures to the minister, what people will call capital flight, I don’t call it capital flight. I will call it financial flow from two countries. The figure was $1.7 billion a year from ticket sales.

I don’t call it capital flight because capital flight is if there is a law restricting it from going out.

But do you think what is happening now is threatening the existence of Nigerian airlines?

There is no Nigerian airline that is collapsing now; there is a tough Continues on pg28

28

aviation

crucial moment With Shola Adekola

0803 365 4818

EFCC probe in aviation sector and matters arising THERE is an air of uncertainty blowing everywhere around the country’s aviation sector which no one could tell when or how it will end. Previously, the sector has never been lucky to enjoy absolute peace and tranquility at a long stretch as it is always in one controversy or the other.

Ironically, most of the challenges can be traced to government hostile policies which many people including stakeholders and the political class have capitalised on to perpetrate some illegal acts.

There is no doubt that one of the consequences of such unfriendly policies is the latest controversy that the sector is enmeshed in courtesy of the ongoing searchlight being beamed on the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in particular by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the past weeks.

For close to two weeks now, the EFCC has mounted its surveillance on activities within the agency following series of petitions both from within and outside the agency on allegations of financial misappropriation. The height of the development was the arrest and detention of principal officers at the agency.

Since the detention, mind boggling revelations have continued to be rolled out by different people depending on areas of interest.

While many people are reacting based on their strong love for the survival of the agency and the subsequent safety of the country’s airspace, there is however, the need for the government to show precaution in handling issues, at the agency in other not to throw out the baby with the bath water. Presently, there is a strong division among the different class of workers at the agency with some not happy with the clamp down on some officers while others see the situation as an avenue to settle scores.

Anyhow one sees it, the obvious thing is that all is not well with the agency in view of the way past managements including the incumbent have taken the workers for granted. It will be recalled that for some time, the workers through the various unions had complained about the failure of the management to settle their outstanding welfare.

Each time the workers demanded for their welfare to be taken care of, they were always told there was no fund to implement this.

Even sensitive departments like air traffic services have been denied required training and recruitment of more hands on the excuse that there was no fund to execute such therefore, the work that should have been done by over 400 controllers are being done by just about 150.

To corroborate this, the president of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Victor Eyaru declared: “Worthy of mention is the deliberate depriving of Air Traffic Controllers mandatory training since 2012 by continually arrogating such to lack of fund or approval. This has reduced the capacity of the available Air Traffic Controllers to effectively provide various services such as the newly introduced 24-hour Area Radar Service and Performance Based Navigation (PBN).”

Besides the failure of the subsequent managements to train and meet the demands of the workers, even those who have retired are yet to be paid their entitlements and yet revelations have shown how senior officers have been linked to huge financial dealings.

The unfolding drama is scaring and dangerous and there is the need for government to seriously handle the situation holistically as any attempt to mismanage it may spell doom for the entire sector as whatever happens to one agency happens to the others. If it is actually true that the allegations leveled against the officers are factual, then it will be pure injustice to the workers and the agency itself.

There is however the need for the same searchlight to be beamed on even the ministers who served within the periods as the detained officers may have been put under pressure to do what they did.

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

‘Nigerian needs to see the potential in aviation industry’ Continues from pg27

terrain worldwide, it has nothing to do with Nigeria alone. Nigeria is not standing alone at this time. You all know, if you go and take a look at what the Euro is today, it is taking a bash, the Pounds Sterling is about 1.4 per cent down in value, compared to 1.7 per cent. The South African Rand is about 17 from 11, so the Nigerian government or Nigerian aviation is not standing in isolation. What is happening in America, America is pulling up funds, if you read more into it you will find that America is taking back. And America is growing; there is a boom in America occasioned by the collapse of oil prices. Nigeria is not standing alone; everybody is adjusting.

We do not have a choice as a country than to look at those BASAs again, we do not have a choice. You cannot sit down and let $4 billion or $6 billion dollars leave your country daily when your total income as a country is maybe at $25 a barrel, we will be looking at maybe 15 billion dollars. So it is only paramount, it is only just for sure that the government is going to look at it.

But the problem now is we have let it the late. We would have started correcting this issue when we identified it. I have been chairman for like two years and from the beginning we have been saying and repeating and repeating like a broken record. At times I want to say it is the same thing I said before is the same thing I am saying again and the same thing I will say

tomorrow.

Local airlines are the major victims of the many lopsided BASA agreements signed with many countries which airlines operate into Nigeria?

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is very straight and able; you know our NCAA is Category one rated by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The NCAA is very up to speed. The only thing I will say is that things are going to get tougher, disposable income and

the excess luxuries for the airlines are going to go. And that is why we also want to go to the government, instead of charging us double taxation, charging us for things that are not being used, don’t let me pay for service you are not providing for. Let’s give back that money to the passenger.

If it is N2 of your ticket or N10 or N500 that is going towards fuel surcharge or that is going towards VAT, please release it back so that people can travel. This is because if people don’t travel and don’t move or cannot travel it will ground the economy eventually, indirectly. You may say yes the man is going on a holiday, we know now for the past two weeks the flights have all been delayed, there is a skeleton of flights going around. And I said to one of the guys that asked me, Nigerian problem is not weather, weather is not the problem. What is weather?

The problem in the industry today is not weather. There have been a lot of cancellations of flights for the past weeks. Less than 50 per cent of the flights have gone on time. Less than 50 per cent have been cancelled. I was in Benin and Warri, trying to get out of Warri, I couldn’t get out of Warri, I went to Benin, spent three days I had to drive by road to Lagos by myself.

It is not that the weather is bad, there is nothing new about the weather, the problem is that the navigation aids are not working. We do not have navigation aids.

We are talking about way back in the 70s and European people are landing on zero, zero visibility.

AIB spearheads review of accident and incident regulation 2006 Stories By Shola Adekola - Lagos DETERMINED to make the job of accident investigation in Nigeria compete favourably with other parts of the world, the Nigeria’s Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Tuesday led other stakeholders across the sector to commence moves that will lead to the review of the Civil Aviation Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents Regulations 2006.

The workshop, which was held Tuesday, 23rd February, 2016 and attended by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and the Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika also had in attendance top aviation stakeholders and professionals from the Ministry of Transportation, aviation agencies, airlines, concessionaires and private sector.

A statement earlier issued before Tuesday by the Spokesman of AIB, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, said that industry professionals like revered aviation lawyer and immediate past President of Aviation Round Table, ART, Capt. Dele Ore and the Managing Director of Aeroconsut Limited, Engineer Babatunde Obadofin were to present papers that would usher in the new policy for accident investigation in the sector.

Apart from the duo, the commissioner at the bureau, Dr Felix Abali presented the welcome address while technical directors from the bureau also presented different papers.

Oketunbi hinted that the review of the existing 2006 policy was pertinent in or-

2017 may witness liberalization of African skies — AFRAA The much awaited liberalization of African skies may finally be coming to reality in year 2017.

Making this known, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), hinted of significant progress already made on cross-border interconnectivity among many African nations.

Speaking on the development, Elijah Chingosho, secretary general of AFRAA, said several countries including Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda and Zimbabwe have all pledged to finally implement the Yamoussoukro Declaration, an agreement that would remove the web of bilateral restrictions on international air trade across the continent and establish a single air market in Africa.

Yamoussoukro was passed back in

SAHCOL now handles Air Cote D’Ivoire THE Skyway Aviation Handling Company Ltd (SAHCOL) has won the contract for the rendering of Ground Handling Services to Air Cote d’Ivoire’s flight operations at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

This new contract will see SAHCOL providing Passengers, Ramp, Cargo Handling Services and Crew Bus Services to Air Cote D’Ivoire three (3) times a week flight operations to the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

According to the spokesperson of the company, Basil Agboarumi, “six years after SAHCOL was acquired by the SIFAX Group, the company has grown

der for aviation industry in Nigeria to conform to the updated International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices, (SARPS).

He added that the review became necessary in a bid for its policy to be in tandem with its counterparts around the world.

in leaps and bounds with clients and stakeholders in the International Aviation scene.

“Since 2010, SAHCOL has won more than 70 % of the new Airline Ground Handling contracts signed in Nigeria.

This is largely due to new investments in Ground Support Equipment, Good Customer Service, Infrastructural development and appropriate trainings of its staff.”

SAHCOL is certified by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

SAHCOL provides daily scheduled Ground Handling Services in 17 locations in Nigeria.

1999, but the agreement was never ratified by all member nations.

According to Chingosho; “We are likely to achieve the target of having a single African air transport market by end of January 2017”.

Should each of the nations follow through on the agreement, the Yamoussoukro Declaration would cover about 85 percent of Africa’s air traffic, he said.

Once liberalization is fully achieved, airlines based in Africa will be free to fly, without restrictions, to as many other African countries that they wish.

Chingosho who said that this freedom may end up doubling the size of the air industry in the next five years, added that the final hurdle will be to convince those nations with poorly performing airlines to stop the common practice of imposing highly restrictive tariffs on foreign carriers to protect their assets.

While saying some of these inefficient airlines lobby their governments not to allow competition from other African airlines, Chingosho added that AFRAA has stepped up its efforts to convince these governments that free competition is better for everyone because it encourages and rewards innovation.

Even with fully liberalized skies, the continent, as a whole, has a long way to climb to become competitive with the world.

According to AFRAA, there are about 760 aircraft currently being operated by all commercial Africa-based carriers, representing less than 3 percent of global aviation revenue.

29

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

anchor

maritime

Tola Adenubi

m:07068476673 e:adenubiadetola@yahoo.com

Why Amaechi, ship owners meeting remain elusive

During his maiden tour of Lagos seaports and establishments under his purview, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, promised to meet with indigenous ship owners to address the issues militating against them. Two months after, a number of reasons have forced the minister to shun the local operators, writes TOLA ADENUBI.

W

HEN the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, visited the seaports about two months ago, he promised to meet with the indigenous ship owners because he needed to understand their challenges and table his plans for the industry before investors.

According to the minister, it was “a personal decision” which he thought would be applicable to solving the problems of under-development of the indigenous shipping industry. “The maritime sector globally is largely private sector driven with governments providing the appropriate policy and regulatory framework to improve investments and safeguard the nation’s waterways.

“But what I think I would do is to first meet with the indigenous ship owners and try to understand who they are and what their challenges are so that I can come back to present their issues to the Federal Executive Council (FEC),” he said.

However, two months after those utterances, the minister is yet to know the indigenous ship owners, not to talk of understanding their challenges.

According to findings, many of the indigenous ship owners had written to the minister, reminding him of his promise to meet with them so that they could table their challenges before him. Many of those letters, findings revealed, have been left unattended to at the Federal Ministry

The minister had asked ship operators to close their ranks if they hoped to be listened to by the Federal Government.

However, findings revealed that the ship owners are yet to close their ranks. of Transport due to a number of reasons which has forced the minister to, for now, avoid the indigenous ship owners.

2016 budget dilema According to a source at the ministry, the minister has been forced to avoid the indigenous ship owners largely because of the travails of the 2016 budget at the National Assembly.

“The situation with the 2016 budget was unexpected and this has forced the Minister to put on hold any discussion that will need huge capital to be implemented.

You know shipping is a capital intensive

Nigerian Tribune

business. Without the ships, there is no ship-owner.

“The minister has already been briefed about the predicament confronting the indigenous ship owners. He has read in various media about their inability to compete with the foreign ship owners due to lack of vessels. So he knows what to expect from the ship owners when they meet.

“He did not envisage the 2016 budget crisis. Obviously, if the budget crisis persists, the ministry will not have funds to implement any of its plans. So due to this issue, the minister is carefully taking his time as regards the meeting with the local operators. Whenever the budget is passed by the National Assembly, he will surely call the indigenous ship owners to a roundtable meeting,” our source revealed to Nigerian Tribune.

NISA still divided Another reason the minister has not met with the indigenous ship owners is because the umbrella body of the local operators, the Nigerian Indigenous Ship-owners Association (NISA) is still divided along the administration of two presidents.

It will be recalled that due to the involvement of the elected president of the association, Captain Niyi Labinjo, in financial misappropriation allegations over vessel acquisition bid, the retired Naval Captain was suspended by some of his executives, who then appointed Malam

Aminu Umar has the Acting President.

But the refusal of Capt. Labinjo to step aside as president and acknowledge his suspension led to NISA having two presidents.

On his appointment, the minister had stated that the ship operators needed to close their ranks if they hoped to be listened to by the Federal Government.

However, findings have revealed that the ship owners are yet to close their ranks as both parties have still maintained the parallel structure that has threatened to consume the association in the last few months.

Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune, the Spokesman of NISA loyal to Mallam Aminu Umar, Emmanuel Ilori stated that the only recognised NISA is the one under the leadership of Aminu Umar.

“We don’t have a divided NISA. The one and only recognised NISA is the Mallam Aminu Umar led association. We also do not have the power to control the itinerary of the Honourable Minister of Transportation. Whenever the minister wants to see us, he will call for us.”

In a different chat with the Nigerian Tribune, the elected President of NISA, Captain Labinjo stated that whenever the minister is ready to speak to ship-owners, he would meet with him.

“Mallam Aminu Umar led NISA can never be recognised for obvious reasons; he is not the elected President of NISA. They asked me to clear my name from the EFCC, but it’s been 14 months after the EFCC saga and I am still walking free on the streets of Lagos.

Judicial power rests with the court and it is the only institution that can determine if somebody is guilty or innocent.

“It is only the people who elected me that can say I am not the President of NISA, not a handful of people. A handful of people with ulterior motive cannot say I am not the NISA President.

“If Raymond Omatseye Temisan, who has been facing a nine count charge since 2010 in the court, was allowed to participate in NISA elections, then it means only the court can determine if somebody is guilty or innocent. Nobody is guilty until proven guilty at the courts. If a few asked me to step aside because of an allegation, it means they have already judged me.

“Whenever the minister wants to meet with ship-owners, he will meet with me.

I speak with the ministry officials. They send me correspondences. They send correspondences to our secretariat. The people claiming to be NISA have no secretariat. They meet at the office of the former NISA President, Isaac Jolapamo.

“Their spokesman who said the only NISA is the Aminu Umar led group is just an associate member of NISA and not a core member. He does not own ships. He is just an engineer. We accommodated him into the group and he cannot be the one to tell us who is our President.

“I have told them if they are not comfortable to be under NISA, then they should go and establish their own association. After all, Greg Ogbeifun has established Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) and heaven has not come down. He has a handful of ship owners with him just like Aminu Umar has a handful with him. The rest of the ship owners are with me,” Labinjo stated.

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maritime

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

N38bn fraud: Suspended directors to be sacked if... —NIMASA Stories by Tola Adenubi -Lagos

T

HE Nigerian M a r i t i m e Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has stated that the nine suspended Directors will be sacked if found guilty of culpability in the alleged N38.2 billion fraud which they already

have been interdicted in line with the Civil Service rules.

Disclosing this to the Nigerian Tribune exclusively, the Deputy Director Public Relations, NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, while responding to enquiries on the issue by our correspondent, stated that if they are found guilty, they will be sacked.

In her words, “it is very

NAGAFF partners SFU to fight corruption THE anti-corruption drive of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has received a boost as it entered strategic understanding with the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police to fight the menace of corruption that is confronting the nation.

This understanding was sealed when the Founder of NAGAFF, Dr Boniface Aniebonam led some members of the AntiCorruption Committee of the Association on a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police SFU, Anthony Mike Ogbizi.

Speaking on the occasion, Aniebonam submitted that it is now time for Nigerians to support every effort to eradicate the menace of corruption which is stunting the development of this great country.

He said corruption is dealing deadly blows on

the country, and no effort should be spared in putting an end to the menace of corruption in the country.

He informed the CP that NAGAFF has a long and rich history of confronting corruption at the ports, and that it was in furtherance of this task that the association set up a National Committee Against Corruption, with the full complement of experienced and dedicated members of the Association at the level of the National Executive Council.

“We in NAGAFF are conversant with the saying that when you fight corruption, corruption fights back and there is no gainsaying the fact that we have started seeing the signs.

“The truth of the matter is that it is the tonic we needed to become more aggressive against any attempt by anybody or organization to intimidate or harass any of us.

Hanging declarations threaten Seme Customs revenue target FINDINGS have revealed that the Seme Customs Command revenue target is currently being plagued by numerous declarations which are pending and are yet to be cleared by agents and customs brokers.

According to investigations, many of the owners of these declarations are nowhere to be found even as the state of the declarations is piling strain on the drive of the command to meet up with its revenue target.

Bemoaning his frustration when top executives of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) visited his office on a courtesy call, the Customs Area Controller of Seme Command, Comptroller Victor Dimka threatened to blacklist clearing agents and their practicing licenses over untrue and uncompleted

declarations. this last week when.

He pleaded with the visiting members of ANLCA led by its Zonal Coordinator, Western Ports, Chief John Ofobike to assist in resolving the “hanging declarations” currently plaguing his command.

He advised that ANLCA members involved must as a matter of urgency, resolve the outstanding declarations, so that the Customs authorities are not forced to block the usage of their customs licenses.

Dimka equally informed the delegation that his command has consistently, since his assumption of duties at the border command, been surpassing its weekly revenue targets.

He said that this is a pointer to the fact that his monthly revenue will be met and even surpassed.

much correct that if the suspended Directors are found guilty of the charges, they will be sacked.”

It will be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the affected staffers along with their former boss at two different Federal High Courts in Lagos and another Lagos High Court for various offences, including the alleged diversion of the agency’s funds running into N38.2 billion.

The affected staffers, according to sources, are the Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development,

Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba; Director, Shipping Development, Captain Warredi Enisuoh; Director, Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standards, Vincent Udoye; and Director, Servicom, Felix Bob-Nabena.

Others are two Assistant Directors, Governor Amechee Juan (Maritime Safety) and Ugo Fredrick (Shipping Promotion).

Also suspended are Timi Alari, who is a former Personal Assistant to Akpobolokemi; Ekene Nwakuche, Personal Assistant to Agaba; and Rex Elems, Head PublicPrivate-Partnership (PPP)

unit of the agency.

Akpobolokemi was arraigned by the EFCC on December 3, 2015, before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos along with Agaba, Nwakuche, Bob-Nabena, Enisuoh, Juan, Ugo, Alari and two companies AlKenzo Limited and Peniel Engineering Services Limited.

They were accused of conspiring among themselves to convert N3.4 billion belonging to NIMASA, as the commission said the sum was “derived from stealing.”

EFCC said the alleged offence contravenes

Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition/ Amendment) Act of 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3).

On January 14, 2015, the anti-graft agency filed a separate 40-count charge on alleged diversion of N34 billion against Akpobolokemi and former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger-Delta (MEND), Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

They were alleged to have converted $108.7 million and N2.2 billion, property of NIMASA, with the knowledge that the said sums were stolen.

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Mohammed Umaru Bago (left), receiving a plaque from the Ag. Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Baba Jauro, during a visit by the committee to the agency, recently.

Charges: Grimaldi introduces online platform for payment LEADING RORO shipping group, Grimaldi has unveiled new electronic services through its web portal to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of its processes.

Managing Director of Grimaldi Agency Nigeria Limited, Ascanio Russo, said the new e-services would enable customers view ship rotation numbers of previous eleven vessel calls and five upcoming Grimaldi vessel calls to its terminal, PTML Terminal in Lagos.

“With this new portal that we have launched, our export customers can also look at the expected vessel schedule for their planning.

“They can generate estimates by following some simple steps on the same web portal and make invoice

payment for containers, vehicles and general cargo using their internet Bank NIBSS payment platform or through any debit/credit card or just simply walking into any bank branch nationwide,” Russo said.

He said the new e-service would enhance delivery of cargo at the port as it is fast, convenient, secure and available every day of the week including weekends, all year round.

According to him, “customers need not come or call our office to check for rotation numbers or ETA of vessels. They are updated real time and hence the most recent information is available.

“Customers and agents do not need to wade through the busy Lagos

traffic to obtain estimates from agency and terminal operators or make payments and they can make savings on bank charges as well as save transportation time and costs.

“By deploying the first encompassing e-payment platform in the Nigeria shipping industry we allow importers and agents to view and pay their invoices online in the comfort of their office.”

He said despite the huge drop in cargo volume at the terminal occasioned by the National Automotive Policy, Grimaldi Agency and PTML Terminal will continue to introduce innovative ways to enhance service delivery to its customers and make life easier for them.

“We witnessed more than

70 per cent drop in traffic at the terminal last year because of the high import duties as a result of the auto policy which fuelled diversion of vehicles to the Port of Cotonou but despite this, we remain committed to enhancing our operations.

“We also remain committed to helping government achieve speedy clearance of cargo at the port and enhancing revenue collection,” he said.

The Grimaldi Group has been offering shipping services to Nigeria for over 40 years and in 2005, it signed an agreement with the Federal Government of Nigeria to develop a new terminal – Ports & Terminal Multiservices Ltd (PTML) - in Tin Can Island Port on BOT basis.

31

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

With Adewale Oshodi tribunearts@yahoo.com 08054005323

•From left, Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka; founder, Ebedi International Writers’ Residency, Iseyin, Dr Wale Okediran and the Baale of Barracks Area, Iseyin, Chief Lawal Awojobi, during the reception for Professor Soyinka.

•Professor Wole Soyinka with current and past residents.

Ebedi comes alive with Soyinka’s visit

By Adewale Oshodi

W

HEN Professor Wole Soyinka confirmed that he would be visiting the Ebedi International Writers Residency in Iseyin, Oyo State, he warned that he wanted a low-key reception, but a golden fish has no hiding place, and thus, many people, on hearing that the Nobel laureate was around, trooped enmasse to the residency to catch a glimpse of him.

Professor Soyinka’s visit was actually to identify with his core constituency, but it was an opportunity for those who had seen him from afar to meet and relate with him on a personal level.

Explaining the reason for Professor Soyinka’s visit, the founder of Ebedi International Writers Residency, Dr Wale Okediran, said the Nobel laureate “wanted to identify with what we are doing here at Ebedi.

“We all know how great Professor Soyinka is, especially in literature, and it is a great honour for us to have him here.

“This visit will definitely boost our morale so that we will continue to do what is right for the residency, especially for the development of writers in the country, and in other parts of the continent.

“We are really grateful to Professor Soyinka for finding time out of his busy schedule to pay us a visit at Ebedi, and it is one visit that has been etched in our memory,” Dr Okediran said.

Also on hand to welcome Professor Soyinka were current and former residents of the centre, and they took turns to explain what they were able to achieve while they were at the residency; they also recited poems for the literary genius.

One of the former residents, Halimat Ali Bankole, who travelled all the way from Osogbo, Osun State to meet Professor Soyinka, said before she was accepted for the residency, she had been trying to write a novel for years without success.

“However, as soon as I got to Ebedi, I discovered that there was nothing to dis-

tract me, and as such, I was able to complete my book,” Ali-Bankole said.

On meeting Professor Soyinka, AliBankole said it was a great opportunity to have met one of Nigeria’s greatest literary icons.

“We mustn’t forget that he is still Nigeria’s only Nobel laureate, so it is a great opportunity for me to finally meet him; this is what Ebedi has done for me,” AliBankole said.

Another former resident, Wale Ayansola, performed two of his poems, and Professor Soyinka was particularly thrilled

by Mo ri nkan l’Ebedi (I saw something in Ebedi) which highlighted the beauty in nature in the town sounded by seven hills.

Ayansola, a student of the University of Ibadan, also appreciated the opportunity Ebedi has given him to meet his role model, saying, “I never thought I could meet Professor Soyinka one-on-one, but this is a dream come true for me, and I will cherish it for the rest of my life.”

Iquo Diane Abasi, a poet, who travelled

all the way from Lagos for the event, thrilled Professor Soyinka, as well as the gathering with her performance.

Current residents, Nii Addokwei Moffati from Ghana and Dzekashu Macviban from Cameroon used the opportunity to welcome Professor Soyinka with songs in the Ghanaian and French languages.

Apart from the residents, secondary school students from the area also saw the visit as an opportunity to meet the Nobel laureate, and they trooped out enmasse to catch a glimpse of him.

One of the students, Kafayat Idowu, described the opportunity of meeting Professor Soyinka as one that would shape her future.

“I have seen that Professor Soyinka is human, and if he can achieve greatness through literature, then I can as well,” Kafayat said.

Also on hand to welcome Professor Soyinka were a former president of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Professor Remi Raji; the Caretaker Chairman

•Secondary school students were also on hand to welcome the Nobel laureate.

of Iseyin Local Government Area, Alhaji Saheed Alaran; principals and teachers of schools in the town, high chiefs, community leaders, and lovers of literature.

In his brief remarks on the occasion, Professor Soyinka thanked the founder of the Ebedi residency for the warm welcome, while admitting that the vision for the residency was thriving.

“With what I have seen so far, I have been able to see that Ebedi is thriving, and it boils down to the management of the centre.”

For the students, Professor Soyinka urged them to take arts seriously, saying “creativity liberates, and it gives you the opportunity to have your own mind, while thinking differently.”

Speaking on his own residency, the Nobel laureate admitted that a lot still needs to be done, “but it was a great thing that we have other residencies like Ebedi, and we hope to exchange writers-in-residency once in a while.”

While inspecting the residency, Professor Soyinka was given the task to unveil the names of writers which had been assigned to each of the four rooms in the building. The four names are Abubakar Gimba, Chinua Achebe, Mabel Segun, and Wole Soyinka.

It was also a day of surprises as one of Soyinka’s old hunting partners, Asunmo Ibaiba, was arranged to see him again after about 30 years.

The two friends, after the programme, discussed for hours, remembering the good times they hunted together at the Ikere forest in Iseyin.

Professor Soyinka then later went to see the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdulganiy Adekunle, who had instructed that the literary genius be brought to the palace because the visit would open up opportunities for the town.

At the palace, the Aseyin thanked Professor Soyinka for coming to the town, while saying the visit would definitely encourage some of the students to think of becoming full-time writers.

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arts&review

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Towards waking up one’s destiny A review of Duyilemi Akindele’s book, Wake Up Your Destiny by Paul OMOROGBE.

W

AKE Up Your Destiny, a book written by Felix Duyilemi is the sixth book in his kitty. However, Duyilemi in the Introduction section of this book, makes a clear distinction of his latest effort from all others. He said, “I have written a number of other great books, but this book is nothing like any other I have written. It’s a book I wrote under the direct inspiration of God. This book will open your eyes to the mysterious yet simple concept of Destiny.”

With those words, the author makes clear the central theme of the book, promising a life changing experience as the reader goes through the material.

The author employs a thorough approach to this 171 page book and includes

a work book section at the end of it, where the reader is encouraged to answer questions from each of the 11 chapters of the

book, think on and apply principles in the chapters to one’s personal life and to share findings therein with friends.

The first chapter is titled ‘Your Destiny is calling’. Here, Duyilemi defines the term destiny as “god’s intended meaning for a specific life.” He describes destiny as one’s life assignment and gives several illustrations to paint a vivid picture of what destiny looks like and presents the reader with three purposes fulfilling destiny will achieve on the earth.

Though many are familiar with the concept of destiny, the author makes it clear that this awareness is on four levels. One must identify which level they are on and seek to rise to the highest level of destiny awareness which the author calls ‘conscious awareness.’

In the second chapter, titled ‘Clues to your destiny’, Duyilemi gives questions one can ask oneself in order to discover one’s destiny. He gives other pointers to

Poet, Lanrewaju Adepoju, honoured POPULAR poet, Chief Olanrewaju Adepoju, has been honoured by the International World Learned Society for his contributions to the development of arts in the country.

Presenting the award to the poet recently, Professor Basheer Aremu, head of the African office of the organisation, said Chief Adepoju fight for the masses through his poetry was the reason he was selected for the honour.

“Chief Adepoju has used his poems to liberate people, particularly the Yoruba people, on the need for them to the politically aware of happenings around them.

“He has also exposed corrupt people in the society, meaning his poems are like double-edged swords,” Professor Aremu said, while urging the poet not to relent in his poetic activism.

While thanking the organisation for the award, Chief Adepoju said he would continue to do his best in order to liberate Yoruba people from political and

•From left, Sheikh Ahmad Eleyinirin, representative of the World Assembly of Muslim Youths; the awardee, Chief Olanrewaju Adepoju and Professor Basheer Aremu of the International World Learned Society, during the presentation of the award to Chief Adepoju.

social slavery.

“Through my poetry, I will continue to enligthen my people politically and socially; I am particularly interested in the

revival of the Yoruba language. Therefore, I will work harder, not because I want to win more awards, but benefit all Yoruba sons and daughters.”

Surviving today’s negative influences A review of Moses Akinyetun’s book, The Killer and The Thriller.

Evangelist Moses Akinyetun’s book, The Killer and The Thriller seeks to arrest the moral decadence in the society.

By The Killer, the author means sin, which he further describes as being more ferocious than the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The author highlights how sin distances one from God, while bringing one untold pain, sorrow and tears. A look at the life of the prodigal son in the Bible is the focus of the first section of the book.

The prodigal son sins against his father by collecting his inheritance, and then leaves home. After spending the money lavishly, he returns home to the warm embrace of his father.

The book, therefore, uses this particular story to explain the need for today’s people who have gone against God’s wishes to return to Him, while explaining that the moral autonomy, unguided,

unrestricted and unlimited liberty in the world today are the causes of our problem. The author then urges Christians to stand firm.

The second focus of the book is The

Thriller, which the author describes as the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit wants us to experience thrills in our world — education, career, ministry, marriage, etc.”

However, this will not be possible if we still continue to live in sin.

A section of the book then looks at the lives of people in the Bible who had fallen short the glory of God because of they allowed human wants to take over their hearts.

Among the people are Achan, Saul, Gehazi, Judas, Demas, among others; these people allowed their love for material possession to becloud their spirituality and relationship with God, and as such, they paid the consequences. The author particularly identifies the love of money as one of the ‘tools’ the devil use to make man miss his purpose in life. The author then highlights the exceptional transformative thrills of the Holy Spirit using some characters in the Old Testament.

The book is a must-read for Christians, particularly the youth, who are struggling daily with the influences of the world.

destiny discovery which he calls internal clues. All of these questions and clues combine to give the reader a robust view on destiny discovery.

The third chapter called ‘Seasons of Destiny Fulfillment’ is an interesting outline of 11 phases or seasons of Destiny fulfillment. “My aim in this chapter is to take you through different phases of your destiny so that you will be able to understand where you are and how to access the next stage,” the author says in this chapter.

A few of the “seasons” explained in this chapter include: “Season of Revelation”, “Season of Internal Crisis”, “Season of Proving”, “Season of Death and Accountability” to mention a few.

Live fulfilled, die fulfilled headlines the fourth chapter where Duyilemi talks about seven choices one can make in order to fully maximize one’s life.

‘Can you write a book in one hour?’ is the unusual title of the next chapter. The author teaches the reader how to put in writing the details of one’s life mission and vision that defines what the aims and objectives to be attained before they leave the earth.

In the sixth chapter, Duyilemi focuses on the reasons people fail to achieve their destiny. He tells the reader what the killers of destiny are, and how to overcome them.

You can actually fulfill your destiny while at your job. You can take the focus of working at your job beyond getting a salary to affecting lives. This is what Duyilemi talks about in the seventh chapter of the book, as he gives six indicators to know if your destiny is being fulfilled on the job you are doing.

In the eighth chapter, the author makes it clear that destiny fulfillment is important to God, and gives five reasons it is so.

“God designed you to be happy for what He has made you for. You can’t be happy otherwise,” Duyilemi concludes at the end of this chapter.

The author delivers tools to succeed in one’s life assignment in the ninth chapter titled ‘How to succeed in your assignment.” Quoting a popular preacher, David Ibiyeome who said “Lack of skills can kill your destiny,” Duyilemi, a Masters Degree holder in Applied Psychology elucidated pertinent qualities for success in the destiny race.

The tenth chapter is an encouragement to step into destiny while in the final chapter of the book, Duyilemi speaks of the tragedy of death without fulfilling destiny.

Duyilemi, the presiding pastor of Christ Classic International Ministries, Ibadan is a mentor, inspirational speaker and hosts radio programmes and conferences.

Briefly Pottery festival returns to Dakar THE biennial pottery festival will be held once again in Dakar, Senegal before the end of the year.

Organisers could not hold the event in 2014 due to financial reasons, but they have been able to find sponsors for this year’s edition. The festival features potters from all African countries, who display their artistry for global tourists to see.

33

Thursday, 25 February, 2016 Editor:

health

Sade Oguntola sadeboguntola@yahoo.com 0805 506 9260

YOU&EYE

SEX,SEXUALITY&YOU

NATURALHEALTH

Lagos Dying Children: Govt identifies

‘Strange Disease’ as measles

By Vera Onana

A

BOUT a month ago, a devastating wave swept through the city of Lagos, specifically, the OtodoGbame community of Eti-Osa Local Government Area. Horrifyingly, it was a trailblazer of deaths as a good number of infants, between the ages of eight and 72 months, were harvested by the sickle of a strange disease.

The strange disease, evoked a destabilising bout of pandemonium in the predominantly Egun community of Lagos State as children fell ill and died after two or three days of contacting the disease. The predominant symptoms observed were rashes and fever, which presented like several other rash illness such as measles, rubella, pavo virus, but which claimed the victims’ life within a very short period.

It was severely heartbreaking when the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, at a news conference, confirmed the death of 17 children as a result of an outbreak of the strange disease. However, the commissioner said the disease causing the outbreak was at that time yet to be confirmed. However, he said “the signs and symptoms were suggestive of Febrile Rash Illnesses (FRI).”

The commissioner pointed out: “Blood samples (and throat swabs) from the patients and water samples from the community have been taken to the Virology Reference Laboratory at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory (DQCL), LASUTH, Ikeja respectively. The source of the infection is still under investigation.”

Speaking about the strange disease, a paediatrician at Paediatric Partners Hospital, Victoria Island, Lagos, Dr Atinuke Uwajeh, said “Viral ailments are numerous: there are over a million and one viruses. Most times they are characterised by very high fevers and rashes and there are very many of them like measles, rubella and pavo virus. However, we are hoping that this is not a new type of virus. It might be one of those we call viral hemorrhagic diseases.”

Dr Uwajeh added that it has become perti-

Measles virus nent to ascertain the exact ailment assailing the children of the concerned Egun community before the strange disease spreads further.

She added “the disease must be extremely contagious. Therefore everything must be done to know what this disease is for certain. We have to be able to ascertain.”

While laboratory tests were ongoing to understand precisely what disease was ravaging the Otodo Gbame community Dr Uwajeh stressed the need for standard safety practices. She said “we have to maintain standard precautions because for about 20 children to have died, it may be that it was transferred from a caregiver to all those children. So if we are not following proper safety precautions, there may be more children at risk.

“Also, what we should do for now is that any child with a fever should be isolated and examined. Also, we should have children who come in for immunisation separated from those that are in the hospital for treatment so that we don’t mix people that are well with people that are not. We

NATURAL HEALTH

Why acupuncture eases asthma — Study

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cannot overemphasise safe practice.

Also, we do not know how this ailment is being spread. It sounds like it might be air or water borne or it could be transmitted by contact. I don’t want to think it is vector borne. It is sounding more like a water-borne illness especially since we are having such a large number of children falling ill. We have not also been able to expressly state that these children were in a particular area together at any time.

But it has to be one of those viral heamorrhagic ailments. I hope that it is contained before it spreads further.”

However, the proverbial flicker of light at the end of the tunnel shined on the people of Otodo Gbame community and the wish of paediatrician, Uwajeh was granted as well, as the state government, on Monday, 22 February, confirmed that the blood samples of victims of the epidemic of febrile rash illness that claimed the lives of over 20 children in the community showed measles virus.

Giving this update at a briefing in Lagos, Dr. Idris, said all the blood samples taken to

INSIDE How Nigeria has failed its women, children

— Orji, AAFP’s chairman Page 36

HEALTH QUOTE

the Central Public Health Laboratory, Yaba, tested positive for IgM, a blood marker for recent infection with measles virus. He added that four throat swaps and one blood samples investigated at the virology reference laboratory, LUTH, indicated the presence of measles virus through polymerase chain reaction, PCR, technique.

He attributed the epidemic to poor environmental sanitation, lack of potable water and missed immunisation in the area.

According to him, the result of the water samples analysed at the Drug Quality Control Laboratory yielded several pathogens, an indication that the well water is not safe for human consumption.

He said: “We are taking census of slums in Lagos because the number of deaths was unusual. It must have been complicated by malnutrition.

“The area was not designed for residential purposes, but was a reclaimed land.

That may have been the major reason the children were missed during immunisation.

Right now, awareness and community sensitisation is ongoing.”

sex, sexuality

&your health Why you should sleep in the nude

Page 35

The power of love to change bodies is legendary, built into folklore, common sense, and everyday experience. Love moves the flesh, it pushes matter around.... Throughout history, “tender loving care” has uniformly been recognized as a valuable element in healing. — Larry Dossey

34

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Dr. Ben Ajayi 0805 400 5447

you-and-eye@gmail.com

Nigeria, why can’t you get it right?

Dear Yomi, Let me share my reflections with you this morning, the first morning, following the first night of the first week, I would spend in Ibadan since I left a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps it’ll ease my pain and soothe my aches.

Leaving Ibadan for Lagos in the last few days of January, on my way to Guadalajara, Mexico, I was confident and full of hope that I would be back to meet, if not a better Nigeria, at least, not worse than I had left it. Three weeks is a very short time but considering our resolve or perhaps commitment to change, I had the hope that we would move, just one step forward.

“There’s plenty of room for improvement despite the dismal economic indices which predicted doom and closeness to ‘Armageddon.’ I can’t even get the spelling ‘write’! My computer tells me it is spelt Armageddon and ‘write’ should be ‘right.’

Please, don’t blame me. In my present state of mind, I can’t think clearly because I am ‘righting’ in darkness. I am being cautioned again, to watch my grammar! “It is ‘writing’ not ‘righting’,” the little box said, underlining the word with a red mark.

I left the city in semi darkness but with high hopes that things would improve.

PHCN, having turned into several smaller

private concerns, has no other choice but to improve.

Alas, I was wrong! Even if it were possible for the leopard to change its skin, it would only become a spotless leopard!

While I was away, I couldn’t understand why it took my staff more than 24hours to reply my e-mails! I couldn’t understand why the phones were unreachable nearly all the time. At the Institute, I couldn’t understand, despite the lowest fees charged in the country for eye operations, the number of eye surgeries came tumbling down; at first by 50 percent; then 75 per centand almost nothing! I thought, perhaps, we had cleared all the backlog of about one million blinding cataracts in Nigeria.

Perhaps, that might convince our president to confer a national merit award on the Institute. I would see to this on my return. I couldn’t understand why every worker seemed to be getting lazier every day, yet wanted more pay. I couldn’t understand why the glaucoma patient with tunnel vision suddenly went blind despite the heavy financial investments in medications and regular visits to the hospital.

Now, that I am back, I understand. I was informed that there was hardly any electricity during the period. I understand why all the generators in my neighbourhood have downed tools and embarked

on an industrial action. There is peace of the grave yard. I can now hear the familiar orchestra of insects, rendering melodious music usually masked by the din of the generators. I can appreciate why the smiles, on the usually cheerful faces, have disappeared and replaced by frowns and their beauty lost.

I can understand why people are getting slimmer and all the fat is gone. I now understand why the national ratings fell from “the happiest people on earth to the

I couldn’t understand, despite the lowest fees charged in the country for eye operations, the number of eye surgeries came tumbling down

palest faces in the world.”

Now I can understand why the mental health physicians are busier than ever before.

“You must not allow yourself to sink into depression,” I cautioned myself. “Are you surprised the nation’s economic physicians cannot manage a long anticipated recession? If for well over 40 years they have been battling with the production and distribution of electricity, which is perhaps, the most vital ingredient of any economy, how can they respond promptly to prevent a recession which is a hydra headed monster?,” I surmised. Please, keep your eyes focused on the reasons why you must remain happy and keep your smiling face.

I am home at last! Even though I can’t sleep because of the oppressive heat, I have the pleasure of one of nature’s finest orchestra of insects at my behest. And truly, the music is great.

Without light, we cannot see. Light is essential to sight. May I make one plea to the nation’s economic physicians? Let there be light and every other thing shall be added onto it.

Yomi, please take good care of your eyes so that you can continue to appreciate the beauty of nature. That light fortunately cannot be taken away from you by the defunct PHCN.

Dr Abayomi Ajayi

ivf &you

info@nordicalagos.org

0700 6673422

Sperm DNA damage METHODS for evaluation of male infertility have typically been limited to the routine semen analysis measuring count, motility and morphology of the sperm. A large percentage of infertile men have been shown to have high levels of sperm DNA fragmentation despite having normal sperm count.

New studies suggest that sperm with certain levels of DNA fragmentation serve as a strong predictor of reduced male fertility.

The head of the sperm contains genetic building blocks called DNA (deoxyribonucleicacid) which are needed from the male to make an embryo and create a successful pregnancy. Within the sperm head, the DNA is wound and twisted on itself and wrapped around blocks of protein known as chromatin. Part of the role of these protein blocks is to protect the DNA from damage during the sperm’s journey from the testes to the female reproductive tract.

However damage can still occur to the DNA and it can become fragmented.

Spermatic DNA fragmentation refers to breakage or lesions in the genetic material of the sperm. The larger the number of lesions, the lower will be the integrity of the genetic material and the probabilities of producing a full term pregnancy. That is, a high level

of sperm DNA fragmentation is also associated with increased risk of miscarriage In IVF, several studies have shown that sperm DNA damage testing has strong associations with every early fertility check point which include impaired fertilisation, slow embryo development, reduced implantation thereby affecting the success. As such, embryos derived from sperm whose DNA is highly fragmented have a poor prognosis. DNA fragmentation test is a method of examining the sperm head to look for any fragmentation of the genetic material. Most tests measures DNA fragmentation Index (%DFI, % sperm cells containing damaged DNA) <15% DFI = excellent to good sperm DNA integrity >15 to < 25% DFI = good to fair sperm DNA integrity >25 to < 50% DFI = fair to poor sperm DNA integrity > 50% DFI = very poor sperm DNA integrity.

What couples would benefit from a sperm DNA test? The answer is that fertility experts may guide couples with low damage to intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and guide those couples

with high DNA damage to ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection). The result of the test could also lead the couple to have PICSI (physiological ICSI) which is a fertilisation method in IVF that uses a special dish to select sperms with good DNA for fertilisation. Other couples that can benefit from the knowledge of testing for sperm DNA includes those with unexplained infertility,

Sperm DNA fragmentation could be a marker of sperm quality and predictor of fertility treatment outcome

men with normal semen by semen analysis prior to embarking on IVF, couples who have had unsuccessful IVF and couples who have had miscarriages.

A major causative factor for sperm DNA damage is oxidative stress. Other factors include abnormalities in the regulation of apoptosis, or defects in topoisomerase activity. Increased sperm DNA fragmentation is also associated with infection, drug use, cigarette smoking, and exposure to environmental and occupational pollutants, febrile illness, advanced age, varicocoele, diet and elevated testicular temperature.

TREATMENT Some causes of DNA fragmentation in sperm cannot be treated, but if the damage is caused by free radicals, then a change in lifestyle and diet designed to protect against oxidative stress may reduce the levels of DNA fragmentation in some of these cases or with the use of antioxidants such as vitamin E and Vitamin C. Studies have shown that varicocoele repair may also improve sperm DNA fragmentation.

In conclusion, it is noteworthy that sperm DNA fragmentation could be a marker of sperm quality and predictor of fertility treatment outcome.

35 healthnews

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

FG launches mobile platform to improve adolescent health

By Sade Oguntola

I

N a bid to ensure Nigerian adolescents have access to sexual and reproductive health information, a mobile platform, da subjectmatter@org was launched by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA).

The website, which was sponsored by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is also to provide increased access to 132 adolescent and youth friendly services centres.

Managing Director, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Mr Brant Silvers, who described the mobile platform as a one stop shop for Nigerians, declared : “we want to reach as many Nigerians as possible with information on sexual and reproductive health.”

Silvers spoke at its launch in Abuja during the inaugural summit on accountability for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with Champions for Change, the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria and Women Friendly Initiative.

Silver, who remarked that over 60 per cent of Nige-

rians under the age of 25 years have access to mobile phones, said focusing on given appropriate, culturally sensitive and scientifically based information was imperative because many

youths still face stigma and discrimination when they try to access such information.

The project, which is being implemented in phases, and including 12 states in Nige-

ria for now, he added would afford individuals access to information and services also through Short Message Services (SMS).

PPFA’s Acting Country Director, Mr ThankGod

Okosun said the fact that adolescents spend 75 per cent of their time on the social media, made PPFA develop the mobile-enabled website in a bid to provide the kind of services that

From left: Director Family Health Federal Ministry of Health Dr, Wadapa Balami, country Representative Gates Foundation Dr, Mario Mandara and Deputy representative United Nations Population Fund Mr. Koffi Kouame launching “ The Subject Matter” during the Advancing reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child adolescent health Summit ( RMNCAN) in Abuja on Tuesday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI

Get tested before taking anti malarials, Nigerians told

By Sade Oguntola NATIONAL Malaria Elimination Programme in commencing a nationwide survey of treatment of malaria in the community has urged Nigerians to always get tested for malaria whenever they have fever before purchasing malaria medicines.

The survey, which had commenced in 10 states, including eight local governments from a senatorial district in Oyo State, will be collecting baseline data on registered vendors and pharmacists that provide malaria treatment, rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for malaria, number of malaria cases they treat and so on.

Mrs Owoya Samuel, of the National Malaria Elimination Programme, speaking during the survey which is to involve patent medicine vendors and community pharmacists, said that emphasis was now on testing before treatment because not all fevers are malaria.

She declared, “we want the public to know that it is not all fever that is caused

by malaria. Whenever they visit either the patent medicine vendor or the community pharmacist and they ask them to do a test, they should please comply before they receive any treatment.

“If the test says that they are negative for malaria, they should also accept that result and go further to enquire at the hospital why they are sick.”

Samuel, saying that over 80 per cent of Nigerians visit patent medicine vendors and community pharmacies when they are sick, said confirming the fever was malaria before commencing its treatment was important for the final elimination of malaria in the country.

She declared that the programme was also an opportunity to train on malaria case management, adding, “we taught it wise to collaborate with them on making sure that malaria is being taken care of properly in the country.”

Mrs Olubukola Adewunmi, the Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Patent Medi-

cine Dealers Association, Odo-Ona zone, who participated in the survey, said before now organisations like the Society for Family Health had been working to build the capacity of patent medicine vendors on ma-

laria treatment.

Adewunmi, who said the body had already been trained on the use of RDT for malaria, however declared that they were yet to access the kits for testing their clients that come de-

manding for services from them.

“We still treat people based on the signs and symptoms they complain of but we refer those cases that we see as complicated,” she declared.

they will need.

Okosun, noting that the internet was rife with junks particularly on issues of sexual and reproductive health, declared: “if there are questions they need a service provider to help them answers to, they can click a part of it to find a clinic where they can reach, including their phone numbers and the name of the provider they can call immediately.”

According to him, a further click would guide them to locating the clinic, being that the site is GPS enabled.

Earlier declaring open the meeting, Health Minister, Professor Isaac Adewole, said Nigeria needs to ensure greater accountability for resources and rights to ensure the health of women, children and adolescents.

Adewole, who spoke through the Director, family Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Wadapa Balami, said, accountability was essential to accelerate the progress for women’s children and adolescents’ health.

“It enables the tracking of resources, results and rights and provides information on what works, what needs improvement, and what requires increased attention.”

While health services delivery, monitoring and evaluation would be integrated for accountability, accessibility, acceptability and quality, he urged civil society organisations to report on service delivery in Nigeria’s hospitals in support of government’s effort to improve services.

Report the people, not the disability — Provost, FCE

By Vera Onana PROVOST, Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, Professor Kamoru Usman, has urged journalists to accord more reportage to people living with disabilities.

Usman gave this charge while delivering the keynote address at a workshop organised by Nigerian Union of Journalists, Oyo State Council in partnership with a disability rights group, Project Restoration International, on “Covering and Reporting Persons with Disabilities”.

Usman who was represented by Dean, School of Special Education, Federal College of Education, Oyo State, Alhaji Dr Dauda

Adediran, attributed the low reportage to the projection of people living with disabilities as nuisances.

At the event held at NUJ Press Centre, Iyanganku, Ibadan, Usman lamented that the reportage of people living with disabilities all over the world was poor.

“People living with disabilities are often times treated as attachments.

Their stories are never put on the front pages of newspapers, but are rather hidden in corners of back pages. They are remembered only occasionally,” he said He admonished journalists to advocate for the disabled so as to alleviate their sufferings and prevent

them from being marginalised by the government.

Usman said this was evident in instances whereby allocations appropriated for people living with disabilities do not eventually get to them.

Also speaking, Executive Director, Project Restoration International, Mr Olusola Ogundola, pointed out the need for adequate representation of people living with disabilities by journalists in the state.

He added that journalists, through their reports should shape the opinion of the masses as regards their perception about persons living with disabilities.

Ogundola, therefore, advocated for a paradigm shift

in the reportage of matters related to disabled persons.

While emphasising negative media representation of disabled persons, he enjoined the media to push for the passage of the Persons Living with Disabilities bill into law to guarantee the inclusion of disabled persons in the running of the society.

“Our disability right was rejected by the Obasanjoled government as well as the Jonathan’s administration because we didn’t get support of the press.

So, if the press works in synergy with us, we will be able to make disability inclusion successful.”

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Thursday, 25 February, 2016

healthpeople Chairman, Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP), Dr Ejike Orji in this interview with SADE OGUNTOLA critic challenges on ensuring healthy mothers and babies, indicating that accountability at all levels was central to ensuring this. Excerpts:

N

IGERIA just had its 2016 Reproductive Maternal, Newborn Child and Adolescent health National summit, what in your opinion is new about it considering our current health index?

What is new about it is its focus on accountability. When you consider its major subthemes, it is all about getting everybody working in this field to come to talk as a team as well as consider how we can do things in a better way.

World over, accountability mechanism is in place. Each government is expected to develop its own accountability mechanism.

Being the chairman, Maternal New born and Adolescent Reproductive Health Accountability mechanism for Nigeria, ensuring that the accountability mechanism is in place is key to ensuring that services get to the women and children.

For instance, we have to ensure that the people do the work they have resources for.

In 2001, all African countries in their Abuja declaration agreed that a minimum of 15 per cent of the national budget must go to health if they want to impact the health sector.

That has never happened. The best in Nigeria was nine per cent and that was during late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s era. Since then, it has been coming down and it is now 4.2 per cent. Although the national budget has increased by almost two trillion in this fiscal year, the amount of money going to the health care sector is still lower than what it was in 2015.

So that is where the accountability comes in for me. There must be philosophy guiding how we use our resources, we must make sure that we direct our resources to the priority areas. Health happens to be one of key priority areas in life. It is only a healthy nation that can grow.

It was so embarrassing a few years ago, when our president was abroad for months because our health care was not well developed to give him the best care. That alone is a sign that even the president or head of state is not immune to a bad healthcare system.

Now, if you take it back to the health of mothers and children, there is not much appropriation for the reproductive health line at the Federal Ministry of Health.

Recently, we were at the National House of Assembly, talking with the senators on the midwifery service scheme which came on stream a few years ago. It reduced our maternal mortality by more than 40 per cent.

As at the time this was conceptualised, someone like me did a budget that indicated that we need to spend 5billion naira every year for five years to ensure Nigeria’s maternal mortality is reduced to a single digit.

And then within those five years, we look for sustainable mechanism to fund reproductive health care.

Take for example, if Value Added Tax (VAT) is changed from five per cent to six per cent, the extra one per cent can be put into reproductive healthcare to keep our women

How Nigeria has failed its women, children

— Orji, AAFP’s chairman and children alive. There are so many funding mechanisms that we can use without anybody feeling it.

But sadly, the one that really gets to us is the fact that in the 2016 budget there is no money allocated to the midwifery service scheme.

Also, no money allocated to family planning.

With advocacy from Association for the Advancement of Family Planning, President Goodluck Jonathan made three million dollars as counterpart funding for family planning commodities. And it is sad that all these

Donor coordination is a big challenge which goes back to the fact that we have very weak monitoring and evaluation system in the Federal Ministry of Health

years, international development partners and multilaterals have been paying for these commodities. The three million dollars was a starting point and we were supposed to gradually ease off the funding donors and take it up as our responsibility.

Also, at the FP2020 conference in London, the government made an additional pledge of 8.3 million dollars for reproductive health commodities because the real cost of family planning commodities in Nigeria is about 21 million dollars.

Sadly, finding that no money was allocated to family planning about two weeks ago, we had to complain. From the draft that we saw recently, however, about three million dollars have been put into family planning. Provision is also made for the midwifery service scheme.

Because it is still an appropriation bill, I would not want to make concrete statements until it comes out.

Can we make government accountable for the health of mothers and children?

This fiscal year, the Federal Government said it was going to revamp 10,000 existing primary healthcare centres and this is very commendable. Of course, the National Health act stipulates that one per cent of the consolidated national revenue goes to health.

50 per cent of it is supposed to go into primary

healthcare level. If it is provided, it would be used to intervene at the primary healthcare level.

Now, many people are crying that the Federal Government is not doing enough. But in comparison with both state and local governments, the Federal Government should be applauded. They have in fact shown a lot of leadership.

The state and local governments actually are not doing much. Take the midwifery service scheme, N75, 000 was proposed as the salary to pay to the midwives. The Federal Government said it cannot pay more than N30, 000.

The MoU signed was that the state should pay N25, 000 while the local government pay N20, 000.

The scheme survived so far because the Federal Government consistently pay its N30, 000. Maybe one or two states also pay their counterpart funds. Almost all the local governments did nothing.

At the secondary care level, if you have 20 facilities, maybe one or two are functional in some states. But healthcare is supposed to be a shared responsibility. The Federal Government is supposed to take care of the tertiary healthcare centres; the state governments take care of the secondary level of care and the local governments take care of the primary healthcare.

But the Federal Government is still supporting local governments by putting the infrastructure and equipment in the primary healthcare centres. If both the state and local governments are doing a little bit more, the current health situation in Nigeria would have been different.

How has this imparted medical tourism?

Nigerians trouping abroad for medical care are those that are not supposed to go to the primary healthcare or secondary healthcare facility. They are supposed to be taken care of at the tertiary care level. But the tertiary level of care has been so abused. They are no more centres of excellence and superluminal centres of research because they are inundated with patients who have no business coming to that level of care.

Take for instance at the National Hospital in Abuja, nobody with malaria has any business been there. If you do a small assessment of people queuing up in its out-patient department, 90 per cent of them have no business being there. The share numbers make it impossible for that hospital to give the required specialised care they are supposed to give.

How does accountability come into provision of services by different organisations? How best do we drive the change in such areas?

Certainly, donor coordination is important as evidenced by presentations at this 2016 Reproductive Maternal, Newborn Child and Adolescent health National summit. But the fact remains that all donors have key indicators they use to monitor the success of any programme.

Donor coordination is a big challenge which goes back to the fact that we have very weak monitoring and evaluation system in the Federal Ministry of Health. With proper donor coordination, the expected changes would certainly be achieved.

Also, in bringing about the change, we must all believe that this is our country and become nation builders. When it comes to the budgeting process because everything is about resource, the executive arm of government also needs to involve the people.

A good example of representative of the people is the CSOs. This is called community dialogue or town hall meetings in some countries.

37

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Why acupuncture eases asthma — Study

By Sade Oguntola

W

ONDERING if acupuncture holds any benefit in easing your asthma control or asthma symptoms. It may seem especially appealing for trials because unlike medication, acupuncture has few known side effects.

Acupuncture is an effective therapeutic method in asthma treatment in traditional Chinese medicine. But till date, few clinical trials have shown that acupuncture may help improve asthma symptoms.

In the 2015 publication of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, researchers found acupuncture may help some people with asthma breath better. Under laboratory conditions, it significantly reduces symptoms of asthma such as airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and the associated inflammatory changes in mice treated with acupuncture.

Asthma, a chronic disease of the lungs, affects an estimated 300 million people around the world. Although it is considered a treatable disease with proper medication, it still claims thousands of lives annually. But its care can be frustrating. Inhaled medications can be tricky to use properly.

Daily medications can seem like a burden and may cause some horrible side effects. Many people worry about the potential for harmful effects with long-term use of medications. Even faithful adherence to treatment programmes does not guarantee freedom from asthmatic symptoms or from frightening asthmatic attacks.

It is little wonder; some persons with asthma turn to “alternative” therapies, especially ones not involving medications such as vitamins, special diets, exercise programs, and acupuncture, to avoid taking man-made chemicals into one’s body.

Acupuncture has been practised for thousands of years in

natural

health

China and other Asian countries. It is currently under study for a wide range of conditions based on the medical philosophy that energy flows through the human body in opposing “positive” and “negative” forces, yin and yang.

Diseases, including asthma, are thought to represent an imbalance of these forces. Energy is said to flow through the body along certain specific paths, called meridians. By introducing needles into the skin at certain identified points along these meridians, the balance of forces is thought to be modified to the benefit of the patient.

Dr Bade Adewale, an acupuncture expert and member, Medical and Dental Council on Alternative Medicine, declared that even in Nigeria, acupuncture has been found effective in the treatment of asthma.

Adewale declared, “We have what is called the lung channel, it is one of the 12 regular channels. The lung channel takes charge of all respiratory issues, including asthma.

All patients were treated with acupuncture and results showed significant improvement in over 75 per cent of patients.

“We adopt acupuncture for treating asthma, especially when western medicine has refused to give consequential results. Sometimes, we use it in combination with drugs, homeopathy and natural products in the management of asthma.”

Adewale, the medical consultant at Subol Hospital, Egbeda-Ikotun, Road, Subol bus stop, Idimu, Lagos, remarked that many people now patronise acupunctures, a complementary form of therapy, for asthma to avoid the undesirable side effects of conventional asthma medicines.

According to him, “In fact, it provides readymade remedy to an asthmatic attack when the person is without his or her inhaler. It can ensure that the patient has immediate relief.”

Adewale, however, cautioned: “if you decide to try acupuncture, work with an experienced and licensed acupuncturist. Such of course, will be conversant and versatile with his needles as well as locate the acupuncture points.”

Meanwhile, a study conducted by the University Of Vienna Department Of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care showed that at least 70 per cent of the patients suffering from asthma reported improvement after undergoing regular acupuncture treatment for a span of 10 weeks.

Another study, conducted in Kaifeng City’s Department of Acupuncture in the Second Municipal People’s Hospital in Henan, China, involved 192 patients with bronchial asthma. All patients were treated with acupuncture and results showed significant improvement in over 75 per cent of patients. Clinical remission also reduced and the majority of patients reported immediate relief post-treatment.

The study also showed that efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of asthma was related to the needle retention duration, the length of time the needle stays inserted. Longterm curative effects were also observed to be better with patients who experienced immediate positive results after treatments.

Why you should sex, sexuality & your health sleep in the nude With Monica Taiwo

MAJORITY of us sleep swaddled in some sort of clothing; shorts, tee shirt, full-on pajamas or night gown. Sleeping naked has great health benefits, besides sex. Here are some reasons why you should sleep naked.

It maintains a healthy sperm count Sleeping with layers of clothes on causes the body to heat up. There is a reason why the scrotum that contains testicles which produce sperm is located outside the body.

Testicles are sensitive to temperature, and need comparatively cooler temperatures for proper functioning, which is why they are located just outside the body. Sleeping naked allows the body to cool, and thus maintain a healthy sperm count. Testicles that are kept cooler by sleeping in the nude are apt to produce healthier sperm. Also when you expose your vagina to unobstructed air flow every night this can help to reduce the growth of yeast and unwelcome bacteria.

On the other hand, testes are meant to be cooler than the rest of the body.

Your body can breathe and rid itself of skin infections Airing the body and all its corners and crevices is essential. The growth of fungal and bacterial infections in private parts is very common, especially in hot and humid climes. Wearing tight clothes throughout the day makes it worse. While that can’t be helped, one should shed off the layers of clothes, especially tight underwear, at night while sleeping and let the skin breathe. It also encourages healthier skin, since there

strictly adult teenagers, adult & geriatric sexual well being taiwomonica@gmail.com 08187754992 (sms only)

are now seams or waistbands pushing in and encouraging dryness or wrinkles.

You get better sleep When we sleep, our body temperature goes down, but wearing clothes interferes with this process. Sleeping in the nude helps cool down the body faster, and therefore, promotes better sleep. Our brain needs a cool temperature to relax the body, and shedding clothes helps it do that better.

As you sleep, your body naturally dips in temperature. It’s beneficial for the body to cool down, and it encourages deeper, more restful sleep. If your body is overheated, wrapped in thick socks and pants, you may not be able to release excess heat, which could rob you of a solid night’s sleep.

It leads to greater intimacy and a healthier relationship It is a fact that physical contact, especially skin-to-skin contact, boosts the production of oxytocin, the happy hormone that reduces stress and strengthens immunity. Sleeping naked raises the chance of skin-to-skin contact. The production of oxytocin, the love hormone, also boosts intimacy between couples, resulting in a better love life.

Skin to skin contact with your significant other increases the amount of oxytocin your body produces. Oxytocin is a powerful hormone that increases bonding and feelings of attachment.

Sleeping naked balances melatonin and growth hormone Sleeping in the buff helps maintain a low body temperature that not only results in sound sleep but also creates a healthy balance between melatonin and growth hormone, which is essential in cell repair and growth. So basically, if you sleep naked, you remain young longer.

Improves metabolism.

Sleeping naked reduce excess belly fat by balancing cortisol levels, your stress hor-

mone. Cortisol levels drop between 10pm and 2am, so if you are not getting enough sleep, you may have excess amounts of stress hormones in the body upon waking that could encourage excess belly fat.

Sleeping in the nude in a cooler temperature has also been shown to lower blood sugar levels with the potential of preventing type II diabetes. It also encourages the body to transform regular fat into metabolismboosting brown fat, which is responsible for temperature regulation and improved insulin sensitivity.

38

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Victor Ogunyinka

health

By Victor Ogunyinka

I

F you discovered that the baby you carried for nine months (more or less) has a deficiency or disability after birth, what would you do? God forbid you’d say, but the harsh reality is that there are people born with one disability or the other.

But then, what is wrong with having a child with a disability?

The world of people living with disability is a colourful one. They are at liberty to do what they do, they are sometimes in the middle of attraction. People look at them with amazement, you like them from afar and dislike them when they are your sibling or child and unfortunately, their opinions rarely counts when decisions are made.

According to statistics, there are about 25 million Nigerians living with one form of disability or the other in Nigeria.

A visit to Oluyole Cheshire Basic School, Ibadan, revealed how the clock ticks in the world of people living with disability. Interestingly, it is no different from the life the supposed ‘normal person’ live in.

Founded in June 15, 1959, Oluyole Chesire Home was established by a European with the aim of catering for abandoned children and children living with disability.

Ever since, their advances to rid the street of abandoned children and children living with disability has recorded some successes.

We christen abandoned babies after Cheshire —Matron In the quest of trying to give the babies a life that they deserve, the abandoned babies brought to the home are named after the founder of the institution, Cheshire.

Victoria Yinusa, Assistant Matron at the home explained that the children are normal children and they take care of them normally, stating that at the end of the term, they return to their families and those without one would remain in the home.

“The abandoned are given a name and the surname of the founder of this home, Cheshire.

The oldest person here was born in 1975; she (Ebun Cheshire) was abandoned behind the physiotherapy department in the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

They heard her cry and took care of her for about five years before transferring her here. Ever since, every first of December, we mark her birthday for her. She probably had an infection when she was born and she is now epileptic, she spent about 25 years in primary school before leaving. We spent about N9,000 every month to get her drugs.

“There is also another boy, Daisy Cheshire, that was abandoned on the railroad, thinking he was going to be crushed by a moving train,

m: +234-806 642 7323 e: ogunyinkavictor@gmail.com : @vogunyinka

Cheshire Home

Home away from home for disabled pupils Mrs Ibukunoluwa Oladapo, teacher.

Corpers presenting gifts to pupils of Cheshire Home.

Pupils of Cheshire Home relaxing inside the common room. some good Samaritans rescued him and took him to UCH before the former matron brought him here, he is partially blind,” she said.

We’ve had pupil of 24 years in primary three —Headmistress Unlike a normal school where a pupil is seen as too old for a class, it is a norm at Cheshire Basic Home. According to the headmistress, Mrs Omobonike Awokoya, “There are no age limitations for pupils in this school. We have a mental retardation or placement class for all of our new intakes; that is where we do the groupings and posting of pupils to where would suit their condition. But because of continuous awareness, parents enrol their children from age six to eight; we have also had pupils being posted from the ministry at age 24 that has never attended school. Some are really interested in coming to school, so, whether they are 10 or 15 years, we enrol them.

“These pupils cannot cope under normal school setting, when you take them to a normal school, they get abandoned. We have some on wheel chairs, there are some of them that cannot even write at all, those set of people can understand but cannot write, during examinations, we dictate to them and they supply the answers. They are not different from the children out there, though some of them are hyperactive; they just roam from place to place restlessly,” she said.

I was once a pupil and now, a teacher here —Mrs Oladapo The saying ‘There is ability in disability’ suits the ascending success story of Mrs Ibu-

kunoluwa Oladapo, a subject teacher in Primary three, Oluyole Cheshire Home Basic School.

“When I was three years old, I had polio; I was taken to the hospital and went through physiotherapy. They later advised my parents to enrol me in a school. They enrolled me at Cheshire Home as a pupil and now that I am a teacher, I can say there is a little difference; since I am into special education, I know how to take care of these pupils and manage their challenges and inabilities better. These children are very friendly and accommodating, if you come here on a visit, you will like to be around us always,” she said.

We are challenged by what we saw at Cheshire —Corpers Members of the National Youth Service Corps, Ido general Community Development Service group, extended their charity gospel to Cheshire Home, where they presented the management with some gift items.

The spokesperson of the group, Oyamienlen Eddy-dawn said: “We came to meet with the disabled and the less privileged pupils, it wasn’t what we expected that we met and it has really been inspiring. Imagine there is no place like this, would all these children have been on the streets? Here, they have the opportunity to learn and develop skills just like everybody else. I have been challenged by what I see here and the joy of everything is that these people appreciate the little things you present to them wholeheartedly. I have realised that helping those that are less privileged is going to be of great benefit to them and most of all, God is going to be very happy you did.”

Our pressing need is a bus —Matron Catering for people living with disabilities doesn’t come cheap; with limitless demands to meet the ever present challenges of this group of people and little, but generous help from some individuals, continuous care is pertinent for people living with disabilities.

Mrs Yinusa said: “We need more hostels and we also need a bus. We buy food stuffs and other needs with the bus, the ones we have are old and rickety. We got a bus from our headquarters in England in the year 2000 and it is no longer in good shape.

“We have a clinic, Agbeke Mercy Medical Centre, donated to us by Chief (Mrs) Kola Daisi and the UCH gave us some doctors and nurses and the state government gave us a nurse. They also donated a bus, but in the space of one month, we have spent over N50,000 on the bus. We also need more staff quarters to cater for these children.

Love makes a difference with people living with disability —Dr Olofin While speaking on the dangers of stigmatisation of people living with disability, Dr Ayo Olofin, posited that children with disability have achieved a lot in life; “they may not be able to reach the peak, but with a lot of efforts, love makes a lot of difference in what these children can achieve. It is a mistake to send such babies to a normal school, especially those who physically look normal, but whose mental capacity is damaged. It is better to look for a special school to enrol them, but unfortunately, we don’t have enough of these special schools. Children with Down syndrome are usually very friendly, they can be loving and they respond to love.”

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Thursday, 25 February, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor taiadis@yahoo.com

The fresh battle for PDP’s soul

LEON USIGBE writes on the continued power struggle in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) even with the seeming resolution of the question of its national chairmanship.

J

UST when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thought it had moved on from its leadership crisis by selecting a former Borno State governor, Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff, as its new national chairman, a new problem and potentially more devastating one for the struggling opposition party has emerged. Key stakeholders have rejected the choice of the former All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain as the boss of the PDP. It will be recalled that Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, former Special Adviser on Political Matters to former President Goodluck Jonathan, had approached an FCT Abuja High Court to secure an order to displace Prince Uche Secondus, who had been acting national chairman of the party since Dr. Ahmed Mu’azu threw in the towel, after the electoral defeat of 2015. Gulak had requested the court to enforce the North-East zone’s right to serve out Mu’azu’s tenure. To Gulak, Secondus from the South-South, who is the substantive deputy national chairman, must make way for the rightful occupant of the position.

The court granted the Adamawa State-born politician his wish but fell short on his demand to be installed as the new party boss. In spite of that, Gulak came to the party national secretariat one day and attempted to physically seize the office of the national chairman without success.

The Secondus-led National Working Committee (NWC) which had appealed the court’s ruling, was alarmed and quickly rallied North-East party stakeholders to nominate a candidate from among themselves to be considered for the post of the party chairman.

The zone could not agree on one individual and consequently presented several candidates to be considered, including former Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil; former Governor of defunct Gongola State, Ambassador Wilberforce Juta; current national vice chairman (North-East), Lawan Girgir; Senator Sa’idu Kumo and Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam. All these were pushed aside at meetings of the National Caucus and National

Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP which preferred the outsider, Sheriff. But the NEC, which is the highest ruling body of the party, actually tried to get the other candidates to step down for Sheriff. When most of them refused, a vote was called and Sheriff trashed the others by a wide margin.

Even though he was the overwhelming choice of the governors of the party and its National Caucus, the Board of Trustees (BoT) was resolutely against him. By Monday this week, the BoT had not moved from its position and had, maintained after a lengthy meeting at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, that as the conscience of the party, it was still strongly of the view that Sheriff was not the right person for the PDP chairman post. Among its members present at that meeting were Senator Walid Jibrin who is the secretary and acting chairman, Professor Jerry Gana, Dr Ahmadu Ali, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (retd), Iyom Josephine Anenih, Hajia Zainab Maina, Senator Jonah Jang. They were to meet again to forge a way out of the crisis.

Jonathan’s ministers The new party chairman was also promptly rejected by a group of ministers who served under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and who have threatened to leave the party unless Sheriff steps down as the national chairman. Speaking on Sheriff’s ratification by NEC, their spokesman and former Minister of National Planning, Dr Suleiman Abubakar said: “Our rescue mission has failed; the redemption boat has capsized, and our journey to recovery has come to an end. Whosoever partook in the decision does not mean well for the party and democracy in Nigeria.

“It is obvious the fifth columnists have hijacked the party and they are hell bent on sinking it deeper into irrecoverable level of the pit. Some of us would rather review our membership than subject ourselves to selfish interests of a cabal whose main goal is political profiteering. After all our umbilical cord is not tied to any party.” But it is not

clear whether the former ministers have Jonathan’s backing on this since Sheriff was known to be a close ally of the former president since joining the PDP. Again, many party faithful wonder where the former ministers had been since the PDP was swept out of power and was struggling for direction. Some members of the party opposed to the ex-ministers’ move note that they had stayed away from the party because they were not courageous enough to identify with a party experiencing an all-time low public image arising from allegations of gross misconduct in office leveled against it by the present administration.

The role of PDP Rescue Group Juta is leading a new opposition group within the party over Sheriff. Named the PDP Rescue Group, it has prominent members such as former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, Wakil; former Sokoto State deputy governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari; John Ode, among others. The group has also called on the newly elected party boss to resign. It argued that the resignation would spare the opposition party further embarrassment.

Speaking for the group, Juta said Sheriff was an imposition on the party and was never nominated from his North-East zone. Saying that his home state, Borno had already rejected the former state governor, Juta called on the party organs to commence the search for “persons with high, strategic insight and fear of God almighty” to lead the party. He said the group was not happy about the decision of NEC to appoint Sheriff as it was “convinced that this decision by NEC is against the will and wish of the generality of faithful members.”

He added: “We know that North-East zonal wing, having been directed by national caucus of the party to forward nominees from the zone, didn’t nominate Senator Sheriff for the position of national chairman: that it is in the interest of PDP and the country, Sheriff should do the needful by stepping down honourably, as it is evident that party members nationwide overwhelmingly reject his imposition.”

Juta said that they had resolved for an early congress and national convention to be called to elect new leadContinues pg40

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politics&policy

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

The issues in contention

Juta

Sheriff Continued from pg39

ers as “the term of the current leadership is due to end in March 2016.” He also warned that “under no guise should the tenure of current leaderships of the party be extended, if we must make the needed fresh beginning.”

Furthermore, Juta noted that “most party faithful do not see in Senator Sheriff a model of impeccable integrity that the PDP badly needs to lead it at this critical moment,” stressing that “to raise a leader who is lacking in integrity and skills is to throw the party and nation into inefficiency, indiscipline, disorderliness and even chaos.”

On the expectations that Sheriff would leave in March as he was meant to serve the tenure of the North-East, Juta said: “It is not the question of time but precedence.

If we allow it, we would have laid a bad precedence. What is wrong is wrong. It is inappropriate.”

Wabara, who is deputy chairman of the group, said: “We are here to rescue party from imposition and impunity,” noting that Sheriff’s emergence was “embarrassing” as he was smuggled into the contest. He disagree with Sheriff’s statement that PDP will return to power in 2019, as he observed that “we are not talking about 2019, we must impress Nigerians first. The agenda is that the person who made that statement might be there to carry out that mission,” he feared, recalling that the boast by some PDP members that the party would rule for 60 years never came to pass.

Shagari who is secretary of the group, also noted that the group was not out to “fight anybody but put things in perspective.” However, he lamented that “key members have started leaving. We can’t sit back and allow the party to die. PDP is the strongest opposition in the country.”

Shagari was of the view that “no state from the North east submitted his (Sheriff) name. “We don’t know how he came into the picture. It is not right for him to impose himself the way he was imposed. It is honorable for him to step down.” While he would not describe Sheriff’s emergence as illegal since he was approved by NEC, he lamented “what we all know is that it was not properly done. The entire PDP is family not happy with what has happened. He has to resign.” Shagari was confident that “PDP has always gone into crisis and come out stronger.”

Sheriff and Boko Haram Strident in his opposition to Sheriff also is Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the Director (Media and Publicity) of the Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Campaign Council. He thinks the new party chairman has a past that is less than honourable and therefore would be an albatross to the image of the opposition.

Sheriff has taken his time on a number of occasion to deny any link with Boko Haram. On Monday, he reiterated this denial saying that Boko Haram was after him be-

“Our rescue mission has failed, the redemption boat has capsized and our journey to recovery has come to an end. Whosoever partook in the decision does not mean well for the party and democracy in Nigeria.

cause he ended their menace within five days during the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration.

He recalled that leaders of the terrorist group sought for his head because they accused him of preventing the sect from Islamising Northern Nigeria.

A group in the Diaspora, Restart PDP Project, has also come out to express its opposition to Sheriff as the national chairman of the party as it believes that his imposition will be a clog in the wheel of its progress. The group maintains that due process was subverted in the selection of the former governor and has threatened to work with others of like minds to ensure that a proper and fit chairman emerges. Emmanuel Nwosu Butches, spoke for the group, saying: “In pursuant to our resolve and yearnings of millions of members of the party here and in the Diaspora, we the Restart PDP Project disagree with the process and method employed by a microscopic few that gathered purporting to represent leaders and members of this party.”

The group referred to Chapter 2, part 1, sub section 8 and 9 of the PDP 2012 constitution as amended, noting: “Ali Modu Sheriff having not been a founding member of this party, having not been in the PDP for a time enough to enable him absolve the tenets of this great party, having not participated in the processes the party has gone through in the past sixteen years, we declare unequivocally that he is not qualified to be Chairman of PDP.” On this score though, observers believe the group is wrong because the National Secretary of the PDP, Professor Wale Oladipo, has confirmed that Sheriff sought and obtained a waiver from the PDP leadership which makes him eligible to hold any position.

Determined to forge ahead Despite all the opposition, Sheriff has not given a slight indication of uneasiness in his new post. Indeed, as he officially took over last Monday, he dismissed all argu-

Gulak

ments against him and bluntly told those demanding for his resignation that he had a job to do: reviving the PDP. He said Juta who is leading the call for his resignation, contested the post of the national chairmanship with him and scored only one vote in an election conducted by the NEC. He added: “(Hon. Mohammed) Wakil that you saw on the television also submitted himself to the Working Committee to be appointed chairman. And votes were cast. The man that was reading the press conference got one vote and he’s asking me to resign. Therefore, I will not resign. The leadership of this party in their wisdom asked me to lead. If the NEC of this party collectively asks me to leave, I will leave. But not somebody who contested an election and got one vote.

“I think if there is morality, he should not even go to the television. In this country, people are allowed to say what they want. You want something, you got into the party, the party has submitted your name. In the midst of everybody, you got one vote and you go outside and asked the chairman to resign. My brother, where is the credibility?

Where is the justice? I would have listened to him better if he did not aspire to be one (national chairman). Therefore, I do not plan to resign, I will not resign, I will reposition this party and take it to election within a time frame decided by the leaders of this party to conduct a credible, effective congress that will stand the test of time.”

Even though he was expected to serve out Mu’azu’s tenure, it does seem that whatever the opposition may think, Sheriff will be in office for sometime as he is already looking forward to conducting new congresses and national convention which will still require sometime to plan. He says he does not know how long he will remain in office as that will be determined by the NEC but he is willing to abide by whatever NEC throws at him on that account.

He said: “I took over this party today [January 22]. I am here as a national chairman of this party by the grace of all the NEC members of the party. I am here to rebuild the party. What time we need to do this job will be determined by the leaders and owners of the party when they sit down collectively to discuss. For me, taking over office today, I cannot tell you when I am leaving, I will only tell you when the party leaders sit down and see what is the immediate time to do this job, if they decide, I am ready for it.”

He has the backing of governors, who are the most critical elements in the opposition party. Even though there will be party members who will remain aggrieved at his selection and in extreme cases, some defections, in days and weeks to come, as the PDP always seems to do, it will continue efforts to bring ‘disgruntled’ members to line and most probably, get them to accommodate him as the new helmsman of the opposition. For the PDP, the allure of Sheriff’s political reach in its rebuilding process is too much to resist.

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Thursday, 25 February, 2016

IPAC wades into Kogi govt, indigenous contractors’ face-off Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

T

HE Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Kogi State, on Wednesday, waded into the face- off between the state government and the indigenous contractors operating in the state.

The intervention, which was at the instance of the chairman of the Indigenous Contractors Union, Arome Odiba, was to step the planned strike by the

contractors.

The IPAC chairman in the state, Ibrahim Itodo, who spoke with newsmen, after a meeting with the contractors, pleaded with the state government to consider the plight of the people and pay them.

He said the contractors, particularly, those handling the projects of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has complained about the stoppage of their contracts

by the new administration in the state.

According to him, investigation had shown that the process of award of the contracts followed Due Process, while most of the people obtained loans from banks to execute such projects.

He added that the stoppage of the contracts by the state government had led to accumulation of interest on the loans, while the slide in naira value had made the cost of materials

for the construction and renovation to go up.

Itodo said it was necessary for government to promptly act as the roof of many of the blocking classrooms were already removed preparatory to renovation, adding that the stoppage had made the pupils of such schools to be exposed to danger.

“It is important to also note that since government is all about continuity, the contractors believe

in equity, fair play and good governance, IPAC in the state, therefore ,wants to advise the governor to quickly wade into the situation and avoid the impending strike by the indigenous contractors.”

The council also charged government to set-up a monitoring and evaluation committee to commence the verification of the projects and the contractors that went through Due Process before the contracts were awarded to them.

Villagers set kidnapper ablaze in Kaduna Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

A cross section of graduands during the induction ceremony into Medical and Dental professions for the MBBS and BDS second batch 2014/2015 session, at Paul Hendrickse Lecture Theatre, College of Medicine, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on Wednesday. PHOTO: D’TOYIN

NLC backs proposed screening of Kogi workers Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kogi State , on Wednesday, supported the proposed screening of workers in the employ of the state government.

The state chairman of NLC, Enoh Edoka, who made the disclosure at the at the third triennial delegate conference of the state chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), said the union was ready to cooperate with the Alhaji Yahaya Bello-led government over the exercise.

According to him, the congress had directed the workers in the state to make themselves available fo the screening with the necessary and relevant documents.

“The state government has made its intention known in the screening of workers, we are solidly behind government and we will give the exercise the cooperation it deserves.

We will thereafter, sit with government for discussions,” he said.

Speaking at the event, the national president of TUC, Mr Bobboi Kaigama, however, tasked Bello on the welfare of workers in the employ of the state

government.

He said there was no alternative to good governance and Bello should make life meaningful to workers of the state.

The TUC boss, who spoke through the assistant general secretary, media, Kenneth Mokwenye, said the governor must write his name in gold by doing

things positively in a different manner.

He expressed the readiness of the congress to continue to support the state government, adding that such must be based on social partnership where workers would be carried along in his programmes.

The newly elected chairman of TUC in the state,

Matthew Ojo, said the union would work with NLC and JNC to achieve great height in the quest for an improved welfare for workers.

Apart from Ojo, Patrick Oseyi, also emerged as the vice chairman, Kolawole James, as the secretary and Akoji Aaron, as the treasurer.

Artisans, professionals, others begin ‘Fayose Solidarity Forum’ in Ekiti Sam Nwaoko - Ado-Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has brought artisans and professionals in various vocations together as a body to come up with a means of two-way communication between the people and the state government.

The artisans and sundry groups brought under the aegis of “Fayose Solidarity Forum (FSF)”, according to the convener, was a means to bring unions of various professional and vocational bodies in the state together to understand the policies of government and also air their views.

The forum comprised of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE), Theatre Arts Practitioners of Nigeria (TAPAN), Nigerian Union

of Teachers (NUT), National Association of Tailors, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Regent Council of Ekiti, Ebira Community and Association of Motorcycles Riders among others.

Convener of the forum and the member representing Ikere Constituency I in the state House of Assembly, Mr Wale Ayeni, explained that the purpose of the Fayose Solidarity Forum was “to bring governance closer to Ekiti people, as well as ensure that the achievement, programmes and intentions of Governor Fayose is adequately communicated to the people at the grassroots and also bring to the notice of the Governor the yearnings of the people.”

Ayeni said: “We have

convened this forum with a view to making sure that our people are aware of what Governor Fayose is doing in Ekiti. There are so many things he has done in spite of the paucity of funds.

“The forum would also serve as platform for members of various professional and vocational unions to bring to the knowledge of the governor their yearning, needs and others through their leaders.”

“We will be holding meetings periodically and also extend it to local areas where we will form units at the grassroots which would be responsible for organising the people, communicate to them Governor Fayose’s programmes and also report on their needs to the governor.

NEMESIS caught up with a kidnapper in Kwadaru Village of Kubau Local Government Area, Kaduna State, when angry mob set him ablaze.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Monday night around 8.00 p.m. when the kidnappers arrived the village.

A villager, Mallam Mohammed Tanko, told newsmen that ‘when the newsmen came to us that suspected kidnappers were in the village ,we mobilised and set a trap for them.

“Unknown to them, we sent spies to trail them and were reporting every detail of their movement.

“As they were about to escape with a victim, we chased them and they ran into the forest. However, one of them was eventually caught.

“One of the kidnappers was not so lucky as he was eventually nabbed by the angry mob. The angry villagers poured kerosene and set him ablaze.”

“It was learnt that the security agencies came to the village and commenced trailing the escaped kidnallers to the forest.”

The spokesperson to the state governor, Samuel Aruwan, could not be reach for further comment.

However, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Zubairu Abubakar, also said the command was yet to get a report on the incident.

It will be recalled that, the special kidnapping squad, comprising of the military and police, last week, freed four young girls abducted by kidnappers in Kateri, Kachia Local Government Area of the state.

Nigerian Tribune

Cultists kill undergraduate in Kwara Biola Azeez - Ilorin SUSPECTED cultists have shot and killed a National Diploma (ND) II student of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, on Monday evening.

The Nigerian Tribune investigations gathered that the victim was a suspected member of another rival cult group.

It was also gathered that the incident took place in front of the administrative office of the institution.

Investigation also revealed that the victim of Monday’s attack, was shot at a far distance without any effect on him, a development that reportedly prompted the assailants to chase and grab him and then fired several gun shots on his head to kill him and then ran away.

The security guards on duty were said to have quickly alerted the police who immediately came to the scene of the incident to carry the remains of the ND2 student away and deposit it at the mortuary of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital that same Monday night.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Kwara State, Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the development, saying, however, that he was yet to be officially briefed.

“Yes, I heard that a student was killed in Kwara State Polytechnic, on Monday, but I’m yet to be officially briefed.”

Jigawa secures N2.1bn loan for housing project Adamu Amadu - Dutse JIGAWA State government has secured N2.1 billion loan from federal mortgage to construct 1,300 locust housing estate for the state civil servants across the 27 local government areas of the state.

This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sport and Culture, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state executive council meeting presided over

by Governor Muhammadu Abubakar.

Alhaji Ibrahim explained that the housing scheme initiated by the current administration, was aimed at providing affordable houses to the wokers in the state.

The commissioner maintained that the government deemed it as a social responsibility to come up with policy that could ameliorate the shortage of affordable accommodation in the state.

42 news

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Tompolo, lawyers didn’t breach any law —Adegboruwa

By Yejide GbengaOgundare

L

AGOS-based lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, on Wednesday, in reaction to a newspaper editorial, denied that Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo, or his lawyers, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and Adegboruwa himself, have not in any way breached the law, adding that the newspaper editorial erred by sitting in judgment on the matter.

According to Adegboruwa, the said national daily (not the Nigerian Tribune) in its editorial of Tuesday, February 23, 2016 entitled: “Between Tompolo and the law” embarked upon a selfimposed role of sitting in judgment over the facts of the matter between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Tompolo and others, which is pending before a court of competent jurisdiction.

He stated that the paper did not hide its knowledge of the fact that Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompo-

lo) had appealed the order of the Federal High Court for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against him, adding that if the paper believes in the supremacy of the rule of law, it ought to have respected the time tested rule, that once a matter is pending before a court of law, all persons are enjoined to refrain from making comments that could prejudice the subject matter of the suit.

Adegboruwa explained that the paper is showing disrespect to the court by

embarking on the needless exercise of sitting in judgment over the case because aside from the preliminary issue, it raised some fundamental issues which he added, were borne out of ignorance of matters of law and procedure.

The activist in reply to issues raised in the editorial stated that the question of whether a defendant is entitled to appeal the order of arrest is for the Court of Appeal to determine and not the newspaper, citing Section 241 (1) (b) of the

Constitution. He further stated that it is not the duty of counsel to produce a defendant in court for arraignment but the duty of the prosecution.

“In this regard, paragraph 3 (b) of the Federal High Court Practice Direction 2013 provides as follows: On the date of first arraignment, the Prosecutor must produce the accused person in court. Thus, Judges look at the facts of a case and the applicable law, but not sentiments, in deciding cases that come before them.”

Cardiac arrest, deceptive disease with spectrum of presentations —Expert

By Gabriel Oshokha THERE is no correlation between the severity of cardiac arrest and the symptoms, just as it is a deceptive disease with a spectrum of presentations.

Senior consultant cardiologist, at Apollo Heart Centre, Apollo Hospitals in Bangalore, Dr Venkatesh Kumar, who recently made the disclosure, noted that cardiac arrest could exist without symptoms , adding that the first presentation may be sudden cardiac death or a serious heart attack.

Speaking on the reasons more Nigerians or Africans are developing chronic heart disease, Dr Kumar said a combination of genetic and environmental factors could contribute to increase prevalence of heart disease in Nigerians and Africans.

He disclosed that the hospitals regularly treat patients from Nigeria with IHD and congestive heart failures in adult and congenital diseases, adding that they have also implanted a number of automatic implantable cardioversion defibrillators devices for advance heart failures in many Nigerian patients as lifesaving measure to prevent sudden cardiac death.

Dr Kumar said further that heart disease is the leading cause of death globally, as according to him, people pay less attention to heart healthy diet and physical activity, noting that risk factors like diabetics, HTN, increase in cholesterol, obesity and smoking are on the rise, thus, increasing the prevalence of heart disease.

Jigawa govt disburses N50m loan to 420 women, youths Adamu Amadu - Dutse THE Jigawa State government has commenced the disbursement of N49,999,600 soft loan to women and youths in the state.

The Special Assistant to the Jigawa State governor on Economic Empowerment, Alhaji Muhammad MujaddadI, said “the loan would be disbursed to 420 beneficiaries.”

Alhaji Mujaddadi explained that “the state government itemized a total of 28 income generating trades in which the beneficiaries would be empowered.”

The Special Assistant said the trades included animal fattening, work bulls and cart carriage, as well as ridges plough for farming.

According to him, others are barbing saloons business, cellphone charging point shops, tricycles for commercial transportations, grinding machines, as well as computers and accessories, among others.

Brief From left, acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, Mrs Ibim Sementari; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas; Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers and others, at the inauguration of 25 Epenal Security Boats, at Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, on Wednesdday. Inset: Some of the 25 Epenal security boats. PHOTOS: NAN

Madam Ogunye for burial March 11

Shiite: Again, El-Zakzaky’s absence stalls Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna AGAIN, the inability of the legal counsel to the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (Shiite) to get access to its leader, Sheik Ibrahim EL-Zakzaky, on Wednesday, stalled sitting of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the clash between the army and members of the sect.

The Commission had, at its inaugural sitting on Monday, adjourned till Wednesday, following the absence of the Shiite legal team at the panel.

However, when the counsel to the sect, Mr Maxwel Kyon appeared before the commission on Wednesday, he told the commission that he had not met with the leader of the sect to receive brief.

The counsel, therefore, pleaded with the commission to give him two weeks within which he would meet with the leader and file a memorandum.

But the chairman of the commission, Justice

Muhammadu Lawal Garba asked the counsel to the Nigerian Army, Mr Abba Audu whether he was opposed to the plea.

The Army counsel said he was not opposed to the plea, saying it was in the interest of justice.

However, counsel to the commission, Usman Yunus Ustaz objected to the plea, saying two weeks was too

long to be granted, since the panel has only six weeks to conclude its sitting.

Though the commission chairman did not grant Zakzaky’s plea, he adjourned the sitting till Monday, February 29, as a grace for the counsel to have access to his client.

“We are adjourning till February 29, to enable you get access to your

client, and whether you get access to him or not, you have to report back to the commission so that we can continue with the proceedings,” the panel chairman said.

The Islamic Movement had, before now, faulted the 13-man composition of the panel, saying some of its members are already against the movement.

Ibadan Poly trains deans, HODs

By Vera Onana THE Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State, has organised a two-day workshop for deans and Heads of Departments (HODs), themed: “Enhancing quality service delivery at the Polytechnic, Ibadan: Roles of deans and HODs.” The workshop, which kicked off on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, took place at the conference centre of The Polytechnic premises.

While welcoming academic personnel and other guests to the event,

Chairman, Orientation workshop for Deans and Academic HODs, Mr F.A. Adediran, stated that the gathering was aimed at examining the rules and regulations associated with the delivery of the mandate of their various offices in order to become more productive.

Rector, The Polytechnic Ibadan, Professor Olatunde Fawole, in his opening address, pointed out that the two-day workshop was initiated to create an avenue for directors, deans and heads of respective academic de-

partments to deliberate on their responsibilities to the institution and students.

Fawole said “as an academic institution, there is a need to intimate ourselves with current trends in our career so that as professionals, we will be able to compete favourably with our collegues from other institutions and fields. This will make an impact on our students and make them competitive. This workshop will touch all aspects of life of the Departments, Faculties and the Institution as a whole.”

CHRISTIAN wake for Mrs Adesola Oluwakemi Ogunye (Nee Otunikan) a.k.a MUMMY LOOS, who died at age 70, will hold on Thursday, March 10, 2016, at 5.00p.m, at 189B Ipaja Road, Baruwa, behind RCCG Throne of Grace, Bus Stop, Ipaja, Lagos State.

Funeral service will hold on Friday, March 11, 2016, at the Redeemed Christians Church of God (RCCG) Throne of Grace, Baruwa, Ipaja Road, at 10.00 a.m.

Interment follows at 189B, Ipaja Road, Baruwa, behind RCCG Throne of Grace, Bus Stop, Ipaja, Lagos State Guests will be entertained behind Sound Hope International School (Nursery), Baruwa, Lagos State.

She was survived by husband, Pa Emmanuel Oluwole Ogunye, children and grandchildren, among who are Mrs Oluwayemisi Adeleke Awojobi.

43

communitynews

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Okowa endorses establishment of modular refineries in communities Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade (second left), with the vice chairman, National Union of Herbal Medical Practitioners, Oyo State chapter, High Chief (Dr) Fatai Ayedun (left) and chairman, High Chief (Dr) Ibraheem Oyeniran (right), during the visit of herbal medical practitioners to the police commissioner.

RESPITE might have come the way of operators of illegal oil refineries in the creeks of Delta State as Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, last Friday, gave his nod for the establishment of modular refineries in the state.

Okowa gave his assent when members of the Wright Global Group, led

by Chief Wellington Okirika, paid him a visit in Asaba, the state capital.

He said the establishment of modular refineries in the state would engender job opportunities for unemployed youths roaming the streets aimlessly.

The governor added that the refineries would make petroleum products read-

Ambode laments state of roads in Ajasa-Command, Abesan •Gives deadline for repairs Bola Badmus-Lagos

L

AGOS State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has expressed displeasure at the state of Ajasa-Command and Abesan roads, and consequently ordered that work should commence on the roads within the next two weeks.

Governor Ambode gave the directive during an inspection tour of the areas.

He said the state of the roads were displeasing, disheartening and totally unacceptable to him.

The roads are Ile-IweCommand, Command Junction down to Command Bridge along Ipaja Road, Church Road to Abesan Estate via Giwa Street, among others.

This was just as residents, who trooped out in large number, at every point, to see him, expressed delight, saying his visit was a confirmation of the fact that the roads would be fixed.

Ambode assured that work would commence on the Ajasa-Command axis, after Ile-Iwe junction, where previous construction work stopped, explaining that the project would accommodate walkways, street lights and drainage systems.

At the Command Military School, the Deputy Director in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Engineer Rasheed Akindele, who briefed the governor on the state of the road, said the project was undertaken by the Lagos Metropolitan Transport

Authority (LAMATA) in 2011/2012, but the Ministry of Works took the project further to the Command Bridge and then to Ipaja axis.

He, however, said that due to neglect and the volume of vehicular movement in the area as residents preferred to link Ipaja and Ayobo through the axis from Alagbado, the road deteriorated.

A community leader in Ajasa area, Alhaji Abdulrazak Olajide, told the governor and his entourage that the people in the axis had been suffering due to lack of good roads, pipe-borne water, health facility, electricity and schools.

Governor Ambode, while addressing a large crowd that trooped out to see him, assured that as a responsive and responsible government, his government had ordered that work should commence on the road within the next two weeks.

He expressed sadness on the state of the roads in the area, saying he was compelled to visit the place and see things for himself based on several letters written to him by residents.

“I felt sad when I saw the state of roads in this area.

It is so displeasing, it is disheartening and totally unacceptable to me. I have been reading about the state of roads in this area from several letters written to me by residents and that was what made me to decide to come and see things

for myself.

“I will start from where work stopped at Ekoro Road and we will fix the drainage from there to Ajasa here within the next two weeks. We will not stop at that, we are going to fix this road from Command Bridge down to Command and Ikola.

“In addition to that, I have listened to one of the leaders in this community.

We are bringing schools to this community. One

of our priorities for 2016 which we have stated in our budget tagged: ‘The People’s Budget’ is to provide schools and health centres for all our communities and we will make sure that this part of Lagos is well represented in that provision.

“I just want you to be patient and cooperate with the contractors. We are also going to provide street light. Above all, when we do all these,

make sure you pay your taxes,” Governor Ambode said.

At Abesan, the governor, who trekked about 900 meters from Church Road to Giwa Street to inspect the Abesan link road, equally assured that the state government would embark on its construction from Church road to Aboru and the bridge that would link Giwa Street to Abesan Estate within the next two to three weeks.

Oyo herbal medical practitioners visit CP THE National Union of Herbal Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, on Tuesday, paid a courtesy visit to the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade, in his office.

In his remark, the chairman of the association, High Chief (Dr) Ibraheem

Oloyede Oyeniran, commended the police chief for his unrelenting efforts in combating crime and bringing about a peaceful atmosphere in all the nooks and crannies of the state since his assumption of office.

He solicited the support of the police towards ridding the state of illegal

herbalists and quacks and attaining the association’s mission of having a virile and healthy society.

In his response, CP Leye Oyebade thanked members of the association for deeming it fit to visit the police and enjoined them to work with the security agency to rid the society of criminals.

ily available at affordable rates, thereby halting the perennial fuel scarcity plaguing the country.

It was gathered that members of the Wright Global Group are investors who were in the state to establish modular refineries in Escravos and Koko in Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas of the state.

Governor Okowa also noted that the establishment of modular refineries in oil-rich riverine communities is a wise idea because the refineries would be close to sources of raw materials.

According to him, “Modular refineries will provide job opportunities for the people, while petroleum products would be brought to the market at a reasonable rate.”

He averred that “we will support this partnership, especially in view of the fact that it will provide jobs for our people and you are providing the funding 100 per cent.”

“It is our hope that everything works, the government of Nigeria is also supporting the establishment of modular refineries because that is the right way to go.

“Delta State is largely peaceful and we are working very hard to ensure that our youths are employed for our investors to have an enabling environment to work; we are investor-friendly people and we will give you the needed support as a state government,” he pledged.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the group, Mr Isaac Wright, in his remarks, said his organisation would provide 100 per cent funding for the refineries which is at no cost to the state government.

He disclosed that between 300 and 400 million dollars would be spent on the project which would be completed in a couple of years.

Community bemoans 2-month power outage RESIDENTS of Tedi-Muwo, a waterfront community in Ojo area of Lagos, off Badagry Expressway, have expressed resentment with the two-month power outage in the community.

A cross-section of the residents, most of who are fishermen and women, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that the outage had crippled their businesses and social life.

Mr Aina Azeez, the Chairman, Tedi-Muwo Residents Association, said the blackout had further wors-

ened the “fragile security situation” in the area.

“We are living in one of Lagos waterfront communities that have become the target of armed robbers in recent times.

“The outage has made it difficult for the local security outfit manning the area to secure the place against night marauders.

“We are calling on the Ikeja Disco to be more proactive and responsive to the sufferings of the people in the area,” Azeez said.

Also speaking, Mrs Victoria Obot, a fish seller at

one of the jetties, told NAN that she had lost huge sums of money because of the outage.

“We need electricity to store our fish but since there is no light, most of us here have resorted to the use of generators to preserve our fish which are costly to run.

“It has become difficult to make profit in the business because of overhead costs and losses incurred as a result of the outage,” Obot said.

Mr Stanley Ukwu, a Cyber Café operator, said the

situation had also taken its toll on his business, noting that business outfits that could not cope had been forced to relocate.

For Beatrice Ogor, who runs a salon, the situation is “pathetic”.

She sounded a note of warning:“The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company should not come and distribute bills for the months we have been thrown into total darkness.

“We have not been enjoying light and we cannot pay for what we did not enjoy.”

44

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

Syria civil war: Assad confirms readiness for truce

S

YRIA’S president has assured Russia of his readiness to respect a ceasefire deal brokered by Moscow and Washington, the Kremlin said.

“A phone call took place between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of the Syrian Arab Republic Bashar al-Assad,” the Kremlin said in a statement on Wednesday.

“In particular, [Assad] confirmed the readiness of the Syrian government to facilitate the establishment of a ceasefire.”

Assad described the ceasefire as an “important step towards a political resolution” for Syria’s civil

war, the Kremlin said in the statement on its website.

However, Putin and Assad emphasised the need to continue an “uncompro-

mised fight” against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group, the al-Nusra Front and other groups “which are included in the respective list of the Unit-

ed Nations Security Council,” the Kremlin said.

Putin also discussed the ceasefire with the leaders of Iran and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

Afghan Foreign Minister, Salahuddin Rabbani, centre, starts the meeting to discuss a road map for ending the war with the Taliban at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan. PHOTO: AP

Trump said at a victory rally in Las Vegas.

Marco Rubio was projected by Fox News to come in second with about 30 per cent, edging out Ted Cruz who received 16 per cent in the Nevada caucuses, according to early results.

Both men, however, were far ahead of John Kasich and Ben Carson, Fox News projected.

The Nevada win is the third in a row for Trump in the state-by-state nominating contest for the November presidential election.

A billionaire businessman and political outsider, Trump’s brash, anti-gov-

ernment talk appealed to Nevada residents, political strategists said before the Tuesday evening caucus.

“If you listen to the pundits, we weren’t expected to win too much, and now we’re winning, winning, winning the country,” Trump said at a victory rally in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Basking in his victory, Trump vowed he would keep open the military detention centre in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, if elected.

“We’re going to load it up with a lot of bad dudes out there,” he said, a day after President Barack Obama

presented his latest plan to close the facility.

Children and their mothers celebrating the 55th anniversary of Kuwati, on Tuesday.

RESCUE teams in Nepal have found the wreckage of a small passenger plane that went missing in a remote mountainous area with 23 people on board.

Aviation Minister Ananda Prasad Pokharel said the Twin Otter turboprop aircraft had been found in the western district of Myagdi on Wednesday and bodies could be seen scattered around it.

“The wreckage of the plane was found in a completely burned state in Solighopte in Myagdi district,” Pokharel said.

“The team there say that the bodies are scattered and it is not possible to identify anyone right now. More security agencies are being deployed and we are trying to get more information,” he added.

recognition of Kuwait by the United Nations as a global humanitarian centre and the conferment of the Global Humanitarian Leadership Award on the Emir, Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Kuwait celebrates its Na-

tional Day on February 25 and Liberation Day on February 26.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by Alhaji Jubreel Azeez Adekunle, the group expressed appreciation to Kuwait for providing them the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive in the country.

“The occasion of this year’s celebration of the National and Liberation Days provides those of us who have benefitted from the love that flows from the hearts of Kuwaitis to express our appreciation to the great country.

“This is a genu-

UNITED States health officials are investigating whether 14 new Zika virus infections may been transmitted through sexual contact, raising questions about the role of sex in spreading a disease that has been linked to birth defects in Brazil.

Several of the cases involved pregnant women, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned on Tuesday.

In two of the suspected

cases, the infection has been confirmed in women whose only known risk factor was sexual contact with an ill male partner who had recently travelled to an area where the virus was present, the CDC said.

Most experts had believed that sexual transmission of the illness was rare, but the new alert suggests sexual transmission of Zika may be more of a factor than previously thought.

All of the newly reported cases of sexual transmission have occurred within the US. PHOTO: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters

Beijing overtakes NYC as ‘billionaire capital of the world’ Trump. PHOTO: Jae C. Hong/AP

Nigerians felicitate with Kuwait on national day celebration NIGERIANS formerly residing in Kuwait have felicitated with the Republic of Kuwait on the occasion of the country’s National and Liberation Days.

They also congratulated the country and its people on the

Nepal finds burnt-out wreckage of missing plane

‘Zika may have been sexuallytransmitted’ in 14 cases’

US elections: Trump wins easily in Nevada DONALD Trump has won a third straight victory, the state Republican Party confirmed, with victory in the Nevada caucuses, cementing a lead that could soon be insurmountable in the Republican presidential race.

Early results on Wednesday showed Trump, who had been expected to win by a large margin, leading the pack of candidates with about 44 percent of the vote.

“If you listen to the pundits, we weren’t expected to win too much, and now we’re winning, winning, winning the country,”

other NEWS

ine gratitude to Kuwait and Kuwaitis from hundreds of Nigerian students, past and present as well as thousands of Nigerians whose lives have been positively shaped by our experiences.

As you celebrate the iconic history behind independence and liberation on February 25 and 26, we join you in rejoicing in the spirit of harmony, unity and remembrance.”

Going down memory lane, Adekunle, coordinator of the group, waxed poetic, “You were and still remain home away from home for all of us.

You gave us the opportunity of proper education and qualitative learning. Many of us were welcomed into your warm embrace from our teenage and you tutored us in life from primary through secondary and university education.

THE Chinese capital has overtaken the Big Apple as home to the most billionaires, 100 to 95, according to Hurun, a Shanghai firm that publishes a monthly magazine and releases yearly rankings and research about the world’s richest people and their spending habits.

The study, which comes months after reports suggested China now has more

billionaires than the United States, highlights how China’s elite are continuing to accrue vast wealth despite a wobbling stock market and cooling economy.

Different tabulations of wealth, such as the Hurun Report and the Forbes list, have historically produced somewhat different results depending on their methodology.

Amnesty: Human rights deteriorated globally in 2015 AMNESTY International said the global situation for human rights deteriorated in 2015, with the systems designed to protect basic rights themselves under attack by governments.

In the group’s annual report released Wednesday, researchers highlighted the situation in Syria as the world’s most urgent crisis, particularly for refugees.

“We documented cases of airstrikes against schools, against hospitals and against civilian homes. Russia and

Syria are targeting civilians and civilian objects, and that most definitely is a war crime,” said Tirana Hassan, Amnesty’s crisis response director.

Amnesty International SecretaryGeneral Salil Shetty. PHOTO:VIDEO GRAB

45

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

CAF Champions League:

Enyimba will handle Vipers —Thomas

ENYIMBA goalkeeper, Femi Thomas believes the seven-time Nigeria champions will snap out of a threegame losing run when they host Uganda’s Vipers in the second leg of a CAF Champions League preliminary round clash at the Adokiye Amesiamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday.

The People’s Elephant a fortnight ago, lost 1-0 to Vipers in the first leg, earlier, they lost via penalties to Akwa United in the Charity Shield before they also fell 0-1 to Rivers United on the opening day of the Nigeria Premier League last Sunday.

Thomas said there is no problem whatsoever with Enyimba only that they could not convert the many chances they have created.

He said this will not be the case on Sunday in the Garden City as they need two unreplied goals to upstage the Ugandans, which he believes is possible.

“We don’t have any problems. We have been playing good football, people who have watched our games can testify to that,” Thomas, a member of the Super Eagles squad to the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda, told AfricanFootball.com.

Obafemi earns triple pay in China

F

RESH facts have emerged that Nigeria striker, Obafemi Martins will triple his earnings at his new Chinese club, Shanghai Shenhua.

Martins was on $3 million a year at Major League Soc-

Femi Thomas

Twitter post: Sukur faces 4-yr prison sentence TURKEY’S former international, Hakan Şukur risks up to four years in jail after being charged with insulting president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on his Twitter handle.

Prosecutors have charged the former football star with posting tweets from his account @HakanSukur containing “insulting content against Mr President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his son,” the private Dogan news agency reported.

In his defence, Sukur, 44, said he did not intend to target the president in his posts, the content of which was not made clear. But that was rejected by prosecutors, who claimed that the tweets were “clearly related” to Erdoğan, the news agency said.

Turkish court asks ‘Gollum experts’ if Erdoğan comparison is insult If convicted, Sukur faces up to four years in jail, according to the charges. As the indictment has been ap-

proved, a first hearing is expected in the coming weeks.

Sukur, was one of the deputies of the ruling AKP party, but previously became

critical of their policies and Erdogan, who became hostile to one of the nation’s biggest religion factions, the Islamic Gulen movement.

cer side Seattle Sounders, but after he has paid tax, he took home about $2 million.

The former Inter Milan striker hit a goldmine in China as he will earn $6.6 million at the club for the 2016 season, according to Steve Goff of the Washington Post.

The Chinese club also paid Seattle $2 million for his transfer.

‘Oba’, as he is called in the United States of America (USA) in the Major League

Soccer (MLS), has since joined his new club in preseason training ahead of the new season in China.

Martins who featured at the 2010 World Cup has

Obafemi has also played for Levante (Spain), Wolfsburg (Germany), Newcastle United, Birmingham City (England) and Rubin Kazan (Russia).

Chikatara scores for Abia Warriors

By Olawale Olaniyan CHISOM Chikatara on Wednesday scored his first goal of the season in the Nigeria Premier League, as Abia Warriors defeated ElKanemi Warriors 2-1 in a match day two fixture.

Chikatara, who hit the headlines at the justconcluded fourth African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda, after finishing with four goals, put the homers ahead in the early minutes of the game.

He was before the commencement of the season, reported to have secured a three-year deal with a Moroccan club, Wydad Casablanca, while he fired blank in the season’s open-

er last Sunday, where his team drew 1-1 with Ikorodu United in Lagos.

Warriors’ Michael Olaha ensured the Umuahiabased side nicked home its first victory of the season, as he got the winner in the dying minutes, after Mustapha Ibrahim, had scored an equaliser for the visitors.

Abia Warriors finished the game with 10 men as Henry Ochuba got a second booking in the match and was sent off.

Meanwhile, Kelvin Itoya was the match winner for Warri Wolves which recorded a 1-0 win over visiting Kano Pillars.

Itoya’s goal came off a rebound during added time, as goalkeeper Dele Aji-

boye’s brilliant form was good enough to deny the four-time Nigeria League champions a point in Warri.

At the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Rangers which started the season with a 1-2 loss in Kano, came from behind before their teeming fans to hammer Plateau United 3-1.

Kim John put the visitors ahead in the eighth minute and maintained the lead till half time.

The Flying Antelopes came back stronger in the second half to level up through Togaba Komlan, while Nnamdi Anyasodo and Chisom Egbuchulum were on song to ensure the first victory of the season for their team.

Chikatara

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OLA-CITY SET FOR WEEK 34 SURE OF 3 DRAWS IN WEEK 34, 35, 36.

Week 33 pair 6xxx 24xxx must. 08140575314, 08085005634.

THe Compiler of Ola-City International assures stakers of his 3 fixed draws for the 3 weeks in week 34, week 35 and week 36, 3 draws in week 34 cost N5,000 cash, week 35 cost N10,000 cash, week 36 cost N15,000 cash interested stakers to pay N5,000 cash to First Bank Plc in the name of Olafenwa R. Ola-City Account No 3033318854 and collect the draws on phone after confirmation of your payment. Week 34 pairs 6xx 24xxx.

Phone 08140575314, 08085005634. It is time to win again week 34 pairs 6xx 24xx must.

ADEOTI SYNDICATE-07051327960

COMAND CARLISLE—CRAWLEY TO DRAW (36X 37)

After I am coming back from the two weeks leave, I congratulate all my fans & customers who got my last week 32 F.A. CUP Round (5) release score four over five. Nos 08F-18x 37x pair 30x 31x. Not yet finished. This week 33, A week after F.A. Cup Round 5. I must get the Nap correct and the pair. I have full confidence on the two games above to produced a draw. The banker inside you will get it inside the release. Just send your money N10,000 cash to Ahmed Shafiri A/C Nos 2001788431. Zenith Bank, Ibadan. Make sure to used Nos 36xxbk 37xxbk .

Those who want to be a member should send their money N25,000 cash to the account. TO remind you again. There is winning for you on this week release by the name of god. Amen. Thanks. Good luck to you all.

TRIPLE URGES PUNTER NOT TO DESPAIR AS IT GIVES 23/29. 08035324990

Last week result of 8 killer draws was nothing to write home about. It is truly depressing, but punters are urged not to despair, hard time don’t last.

Let’s focuses on this week’s fixtures Nos 23 & 29 well supply the needed draws to save as a soothing balm to assuage our depressing mood.

Add them to our 1Bk and get your 2/3. Our 1Bk sells for N1,500, 2 draws cost N3,000 and 3 draws cost N10,000 on 08035324990. Be a winner!

DR. B4 DR. ARRIAVAL NAP-BIG TREAT TO PROMOTERS-08162748396. 06 MUST 14.

PORTVALE-PORTVALE-PLYMOUTH=NO. 30. Week 30, 31 and 32.

Number 9 pair 8 and 30 as fixed=18 pair 19.

Pools winning is a serious issue and must be handle with outmost care.

All money business needed a good focus and profit calculating venture.

3 weeks 30x 31 and 32.

(8/9) - (18-19) and 30 Week 30 – 9x 19x 30xxx NAP Week 31 – 8x 19x 30xxx NAP – 8drs Week 32- 9x 18x 30xxx NAP – 8drs.

SCUNTHORPE HOME 30 in weeks 30 and 31 to the 2nd round of PORTVALE HOME 30 again in week 36. Multipe congratulations ahead. Welcome once again to the New Doctors winning place. N50,000. Unregretable fee.

KAMARK SUPER NAP-08186677384.

14X 19X 17XX FOR 2 DRAWS.

KEY-QPR vs BIRMINGHAM. The above key games on coupon is to produce 3 direct bankers as fixed draws. The Nap cost N10,500 while the permutation is N8,500. All interested stakers are to forward payment to MR S.B. Odesola, IBTC Bank acct no: 0001361916. Good luck.

Thursday, Feb. 25 - Mar. 2, 2016 MADAM HILLARY-

08163902330 19 MUST 49

DERBY MUST DUNDEE UTD. Congratulations, our once a year Nap is perfectly fixed for draws with Derby and Dundee Utd on the same digit twice a year winning scheduled at Away and Home respectively.

Your winning is sure. Join the winners and have a good time. Welcome. N10,000. Free for all win.

Good luck.

MID-WEEK OFFERS 11/13 (08087176217)

The juicy Mid-Week International is giving all punters and Pools lovers Nos 11 and 13 for a compulsory draw this weekend. Add the duo to our 1BK and smile to your bank on Monday morning.

Our 1Bk cost N1,500, 2 draws sell for N3,000 and 3 good dras cost N10,000 on 08087176217. Best of luck!

4MEMMBERS. 4 BANKERS

08162705220. 25XX 26

4 bankers N6,000 Wk 30 blue No 4X 15X 17X 29X 4 bankers N6,000 Wk 31 RED No 8x 19x 30x 33x= 4/4 4 bankers N6,000 Wk 32 No 9x 31x 30x 40x 4 bankers N6,000 WK 33 No Nap Nap Nap Nap Stakers try to get 4 members 4 bankers. This wk 33 cost N6,000.

KEY Plymouth. Portsmouth set at home No 40, 41 meeting letter M.B. at away to control 4 special draws this wk 31 RED cost N6,000 following wk 32 Cup. Key WALSALL ATHOME NO 26meeting letter W. At Away No 26 to control 4 special Draws this wk 32 cup cost N6, 000 wk 32 No 9x 29x 30x 40x Key Every wk 33. Bank Niger No 25, 26, to Draw plus. 3. Others N6, 000. Send MTN card to 08162705220.

SHADOW–48 PAIR 49.

08087670776

The master of all pool forecasters has just receive a new key from his overseas Pool Compiler.

Inside the book is 3 fixed draws and a pair this week 33. Doubting Thomas will not benefit from it because he/she will say na lie. Send to Shadow N5,000 MTN recharge card and grab the 3 fixed draws and a pair from the master of all Pool forecasters. You are told.

MR. A. GEORGE08036224198 WK 33=6XXX, XXX, XXX PAIR 21 OR 45.

The classified English Football Pools draws directly from our compilers in London on sale for weeks 33, 34, 35, 36 with 3 Nap draws and a pair on sale now at N25,000 each week with absolute guarantee.

Contact me in person or pay through the Bank account number 2028316201, Assan George, UBA, 160, Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.

SHORT-GUN 08050614477/ 08168241902 6 HOT 38

With the unfolding of classical draws in recent weeks, only compilers with gazette draws can excel.

With the above pair which must supply this week and other fixed draws, stakers are in for a very good deal. The game costs N25,000. Call now to win.

PETER NAP 20 PAIR 21 08076546261

Congratulation to all those that got my lst week release as they won with 9xx 13F 18xx 2/3 the pair 30xx, 31xx making 4/5. Meanwhile, another 3/3 and 4/5 this week cost just N25,000. Pay to acct no: 3023114822, First Banki in person of Mr. Onaolapo Peter and call on 08076546261. Meanwhile bank on 20 pair 21 for X.

MAGIC EXPERT IN POOL BETTING

RETUNE FOR WKS 33, 34, 35, 36!08160742266 (PAIR 6X BEST 7X)

I want to congratulate my clients old and new for their success so far in our last operation and I equally welcome you al to this current operational system key WEST BROM vs WEST HAM plus Nap Nap Nap=3/3 sure cost N15,000.

Wk 34 Nap Nap Nap=3/3 all. It’s only wise men that take wise decision.

PLEASE COMPLY WITH OUR NO ADVERT NO WRITE-UP POLICY —MANAGEMENT

AKIN MR. AKIN (THE NEWEST HAPPENING IN POOLS HISTORY) 07067202291.

8-8-8 DRAWS. Controlled with Leeds Position in weeks 29 and 32.

In week 31 Leeds was on No 16 Home due to the full Premiership team so it was place on No 16 divided with the number of Liverpool=16 ÷ 2 = 8 draws in week 31. Enough No of draws statement.

Promoter seeking dialogue but No is our response to them. Happy winning week. N50,000.

MR. SOLUTION. YOU ARE INDEED MY SOLUTION.JOSEPH-ABUJA.

HOPE NAP IS SET TO HELP STAKERS W\TO WIN MILLIONS. SOLOMON RESORT. NOW THE CURRENT WINNING MASTER. 09091111800.

MAGIC KINGDOM THE WISE STAKERS WINNING POINT. CALL & WIN.

MR BAIL OUT (THE ISRAEL) 09085712800. THANKS U SIR. TOYE VI. ADEOTI SYNDICATE REMAINS RELIABLE. CALL & WIN 07051327960.

NJOROGE MR ASSURANCE WISHES YOU WELL. LET’S WIN. 08177474535.

JOSEPH-RESUMPTION (STAKERSCHOICE) 08167278061.

Week 23 and 32. 23 turn 32?

KEY: ACCRINGTON AWAY 35 or 36 as quoted in our last week advert.

Week 23 and 32.

BOLTON, NEWPORT and YEOVIL Week 23-08x 32x 33xxx -18x 35x Week 32-09x 31x 37xxx -18x 36F Usual Full payment winning week. Congratulations again, weeks 19, 30 and 33.

KEY:- NORWICH AWAY NO 1 Week 19- 11x 15x 42xxx- 06/NEWPORT Week 30- 17x 22x 40xxx- 09/NEWPORT Week 33- X X X — o6, 09/NEWPORT? Join the winners on the winning track and be fulfilled. WIN! WIN!!

WIN!!! N50,000.

NEW CURRENT INTERNATIONAL KEY = 09038633666 = 08166222529.= 37 NAP 29

28. 29= 4 special draws wk 33 N10, 000. two bankers N5, 000 2 special draw N5, 000 Wk 32 No 9x 30x Pair 48x 49f 2 special draws N5,000 wk 33 No Nap Nap Pair Nap Nap 4 special draws N10,000 wk 33 No Nap Nap Nap Nap with Nap Nap Two bankers N5,000. Wk 32 cup= 9x 30x Pair 48x 49f Two bankers N5,000. Wk 33 No Nap Nap Pair Nap Nap KEY-Letter A.A. at home cup CUPmeeting letter S.S at away No 48. 49 to control L. 2 special draws this wk 32 cup RED cost N5,000, two bankers cost N5,000 following Wk 33 Key Arsenal At away No 2 to control 4 special draws this wk 33 cost N10, 000 two Bankers cost N5000 control 2 special draws cost N5,000 Wk 32 Two Bankers No 9x 30x Pair 48x 49x.

Send MTN card 09038633666= 08166222529. The game will be sent to you by text message.

ZENITH NAP – 08146879314 (38XX 41) 3 YEARS WEEK 33 ANNUAL NAPS.

Week 33 2014 19x 25x 45xx – 38xx Week 33 2015 14x 32x 44xxx – 41xx Week 33 2016 X X X - 38 must 41.

Did you aware that in every week 31 starting from 2014 to date= STEVENAGE MUST NEWPORT and other 3 fixed matches is scheduled to enrich wise stakers. Let’s take you to Zenith of wealth with N25, 000= Get out of dollar problems with enough Naira at hand. Welcome.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH TEXT MESSAGE OF WRITE UP WITHOUT ADVERT IS REGARDED VOID. PLACE YOUR ADVERT FOR EFFECTIVE PUBLICATION OF YOUR FORECAST. THANKS POOLS EDITOR

47

tribunepools

DR. JACKSON FREE WIN 08156829811 6, 19, 29, 38, 45.-14

Congrats, the above free sure/confirmed winning line is absolutely free for all winning desired stakers. Starting of our 3 weeks operational Nap, the 3 fixed NAP cost N10,000. Congrats.

DONCASTER BET CREWE LUCKYMAN (08054352685)

Lukcyman 1—2 guide and luckyman one sure draw two fortune papers. You must not miss weekly for a miss means Fortune miss our wk 33 special release will bail you out of poverty. Grab your own copy today.

Doncaster Bet Crewe.

20 MUST 21 THE LILIES (08086944309)

Never mind the shock draws of last week. All will be well this wk 33 stick to us weekly and get fortune smile on your face. Our 3 draws will help you win big jackpot on pool 20 must 21.

20X 37X 38X MUST FOR 2 DRS.

SIR-BRAKA

08078052128 The above bankers must score 2 draws wk 34 and 35 cost N10,000 each week. You can call for a draw at N500 to give you 3 over 4. This wk 33 call 08179667733 for more information.

MISTER-DRAW (08030415683)

Newport country to hold Mansfield Town plus 2 super draws cost N2,000 MTN card. The road to fortune will be widely open for all our fans. Call now and win big fortune on pools.

MANCITY SYSTEM F.A. CUP SYSTEM C 08135888720= 39 NAP 40

3 Wks operation wk 31. 32.33 4 Special draws N6, 000 Wk 31 RED No 8x 19x 30x 33x 4 Special draws N6, 000 Wk 32 No 18x 29x 30x 31x 4 special draws N6, 000 Wk 33 No Nap Nap Nap Nap Two Bankers N3000 WK 31 RED No 19x 30x pair 8x 5f Two Bankers N3000 WK 32 No 18x 30x Pair 29f 31x Wk 33 No Nap Nap Pair X.X Stakers try to get MANCITY. 4 SPECIAL Draws this Wk 33 cost N6, 000. Two Bankers this wk 33 cost N3000= 4/4. Send Mtn Card to 08135888720, 09038633666.

DOSA – 5 PAIR 6 08072216644

Nobody can win on pool staking ever y week also you can not lose on Pool staking every week. This week 33 is a week of heavy winning for any stakers that buy my 3 draws and 1 hot pair cost N5,000 MTN recharge card.

FORTUNE DONOR DONATE 6/7 08099111828

Your selfless and hardworking Fortune Donor International is happy to donate coupon Nos 6 or 7 for a sure draws on Saturday. Combine them to our 1BK and have your usual 2/3 unfailingly.

Fortune will smile and stay with consistent punters in the remaining weeks of the season. So, be consistent, our 1BK cost N1,500, 2 draws sell for N3,000 and 3 sure draws cost only N10,000 on 08099111828. You are a winner!

ZENITH NAP –

08146879314 (38XX 41)

3 YEARS WEEK 33 ANNUAL NAPS. Week 33 2014 19x 25x 45xx – 38xx Week 33 2015 14x 32x 44xxx – 41xx Week 33 2016 X X X - 38 must 41.

Did you aware that in every week 31 starting from 2014 to date= STEVENAGE MUST NEWPORT and other 3 fixed matches is scheduled to enrich wise stakers. Let’s take you to Zenith of wealth with N25, 000= Get out of dollar problems with enough Naira at hand. Welcome.

EVERTON. NAP= 08162705220= 12XX 18

WK 33 TWO BANKERS N4000. 4 BANKERS COST N6, 000 Two BANKERS N4, 000 Wk 32 No 30X 40X PAIR 1X 2F WK 33 NO NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP 3. special draws N6, 000 wk 32 NO 18X 30X 40X PAIR 1X 9X 3. special N6, 000 wk 33 No Nap Nap Nap Nap with Nap Nap. Stakers try to get EVERTON 3 special draws this wk 33 COST N6, 000 two.

Bankers cost N4, 000 Send MTN Card to 08135637650. The game will send by text message 08135637650.

EDITOR’S PLACE 38X 45X

PLEIAD DE MAXWELL-09099968585.

MAN UTD OR ARSENAL = ARSENAL

HUDDERSFIELD HOLD IPSWICH? The current draw formation started in week 29 with 8 draws, 14 draws in week 30 and 8/8 draws in week 31 and 32.

Dear stakers don’t be weary with the recent draw formations expert good number of draws this week as we had an interlude draw in week 30. 8-14-8-8-14 draws scheduled.

8 draws with good win at the Maxwell’s place with last week headline on, can HULL CITY old ARSENAL at EMIRATE? Yes, they ended in a barren draw and other scheduled draws.

MAN UTD in problem after BACELONA defeat, Premiership division is a trap for Punters expert 2 or no draw, Sky Bet Championship is favoured for impressive draw at BOLTON, CHARLTON, HUDDERSFIELD and QPR to WOLVES, PORTVALE and NEWPORTS on same digit is draw expected SPOT, STEVENAGE to YORK, DUNDEE, HAMILTON, MOTHERWELL and ROSS county to add to Punters winning dividends.

Contact De Maxweel draws clinic for your sure win again, where draws are discharged after surgery on fixed matched. TOKEN MANAGER. Call and Win.

SOLOMON RESORT WIN - 09091111800 5TH ROUND EMIRATES F.A. CUP RESORT NAPS

Put flames to promoters VAULT with BOLTON, BRADFORD C> and CRAWLEY. B.B.C. = 9x 18x 30xxx B.B.C. British - Broadcasting - Cooperation B.B.C. Bolton - Bradford C - Crawley Congratulations again our 3 weeks after Cup winning sensation again in 3rd, 4th and 5th CUP. Week 27 —03x 29x 41xx 9x 19F Week 30—15x 22x 49xxx 9x 19x Week 33—X X X 9 19 AS stated in our last week advert of 8 draws, oh Yes! 8 draws were played on position of Leeds on coupon. In 4th and 5th CUP Leeds was at away No 8 for 8 draws.

Our newly direct winning information on instruction is our winning strength act wisely win with ease N50,000. Winners celebrates. Good luck.

STAKEHOLDERS LAUDS NAZAR MASTER ON DIVIDEND

Stakeholders in the Pools industry have lauded NAZAR Master Pools Company Limited, Ibadan, for its commitment to the development of the disclosed in a statementn issued by the leading Pools Company inn Oyo State and environs, which was made available to TRIBUNE POOLS during the week.

According to the Pools company, “We have continued to recieve accolades from stakeholders in the Pools business for our honesty of purpose and prompt payment of winnings. They also commended us for the big dividend we are paying of recent.”

MADAM DE MADAM SUPER NAPS08023329191 (14 CBK 38).

5TH ROUND CUP WIN-18X 31X 40XXXX 1 PAIR 2.

Get prepared for our 6th round Cup in week 35=Book ahead or win in weeks 33 and 34.

Week 33-Assurance win.

KEY-IPSWICH on number 14 Home or Away.

Reference weeks -4, 11, 16, 25 and 33.

Week 4 – 03x 25x 36xxx – 14x Week 11- 06x 22x 41xxx – 14x Week 16- 02x 18x 47xxx – 14x Week 25 – 04x 16x 44xxx – 14x Week 33 – X X X– 14x Culled from 2015/2016 Pool winning diary.

Congratulations to all our clients that partnership with us on our world renown Panel and draw fixing chairman that makes our recent success possible in spite of 8/8 draws played, yet we triumph. Call our Media Manager for your payment details. Trusted Mr. Joshua. Its real N50,000. All winners should pay as agreed.

Good luck.

IKECHUKWU BROTHERS NAP 08168157259 – 49 MUST 38.

2//2 YEARS (BI – ANNUAL FIXED NAP) KEY= WYCOMBE – BRISTOL. R. Extracted from 2015/2016 draws fixed programe strictly confidential.

Week 6’ 2012 – 07x 25x 42xxx – 28/49 Week 41’ 2014 – 03x 27x 40xxx – 28/49 Week 33’ 2016 – X X X - 28/49 Our success is ordained by God, our mission is to change our clients financial status. Be a rich man, go for Ikechuckwu Naps. Success is sweet. Welcome once again to the winners word= N50, 000= sure win.

WISDOM NAPS – 07088103080 (19XX 29) 4 WEEKS 2015/2016 – WINNING MUST

CONGRATULATIONS. Hurry your winning is Sure again with NORWICH away NUMBER ONE. Are you now in Pools staking business if yes this applies to you we have 4 colours in coupon history RED, PURPLE, BROWN and BLUE. In week 19 NORWICH away No. 1 – (RED) In week 30 NORWICH away No. 1 – (BLUE) In week 33 NORWICH away No. 1 – (BROWN) In week 40 NORWICH away No. 1 – (PURPLE) Week 19 – 13x 29x 32xxx — NAP= 11DRS. Week 30 – 15x 22x 40x — NAP= 14DRS Week 33 – X X X — NAP= 12DRS All our weeks 19 & 30 winners congrats once again and other intending winners are all welcomed – Be prepared again N50, 000 = wisdom win= Welcome & Goodluck.

BEST BARGAIN INTERNATIONAL 08092621480

Wk 32=1XX 9XX 18XX. Wk 33=49CBK + OTHERS. The Bookmakers and the Pools Panel were very wonderful last week with their unequalled performance which brought smiles to the faces of believing stakers with 1xx, 9xx, 18xx.

I said it last week that the current CUP sequence released to me by the Bookmakers and the Pools Panel, is equal to none. This week with the power given to me by the Bookmakers and the Pools Panel, Coupon No 49 must draw with other fixed draws which have been decided already as certified and classified draws. Read my advert last week to confirm.

Call me on 08092621480 for us to discuss on payment details to be part of this 5-weeks winning sequence. This is our chance to deal with the promoters.

HOPE NAPS & CO – 08107128449

BANKER=NO 19XXX NO 19XXX NO 19XXX Hope do welcome fans and stakers of Thursday Tribune to week 33, week 34.

Recover all your money in Pools with correct real draws. Call Hope Naps & Co and pay to First Bank Plc in person of Mr. Gbadebo Stephen A. while the week release will be sent to you on phone. Whe your payment is confirmed. Wee 33 cost just N10,000 naira while week 34 cost just N20,000 respectively. Happy Weekend. Good bless. Bye.

FAITHFUL INTERVENTION – 07082899957

THE TRUST MEN NAPS – 14 TURN 41.

PORTVALE HOME 28 AGAIN. Your faith in your winning confirmation.

Week 16 – 14x 19x 30xxx – 14x 41 – 9draws Week 33 – X X X - 41xx 14 – 10draws Watch Manchester United on number 2 while Ipswich must stevenage.

No mush story, our week 16 of draws clients needed to be refreshed of our PORTVALE HOME 28 guaranteed winning MUST. You only need faith and trust to win big with us. We are duely guilded by our foreign expert directives/instructions. Week 33 Nap win is a reminiscence of week 16 sure win – N50, 000= Faith winning stakers choice.

PLEASE COMPLY WITH OUR NO ADVERT NO WRITE-UP POLICY —MANAGEMENT

Thursday, Feb. 25 - Mar. 2, 2016 MODUPE (08033566694) 06- 24-25. 2drs Call for your special NAP.

EMIRATES FLY08087104491 (06XX09)

WESTBROM —BOLTON In week 29- CRYSTAL P. was at home No 6 with 8 draws and in week 31. WESTBROM was at away No 6 with 8 draws.

Now WESTBROM hosting CRYSTAL P. on the scheduled No 6 and BOLTON BURNLEY on No 9.

Promotes 3 fixed matches on instruction from the Book Makers in England. Fly safely with Emirate to your bank on Monday. Congrats in advance N25,000. Good luck.

RIGHT TIME08054282579

NAP 18, 11, 12 FOR 2 DRAWS Congratulations to stakers who believe they will be millionaire in week 34, week 35 and week 36 when we are having a joint release with Right Time and Time and Headmaster, now Right Time and Headmaster say bye bye to Promoters as door open to stakers go to banks or never doubting.

Thomas because they will blame themselves after result. For more information, you can contact Right Time on 08054282579 (11, 12, 18).

SUNDERLAND SYSTEM 25. 26.

09038460009= 36 NAP 37

4. SPECIAL DRAWS N6, 000 WK 32 NO 9x 18x 30x 40x= N6, 000 4. Special draws N6, 000 Wk 33 NO Nap Nap Nap Nap= N6, 000 4. Special draws N6, 000 Wk 34 No Nap Nap Nap Nap= N6, 000 Two Bankers N3000 WK 32 9x 30x Pair 19f 40x Two Bankers N3000 WK 33 NO NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP Two Bankers N3000 Wk 34 NO NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP Time to win Pool this wk 33 Sunderland system 4 special draws this wk 33 with play = 4/4. Correct hurry up to get your copy to day two Bankers cost N3000 wk 32. No 9x 30x 19x 40. 4 Bankers wk 32 No 9x 18x 30x 40x= 4/4 send MTN card 09038460009.

BIG BROSS07053681965 BANK 34 OR 41

Yes! it was ¾ last week 32.

When my 4 games for 3 played (9x23x37x48x) got ¾. Congratulations this week 33 again Bank 34 or 41 with 2BKS that must give at least 3/4 again. N10,000. Good luck.

SIR MICHAEL NAP 19 PAIR 21 09091874579

The odd week system that got 3/3 in week 31 must get it again this week. My weekly release cost just N15,000. Call for acct no or 09091874529. Do not miss it.

FA CUP 3 SYNDICATE

08139714848= 27 NAP 28

3 Special draws N6, 000 Wk 31 No 19x 26x 30x Pair 8x 9f 3 Special Draws N6, 000 Wk 32 No Cup 9X 30X 31X PAIR 48X 49F 3 Special Draws N6, 000 Wk 33 No Nap Nap Nap Pair Nap Nap 3 Special Draws N6, 000 Wk 33= 3 special draws cost N6, 000 Wk31 No 19x 26x 30x pair 8x 9f Wk 32 No 9x 30x 31x pair 48x 49x wk 33 No Nap Nap Nap Nap Pair Nap Nap. Stakers try to get 3 SYNDICATE 3 special Draws this wk 33 cost N6000 send MTN Card

WEEK 32 XRAY

8 draws recorded 3 times from 4 weeks results, started in week 29, 31 and 32. Many Promoters were favoured with 8 draws scenario, only our Pools page Punters won despite the 8 scattered draws.

Hope Naps top last week chat with one banker while our pair Experts added to our readers dividends Sunderland, MBA Expert, Mancity, Best Bargain, Ikechukwu, Solomon Resort, Mr. Solution, New Current International, 022 Code, F.A. Cup Syndicate, Akin Mr. Akin remain indivisible and Pleiad De Maxwell on 8 draws.

Dear staker congratulations, our Experts promised a fulfilled winning week browse through and contact all our tested and trusted Compilers for your guaranteed winning. Appreciate them, so you can enjoy the best of them. Good luck.

WEEK 33 STATUS EKO —7, 19.

LKO —6.

PP —10.

SUNDAY —02, 04.

VOID —15, 28, 46.

FOCUS UNBEATABLE ON FIVE WEEKS 31, 32, 33, 34 & 35.

Operation:- 08079171744. Congrats, pls cross check.

Wk 31=14x 26x 33x pair 19x 12f = 4/5 Wk 32=09x 37x 40x pair 18x 19F = 4/5 Wk 33=X X X pair X X = 5/5 Wk 34= X X X pair X X = 5/5 Wk 35= X X X pair X X = 5/5 Sure Nap cost N20,000 weekly.

A D E O T I S Y N D I C AT E - 0 7 0 5 1 3 2 7 9 6 0 .

Congratulation to all those that get my last week release score four over fic\ve. Nos 8F 18x 37x pair of the game was Nos 30x 31x correct and the pair. Pay your money N10,000 cash to AHMED SHAFIRI A/C Nos 2001788431. Zenith Ban, Ibadan. The banker pair for this week 33. Nos 36x 37x must for at least one.

Special release for members week 34.

MAGIC KINGDOM (08056753098/07085060512)

17X 18X 19XXX PAIR 6 AND 21

Compensation. Last week result was a rude shock, the Cup games on coupon faulted our winning chance. Never mind the above games starts another 4 weeks operation Naps. If you’ve never won, play the above games very well against our weeks 34, 35 and 36 super win cost N10,000 each week.

Payments to Balogun Adesina Kamoru, F.C.M. Bank acct no 0279550010, Wema Bank acct no 0206965116 or G.T Bank no 0115505082 or call our secretary to 08182560652. Good luck.

NJOROGE MR NEW ASSURANCE (14XX41)

IPSWICH MUST EXETER CUP WIN-A WEEK AFTER CUP WIN Starting of Cup one to 5th round F.A. CUP-Position of WOLVES and ROSS. County in Cup weeks formed a least draw.

1st Cup ROSS Co on 26 to draw in wk 18= 26x 2nd Cup WOLVES on 21 to draw in wk 22= 21x 4th Cup ROSS Co on 40 to draw in wk wk 30= 40x 5th Cup WOLVES/ROSS Co- 14/41 A must in wk 33= 14/41.

At Njoroge your winning is always our PRIDE. Our trade mark is MR. ASSURANCE with the house hold name NJOROGE, the DON in Pools computation and compilation in Africa. We now operates with our sister’s office in Accra (GHANA) so you are welcome to the Assurance winning family. N50,000= Welcome.

SIDELINES

NO 16,444

N150

THURSDAY, 25 FEBRUARY, 2016

“In an era whereby many key University appointments and decisions are made from outside the University, meritocracy is eroded and replaced with nepotism, godfatherism, lobbying and political patronage. The result is a system whereby the most eligible are often frustrated and left without promotions.”

A

S stated last week, the decision of government to “sack” the Vice Chancellors was ultra-vires the powers of the President as the Visitor to the Universities in questions. His powers and duties as Visitor do not enable or empower him to usurp the powers of the Governing Councils of the Universities.

Furthermore, the “sack” of those ViceChancellors whose tenures had expired and who had as a matter of fact handed over to acting Vice-Chancellors, expose government to the risk of litigation by the aggrieved officers. It is after all a settled position of the law that an employer cannot terminate the appointment of an employee whose employment had ceased to exist either by resignation or effluxion of time. Although the Committee of Vice Chancellors in its press release acknowledged that Vice Chancellors falling into this group were in reality not “sacked”, such distinction may in all likelihood be lost on the public given the failure of the government itself to make the position clear in its own release announcing the appointment of new Vice Chancellors. Thus these former Vice Chancellors may have every reason to be aggrieved by the “sack” announcement as the word “sack” attaches to the affected Vice-Chancellors a certain amount of odium which no self respecting academic would want to be associated with.

In the case of the Vice Chancellors whose tenures had yet to expire, the action of government is even more alarming. As I stated last week, the appointment, tenure and removal of Vice Chancellors is governed by theUniversity (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993 as amended. By virtue of section 6 of the Amendment Act of 2003, the power to remove a Vice-Chancellor was taken from the Visitor and granted to the Governing Council of the University. Thus subsection 8 of Section 3 of the law which used to read thus: “The Vice Chancellor may be removed from office by the Visitor after due consul-

OFR, CON, SAN, LL.D, D.Litt

Four-year-old Ahmed Karmi, was reportedly sentenced to life imprisonment by an Egyptian court in absentia for “committing murder”. He allegedly committed the offence when he was just one year old, while his birth certificate was not presented before the judge during hearing.

If one may ask, will the conviction of Ahmed not affect his psyche when he becomes a man, even if the sentence is eventually nullified?

afeonthursday

aareafe@gmail.com

‘Sack’ of Vice Chancellors and appointment of new ones: Assault on university autonomy (2) tation with the Council and the Senate acting through the Minister of Education” was substituted with a new subsection reading as follows: “The Vice Chancellor may be removed from office by the Governing Council on grounds of gross misconduct or inability to discharge the functions of his office as a result of infirmity of the body or mind, at the initiative of the Council, Senate or the Congregation after due process.”

Given the clear provisions reproduced above, it is worrisome that Government still proceeded to act outside of the law governing university administration.

GOVERNING COUNCILS ALSO ENJOYED FIXED TERM OF OFFICE As noted earlier, the position of the law may not have been totally lost on government as it reportedly dissolved the Governing Councils of the universities (with the exception of that of National Open University of Nigeria) before the appointment of the new Vice Chancellors. In my view rather than serve as a legal justification, for the action of the Government, it only further makes a bad situation worse as by the same law, the Governing Councils themselves enjoy a fixed term of office of four years certain. I addressed this very issue last year when in reaction to my stance on the initial dissolution of the Governing Councils of the University, I received an electronic copy of the University (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 2003 from a reader who failed to disclose his identity. After studying the relevant provisions of the law, I found nothing in it to justify the action of the government at that time. The said view which I stated for the avoidance of doubt was as fol-

lows: “Section 2A.”Tenure of Council” The Council so constituted shall have a tenure of four years from the date of its inauguration PROVIDED that where a Council is found to be incompetent and corrupt it shall be dissolved by the Visitor and a new Council shall be immediately constituted for the effective functioning of the University.”

MY RESPONSE “I am aware of the provision in Section 2 of the University’s Miscellaneous Provision Amendment Act, 2003. It reinforces my submission that it is not possible to have a blanket dissolution of all Councils the way the president did. The critically relevant clause is “where a council is found to be incompetent and corrupt”.

The requirement of our constitution and the well known “rule of natural justice” is that the alleged act of “incompetence and corruption” must be brought to the knowledge of the particular University Council which must be given the opportunity to defend itself. Thereafter there must be a finding of incompetence and corruption...it is a condition precedent that the Council cannot be dissolved unless it has been FOUND to be incompetent and corrupt.

In the present case, there was no allegation much less of finding of incompetence and corruption against any of the University’s Council. It is a classic example of illegal dissolution.”

As there has been no change in the law and particularly as the factual situation regarding the unexpired tenure of the councils which existed at that time still exist today, my view and indeed the law has not changed. It remains the same.

EFFECT ON UNIVERSITY AUTONOMY It must be borne in mind that the various amendments to the University (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993 including those of 2003 reproduced above were passed after decades of agitation for autonomy in University administration in Nigeria. University Autonomy, as most writers seem to agree is the freedom of a university to run its own affairs the best way it deems fit without any recourse to or influence from any level of government.

It is apposite to quote from my address at the 2014 Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellor of Nigeria held at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Center, Abuja on June 10, 2014.

“Autonomy is important to promote a culture of merit and fairness within the University system. In an era whereby many key University appointments and decisions are made from outside the University, meritocracy is eroded and replaced with nepotism, god-fatherism, lobbying and political patronage. The result is a system whereby the most eligible are often frustrated and left without promotions. This has led to the unsavoury situation in which the best currently do not thrive within Nigerian University systems. How can Nigerian Universities compete with the rest of the world when the best are not rewarded? How also can we demonstrate the virtues of hard work and merit to students when these values are not in demonstration within the walls of the University?”

AARE AFE BABALOLA SAN, CON

FIFA poll: Aspirants lobby for votes FIFA presidential favourites, Gianni Infantino and Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa embarked on a final scramble for votes on Wednesday ahead of tomorrow’s election to lead world football’s scandal-tainted governing body.

The poll is seen as crucial to repairing the organisation’s reputation, which has been battered by a series of unprecedented corruption scandals, but just few hours to the vote, protests over the secrecy of ballots have mounted.

Front-runners Infantino -- the Swiss-

Italian acting chief of European football -- and Sheikh Salman of Bahrain, Asian football’s president, have so far stayed clear of the controversy over balloting.

Both were in FIFA’s home city of Zurich trying to assemble the coalition of supporters needed to replace the ‘disgraced’ Sepp Blatter and win the most powerful job in world football.

But rival candidate, Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to suspend tomorrow’s election.

He has said transparent voting booths

must be used to ensure that delegates do not take pictures of their ballots, a move required by certain regional confederations as proof of loyalty to a specific candidate, according Prince Ali. “I want this election to occur as soon as possible, but not at the risk of undermining its integrity,” the Jordanian royal said in a letter to FIFA’s member associations.

Jerome Champagne of France, who along with South Africa’s Tokyo Sexwale completes the list of five presidential challengers, has joined the Jordanian prince’s call for greater transparency.

Tokyo Sexwale WEEK 2 RESULTS Nigeria Premier League Tornadoes W/Wolves Lobi Stars MFM FC

Ab. Warriors Rangers

Wikki

1 FC Giwa

1 Kano Pillars 2 Sunshine 2 Rivers Utd 2 El-Kanemi 3 Plateau Utd 0 Heartland

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