27th July 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,554

WEDNESDAY, 27 JULY, 2016

Military generals stole more than politicians —Makarfi

—Pp24-25

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Economic situation compares to civil war era

—Mailafia, former CBN dep gov —P10

Nigerian Tribune

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Policemen in shootout with gunmen in Ikorodu •5 policemen, 4 others shot •No death recorded —Police —P7

Dogara fights back, accuses Jibrin of budget fraud —P6

•Warring Reps drag EFCC into budget padding scandal •Executive, not Senate, padded budget, Senate spokesman insists •APC govs wade in

UCH emergency ward gutted by fire —P4

Dickson floors Sylva at tribunal —P37

ABUJA-KADUNA STANDARD RAIL GAUGE INAUGURATED: President Muhammadu Buhari on the train acknowledging cheers, after he inaugurated the commercial operation of Abuja-Kaduna segment of the Nigerian Railway modernisation project, at Idu, Abuja, on Tuesday.

CBN increases lending rate from 12% to 14% —P11

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Buhari kicks off new Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge railway From Leon Usigbe, Tola Adenubi and Sanyool Tyavzua

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, flagged off the newly constructed Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line with an assurance that all major capital cities in the country will be linked by railway.

He performed the ceremony which signaled the official commencement of train services (Passengers & Freight) on Nigeria’s first standard gauge rail line at the Idu main terminal in Abuja, before taking a 20-minute ride on it from there to Kubwa station, also in the city.

Speaking on the occasion, he expressed delight at the flag-off, recalling that the project was conceived “by a previous administration, started by the last government and I am pleased to complete and commission it.”

Buhari observed that between 1963 and early ‘80s, Nigeria had a vibrant rail system, which conveyed agricultural and livestock and solid mineral resources to Lagos and Port Harcourt sea ports, from where they

were exported to other parts of the world.

He noted that it was his administration’s vision and hope that “those good old days will soon be back with us and, indeed, in a more prosperous way, with the restoration of rail transport system which today’s occasion symbolises.”

He explained that the construction of the AbujaKaduna standard gauge rail track commenced in 2009 and “happily, we are on the

threshold of presenting to Nigerians a standard gauge railway train service that will be safe, fast and reliable.”

Furthermore, he said the Abuja-Kaduna train service would provide the much needed alternative transport link between the Federal Capital Territory and Kaduna State, a corridor which he observed, had a huge potential for industries, agricultural activities and a growing labour force.

Buhari lauded the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and his team for “putting great efforts” in the last few months to ensure the successful completion of the project under the present administration.

“In this regard, I wish to assure Nigerians that most state capitals and major commercial and production centres will be linked with railway system, as a way of bringing about rapid socioeconomic development and

improving the quality of life of the Nigerians, and promoting social and regional integration.

“Furthermore, I wish to also reassure Nigerians that due attention will be placed on pursuing the 25year strategic railway master plan, which is aimed at rehabilitating the existing 3,505-kilometre narrow gauge rail line and developing and constructing new standard gauge rail lines across the country.

Chief Medical Director, UCH, Professor Temitope Alonge, inspecting the scene of the fire incident, on Tuesday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU

UCH emergency ward gutted by fire

By Oluwatoyin Malik and Tunde Busari THE Accident and Emergency Unit of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, was gutted by fire on Tuesday, igniting apprehension in the entire hospital, with thick smoke enveloping the frontage of the section.

Neither loss of life nor injury by staff and patients was recorded as sensitive rooms in the emergency section, the resuscitation room, the digital X-ray department, the operating theatre were also spared.

However, some couches and mattresses in the emergency department were not so lucky. There was also a major damage in the ceiling, necessitating the removal of the central air conditioning system.

The Accident and Emergency Ward of the University College Hospital, Ibadan was gutted by fire on Tuesday.

As a result of the incident, multi-million naira building and equipment were destroyed.

Eyewitnesses said the fire began with a loud explosion, with patients running in different directions as a result of the commotion it created.

An eyewitness said the explosion that occured before the fire was loud, adding that people around the place ran in

different directions for safety.

It was reported that many many patients were rushed out from the wards, some on crushes and even beds., with relatives entering the building in a bid to save their loved ones on admission.

All the patients were, however, evacuated safely.

Speaking on the incident, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Temitope Alonge, said at about 4.00 p.m., a spark ignited the insulator around the air conditioning system,

resulting in the fire.

The CMD also revealed that some hours before the incident, staff of electrical department had noticed that a solar panel switch had a fault, which was quickly fixed.

According to him, since the fault did not come directly from the main electrical supply from Ibadan Distribution Company, the technicians decided to put on the electricity supply.

Soon after inspecting the scene, Professor Alonge said “I was on hospital round

THE Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, said Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State should retain his seat pending the time the court will hear and determine his appeal challenging the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which removed him from office.

Justice Morenikeji Ogunwumiju, who presided over a five-member panel of justices of the appellate court, said the parties in the matter must “remain as they were before they came to the court” Tuesday morning and emphasised that the the

ruling did not mean a stayof-execution order.

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had, on June 27, nullified Ikpeazu’s election on the ground that he submitted false information regarding his tax clearance certificate.

Justice Abang also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue Samson Ogah a certificate of return.

At the hearing of the appeal on Tuesday, Ogah’s counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon, said there were conflicting judgments on the matter and protested the order of the court that parties should maintain their positions.

INEC ratifies PDP national caretaker committee, postpones Rivers rerun again Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

and was on the second floor in the theatre complex building when I heard people crying for help. I saw a thick smoke, came down the ramp and walked straight to the emergency department only to see a fire outbreak.

“But the good news is that apart from the fact that we did not have anybody injured, both staff and patients, the sensitive rooms in the emergency – the resuscitation room, the digital X-ray department, the operating theatre – were spared.

It was the central location that was a disaster, but everything had been curtailed.

“The second thing I am grateful to God for is the central AC system actually had its base in the basement of the emergency department. A few weeks ago, we had budded the system because it was becoming a nuisance to the hospital as cats were breeding there, water soaking through the insulators and damaging various ceilings in the operating rooms and many offices.

Ikpeazu should remain governor until... —Appeal Court Sunday Ejike - Abuja

“As we celebrate the symbolic return of rail service today, I wish to reiterate the commitment of this administration to pursue with greater vigour and determination rehabilitation and construction of other rail lines, including the major Lagos-Calabar and KanoLagos lines.”

Receiving the President at the flag off, Governor Nasiru El Rufai of Kaduna noted that, the project was initiated when he was the Minister of the Federal Capital territory, adding that, the idea was to decongest road transportation in Nigeria.

In his remark, Amaechi explained that the contract for the project was conceived by the Olusegun Obasanjo while the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration laid the tracks before the present administration provided the communication, lighting equipment, among others before commissioning it.

This protest made the court to ask him who was the defacto ocupier of the Abia State Government House and Izinyon said he would not answer the question, because to answer it would imply he had conceeded.

The presiding judge, Justice Ogunwumiju, however, said the court considered it important to avoid a misinterpretation of its ruling and added that the ruling of the court was for parties to remain as they were, should not be misconstrued as implying that the court had issued an order for stay of execution.

Also, on Tuesday, the gov-

ernorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr Alex Otti applied to join in the appeal as an interested party.

The court adjourned to August 9, to hear all applications and the main appeal together.

In his notice of appeal filed by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, Ikpeazu raised five grounds of appeal upon which he asked the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment and orders of the high court.

The governor said the Federal High Court lacked the power to order him to vacate the seat of Abia State governor.

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ratified the administrative approval granted to the acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, on the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt, by recognising the national caretaker committee of the PDP for all its activities.

According to its decision extract issued on July 14 and signed by the Director, Commission’s Secretariat, Ishiaku A. Gali, which was made made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Tuesday, the commission said it would recognise activities of the national caretaker committee.

In another development, the ommission has disclosed that it has been compelled to further postpone the conduct of the suspended national and state legislative reruns in Rivers State, earlier tentatively scheduled for Saturday, due to recorded cases of violence, intimidation and a general atmosphere of fear in some areas where the elections were to be conducted.

The commission made its stand known in a statement signed by its secretary, Mrs Augusta C. Ogakwu, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

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Dogara fights back, accuses Jibrin of budget fraud

•Warring Reps drag EFCC into budget padding scandal •Executive, not Senate, padded budget, Senate spokesman insists •APC govs wade in Chris Agbambu, Jacob Segun Olatunji, Leon Usigbe, Soji-Eze Fagbemi and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja

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PEAKER of House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara has alleged that the former chairman of Appropriations Committee, Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin, was removed for incompetence, abuse of budgetary process, serial betrayal and “proclivity to blackmail.”

At a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, the House spokesperson, Honourable Abdulrazak Namdas, said Jibrin had to go because his “highhandedness” could no longer be tolerated.

In the full press statement, Jibrin was accused of sundry acts of misconduct, incompetence, immaturity, total disregard for his colleagues and abuse of the budgetary process, among others.

The statement said “one of the fundamental reasons why the House leadership removed him is that he was found not to be fit and proper person to hold such a sensitive office which exposes him to high officials of government at all levels.

“Furthermore, in the course of the performance of his duties as chairman of Appropriations committee, it became evident that he does not possess the temperament and maturity required for such a high office.

“He was in the habit of collating, warehousing and manipulating sensitive information to blackmail people sometimes apparently for pecuniary purposes. And by virtue of his position as Appropriations chairman, he usually met with very high and senior public officers at all levels.

“The Speaker and the leadership were inundated with complaints by heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) over harassment from the House Appropriations chairman to engage in conduct and acts unbecoming of their offices.

“The leadership launched an internal investigation into these allegations and was largely satisfied that action had to be taken to remove him, in the interest of the integrity of the House.

“Again, it was found out that he was fond of inserting projects into prominent persons’ constituencies without their knowledge to curry favour and possibly use it as a

means of blackmail against them when necessary.”

Explaining the projects in the budget, Namdas said “zonal/constituency intervention projects have their origins in constitutional provisions as encapsulated in the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy requiring the government to ensure equitable distribution of resources and infrastructure.

“The idea of zonal/constituency intervention projects arose as a result of the need to carry every part of the country along in allocation of projects in the budget, and to address the imbalance in line with federal character principles as enshrined in the constitution.

“The entire annual budget estimates, once presented

by Mr President, is referred to the Appropriations committee for further legislative input and scrutiny at the conclusion of the second reading.

“While it is prerogative of National Assembly members to decide the projects and their locations, it is the prerogative of the relevant MDAs to choose the contractors, award the projects and to execute.

“For emphasis, the general impression that monies are given to members of the National Assembly to execute projects is incorrect and unfounded.”Meanwhile, the two factions in the House of Representatives in the budget padding scandal are now threatening themselves with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The key players want the EFCC to probe individual activities of one another in the sixth and seventh Assembly.

Jibrin, had, in a statement on Monday, said all he had revealed so far “is a child’s play compared to the mess and allegations of money laundering Speaker Dogara allegedly left behind as chairman, House Services in both the sixth and seventh Assembly. The EFCC should have something to start working with in respect to his tenure as chairman, House services, if it properly dusts its files.

“I am, therefore, once again calling on colleagues and well meaning Nigerians to prevail on Speaker Dogara and his three other cohorts to put the interest of country first and allow the House to conduct a thorough inves-

tigation into the allegations levelled against them.

“This is just the tip of an ice bag. I will make further revelations in due course.”

On its part, the leadership of the House said it was also in receipt of complaints about Jibrin’s activities as chairman of Finance Committee in the seventh Assembly, which had potentials to embarrass the House.

The House leadership, at a press briefing in Abuja by Honourable Namdas, alleged that investigations found that from 2011 to 2015, Hon Jibrin domiciled with Hadejia - Jama’are River Basin Authority and few other MDAs some of the allocations meant for his former committee members.

He was alleged to have aided the use of front com-

panies that collected funds without executing most of the projects.

According to him, the projects had been compiled and would be referred to the antigraft agencies to establish why they were fully paid for and not executed, who collected the funds and why Honourable Jibrin had not raised any alarm about the non-execution of the projects till now.

While challenging Jibrin to come clean on his allegation, the House spokesperson said “Mr Speaker’s inputs to the 2016 budget was signed and delivered to him. If he has honour, let him release the signed inputs of Mr Speaker and not pieces of paper that bears no acknowledged authorship. continues I pg12

Buhari fighting symptom of corruption not the disease —Kukah Anti-corruption war not selective —Abubakar

By Kunle Oderemi and Soji-Eze Fagbemi A prominent member of the Human Rights Violations Investigations Commission (HRVIC) and Bishop of Sokoto Diocese of Catholic Church, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said President Muhammadu Bihari is only fighting the symptom of corruption, rather than tackling the menace from the root.

He spoke on Tuesday as the 2016 guest of the Book Readers’ Club of the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP), on his book entitled: Witness of Justice.

The event attracted eminent academicians such as Professor Akin Mabogunje and Professor Bolanle Awe, as well as members of the civil society organisations and the media.

Kukah used the occasion to give a detailed insight into how the commission, set up by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to investigate human rights abuse from 1966 to 1999, carried out the assignment.

The chairman of the commission generally referred to as Oputa panel was the late Justice Chukwudifu Optua.

Kukah said the current war against corruption appeared only aimed at “corrupt people,” as those structures that promoted unbridled corruption in the land still subsisted.

He recalled how the Oputa panel was confronted with

the stark reality about corruption in the country, when its budget of N300 million at inception was taken to the National Assembly for necessary appropriation.

He said the budget was never considered by the lawmakers as they played hide and seek because it was not padded.

He observed that most of the former public officers like governors and minister had taken cynical stance about fighting corruption, pointing out that the task of “fighting corruption cannot be the job of one man.”

While advising the president to be “more modest in his claims” over the success of the war, the cleric said it was sad that corruption had become a way of life in the country.

He did not believe in the option of capital punishment as being canvassed in some quarters, just as he noted that most of the politicians that were convicted and jailed for a large numbers of years had since returned to the political arena.

Kukah, who revealed how he came under pressure from different individuals and groupings from parts who believed he could use his membership of the commission to redress perceived age-long injustice and marginalisation, said the commission achieved its aim contrary to insinuations in certain quarters.

He explained that if members of the commission had not taken certain realistic

steps at the inception, the assignment would have died on arrival.

Citing the case of the refusal of former military leaders to honour invitation to appear before the panel, he noted that it ought to have been made a campaign matter if Nigerians were passionate about the issue, coupled with the fact that democracy was about making choices.

He challenged Nigerians if there was any leader they elected that they did not turn around to express indignation.

Kukah said what many perceived as division among the various ethnic groups that make up the federation was mere manipulation of a few greedy people for their self-interest and hegemony.

Kukah, who said all Nigerians were “wounded, though it is only a matter of degree,” however, noted that the country had the tradition of making more mistakes while trying to address a major one.

He frowned on the tendency for people to diminish their leader, stressing that the leaders, including President Buhari, deserved respect of all at all times.

He said the work of the Oputa panel was better appreciated by other countries than by Nigerians, as he was often invited to speak on the assignment abroad by individuals and institutions.

He said he had a lot of respect for Obasanjo because he remained one individual that would give you an assignment and stand by it.

Earlier, the chairman on the occasion, Professor Mabogunje, had lauded the choice of Kukah as the guest speaker, just as he underlined the aim of establishing ISGPP, which is, among other things, to promote reading culture in the country.

In his opening remark, another erudite scholar, Dr Tunji Olaopa, said the mission of the organisation was to use the outreach programme to “unearth deeply researched and documented facts about the Nigerian history,” while, at the same time, “leveraging in relevant conversation that will impact on policy and the Nigerian project.”

Meanwhile, a former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has said the ongoing fight against corruption by President Buhari is neither sectional nor selective as some Nigerians are claiming.

Abubakar, speaking at the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) 2016 Summit of Professionals, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, said Nigerians were not sincere, adding that “there is nothing sectional or selective in the current fight against corruption.”

The former head of state, who was the chairperson at the summit, with a theme: “GDP Growth and Diversification-Present Day Realities,” was represented by the president of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Ahmed Yakassai.

He pointed out that a lot of things were going wrong

in the country because Nigerians placed ethnicity, tribalism and sectionalism far ahead of the unity of the country and national interest, adding that Nigerians must rather think about the unity of the country and the unborn children.

On the criticism that the fight against corruption by the current administration is one sided, General Abubakar said “I cannot see it as sectional as some people think. For one thousand miles, we have to start with a step. If someone is found to be corrupt, definitely he has to be handled that way.

“But diversity, that is the problem of Nigeria. If I am found to be corrupt, I run to my people and will say this Yoruba man is dealing with me. If I am a Yoruba, I will say this Igbo man is dealing with me. It is wrong, we are not sincere. Nothing sectional or selective in the current fight against corruption.

That is why we see a lot of things going wrong.”

He, therefore, challenged the APBN to play its role and assist the government in the fight against corruption, adding that “you are expected to be above board, you are expected to bring solution to the problem, not to be part of the problem.”

On the economic front, he said Nigeria found itself where it was because the country had, for long, been a mono-product country, relying solely on oil, adding that “that is a bad situation, we have to diversify, we have to think out of the box.”

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Lagosmetro

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

Soldiers, policemen in shootout with militants •5 policemen, 4 others shot •No death recorded —Police Olalekan Olabulo

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INE people, including five policemen, were, on Tuesday, injured as rampaging suspected militants invaded Ewedogbon community in Igando area of Lagos State.

The gunmen engaged policemen from Igando Police Station, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the state police command in a gun duel that lasted close to an hour.

Residents of Ewedegbon and Pacific Estate, who were shocked by witnessing the gun duel between the militants and the policemen, have, however, started relocating. Those who had not made up their minds on relocation were seen on Tuesday evening loitering around the express road with fear of being attacked in their homes.

The militants had reportedly been operating in the community for a long period of time, shuttling between the waterways in Imose and Totowu.

In combating the militants, military men from the OP MESA successfully dislodging and dismantled their homes.

A mattress, a generator, a boat engine, cooking gas and a boat anchor were recovered from the dismantled abode of the militants.

The combined security force had to employ drone and helicopter to achieve success in combating the invaders.

The militants were said to have easily overpowered the officers from Igando, before reinforcement compelled their retreat.

The militants, who operated a church in the neighbourhood, initially reportedly hid in the church and returned to confront the policemen, before they finally retreated.

None of the militants were caught or arrested.

A resident, who simply identified himself as Oyinbo said “they live down the creek side and in the past they only came out and shot in the air. It was never as serious as this.”

He added that the early Tuesday invasion might not

Home of the militants’ leader.

Police deploying drone at the scene. be unconnected with the clash between the militants and some hoodlums, who were reportedly contacted by a commercial motorcyclist.

He said “the motorcyclist, Mr Sola had an encounter with them and he was injured so he went and brought some boys to confront them.”

The militants became angry early Tuesday morning and stormed the community, when they were confronted by policemen from Igando Divisional Police Sta-

tion. Five of the policemen were injured as the gunmen reportedly riddled their operational patrol van with bullets.

The police team reinforced and officers from the RRS, SARS and other commands were mobilised, leading to another round of serious gun duel between the two groups.

Oseni a commercial bus driver told Lagos Metro that he and his 18 passengers narrowly escaped being caught in the web of the militants, who reportedly

blocked the LASU-Iba Road. “Many people would have been killed but the militants had no intention of killing innocent people. They only concentrated on the policemen. “I had to quickly make a U-turn, when I saw them from afar. They were shooting very seriously.

There were more than 15 of them,” he added.

The image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos, while speaking on the incident said “Some groups of people invaded the area in the early hours of today. Our operatives, positioned in strategic places were alerted.”

She continued that “They swiftly moved in and foiled the attack. Normalcy has returned to the vicinity. No single death recorded.”

Vandalised home of the militants.

Customs kills 3 during raid •Only one died —Police Olalekan Olabulo

THREE people were on Monday, shot dead by operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service in Ijora Badia area of Lagos. Two others were confirmed injured in the incident.

The image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmus, confirmed the incident but claimed that only one person died and that the two others are recuperating at an unnamed hospital Policemen from the Ijora police station were ensuring a raid on selected criminal hideouts in the area, when the customs officers invaded the community and shot sporadically.

The yet to be identified customs officers, who were attached to the Zone A command of the Nigerian Customs Service were said to

have been invited by some Hausa community leaders in Ijora who were not comfortable with the raiding by the police.

A resident of the area, Ramoni told Lagos Metro that “the customs officers were going on their own, when some Hausa leaders stopped them and told them that policemen were arresting them. The customs officers then stopped and started harassing people.”

The customs officers were said to have opened fire in the process, hitting five people with three of them reported dead and two others injured.

Badmos, while speaking on the incident said “the community and the police command were on a joint operation of raiding black spots within the community and arresting suspected criminals.

She continued that, “in the process, some officers of the Nigerian Customs Service, who were in convoy with some officials oft the National Emergency Man-

agement Agency (NEMA) had an encounter with the hoodlums. They fired some shots and three people were wit by stray bullets. As a result one death was recorded,

while two others are receiving treatment at the hospital.”

She also emphasised that “the police were not involved.”

Judiciary contract workers petition Ambode Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin FIFTY nine officials of the Lagos State judiciary have petitioned Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, over the refusal by the state judiciary authorities to regularise their employment.

The officials, which comprised of 28 court recorders and 31 judicial assistants, claimed that they were employed between 2005 and 2009 and that the court authorities has since refused to regularise their employment.

In a passionate appeal to Governor Ambode via a let-

ter, the workers claimed that life has become unbearable for them as they are paid peanuts for doing very tasking jobs.

"Your excellency, the above category of workers wish to intimate you of their condition of service under the High Court of Lagos State and equally solicit your assistance in improving same. " The first set of these categories of workers were employed in 2005 with a letter of contract employment issued by the Lagos State Judiciary Service Commission on October6, 2005. The contract was modified to a

two year renewable contract on April21, 2006. Other sets of these workers were subsequently employed between 2006 and 2009.

"We came into this establishment as young men and women armed with various qualifications and professional experiences with the sole aim of rendering our services diligently to the success of this great state.

It is, however, with heavy heart that we beseech you to come to our aid. We plead with your excellency to help restructure our current status," the petition reads in part.

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GRADUATING STUDENTS OF THE YEAR 2016 OF BEST FOUNDATION GROUP OF SCHOOL, APATA MARKET AREA, APATA-IBADAN

Cross section of SSS III graduands.

Cross section of the JSS III graduands.

GRADUATING STUDENTS OF THE YEAR 2016 OF ST. JAMES CATHEDRAL COLLEGE, OKE-BOLA, IBADAN

Cross section of the Basic 6 graduands.

Cross section of JS 3 graduands.

Cross section of SSS 3 graduating students.

Cross section of the Basic I graduands.

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Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Economic situation compares to civil war era —Mailafia

Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, a former Deputy Governor (Economic Policy) of the Central Bank of Nigeria, is a career economist, banker and international development specialist who is currently Chief of Staff of the 80-member African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States based in Brussels, Belgium. He is also an Associate Fellow of the United Nations University Institute for Regional Studies in Bruges as well as Visiting Scholar/Professor at the Faculty of Applied Economics of the Frije University, Brussels. He is also Founder/Chairman of Centre for Policy and Economic Research (CEPER), an independent macroeconomic policy think tank. In this encounter with SANYA ADEJOKUN, he speaks on the current economic situation in Nigeria and proffers solutions.

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HAT does economic recession mean to the ordinary citizen?

As you know, the IMF recently came out with a dire forecast that the Nigerian economy will go down by -1.8 per cent during this year, revising an earlier April forecast of 2.4 per cent. This is worrisome for an economy that has grown by an average of 7 per cent for the better part of a decade. When economists talk about a recession, they are referring to a phenomenon characterised by a significant decline in GDP, in the level of economic activity.

Recessions are also marked by rising unemployment, decline in real incomes and reduction in wholesale and retail trade. Economic recessions affect everyone. But they affect the poor far more than the rich. The rich have better mechanisms for cushioning the baneful effects of recessions while the poor find themselves in situations of deepening poverty, stagnant wages and even joblessness.

How did we find ourselves in this situation?

Well, for a long time, there was not much focus in terms of macroeconomic policy in this country. There was more rhetoric than implementation of concrete policy deliverables that would change the livelihoods of the millions and millions of the people in this country.

In the last two quarters through the last electoral cycle, and I am talking about last quarter of 2014 and first quarter of 2015 when electioneering took place, there was massive spending by politicians and they were spending in dollars, they were no longer spending in naira; naira was too cumbersome to carry all over the place. In short, they were sending a message that naira was a useless currency, that they don’t trust the naira. Now, if our leaders don’t trust our currency, why should foreigners respect it?

In all of that, there was massive corruption, there was massive bleeding of economy of this country and for three years consistently, according to a study by Chatham Houseand I met some of the people who did that study- they actually calculated that Nigeria was losing $1 billion every month to crude oil bunkering. That simply translates to $36 billion that we lost within three years preceding this current administration. So bad planning, corruption, fiscal irresponsibility and lack of proper economic focus are all factors that led to the current economic situation.

So it took a while to lead ourselves to the current economic situation where officially we are in a recession as a nation because once you have at least a downturn, a contraction for more than two quarters consecutively then officially, you are in a recession when that is combined with growing unemployment, stagnation and massive layoffs of workers from the organised sector, then you are officially talking about recession.

So, the IMF is not far flung in its forecast.

You will recall that in April, they had given a downward forecast at 2.3 per cent and now it is -1.8 per cent. The only time the economy had contracted to this level was 1968 in the height of the tragic civil war that we fought.

the monster of inflation into single digit. We all celebrated that achievement. Unfortunately, we are losing ground again. Two factors have been at play here. First, the falling naira has compounded the high costs of imported goods. Second, rampaging herdsmen in the Middle Belt – the bread basket of Nigeria – has had a massive negative impact on agricultural productivity. We have received reports that there has been an outbreak of famine in the north east. Food constitutes 62 per cent of the determinants of inflation in this country. It therefore goes without saying that if there is a worsening of food security linked to higher import bills due to the falling exchange rate, it is bound to put increasing pressure on prices.

Should we therefore avoid a stimulus package for fear of its inflationary consequences?

Methinks not. What we have to do is properly planning and phasing of public expenditure in such a manner as to not to put undue pressure on prices. The CBN can also take bolder measures to reduce liquidity and dampen any inflationary spirals. There are clearly huge deficits in this economy. Wisdom and prudence provide a guide to successful spending without compounding the pressure on prices.

Dr.Obadiah Malafia So you can imagine it is as bad as if Nigeria were in a civil war which was the only time the economy had contracted to this level. People are suffering. People are very disturbed that there is rising crime, there is rising anxiety, massive layoffs, industries are suffering, the private sector is suffering, many states can no longer pay their civil servants’ salaries; the situation is very worrying.

What should government do in the present circumstance?

The picture is gloomy indeed but I am an eternal optimist and I believe that a good economist, or a good central banker, no matter the situation even if the ceiling is threatening to fall on their heads, they must keep a very cool head. So, my advice to Nigerians is to keep a cool head. We should not be too anxious; we are in this world to solve problems. There will always be challenges but what matters is our ability to face our challenges. We must have courage and vision and this is really what we need at this time.

There are immediate and long term solutions that are necessary because some of the problems we have are structural in nature.

We really have a budget but it is slow in being implemented. You can imagine the budget was only finally approved barely over

a month ago and this is not good enough.

Even as we speak, many ministries, departments and agencies of government are complaining that they are yet to see the release of the funds. There is no sense of urgency in the release of these funds. We urge government to act with more urgency, but, of course, within the framework of fiscal responsibility. We hope that these funds will go to address the projects that they have been allocated to.

At this point in time, I feel that it is imperative to have a stimulus package. A stimulus package in terms of a pool of substantial funds; extra-budgetary funds that will address quick-win projects that would help to get the economy back on its feet, to get our people back to work and to restore confidence.

Now that inflation is at an all-time high, will it be wise for the government to still pump massive funds into the economy as a stimulant? Will it not further aggravate the situation?

According to recent reports, inflation is now heading beyond the 14 per cent mark.

This is obviously a setback from the monetary achievements of the recent past. Not too long ago the CBN was able to wrestle down

Recessions are also marked by rising unemployment, decline in real incomes and reduction in wholesale and retail trade. Economic recessions affect everyone. But they affect the poor far more than the rich.

Can you give examples of such quick win projects please?

For example, getting some of our people to work through direct labour to fix the potholes on our roads, even putting more electric poles through direct labour and generally getting people involved in this kind of projects. You imagine a situation whereby instead of being around 7,000 megawatts now, we are actually under 3,000 megawatts in terms of power supply? We have lost massively. Which means even from the 5,000 we have reached, we have lost 2,000 and that is not good enough. That is actually very depressing. Now we need quick-win solution that will get power back on its feet. At least, let’s not lose the much that we have gained already.

So, a stimulus package is a package of funds which I cannot begin to detail right now.

But a stimulus package is needed so that the government can identify projects that can be completed within the next six months or eight months to rejuvenate the economy and get Nigerians back to work. From the lessons of the Great Recession in America, Europe and emerging economies, it is evident that stimulus packages can go a long way to help countries overcome economic recessions.

I read a report recently that government was about to commission the Abuja-Kaduna railway. When I see that railway, it depresses me. It is a pity that we are still using two hundred years’ archaic technology. The standard gauge rail lines that we are trying to rejuvenate were brought in to this country around 1906 after the British had used them for 100 years from around 1806 or so. They got tired of them and they brought them to Nigeria. Now calculate, 1906 to 2014 will give you over 100 years. So we are using backward archaic 200-year-old useless technology, wasting a lot of money!

Continues on pg11

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Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

‘Government should pump massive stimulus package into the economy’ Continued from pg10

From left, Angolan Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. E.J Quibato; National Director, Public Debt Management Unit, Angelica Paquete; Angolan Minister of Finance, Amando Manuel; Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Director, International Economic Relations, Mr. Haruna Muhammed, during the visit of the Angolan delegation to Mrs Adeosun, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

High inflation: CBN raises banks’ lending rate to 14% Experts expect more forex inflow Sanya Adejokun and Chima Nwokoji CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday raised its monetary policy rate to curb inflation that has crossed 16 percent for the first time in over 10 years.

However, this was a tough decision for the eight members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) that attended the July meeting as they were divided between curbing rising inflation and reflating an economy that finally went into recession after two consecutive quarters of negative growth.

In fact, the last time that Nigeria had this kind of negative growth was in 1968 during the civil was.

Voting eight to three, MPC increased the key lending rate to 14 percent from 12 percent according to CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele while briefing reporters at the end of the 108th meeting of the committee, which started on Monday.

“The Committee noted that inflation had risen significantly, eroding real purchasing power of fixed income earners and dragging growth,” Emefiele said. “The MPC was further concerned that while the situation called for obvious tightening of the monetary policy stance, the technical recession confronting the economy and the prospects of negative growth to yearend needed to be factored into the policy parameters.”

The MPC “noted that the negative real interest rates did not support the recent flexible foreign-exchange market as foreign investors’ attitude had remained lukewarm, showing unwillingness in bringing in new capital,” Emefiele said. An increase in borrowing costs “gives impetus for improving the liquidity of the foreign-exchange market,” he said.

According to Emefiele who read the communique of the meeting, MPC recognized “that the Bank lacked the instruments required to directly jumpstart growth, and being mindful not to calibrate its instruments in such a manner as to undermine its primary mandate and financial system stability, in assessment of the relevant issues, was of the view that the balance of risks remains tilted against price stability. “Consequently, five (5) members voted to raise the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) while three (3) voted to hold.

Meanwhile, Managing Director and Chief Economist, Africa Global Research Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan in an emailed note to Nigerian Tribune, says though this was the right thing for the committee to have done, given the pledge to restore positive real interest rates gradually, she expect another 200 bps hike in the policy rate to 16 per cent at the September MPC meeting.

According to Khan, establishing more credible policy and attracting greater inflows is about as progrowth as policy can be, given the challenges currently facing the Nigerian economy.

In all, Khan stated, this was a good outcome to the MPC meeting, adding that as Nigeria embarks upon the path of reform (FX liberalisation, fuel price deregulation, transparency initiatives, efforts to boost revenue mobilisation, power sector reforms), all with a view to easing the economy’s transition to lower oil prices, and creating the foundation for more sound long-term growth, she thinks that yesterday’s MPC decision represented an important initial step in the right direction.

Also, analysts at an in-

ternational equity firm, Renaissance Capital, said though they had predicted a bold 3-ppt hike in the policy interest rate, to 15 per cent in order to counter accelerating inflation and naira weakness, the hike will only add to consumer woes.

“This will only add to consumer woes, in our view.

When the lending rate is increasing (decreasing), consumer confidence falls (improves). This is what the negative correlation between the two variables tells us. This may surprise those that know Nigerian households to be underleveraged, in part due to low credit penetration, compared with, say, Kenya. We think the relationship between the lending rate and consumer confidence may be partly due to distributors of consumer goods passing on higher interest rates on working capital loans to consumers,” analysts at Rencap concluded.

According to the investment banking and equity firm, the Nigerian consumer will come under further strain in second half (2H16) 2016 as the naira weakens, petrol prices rise and interest rates increase.

A recovery in oil output would help lift consumption, but not in the near term as “we think the government’s talks with the Niger Delta militants are likely to be protracted,” Rencap stated.

For experts at Afrinvest (West) Africa Limited, raising interest rate and keeping other rates constant will attract portfolio capital inflows which is yet to respond to currency market flexibility. The analysts believe that the CBN and Debt Management Office (DMO) have guided towards this by aggressively mopping up liquidity at high rates last week.

We should get rid of that old gauge and build a new gauge system that is modern; because once you are hooked with that, you can’t really change it. A railway system is not something you can change after five years. Once you have made your technology choices, you must be prepared to stick with it for the long haul -- century old technologies that will have to endure for a very long time.

I would like to see about one million Nigerian unemployed youths being deployed to build the new railways. We can get the Chinese to work with us as technical advisers/partners. Get one million youths to build railways through direct labour all over this country. It would open up the countryside, it would boost agriculture, it would boost trade, it would boost local industries and it would work great magic for our economic rebirth.

The railways have the potential to link up every corner of Nigeria. It is also good for nation building. Lest we forget, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Odumegu Ojukwu, both of blessed memory, were born in Zungeru in the North.

Their first language as children was Hausa.

So, railways have a way of enhancing nation building apart from being a positive boon on local and national economies.

is the occupation of most of the people of Nigeria. We are still an agrarian society and the people in our country are mostly involved in agriculture as their main source of livelihood. So, we need to boost agricultural productivity. But not agriculture alone.

It must be linked to industryfood processing and allied industries.

I will then call for an agriculture-based mass industrialisation as the key driver of economic diversification.

And of course we should look into non oil mining, which is also vital. We should build these sectors while integrating them in a very holistic way. But clearly, a lot of that cannot happen without addressing the infrastructure deficit. No one needs to be reminded that there is massive infrastructure deficit in this country.

If we produce a lot of food, we will need to transport it.

We need good rail networks, we need roads -- you cannot build a vibrant industrial sector without those.

It would be a nonstarter.

When I move around and I get to one of these plazas in Abuja and I hear huge generator noise, smoke and dust filling the atmosphere with pollution, I always feel like

In this country we have talked so much about diversification but it seems it’s been more of rhetoric than action on the policy side. Clearly, we need diversification urgently.

Could you also suggest ways whereby government should leverage economic diversification efforts to achieve economic vibrancy?

In this country we have talked so much about diversification but it seems it’s been more of rhetoric than action on the policy side.

Clearly, we need diversification urgently. The reason is that you cannot have an oil commodity dependent economy for almost 200 million people. Once something goes wrong, for instance, if there is a glitch in oil prices, the economy will go into the doldrums and we will feel it as badly as we are feeling it now. So, we must diversify the economy of this country as a matter of great urgency.

The key foundation for economic diversification, as far as I am concerned, is agriculture -- not because we just love farming for the sake of it -- but precisely because it

weeping. I ask myself, ‘what have Nigerians done to deserve this, O God?’ You don’t go anywhere in the world and hear noise of generators with smoke, stench of petrol and such pollution filling the air all over the place. It only happens in this country. Our people are working their best in a very difficult situation at very high cost.

If you have electricity, and electricity is not that difficult to get- it is an old technology that is about 200 years old – a lot of things will fall in place. It is not such a difficult technology to master.

We need electricity for all because we can never compete in the world with just generators. With the high cost of having to provide basic infrastructure for yourself

– in particular, boreholes and generators -- you simply can’t produce anything that will be competitive in the global marketplace. It won’t work. The good Nigerian people have borne these burdens for ages. It’s about time we put a stop to this madness. It is not helping anyone.

If I have my way, I will nationalize generator importation. Only government should import generators.

That way, those cartels -and there are cartels that don’t want electricity to work – will be checkmated. They send people to the rural areas to destroy electricity installations so that they can continue to import generators -- generators that are killing the Nigerian economy and destroying the eco-system. We need electricity for all. Let us declare a national emergency on power and electricity.

Was the CBN correct to have excluded some 41 items from the foreign exchange market?

To be honest, I supported that policy. A lot of them are non-essential goods. So, I supported CBN’s decision to put a blanket ban on those items. They are not saying you cannot import those items, but that if you want to import them, you have to source the requisite foreign exchange yourself and not through central bank. Take tomato puree for instance.

The Nigerian soil is rich and fertile. We can grow all the tomato and other vegetables that we need. We don’t need to import tomato puree, not to talk of toothpicks.

Of course, our international partners were very unhappy, very upset. Some people would say that it led to temporary shocks because it led to scarcity of certain products. But so what, if toothpicks are scarce?

And to be honest with you, something happened in tomato sector which led to the commodity suddenly disappearing. We were told that there was a tomato Ebola that affected our tomato crop. Now, nobody -- our agronomists, our agriculturists -- nobody came out to explain things properly to the people of this country. I felt worried about that. Tomato is a daily staple. Most households consume it in one form or the other every day. But when a basic staple like that suddenly disappears from the market and to the extent that it becomes very expensive and ordinary people could no longer afford it, that could mean that there is more to it than meets the eye.

12 news

Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

Dogara fights back, accuses Jibrin of budget fraud Continued from pg6

“Our counsel to Honourable Abdulmumin is for him to be real as a man by bringing up credible, authentic and verifiable documents or stubborn facts which disclose the commission of crime on the part of any member or leader of the House. If he can’t, then let him go and sulk in secret over his sack.”

When asked about police invitation to those mentioned by Honourable Jibrin in the alleged budget padding, he said “police have not invited anybody. I don’t know if the police have invited him.”

My life under threat – Jibrin The embattled former chairman of House appropriations committee, Jibrin, has raised the alarm that his life is under threat, following his recent allegations.

Consequently, he has written to the acting InspectorGeneral of Police, Ibrahim Idris, requesting for police protection Informed police sources disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, on Tuesday, that a team of lawyers, on Monday, stormed the IGP’s office with a request letter for their client’s protection.

They alleged that the life of their client was under serious threat, following his

mention of names of members of the House involved in the padding of about N40 billion out of the N100 billion NASS budget.

It was gathered that a team of detective had spoken to Jibrin on the need to come to the police and make his statement, but it was reported that the lawmaker had only been sending his lawyers to the Force Headquarters.

The development, it was gathered, made detectives to lay siege at his residence and the National Assembly throughout last week.

Informed police sources told The Nigerian Tribune that they were waiting for Jibrin, while and investigative team had been raised on the issue.

Executive, not Senate, padded the budget, Senate spokesperson insists Despite the revelations by the Jibrin on the involvement of principal officers of the National Assembly in budget padding, chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, on Tuesday, stoutly defended the Senate and absolved the upper chamber of allegations of padding the 2016 national budget.

Rather, the senator representing Niger North in the

eighth assembly said the executive arm of government and not the legislative arm was responsible for the budget padding.

The seemingly dead issue of budget padding issue recently became issue of public discourse, following the sack of Jibrin last week However, while reacting to his sack, Jibrin had accused the house’ leadership of unilaterally infusing about N40 billion into the budget and said Senator Danjuma Goje had pressurised him into accepting the alterations of the Speaker Dogara-led House, when he protested the infusion.

But the Senate spokesperson, who was speaking on Tuesday at the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) 2016 Summit of Professionals, said the Senate was not involved in the budget padding.

“On the issue of padding, I want to say this. I took an oath as a veterinary doctor and I never forget that oath.

As a senator, I took an oath and I never forget that oath.

What is padding? Simply, it is when you put something in the budget without clearly defining what that is meant for in terms of implementation.

“The executive were the ones who padded the budget. When you look at the

original document that came, they had something like, ‘New Item Requesting’.

Is that a project head? We do not even understand it. And it is in health. That is padding and it was from the executive. In the National Assembly, when you look at the power to make appropriations, what we have is inputs or insertions, and that is not padding,” he said.

He blamed the Ministry of Health for millions of Naira being spent by Nigerians on medical tourism abroad, saying the ministry was doing nothing to halt medical tourism.

APC govs wade in Governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, resolving to wade into the crisis in the leadership of the National Assembly to,

according to them, ensure a vibrant legislature.

Chairman of APC Governors Forum and governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, who spoke with State House correspondents after the meeting, said the aim of the meeting was to tell the president that the governors were behind him on the war against corruption and insurgency.

“We are concerned about the incessant happenings in the National Assembly and we have taken it upon ourselves to look into the matter.

“We are going to look into the matter because we need a strong, vibrant National Assembly to make things move fast in the country,” he said.

On the economic situation in the states, the governor observed that things were now better for the states as they had started to receive

more funds from federal allocation.

According to Okorocha, “there is a lot of improvement. What the states are getting now is close to what they use to get when oil price was above $100.

“This means this government is doing a lot. We are not yet there but we are getting there. We appeal to Nigerians to be patient with this government because it means well about the welfare of our people.”

On the criticism trailing the governors’ planned trip to Germany, he argued that the trip was important as it would expose them to how things were done elsewhere.

“There is nothing like jamboree trip. We are going to Germany because we cannot do everything here without exchanging ideas.

“Everything you do in your home, your business, you share ideas,” he said.

Glo unveils 2442 short code for “Do not disturb” Service GRANDMASTERS of data, Globacom, has unveiled a short code that enables its subscribers to reject unsolicited text messages and calls on its network.

Tagged ‘ Do not disturb’ service, the code makes it possible for subscribers to choose messages or calls they wish to entertain or block.

Globacom explained in a

press statement released recently in Lagos that the “Do not disturb” self-service platform for subscribers also empowers customers to manage all automatic promotional messages received on their lines with the option of either opting in or out.

According to the company, subscribers wishing to use the service are to text

‘help’ to a short code ‘2442’ to receive a list of fields from which they want to receive or block unsolicited network messages.

To receive information on banking, insurance and financial products for instance, subscribers can send 1 to 2442, while they are required to send 2 to 2442 to receive information on real estate.

13

editorial

T

Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The repeated attacks on Lagos/Ogun communities

he security situation in the country seems to be deteriorating by the day, as the activities of gunwielding hoodlums assume a grave dimension. Sadly, an otherwise relatively peaceful South-West that was thought to be insulated from militancy has suddenly become vulnerable. Recently, several borderline towns in the riverine areas between Lagos and Ogun states were subjected to repeated attacks by suspected militants alleged to be of Ijaw extraction, leaving in their wake sorrow, tears and blood.

Many of the communities, particularly the 18 communities making up Imushin, have reportedly become ghost towns as the traumatised survivors have relocated to safer abodes.

The curious and most unsettling aspect is that the attacks were reportedly preceded by issuance of threats by the invaders, yet executed without official resistance. It was just like in the Niger Delta where all the premonitions given by the vandals were easily followed by collateral damage to some oil and gas infrastructure. The militants have become quite daring either by reason of their trust in the sophistication of their munitions or the expectation of feeble resistance from the security agencies. Their effrontery has so heightened that the deputy governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, together with her delegation, was practically prevented from accessing a part of the state! Onanuga had gone to assure some of the troubled communities of government’s commitment to providing adequate security of lives and property when her convoy reportedly came under fire from the militants at Akoka Ebute area of Ibafo, in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area. In that circumstance, discretion became apt given the readiness of the hoodlums to sustain their ferocious attack.

The condolence and solidarity visit by the Number Two citizen of Ogun State had to be cut short.

That event is emblematic of the sorry state of security in the country today. Gunmen are attacking communities at will, killing, looting, raping, kidnapping and dictating the pace as if they were a law unto themselves. It has been alleged that the pipeline vandals were visiting the riverine communities with violence because they believed the residents were reporting their illicit activities to the government. Sadly, the marine police do not seem to be effective. The land police are also handicapped because they lack the required facilities to combat organised crime. The centralised security architecture of the country is detached and ill-equipped to respond swiftly to emergencies in a vast country like Nigeria. The Nigerian Navy also complained recently about inadequate equipment

which has been hampering its effort to rein in the activities of pipeline vandals in the Niger Delta. All of this points to an urgent need for a comprehensive review of the country’s security structure. The Chief Executive of a state should not be looking up to Abuja to provide adequate security of lives and property to residents of his state. That is rather unbecoming.

Therefore, there can be no more apposite time than now for the Federal Government to re-consider its aversion to the creation of state police. Federating units that are ready for state police should be allowed to have it. The existing legal framework should be amended to accommodate the existence of sub-national police forces side by side with the central one with a clear delineation of functions. In the intervening period, however, the Federal Government should brace up to the challenges of discharging its most paramount duty of securing lives and property. A government that consistently fails in this regard has a question mark on its capacity and commitment to providing effective and purposeful leadership.

The country’s security apparatuses, especially the police and the Navy, should be adequately equipped, trained and retrained to cope with the grave security situation of the time.

Existing police reform should include population reform so that it is in sync with the UN recommended police officer to citizen ratio of 1 to 450. Also, deployment of security operatives should be done with due cognizance of the familiarity of officers with the operating terrains. This is why it is crucial that recruitment into the security forces, including leadership recruitment, should reflect federal character and not limited to regions which the political leadership is comfortable to work with. In any case, a truly national leadership should be able to find like minds to work with from different parts of the country.

It is obvious that the Federal Government cannot afford to be fighting protracted battles at different fronts simultaneously, spreading its limited security resources thin, and to the point of ineffectiveness. Therefore, it should act decisively and stamp out militancy in the coastal communities between Ogun and Lagos states so that the residents can have a new lease of life and government can concentrate on the resolution of the lingering militancy in the Niger Delta. It is also imperative that the intermittent invasion of South-West coastal towns by the militants is addressed urgently to avert ethnic dimension to the crisis as the Oodua people’s Congress (OPC), a SouthWest based sociocultural youth organisation, is already threatening to join the fray.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@tribune.com.ng or by sms to 08053412982.

It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Economy: Letter to President Buhari

Y

OUR Excellency, any patriotic Nigerian who is literate should know that this is not the best of times for our nation’s economy.

For reasons that are collateral in nature, we now find ourselves in a near state of economic depression which, if not quickly addressed, may lead to crises in other sectors.

The situation is so dire that those who were comfortable financially in the

recent past are now struggling to survive, while those who were poor in the past have slided deeper into poverty.

However, it is needless to say that the army of the very poor has expanded exponentially. Yet,in the midst of the aforementioned precarious situation, we still find some people having more than enough to keep their lives going and their social ego bogusly massaged.

With such people, one

wonders what they stand to gain by hoarding what they have in excess, regardless of how they acquired it.

Your Excellency, I have the following suggestions which, if faithfully implemented, will make everyone rejoice in the end. I must, however, note that as plausible as this model may seem, it will have strong opposition from the high and the mighty in the society, but with strong political will to implement

Tackling Nigeria’s congested urban slums NIGERIA is still very much stuck in the “Third World” categorisation and the fact of its existence tells us all that this is the correct designation. Thus, it is not proper to aspire to tag onto the mainstream of technology without first solving this country’s vexing problem. Nigeria’s vexing problem is congested urban sprawls that are full-bodied slums and these slums are growing each passing day. What’s the point of aspiring to be a United Nations (UN) Security Council member if Nigeria cannot properly dispose of solid and liquid sewage that fester in urban city centres?

Nigeria’s urban slum sprawls can be solved by a rather low-technology approach; simply pull down these urban slums and implement local lebensraum because there is landmass enough for this purpose.

Homesteads must not be congested affairs anymore; spacing between one homestead and its nearest neighbours must be separated by vegetated or arboreal lots that ensure ventilation and illumination.

Since high-tech central sewage processing plants are not available, individual homestead underground septic-tank systems must be built and periodically cleaned. This gentrification is what is needed right now across Nigeria’s urban centres.

Redesigning and rebuilding Nigeria’s urban centres would occupy Nigerians for a long time and the positive domino-effect fallout would help economic recovery immensely.

Nigeria’s government must not pander to the illiterate mass anymore; if you are illiterate, then you cannot be invited to participate in this urban renewal project because those who lack basic education are always at fault over basic sanitation matters and personal hygiene. Really, slum dwellers experience perpetual cycle of healthcare challenges, and so, it

vital to clear the slums so those resident there can be healthy.

Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory should latch onto this concept immediately. When the streets are clean and devoid of sewage and vermin, foreign capital would flow in and the economy would grow.

•Sunday Adole Jonah, Minna, Niger State.

the model, our society will be the better for it.

The first thing is that all Nigerians should sacrificially submit themselves to Personal Single Account (PSA) policy. By this, the duplicity of bank accounts will no longer be allowed.

The BVN can be used to track full compliance with this policy.

Also, corporate entities should submit themselves to the Company Single Account (CSA) policy. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should come up with the modalities for faithful compliance.

Now, government should determine a reasonable amount an individual can hold in his bank account at a given point in time. The amount should be reasonable enough not to discourage hardwork and savings against the rainy days.

Any excess in the account should be invested by the owner in any legitimate productive venture of his/ her interest.

Also, government should determine a reasonable amount a company can keep floating in its bank account at any period in time. The excess should also be re-invested for expansion or invested for diversification.

If these policies are faithfully implemented, we shall have the combined effects of creating jobs for the unemployed, fair redistribution of resources/ wealth and common happiness.

However, saboteurs of these policies should be liable to reasonable sanctions. This economic model is not iron-cast but open to criticisms and adjustments till the desired objectives are achieved.

Some economists may choose to call this a neocommunist model, while coming up with strong arguments against it. I, however, choose to call it a Peculiar Nigerian Economy Revamp Model, knowing that every nation has

its peculiarities and they should be administered as such. No doubt, this model will take some efforts to fine-tune, a strong political will to implement and an uncommon sacrificial commitment of the citizenry to submit to temporary hardship, but the end will surely justify the means.

•Segun Olawore, segunlawoore@yahoo.com

Militancy: FG, come to our aid in Ikorodu I want to call on President Muhammadu Buhari and the new Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, to save us from Ijaw militants in Ikorodu, Lagos.

For some months now, residents have not be able to sleep in their houses, and in fact, I can say that we are refugees now, as some of us are currently squatting with friends and family members.

These militants, who operate through the waters, had also attacked the convoy of the Ogun State deputy governor when she came on a fact-finding mission to ascertain what was really happening in the communities bordering the waters.

Several people have lost their lives as a result of the onslaught by these Ijaw militants. If these militants could attack the security details of a deputy governor, then one wonders the fate of ordinary citizens who are not armed.

This issue is more than what the Commissioners of Police in Ogun and Lagos states can handle themselves. It is high time President Buhari stepped in by ordering the military to deploy soldiers to the area for the security of lives and properties.

Residents of these affected communities are, therefore, appealing to the President and the IGP to save us from these militants, because as it is now, our lives have been disrupted.

•Sina Ologunde, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

15

opinion

Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

Nigeria’s rising misery index

By Paul Alaje

A

S Nigerians battle the ongoing economic quagmire, survival is gradually becoming a thing of concern to many homes, businesses and governments. Gradually, a family which usually had tea, bread and eggs has stated experiencing insufficiency, with milk gradually disappearing from their tea, eggs from the fridge and bread from their table due to an invisible force that makes people poor – INFLATION. What seems to be common to all of these are — complaints, hunger, lower purchasing powers as a result of the general rise in prices and huge unemployment.

It is important to consider the misery index in the last one year. The misery index is an economic indicator created by the economist, Arthur Okun, to help determine how an average citizen is doing economically, and it is calculated by adding the adjusted unemployment rate to the annual inflation rate. The question is: how is an average Nigerian doing economically? Currently, the inflationary rate has been 16.5 percent since June 2016, unemployment stood at 12.1 percent in March, 2016, with underemployment also being 19.1 percent in the same period. Adding these indicators together, the misery index of Nigerians stand at 47.7 per cent, and this ranks us as having the fifth highest misery index in the world, in the first half of 2016.

Many people are losing jobs, as construction sites are shutting down without new ones opening up. In the first quarter, youth underemployment, according to NBS, stood at 42.24 percent. Clearly, the last one year has been very tough, with more than four out of every ten young people who are willing and able to work only being able to find menial jobs, having graduates resort to selling recharge cards in kiosks, which is not the desire of any country.

What most people experience now is the persistent increase in the costs of food, transportation, vehicles, furniture, electronics, home appliances and clothing, among others in the last one year. Real money is gradually losing its value, leaving us with only its nominal illusion. We have lost a substantial part of our purchasing powers due to government policy somersaults.

The implications of a high misery index are undesirable, and they include a poor living standard among the majority of our people, increases in the crime rate, intensifying poverty and hunger. Globally, any country having an eight percent misery index or less is said to be doing great. However, the average misery index should not be beyond 16 percent. In 2015, the country with highest misery index was Venezuela at 214.9 percent, followed by Ukraine, Brazil, Argentina and Jamaica at 82.7 percent, 67.8 percent, 60.0 percent and 34.4 percent respectively. The countries with the lowest are China, Japan, Thailand, Hungary, Netherland and Germany with 2.3, 3.0, 3.4, 5.2, 5.2 and 5.2 percents respectively. What is common to the lower misery welfarist countries are manufacturing, import substitution and export promotion. We must take a clue from them.

How do we reduce the current misery index? First, we must know the real cause of inflation and why citizens are losing jobs, particularly youths. It has been observed that the foreign exchange rate in Nigeria has increased by over 70 percent in one year. From N165 to a dollar, it increased to N294 to a dollar at the official interbank market, whilst the parallel market still sold the dollar at N365 only last Friday. The response by the monetary authority remains in combating inflation by mopping up more funds via Open Market Operations, increasing MPR and CRR (from an already frustrated financial sector). The real cause of high inflation was not just due to excessive money supply in the system, but the exchange rate instability. In Nigeria, we unfortunately rely on the rest of the world for food, clothing, vehicles, education and many more things. It is ridiculous to know that we spend an average of N1.5 trillion on the foreign acquisition of education.

The fiscal authority and our governments must ensure the injection of funds back into the economy through the right channels, and both the monetary and fiscal authorities must collaborate to ensure that they provide Nigeria with the right policy frameworks and their adequate implementation. The current clumsy and uncoordinated policy implementation in the country leaves much to be desired.

While the ongoing anti-corruption war of the Federal Government must be encouraged by all, the administration must also realise that what kills the ‘very poor’ now is hunger, inefficient economic policies, a weak local currency, mass importation, including of food, clothing and phones. At the moment, governments at all levels must be concerned with the dangers of unemployment and inflation before any other issue. These are the core problems we face, and it must be mentioned that other problems – including poverty, insecurity and crime – could be traced to them.

The minimum requires jobs to be created, and to possibly reduce the menace of poverty significantly, 1.5million jobs need to be created per annum for the next 10 years (and this must be private sector driven).

We can achieve this in 18 months by activating our textile industry. If we focus on schools’ demand for uniforms, we would grow our country to recover from the current depression as the GDP will return north by six percent within a year. As spin off, we can, at least, create more than a million jobs annually. If for instance we reduce importation, the naira value would increase across board and, eventually, the misery index will fall considerable.

By solving our problems rather than just talking or complaining about them, Nigeria will be a model country for many other going through experiences of recession. The world will not only celebrate, but also respect us for purposefully resolving our problems of housing, power, education, security, religious intolerance, corruption and impunity.

For several years, different administrations have articulated their intentions of solving the numerous challenges facing Nigeria, yet I am afraid, intention means nothing, as action is everything.

•Alaje, an economist, lives in Abuja.

Using universities to drive change

By Oludayo Tade

GOVERNMENT policies in Nigeria are rarely informed by rigorous research. More often than not, it does appear that planning is done amid the near absence of hard facts. This aversion for information-based planning partly explains why most incumbent governments overturn the policies of their predecessors while introducing new and often conflicting policies. This practice is not costless as the masses bear the brunt of such policy inconsistencies. More disturbing however is the origin of the ideas driving these policies.

For the most part, indigenous researches are taken to be inferior to imported/expatriate evidences. These imported policies mostly are misfits due to the lack of proper grounding in the peculiar realities of the Nigerian context. The world over, successful countries are typically those that prioritise the researches from their universities and other research institutions. This they do by allocating sufficient funds to these institutions.

In these countries, research outputs are not only critical drivers of their economies, but also the harbinger of rapid transformation in technology, infrastructure and the like. Little wonder that our gluttonous politicians run to these places with our stolen money for holidays.

It is incontrovertible that we can neither grow nor develop without funding policy-inclined researches.

There is, therefore, a correlation between research outputs and economic transformation. Evidences of the societal functionality of this important nexus abound with Israel, China, USA, UK among others reaping the dividends from research. The proponents of the “Change” mantra need to drive it beyond mere rhetoric by committing adequate funds to research. Developed countries base their policies on researches which proffer solutions to identified problems. It is the same research that makes technologically advanced societ-

ies to develop products like phones with ‘torch-light’, rechargeable lanterns which become major consumption items for our own economy. Through this, they rake in substantial foreign earnings into their countries. Another case in point is the fairly recent ‘Ebola’ episode. Recall that it was easy to transport medical doctors infected with the deadly ‘Ebola’ back to Emory Hospital, USA, where they were treated. Of course, this was a specialised institution where huge financial resources had been invested into researching uncommon diseases. To be factual, Nigeria, in particular, and Africa in general, needs to fund research to understand its economies in order to be able to solve the seemingly intractable problems of insecurity, health, agricultural productivity, low ranking of universities, militancy and the rise in insurgent citizenship.

Since there is a strong and positive relationship between research outputs and economic growth, Nigeria through President Muhammadu Buhari, and other African governments must fund research for the transformation of Africa. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the continent to experience transformation. Aside the dismal performance of government on this metric, how many of our industries fund researches? These private sector entities rather sponsor singing competitions, beauty pageants and so on. Some of these musicians, whose songs encourage anti-social behaviours (like rape, cybercrime, kidnapping), get lucrative endorsements deals as brand ambassadors for private organisations. Politicians even enlist these entertainers during electioneering campaigns with those who are

called ‘Honourables’ dancing enthusiastically. At the other end of the continuum, one ponders what happens to ‘First Class’ graduates. Except for dedicated newspapers that now conduct interviews with them, there seems to be no deliberate effort to invest in nurturing them. The usual script is that Nigeria waits for you to either waste away or sweat-to-glory and become a global citizen before claiming you as their own (this rings loud in the labeling of the likes of Wole Soyinka and Chimamanda Adichie in Federal Government advertisement of Nigerians doing well across the globe).

On the part of our universities, they also need to conduct researches that meet the needs of our environment and thereby build the requisite trust that will attract patronage both from the public and private sectors. Additional government funding will encourage researching alternative sources of power, security, low cost health equipment, ICT among others. This proactive approach should be conspicuous in the intent and actions of government. Such pragmatism is a far better substitute to the present penchant of the ruling class for shedding crocodile tears at convocation ceremonies. They expend ample speech time on low ranking of Nigerian universities without speaking to funding lapses and the yet-to-be fulfilled N1.3trilion NEEDS assessment intervention fund agreed to with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following the strike in 2013. Close to three years after that agreement, nothing has changed except that the blame game has come in diverse shades. Without a doubt, ASUU strikes have been an integral contributor to the little achievements we can itemise on our campuses.

Therefore, only the practical recognition of the role of universities in national development will suffice for the kind of progressive change our nation desperately needs.

•Dr Tade sent in this article via dotad2003@ yahoo.com

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Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

tribune cartoons

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

GIANT IN THE TROPIC OF AFRICA

Cosmas Maduka FUNOLOGY

• Born in the city of Jos, Nigeria on the 24 December, 1958.

• Cosmas Maduabuchukwu Maduka hails from Nnewi North in Anambra State.

CHURCH BOY

• He lost his father to the cold hands of death at the age of four. At an early age of seven, Cosmas started hawking bean cake popularly known as akara in Jos, so as to assist his mother. In 1970, Cosmas relocated to Lagos to serve as mechanic apprentice in his uncle’s shop.

SEGELUULU

• Today, he is the Chief Executive Officer of Coscharis Group of Companies and sole distributor for BMW in Nigeria.

• Dr Cosmas Maduka is on the cover of the November, 2015 edition of Forbes Africa magazine. His estimated net worth, according to the lifestyle magazine, is placed at excess of 1 billion US dollars.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

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

A

B

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Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

inside

nigerdelta Refuse collectors protest in Asaba Alphonsus Agborh-Asaba

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EFUSE collectors in Asaba, Delta State capital, are angry. Their anger is because they are pushed out of business by the Oshimili South Local Government Area, which is charged with the evacuation of wastes in the state capital despite heaps of garbage on the streets .

Their grouse is that 27 of the Private Sector Participants (PSP), out of the initial 41, were forcefully and illegally disengaged by the council authorities without due process, while those presently engaged, after intense lobbying, have been overwhelmed by the task of keeping Asaba clean.

In an open letter to the governor, signed by the state President of Association of Waste Managers (ASWAMA), Maxwell Egbe and Secretary, Adeniyi Osawaru, the group alleged that the 41 PSPs trained by the World Bank were unilaterally collapsed to 17 by the council.

The letter, a copy of which was made available to InsideNigerDelta in Asaba stated that the development had rendered over 500 youths jobless, which they claimed was against the wealth creation dream of the Okowa-led administration.

According to the aggrieved waste managers, the decision to reduce the number from 41 to 17 was not only frustrating the employment vision of the government, but

making the state capital dirty as the 17 PSPs lacked the capacity to do the job effectively.

“On the 10th of May, 2016, members of our association were invited them to Oshimili South Local Government secretariat for what they termed ‘Registration and Re-validation’, and that the said registration and re-validation was approved

by His Excellency. Sir, we suspect that your approval could not have been sought for reason mentioned here.

“For this exercise, each of us was made to pay a non-refundable fee of N10,000

into an account. Instead of the registration and re-validation, the chairman of Oshimili South Local Government Area unilaterally collapsed 41 zones existing in Asaba capital territory and reduced it to 17 zones without recourse to us,” the letter read.

According to them, the task of evacuating waste in Asaba was a burden for the hitherto 41 companies, adding that the job would not be easier for the new 17 companies who lacked experience, personnel and equipment.

“How can a project which has been a

burden for 41 PSPs suddenly become easy for 17 PSPs who have no experience, not trained and no equipment to handle the job. This is an invitation to serious epidemic in the state capital.

“It is important to let you know Sir, that the state steering committee comprising some commissioners p, permanent secretaries and directors agreed and advised that all zones operated by SEEFOR be allowed to remain in the six pilot cities of Uvwie, Udu, Sapele, Ughelli, Warri South and Asaba.

Evacuators at a refuse dump.

We’re losing tenants to erratic power supply in P/Harcourt —Landlords Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt THIS is not the best of time for landlords in some parts of the Elioparanwo axis, off Rufus Ada-George in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, as many of them are losing their tenants in droves because of constant power blackouts, occasioned by the near zero supply of electricity to the area by the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED).

A constant feature of most of the beautiful houses located within the serene Mini-Orlu Market/Justus Ojika area of Elioparanwo was display of “Flats to let” as most of the buildings had been deserted, even as some of the landlords who spoke with InsideNigerDelta said some of the tenants, fed up with the acute poor power supply, had left, while new tenants refused to pack in after

A vacant building following erratic power supply.

getting wind of the situation in the area.

One of the affected landlords on Chijioke Amadi Street, Chief Ifeanyi Odion, said a committee was formed in the past with the aim of improving electricity supply in the place and pointed out that the committee tried its best to change the situation to no avail, adding that the committee had since become non-functional.

He said two of his tenants left his house

after they complained of spending half of their earnings on fuel and generator repairs and further disclosed that PHED was always distributing electricity to the street and other adjoining streets sharing the same line three times in a month, and especially in the dead of the night.

“If you look at almost the houses on this street, you will see sign posts with inscriptions like, ‘Two bedroom flat to let’. But

nobody is coming in as tenant because they are aware of the poor electricity supply here.

“Before the end of the month, the PHED people will bring in their huge bill and we will pay because we have the hope that the situation will change from bad to good.

We have been experiencing this anomaly for about three years now, yet the NEPA (PHED) officials have done nothing”, he said.

Navy vows to rid Delta waterways of crime •Arrests 4, destroys five illegal refineries in Warri Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri COMMANDER of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS DELTA), Warri Naval Base, Commodore Joseph Dzunve, has stated that his men are poised to rid his area of responsibility in Delta State of all forms of criminalities and illegalities.

This is just as the force had, in the last two weeks, arrested four suspects and destroyed over five large illegal refineries and products during routine raids of creeks in Warri South and Warri South West local government areas of the state.

Commodore Dzunve made the disclosure after the destruction of illegal refineries and arrest of two suspects, around Sosolo in Ugotan area of Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state last Thursday.

On sighting his men, the Commander said perpetrators of the crime fled into the woods leaving behind their boats, kegs, generators and other items used in carrying out their nefarious activities.

No fewer than five flying boats, loaded with locally-refined diesel, were appre-

hended and towed to the jetty at the Naval Base for further investigation.

The naval boss vowed to go after buyers of the products sourced from illegal refineries, saying profits accruable from the trade was the reason the illicit trade had continued to thrive in spite of continued effort being made to stamp out the menace.

“Raid on illegal refineries is an ongoing thing. Within the last two weeks, we’ve

burnt over five illegal refineries.

“Our strategy is effective, but we noticed that some of the illegal refineries were burnt in the past, but were reactivated.

“This is because the underground tanks are seemingly indestructible. So, they could still use them.

“And even after burning the product, the hoses are still there and they come back to commence work again,” the naval boss lamented.

The four suspects arrested by Navy.

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Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

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

Buhari committed to cultural development —Mbanefo tells Ndigbo The Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Mrs Sally UwechueMbanefo receiving the invitation cards for the 2016 Iri Ji Ndi Igbo National New Yam Festival from the Igwe Akpugoeze, Oji River Local Government Area, Enugu State and His Royal Highness Igwe Dr. C. N Nwajaju during a courtesy visit to the Director General at the corporate headquarters of the Corporation in Abuja Recently.

T

RADITIONAL rulers from Igbo speaking states in Nigeria have commended the numerous achievements of the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo, since she was appointed.

HRH Igwe (Dr.) C.N, Nwajagu, who led the delegation of traditional rulers on a courtesy visit to the NTDC office to seek collaboration regarding the forthcoming Iri Ji Ndi Igbo National New Yam Festival 2016 said this in his address, while commending President Muhammadu Buhari for retaining their daughter, as the NTDC boss “We sincerely appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for retaining our daughter, Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo, whose contributions to the development and promotion of tourism in Nigeria are immense.

“Sally has been dutiful in her responsibility to promote and showcase all the tourism and cultural potentialities in the country, which has made us proud as a nation, because our strength lies mainly and squarely in our cultural diversity. The unity of this great country cannot be achieved if this parastatal fails.

“Therefore, like the Prophet from the South and as custodians of the cultures of the Igbo people of Nigeria, we hereby make a declaration that the remedy for the ills in the country lies mainly in this parastatal.

Not funding it well means joking with the growth and unity of the country for this parastatals holds our peace, stability and base as a nation,” he said.

Mbanefo, in her response, described domestic tourism as a viable tool to unify Nigerians, create jobs in local communities and reduce criminality in the country.

The NTDC boss while commending the anti-corruption crusade of the President Buhari-led administration said the crusade would reduce criminality and encourage foreign investments in the country, adding that “it will boost the nation’s economy and create wealth for Nigerians.”

At a time tourism is being considered as an alternative to oil in terms of revenue generation, the NTDC boss threw her weight behind the promotion of the Iri Ji Ndi Igbo National New Yam Festival. She emphasised that the wealth of culture, tradition,

heritage and languages in Nigeria must be encouraged and preserved.

“We are committed to promoting domestic tourism, as its market has a very high rev-

enue and job creation potential. Overtime, we have successfully promoted many festivals and cultural events such as Nzeh Mada Festival in Nasarawa State, Drums Festival

in Ogun State, Igbo-Ukwu (New Yam) Festival, Sango Festival in Oyo State, Mare Festival in Ondo State, Osun-OsogboFestival in Osun State, just to mention a few. This will not only be of economic value to the country, but will also engage the teeming unemployed youth, “NTDC as a government agency will do everything within its powers to promote and strengthen this year’s edition of Igbo-Ukwu (NewYam) Festival as festivals are veritable channels to promote and market Nigeria’s rich culture.” she said.

Dr Mbanefo also noted that the Igbo nation is blessed with everything, adding that the human resources in Igboland are enough to make Nigerian tourism Africa’s destination hub.

She, therefore, appealed to the Igbo to come together as one and give Igbo-Ukwu Festival a global outlook like the Sango Festival, which, according to her, has been exported to over 40 countries.

The NTDC boss while soliciting for partnership from the private sector said: “I will continue to collaborate and ensure sustainable partnership with private sector operators to harness tourism resources and make Nigeria the destination hub of Africa, and further grow the tourism value chain to enhance revenue generation in the country”.

The Iri Ji Ndi Igbo National New Yam Festival 2016 is scheduled to take place between 23rd and 27th August, 2016 at the National Yam House, Etiti Village, Igbo-Ukwu, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Falz the Bahd Guy set for Special Dubai Summer NEXT month (August,2016), popular musician, Falz The Bahd Guy, is expected to be the celebrity tour guide of a special group tour package for tourists from Nigeria to interesting places in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Falz (Folarin Falana BET award winning rapper, who also happens to be the son of a popular lawyer, cum activist Femi Falana, has been confirmed to be the offi-

cial celebrity tour guide for the upcoming Dubai Summer Group Tour (a 7- day allinclusive Dubai getaway with the Celebrity Tour Guide).

The unique summer tour is an initiative of DubaiAfrika.com, a one-destination travel platform with focuses mainly on connecting Africans to Dubai. With the head office in Dubai, the organisers of the tour said customer satisfaction is guaranteed with round the clock customer service all through their stay in Dubai.

The package highlights for the 7 days group tour includes Dubai Visa, Airport Transfer, Desert Safari, Wonder Bus City Tour, Dhow Cruise, Luxury Hotel Apartment, Breakfast, Dinner, Dubaiafrika Souvenirs, Beach Day, Night Out (Falz Live in Dubai Concert) among others. Shopping assistance will also be provided while clients can also cook in

their apartments which come with fully equipped kitchen.

Commenting on the travel show which will commence on August 17 to 24, 2016, the Founder/Creative Director of DubaiAfrika.com, Mr Tolu Adesanmi, stated that: “There is always need for a quick getaway to a new destination to ease stress and explore new areas for a well deserved rest. Aside getting away from routine or work, it is also a way of experiencing different cultures first-hand.

Adesanmi went further to say by the time participants return from Dubai they would have been re-invigorated which will improve job performances.

He also stated that it would be an unprecedented experience going to Dubai on the tour. He, therefore, urged individuals and corporate organisations to avail themselves of the opportunity offered by

ATS lauds Akinboboye on East /West Tourism

THE East / West Tourism Amalgam initiative recently inaugurated by Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye an infusion of the tourism niche of West Africa with the pristine tourism heritage of East Africa has sbeend described as the best product of the brain in that sector recently.

An African tourism development monitoring group, African Tourism Soul, ATS, made the commendation in a release made available to Tourism Press in which it pointed out that “The tourism industry needs a super integrative initiative and scheme which will exploit and explore the SWOT analyses in maximising the gains of tourism for inter regional development” The release signed by Mr Martins Remesh disclosed that: ‘We have been profiling the person and activities of Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye for the past

10 years. He has distinguished himself as a rare African asset. A tourism prodigy who has a large and robust intercontinental view of African tourism. He has also proved himself to be an exceptional African with latent and potent ideas that can transform African tourism from a weakling economic sector to the most vibrant sector for African development ‘ The release pointed out that “His recent East – West Tourism Amalgam initiative is an innovative concept that will stoke not only the economic integration of the two regions but help to underscore and strengthen the chord of unity and cooperation among the citizens.”

ATS praised the government of Tanzania for being the first country in that region to seize the golden opportunity which the initiative has in its pouch.

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tourism

Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic Student Emerges

Miss Okota 2016

ARIGIDI Akoko, Ondo State stood still on the 22nd of July, 2016 as royal fathers, celebrities and dignitaries stormed the town to witness the annual Okota festival. To add value and colour to the celebration, Olokun Foundation has instituted an annual beauty pageant.

According to the Chairman, Olokun Foundation, Otunba (Dr) Gani Adams, Miss Okota Beauty Pageant is to engage the younger generation and refuelling their knowledge on African social value system

Group Tour DubaiAfrika.com to secure their slots on the group tour and reach out for partnership/sponsorship.

He said: “There are lots of tourist attractions in Dubai. Everyday, something new springs up because of government’s commitment to the development of the Dubai tourism industry.

It was gathered that in 2015, a similar celebrity summer tour was organised by Dubai Africa. Corporate organisations like FCMB/Credit Direct partnered the tour company to provide a payment plan for corporate clients on the group tour which enabled clients to pay in bits from their salary account over a period of time.

On the cost of the package, Adesanmi assured that cost is relatively low, stating that the group travel will certainly reduce cost for a lot of people who will love to experience Dubai this summer.

Amalgam Initiative

Wanle Akinboboye

The Owa Ajero of Ijero kingdom, Oba Joseph Adewole presenting the key of a brand new car to Miss Okota 2016, Miss Uzoka Gabrielle, while Otunba Gani Adams and others watch. and a blend of contemporary reality.

“I believe there must be a social reality entertainment beauty pageant for females during the celebration of our day in Arigidi.

And we thank God for the successful hosting of the event all these years” The well packaged event of Miss Okota 2016 led to the emergence of Miss Mariam Ahmed, a ND 2 student of Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, who went home with the star prize of a brand new car while the first runner-up, Miss Uzoka Gabrielle got a price of N100, 000 as the Second runner-up, Miss Foluso Amos, went away with N75, 000.

The event, which was witnessed by more

than 5,000 participants at Ayase Hall in Arigidi, Akoko witnessed the presence of HRM Oba Yisa Olanipekun, The Zaki of Arigidi-Akoko; HRM Oba Ipinmoroti Timothy, Oluro of Uro-Ajowa; HRM Oba Clement Omo-Ola, Oloso of Oso-Ajowa; Honourable Tofeeq Isa, Chairman, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Chief Femi Davies; members of Oodua Progressive Union (OPU); National Coordinator Council of Oodua People's Congress (OPC), Sola Fajobi, Kunle Adeyemi, Mr Idris Bello, CEO, Shybell Media; Mr Lookmon Akintola and many others.

Otunba Gani Adams, in his remarks,

thanked the almighty God for using Okota festival as a contact of blessing to past winners of past beauty pageants and participants saying that Miss Okota 2011 Beauty Queen, Miss Ayomikun Idowu, gave birth to a bouncing baby boy in United States of America three months ago.

He emphasized that Okota Festival is a festival which spreads fortune, prosperity and peace and stokes the tissue of potency in men and fertility in women. “This is why we cannot look elsewhere and allow whatever vogue to draw away from this wonderful potent traditional heritage of our forefathers.”

Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Reverend Tor Uja (6th left), Chairman, Federal Medical Committee Team, Doctor. Joseph Amedu MNI(5th left) with other members of the committee during the inauguration of the NCPC Federal Medical Team for 2016 Christian Pilgrimage at the NCPC corporate headquarters in Abuja.

NCPC boss inaugurates medical committee for 2016 pilgrimage THE Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Reverend Tor Uja, has inaugurated the Federal Medical Committee for the 2016 Christian Pilgrimage to Israel, Greece and Rome.

While inaugurating members of the committee at the NCPC corporate headquarters, Abuja. Reverend Uja admonished that the word of God is the only answer man’s problems. His words: “We need to put the word of God in our hearts”.

He explained that mercy and truth are important in Christian teaching, stressing that only truth could set a man free.

The NCPC boss affirmed that healing is spiritual but added that modern medicine had helped to improve the health status of the people. He stressed the need for the medical committee to always put their trust in God. He tasked them to demonstrate leadership qualities in the curse of their assignment. His words: “I will like all of us to see ourselves as lead-

ers to give our nation help”.

Reverend Uja called on Nigerian medical professionals to see their profession more as a calling than a career. He stated that it would be a shame to take people on pilgrimage to any country and over there issues of health challenges are detected. Thus, he called on them to carry out medical advocacy to enlighten people on health related issues.

He further urged them to ensure they give attention to the spiritual. ‘I will like this committee to provide attention to spiritual and mental health”, He explained that serving Nigeria should be a thing of joy and pride as Nigeria is a covenant nation. He said: “your labour to Nigeria will open the door to the future”.

He stated that he was optimistic that God would help them achieve their objectives to make NCPC and Nigeria proud.

He explained that though the committee was working behind schedule, but would be able to make the necessary adjust-

ments to achieve their target.

Dr Ahmedu further assured that his committee would review the programme of activities of the committee and fasttrack the selection of the Federal Medical Team.

The chairman promised to be fair and just to everybody. According to him: “if you do not meet the cut-off point, you won’t be involved”. He emphasized that the process of the Federal Medical Team must be followed strictly. “As Christians, we should be seem doing the right thing”. He urged members of the committee to shun anything that would bring the country to shame considering the fact that their assignment is both offshore and onshore.

Dr Ahmedu assured the NCPC boss that his committee would strive to ensure that the objectives of Christian Pilgrimage are achieved.

The 12-man committee drawn from professional medical personnel from different health institutions across the country.

20 with Doyin Adeoye

m:08038000394 e:doyinadeoye@tribuneonlineng.com t:@kreatif_ink

Ogun begins “Go Green” project Olayinka Olukoya – Abeokuta THE Ogun State Government has commenced ‘Green Ogun’ Project, which is aimed at beautifying the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.

The step according to the chairman, ‘GO’ team project, Chief Kolawole Lawal, would equally reduce traffic gridlock on the highway. Lawal who is also the State Commissioner for Forestry, said the state government is embarking on the project because of its passion for a decent environment.

The commissioner noted that the policy of creating a set-back along the highway had long been in existence, which would be about 70 metres from the median. According to him, the Federal Government is expected to work on 45 metres.

“From time immemorial, there had been a policy to create a setback of about 70 metres from the median along the highway by the state government, while the Federal Government is also expected to carry out its own plan of 45 metres.

“The 45 metres from the median would be earmarked for the Federal Government’s set-back project, while 121/2 metres would be for the

barrier, which would prevent motorists from indiscriminate parking.

This will be followed by a service road of seven metres wide, while the remaining five metres would be the set back between the service road and individual property, along the road,” the commissioner added.

Chief Lawal stated further that while developing the setback, the team would look into construction of a by-pass road to keep motorists that needed not to ply the highway, just as a lay-by for travellers to rest in between journeys and motor parks would be constructed to curb illegal parking.

He added that presently the project would start from Isheri-Berger through Arepo and would later be extended to Sapade to Abeokuta via inter-change to Sagamu as well as Siun to Ogere.

While noting that the government might collaborate with companies located along the road to carry out the landscaping of the front view of their companies, he added that the government was aware that people had encroached on the set-back areas, with advice to those culpable to vacate the premises immediately or risk demolition of such illegal structures.

June marks 14th consecutive months of record heat for the globe GLOBAL temperatures for the first six months of this year shattered yet more records and mean that 2016 is on track to be the world’s hottest year on record.

According to two separate reports from the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (NASA GISS), both highlighted the dramatic and sweeping changes in the state of the climate.

June 2016 marked the 14th consecutive month of record heat for land and oceans. It marked the 378th consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th century average. The last month with temperatures below the 20th century average was December 1984.

“Another month, another record.

Decades-long trends of climate change are reaching new climaxes, fuelled by the strong 2015/2016 El Niño. The El Niño event, which turned up the earth’s thermostat, has now disappeared. Climate change, caused by heat-trapping greenhouse gases, will not. This means we face more heatwaves, more extreme rainfall and potential for higher impact

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tropical cyclones,” World Meteorological Organisation Secretary-General, Petteri Taalas said.

Carbon dioxide concentrations have passed the symbolic milestone of 400 parts per million in the atmosphere so far this year. CO2 levels vary according to the season, but the underlying trend is upwards.

W

HAT are the visions and objectives of EBAFOSA Nigeria?

Being a continental initiative, Nigeria is working along the general vision of the programme. The major objective of EBAFOSA is to ensure that there is a synergy between food security and sustainable environment. In taking care of agrobiodiversity, one can be assured that what is produced will also be sustained over the years.

So practising ecosystem based farming will ensure that the soil system is intact and sustainable for future productions.

How has it been so far in convincing farmers to key into this programme?

We have done a lot of advocacies, advising farmers especially in this era of climate change to practise conservational farming. So the Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EBA) is an adaptive measure for farmers, telling them what they need to do, especially as regards reducing their own contribution to green house gas emissions. We advise them to plant trees that can mitigate carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. That is as regards the mitigative aspect.

For the adaptive measure, we advise them to practice the water harvesting system because of the erratic nature of rainfall. Sometimes when rain falls, it comes very intensively causing flooding and in many cases, it may not be useful to the farmers.

So we tell them to harvest this run off which can then be used later to water their plants. Some of the runoff even contain nutrients that can be beneficial to their crops.

Since 60 to 70 per cent of our farmers practise small scale farming with about two to three hectares, they can manage ditches, divert the flow, get the water harvested and make use of it instead of most of the runoff causing flood elsewhere. Also,

ecoscope EBAFOSA Nigeria:

Mr Oyesola James Oluwagbemiga is the President, Africa Ecosystems Based Adaptation for Food Security Assembly (EBAFOSA), Nigerian National branch. He speaks with DOYIN ADEOYE on the objectives of the programme and the branch’s commitment towards ensuring a synergy between food security and sustainable environment in the country.

Creating synergy between food security,

sustainable environment

although many concentrate more on irrigation, it is, however, not the only way of adaptive measures for farmers.

The use of compost manure is also good, as it makes the soil structure very intact. When you have a good soil structure, the percolation of water inside the soil will be very good and it will be sustainable because it will hold water, as the soil is healthy.

So even if there is a strong water runoff, because of the good soil structure, it will be sustainable for production for the farmers.

What have been the achievements since EBAFOSA was launched in Nigeria?

After the launching, we have been able to move from the advocacy level and we are now in stage two, which is focused on registering EBA farmers and producers. And we now have many unions involved.

We have the food unions, that is food producers, where the advocacy is focused on making them understand that the food they produce must be EBA compliance, because most of these inorganic foods cause cancers. So, we tell them to make the farmers understand they want EBA compliant products.

If farmers know that if they pro-

duce organic food, it will get sold and attract more premium, they will be attracted to it. So the strategy is going through the unions and companies who use farm produce for their productions. The essence is for them to tell farmers that they want organic food to process their products.

We also brought in hotel unions, restaurants and all, telling them to buy foodstuffs that are organically produced. We related with banks as well, to ensure that there will be single digits in terms of loans for the farmers. So at this point now, I can assure you that many of these unions are stakeholders in EBA-

NAOWA promotes green environment Olayinka Olukoya – Abeokuta THE Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), has said that a safe environment will continue to enhance human existence, hence, the need for Nigerians to cultivate the habit of tree planting.

This was the position of the association during a one-day environmental sanitation campaign/ medical outreach to traders at the popular Itoku market in Abeokuta, recently, as part of activities marking the 2016 Nigerian Army Day Celebration.

The Divisional President of NAOWA, 81 Division chapter, Mrs Enebong Edet, said the idea of tree planting was to support the initia-

tive of the First Lady, Hajia Aishat Buhari, on the need to protect the environment in the interest of Nigerians.

She said that one of the solutions to the problem of depletion of ozone layer is tree planting all around the environment. ”The idea of having tree planting here is actually in support of the first lady’s initiative of a green environment. As a support towards that, we have decided to plant trees in the environment because right now, everyone is talking about depletion of the ozone layer and we know that trees and green environment is part of the solutions that we have.

“There are so many places now

The difference between animals and humans is that animals change themselves for the environment, but humans change the environment for themselves.

—Ayn Rand

where they have actually cut down all the trees. So, this campaign is a way of enlightening people to know that this is part of conserving our own life. That is why we have come to do the tree planting here and we plan to actually water it, so that it would encourage other people to embrace this initiative, while we save the environment,” Edet said.

She also

urged the market men and women on the need to imbibe the attitude of making their immediate environment clean at all times.

Mrs Enebong Edet being assisted by the Brigade Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Brigadier General Mohammed Danwalis, to plant a tree, as part of activities marking the 2016 Nigerian Army Day Celebration, in front of the palace of Alake of Egbaland.

FOSA Nigeria.

As for the second phase, after registering all those unions, we now link the EBA farmers with consumers through workshops.

What other projects do you look forward to doing?

We are having a workshop soon, calling all stakeholders, all farmers’ association, consumers’ association and policy makers, where we would link them all together for proper advocacy.

The area of policy also has to be taken care of, especially changes on where our agricultural policy is now.

There should be a paradigm shift dovetailing to the normal system we want which will be environment compliance. So when you bring all these policy issues in with non policy markers, you will be able to tell them what they are in for.

EBAFOSA for the first time is bringing a synergy between environment and agriculture. If agrobiodiversity is maintained, there will be a synergy between food security and environmental sustainability.

With the environment constantly changing, how has climate change affected food production in the country?

There are two major factors when talking of food security. There is food accessibility and food availability. Food can be available and people may not be able to access it, while food may also be available, but the

nutrient aspect is tampered with.

So accessibility, availability and affordability are important factors in food production. In relation to climate change, rainfall for instance is very erratic; you cannot determine when the rain will fall. The climate has changed the weather focus. So if any farmer decides to plant when rainfall is naturally expected and it doesn’t rain at that time, it will affect the harvest and in the long run, the food availability. If you cannot produce food at a particular time, then it is unavailable. So climate change affects food availability.

Even if the food is available at such a time, it will only be from a few farmers because others could not produce. There will be more demand than supply and when such happens, things will become more expensive. So climate change also affects the cost of food, that is food affordability.

Also, food can be available, affordable, but inaccessible. For instance, if farmers need to take their food produce outside the rural areas to sell and unfortunately, a flood cuts off the bridge between them and the major market, where people can buy the food, then the food is inaccessible. This situation also affects the food nutrients because it has been degraded. So climate change affects these four facets: food availability, affordability, accessibility and food nutrients.

One of the SDGs is focused on

achieving zero hunger. How feasible do you think that is?

It is feasible if we do the needful.

We have the population and the landmarks no doubt, so what we need to do is to go to the farm. We can produce food all year round if there is availability of water and if there is a good storage system. We don’t have to depend on rainfall.

The issue of food insecurity is peculiar to regions. Is EBAFOSA putting this into consideration in its policies?

That is one of the key strategies.

For instance the theme of the launch in Nigeria is ‘Reshaping Food Security and Climate Change Resilience.’ So we are using a holistic and inclusive approach, which has mitigation, adaption and environmental sustainability potentials.

That is why it is called Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EBA), as it allows the ecosystem to be intact.

Do you truly believe that the agric sector can be an alternative to the oil sector in terms of boosting the nation’s economy?

Yes it can. The fact is that there is need to diversify and fortunately for us, we have the population and we also have the largest arable land. The lands are there for us to farm. By the time we invest more in farming, we will not only be able to feed ourselves, we will also have some for exporting.

ecofact

World population facts • The world population reached 7.3 billion as of July 2015 • Based on statistical measures, the 6th billion person was born in 1999 • Among the 10 most populous countries in the world, Nigeria currently ranks seventh, while China tops the list • Every second of every day, our global population grows by three people • The world’s population is growing by 1.18 per cent per year or approximately an additional 83 million people annually • 50.4 per cent of the

world’s population is male and 49.6 per cent is female • The world’s population will double approximately every 40 years, to over 12 billion people by 2050 • In 2010 the average person lived 69 years, whereas in 1960 the average life expectancy was 51 • World population Day is celebrated on July 11th

Nigeria restates commitment to providing regular, potable water by 2030

By Doyin Adeoye NIGERIA’S Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, has restated the Federal Governments’ commitment towards increasing access to potable water for all Nigerians by 2030.

Adamu said this on the sidelines of the just concluded sixth Africa Water Week in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. He said that without universal access to safe water and sanitation, poverty and inequality cannot be eradicated in any country.

“We are working to ensure that all Nigerians have access to potable water by 2030 through urban water sector reform programme. We realise that implementing the first and second urban water reform programmes have resulted in moderate success and improved piped water supply and if we put in more effort, we can achieve more,” he said.

Adamu said that the results from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) showed that Nigeria was not able to meet its target due to sole reliance on budgetary allocation. He said Nigeria would soon launch the National Programme on

Partnerships for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH), aimed at meeting Sustainable Development Goal 6 on universal access to water and sanitation.

This programme, according to the minister, is intended to be a partnership between the three tiers of government, development partners and communities to commit funds and mobilise towards meeting SDG 6 by 2030.

“We have also realised that one of the reasons why Nigeria failed to meet the MDGs was because we have been relying only on budgetary allocation from the three tiers of government.

“Due to dwindling resources, there is a huge challenge of scaling up and this is why we must include all other stakeholders,” Adamu said.

He said Nigeria needed to take the lead on its issues, rather than relying only on development partners; adding that Nigeria would do everything possible to reform the water sector because of its centrality to health, agriculture, and other areas of development.

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Nigerian Tribune

with Tunde Dodondawa m:08029370304 e:mrdodondawa@yahoo.com

Power sector and the politics of tariff reversal

situation in the country. “But we are taking responsibility for that and we are ensuring that customers are paying closed to what they consumed. I mean those customers on estimated billing system.

“We are maximising what we get from the Gencos and ensuring that all our customers are supplied adequately based on our allocation from the grid,” he said.

The Nigerian power sector has been enmeshed in different controversies, sabotage and financial challenges for decades. Efforts by successive governments to bring sanity to the sector have proved abortive. In this report, OLATUNDE DODONDAWA examines the issue of tariff controversies and the way forward for the sector.

A

ruling by a Federal High Court in Lagos has reversed a tariff increase imposed by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The NERC had effected an arbitrary increase in the tariff on July 1, 2016.

A lawyer, Toluwani Adebiyi filed the suit against the NERC and obtained judgment stopping the tariff hike.

Justice Mohammed Idris, in his ruling, stated that NERC flouted due procedure in effecting its increase and ordered the agency to reverse the tariff increase.

The court had ruled that “NERC is hereby directed to reverse to the status quo and the commission is hereby restrained from further increasing electricity tariff except it complies strictly with the relevant provisions of the EPSRA.” His judgment was based on on sections 31, 32 and 76 of the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) 2005 which empowered the NERC to regulate tariff, ensure Nigerians are adequately supplied and that the licensees (operators) also collect cost-reflective tariff.

Section 32 (c-d) stated that “The NERC is to ensure that adequate supply of electricity to consumers and that prices (tariff) charged (by operators) are fair to consumers. To ensure that the tariff is sufficient to allow the licensees to finance their activities and allow for reasonable earnings for efficient operation.”

Prior to the increase in electricity tariff, an average Nigerian was paying N7.50 per kilowatt excluding the monthly charges of N750 irrespective of whether there was power supply or not.

However, based on the Multi-Year Tariff Order (II), the new 10-year tariff regime (2016-2026) approved by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which took effect from February 1, 2016, has generated debates and reactions amongst Nigerians.

An average of 40 per cent increase was added to the energy charges covering residential, commercial, industrial, special and street lighting classes. For instance, the new tariff for Abuja residential consumers was increased

by N9.60kwh in their energy charges, with that of Eko and Ikeja electricity distribution consumers witnessed N10kwh and N8kwh increase in their energy charges, respectively.

The controversies of prepaid metering among stakeholders Across the electricity value chain, there are the generation companies (Gencos), Transmission Company and the Distribution Companies (Discos). Among the three stakehold-

Babatunde Fashola ers, it is the Discos that interface with the power consumers and they are the ones that receive the backlash and take the blame for poor power supply.

Investigation by the Nigerian Tribune however revealed that many customers that have paid for such meters and those that are ready to pay are being denied such meters. Most culpable in this act is the Ikeja Disco where many communities have decided to display banners that except the Ikeja Disco provides prepaid meters, they will stop paying their bills.

According to a source within the power industry, most Discos preferred estimated billing system because it gives room to force consumers to pay for what they did not consume.

According to him, “most of the new owners are not ready to meter customers. They prefer the old system of estimated billing because that is where they get their revenue from.

What they simply do is to charge the unmetered customers to pay for energy theft and energy that are lost.

“In a lay man’s language, if a Disco supplied N100,000 worth of energy to a particular community which must have been captured by the meter installed on a transformer, and the ones with prepaid meters account for N40,000. The remaining N60,000 will be shared among the customers with no meters irrespective of whether they used energy for the period or not.

“They do not want to take risk for their own inefficiencies.

They are supposed to invest in infrastructure and ensure that no energy is lost from one point to the other. They are just interested in generating revenue.”

However, the Chief Executive Officer, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Mr Oladele Amoda, assured customers within its network that his company is committed and will continue to meter the customers until all customers are meters. According to him, “we are committed to meter all our customers within five years (2013-2018) after take over. We have invested over N55 billion in the procurement of smart meters and maximum demand meters, in order to eliminate estimated billing in the next two years.”

A source within Ikeja Electric confirmed to Nigerian Tribune that the company is facing challenges in allocation and distribution of prepaid meter deliveries due to the economic

The way forward According to the acting Chairman of NERC, Dr Anthony Akah, “This judgment in our view is a setback to the progress made so far in the electricity sector. Therefore, we will challenge this decision. We have instructed our lawyer to appeal. Consequently, the commission has filed for stay of execution and a notice of appeal of the judgment.

“We understand that private power production and distribution are relatively new in Nigeria and that development such as this court ruling must be seen in that context as the laws begin to face judicial tests of interpretations.

“We believe that ultimately, everybody and all institutions will come to better understanding of the values of the choice we have made as a nation to privatise the power sector.

“It (judgment) represents the reversal of the commercial foundation upon which contracts for gas, hydro, coal and solar feedstock for the production of electricity have been predicated.

“The ultimate destination of a commercialised electricity market is to achieve stability and adequacy in the supply of electricity to satisfy the yearning of Nigerians for adequate, safe and reliable electricity supply, the judgment would set back the sector’s achievement of these.”

The Executive Director of Association of Electricity Distributors (ANED), Mr Sunday Oduntan, balleged that NERC knew that the 2015 tariff was inadequate to attract investment in the sector because it was not absolutely cost reflective.

Oduntan also said Nigerians who used electricity without paying, or steal power from their networks through meter by-pass; vandalism of assets; and beating up of operator’s staff were not fair to the Discos and sectors. He explained that the Discos can only distribute available electricity to their consumers.

“Nigerians have an option between light and darkness.

If we need darkness, let us continue the way we are going now. Let’s continue to say they should reverse the tariff, let’s continue to steal energy, let’s continue to vandalise gas pipelines, let’s continue not paying our bills.

“If we continue, darkness looms, if we can change we can increase the power supply. We can progress gradually from incremental to stable to uninterrupted power supply, but we can’t achieve this without the cooperation of everybody. Inappropriate tariff leads to shortfall, shortfall leads to funding gap and funding gap leads to inefficiency, because we will not be able to give appropriate service.

“Part of the agreement at pre-privatisation was that appropriate tariff will be given. The problem we have had ever since is that two and half years down the line the government did not fulfil their pledge. They did not keep their side of the agreement and that has affected us.

“On the November 1 2013, we were supposed to have an average of N24 per kilowatt hour across board and all we had was N11 per kilowatt hour. Over that period till now, you are talking of a huge funding gap.

“Today the funding gap is over N300 billion and that shortfall somebody needs to pay for it. What we are saying in essence is that we need to ensure that the product is appropriately priced. The MYTO 2.0, 2.1 and 2.1 amended, NERC was just playing to the gallery.

“They knew they got it wrong when they started and everything they tried to do to get it right did not measure up, the funding gap continued. It was only the one they did on December 22, 2015 that measured up. But we couldn’t understand why they said it should commence on February 1, after they have left office.

“That also left January with another huge gap. We are asking that the product should be appropriately priced and it is the job of NERC to ensure that. We all know how much it cost to produce electricity. So, the shortfall keeps growing in the industry,” he said.

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Nigerian Tribune

Local content: FG urges IOCs to patronise indigenous shipyard Stories by Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

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he Federal Government has called the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to patronise indigenous shipyard and marine support base as a way of further promoting its local content policy.

The Chairman, House Committee on Local Content, Honourable Emmanuel Okon, made the call during an inspection of shipyard and marine support base operated by the West African Ventures Ltd recently.

He lamented underutilization of the company’s facilities by IOCs and advocated for patronage so as to encourage sustainable investment needed to build in-country capacity and ability of indigenous companies to compete internationally.

In his expression of satisfaction with the standard of passenger boats, tug boats and investment in dry dock, the Okon said that the House of Representatives will ensure a sustainable patronage of the multi-billion naira yard of West African Ventures and facilities of other indigenous companies in line with the conditions contained in the local content law.

Marine Support Base and shipyard of West African Ventures are located at Warri in Delta State.

This follows discovery of several new boats recently constructed in -country but yet to purchased by oil and gas operators during the inspection and verification of the company’s local content capacity as part of the committee’s oversight function.

“I am impressed by what I am seeing here and I believe the community is impressed. From the local content perspective, I believe this is all it is about. Even though the facilities are not properly utilized the way it is supposed to, we will try our very best to get people, marketers who can market this company and give them the level of patronage that they deserve,” he said.

Furthermore, Okon assured that the lower chambers will exercise its legislative powers to ensure that the crisis in the oil and gas sector doesn’t weigh down the oil and gas business. He noted that the global crisis was evidently affecting related markets and other local companies at this time.

According to him, “as a responsive legislature, we will make sure that we continue to legislate and come out with laws and legislations that will force other companies and other users of light boat like this to consider getting it from companies like WAV with huge investment in the country to creat jobs.”

The lawmaker also noted the impact of Local Content Law since its introduction in 2010 has encouraged steady investment in various regions of Nigeria. He disclosed that the law has promoted immeasurable investments and achievements recorded in terms of job creation and skill acquisition in the oil and gas sector. He was convinced that local companies have fared well as a result of the law and more investments are ex-

pected when the economy takes a stable position.

The Executive Director, West African Ventures Limited, Alhaji Ibrahim Sambo, admitted there were economic crisis prompting developments such as redundancies for survival in the system. He revealed that they had to embark on three redundancy exercises in the last quarter to manage cost in order to meet up with dwindling

revenue.

He was however optimistic about huge patronage from some government parastatals and other organisations in respect of flying boats services, border patrol and the likes, following the legislative backing to assist the company and other local companies in terms of patronage, having realized that facilities available were under-utilised.

“Loss and gains come from almighty God, no regrets whatsoever. In goodness, all you will lose and gain is in the hands of God, which is my own philosophy because if God gives you something, you will not know that you will get it but it is out of dedication and hard work. So now, we are still hoping for a bright future,” he said.

West African Ventures (WAV) is a 100 per cent Nigerian company,

a leading indigenous provider of offshore engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation and vessel charter services. With corporate headquarters in Lagos, Marine Support Base and shipyard in Warri, Dry-dock and Fabrication facilities in Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, WAV provides excellent offshore support services to the Nigerian Oil and Gas sector.

Angola’s Sonangol’s billion dollar headache The task facing Angola’s state oil company, Sonangol, as it adjusts to lower revenues during the slump in oil prices, is complicated by a stratospheric debt burden which gives little room for manoeuvre.

And yet the new administration is unexpectedly making repayment of one private debt a top priority.

In spite of multiple pressing issues (including the root-andbranch restructuring of Sonangol) repayment of this particular debt has been fast-tracked by Sonangol’s new CEO, the President’s daughter Isabel dos Santos. A source close to the Sonangol board has told Maka Angola it’s the reason why Sonangol has

been seeking a loan of $800 million from a bank based in Egypt, offering as surety its shares in the Millenium BCP division of Portugal’s largest private bank, the Commercial Bank of Portugal (BCP).

A one billion US dollar debt owed to Trafigura. This is the joint venture between the controversial Swiss multinational Trafigura, trading as the DT Group and Angola’s Cochan company.

Trafigura exports Angolan crude, and then imports the refined fuels back into Angola, with a near monopoly on the import of petrol and diesel.

Does the rush to pay off Tra-

The Federal Government has commenced the management of DormanLong Engineering Ltd for its commitment at developing indigenous capacity in areas of steel manufacturing and pipemills.

The Chairman of House Committee on Local Contents, Honourable Emmanuel Okon, who was on a courtesy call to the company’s management said he was impressed with the company and stated further that “We sincerely thank the DormanLong team for their hospitality and strong commitment to building and sustaining local content in this country. We have witnessed the immense work you are currently doing on the Egina Project amongst others.

“We are delighted to see a local company that is significantly contributing to the socio-economic development of Nigeria. Your presentation on the industry insight and

challenges has been impactful and well received. We have also noted the gaps in the industry and we will ensure we address them.”

Furthermore, Okon assured that “As a committee, we will discuss further to see how we can collectively build the capacity of this industry.

However, I encourage your association, PETAN, to share a more holistic list of industry requirements that would allow your organisations meet their objectives. Our members are keen to build a good relationship with your association and of course we are here to support and to work with you.”

Dorman Long Engineering is a leading Nigerian EPIC company serving Nigeria industry sectors including, Power, Telecommunications, Oil & Gas and Heavy Industries. The 100 per cent owned Nigerian company was established in 1949 as a structural steel engineer-

figura have anything to do with the identity of the creditors involved? The joint venture involves three key Angolans dubbed ‘the Presidential Triumvirate’: Vice-President Manuel Vicente, formerly the Chairman and CEO of Sonangol from 19992012; General Manuel Hélder Vieira Dias “Kopelipa”, Minister of State and Head of the Military Intelligence Bureau (Casa Militar) in the Office of the Presidency; and General Leopoldino Fragoso do Nascimento “Dino”, adviser to General Kopelipa and the man credited as the founder, Chairman and Director General of Cochan. General “Dino” is the

FG commends DormanLong Engineering for developing indigenous capacity ing fabrication and installation company, originally owned by British Steel (now Tata). The company has, recently undergone major restructuring to further provide increased customer focus and improved customer delivery.

During the visit, the Dorman Long team discussed its key objectives showing itself to be a loyal partner to Nigeria. The team also took a tour of its fabrication facilities. Dorman Long’s key offerings in Nigeria include: Capacity to generate 40,000 direct and indirect jobs, strong skills, technology transfer and capacity building, domestication of spending, reducing need for scarce forex, Long Term Cost reduction, National Self Reliance – a self reliant economy exudes confidence and National Security, a self reliant economy secures the future of her people and ensures independence of a vital sector.

director of Trafigura’s business interests in Angola.

Isabel dos Santos has not just taken charge of the delicate negotiations for the loan and the pay-off to Trafigura, she also prioritised the conclusion of the transaction to acquire the Cobalt International operation in Angola, a deal agreed in August 2015. The company was linked to the Nazaki firm, but severed links after an investigation by America’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed hidden stakes by high-ranking Angolans.

It’s unlikely to be a coincidence that the ‘high-ranking Angolans’ in Nazaki included the ‘presidential triumvirate’ named above.

Sources close to the presidency say General Dino is the figurehead for some of the President’s most important business interests – at least those which aren’t already in his daughter’s name.

Angola spends between US $150 and $170 million a month on importing oil derivatives and without increasing its own refinery capacity it has no medium or long-term prospect of resolving this situation. Considering that Angola is currently the largest oil producing nation in Africa (since renewed violence in Nigeria’s Delta caused a fall in its 2016 production), why hasn’t it invested in building a greater refinery capacity on its own soil?

One possible answer is that some high-ranking Angolans find it more lucrative for their personal business interests to import fuel.

Insiders say that if there has been little or no effort directed towards the speedy reduction of fuel imports, it’s because the Presidency has no interest in it.

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Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor taiadis@yahoo.com

In this interview, LEON USIGBE takes on the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, on his task in an era of leadership crisis in the party and other important issues affecting the opposition.

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O say it’s been a turbulent time for you as the chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP may be stating the obvious. Tell me about the experience so

Military generals stole more than politicians —Makarfi

far.

Well, it’s a simple but difficult question. As you said, it’s been turbulent. But, I’ve gone through more turbulent times than this. This, to me, it’s storm in a tea cup compared to turbulences I have gone through in my life.

But, I wouldn’t say it’s too challenging in the sense that I really don’t have any personal agenda. It’s not like I have set for myself this chain of personal agenda that I want to achieve other than that the party has given me a task and am trying along with other members to do my best to deliver on that task. Pure and simple! People may make their insinuations. They are free to do so. But you can see.

By setting a convention date, everybody knows that am not a candidate for any elective office. I mean, it’s very clear that we are here to carry out the mandate of the convention by organising a national convention to elect the national leadership of the party. And then, we go. Yes, challenging but not as turbulent as so many events I have passed through in my life.

What is the mood in the party concerning the chance for a new national convention?

You can see people have started campaigning even before the forms for the convention are being sold. People have been writing to state chapters; they are visiting; they have been going round. You know, we are beginning to see people. So, it’s getting vibrant. You see people wanting to be involved. That’s a very good sign and indication.

You witnessed the inauguration of the zoning committee and of course, a lot of people were even out of the country and because of distance, they couldn’t come but by today (Monday) when the inaugural meeting of the committee will be taking place, it will be a full house. People have been coming in since Sunday in order to attend the inaugural committee meeting.

How would you describe the level of interest in the national chairmanship post?

We are just starting. Until we close the sale of forms, you can’t really say. Some people have come out; some people are consulting to come out. So, it’s too early to say. But, the fact that we have opened the political landscape; that it’s zoned to the South, not a particular state in the South at this moment, not a particular geo-political zone in the South at this moment because you know, the zoning committee may make some recommendations which the caretaker committee may approve or not approve as the case may be. There are a lot of things yet to develop that may shape the race for elective offices. So, it’s too early to say, really. Maybe, we have to wait for the zoning committee

I agree we took things for granted; we made mistakes and we have said so. But, we want to learn from the mistakes that we have made

Makarfi to send their recommendation. But, we advised that they should make the political space wide open for everybody aspiring for any office to feel free to aspire for that office.

So, I can’t say because they have not made their report.

Its report we will consider and approve and also take to a larger caucus of the party for wider endorsement before we come to its implementation.

What kind of person are you looking at to emerge as the new national chairman, given the lingering crisis and the fact that the party is in opposition?

I am an umpire. I should not be defining what I want. It will make it too personal. As an umpire, I am to provide a level-playing field, and my prayer is that the party men and women that will be delegates to the convention will choose the most capable. All of them will be capable but I pray that the delegates will reflect that and select the most capable among all the capable men and women that may present themselves, not only capable but a uniter because we need all to be brought on board so that we can actually serve as an effective party in opposition. But, the choice is really not mine; it’s that of the delegates.

How do you hope to avert or control any fallout that may arise from the contest?

If you open the political landscape, which we have done, which we said we are going to do to a logical conclusion, and we run an open, free and fair election, nobody will have any reason to actually complain. People will complain when they are intentionally excluded from a process and we will not exclude anybody from this process.

How do you assess the damage done to the PDP by the months of leadership crisis?

I agree we took things for granted; we made mistakes and we have said so. But, we want to learn from the mistakes that we have made. There is no damage that is forever. We understand in life, once you have the chance and opportunity to actually correct what was wrong, you rise and run again. Not only rise and run but rise and fly and that’s what we are looking forward to. But, we must acknowledge where we erred as a party, as a party in government, as individuals. That is the beginning of atonement.

Continues on page 25

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politics&policy

Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

‘Elections funded from the centre since 2003’ it’s PDP!’ I agree, where we did wrong, we will accept. So, this matter of corruption is not an issue limited only to PDP. If you continue to look at it that way, you will be missing the point.

Continued from page 24 We have to atone for our mistakes, whatever and not to pretend that they didn’t happen and Nigerians will take us serious.

And how we conduct ourselves, Nigerians are watching. They will make assessment and desperation for power is not the thing.

Even when we criticise, we should criticise with decorum, with facts. We can criticise by making so much noise and not based on facts. It can give good headlines but you may be turning off voters. So, we must learn from the way we were communicating before we lost the election because I honestly believe we were communicating wrongly and we thought that we were impressing people, not knowing that we were turning people off. In a large part of this country, we were turning people off by the way were talking, by the way we were bragging. So, we should talk politics having learned from those mistakes and really begin to connect with people in a manner that they will know that we are a reformed party prepared to take Nigeria to a greater height.

Not much has been heard from the claimant of the office of the national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. What’s the situation concerning him? Is the crisis over yet?

I hope that this crisis comes to an end.

It should have ended long ago as far as I am concerned but, I was never the problem. I would never be the problem and we have said that we are always prepared to accommodate to work together. But to accommodate to work together must be based on some legal foundations. If we take any political position now that is not based on any legal foundation, nothing stops another party man from going to court or tomorrow challenging all that had happened to say it was against one judgment or the other. And then, the vicious circle repeats itself again. So, I am calling on all engaged, trying to create this political settlement to know that with legal pronouncement by court, if you do anything contrary to that now, you may be starting another round of legal palaver and conflict in the party. Whatever we will do or we may do or we can do must be based on existing legal pronouncements unless they are reversed. Then, we will be sure of stability now and in the future. If not, even the party we want to take power from can use that against us. What we have done, let’s say, nomination of candidates for election, they can come and challenge us saying ‘that’s not what the court said.

Those who did this were not what the court recognized.’ And so, everything done is a nullity.’ You can’t rule that out. Before the court made any pronouncement, we could have done anything politically. Having reached a point where the court has made a pronouncement, whatever we just do to achieve peace must be based on that foundation laid by the court.

Project the immediate future of PDP. Can it be in a position to regain power in 2019 as all of you seem to be thinking? What is the way to achieve this?

One, it is to bury the hatchet and put the party’s interests above any personal ambition. Yeah, some people may have been hurt intentionally or unintentionally! If we are hurt and think that we should bring the roof down, that’s not the way forward.

But, I agree we should not continue with the culture of hurting people. We bury the hatchet and come together. As I said, we must acknowledge where we erred and say ‘never again.’ We must work to bring

We have heard that your committee has reached out to some founding fathers and other people who left the party some of whom are now active in the APC, with a view to having them back. How far have you gone?

I won’t tell you what I have been doing or what has been happening. That’s our secret. So, let it remain our secret.

How do you see the APC as a ruling party?

To be honest, I have been too busy dealing with the internal affairs of the PDP. Let me correct myself, let me be in the right shape rather than trying to find the fault of party in power. If we were in the right shape, I can pay a lot of attention to what’s over there. Right now, we are not even in the right shape to constitute an effective challenge to whatever mistake or whatever good the APC government may be making.

We are not in the right shape to challenge it. So, I shouldn’t have a divided attention.

My attention has been and for some time to come, will continue to be first of all on the effort to reform ourselves and be in the right shape. If the government does well, the people will tell at the right time. If they have not done well, the people will tell at the right time.

Makarfi back people we have lost and bring new followership into the party. We must develop programmes that we can sell to the people that the people can say this programme is better than what they are getting now from government at the various levels in Nigeria.

We must be modest and realistic. We must communicate effectively and efficiently with the people. These are the sort of things that we must do. We must be fair and just to all party men and women. Impunity must stop.

Imposition must stop. If we do all of this, the sky is the limit for PDP. There are suggestions that because the party’s image is too battered, associated with corruption, it should simply change its name. What do you say?

You see, it’s neither here nor there. Psychologically, it may affect some people.

But if you change name and you don’t change attitude, of what use?

And this issue of corruption, I have said publicly that yes, there was a lot of corruption in the system but, it was not restricted to PDP. It’s because we are looking at government at the national level and it was only PDP that was at the national level.

By the time you say look at the states, irrespective of the parties, you are going to

In 1999 when we took over from the military, nobody gave us money from the centre. But since 2003, the centre has always been funding elections nationwide.

end up most likely whether APC or the parties that formed APC or PDP, you are most likely to find out that the same thing at the centre was what happened at the various state levels, irrespective of the parties.

And if you want to really deal with this situation, it should be surgical; it should be comprehensive enough, not just dealing with the centre and ignoring the states.

And that’s where the issue of political balancing will even come in so that people know that the issue of corruption is not restricted to only one political party. Except all of us- political parties and politicians -resolve to say ‘enough of this nonsense, we have all made mistakes, let’s stop going that bad way,’ we will just be doing superficial corrective measures.

Now, if you look at the centre, go to the $2.1billion arms money. $2.1billion is about N700 billion. If you total the money that was said to have been diverted into politics, it’s not even up to five per cent of this money. So, you have 95 per cent that the military and the bureaucracy should account for. Give credit to President Muhammadu Buhari, he’s the only one looking at the military and the bureaucracy.

And that is why when you see one General, what he is being charged for may be a totality of the majority of the politicians put together. And people don’t see that point.

They will only look at the politicians. Mind you, it is this military and bureaucracy that really knew right from the beginning that, that money was for arms. Those politicians were only given a task.

In 1999 when we took over from the military, nobody gave us money from the centre. But since 2003, the centre has always been funding elections nationwide.

So, how will one, a politician know that in 2015 that it was not the same party that has been in place since 2003? They are not in a position to know. But those members of the Armed Forces and the bureaucracy knew exactly what the money was for and they diverted a lot of it. So, Nigerians should really think; the media should really think. Let’s even know where the problem lies and stop thinking that ‘oh,

Assess Buhari’s fight against corruption. Is he really unduly harsh on his opponents?

You have to have a lot of details before you know on whose authority a lot of things are being done. It’s possible some things are being done without the knowledge of the president. Maybe, his own position is that corruption should be fought but how you go about fighting corruption?

There could be a lot of interferences by people in government for different reasons altogether. And naturally, since they are dealing with the issue at the centre, only PDP was at the centre. So, apart from the politicians you see at the centre that will be at the forefront of this issue, there will naturally be PDP members. But when you look at the bureaucracy, they are not party men and women. The permanent secretaries, the directors, when you look at the chief executives of companies, maybe they were given contracts which they did not carry out. When you look at the military, they are not PDP card-carrying members.

So, where do you place those ones? They equally are being investigated and called to account.

But I had said before and I want to repeat it that where correction has to be made is that 99 per cent of the PDP politicians being called, in my opinion, they are people that could not have known where the money that got to them for political activities came from. If it came from illegal source, they could not have known that.

And that’s why I said it has been the practice since 2003 to fund elections from the centre. So, it was not something new. And nobody from 2003 had ever asked where the money come from. Those who did the approval, the initial disbursement must decidedly know where the money came from if indeed it was public fund. Only the authorities may know exactly where it came from. Of course, it’s wrong to take public fund for politics, whether at the federal, states or local government level.

But go to the states. If we are to look at the states, whether PDP or APC, what we are seeing in the centre, we are going to equally see in the states, irrespective of parties.

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Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

PDP, a sinking ship in Ondo —Abraham

Dr Segun Abraham, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, believes the forthcoming poll in the state is a foregone conclusion. In this interview with BOLA BADMUS, he sheds light on the issue, among others.

D

o you see APC defeating PDP that has been in power for eight years, coupled with the relative achievements of on the ground?

There is no governance in Ondo State.

The government is dead. The government that has no moral authority to rule has lost its relevance. Men of integrity in the PDP have left the party. They include senators, commissioners, special advisers and other individuals. Many are still planning to defect to the APC. The PDP is a sinking boat in the state. People are running out of the sinking ship. The platform is getting weaker every day. What has the PDP done for our people? They have ruined our country. Look at the spate of corruption. They have ruined the economy.

Would you vote for such a party? Our people should be aware of those who induce them with money. They should be aware of those who tell lies; those greedy people who have no compassion for the people.

The state needs a competent governor; somebody who has business experience and international connection, and integrity. We cannot afford to have somebody who has something to do with the present state administration.

What is the position on the Akoko APC leaders on rotation or zoning in the state?

In Ondo North Senatorial District, there are two axis-Owo/Ose and Akoko. Owo has produced a governor who was the late

I donated all my 24 buses to his campaign and my efforts contributed to the votes he garnered during the election. So, we owe it a duty to the party to always support it financially to make the party more formidable.

Chief Adekunle Ajasin. The apex Akoko Elders Forum has endorsed my candidature.

The assembly is influential in Akokoland. It was the forum that insisted that Adefarati should be supported for the governor. It was the forum that advised Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice to contest against Olajumoke on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) to defeat the PDP. The forum has now zoned the governor to Akoko North. In its belief, the South has produced a governor and senator before, while the North has not produce any governor and senator. The endorsement was unanimous. Out of 24 members, 19 people participated in the endorsement. Two were absent because they were indisposed. One of them had a flat tyre on his way to the meeting. There was no dissenting voice. They did it based on equity, justice and fairness.

Why haven’t you paid for your Expression of Interest/Nomination Form following the release of the APC guidelines for the contest?

What is on ground now is not nomination and expression of interest form. The party has asked the aspirants to pay a N2 million Development Levy each to support the party.

What is the development levy about; is the party broke?

It is not about the party being broke. As a responsible party chieftain, I owe it a duty to support the party to be able to carry out its activities. I am at the forefront of giving financial assistance to the party to carry out

Is consensus candidacy arrangement feasible?

That will be decided by the people. If the people say they want a particular candidate, we will have no problem with that. But, the party will not force or impose any candidate on the people.

Abraham its assignments. I have always generously given financial assistance to the party at the ward, local government and state levels; I have not relented in doing it.

In 2012, I was a governorship aspirant in the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Apart from spending enormous resources on mobilisation for the election, I continued to support the candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, after I was asked to step down for him. I am a disciplined member of the party. I have been in the party since the beginning and all through, unlike those who defected to the party from other parties.

After Akeredolu emerged as the candidate,

It’s been alleged that there are moles among the aspirants in the party platform. What is your reaction?

The moles cannot do anything; the APC will defeat the PDP. There is no way they can escape defeat because the Ondo people want somebody who has a business experience, someone who can generate wealth. They are saying that they don’t want people who have been in government and cannot account for what they have done with their position. So, this gives me a lot of advantage. I am an aspirant who will govern the state with a Godly mind, if elected as governor.

One of the things people will look at is integrity. They will look at the acceptability by people and the past records will show and also they must get the feelings of the people. These are things that will determine the primary exercise and I believe that the APC will bring a first class candidate that is accepted by the people and who can also drive the economy.

...APC is just making noise —Amuwa Barrister Benson Amuwa, the immediate past representative of Ondo State on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is a governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He speaks with ABIODUN AWOLAJA on his vision for the state if elected.

HOW would you rate the chances of PDP in the forthcoming election?

The chances are very bright and there is no doubt about it. Through the help of God, PDP will win this state again.

The question is, if don’t want PDP, what is the alternative? Is it the noise people make? Have we not heard enough of the noise and the after effect of the noise? Yes, it is good to hype, but anybody that wants to hype should not only tell us that this state is not running; but we must be told that xyz must be done to make things better.

I have not seen anything anybody has said that is even up to what PDP is doing in Ondo State. Are we doing change for the sake of change or to move forward? We have done change for the sake of change and we have seen where it has gotten us. Ondo people have seen PDP at work at various times. The preponderance of politicians in Ondo, local government by local government, are still in PDP. You win and lose election on the basis of the number of people you have on your side. I have not seen anything in this state which will make PDP not to win the election.

We have had a worst case scenario, it was worse than this in 2011. The election was so hyped, and many forces were against the sate when we were still in the Labour Party (LP), and not now that we are under the big umbrella. I donft see this state being taken away. When you are going to woo a lady from the boyfriend, you must convince her that you have something better than what the present man is offering. But I cannot see the offer matching that of the PDP, let alone a better offer. I see PDP, by the special grace of God, again clinching the state.

What is your vision for state if you become governor?

My vision is to build on the very good foundation laid by Dr Olusegun Mimiko. It is an attempt to differentiate that makes governance to crumble. The present government is doing well and has done well. We just have to build on it.

of the state requires water.

Amuwa

For example, we don’t need an event center in Akure again. We have one. The road to Ugbo has been asphalted. Must you go and start asphalting that again? All we need do is to look at and identify other critical areas of need. Water is being made available to Ilaje people. We need to see if it has been completed and if not, we focus on how soon we can complete it.

We will also focus on basic needs of life like food, water, electricity, security and shelter. And in all of this, the present government is doing its best. We will synergise and put up a system that will not bring about disruption in the smooth operation. You can expand and add one or two things in critical areas you have seen that requireattention. Every part of this state requires roads; every part

We still have a number of rural areas without electricity ...?

Every part of the state requires electricity. With rural electrification projects, the whole place will be electrified.

For electricity to come is the function of the state government. We only need to put infrastructure in place. It is this infrastructure people will tap from to make money.

If infrastructure is not there, people will have to drive on bad roads, the cars will get bad and things will go bad. All we need to do is to build on existing foundation.

We will build on existing things because that is what is being done in developed world. Government is a continuum. If a particular government comes, it does the work up to a point and another comes and takes over from there.

But here, when a new government comes and says we are going to scrap this and scrap that; no nation grows that way. Every nation will grow on systematic developmental process, which is continuous. What we will do is to continue with the legacy that this government has put in place to touch lives.

We will expand and take things to new heights. If we do it now and we don’t succeed, there is always another time.

I know Olusegun Agagu contested against Baba Adebayo Adefarati in 1999, he did not win. In 2003, he won. Mimiko in 2003 wanted to contest. As a matter of fact, he had bought his form and submitted it. But the goalpost was shifted after the goal had been scored. The party came up with a policy after aspirants had submitted their forms to zone the position to the Northern Senatorial District.

The man said no and quickly walked away because there is always another time.

Today, he is the governor. Ditto so many other persons.

Incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari contested four times before he won. We must run this race and have it at the back of our mind that that if I fail this time, there is always another time.

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Wednesday, 27 July, 2016 Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 08111845048

features

Inside church where 9-year-old was chained Neighbours desert vicinity I regret my action- Father

From Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta and Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

T

HE father who chained his son for months has claimed ignorance over the consequences of his actions, even as the boy has been handed over to appropriate government authorities.

The Ogun State Police Command handed over Korede to the care of the state government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, on Monday.

The handing over was done by the officerin-charge of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, SP Oluwatoyosi Bello to the officials of the ministry within the premises of the Police Mobile Force Base, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.

The boy has since been taken to the Stella Obasanjo’s Home in Ibara.

The command’s spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi disclosed that the victim after the rescue mission, said he did not wish to return to his father’s house, and that the First Lady, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, has indicated interest in taking care of the boy.

He said that the AIG, Mr. Abdulmajid Ali, has ordered thorough investigation of the matter and that the suspects be charged to court.

“The officer in charge has just taken over the case today and we assure you the command will do proper investigation and we won’t waste time on that. The man will be charge to court; the step mum is also a suspect in the case so the command will charge two of them accordingly.

“The command was not happy that the boy was chained by his father for more than a month. If you look at the weight of the chain coupled with the weight of the padlock, you will know is too heavy for that boy. The boy is a rugged person and I am very sure God has a purpose of spearing his life. By the time police and Civil Defence rescued the boy, he couldn’t stand for hours, he was so weak, until he was taken to Onipanu Division of Ota by the DPO of the area and after the treatment he was able to stand on his feet.”

“It is a terrible case, apart from being criminal is inhuman, and the command condemns that in totality. The AIG has directed that the matter be thoroughly investigated. We want to assure the members of the public that the matter will be thoroughly investigated and we want to take the case very seriously because it must serve as deterrent to those who want to venture into this criminal act.

“Presently the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development will take over the boy from us because Korede said he was not going back to his family. The government has shown interest. I have received calls from the office of the First Lady of Ogun State and by the time we hand him over to the Ministry, I am very sure the first lady and the government will take over.”

The Director of Social Welfare Services, Mr. Shotubo olurotimi Olumide, who received Korede from the police, assured that the Min-

The church istry would take care of the boy.

Korede’s father, Taiwo, said that he did not know the implication of his action and that he regretted it.

His words: “I didn’t know there is punishment for my action, but now I know. I regret my action. I want forgiveness from the government”.

The step mum of Korede, Kehinde Taiwo pleaded with the government to forgive her and husband.

He said, “We used to advise him but because we didn’t know the implication that time, that was the reason we chained him. I want to beg the government to forgive us.”

Atan-Ota is a community in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, and one of the areas within it is Ajibawo.

The area came to limelight last week Friday, when news filtered in about a father who chained one of his sons for several months because of his stealing habit.

The father who was said to be a bricklayer turned pastor, Francis Taiwo in connivance with his wife, Kehinde, locked up and chained the young boy, Korede Taiwo, for reasons best known to them.

The whole area of Ajibawo on the other side of Atan-Idiroko highway is springing up with new houses, but one can count the number of houses already occupied by the owners. They are just about six, including the Taiwos’ place.

The entire house was deserted on Monday afternoon, when Nigerian Tribune visited.

The few people seen were carrying out their normal businesses.

The church where the crime was perpetrated was equally deserted. Not a single soul was seen.

Nigerian Tribune was taken round the premises by officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who had been following the case since it was discov-

ered.

Within the premises of the church were two other structures, but the room where the nine year-old boy was caged for months was part of the church building.

Nigerian Tribune discovered that inside the room where young Korede was locked were Korede blocks, two “Ghana Must Go Bags”, while the floor of the small room was full of sand.

The harrowing experience and trauma the boy underwent in the hands of his father and step-mother could better be imagined.

There was no one around to speak with on the matter as the few people seen were not willing to talk.

However, the Asiwaju of Egun people in Ajibawo, Chief Sylvester Agboola, described the action of Pastor Taiwo as inhuman and wicked acts.

Agboola said Taiwo had carried out similar action on his first child some years back, and that it took his intervention and that of other members of the community before the boy was released from “captivity”.

“When I learnt about this incident, I was shocked. This is the second time Francis will be so wicked to his children. The first case was brought to my notice when his neighbour alerted me.

“I told him about the implication of this act and he released the boy. I cannot imagine him repeating this wicked act again. It is so unfor-

tunate.

“The entire Egun people in Ajibawo are very unhappy. This man has brought stain to our name and that is why he must face the law. How can one chain his child?

Does he know what the boy will become?

We are very unhappy and we urge the security agencies to investigate the matter thoroughly.”

Following the rescue of nine-year-old Korede Taiwo, last Friday through the joint effort of police officers and operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), child rights advocate and rights activists have called that states within the federation toe the line of the Federal Capital territory by domesticating the Child Rights Act. While condemning the act of the father, Taiwo Francis and the society that allows people under the guise of religion to perpetrate evil, they called on state Houses of Assembly to take steps to quickly pass the Child Rights Act into law in all the States of the Federation.

Further, they asked that the law be applied in its full weight to treat the case of the pastor and asked that the child be taken by the state government so that his abusive parents will not destroy his future.

They further asked for an aggressive campaign that will educate parents that most acts of punishment is an abuse against the child and also explain to them that the fact that one Continues pg28

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Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

Activists call for domestication of Child Rights Act Continued from pg27

is a parent is not liberty to do whatever he likes to a child.

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, Lagos based lawyer and activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, stated that it is an unfortunate development that a man called by the name of God is involved in the act of degrading and inhuman treatment of another human being, adding that Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution forbids torture of any kind.

“The African culture itself forbids treating humans like animals and the Yorubas have abolished all forms of slavery decades ago.

There is no reason for any pastor to tie down a human being like a goat. Jesus Christ was a lover of children and no one who claims to be his follower should treat another person like a slave.

“The Child Rights Act should have been made applicable to this case but unfortunately most States have refused to domesticate it as part of their own laws, making it applicable only in the Federal Capital Territory. So I call on all Houses of Assembly of the States to take steps to quickly pass the Child Rights Act into law in all the States of the Federation.

“This case is very delicate, in that the full weight of the law may not take its full course on the pastor, due to reasons of cultural consequences, for the innocent boy.

The Ogun State Government should take custody of and bear the training of the boy up to the university and then take steps that will lead to a proper counseling and rehabilitation of the pastor, so as to rid him of his mentality, from all forms of inhuman treatments,” Adegboruwa stated.

Also speaking, Abiade Olanwale Abiola, a child right advocate and foundr of Human of

Chief Sylvester Agboola, Asiwaju of Egun people, Ajibawo Korede’s step-mother, Kehinde Taiwo Substance Initiative (HOSEI), stated that what is needed is a holistic ap- The officer in charge of the proach to abuse cases and education Anti-Human Trafficking of of parents on what constitute abuse. the Command, SP Oluwa“What the pastor did was an act toyosi Bello handing over of cruelty towards a child; a minor Korede to the Director of and it is against the law. In fact, it is Social Welfare Services, Mr. against the Child Rights Law in Oyo Shotubo Olumide. state and the punishment for that is imprisonment according to the law. That is alone. Many parents need reorientation and what the law states but in my personal opin- enlightenment to understand that because it ion, an individual that can tie up his son for is your child doesn’t give you the right to do one month is a troubled man and probably whatever you like in the name of punishment. has a mental problem and imprisonment is They need to be told that the fact that they not the only approach in solving this problem were brought up same way doesn’t make it because if the government puts him in prison, right because an abused child will grow up an there will be other attendant issues like the abuser and won’t know that what he’s doing is welfare of his family and other children who wrong because that’s what he went through,” will become more vulnerable to abuse in his she said. absence.

Further, they called for the monitoring of “What we need is a holistic approach to the churches, mosques and such other spiritual issue of child abuse; it’s not about punishment centres across the country in order to ascer-

tain the sanity of their programmes and activities as well as a continuous awareness as well as re education to let parents know that most of the things they call punishment are acts of cruelty against the child and damages the children they seek to help by punishing.

Speaking on the perceived silence of civil society groups on the matter, Abiade stated that, “that the civil society is silent doesn’t mean they aren’t working because issues of abused children are handled discreetly. There are requirements for civil society in handling cases of minors. What they do is go through what we call child protection network to help such an abused child. So they don’t have to make noise,” she said.

In his conclusion, Adergboruwa stated that “it would seem clear that the mental torture that Nigerians are currently going through, due to the economic woes of this present administration, has occasioned all forms of malady, across the land, making it imperative, for the government to urgently proffer lasting solution to the drowning economy.”

Conservation: Organisation sensitises hunters on illegal trade in wildlife

By Adewale Oshodi TRADING in wildlife is frowned upon by many countries of the world, and as such, there is need to also sensitise Nigerian hunters on the practice across the globe.

Therefore, the participation of hunters and indigenous people is considered as an important feature of any scheme to protect wildlife. So the 2016 World Environment Day’s theme was celebrated with hunters in Osse River Park community in Ondo State.

To commemorate the theme of the 2016 World Environment Day, the Chibok Wood Haute Couturem in collaboration with Cruelty Free Eco Fashion Week and National Education Innovation, recently held a one-month sensitisation programme to educate Osse River Park community people on how to conserve wildlife.

The organisations had series of educative programmes in Owani, Idoani, Ipele, Ifon, Iwese, Ago Alao, Ago Daji, Molege Elegbeka, Oba-Ile and other communities from June 5 to July 4, 2016.

Addressing participants at the event’s grand finale which took place in the Osse, Ms Olapeju Olayemi, CEO of Chibok Wood Haute Couture, said wildlife is facing too many cruel killings inflated on them for illegal trade in their skin to manufacture handbags. She said everybody wanted to have genuine animal skin leather handbag and the huge demand for animal skin bag is not only depleting the wildlife population, it is also leading to deforestation, while aggravating the phenomenon of

global warming and climate change.

She explained further that “wildlife preservation is one of the forces that shape the ecosystem and biodiversity, as forest is set on fire in the process of killing wild animals.

“This can lead to deforestation and affect the climate in other ways, whereas conservation is imperative as it minimises the phenomenon of global warming and climate change.”

She lamented that the wildlife in Osse River Park was facing too many cruel killings inflated on them by hunters because most community people live in abject poverty and due to poverty, they rely on wildlife trade for subsistence and income, “and as a result, the sensitization of hunters to desist from killing wildlife for the illegal trade in their meat and skin cannot be dealt with at national level. Community Environmental Sensitisation programme like this is required to inform and empower our people that wildlife trade is not only depleting the wildlife populations, but it is depleting the chances our communities have to make a living through eco-tourism.”

Ms Olayemi described elephants as one of the species in the African landscape being targeted by poachers, and in order to stop this, that is why the Cruelty Free Eco Fashion Week was founded. This week will bring about a global campaign to stop elephant poaching, as well as the use of animal skin for fashion.

She added that in line with the theme of the United Nations 2016 World Environment Day, which is: The Fight Against

From left, Ms Olapeju Olayemi, with members of her team displaying handcrafted elephant-themed wood handbags after the seminar.

Illegal Trade in Wildlife, “we are using elephant-theme wood handbag as new impetus and artistic approach towards providing viable alternatives to the habit of using animal skin leather bag and ivory.”

Ms Bolajoko O. Taiwo, head of the team of Cruelty-Free Eco-Fashion Week highlighted the importance of elephant to nature. She said “elephants play crucial roles in their ecosystem. They are vital tool for seed dispersal. They are the architects of their landscape as they can pull down trees to create clearing and break up thorny bushes, which allows new plants to grow and naturally regenerate the forest

and they also create trails that act as fire breakers.”

While unveiling the ‘SAY NO TO ELEPHANT POACHING’ handbag, Ms Bolajoko said that the organisation combined the elegance of wood with Nigerian traditional ornaments to handcraft bespoke elephant image handbags and is completely made in Nigeria with natural wood, while revealing that the bags will be given out as free gifts at Cruelty-Free Eco Fashion Week in United Nations member-states and some fashion galleries across the globe so as to discourage people from using animal skin leather handbags and ivory.

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Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

Court restrains Army Council from documenting Gen Ijioma’s retirement THE Nigeria Army Council has been restrained from commencing within 90 days, the documentation of the retirement of Major-General Ijioma Ijioma.

The National Industrial Court, which issued the order on Tuesday, directed the council to maintain status quo, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The judge, Justice Maureen Esowe, however, declined the prayers for the reinstatement of Ijioma.

She held that the claimant could not be reinstated because the substantive suit had not been heard.

“It is not for me now to put him back to his post. If we reinstate the claimant, there is nothing to be heard,’’ she held.

Ijioma’s counsel, Benson Igbanoi, who held brief for Chief Michael Ozekhome,

had asked the court to direct the respondent to halt the processing of Ijioma’s entitlements.

The respondents had, through a letter, directed the claimant to complete the documentation processes for payment of all his entitlement within 90 days.

The claimant was purportedly retired on June 9, 2016.

Paul Imafidor and Michael Owolabi, who represented the Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff, said they were not served with the processes.

They applied for adjournment to enable them acquaint themselves with the facts of the case.

Esowe adjourned the case till October 12 and ordered that fresh hearing notices be served on the respondents.

Buhari appoints Mbam new RMAFC chairman Clement Idoko - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, approved the appointment of Mr Elias Nwalem Mbam as the new chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

Secretary to the Govern-

ment of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal, announced this in a statement in Abuja.

President Buhari also approved the appointment of Dr (Mrs) Marilyn Amobi as the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Adepoju Oluremi Oyenike now MRS AFOLABI OLUREMI OYENIKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Afolabi Mathew Ayobami am the same person as Afolabi Mathew Ayomide. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AFOLABI MATHEW AYOBAMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

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I formerly Olanipekun Moriselade now MRS OYENIYI ZAINAB. All former documents remain valid. First City Monument Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Okoro Ebere Mercy now MISS OKORO EBERE CHARITY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Falana Bolanle Victoria now FALANA OLANIKE. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank Plc and general public take note.

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I formerly Shosanwo Usman Yomi now SHOSANWO USMAN OLUMIDE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Ronke Aminat Omotosho now MRS JEJE RONKE AMINAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Opeyemi Olatunde Segun now OLATUNDE KEHINDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Ayanwale Pelumi Ruth now MRS ENEJOH PELUMI RUTH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Esho Joy Olamide now MRS OSUBU JOY OLAMIDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Onosedeba Mary Thelma Imoloame now MRS ONOSEDEBA MARY THELMA IMOLOAME AYAYIA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Olukemi Omolola Oyatowo now MRS OLUKEMI OMOLOLA OYERINDE. All former documents remain valid.

Skye Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Olayinka Feyikemi Florence now NIYI-OLAYINKA OLUWAFEYIKEMI FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid. All Financial Institutions and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Amao Atinuke Modinat am the same person bearing Rasheed Atinuke, Amao Atinuke. Now, I wish to be known as AMAO ATINUKE MODINAT and my correct date of birth is 1st October, 1958. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Fidelity Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Kazeem Kemi Arole now JIMOH QASIM OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Okoro Grace now MRS KANU GRACE FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Zakariya Adeniyi now OWOLABI YAKUBU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Olushola Tope Oluwasegun now OLUSHOLA TOPE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, Kabba/Bunu LGA and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Akorede Selimat Aina now MRS ADEDAPO SELIMAT AINA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Emnious Adekunle Emmanuel now SODIPE ADEKUNLE EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Mariam Moruf now ADEYINKA BUNMI AJAYI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Jimoh Akeem Oladayo now IBRAHIM AKEEM OLADAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Oladiran Deborah Oluwafunmilayo Adunni now MRS OBUMNEME DEBORAH OLUWAFUNMILAYO ADUNNI. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Olorunfemi Modupe Rebecca Adenike now ELEGA MODUPE RASHIDAT. All former documents remain valid.

Ijumu LGA, Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Olorunsola Ganiyu Babatunde now OLORUNSOLA GABRIEL BABATUNDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly Miss Oluseyi Florence Olamide now MRS OGUNREMI FLORENCE OLAMIDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly Miss Mercy Philemon now MRS MERCY NEHEMIAH. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

I formerly Mrs Chijoke Blessing now MRS CHIJOKE OLAYINKA TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. National Population Commission and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Sauhu Abubakar now ABUBAKAR MUSA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Uwaifo Grace now ALEGBE GRACE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Igane Amas Richard now IGHANE AYAWARE ABOY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Diamond Victoria Tuaeyerin now ABOH VICTORIA TUAEYERIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Otubu Fidelia Ebimiere now OTUBU FIDELIA FENENAGHAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Ariko Ufuoma Christy am the same person as Ariko Ufuoma C. The “C” means CHRISTY. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Adun Collins Patrick now ADUN COLLINS AMORIGHOYE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Alex Igho Teberen now TEBEREN ALEXANDER IGHO. All former documents remain valid. EcoBank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Oki Simon now PAUL BENJAMIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Stephen Shed now OGHALI SHEDRACK CHUKWUNALU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Etebele Julius Akpobome now ETEBELE SUCCESS JULIUS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME/ CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Isiaka Zaiyanu Danjuji now M U H A M M A D U ZAYYANU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Godwin Onechojo Yakubu am the same person as Onechojo Yakubu and Godwin Yakubu. Now, I wish to be known as GODWIN ONECHOJO YAKUBU. My correct date of birth is 20th December, 1989. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Bakare Risikatu Modupe now BAKARE DUPE. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Akinwale Nurat Omolarike and Akinwale Nurat now MRS OLAJIDE NURAT OMOLARIKE . All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Miss Adelaja Abimbola Omowonuola am the same person bearing Miss Adelaja Abimbola Yewande. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS MALOMO ABIMBOLA OMOWONUOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Umezinwa Ejike Ifeyinwa Jovita am the same person as Umezinwa Ifeyinwa and Ejike Ifeyinwa. All documents bearing these names remain valid. EcoBank Plc, Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Ogunfuyi Rafiat am the same person as Ogunfuyi Rafiat Ololade. All documents bearing these names remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Lateef Adijat Olaosebikan now MRS ODUGBEMI ADIJAT OLAOSEBIKAN. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Sports Council, Osogbo and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Ufuoma Gloria Avwaghwaruvwe now MRS UFUOMA GLORIA ELUKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

35 CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Akanbi Odunola Taibat now MRS AJIBOLA ODUNOLA TAIBAT. All former documents remain valid. WAEC, Lead City University. National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Ismail Toyeeb Akanni am the same person bearing Ismail Toyyib Zakariyya. Now, I wish to be known as ISMAIL TOYYIB ZAKARIYYA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. UBA Plc, First Bank Plc, GTBank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Idris Babatunde Aremu now IDRIS BABATUNDE NURENI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Sopitan OluwaSeun Kike now MRS OYETORO OLUWASEUN KIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Joseph Happy now MRS. FRANCIS HAPPY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adelakun Deborah Odunayo now MRS. AKINLABI DEBORAH ODUNAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Dorcas Sidikat Ajani Lamidi now MRS. OLUWASEUN OMOWUMI DORCAS. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Wednesday, 27 July, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Fasogbon Temitope Opeyemi now MRS OGUNSOLA TEMITOPE OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Racheal Tinu Adeyinka now MRS RACHEAL TINU ADENIRAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Jolade Abidoye now JOLADE ADEBAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olayemi Oluwaseun Fayose now MRS. OLAYEMI OLUWASEUN APANTAKU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME / DATE OF BIRTH

CORRECTION OF NAME / DATE OF BIRTH

I, formerly Ogunniyi Oluwafemi Richard now OGUNNIYI OLUWAFEMI ISAAC. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Oyewole Mary now OYEWOLE MARIA. All former documents remain valid. EcoBank Plc., Union Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Deborah Banke Adegbulugbe now MRS. DEBORAH BANKE OLAJIDE. All former documents remain valid.

Nursing and Midwifery Council and general public take note.

I, Segun Oguntola Olainukan am the same person bearing Alamoyekeen Lawal Olainukan and Lawal Yekeen. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ALAMOYEKINI LAWAL OLAINUKAN. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, ONIFADE OLUSEYI ADEYEMI is also known as ONIFADE SEYI, All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc., Cornerstone Registrar, First Registrar, G.T.L Registrar, Veritas Registrar and other companies and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Nwajiaku Ginikachi Loveth now MRS AJURUCHUKWU GINIKACHI LOVETH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, ONIFADE OLAYINKA BABATUNDE am the same person as ONIFADE TUNDE. All other informations remain valid. Skye Bank Plc., Cornerstone Registrar, First Registrar, G.T.L Registrar, Veritas Registrar, all other companies and general public should please take note.

I, formerly Miss Fatimat Aduke Moshood now MRS. FATIMAT ADUKE OYEBOWALE. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC, Federal Civil Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Arije Busayo Oluwatosin now MRS. WILLIAMS OLUBUSAYO OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Martins Olabode now OLABODE AYOBAMI AYANDARE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Onasanya Seun Adetayo now ONASANYA OLUWATOBI ADETAYO. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Innih Gregory Agbomikhe now OJO GREGORY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME AND CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH I, Alagbe Temitope Victoria am the same person bearing Alagbe Temitope Abiola. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ALAGBE TEMITOPE ABIOLA. My correct date of birth is 13/10/1985 and not 18/08/1988.

All documents bearing these names remain valid. Fidelity Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Obiageli Ogochukwu Ngonadi now MRS. OBIAGELI OGOCHUKWU NGONADI OKEKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Orelope Rashidat Motunrayo now ALHAJA KOLA RASHIDAT MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid.

Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formally Miss Adenike Grace Makinde now MRS ADENIKE GRACE OPAKUNLE. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc., Nigeria Immigration Services, Newtech Construction Company and general public take note.

I, Rasaki Adisa am the same person bearing Rasaki Olatunbosun Salawu. Henceforth, I want to be called and addressed as RASAKI OLATUNBOSUN SALAWU. My correct date of Birth is 13/2/1960.

All documents bearing these names remain valid. UBA Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Rosemary Mosunmola Ajayi now OWOLABI MOSUNMOLA ROSEMARY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Alegbeleye Tolulope Anjolaoluwa now ALEGBELEYE TOLULOPE OLAOLUWA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Benneth Chukwudi Samuel now BENNETH CHUKWUDI MADUBEZE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Asemota Anuoluwapo Funmilayo now MRS. SOTUNDE A N U O L U W A P O FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Blessing Peace Adeola now OLUKOTUN OYENIKE CAROLINE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ajagbe Lukman Olatunji now AJIBADE LUKMAN OLALEKAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Kayode Tolulope Oluwadamilola now MRS. MUDASHIRU TOLULOPE OLUWADAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Alli Olanike Mariam now MRS. SALIMON OLANIKE MARIAM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Saka Mutiyat Morounmubo am the same person as Saka Mutiyat.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SAKA MUTIYAT MOROUNMUBO. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Mosunmola Olaide Famoroti now MRS. OLAREWAJU MOSUNMOLA OLAIDE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Nig., Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Jimoh Taiwo Anuoluwapo now JIMOH TAIWO OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Okeoghene Jombo now MRS. OKEOGHENE ADUKE SOJI-SALIMONU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Akinde Opeyemi Orowole now AKINFALA OPEYEMI OROWOLE. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State University and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Nwaolicha Moses Innocent now ASADA INNOCENT MICHAEAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Kafayat Olayemi Olatunji now MRS. KAFAYAT OLAYEMI OLORUNNISOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Joseph Olajide Akanbi now JIMOH ALARAPE ARISEKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Araoye Olabimpe Mayowa now MRS. FADEYI OLABIMPE RUTH MAYOWA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olorunda Ayodeji Bosede now MRS. OWOADE AYODEJI BOSEDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I formerly Banire O l u f u n m i l a y o Kikelomo now BANIRE O L U WA F U N M I L A Y O KIKELOMO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Aronimoh Christanah Funke now ARONIMOH CHRISTIANAH. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Aderiye Olabisi Abigeal, am not Aderiye Daniel Adedayo.

Henceforth, My correct names are ADERIYE OLABISI ABIGEAL. My correct date of birth is 19/08/1975. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

I, formerly Olanrewaju Olatomide Tolani now OLANREWAJU OLATOMIDE MOTOLANI. My correct date of birth is 19/04/1993 and not 19/04/1992. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc., Diamond Bank Plc., EcoBank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Azeez Abdulazeez Adeniyi now AZEEZ ABDULAZEEZ NIYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Akano Abdulahi Ishola now AKANO ABDULAI ISHOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

My correct name is Ganiyu Ishola Idowu and the correct date of my birth is 4th January, 1964. All former documents remain valid. General public take note and rectify any error on my name and date of birth.

I, Okunola Marvellous Olatunde am the same person bearing Okunola Babatunde Reuben. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OKUNOLA BABATUNDE REUBEN. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adedeji Ademola Temitope now ADEMOLA ADEKUNLE TAJUDEEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oluwatomilola Deborah Oyeniyi now MRS. OLUWATOMILOLA DEBORAH AJAO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss. Oladokun Busayo Florence now MRS. ELUSOGBON BUSAYO FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid.

Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo and general public take note.

I, formerly Folarin Ibiyemi Olubola now OYEFESO IBIYEMI OLUBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Jesmiel Rita now JESMIEL NASIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Olasanoye Titilayo Abiodun now MRS. OLASANOYE TITILAYO JOSEPHINE. All former documents remain valid.

Diamond Bank Plc, and general public take note.

I, Oyetomi David Taiwo, my name was mistakenly written as Obetan Josuah Kehinde instead of Oyetomi David Taiwo.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OYETOMI DAVID TAIWO. My correct date of birth is 14th of May, 1992. All documents bearing these names remain valid. FCMB Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oladejo Janet Mopelola now MRS. FOWOWE JANET MOPELOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Oladejo Yidiat now MRS. OLADEJO IDIAT ROMOKE. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Odiagbe Itemezi Clement now ITEMEZI CLEMENT EHIABHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Atilola Oluwafemi Azeez am the same person bearing Atilola Femi Opafemi. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ATILOLA OLUWAFEMI AZEEZ. My correct date of birth is 19/5/1967 and not 25/5/1967. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adegbola Olusegun Adetunji now ADEGBOLA ISAIAH OLUSEGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Lawal Oyefunke Rukayat now MRS. SANUSI OYEFUNKE RUKAYAT. All former documents remain valid. FCT College of Education, Zuba and general public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Rahim Bilikis Adeyemi now MRS. RASHEED BALIQIS BAWA. All former documents remain valid. Authorities Concerned and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Michael Mayowa Samson now MICHAEL MAYOWA OLAMIPOSI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olalekan Adejoke Ruth now MRS. ADEDOKUN ADEJOKE RUTH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Raji Adijat Ibijoke am the person as Adijat Ibrahim.

Henceforth, I want to be known addressed as RAJI ADIJAT IBIJOKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adebayo Omolara Folake now MRS. OYANIYUN ADEBAYO OMOLARA FOLAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

This is to confirm that Bamisile Sunday is one and the same as Fajulugbe Sunday. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as FAJULUGBE SUNDAY. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Wema Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Akindunbi Olayinka now MR. AKINBOYE JULIUS. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc., and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Ajakaye Sodiq Opeyemi now ISA SODIQ OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Fabiyi Mary Temitope now MRS. OLABODE ROTIMI MARY TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adekola Serifat Adunni now ADEKOLA SERIFAT AJENIKE. I was born on the 05/10/1968. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Ajayi Kofoworola Rachael now MISS OYEBADE KOFOWOROLA RACHAEL. All former documents remain valid.

Diamond Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Awoniyi Ololade Tolulope now MRS. IBI-OLUWATOBA OLOLADE TOLULOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Usman Olajumoke now SUMONU OLAJUMOKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ogundokun Muraina now OGUNDOKUN MURAINA AFUYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, was formerly called, known and addressed as Nnanna Sebastine Onwuha and Nnanna Uhala Sebastine.

I am the same person bearing both names above. Now, I want to be called, known and addressed as SEBASTINE NNANNA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Lamidi Rashidat Jumoke am the person bearing Olanrewaju Rashidat Jumoke and Hammed Rashidat Jumoke. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as LAMIDI RASHIDAT JUMOKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olubodun Samson Okikiola now OLADEJI EMMANUEL AKANDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

Oyo schools reopen, civil servants return to work Why we resumed without getting salary alert —NLC

By Wale Akinselure

F

OLLOWING Monday’s agreement between the Oyo State government and the labour movement and the subsequent suspension of the seven weeks old strike by the national leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), activities in public sectors of the state are expected to rev up today.

To this end, public primary and secondary schools are to be opened with students and teachers returning for the continuation of the 2015/2016 academic session while all public servants and civil servants in the state are expected back at their duty posts.

Yoruba history was altered, Olugbo of Ugboland insists

NLC Vice President, Mr Solomon Adelegan, had ordered the suspension of the industrial action following points of convergence reached with the state government on the issues that resulted in the impasse after 10 days of negotiations.

Speaking, Vice President, NLC, Comrade Solomon Adelegan, disclosed that the strike was called off following an agreement that government would immediately commence the payment of outstanding January salary while February salary would be paid in two weeks time, when the state would have got the next federal government allocation.

Adelegan, who spoke in company of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olalekan Alli and other members of the negotiation committee, further disclosed that government had vowed not to penalise any worker for their perceived

action or inaction in the suspended strike.

Other agreements reached were to give two months moratorium to workers who had obtained loans from banks in view of current economic hardship.

It was further agreed that the issue of promotion arrears will be addressed as soon as civil servants, public servants, teachers in public primary and secondary schools resume.

Also, the two parties resolved that the trump up charges levelled against labour leaders in court be vacated.

On clearing the remaining outstanding salaries, labour and government resolved that the joint negotiation committee will continue to work on ways to ensure regular payment of salaries and increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.

Secretary to the State Gov-

ernment, Mr Olalekan Alli, speaking on agreements reached, said that N3.495 billion representing 100 per cent of state’s allocation of N2.1 billion for June and the total sum of N1.39 billion of budget support fund received was what would be disbursed to pay one month outstanding salary.

He assured that government would pay the outstanding salary for the second month agreed, in two weeks time, when it would have received allocation for July.

Alli added that all schools, including the 17 schools earlier pegged from reopening, are to be reopened. He gave the assurance that part of school curriculum lost during the strike would be made up for.

Alli asserted government’s commitment to prevent a recurrence of the situation through constant deliberations of the Com-

mittee on Unpaid Salaries, Wages and Pensions, which he said had not terminated its mandate.

Speaking on the purported insistence that workers would not resume unless they get salary alerts, Chairman of the state chapter of NLC, Mr Waheed Olojede, said, “The suspension of the strike is to allow the employer of labour embark on implementation. Persons who process payment of salaries have to resume before workers can get payment alerts. We did not ask that until we get alert, we won’t resume. What we emphasised was that as soon as we resume today, and those who process payment resume, workers should begin to get payment alerts.

Though, it is important for the workers to get payment alert right away so that they can have money to transport themselves to their workplaces.”

By Monica Taiwo THE Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan, has reiterated that the history of Yoruba race was altered by some “powerful Yoruba oligarchies” in their quest to build a common front for Yoruba unity, using the Oduduwa paradigm.

Oba Akinruntan said this at the weekend, while addressing a crowd that attended the launch of an extract he compiled, entitled: “A History of the Oldest Throne in Yorubaland”, at the Obamakin Osangangan Hall, in Ode Ugbo, Ondo State.

The monarch, who is the paramount ruler and prescribed authority in Ugboland, asserted that it was the colonial masters who rewrote the history of Yoruba nation that placed Oduduwa above Obamakin Osangangan, who, he said, founded his dynasty in IleIfe, which was then known as Igbomokun.

Oba Akinruntan claimed that Obamakin was fathered by Orainfe, recorded in history to be a half man and half spirit, and whose abode was the hills of Ora. He claimed that the offsprings and siblings of Orainfe included Obalufon, Ojoyin, Alawo, Obawinrinrin, Obariyun and Owajan.

Others, according to him, were Woyeasiri, Obarena, Obalara, Lowagbafin and Baba Sigidi, asserting that the quarters of Obamakin Osangangan in Ile-Ife exists till date, where his direct descendants reside.

Nigerian Tribune

Ondo 2016: Another commissioner resigns from Mimiko’s cabinet Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure AHEAD of the governorship election in Ondo State, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Bamiduro Dada, on Tuesday, resigned his appointment to join the governorship race under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Dada, in his resignation letter, expressed appreciation to the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, for the opportunity given to him to serve the state in various capacities in the past seven years.

Dada said “it is noteworthy that God has really used you to enable me put my God-given virtues into the discharge of my duties at the Due-Process Department, Political Matters and eventually as a commissioner.

“Words are not enough to express how grateful I am for the role you have played in my life. It is my prayers that it shall be well with you and your household now and forever.”

Speaking to his supporters who came to congratulate him for a successful tenure, Dada assured them that he would defeat other aspirants to clinch the ticket of the party.

Contribute to Ibadan development, ISG president urges members From left, former governor of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Daniel; Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; his deputy, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo and the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Rotimi Adelola, at the meeting of the governor with members of the Non Indigene Alliance (NIA) of Ondo State, at the International Events Centre, The Dome, Akure, on Tuesday.

Fajuyi’s family offers support for fallen heroes’ families Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti THE family of the slain military governor of the defunct Western Region, Lt. Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, has announced that it would set up a foundation to take care and support children of fallen heroes.

A daughter of the late military governor, Mrs Monica Olajuyigbe (Nee Fajuyi), said at the kick off of the golden celebration of the death of Lt. Col. Fajuyi, at the Fajuyi Park, in Ado Ekiti, that the family had concluded plan to immortalise their father by instituting an Education Trust Fund.

Mrs Olajuyigbe said the body would be known as Adekunle Fajuyi Education

Trust (AFET) and added that it would be officially launched on July 27, in Lagos.

She said the aim and objective of AFET was to help in the educational training and sustenance of the children of the fallen and injured heroes as well as the less-privileged members of the society.

She appealed to government at all levels to restore the teaching of history as a subject in secondary schools to motivate the mentality of school pupils to take a cue from the likes of her father, whom she described as “a gallant and brave soldier.”

Speaking at the brief cer-

emony, the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, described the late Fajuyi as “a hero who demonstrated uncommon loyalty, as a brave soldier, to his duty, his boss and the unity of the nation during the July 29, 1966 military coup in Nigeria.”

Fayose who said that the late Fajuyi had the opportunity of choosing to live and allow his guest, General Aguiyi-Ironsi to die in the coup, stressed that his demonstration of patriotism and nationalism as a true son of Ekiti pushed him to surrender his life to keep the country as a united entity.

The governor, who was

represented at the programme by his deputy, Dr Kolapo Olusola, said it was high time history was restored as a subject taught in secondary schools in order to inspire the growing youths on the need to be patriotic as demonstrated by heroes like late Fajuyi.

The deputy governor and some other top government functionaries including the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Modupe Alade, laid wreaths at the cenotaph of the late Fajuyi.

Lieutenant Colonel Francis Adekunle Fajuyi was killed in a counter-coup on July 29, 1966 along with his boss, the then Head of State, General Aguiyi-Ironsi.

THE President, Ibadan Solidarity Group (ISG), Professor Tunde Fawole, has urged members to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic progress of Ibadanland.

Professor Fawole who is also the Rector, The Polytechnic Ibadan, disclosed that the group has a number of eminent members who can make Ibadan develop beyond its present status.

Professor Fawole who was speaking at an executive meeting of the group, noted that “education is the bedrock of positive development and progress of any community” and therefore urged members to endeavour to encourage their children to be well educated.

He promised to work with other executive members to take the group beyond the level he met it.

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Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

Ambassadorial nominees can’t recite National Anthem

One says Lagos is capital of Lagos State Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

S

OME ambassadorial nominees who faced Senate screening on Tuesday provided unusual drama at the screening venue, as they failed to correctly recite the National Anthem and the Pledge.

The nominee from Anambra State, Vivian Okeke, was to first to miss the recitation as she missed substantial part of the second stanza of the anthem when she said: “to serve with heart and might, one nation bound in freedom” and ended with “Peace and Unity.”

The nominee from Niger State, Ibrahim Isa, also failed to correctly recite the National Pledge. He said: “to defend her unity and integrity. So help me God,” instead of “to defend her unity and uphold her honour and glory. So help me God.” Also, when Isa was asked to recite the National Pledge, he also mixed it up.

A member of the committee, Senator James Manager corrected the nominees.

Another nominees, Jane Ndem from Benue State, also shocked the committee by stating that Lagos was the capital of Lagos State when

asked to name 12 states and their capital.

The nominee simply said Lagos was the capital city of Lagos State and insisted on knowing what she was saying.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Monsurat

Sunmonu, had asked her to name 12 out of the nation’s 36 states.

When she replied Lagos, members of the committee were shocked and Senator Manager even attempted to assist her.

The nominee responded

confidently, saying “yes, capital of Lagos State is Lagos, because I even started my working career there.”

Isa, currently serving in Turkey, not only failed to recite the National anthem, but also started stammering at a stage.

He, however displayed his knowledge of foreign relations when he spoke on how China got its economic prosperity right.

He said the leaders of China shut its doors against imports from other nations and was busy rebuilding

China through domestic policy approach.

He also stated that if Nigeria could configure its foreign policies with the intention of benefiting from resources abroad, it would help the situation immensely.

Tribunal affirms Dickson’s election as Bayelsa gov Sunday Ejike -Abuja

BAYELSA State governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the election of Governor Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the validly elected governor of the state.

In a judgment delivered on Tuesday, the tribunal held that the December 6, 2015 governorship election held in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area on January 9, 2016 was lawful and valid in law.

The tribunal further held that from evidence adduced before it, the election of December 6, 2015 was inconclusive and was rightfully rescheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through the state Resident Electoral Commission (REC).

It further held that contrary to the position of the petitioner, election took place in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

Accordingly, the tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva, for lacking in merit.

It further held that the petitioners failed to prove the allegations of violence and non-compliance to the provisions of the Electoral Act. The three-member panel of Justices, led by Justice Kazeem Alogba, held that on allegations of non-voting and snatching of electoral materials by thugs of the PDP, the petitioners failed woefully to substantiate them.

According to the tribunal, “allegations of acts of crimi-

nality, violence and snatching of ballot boxes, the onus of prove lies on the shoulders of the petitioners to prove beyond all reasonable doubt.

“It is trite in law that he who assets must prove. The petitioners must adduced by cogent and verifiable

evidence beyond reasonable doubt.”

In addition, the tribunal held that some of the petitioners’ witnesses testified against party interest that election took place in all the units in Southern Ijaw on January 9, 2016.

Meanwhile, the APC and

its governorship candidate in the state, Timipre Sylva, has vowed to appeal the judgment of the tribunal.

Sylva, who spoke through his lawyer, Felix Okorotie, immediately after the judgment, described the decision of the tribunal as a miscarriage of justice

Zoning: PDP names post for North, South Leon Usigbe - Abuja THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has named the positions in its national leadership allocated to northern and southern zones of the country under its new zoning formula.

It is now to have two Deputy National Chairmen, with one each for the two regions The Zoning Committee inaugurated last Friday by the chairman of the National Caretaker Commit-

tee of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, submitted its report on Tuesday, recommending that apart from the 2019 presidential candidate, which has already been zoned to the North, the position of the Deputy National Chairman II should also go to zone.

Other posts zoned to the Northern zones are National Secretary, National Financial Secretary, National Publicity Secretary, National Auditor, National Woman Leader and Deputy National

Treasurer.

Others are Deputy National Organising Secretary, Deputy National Youth Leader, Deputy National Legal Adviser and Deputy National Secretary.

Among the positions zoned to the Southern zones under the new arrangement are National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman 1, National Treasurer, National Legal Adviser, National Youth Leader, National Organising Secretary and Deputy National Publicity Secretary.

fortherecord

The apotheosis of majesty

A tribute from the younger generation to Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II by Obafemi Ayo-Adebanjo

I

pay tribute to a man who was a truly exceptional human being. To a man I was lucky enough to call a father and, yes, a friend by way of few examples of how the humanity, effortless charm, kindness, compassion, worldliness, legendary generosity, rib-cracking sense of humour and sheer urbane sophistication of this giant of a man affected lives and transcended generations.

My first real and close encounter of note with Kabiyesi was about 32 odds years ago in London, at his residence in Chester Terrace. Then, I accompanied my father, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and the entourage of my godfather, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, to lunch with him to rejoice on the occasion of the birth of Awo’s granddaughter, Oluwemimo. After a few greetings were exchanged with the dignitaries, it was time for the supporting acts like myself to exit the lounge for the VIPS to chat. As I bid Kabiyesi goodbye to say I was off downstairs, he said to me “Son, joko e” meaning “sit right there son”. In other words, do not count yourself not worthy to join this company. This gesture has resonated with me for the rest of my life. I still levitate when I remember to this day. This was a prime example of his power and singular knack of making ordinary people feel extraordinary.

Fast forward to my wedding day in England sometime later, Kabiyesi could not have done anymore if I was his own biological son. Although, he couldn’t attend himself, he was well represented by his entourage. Most memorably, by the time I called him the next day to say thank you for all his support, he said he had watched footage of the event relayed

Oba Okunade Sijuwade, former Ooni of Ife to him in Ife. How incredibly special does that make one feel? A few weeks later, he invited himself, my wife, Nocola and a few close friends to dinner at Chester Terrace. I remember my European friends commenting on how graceful and amiable he was for someone of his status.

On to 2006 when I had a near death illness. To show you the depth of his humanity when one encounters serious challenges, the General Overseer of a church he requested to

pray for me 24/7, was the first person I saw and the voice I heard when I came round after four months in a coma at the Royal Free Hospital in London. His Olori was a constant visitor relaying my progress to him even months later at another facility undergoing rehabilitation.

This was by no means a one – off as I vividly also recall him providing and funding all the medical experts at his disposal both in Nigeria and the UK years earlier when my father had an excruciating back problem that left him bedridden then and needed surgery. Kabiyesi reinforced my faith in the power of Christian prayer.

After my recovery, Kabiyesi invited myself, my wife, Nicola and our children to spend the weekend with him at the palace in Ile-Ife. The first thing he said to me was “You will live long” and he prayed for me. He, then, ordered his staff to open a bottle of champagne. “Fire! fire!” “Fire for fire!” He cheered, as he often did in moments of exhilaration.

Kabiyesi then proceeded later that night to narrate the visits of the Great and Good, the photographs of whom adorned his palace. I thoroughly enjoyed some of his amazing anecdotes of a wonderful and colourful life. On leaving, he gave us parting gifts which instantly multiplied our liquid net worth. It was a weekend I shall never forget. Experience priceless!

I feel sure that thousands others will have similar or even more engaging narratives than this to share with the world about this very much loved and truly special first class monarch.

The magisterial presence of Ooni Sijuwade and the pomp and pageantry of his reign would be very hard to emulate.

Not many monarchs could look as truly resplendent and quite as dazzling in full regalia.

Kabiyesi! Thank you for your humanity!

You will live forever in our hearts!

Obafemi.

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Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

Kogi assembly crisis ends as speaker resigns Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

T

HE crisis rocking the Kogi State House of Assembly was, on Tuesday, resolved as the embattled speaker, Rt Honourable Momoh Jimoh Lawal, resigned and members formally elected Honourable Imam Umar as the substantive speaker of the assembly.

The sitting, which took place at the gallery of the assembly, saw the two factions sitting together for the first time since February 16 that the crisis started with the impeachment of Lawal by five out of the then 20 members in the assembly.

The election of a new speaker followed the reading of the letter of resignation from Lawal dated July 26 to the Clerk of assembly.

The deputy speaker, Aliyu Akuh, who presided over the sitting, which was attended by 22 members with the exception of Lawal read the resignation letter on the floor of the assembly.

The letter read in part, “We are all aware of the needless pains, the leadership crisis that had engulfed this noble assembly in the past few months caused our constituents and retarded the development of our beloved state, Kogi.

“I would have preferred to continue with the struggle for the entrenchment of democratic values, but the interest of Kogi State must always come before any personal considerations.

Let me quickly add that I am not a quitter, but as the leader of this noble house, I must put Kogi State first.

“Today, my resignation as speaker of this house

was a difficult decision, but I do believe it is the right thing to do. This, I am sure, will bring joy to some and anger to others. To those who believe in legislative

democracy, I do understand your anger and frustrations.”

After reading of the letter, the majority leader of the assembly, Honourable

THERE was a tight security at the Benue State Assembly complex on Tuesday, as no fewer than 30 fierce looking, gun-wielding security operatives mounted surveillance.

The presence of security men may not be unconnected with insinuations of a possible invasion of the assembly by unknown persons, following the crisis over members’ invitation to anti graft commission in recent times.

The security men, which included men of the Department of Security Services (DSS), carried out thorough search of persons and vehicles going in and coming out of the assembly complex.

state constituency, Abdulahi Hassan.

Umar, who is representing Lokoja 1 state constituency, was thereafter unanimously elected as the new

speaker of the assembly.

Speaking after his election, Umar lauded the efforts of members of the assembly at ensuring an end to the crisis that had been rocking the assembly.

He, however, pledged to make the peace, now enjoyed, a lasting one by ensuring an all inclusive leadership that would satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of members.

Discounts on air tickets: British Airways signs MoU with Airtel

From left, Director, Legal and Regulatory, Airtel Nigeria, Shola Adeyemi; Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Ahmad Mokhles; Regional Commercial Manager, West Africa, British Airways, Kola Olayinka and the Corporate Sales Manager, British Airways Nigeria, Adetutu Otuyalo, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between British Airways and Airtel, at Airtel’s Head Office, Banana Island , Lagos, on Monday

Court reserves judgment in Kogi guber appeal Sunday Ajike -Abuja THE Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Friday, reserved judgment in the appeals brought before it by Honourable James Faleke of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the judgment of the Kogi State governorship election petition tribunal, which upheld the election of Yahaya Bello as the governor of Kogi State.

A panel of five justices of the appellate court, presided over by Justice Ju-

mai Hannatu Sankey, after hearing submissions of parties in the matter, said judgment in the appeals would be delivered on a date to be communicated to parties in the matter.

Chief Wole Olanipekun, who represented Faleke, in his arguments, urged the court to set aside the decision of the tribunal and invalidate Yahaya Bello’s election on the ground that Bello was not properly nominated.

He submitted that Bello did not undergo all the electioneering processes as required by law before he emerged as his party’s candidate in re-run election.

Tight security at Benue assembly complex Johnson Babajide-Makurdi

Kolawole Matthew, from Kabba/Bunu state constituency, nominated Umar for the post of speaker and was seconded by the member representing Ajaokuta

Prior the sitting of the assembly on Tuesday, members had earlier gone into executive session for over three hours with the suspended member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Honourable Kester Kyenge, in attendance.

The chairman, House Committee on Information, Honourable Bem Ngutyo, said the presence of security personnel in the assembly complex was to forestall any threat to security of members.

Ngutyo further said the assembly just officially communicated the suspension to Kester, maintaining that their action would serve as a deterrent to other members, including members of the ruling

party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) that nobody was above the law.

He accused Kester of acting the script of someone(whom he did not mention), adding that “we have to tame him and prove that we are in charge of the assembly.”

Olanipekun, therefore, urged the court to allow the appeal and declare Faleke as the proper person for the governorship seat.

In his own submission, INEC’s counsel, Ahmed Raji, asked the court to uphold Yahaya Bello’s election on the ground that he was properly nominated by the APC as a replacement to the late Audu who passed away during the election.

Also arguing in the same vein, Joseph Daudu, representing Bello, insisted that the issue of nomination of candidates for election was the sole responsibility of a political party.

Daudu told the court that Governor Bello, having been nominated by the APC, in compliance with the existing law and authority of the party, remained the candidate of his party in the election.

He urged the court to dismiss all the appeals against his client and uphold the decision of the tribunal which had earlier held that Bello was properly nominated.

After taking arguments

from parties in the matter, the presiding Justice, Justice Sankey, announced that the date for judgment would be communicated to parties in the matter.

The Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal had, in a judgment delivered on June 6, 2016, dismissed Falake and Wada’s petitions challenging the election of Yahaya Bello as governor the state.

The three-member panel, headed by Justice Halima Mohammed, held in a unanimous judgment that Faleke could not be declared governor of Kogi State, because he was not nominated by the APC as its substantive candidate in the 2015 Kogi governorship election.

The tribunal held that the APC was right to have nominated Bello to replace the late Audu as its candidate in the December 2015 supplementary election, adding also that Faleke had no locus-standi to file the petition since he was not nominated by the APC as its governorship candidate in the said election.

BRITISH Airways has entered into a strategic agreement with telecommunications giant, Airtel, in a deal that will see customers of both organisations enjoy substantial discounts off tickets purchased in the next few months.

Speaking at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)in Lagos, British Airways’ Regional Commercial Manager for West Africa, Kola Olayinka, said both companies operated in similar markets and placed a premium on customer service.

“This partnership is a way in which we are able to offer benefits to our joint customers. If you already have an Airtel number, more details on our partnership will be shared with you, if you do not have an Airtel number, this would be a good time to get one, so you can enjoy the discounts we are offering,” he added.

Airtel’s Chief Commercial officer, Ahmad Mokhles, who signed on behalf of his organisation, expressed his delight at the opportunity to team up with British Airways.

Discounts to Airtel customers will be available to worldwide destinations, in the UK, United States, Canada, Europe and parts of Asia. Customers can choose and pick their preferred destinations for summer or even plan, prepare and book early for Christmas.

Merge MDAs to reduce costs of governance, OBJ urges govs OlayinkaOlukoya-Abeokuta NIGERIA’S former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has urged governors of the 36 states of the country to reduce the numbers of minsitries, department and agencies of government (MDAs) that are ineffective, so as to boost the nation’s dwindling economy.

He stated this on Tuesday, while receiving the chair-

man of the Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS), Mr Babatunde Fowler and chairmen of Revenue Boards in the 36 states in his hilltop residence, in Abeokuta.

He explained that both the government at the centre and at the state levels must be accountable to the people by spending the taxes and levies collected from the people effectively.

He said: “When times are hard, it is when the government need more internally generated revenue, and it is also the time that those from whom the government would want to generate funds are hard to be able to get money.

“What do we have to do?

They must continue to try by increasing as much as possible, what each state

can generate in terms of internally generated revenue, but states must also embark on a number of things.

“One, reducing waste. two, they have to look into becoming slimmer. Government can do a lot by looking at their own establishments.

Where they have to bring together institutions that don’t need to continue to exist separately.

39

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Wednesday, 27 July, 2016

Buhari’s wife has shown interest in boy abused by father—Amosun’s wife Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

W

IFE of the Ogun State governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, on Tuesday, said wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari, has shown interest in the case of a nineyear-old boy, Korede Taiwo, chained by his father, Pastor Francis Taiwo.

Mrs. Amosun disclosed this during her visit to the boy, who is currently on admission at the Paediatric Unit of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, accompanied by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Olumide Ayeni and the Commissioner for Health, Dr Babatunde Ipaye.

The governor’s wife expressed happiness about the state of mind of the boy, despite the harrowing experience he had gone through in the hands of his father and stepmother, Kehinde Taiwo.

She said Mrs. Buhari had been interacting with her on the case of the young Taiwo, saying that her interest showed that she is indeed the “mother of the nation.”

“I will like to place on record because it is very important that the mother of the nation has followed this case from the very outset, even before it was officially declared in the newspapers.

“She is passionate about this matter. Throughout yesterday, she interacted

with me about the condition of the child and the action being taken. I think

Wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun (right) and the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, at the hospital bed of the rescued nine-year-old boy, Korede Taiwo, at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Tuesday.

THE Kogi State screening committee set up to screen local and state government workers has disclosed that the state has been losing N16 billion annually to ghost workers on the payrolls of the two tiers of government.

This was just as the committee also revealed that it discovered 18,211 ghost workers during the exercis which commenced in February following its inauguration.

The state governor, Al-

penings in various states,” Mrs. Amosun added.

On the condition of the boy, Mrs. Amosun said the boy is recuperating and mentally alert, assuring that the proactive steps so far taken by the state government would go a long way in keeping hope alive for the boy.

“We feel very reassured based on previous report we have heard. The child informed us of all that he had been subjected to. I was actually worried that we are going to see a dejected, withdrawn, traumatised child.

“We are happy to the glory of God that Korede is very active. His mind is alert. In terms of growth, he seems smaller than what his age should be, but aside from this in my opinion, he seems to be recuperating very well, bearing in mind what he had been subjected to. I am reassured that by the pro-active steps the Ogun State Government intend to take, it will be well with him,” Mrs Amosun said.

Ahmadiyya Movement synonymous with education, healthcare— Spokesman

By Saheed Salawu

THE Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, Nigeria has commended the Tribune newspapers for according all religions equal coverage in their publications rather than showing fondness for particular brands of faith.

The spokesman of a team of the religious organisa-

tion, Mr Nurudeen Akinade, gave the commendation on Tuesday in Ibadan, during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc. The team was led by the chairman of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, Nigeria, Ibadan Mission, Alhaji Jimoh Akande.

Kogi loses N16bn annually to ghost workers Yinka Oladoyinb - Lokoja

this is worthy of note that the wife of our President is compassionate about hap-

haji Yahaya Bello, however, said he would not set up any committee for the disbursement of the bailout fund as demanded by the organised labour in the state.

The chairman of the backup committee for the analysis of the screening, who is also the state Auditor General, Mr Yusuf Okala, who made the disclosure at the presentation of the report of the committee, explained that about 88, 973 people were on the payrolls as of the time the screening exercise commenced

with a monthly wage bill of N5.84 billion.

He, however, said upon the conclusion of the screening exercise 63,870 workers were cleared, reducing the wage bill to N4.443 billion.

The development, he said, showed that N1.365 billion was being paid to ghost workers and unintended beneficiaries every month.

Akinade, who is the General Secretary of Ibadan Mission of the organisation and secretary of the centenary celebration committee, said the visit was to seek Tribune’s support for the activities lined up to celebrate the 100 years of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Nigeria.

“We are here to intimate this beautiful organisation about the celebration of the 100 years of Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam in Nigeria. Ahmadiyya Movement has been in existence for well over 100 years but it reached Nigeria in 1916.

And since that time, Ahmadiyya has been advancing the spirit of religious tolerance among the people.

“The name Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam in Nigeria is synonymous with education and health care

delivery, and we thought that since we are talking of the celebration of 100 years of Ahmadiyya Movement in Nigeria, we cannot leave out Tribune.

“I want to thank the Tribune for not creating dichotomy among religious organisations in the country. We will continue to appreciate that. That is why we love Tribune. If we want to get unbiased information about what is going on, on the national and international scenes, we always look for the Tribune newspaper,” Akinade said.

In his response, the Editor, Sunday Tribune, Mr Sina Oladeinde, who received the visitors, congratulated the Ahmadiyya organisation for attaining 100 years of existence in Nigeria, describing the development as a milestone.

11 companies bid for NNPC mast installation in Lagos, Benin, Port Harcourt Ademola Adegbite- Abuja

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has flagged off bid opening for the decommissioning and installation of towers and masts in Lagos, Benin and Port Harcourt area offices with 11 companies participating in the exercise.

This was contained in a statement issued by the corporation and signed by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Garbe Deen Muhammad, a copy of

which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja.

Speaking during the bid opening ceremony at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, the Manager Telecoms, Engineer Michael Ejike said reputable telecommunication vendors with proven experience and capacity were invited to bid for the decommissioning and installation of towers and masts in some NNPC facilities to give it a facelift.

Editor, Sunday Tribune, Mr Sina Oladeinde (right), presenting a gift to the chairman, planning committee of 100 years of Ahamadiyya Movement in Islam, Alhaji Jimoh Akande, during a visit to the Tribune House, Imalefalafia, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday. With them are the secretary, Nurudeen Akinade; Chief Imam, Muritadha Akintunde and Imam Nasirudeen Bello. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU.

Post-UTME: UNILAG releases admission guidelines THE University of Lagos, on Tuesday, released its Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) admission screening guidelines for the 2016/2017 academic session.

In a statement issued by the institution’s Deputy Registrar (Information), Mr Toyin Adebule, in Lagos, the university said online registration for the screening would hold from August 3 to August 24.

It said only candidates who made the university their first choice at the 2016 all Computer Based Test mode UTME and scored 200 and above were eligible for the screening.

The university said candidates must possess five credit passes at one sitting in relevant Ordinary Level subjects, including English language and mathematics.

The institution said candidates who would not be 16 years of age by October 31, were not eligible for screening and need not apply.

“Candidates who are awaiting results are eligible to apply for the screening.

“Such candidates will be allowed to upload their results when they are released only if they applied within the specified period.

“Candidates are advised to check the university website for the specified periods and other details,” the statement read in part.

Kwara, NHIS provide free healthcare insurance to primary school pupils Biola Azeez - Ilorin

KWARA State government, in partnership with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has introduced a fully subsidised healthcare insurance programme for pupils in public primary schools in the state.

Speaking at a one-day sensitisation forum for state government-owned accredited healthcare facilities in Ilorin, on Tuesday, the state coordinator of the NHIS, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Onimajesin, said primary school pupils in the three local governments of Ilorin-East, Ilorin-West and Asa had already been captured in the data base of the agency out of the expected 200,000 pupils in the 16 local government areas of the state.

Onimajesin said the proposed scheme was 100 per cent subsidised by the Federal Government, through NHIS, for pupils in the state, and solicited the cooperation of stakeholders to ensure its success.

SIDELINES

NO 16,554

N150

WEDNESDAY, 27 JULY, 2016

A South African lady, Fundiswa Lekhula, has told the story of how the pastor of a church - Your Choice Christian Ministeries - in that country has had unprotected sex with her. The pastor has refused to accept the resultant pregnancy from the fling. Dear Fundiswa, you should have known that a lot of things in life depend on an individual’s decisions and from the name of the church, having sex with the pastor was actually YOUR choice.

Rio Olympics: Mikel named Team Nigeria captain

Why I am out of Rio Olympics —Moses

Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi has been named Captain of TEAM NIGERIA to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio beginning August 5, 2016.

Obi, one of the three over-aged players invited to the national U-23 football team for the games is making his first appearance at an Olympic Games.

Table tennis star Funke Oshonaike is the assistant team captain. This will be Oshonaike’s sixth appearance at the Olympics after she debuted at Atlanta ‘96.

The Dream Team VI is expected to depart for Rio from Atlanta USA on 29th July 2016.

Other athletes hopefully, will leave Nigeria on the same day.

Mikel Obi and Funke Oshonaike were chosen because of their consistency, patriotism and dedication to national assignments.

“Mikel is a young, patriotic footballer of international status and we believe he will be a role model to the upcoming athletes while Funke Oshonaike is experienced and is one of the oldest athletes in the team. We believe that their combined efforts will bring goodwill to TEAM NIGERIA and project the county’s image positively to the world”.

By Olawale Olaniyan NIGERIA International and Chelsea winger, Victor Moses has explained why he was not selected among Nigeria’s over-age players for the country’s Olympics squad, giving him an unbroken period of preparation for the domestic campaign ahead.

Moses, who is enjoying his pre-season tour with Chelsea said he’s giving his best in the tour so as to make the new Chelsea manager’s team squad.

Moses, who last played for WestHam United on loan from Chelsea has so far played 80 minutes of one of the games in Austria and all but the last few moments of the second.

He said: “I am lucky doing my pre-season here,” he says. “With a new manager I want to show my talent and that I am willing to play for the team, but at the same time I wish Nigeria the best and I hope they make the nation proud.”

Meanwhile, while reacting to the team’s preparation ahead of the commencement of the Premier League season next month, he noted that Chelsea will do everything possible to win the Premier League title just as the team face Liverpool today in another pre-season match.

He said: “The work has not really changed from Austria,’ Moses says. “We just need to work hard to make sure we are a lot fitter come the start of the season. Everyone is looking sharp, everyone wants to do the work and we are excited; we have got a new manager and we all just want to work as hard as we can.

“I came back to start my pre-season early with the group of players who had been on loan last season, which helped as well, but to be honest, I just want to enjoy my football. I want the fans to be able to know that I am doing something good for the club but at the same time I want to work hard for the team and make sure we win games.

“We have played two games so far, so we still need to get our fitness right and we have a game coming up against Liverpool today which is going to be good for us.”

Moses

Appeal Court dismisses Giwa’s suit against NFF Isaac Shobayo - Jos

T

HE quest by Mr. Chris Giwa to occupy Glass House suffered a set back on Monday as the Court of Appeal sitting in Jos outrightly dismissed the judgment of the Federal High Court, which relisted the case filed by Mr. Chris Giwa against the Nigeria Football Federation and its President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick.

It would be recalled that Federal High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State had earlier nullified the outcome of Warri General Assembly of

NFF on the request of Giwa and the congress that brought Amaju Pinnick to office.

In his judgement on Monday Justice Joseph Tur, held that the ruling of the court on April 8 returning Giwa to the Glass House was null and void saying that the plaintiffs were wrong in asking that the case be relisted.

On the earlier ruling that Giwa be recognised as the president of the NFF, Justice Tur posited that the court ought to have taken into consideration the circumstances of the case giving that it struck out and discontinued by the same court on October 30, 2014.

According to him, the submissions of the counsel to the respondents Mr. Habila Azard, in which the decision of the court was made based on the undertaking that was taken prior to the judgement of October 30 and stated the process of relisting was not followed.

The appeal court further faulted the ruling of the Federal High court made on April 8, 2016 and said it should have considered the circumstances of the case giving that it struck out and discontinued by the same court on October 30, 2014 Tur, while allowing the appeal of the NFF, set aside the ruling of the Federal High Court made on April 8, 2016 and reinstated the ruling made on October 30, 2014. He awarded N50,0000 cost against the two parties.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 27/7/2016.