28th January 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,424

THURSDAY, 28 JANUARY, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

OBJ writes Saraki, Dogara, condemns plans to buy 469 cars •We will reply him at the appropriate —P2 time —Saraki

Arms deal

@nigeriantribune

Nigerian Tribune

N150

Boko Haram attacks Chibok, kills 14, injures 24 —P10

Jonathan speaks

—P7

Kogi gov sworn in without deputy

•Bello's inauguration, APC coup detat —Faleke •He is on excursion in Kogi —PDP —P5

5 more bodies discovered under Enugu building —P42

Alhaji Yahaya Bello (right), signing the oath of office as governor of Kogi State before the state Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru Ajana, at the Lokoja Confluence Stadium, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN

EFCC seals off military officers' properties —P7

S'Court: Wike wins, jubilation in Rivers —P2

•Amosun, Umahi affirmed Ogun, Ebonyi govs

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Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Supreme Court: Wike wins, jubilation in Rivers

•Amosun, Umahi affirmed Ogun, Ebonyi govs •Judgment victory to Rivers people —Wike From Dapo Falade and S unday E jike

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ORT Harcourt metropolis, the Rivers State capital, was upbeat, following the Supreme Court verdict which, on Wednesday, upheld the victory of Governor Nyesom Wike at the April 11, 2015 governorship election in the state.

The tension in the state, prior to the pronouncement of the judgment, paled into insignificance moment the verdict of the apex court was made public, as the people and residents of the state capital broke into wild jubilations shortly thereafter.

From the popular Ikwerre Road, through the Azikwe Road/Government House axis, down to the GRA, people and commercial vehicle operators were seen chanting victory songs in support of the state governor.

Some of the supporters of the governor were also seen gathered at some joints, apparently anticipating a positive outcome at the Supreme Court.

An ardent PDP supporter, speaking with the Nigerian Tribune at Omas Cottage, situated on Abacha Road, GRA, could not hide his elation, as he said Wike would rule the state for eight years.

“The decision of the Supreme Court in Abuja today (Wednesday) is an affirmation of the truth. We had an election in Rivers State last April but some reactionary forces thought they could suppress the truth.

“The leadership and members of APC in the state had thought they can have things their way. The apex court has, however, been able to shine the light on what was hidden before now.

“Since the Supreme Court has been able to unveil the truth, I will only advise the APC leadership and their candidate, Honourable Dakuku Peterside, to wait for their own turn,” he said.

The situation at Mile 1, Ikwerre Road was similar as market women, traders and others were seen jubilating immediately the news of the Supreme Court verdict broke out.

Commercial motorists were also not left out, as some of them pulled off the road, celebrating the moment.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had affirmed Wike as the validly elected governor of Rivers State in the April 11, 2015 governorship elec-

tion.

The seven-member panel of Justices of the apex court, presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, set aside the judgments of the Court of Appeal and that of the Rivers State governorship election petition tribunal delivered in December 16 and October 24 respectively.

The tribunal and the Court of Appeal had cancelled the election that produced Wike as governor and ordered a rerun.

In the judgment delivered on Wednesday, the apex court also upheld the election of Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.

In a unanimous judgment, the apex court dismissed the appeal of Nasir Adegboyega Isiaka and his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for lacking in merit and upheld Amosun’s election.

The court said reasons for the judgment would be given on Friday, February 12.

The first appeal brought

before the Supreme Court was filed by Governor Wike, wherein he challenged the judgment of the tribunal and that of the Court of Appeal.

The second appeal was filed by the PDP, while the third was filed by INEC, all challenging the judgments of the tribunal and the court of appeal.

The apex court allowed the three appeals and dismissed the objections raised

by All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside.

Earlier, parties in the suit had adopted their briefs.

Wike was represented by Emmanuel Ukala, PDP by Wole Olanipekun, while Onyechi Ikpeazu represented INEC. Chief Akin Olujinmi represented Dakuku while Yusuf Ali represented APC. Dakuku and his party, APC, had approached the election tribunal, seeking to nullify the election on ground of violence.

The tribunal, on October 24, cancelled the election and ordered a rerun within 90 days.

Not satisfied, Wike, PDP and INEC approached the appellate court to challenge the decision and the Court of Appeal, Abuja division, on December 16, dismissed Wike’s appeal and upheld the decision of the tribunal.

Still not satisfied, Wike, PDP and INEC approached the Supreme Court seeking to set aside the judgment, a prayer that was granted by the apex court.

Also on Wednesday, the Supreme Court affirmed Chief Dave Umahi as validly elected governor of Ebonyi State.

In a unanimous decision of a seven-member panel of Justices of the apex court, the court dismissed the appeal challenging the election of Governor Umahi for lacking in merit.

The CJN, while dismissing the appeal brought before the court by the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate, Chief Edward Nkwegu, also slated February 5 to give reasons for its judgment in the appeal.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu had dismissed

the suit filed by the governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP) in Ebonyi State, Nkweagu, for lack of merit.

The court upheld the judgment of the state governorship election petition tribunal, which declared David Umahi as winner of the state governorship election conducted by the INEC on April 11, 2015.

The court of appeal judgment, delivered by Justice J.O. Oyewole, held that the five reliefs sought by the applicant lacked merit.

Dissatisfied with the judgment of the tribunal, the petitioner proceeded to the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu to challenge the verdict.

In the appeal filed by his counsel, Chief U.N Udechukwu, Nkweagu prayed the court to set aside the judgment of the tribunal, describing the judgment as a grave error of law.

When contacted for their reaction to Wike’s victory, the APC secretariat in the state simply said it would issue a press statement at the appropriate time.

Speaking on the judg-

ment, Governor Wike said it was victory for the rule of law and the people of Rivers State.

This was as he said the judgment was a victory for democracy and a confirmation that the will of God would always prevail over the machinations of men.

In the same vein, chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the PDP, Mr Felix Obuah, dedicated the victory to God. Wike said the judgment was a confirmation of the mandate freely given to him by the people of the state.

He assured the people that his victory at the Supreme Court would lead to greater delivery of democracy dividends across the state.

He also extended a hand of fellowship to Peterside, who he praised for approaching the judiciary to seek for justice, instead of embarking on violence.

Obuah, in a separate statement, congratulated the people of the state for their prayers and commitment, in the face of provocations by the opposition in the state.

diciary. The commission did its job but by different disingenuous ways and devices, the legislature had overturned the recommendation of the commission and hiked up for themselves that which they are unwilling to spell out in detail, though they would want to defend it by force of arm, if necessary.

“Mr President of the Senate and Honourable Speaker of the House, you know that your emolument which the commission had recommended for you takes care of all your legitimate requirements: basic salary, car, housing, staff, constituency allowance.

“Although the constituency allowance is paid to all members of the National Assembly, many of them have no constituency offices which the allowance is partly meant to cater for. And yet, other allowances and payments have been added by the National Assembly for the members’ emoluments.

“Surely, strictly speaking, it is unconstitutional. There is no valid argument for this except to see it for what it is – law-breaking and impunity by lawmakers. The lawmakers can return to the

path of honour, distinguishness, sensitivity and responsibility.

“The National Assembly should have the courage to publish its recurrent budgets for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. That is what transparency demands. With the number of legislators not changing, comparison can be made.

Comparisons in emoluments can also be made with countries like Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and even Malaysia and Indonesia, which are richer and more developed than we are,” Obasanjo added.

The former president submitted that while the budget was a proposal and only an estimate of income and expenditure, the votes could only be met where adequate finances were made.

“Where income is inadequate, expenditure will not be made. While in government, I was threatened with impeachment by the members of the National Assembly for not releasing some money they had appropriated for themselves which were odious and for which there were no incomes to support.

OBJ writes Saraki, Dogara Condemns purchase of N4.7bn cars Taiwo Adisa - Abuja FORMER president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has written to the two chambers of the National Assembly, asking them to rescind the decision to purchase cars valued at N 4.7 billion.

Obasanjo, in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, dated January 13, 2016, stated that the National Assembly had kept its budgeting procedures opaque and in conflict, against the legally approved votes guaranteed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

But the special adviser to the Senate President on Media, Yusuph Olaniyonu, on Wednesday, said the Senate President would only acknowledged receipt of the letter from Obasanjo.

He declined further comments when asked whether his boss would make the letter available to other senators.

Obasanjo wrote: “On a few occasions in the past, both in and out of office as the president of Nigeria, I have

agonised on certain issues within the arms of government at the national level and among the tiers of government as well.

“Not least, I have reflected and expressed, outspokenly at times, my views on the practice in the National Assembly, which detracts from distinguishness and honourability, because it is shrouded in opaqueness and absolute lack of transparency and could not be regarded as normal, good and decent practice in a democracy that is supposed to be exemplary.”

He insisted that the state of the nation’s finances at this time should compel the National Assembly to withdraw the huge amounts it planned to spend on cars.

“The present economic situation that the country has found itself in is the climax of the steady erosion of good financial and economic management which grew from bad to worse in the last six years or so. The executive and the legislative arms of government must accept and share responsibility in this regard.

“And if there will be a redress of the situation as early as possible, the two

arms must also bear the responsibility proportionally. The two arms ran the affairs of the country unmindful of the rainy day.

The rainy day is now here.

It would not work that the two arms should stand side by side with one arm pulling and without the support of the other one for good and efficient management of the economy,” he added.

He queried the patriotism and nationalism in the lawmakers, adding that as a former president, he had been harassed with possible impeachment for challenging the legislature and refusing to release funds illegally inserted into the national budget.

He also accused the lawmakers of corruption, asking them to publish their earnings for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015, while also comparing their earnings with that of some neighbouring countries.

“By our constitution, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission is charged with the responsibility of fixing emoluments of the three arms of government: executive, legislature and ju-

continues pg7

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Thursday, 28 January, 2016

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Thursday, 28 January, 2016

‘New electricity tariff may not take off now’

•As stakeholders kick against proposal •Reps committee warns against increment Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja THE proposed increase in electricity tariff with effect from February 3, by the Nigeria Electricity Regularory Commission (NERC) has suffered a major setback, as major stakeholders, including the Nigeria Electricity Consumers Advocacy Network (NECAN) kicked against the increment before the House of Representatives’ ad hoc Committee on Electricity Tariff and Billing mandated by the House to look into matter.

The ad hoc committee had met with the association of Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, Nigeria NERC and NECAN, during which all the stakeholders, particularly NECAN, kicked against it.

The committee had warned NERC three weeks ago not to increase tariff until it concluded the ongoing investigative hearings on the issue.

However, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Wednesday by the chairman of the ad hoc committee, Hon-

ourable Babajimi Benson, the committee stated that each group expressed its respective positions on issues of billings and infrastructure.

According to the statement, “NERC, as the regulator, made a case for tariff increase, DISCOs made a case for a cost reflective to sustain and enable them expand and improve on service delivery.

“But the consumer group, NECAN, made a case against tariff hike on the premise that such increase will further reduce the purchasing power of individual consumer and affect profitability of businesses.”

Further findings revealed that the proposed increase is about 17 per cent for Residential Consumers (RC 2) which consists of 86 per cent of the entire residents in the Federal Capital Territory.

Heavy consumers of electricity, such as manufacturing companies, are expected to pay almost 50 per cent of what they presently pay and the percentage of those in this category is 0 .6 per cent in the FCT.

President Muhammadu Buhari with his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta (second right); Somalian President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud (second left) and Vice President of Kenya, William Samoei Ruto (left), as President Buhari joins Kenyan and Somalian presidents at the wreath laying, before the interdenominational prayers for members of Kenyan defence forces killed by Al-Shabab in Somalia, at the MOI Barracks, Eldoret Kenya, on Wednesday.

We must employ tougher global action against terrorism —Buhari Leon Usigbe - Abuja

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has stressed the need for the global community to resolve to act with more determination and vigour against radicalisation and extremist ideologies

which encourage terrorism.

He made the call on Wednesday, in Eldoret, Kenya, while speaking at a memorial service in honour of Kenyan soldiers who were killed by Al-Shabaab in Somalia, recently.

The president said peaceloving nations of the world must now come together

and deal with the threat posed to global security by terrorism with greater zeal and cohesion.

According to him, “terrorists should not have a place in our communities, villages, towns, cities and countries.

“We must all rise against the culture of intolerance, hatred and extremist ideologies,

Mass looting: Falana replies Okonjo-Iweala Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin - Lagos HUMAN Rights lawyer and activist, Mr Femi Falana, on Wednesday issued a statement explaining why he asked the special prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate what he described as mass looting of the nation’s treasury.

It will be recalled that Falana, at the weekend, had petitioned the international court over allegations of crimes against humanity committed by serving and retired military officers and their civilian accomplices.

He claimed that over $8 billion earmarked for the procurement of arms and armament for counterinsurgency operations was diverted by some public officers, which resulted in the killing of soldiers and civilians, including children and the displacement of two million people.

He described as baseless, the response of Dr Ngozi Okojo-Iweala to the petition, adding that her records in government had ulterior political motives.

“When Professor Chukwuma Soludo alleged that

about N30 trillion could not be accounted for under her watch, he was described as an embittered loser in the Nigerian political space.

“When Comrade Adams Oshiomhole questioned the illegal withdrawal of $2 billion from the Excess Crude Account, he was accused of having animosity towards her, because she had blocked Edo State from obtaining a loan.

“Instead of exchanging vulgar abuse with the former minister, I shall respond to the diversionary allegations which lacerated her response and the attempt to extricate herself from the mass looting of the commonwealth under her watch.

“It shows that Mrs OkonjoIweala has not been following the practice of the court and its active and robust approach to its mandates, in particular with regard to the investigation of crimes in Darfur, the warrant of arrest for Joseph Kony (Uganda) and the warrant of arrest for Ahmad Harun (Sudan).

“In many decided cases, the ICC has expanded its mandate to humanitarian issues, aimed at forestalling and impeding the perpetration of crimes which cause

gross human rights abuse.

There is absolutely nothing in the Rome Statute of the ICC to suggest that the court cannot address impunity for enormous financial crimes (and its crippling impact) which took place while Mrs Okonjo-Iweala was the Finance Minister and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy,” he said.

Falana further added that Okonjo-Iweala’s claim that he owned the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) was far-fetched and laughable.

“A simple google search would have shown her that while I am one of the legal advisers of the organisation, there are other very distinguished lawyers and academics of international repute on SERAP’s board.

“Her claim that SERAP is ‘discredit’ is the exact opposite of reckless characterisation, because it is an organisation that has won national and international recognitions, including nomination for the United Nations Civil Society Award, the Ford Foundation Jubilee Transparency Award and the Wole Soyinka Anti-Corruption Defender Award,” Falana said.

He also added that Okon-

jo-Iweala also claimed that his petition against her to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were lacking in credibility.

“Without any substantiation of what this means or specific rebuttal of the allegations contained in that petition, she has, however, not denied the accuracy of the claims in my petition.

Whereas the former Finance Minister had insisted that only $500 million was recovered from the Abacha loot, my petition detailed the recovery of $4 billion.

As she could not challenge my claim, Dr Okonjo-Iweala now says that the $500 million was the amount recovered while she was the Minister of Finance under President Obasanjo.

“In making that claim, she did not take cognizance of her recent statement that while she gave out $322 million to Colonel Sambo Dasuki, the sum of $700 million had been set aside for development. From her own account, over $1 billion was recovered from the loot under the Jonathan regime, when she was coordinating the economy.

“Dr Okonjo-Iweala should have also provided further explanations as to why a

substantial part of the Abacha loot was criminally diverted under her watch, especially in light of her confessional statement that she transferred $322 million from the Abacha loot to former National Security Adviser, Dasuki, to prosecute the war on terror,” he said.

“Therefore, her self-induced urgency is not a justification for spending public funds without appropriation,” he said.

He added that Dr OkonjoIweala had continued to give the erroneous impression that she rendered selfless service to the nation.

“Let me make it abundantly clear that my petitions to the anti-graft agencies and the special prosecutor of the ICC were anchored on law and facts, as there is nothing personal in the ongoing battle to end impunity and retrieve the looted wealth of the nation from corrupt elements and institutions.

“It is my belief that the recovered loot should be channeled towards job creation and infrastructural development. Therefore, all hands should be on deck to ensure that the recovered loot is not criminally diverted by another set of looters,” he said.

which drive terrorism.

“We must also act with more firmness against radicalisation and all those who promote values and principles that threaten our unity and cohesion as a people.

“Nigeria is willing to work with Kenya, other African countries and the global community at large, with a view to defeating these undesirable elements.

“We must take the battle to the terrorists, whoever they are and wherever they are. This requires commitment, sacrifice, resources, collaboration and above all, realisation that no country is immune to the scourge, as terrorists do not respect national boundaries, race, colour, religion or creed.”

The president applauded the bravery of Nigerian and Kenyan soldiers, and others around the world, “who have remained faithful and committed to the cause of ensuring a secure and peaceful world, in spite of daunting challenges.”

Buhari paid special tribute to the Kenyan soldiers who lost their lives to the terrorist attack on their base in Somalia, saying: “I wish to use this occasion to pay tribute to all the fallen heroes of the El Adde attack and pray for the repose of their souls.

“In our efforts to collaboratively tackle terrorism, it is our sacred duty as leaders, politicians and compatriots to ensure that the blood of these fallen heroes was not shed in vain.”

The president, who is on a three-day state visit to Kenya, attended the memorial service in the company of his host, President Uhuru Kenyatta and President Hassan Mohamoud of Somalia.

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Thursday, 28 January, 2016

I am ready for action —New Kogi gov •Appoints COS, SA media, CPS Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

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HE new Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was, on Wednesday, inaugurated as the fourth civilian governor of the state with a pledge that he was ready for action and determined to give the state a new direction.

He also said he would use President Muhammadu Buhari as his model for governance, saying his administration would have zero tolerance for corrup-

tion.

The inauguration ceremony, held at the Lokoja Confluence Stadium, was attended by the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, the governors of Nasarawa and Benue states, Tanko Al-Makura and Samuel Ortom, ministers and members of the National Assembly.

Clad in a white Agbada

attire, the governor was ushered into the stadium at about 11.00 a.m and took the oath of allegiance and oath of office at 12.00 p.m with the oaths administered by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Nasir Ajana.

He was, however, inaugurated alone without a deputy governor as the man claimed to be his deputy, James Faleke, refused to act in that capacity, claiming that he should be declared the governor.

Bello, in his inaugural ad-

dress, laden with emotion as he wept while recognising notable personalities in his life, especially his late father, said it would not be business as usual with him at the helms of affairs in the state.

Drawing reference from the popular statement of Buhari during his inauguration, “I am for everybody and I belong to nobody,” the new governor promised to be fair and just in his administration.

He promised to face the

From left, President, Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association, Hajiya Khatum Buratai; wife of the president, Hajiya Aisha Buhari and the wife of the deputy governor of Kaduna State, Mrs Ladi Bantx, during the visit of Hajia Buhari to the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, in Kaduna, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN

critical sector of the society which included education, roads, agricultural, solid minerals, security, civil service reform in order to put the state on the path to greatness.

He said: “The entire people of Kogi State, irrespective of who you are and where you stood during the election, we are all united today celebrating the outcome. My people, you are the big constituency I have and I am responsible to you. Nigeria has a rich diversity of tradition, culture and history, it is instructive that in searching for a new philosophy on new direction, my team and I do not have to go far to locate a perfect response for our time.

“My administration shall exist for the purpose of serving the superseding interest of the people of Kogi State to the very best of our capabilites, we also undertake to never use our capacity to serve the interest of anyone or group whether from Kogi State or elsewhere.

“We must be that generation of leaders, who will ensure that the entirety of Kogi resources work for the entirety of Kogi people. Accordingly, I, hereby, declare and affirm that the Yahaya Bello administration will have zero tolerance for corruption and impunity.

According to him, posi-

Inauguration of Bello as gov, APC coup d’etat —Faleke Bello on excursion —PDP From Wale Akinselure, Leon Usigbe, Jacob Segun Olatunji And Adetola Bademosi

RUNNING mate to the late Alhaji Abubakar Audu in the Kogi governorship election on the ticket of All Progressives Congress (APC), Honourable James Faleke, has likened Wednesday’s inauguration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as governor of the state as a civilian coup d’état orchestrated by the national leadership of the party.

Speaking on a Channels Television programme, “Politics Today,” Faleke, who is challenging the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the November 21 governorship poll in Kogi, inconclusive, maintained that the only reason he would settle out of court was for Governor Bello to resign.

Faleke described the decision of the national leadership of the party, led by its chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, to adopt Bello as the party’s candidate for the December 5 election, as devoid of eq-

uity and justice.

He chided insinuations that his actions were antiparty, noting that his decision to challenge the party’s decision was to protect the interest of the party, otherwise the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would claim the mandate.

Faleke said he would pursue his case to a logical conclusion, since the APC failed to settle the case out of court before the inauguration of Bello.

“I am not working with PDP. The party is supreme only if its decision is based on equity and justice. You do not slap somebody and take what he has by force.

For me, what has happened in Kogi and in our party is civilian coup de’tat. If this kind of situation happens in a military regime, I am sure those behind it will face firing squad,” he said.

On whether he was willing to settle out of court if approached by the party, he said “I won’t accept such offer because we are already in court. The only condition to settle out of court is if Alhaji Yahaya Bello is ready to resign.

That is the condition that will favour the people that worked for the party.”

Asked about his status, Faleke said “I remain Honourable James Abiodun Faleke and not the deputy governor-elect.”

Also reacting, the PDP dismissed as comical, the swearing-in of Bello, saying the new governor was only on excursion in the Government House.

According to a statement issued by the national secretary of the PDP, Professor Adewale Oladipo, in Abuja, the party said “the said Yahaya Bello, who cannot claim the overall winning votes in the election, is, therefore, a shadow-chasing passer-by on an excursion in Kogi State government house, as the so-called swearing-in ceremony, having no bearing from the votes at election, is at best an APC function.”

The party observed that people of Kogi were aware that “the man being paraded by the APC is not the person they exercised confidence in at the election, as he scored a paltry 6,885 vote in the so-called

supplementary election, as against the 204,877 votes polled by the PDP candidate, Alhaji Idris Wada, in the overall election.”

Meanwhile, an African youth political think-tank, Pan-African Society for Social and Economic Change (PASSEC), has recommended Mr Gowon Usman Egbunu as Kogi deputy governor.

It also warned the APC in the state to thread with

caution in its appointment of a deputy governor, as any wrong decision was capable of setting the state on the path of retrogression.

In a statement jointly signed by the Executive Director, Wale Martins, and secretary, Mohammed Basah, in Abuja, on Wednesday, the group said there was the need to bring a neutral person to fill the position, to forestall any future crisis.

tive and sensitive actions would be taken to rescue Kogi State with action plan put in place to ensure the achievement of the task, adding that templates would be set for the first one hundred days, first one year among others.

Odigie-Oyegun said the state was lucky as Bello was a gift to the state, appealing to the people of the state to make the next four years a type that had never been witnessed before.

Meanwhile, Governor Bello has announced Mr Edward Onoja, as the Chief of Staff (COS) to the Governor; Abdulkarim Abdulmalik as the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity and Kingsley Olorunfemi Fanwo as his Chief Press Secretary.

According to a statement personally signed by the governor, the appointments were with immediate effect.

In the same vein, a non govermental organisation, the Ubito Associates, on Wednesday, charged the new governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to formulate workable policies and programmes that would create employment opportunities for the youth of the state.

The group also tasked the people of the state to put behind ethnic and political considerations and support the governor to be able to deliver on his promises.

The coordinator of the group, Mr Ben Ubitogwale, who said this during a road show organised to sentise the people of the state and drum support for the governor, said there was the need for the people to bury the hatchet and rally round Bello.

According to him, the governor could only be successful in office if the people dropped their differences and supported him, bearing in mind the circumstances of his emergence.

Cleric charges Christians on commitment to God

By Remi Anifowose

THE presiding pastor of Sanctuary of Christ Evangelical Church, Pastor (Dr) Gbade Ojo, has emphasised the need for Christians to have a personal and cordial relationship with God by making themselves available for church activities, even as the church commences a special programme for the new year from Friday, January 29 to Sunday, January 31.

Pastor Ojo, in a statement he personally signed and made available to

the Nigerian Tribune, charged Christians to make God priorities in their lives in the new year.

According to him, Christians needed to be consistent with God and committed to His activities , saying the special programme for the new year, to be held at the church auditorium, Olabiyi Agoro Street, Semi-N-Bio Bus stop, opposite CAC Grammar School, Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway, Ibadan, and tagged: ‘‘Divine Recovery 2016,’’ would discuss the various ways of commitment to God.

Ojo, who said one of the ways to get committed to God, was regular attendance of vigils, noted that the programme would begin with a liberation vigil on Friday at 10.00pm at the church auditorium with Archbishop (Dr) Johnson Ibodeme from Benin, ministering.

While the guest minister would also deliver a lecture, entitled: ‘‘The Person God Uses,’’ on Saturday, the programme, according to the statement, will be rounded off with a mega service on Sunday at 9.00 am, at the church auditorium.

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Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Arms deal: Court varies Metuh’s bail condition Sunday Ejike-Abuja

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USTICE Okon Abang of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, varied the bail conditions he earlier granted the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisah Metuh, on January 19, 2016.

Metuh, had through his counsel, Emeka Etiaba, prayed the court to vary the bail conditions on the grounds that he (Metuh) was finding it difficult to meet with them.

The PDP spokesman wants the court to vary the aspect of the bail conditions that said the landed property of the two sureties that will stand for him must be located in Mai-

tama District, Abuja, only.

But counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that: “The prosecution is fundamentally opposed to the application of the first defendant for variation of bail.”

But, the defence counsel argued that the prosecution had no right to oppose the application since it did not file a counter-affidavit to the application and asked the court to exercise its discretion and vary the conditions of the accused person’s bail.

Metuh’s counsel had prayed the court to uphold the application as constituted, stressing that, the opposition, orally submitted before the court, was not in tandem with the provisions of Order 26

rule 5 of the Federal High Court.

In his ruling, the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, granted part of Metuh’s application for variation of the bail conditions.

Justice Abang held, in his ruling, that Metuh would no longer be required to produce two sureties who must have property strictly in the Maitama area of Abuja.

While the bail sum of N400 million and other attached conditions remain, Metuh’s proposed sureties, who the court insisted must be resident in Abuja, could now be owners of property with valid title documents “in any district of the Federal Capital Territory.”

However, the court, in its ruling, rejected an aspect of Metuh’s application

seeking the removal of the bail condition directing the prosecuting counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, to, within 24 hours of being notified, verify the addresses of the proposed sureties and the certificates of occupancy of the property to be presented by them.

The court also rejected the second leg of the application despite disregarding the opposition by prosecuting counsel to that aspect of the prayer for failing to file his objection to the application within 24 hours earlier given him to do so.

The judge upheld Etiaba’s request that Tahir’s submissions be expunged from the court’s records, but still went ahead to rule that, “regarding the second leg of the application, I think the first defendant

(Metuh) is asking for what is not legally permissible.”

Metuh was, on January 15, 2016, docked on charges of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of N400 million, part of the funds allegedly meant for procurement of arms, from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014.

After taking his plea of not guilty that day, he was remanded in Kuje Prison, where he is till date.

Since his remand, prison officials have always produced him in court for his trial in handcuffs, not exempting his appearances before an Abuja High Court, where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), subsequently charged him with destruction of evidence.

Metuh is being prosecut-

ed along with his company, Destra Investment Limited, at the Federal High Court for money laundering and fraudulent receipt of N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014.

The prosecution alleged in the charges that Metuh and his firm used the N400million paid to them by ONSA for PDP’s campaign activities, and were said to have given about N21million to a former Chairman, Board of Trustee of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih.

In the course of the trial, several revelations have emerged such as how $2 million was invested for Metuh and how Destra Investment Limited being Metuh’s company was paid N400 million for doing nothing.

rent security challenges.’’

Also the chairman, Senate Committee on Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Senator Fatai Buhari, condoled with the family of the former Inspector General of Police, Chief Adewusi, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III and the entire people of Ogbomoso over the demise of their loved one.

Senator Buhari, repre-

senting Oyo North senatorial district, at the upper chamber of the National Assembly, in a press statement made available to journalists in Ibadan, said he received the death of the former IGP with shock and disbelief.

Buhari said: “Though Allah giveth and taketh, his death is not expected at this moment, particularly when his wealth of experience and wise counsel are still needed by the people.

Adewusi’s death, a great loss —Ajimobi •As Ahmed, Odebunmi, Buhari, others mourn him

By Our Reporters

The governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has described the death of a former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Chief Sunday Adewusi, as a great loss to the government and people of the state.

The governor lamented the death of the foremost police officer, who made history as the youngest IG ever in the country to take charge at the Kem Salem House, where he instilled discipline in the rank and file of the force.

A statement by the governor’s Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka, recalled that the era of the late Adewusi as the nation’s number one cop was a defining moment that brought the best out of the officers and men of the police.

The governor prayed that God should grant the soul of the illustrious son of Ogbomoso eternal rest and give the family; Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, and the sons and daughters of the state the fortitude to bear the sad loss.

Describing the late Asiwaju of Ogbomoso as urbane and affectionate, the governor said his simple lifestyle was a lesson in humility despite his accomplishments as a distinguished police officer.

In his reaction over the death former IGP, Adewusi, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State described the death of the former Inspector General of Police as a national loss of immense proportions.

Governor Ahmed, in a

statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, said the late Chief Adewusi was a police officer who, not only rose to the pinnacle of his career, but contributed immensely to nation building.

He added that the late Inspector General of Police, who lived in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, for many years, was an elder statesman whose vast experience in security matters was of great value to the state and Nigeria at large.

Also speaking, a traditional chief in the Ilorin emirate, the Magaji Nda of Ilorin, Alhaji Mohammed Woru, described the death of Pa Adewusi as a monumental loss.

Alhaji Mohammed, who described late Adewusi as one of the finest IGP Nigeria ever produced, said the deceased served in Kwara as commissioner of police in the 70s.

Also, the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has expressed sympathy over the demise of the former IGP, Sunday Adewusi, who passed away at the National Hospital, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Arase described the late Adewusi as a Nigerian hero, who served his nation proudly, as a police officer, even at retirement, saying he was a transformational leader whose tenure as Inspector-General of Police between 1981-1983 remained imparting across several generations of police officers.

In a statement issued by the Police Spokesperson, ACP Olabisi Kolawole, in Abuja, on Wednesday, the IGP said throughout his life, he remained a strong member of the Police fam-

ily; attending all Police official events, even up to the last Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary celebration.

The late Adewusi, according to the IGP, was a beacon of hope to the Nigeria Police Force, just as he remained an advocate of policing throughout his life.

The Nigeria Police consequently opened condolence register for its late boss at the headquarters as part of the activities to mourn him.

According to a statement issued by the Force, it stated, “the InspectorGeneral of Police, IGP Solomon Arase,, on behalf of the entire officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, announces the news of the death of former IGP Sunday A. Adewusi,GCON, NPM, who passed away at the National Hospital, Abuja, on Tuesday, 26th January, 2016, and expresses deepest condolences and sympathy to the families and loved ones of the late IGP.’’ Meanwhile, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation, Honourable Segun Odebunmi, described the death of the former IGP Adewusi as a great loss to Ogbomoso and Nigeria Odebunmi, in a condolence message, said he received the news of his death with shock.

“Though Asiwaju Sunday Adewusi lived a fulfilled life and died at a ripe age, his fatherly figure and role will be greatly missed,’’ he said.

In the same vein, the Jagunmolu of Igbomi-

naland and founder, Alhikmah University, Ilorin, Alhaji AbdulRaheem Oladimeji, described the death of Chief Adewusi, as a colossal loss.

In a statement made available in Ilorin, on Wednesday, he said the late Chief Adewusi was a fine police officer who contributed immensely to the growth and development of Nigeria.

Alhaji Oladimeji said the elder statesman was a symbol of the Nigeria Police and his record of achievements as the long serving Inspector General of Police would not be forgotten.

He commiserated with the family members of the deceased, the people of Ogbomoso and the Nigeria Police over the loss of a great retired officer whose ‘‘knowledge and advice will be needed in this cur-

7

news

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Arms deal: Jonathan speaks

F

ORMER president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has said the time is not yet appropriate for him to react to the allegations that his government abused funds meant for the procurement of arms.

The current administration has launched a probe, which led to the arrest of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd) and some officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

They were accused of diverting security funds for Jonathan’s re-election campaign and there had been pressure on the former president to speak out over this.

But, in series of messages on his Twitter handle, @ Jonathan, who was holding a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, said he would react to the issue when the time is ripe.

“My voice will certainly be heard at the appropriate time regarding the alleged

arms funds mismanagement,” he tweeted.

“I would not want to in-

terfere with the proceeding by the judicial system that my administration worked

“The recent issue of cars for legislators would fall into the same category.

Whatever name it is disguised as, it is unnecessary and insensitive. A pool of a few cars for each chamber will suffice for any committee chairman or members for any specific duty.

The waste that has gone into cars, furniture, housing renovation in the past was mind-boggling and these were veritable sources of waste and corruption,” he added.

He said that the waste embedded in the purchase of cars and furniture was responsible for the decision to abolish them under his tenure, adding that the development was inimical to the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

Obasanjo further lectured the legislators thus: “The way of proposing budget should be for the executive to discuss every detail of the budget, in preparation, with different committees and sub-committees of the National Assembly and the National Assembly to discuss its budget with the Ministry of Finance.

“Then, the budget should be brought together as consolidated budget and formally presented to the National Assembly, to be deliberated and debated upon and passed into law.

“It would then be implemented as revenues are available. Where budget proposals are extremely ambitious like the current budget and revenue sources are so uncertain, more borrowing may have to be embarked upon, almost up to

and good governance in Africa. If we do not spend billions to educate Africa’s

youths today, we will spend it fighting insecurity tomorrow,” he added.

Gulak declares self PDP chairman

•You can’t come through backdoor –PDP •Ex-officio chairman kicks Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji -Abuja

FORMER Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Dr Ahmed Gulak, appeared at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abuja, on Wednesday, in an attempt to resume office as the national chairman, but was rebuffed by party hierarchy, which posited that he could not get to the position through the backdoor.

In a new twist to the unfolding leadership crises in the former ruling party, Gulak and some of his supporters, led by former Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe,

stormed the party’s secretariat around 1.50 p.m. and headed for the office of the national chairman located on the second floor of the Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

Other party members with him were Abdullahi Ohioma, Dr Sylva Opusunji, Honourable Chuma Nnaji, Mohammed Kachalla and Honourable Jonathan Asake.

However, they were denied access to the office, which had remained under lock since the resignation of Dr Adamu Mu’azu as national chairman since May 20, 2015.

Gulak, who hails from Adamawa State in the NorthEast, had approached an

OBJ writes Saraki, Dogara Continued from pg2

tirelessly to strengthen.

“My post-presidential focus is advancing democracy

Nigerian Tribune

50 per cent of the budget or the budget may be grossly unimplementable and unimplemented.

“Neither is a choice as both are bad. Management of the economy is one of the key responsibilities of the president as prescribed in the constitution. He cannot do so if he does not have his hands on the budget.

Management of the economy is shared responsibility where the presidency has the lion share.

“The beginning of good governance, which is the responsibility of all arms and all tiers of government, is openness and transparency.

It does not matter what else we try to do, as long as one arm of government shrouds its financial administration and management in opaqueness and practices rife with corruption, only very little, if anything at all, can be achieved in putting Nigeria on the path of sustainable and enduring democratic system, development and progress. Governance without transparency will be a mockery of democracy.

“A situation where our national budget was predicated on $38 per barrel of oil with estimated 2 million barrels per day and before the budget was presented, the price of oil had gone down to $34 per barrel and now hovering around $30 and we have no assurance of producing 2 million barrels and, if we can, we have no assurance of finding market for it, definitely calls for caution.

“If production and price projected in the budget stand, we would have to

borrow almost one third of the N6 trillion budget.

Now, beginning with the reality of the budget, there is the need for sober reflection and sacrifice with innovation at the level of executive and legislative arms of government. The soberness, the sacrifice and seriousness must be patient and apparent.”

He called on the lawmakers to adopt the path of honour and transparency, adding that “honestly, the National Assembly will take a step back and do what is right, not only in making its own budget transparent but in all matters of financial administration and management, including audit of its accounts by external outside auditor from 1999 to date.

“This, if it is done, will bring a new dawn to democracy in Nigeria and a new and better image for the National Assembly and it will surely avoid the Presidency and the National Assembly going into face-off all the time on budgets and financial matters.”

Speaking on the letter, the Senate President, Dr Saraki, acknowledged its receipt, adding that he was still studying its content.

He hinted that he would formally write a reply to the former president soon.

Speaking through Olaniyonu, Saraki insisted that he would officially communicate the former president on the issues he raised.

“The Senate President has acknowledged that he has received the letter and that he would formally communicate the former president,” Olaniyonu said.

FCT High Court in Abuja and obtained a ruling reserving the national chairmanship seat of the party for a member from the North-East to serve out Mu’azu’s tenure.

In granting his prayers on December 16, 2015, the court barred Secondus from further occupying the office.

Following the ruling, Secondus filed an appeal and approached the FCT High Court for stay of execution, pending the determination of the substantive case at the Court of Appeal.

Gulak claimed that Justice Baba Hussein the FCT High Court had dismissed Secondus’ motion on the ground that the judgment was a declarative one that should be obeyed by Secondus and PDP. Unable to access the chairman’s office, the former presidential aide addressed the press in the National Working Committee (NWC) hall, where he declared himself the new party boss.

“We are here today in accordance with the court judgment of December 16, 2015 and the court ruling of today striking out the

motion for stay of executive filed by the defendants/applicants.

“The court order of December 16, 2015, was that within 14 days, my humble self or any other person from the North-East zone be appointed to replace Dr Adamu Mu’azu who resigned his position as the national chairman of our party on the May 20, 2015.

“At the expiration of 14 days on December 29, 2015, the defendants failed; refused or neglected to obey the court orders by appointing me or any other person from the North-East zone.

“By the operations of the law and the court order, I now assume duty as the national chairman of our great party, especially as the court has today struck out the motion for stay of execution,” he said.

Gulak left the party secretariat immediately after the press conference.

The party NWC reacted through another press conference addressed by its national legal adviser, Victor Kwon, who described Gulak as a “fifth columnist” within the PDP. He explained that the

court ruling Gulak was relying upon did not order the party to appoint him, but said “a person from the North-East.”

He also said contrary to the claim that PDP’s stay of execution had been struck out, the party had not received any notice.

According to him, consultations were ongoing among stakeholders to produce an agreeable person in line with the party’s constitution.

“If Gulak is interested in the position, he should start lobbying so that he can get it. Nobody is going to shortchange the North-East,” he said.

Also reacting, the deputy national publicity secretary, Abdullahi Jalo, said Gulak could not nominate himself but must be nominated from his zone before he could become the party chairman.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the PDP ex-officio members, Honourable Udo Ekpenyong, has distanced the group from Gulak, following his effort to recruit their support.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, on Wednesday, he said he would not be a party to illegality.

EFCC seals off military officers’ properties Saliu Gbadamosi -Abuja

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, sealed off properties of some military officers involved in the ongoing arms procurement funds being investigated by the anti-corruption agency.

This was as the news broke, as of the time of filing this re-

port that the commission had arrested an oil magnate said to be an ally of former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, in connection with some oil deals that were allegedly fraudulent.

An EFCC source informed that the properties of the affected military officers were sealed off on Wednesday, but could not give further

details of the operation.

It was learnt that the oil magnate was arrested for offences bordering on crude oil export and import of some refined oil through his company.

The company, it was gathered, allegedly received multibillion dollar worth of public assets from the Jonathan-led administration in 2011.

2016 budget: Senate concludes debate, to pass it Feb 24

Dogara cautions committee chairmen Taiwo Adisa, Ayodele Adesanmi, Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja

THE Senate, on Wednesday, completed debate on the second reading of the 2016 budget and immediately fixed February 24 for eventual passage of the appropriation bill.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje, who submitted a timetable for the committee work on the budget, said it would be ready for passage on February 24.

Goje told the senators that committee work on the budget would start on January 28 and end on February 11, adding that plenary would be suspended to give the senators enough time to concentrate on the budget

defence.

Also on Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari presented executive bills, entitled: “The Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) bill and The Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters bill, 2016,” sent to the Senate through a letter and read during the plenary by the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, on Wednesday, tasked committees chairmen on the need to take the budget defence serious.

At a meeting on Wednesday, he was reported to have cautioned the lawmakers from making demands from the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), an action he said might impinge

on the integrity of the National Assembly.

Dogara, who met the standing committees chairmen in a closed door, ahead the commencement of budget defence by MDAs before the House, reportedly warned the lawmakers not to cut corners during the exercise.

The meeting, it was learnt, explore need for the House to adjourn plenary for two weeks, to enable the committees to work on the appropriation bill in a record time.

The meeting, held at the Room 0.19 Conference Hall, had in attendance almost all the heads of committees.

The meeting, it was further learnt, discussed how best the committees should engage the MDAs during the budget defence.

8

Nigerian Tribune

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Lagosmetro Artisan accused of alleged rape, assault Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

Mr Charles Oputa (Charly Boy) (second left), leading a campaign against vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN

Lagos to treat cultists as murderers, arsonists Bola Badmus

W

ORRIED by the rising cases of cultism and criminality resulting in violent clashes in a few areas of the state, the Lagos State government, on Wednesday, reiterated its determination to deal decisively with anyone found engaged in such unwholesome practices, saying it had directed the law enforcement agencies to ensure that culprits were dealt with the maximum force they deserved.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen, saying that the government would henceforth go tough against any cult member or group, sponsors or collaborators, as well as criminal gangs disturbing the peace of the state.

“Henceforth, they will be treated as murderers and arsonists as the case may be,” the statement said.

He said the state government would no longer fold

its arms and watch innocent citizens suffer unduly in the hands of unscrupulous elements.

The commissioner said that the state governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, had directed the State Police Command to use appropriate force to fish out

and deal decisively with any individual or group of persons involved in cult activities and criminal gangs, wherever they might be in the state.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the present administration to improve security and protect lives and

properties of the citizens and, therefore, warned all criminally-minded individuals not to test the will of the government.

Ayorinde said the state government would be unrelenting in applying the law on anyone that indulged in illegal dredging; street

fighting, or anyone found threatening the safety and peaceful co-existence of Lagos residents.

He implored parents and guardians to keep watchful eyes on their children and wards and also the people they moved with in order not to run foul of the Law.

Conman penitent, returns loot to Chinese Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin A self-confessed conman has refunded a China national he scammed.

He also admitted to forging the signature of the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan and the former Senate President, David Mark, in a contract scam, designed to defraud the Chinese national.

The culprit, John Madu Eze who paraded himself as a lawyer, had approached a Chinese national, Wu Xinsu, claiming to be a Federal Government official in charge of contract allocation.

Xinsu fell for the scam after Nze who used the alias; Barrister Wilson Amarachi presented a fake newspa-

per clipping from the Sun Newspaper calling for beneficiaries of a Federal Government contract to submit documents.

Nze went ahead and forged documents urging Xinsu to pay the different amounts of money into a

domiciliary account. To further authenticate his scam, Nze went ahead and authenticated a document from the office of the former President allegedly listed in the official gazette.

Xinsu from Beijing, China, paid a total of

$5,080 to Nze. When the Chinese national realised that he had been scammed, he petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Nze was arrested.

Nze, however opted for a

AN artisan, Sodiq Lawal, has been accused of stabbing a 22-year-old woman and raping her while she was unconscious.

According to the police, 27-year-old Sodiq Lawal, allegedly assaulted and raped a woman (names withheld).

He allegedly waylaid the complainant on her way to her shop and stabbed her on the head with a bottle, which made her unconscious.

He also allegedly dragged her into an uncompleted building and raped her.

Sodiq, who lives in 24, Oribanwo Street, Ibeju-Lekki, however, pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned before a Tinubu Magistrate Court.

He was granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mr A.A. Adefulire, adjourned the case till March 2, for hearing.

plea bargain and refunded the money.

He was arraigned before Justice Lateef Akapo of an Ikeja High Court, where he pleaded guilty.

The matter was consequently adjourned till February 9 for sentencing.

Policeman who killed nursing mother over N50 for A Police Corporal, Musefiu Aremu who allegedly killed a mother of four will face trial for attempted murder and murder.

Aremu allegedly killed Comfort Godwin Sunday, sometimes last year, when her husband, who is a commercial tricycle driver, refused to give him money.

Aremu and his colleagues

from the Isheri-Osun Police Station had allegedly manned an illegal road block on the night of the incident.

A scuffle ensued, and Aremu allegedly shot at the tricycle and in the process Comfort, who was breast-feeding her baby was hit by the bullet.

Aremu was earlier

charged before an Ebute Metta Magistrate Court and he was remanded in prison custody pending the advice from office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The Prosecutor, Godwin Osuyi, informed the court that the DPP’s advice had been released and it indicted Aremu and recom-

mended him for trial.

Aremu’s lawyer, Salias Udoh also affirmed the submission of the prosecutor, and said a copy of the DPP’s advice was already in their possession.

According to the DPP advice, signed by Assistant Chief State Counsel, Mrs Taiwo Lambo, the facts have been carefully

9

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By Lanre Adewole 0811 695 4647

We raped primary 5 pupil because she isn’t a virgin —Suspects Olalekan Olabulo

FIVE members of a gang that raped a 15-year-old primary five pupil in the Bariga area of Lagos State have attributed the victim’s waywardness for their action and not being a virgin.

The suspects also insisted that the victim (names withheld) was a girlfriend to one of the arrested members and that she voluntary followed his boyfriend to the scene of the rape.

The suspects were a few days ago arrested, after a non-governmental organisation reported the incident at Oworonsoki police station, following the alarm by residents of the area.

The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni identified the arrested suspects as: Tasheed Oyekanmi, Olafele Habeeb, Femi Olatunji and Alade John.

The suspects, while speaking with Lagos Metro, stated that the fifth accused person had been released by the police.

18-year-old Oladele Habeeb admitted that the gang all took their turn to sleep with the girl, but insisted that “it was not a rape incident. She agreed to it.”

He added that, “The girl is a bad girl. She used to sleep around with boys. Everybody in the area knows her as a wayward girl.”

The acclaimed boyfriend, Femi Olatunji also confessed to have slept with the girl, but insisted that they had been dating each other for many months, before the incident.

He however also con-

fessed that he slept with the primary five pupil for the first time, the same day his friends took their turn to rape her.

“She was my girlfriend.

We have been dating each other for some months before that day. I was the one that took her to where my friends raped her,” he explained.

The victim had given one of her clothes to Femi for amendment, when he lured her to where members of the gang took their turns to rape her

The ongoing construction of barricade on Ketu/Mile 12 section of Ikorodu road, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN

Sex workers allegedly beat up, tears policeman’s uniform Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin SEX workers, identified as Dominica Paul and Chioma Aneka, have been accused of beating up a policeman.

According to the police, the women who reside at Ajegunle area of Apapa, were accused of beating up a policeman simply identified as Sergeant Usang and in the process, tore his uniform.

It was gathered that Usang saw the accused roaming the street at about midnight and decided to confront them.

When Usang asked them where they were going, they could not give a satisfactory answer and he decided to take them to the police station.

They resisted the arrest and allegedly conspired to beat him up and also tear his uniform, the Police claimed.

Their offence contravenes Sections 166, 172 and 337 of the Criminal Law of Lagos

State, 2011.

They however, denied the charges, and the Chief Magistrate, Mr Titus

Abolarinwa of a Tinubu Magistrate Court, granted them bail in the sum of N50, 000 each with two

sureties each in like sum.

Further hearing in the case was fixed for February 24.

Suspect detained for 8 years over N10, 500 theft Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin A robbery suspect, Tiamiyu Lawal who has been in prison custody since 2008, was formally arraigned before an Ikeja high Court on Tuesday.

Lawal was accused of stealing N10, 500 belonging to one Riliwan Martins.

Tiamiyu Lawal was arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye on a twocount charge bothering on conspiracy and robbery.

He was said to have committed the offence on December 16, 2008 at Ilasamaja, along Apapa, Oshodi when he robbed one Riliwan Martins of the said amount.

He, however, pleaded not guilty before the court when the statement of offence was read to him.

According to the prosecution, the offence is contrary to section 297 and 295 (2) (a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State.

The matter has been adjourned till March 22 and 23 2016, for trial.

r murder trial studied and a murder case has been levelled against Aremu.

“In the instant case, it is evident that Aremu intentionally killed and caused grievous harm to the occupants of the tricycle. He confessed that he fired his rifle at the tricycle which injured the husband of deceased and killed his wife,”

the DPP advice read.

The presiding Magistrate, Afolashade Botoku adjourned case till March 7, for report on the progress made.

The convener of Women Arise (WA), Joe Odumakin commenting on the DPP advice, demanded for justice for the family of the victim.

From right, Senior Legal Officer, Legal Aid, Doris Ememonu; Counsel to Akwa Ibom Community living in Lagos, Mr Silas Udoh; Legal Counsel for Women Arise Initiative, Mr Christian Love; husband of the woman killed by a police officer, Mr Godwin Udoh; President, Women Arise Initiative, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin with children of Mrs Comfort and members of Women Arise Initiatives, during the court hearing on the murder of Comfort, at Ebutte Metta Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Man on trial for 15 years for killing 80-year-old woman Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin A man, who has been standing trial for murder for 15 years, was once again sent back to prison on Monday after a judge declined to strike out the murder charge against him.

Oba Raphael was accused of murdering one Ronke Alimi sometimes in 2001 when he pushed her during an altercation.

Raphael allegedly pushed the woman who was over 80 years at that time and she was rushed to the hospital, where she eventually died, and Raphael was arrested and charged to court.

The matter was brought before Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, at an Ikeja High Court who was set to deliver judgement before he was transferred to the Court of Appeal.

The matter was again brought before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, who declined to strike out the matter when Raphael’s counsel, Mrs A.A Babalola complained about not getting appropriate response from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Justice Ipaye declined to strike out the matter and consequently adjourned till March 7, for advice from the DPP.

news Bomb blast kills 14, injures 24 in Chibok 10

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

7 traders missing in another Borno village James Bwala - Maiduguri

T

WO suspected female suicide bombers hit Chibok Market in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State leaving eight people dead and over 30 others in serious condition, a party chairman in Chibok, Lawan Pogu, told a relation in Maiduguri.

According to reports from Chibok, on Wednesday, the Chibok market had been shut since the abduction

of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok by the Islamic militants.

“The market was only opened today, and the suicide bombers hit the market at exactly 12:54p.m.

Eight people died on the spot while over 30 were rushed to the General Hospital, Uba, in Askira Local Government Area with two of the victims in critical condition,” he said.

Another resident of Chibok, Mallum Chibok, told the Nigerian Tri-

bune that despite the presence of security in Chibok, the Boko Haram members succeeded in attacking the area.

“I cannot understand the reason why government is insisting that normalcy has returned when you can not go to Chibok from Maiduguri through Damboa. The road is still closed because Boko Haram members are still operating 21 kilometres away from Maiduguri.

“Today, they opened the

market and we lost eight people on the spot with over 30 hospitalised. From what we are being told, some of the people taken to the hospital gave up as soon as they reached the hospital in Uba. “From the text massage I just received, another six have died making the number 14. Since the attack, I have received more than 100 calls and more calls and text massages are coming in. This is very unfortunate. It is sad,” Chibok said.

From left, Project Coordinator, Mr Lanre Idowu; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Political Counsellor, British High Commission, Mr Ben Liewellyn-Jones; representative of the National Security Adviser, Colonel Folorusho Onyilola and the programme manager, Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme, Dr Ukoha Ukiwo, at a workshop on conflict sensitive communication and reporting for media and security chiefs, in Abuja, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN.

Linking Boko Haram with Islam accords terrorists legitimacy —Minister Christian Okeke - Abuja

MINISTER of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, said that calling the Boko Haram an Islamic group gives the terrorists some form of legitimacy which they so desperately desire and alienates a majority of Muslims across the world who he said feel branded in a negative way.

He insisted that neither the Boko Haram sect nor the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is Islamic.

The minister, while speaking in Abuja at a workshop on conflict sensitive communications and reporting, stated that the Boko Haram is against democracy as a system of government, rejects the constitution, sees legislation as usurping the powers of God, kills any uniformed personnel they come across, kills Muslims and Christians and is linked to ISIS, which he said enslaves and promotes violence against the weak, abusing the tenets of a reli-

gion they claim to belong.

The minister noted that the country is facing numerous challenges at this time which included terrorism, widespread corruption, poverty and economic challenges but said that “the good news is that Nigerians across faiths, tribes, age groups and income levels have made a

choice to break from the past and embrace a future free from insecurity, corruption and poverty.”

With the choice, Alhaji Mohammed noted that difficult but necessary paths to opportunities have opened up, promising to defeat terrorism, free public funds from the web of corruption and put the people back to

economic prosperity.

He said, “We are not alone on this path. Across the globe, Nigeria - under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari - continues to enjoy the goodwill and support of big nations and organisations, all of which want to see us free from the scourge of terrorism and corruption.

Gov Shettima signs N159.36bn 2016 appropriation James Bwala - Maiduguri

GOVERNOR Kashim Shettima of Borno State, on Wednesday, assented to the N159.36 billion 2016 appropriation.

Signing the bill on Wednesday at the Government House, Maiduguri, Shettima said the passage of 2016 budget for ascent was a result of the good working relationship between the legislative and executive arms of government.

His words: “Today (yesterday) is also an epoch-

making occasion in the history of Borno State. We cannot thank the House of Assembly enough for expeditiously passing this appropriation bill in a record time; which bears testimony on the good working relationship between the legislative and executive.

“We went through and teamed together. Last time, by this time, you and I, the Speaker, Abdulkarim Lawan, were in a quandary. We were assaulted from all ends. But members of the House of Assembly

stood by us; and they are still with us through this period of reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement of our people.”

He assured the speaker that the executive arm of government will continue to nurture and sustain the good relationship that existed between the legislative and executive arms of government.

He, however, noted that in the last dispensation, a legislator and an executive member were lost to assassins’ bullets.

Meanwhile, the Boko Haram sect, on Monday, allegedly attacked a group of firewood traders in Jawu Village, about eight kilometres from Auno town, west of Maiduguri.

Relations of the victims who spoke to newsmen in Maiduguri on Wednesday disclosed that seven people are still missing.

According to Modu Mai Ali, a relation to one of the victims, the traders were on their way to purchase firewood from the forest for onward delivery to Maiduguri when the insurgents opened fire on them.

Mai Ali continued, “We were at the railway track around 9 o’clock in the morning when they went and I even exchanged banters with some of them.

I could count about 15 of them. At about 3:00p.m, news reached us that the traders were attacked and I rushed home, only to be told that eight among them escaped while seven others including my cousin are still missing.”

Baba Furra, a hunter who was also one of those that escaped, disclosed that “we use to compliment our hunting expeditions with firewood trading.

About 1:00p.m. on Monday, while we were moving toward Jawu Village to get firewood, we saw a vehicle coming towards our direction and we thought they were firewood dealers.

Suddenly, they opened fire on us; about 15 of us, some pushing wheel-barrows while the rest were in the Isuzu vehicle,” he added.

A youth vigilante, Musa Musa who was among those who conveyed some of the victims to the hospital said “eight of the traders escaped with one of them shot on his buttock and presently on admission at Umar Shehu Hospital. Seven others are missing.

“But the news that the missing victims have been killed was a great shock and right now, we are joining forces with hunters and some security personnel toward the forest,” Musa said.

A rescue official and a hospital official at Umaru Shehu Hospital, Bulumkuttu, who pleaded for anonymity, confirmed the admission of a victim with gunshot wound from Auno.

As at the time of filing this report, both the military and the Police authorities could not confirm the incident but, independent sources and residents said such incidents are not new to most settlements around Jakana, Auno and parts of Damboa.

Nigerian Tribune

Niger receives relief materials from NEMA Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

THE Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), last Sunday, received relief materials which included bags of cement, roofing sheets and food items from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The materials were meant to be distributed among the victims of last year’s petroleum laden tanker which exploded at Kagara in Rafi Local Government Area of the state and other community members affected by poisoning within the same period.

The items were received from the representative of the Director General of NEMA, Mr Abdulrasak Musa, an Assistant Coordinator, Niger State Operations office, by the Commissioner of Finance, Mr Ibrahim Balarabe; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Ygbagi Abass and the Director General , NSEMA, Mallam Ibrahim Nga. Meanwhile, the Niger State government had earlier distributed cash and relief materials worth N15 million to the affected tanker explosion and other victims in the council area.

CCB to hold workshop on assets declaration for Customs Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

THE Zonal Co-ordinator of Nigeria Customs Service Zone ‘B’ with headquarters in Kaduna, ACG Aminu Dangaladima, has said the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) had been contacted to sensitise officers in the zone on how to fill their asset declaration forms.

Speaking through the Public Relations Officer (PR0) of the zone, Abdullahi Maiwada, he also dispelled the insinuation that his men were remorseful about the exercise.

The co-ordinator remarked that arrangement are on top gear to ensure that every officer in the zone declare his or her assets within the stipulated two weeks grace.

The customs boss, stated that the Code of Conduct Bureau had made available forms for the officers in the zone.

‘The CCB had also graciously accepted to sensitise our men on how to go about it,” saying “the idea is to ensure that errors in filling the forms are minimised.”

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businessnews

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Nigeria flirts with economic disaster as naira controls stay —Bloomberg

A

S governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday resisted calls, again, to weaken the currency despite a plunge in oil prices that’s slashed revenue in Africa’s biggest crude producer, financial analysts say that the country may be heading for an economic disaster.

According to them, Emefiele is stuck to his foreignexchange restrictions that have led to capital flight, curbed output in the continent’s largest economy and led to the naira dropping to a record low on the black market.

They analysts concluded that Emefiele gave no indication that he is ready to ease controls even though they have been widely panned by investors, criticized by businesses and questioned by lawmakers, the stance which they said was set to deepen the crisis for an economy that probably grew at its slowest pace in 16 years in 2015, is facing inflation of 10 per cent and a record budget deficit to pay government salaries and build roads and power plants.

“There is pressure but there is no way of exerting market discipline on the Nigerian central bank,” Ayodele Salami, who manages about $500 million of African equities as chief investment officer at Duet Asset Management in London, said by phone.

“We need to see a collapse in growth. It’s not yet gone into territory where they have to panic. If growth was to be 1 percent or even go negative, I think that would definitely be the key thing that would persuade the central bank to move,” he said.

The economy probably expanded three per cent last year, the slowest pace since 1999, and is set to grow 4.1 percent in 2016, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The central bank has effectively pegged the naira at 197 to 199 per dollar since March by restricting imports of products from glass to wheelbarrows, halting supply of foreign currency to exchange bureaus and all but shutting down the interbank market with trading limits.

While Emefiele on Tuesday acknowledged the need for improving liquidity, he said policy makers were also committed to stability in the naira.

Nigeria has resisted devaluation while oil-producing

nations from Angola to Russia and Mexico have let their currencies weaken.

The naira was trading at about 306 per dollar on the black market on Tuesday.

Naira forwards soared after Emefiele’s speech, suggesting traders have lowered their expectations of devaluation. Naira three-month non-deliverable forwards rose to 229.25 per dollar at 6 a.m. on Wednesday in Lagos, the commercial capital, from 250.5 on Tuesday.

“Oil has gone lower than anyone thought it was going to and that didn’t change

their mind,” John Ashbourne, an economist at Capital Economics Ltd. in London, said by phone.

A weaker economy “didn’t change their mind, and now you have a huge gap between the parallel market and the official market and that hasn’t changed their mind either,” he said. “I’m not sure what would be the sort of straw that breaks the camel’s back.”

The currency controls have knocked investor confidence, with foreign inflows dropping by 32 percent last year, the Nigerian Stock Ex-

change said in a report on it’s website on Dec. 19. The benchmark equity index is down 17 percent this year, the worst performer globally after gauges in Shanghai, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong.

The central bank has favored lowering interest rates to help support growth in the hope that banks will boost lending. The MPC reduced the benchmark rate by 200 basis points to 11 percent in November and kept it unchanged on Tuesday.

The bank “wants to en-

courage credit and stimulate the economy,” Lanre Buluro, an analyst at Primera Africa Securities Ltd., said by phone from Lagos.

“However, I don’t see the banks lending in the near term because of low economic activity.”

Emefiele has the backing of President Muhammadu Buhari, who has said he doesn’t favour currency devaluation. Buhari took office last year on a wave of optimism to fix the economy, fight corruption and combat attacks by Boko Haram militants.

Nigerian Tribune

NITP decries govt low appreciation of urban and regional planning Gbemi Solaja-Lagos

SETTLEMENT experts under the umbrella body of Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP) have expressed great worry over an alleged government’s lackadaisical attitude and low appreciation of urban and regional planning At one-day colloquium organised by concerned planners in Lagos, Chairman of the organising committee, Waheed Kadidri, lamented that one of the challenges confronting the profession had been government’s attitude and low appreciation of urban and regional planning.

Kadiri, who was a past president of NITP, explained “when decisions are taken, budgets are proposed and locational decisions are taken without considering urban and regional planning implications. Planning is remembered when there is need to blame someone or a group.

Equities market dips by 2.09% Kehinde Akinseinde-JayeobaLagos

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (middle) at Apir Transmission Station at Km 15, Makurdi-Aliade Road, during his assessment visit to Benue, on Tuesday. With him are Acting-General Manager, Power Control Room, Benue, Emmanuel Akpa (right) and others. PHOTO: NAN

Age of oil price going up is gone forever —Adenikinju

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

THE age of prices of crude oil going up has gone forever because of excess supply of crude in the global market.

This was the submission of Professor Adeola Adenikinju, Director, Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law (CPEEL), University of Ibadan, while speaking on Wednesday at the management retreat of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles.

According to him, those who are hoping to see the price of crude oil climb up in the immediate future are in for serious disappointment.

Adenikinju, who spoke on the theme How a Newspaper Can Survive a Recession, said, “Crude oil is on its way out. Many companies are looking beyond oil. As a matter of fact, we are in transition to post-oil.

Oil took over from coal and

another form of energy will take over from oil.”

Speaking on the fall of Naira against major currencies, the Professor of Economics said the level of foreign reserves affects exchange rates.

“When foreign reserves fall, exchange rate falls,” he said, adding that with the crash in the price of oil, the foreign reserves had been depleted and this had affected the value of the currency.

According to him, “The policy of the government not to officially devalue the naira has led to the stratification of the foreign exchange market; the official and parallel markets. It is not unlikely that the gap between the two will continue to get wider.”

Adenikinju stated that the government should seize the opportunity of the recession to use the crude oil for local development.

“We are fond of talking about diversification. I

think diversification should start with crude oil. From crude oil, you have almost 6,000 products but we have concentrated only on three products; PMS, kerosene and diesel.

“Diversification should start with crude oil. There are so many things that we currently import which could be produced locally from crude oil. If utilized, they will also have their own value chain.”

Speaking on how newspaper companies can survive a recession, Adenikinju said the company must determine its key objective functions, and decide whether it wants to maximize profits or maximize market share.

“You must understand your market and stratify it,” he said. “You must determine whether you want to play in all segments of the market or you want to concentrate on some segments.”

The Economics Professor, who gave the features of recession as contraction of the economy and a fall in income, added that recession can be triggered by happenings in different parts of the world.

He said, “Strategic planning to get ahead of the market and competition should be the major focus of a management that is determined to survive a recession.

“Any management that is caught off-guard will suffer during a recession. Business is like a battlefield, the driving force is to develop the right strategies that will put you at an advantage relative to your position,” he said.

The Managing Director/ Editor in Chief of ANN Plc, Mr Edward Dickson; Consultant/Director, Dr Segun Olatunji; editors and other senior management staff were present at the retreat.

TRADING at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed on a negative note on Wednesday, as All Share Index depreciated by 2.09 per cent to close at 23,333.34 basis points, compared with the 0.55 per cent depreciation recorded previously.

Market breadth closed negative as 11 gainers were recorded at the end of the day trade as against 24 losers, an unimproved performance when compared with Tuesday’s outlook.

However, market turnover closed positive as volume moved up by 82.6341 per cent against 33.61 per cent decline recorded in the previous session.

Seplat led the gainers chart having appreciated it’s share value by 8.26 per cent or N14.12 kobo to close at N185 against N170.88 kobo.

Cadbury also gained 79 kobo to N12.92 kobo per share it traded. Aiico Insurance’s stocks advanced by 4.94 per cent having closed trade at N85 kobo per share, while Nascon improved it’s share value by 31 kobo to close at N6.69 kobo per share.

On the flip side, Transcorp led the list as it shed 12 kobo off its share value to close at N1.19 kobo as against N1.31 kobo.

businessnews Boeing forecasts 2016 earnings below estimates, shares tumble 12

B

oeing Co (BA.N), said on Wednesday it would deliver fewer planes in 2016 and forecast earnings below expectations, sending shares tumbling as much as 10 percent to a 52-week low.

The world’s biggest planemaker also reported weaker fourth-quarter profit, mainly due to a charge announced last week for slowing production of the 747-8 jumbo.

Boeing expects to deliver 740 to 745 planes in 2016, its centenary year, down from a record 762 in 2015.

It will build fewer 737s as it shifts that factory to the upgraded 737 MAX. It also is cutting 747-8 output in response to weak demand.

Boeing forecast 2016 core earnings, excluding some pension and other costs, between $8.15 and $8.35 per share, below the average analyst estimate of $9.43, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Its forecast for about $10 billion in operating cash flow in 2016 raised concern among analysts.

“Whilst we don’t expect this to negatively impact Boeing’s existing plans to return cash to shareholders, it could create doubt as to the sustainability of these plans,” RBC analyst Robert Stallard wrote in a note.

He added that Boeing still faced a likely cut to 777 production as it begins building the successor 777X in 2017. He also cited the risk of an “impact from an aerospace downturn if this should occur at some point before the end of this decade.”

Others on Wall Street, however, saw the results and forecast as solid. “We are buyers of Boeing on the weak headline EPS number,” said Peter Arment, an analyst at Sterne Agee CRT. Boeing’s net income fell to $1.03 billion, or $1.51

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

per share, in the fourth quarter, from $1.47 billion, or $2.02 per share, a year earlier.

Core earnings declined to $1.60 per share from $2.31, reflecting a charge for slowing production of

the 747-8 jumbo jet. Wall Street looked for core earnings of $1.26 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Both figures reflected the aftertax charge of $569 million, or 84 cents

Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hassan Bello, has raised the alarm that about 80 percent of revenue which is accruable to the Federal Government through the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) as duty payment goes into private pockets.

according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Shares were down almost $12.03 at $115.70 on the New York Stock Exchange and fell as low as $115.02. Its 52-week high is $158.83.

From left: Vice President (Media), Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Jude Igwe; President of the chamber, Tony Ejinkeonye and second deputy president of the chamber, Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, during a press briefing announcing the winner of the 2016 ACCI Excellence Awards, in Abuja, on Wednesday Photo: Sunday Osunrayi

2016 will be a difficult year for Nigerians —MAN Akin Adewakun - Lagos

Individuals and corporate organisations operating business in Nigeria have been asked prepare for the challenges ahead, as the nation might experience its worst economic moments this year.

Making this submission in Lagos, on Wednesday, at an interactive session with officials and members of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (CICAN), the President of the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr Frank Jacobs, said the new year “does not hold any hope, especially its first quarter, since the nation is transiting from a disorganised system of governance to a more organised structure.”

Jacobs said such difficulties should be expected, although he said the second quarter of the year may begin to hold a new lease of life for Nigerians.

“We have all been living in fools’ paradise. We’ve made money in the past and wasted it. What we are facing today is as a result of our inability to seize that opportunity in the past,” he said.

Jacobs, who gave kudos

Bello, whose organisation also doubles as the port economic regulator, told journalists during a seminar held for maritime journalists in Lagos, that most goods imported into the country are cleared with under-payment of duty and other sundry revenue that is accruable to the government.

to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the restriction of forex sales to the Bureau De Change (BDCs), said “experience had shown that selling dollars to BDCs as it was being done in the past had not helped Nigeria’s economy.”

He added that “we advocated for the stoppage of forex to the BDCs because we discovered that forex was getting too scarce for those in the real sector of

the economy to use. We believe the apex bank should first make forex available to the real sector, instead of selling it to BDCs, which in turn sell at exorbitant prices to Nigerians, including manufacturers.”

He, however, disagreed with the decision of the apex bank to still retain the 11 per cent interest rate, describing that “as too high and not in the best interest of the economy.”

Harmonise policies, Afri-invest urges monetary, fiscal authorities Chima Nwokoji-Lagos

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Afrinvest West Africa Limited Ike Chioke has recommended policy harmonisation between the

80% of customs duty unremitted into govt coffers —Shippers Council Tola Adenubi-Lagos

a share, for cutting 747-8 output to six planes a year from 12, starting in September 2016.

Fourth-quarter revenue fell about 4 percent to $23.57 billion. Analysts expected $23.53 billion,

On the revenue leakages in the ports, he said there is documentary evidence to attest that importers collude with officials of government agencies to defraud the government, alleging that the largest chunk of such losses is recorded through evasion and under-payment of Customs duty.

Federal Government as represented by the ministry of finance, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in order to evolve business-friendly policies that will help the economy survive hard times, linked to the falling crude oil prices.

According to him, the series of policy pronouncements and reversals have significantly eroded confidence in the system.

“As a result, we recommend policy harmonization with the fiscal team and the use of forward guidance as well as clear communications of well thought-out policy actions to reduce uncertainty in the domestic investment environment,” he stated.

While presenting the

2015 review and 2016 economic outlook for Nigeria titled: “Darkest before Dawn,” at the company’s head office in Lagos, Chioke said Nigeria’s fiscal and monetary policy responses to the weaker oil price environment “have only served to exacerbate the cloud of investor uncertainty, thus, amplifying the financial market rout.”

He observed that CBN in the last one and a half year, has been shifting and repositioning its policies and this has had a huge impact on some of the economy.

“Just when you are adjusting to a policy, a new one comes on top and forces you again to reposition.”

Nigerian Tribune

Lagos city marathon to drive tourism, local businesses —Deji Tinubu

By Ruth Olurounbi

The Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission and Special Adviser to the governor on sports, Mr Ayodeji Tinubu, has highlighted reasons for the upcoming Lagos City Marathon, scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 6, 2015.

Tinubu, speaking on the upcoming event, which will see some of the world’s best runners participating alongside other 12,000 runners, on Wednesday, said the marathon was not only to promote sports, as well fitness, competitiveness and healthy living, but is also aimed at driving local businesses through tourism.

Nigerian sports tourism is an aspect experts say is being underutilised, and this event, which has the potential to become an annual international event, will take care of that, the chairman said.

Tinubu, who is also the chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the event, intimated that Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) had endorsed the 42 kilometre marathon event, saying that thewhich places Nigeria on global map of international marathon races, will attract more world class marathoners in subsequent editions.

Already, according to him, 30 international male marathoners, 14 out who are gold medal recipients, 11 international female marathoners, three of who are silver label holders, are among the top world’s best marathoners who have registered to participate in the race.

Already, plans have been concluded to ensure smooth running of the race, as ministries of Health, Information, Environment, Transportation, Lagos State Safety Commission, have concluded plans in association with other players in the race to ensure the wellbeing of all the participants in the event.

With about N92 million at stake for marathoners, this year’s event stands as one of the most lucrative marathons in Africa, the other being the Comrades Marathon in Durban, South Africa, analysts in the industry have said.

The race is expected to start at the gate of the National Stadium, Surulere and to end at the Eko Atlantic City on Ahmadu Bellow Way, Victoria Island.

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Thursday, 28 January, 2016

14

news

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Juju scare: Work resumes at LASU’s admin, senate buildings

W

ORK has resumed at the Administrative Block I and the Senate Buildings of the Lagos State University (LASU), Main Campus, Ojo, closed for nine months over alleged “Juju’’ scare.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reported that the two buildings were allegedly locked by unknown persons since March 16, 2015 and reopened on December 31, 2015.

The Administrative Block I, houses the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, other principal officers, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations, Certificate Unit, Audit, Academic Planning, Salaries and Wages, Security and Admissions The closure of the buildings followed a rift between the former Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Obafunwa and the Academic and Non-academic Staff Unions.

Consequently, the buildings were allegedly laced with substance suspected to be charms (Juju), preventing the former vice

Oyo NUP appeals to board chairman on pension increase THE Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State, has appealed to the chairman, Oyo State Pension Board, who is also the chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Lasisi Ayankojo, to implement six per cent and 15 per cent pension increase to local government retirees in the state.

This was contained in a press release which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune and signed by the deputy chairman, Gbadegesin Akande and the secretary, Mr Olusegun Abatan, on Wednesday.

The union stated that it is unfortunate that the leadership of local government service commission and local government pension board failed to bring happiness to pensioners in the local governments.

They also gave seven days ultimatum to the local government leadership to address the twin issues of implementing six per cent and 15 per cent local government pensioners and issuing letters to the respective local governments of the 35 pensioners in the local government service commission and government pension board whose names were removed from payroll nine months ago.

chancellor and other principal officers from accessing their offices.

Obafunwa had to move to the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja and operated from there till the end

of his tenure on October 31, 2015.

Professor Fidelis Njokanma, sequel to his appointment as the acting vice chancellor by the state government, also operated from LASUCOM for fear of

the alleged charm until the appointment of a substantive vice-chancellor.

Meanwhile, the two buildings have been undergoing cleaning, renovation and fumigation since they were opened on De-

cember 3, 2015.

The new vice chancellor, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun, has also been using the new Faculty of Science building complex at the main campus, since he assumed office on Janu-

Vulnerable Nigerians abroad serve as fronts for looters —US-based Nigerian activist Christian Okeke - Abuja A Nigerian civil-right activist based in the United States of America, Mr Smart Ajaja, on Wednesday, gave an insight into how some people he described as very vulnerable Nigerians abroad serve as fronts to looters in stash their ill-gotten wealth abroad.

He said, although, some volunteers among the diasporans were willing to assist President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to further identify some of the looted funds, the government should do more to block movement of physical cash out of the country.

Ajaja, while responding to a question by the Nigerian Tribune, in Abuja, on whether there was anything Nigerians living abroad were willing to do in order to assist government’s efforts in recovering the looted funds, stated that except such exit route was blocked, looted funds would continue to find its

ways abroad.

“For the ones that were already returned, it was some of the Nigerians in the Diaspora, who gave the government the lead to identify those funds but more should be done because most of these people

Burial

BURIAL activities for a former Provost of Cathedral of Saint Paul’s Oke Osun Diocese, Gbongan, Very Reverend Emmanuel Olugboyega Oladipo, commenced on Wednesday with a service of songs at his residence, Number 31, Akeju Street, Osogbo, Osun State, by 4.00 p.m.

There will be a Christian Wake today by 4.00 p.m. at his Akeju residence, Osogbo.

His remains will be laid to rest tomorrow, after a funeral service at the Cathedral of All Saints, Balogun Agoro, Osogbo, by 11.00 a.m, while entertainment

abroad without the help of some diasporans, but observed that the Bank Verification Number (BVN) policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to a great extent, assisted in identifying the looted funds.

Oil Swap probe: Reps order FIRS to investigate companies over tax evasion Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja THE House of Representatives Ad-hoc committee probing the crude for refined product exchange arrangement (oil swap) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), on Wednesday, ordered the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), to investigate the tax status of all the oil companies involved in the multi-billion dollars contract and report back to it by today (Thursday).

This followed the alleged invasion of payable taxes and commissions running into billions of naira to the Federal Government by some of the companies

Rehoboth holds youth conference YOUTHS from all walks of life will on Saturday converge on Rehoboth Cathedral, Oluyole, Ibadan, Oyo State, to discuss ways to cope with the vicissitudes of the 21st century.

The event, according to its organisers, “Boundless”, is in the wake of increasing social vices among the youth and the negative effects of their ex-

that steal money, they have cronies among us in the diaspora that they use as fronts for money laundering,” he said.

The activist noted that the corrupt people could not have transferred most of the looted monies

ary 11.

The university’s registrar, Mr Akinyemi Lewis, had told NAN that the vice chancellor, had the right to operate from any of the offices in the university as he was the custodian of all the properties in the institution.

Akinwunmi said once the evacuation and cleaning process were over, the staff would move in and official work in the buildings would commence.

NAN observed that the cleaning has been completed to a large extent and the various offices opened to the internal and external public.

posure to social media and the internet.

Guest Speaker, Hezekiah Akinrinde, an On Air Personality, is expected to discuss on “The 21st Century Youth vs The 21st century world: The Battle for comformity”.

The event which will also feature talk sessions, discussion, and ministrations, will commence at 12 noon.

of guests is at the Technical College premises, Osogbo.

Very Reverend Oladipo died on November 21, 2015, at age of 81 years and was survived by a wife, children, grand children and great grand children.

Very Reverend Emmanuel Oladipo

involved in the deal under the pretext of being foreign companies and which was refuted by the FIRS, saying that most of the companies operating with NNPC did not have tax returns records with the agency.

Specifically, FIRS coordinating director (Domestic taxes group), Mr Babatunde Ajayi, told the committee that Duke Oil Global Investment, one of the companies refused to

furnish the agency with requested tax inquiries.

Duke Oil’s managing director, Abdulkadir Seidu, said the letter written to his office on the tax matter, was not addressed to his company.

Consequently, the committee chaired by Honourable Zakari Mohammed, asked for verification of names and locations of all companies in the name of Duke Oil to ascertain the

claim of its boss.

FIRS director also informed the committee that a trading firm involved in the NNPC Oil swap arrangement, Trafigura Nigeria Limited, had not filed any tax returns with the agency, despite engaging in oil transactions in Nigeria.

The committee was informed that Trafigura, had lifted about 12 million metric tonnes, in the swap programme.

news GOFAMINT condoles with Oba Odulana’s family 15

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

T

HE Gospel Faith Mission international (GOFAMINT) has condoled

with the family of the late Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana.

The General Secretary of

the church, Pastor Femi Omowumi, led other senior ministers of the church to the Monatan palace of Oba Odulana

His death painful —NLC

By Damilola Ojejimi

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State council, has described the death of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, as a painful one.

This was disclosed in a condolence message signed by its chairman, Mr Waheed Olojede.

The group stated that the death of the Olubadan had created a vacuum that may be difficult to fill, describing the Olubadan’s wealth of experience as priceless.

“His death has created a vacuum that may be dif-

ficult to fill because of his wealth of experience that had been invaluable. I recall he mediated in the 2007 rift that the labour force had with the state government. His loss was painful, but we accept the

and received by the first son of the monarch, Professor Femi Lana.

Pastor Omowumi, who delivered the message of

fact that we all came from God and must return to Him.” NLC further commiserated with the Olubadan family, the entire people of Ibadan, and the people of Oyo State, at large.

the General Overseer, Pastor (Dr) E.O. Abina, the Executive Council and entire membership of GOFAMINT, expressed deepest sympathies to the family of the late Oba Odulana, the Olubadan in Council and the entire people of Ibadan and Oyo State on the demise of the revered traditional ruler.

Pastor Omowumi said GOFAMINT saw the monarch’s demise as sort of pleasant pain, because, “for

He was a reformer — Prof Afolabi

By Tunde Ogunesan

THE former Head of Service of the Federation, Professor Oladapo Afolabi, has described late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, as a reformer.

Afolabi stated this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Oba at their Monatan residence, in Ibadan, on Wednesday.

Afolabi disclosed that Oba Odulana was also lucky to have Governor Abiola Ajimobi in the saddle, whose urban renewal and transformation agenda tallied with his passion for the ancient city.

“Before the reign of the Olubadan, the state was almost deteriorating, but with his cooperation with the governor, he reformed the state in all ramifications.”

He, therefore, counselled the incoming Olubadan to emulate the late monarch and ensure a peaceful and better society.

Also, the National President of the Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), Chief Gani Adams, said Oba Odulana paid his price as a good leader in Yorubaland and Nigeria.

General Secretary, The Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), Pastor Femi Omowumi (third left); Regional Pastors, Michael Adeogun (second right) and Amos Akangbe (second left); Olori Moriyike Odulana (middle); Professor Femi Lana (left); Pastor Oyedotun, during the condolence visit by GOFAMINT to Oba Odulana’s palace, on Wednesday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU.

Oyo indigenes in UK mourn OYO State Indigenes in the United Kingdom have described the demise of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, as a big loss to the entire Yoruba race.

This was contained in a condolence message sent from London by the chairman of the association, Mr Demola Alalade, to commiserate with the entire family of the late monarch, indigenes of Ibadan, the entire citizens of Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.

Chairman of Ibadan City Polytechnic, Mr Amos Ajanaku (left), presenting a condolence letter to Olori Moriyike Lana, while Prince Gbade Lana, looks on, on Wednesday.

Nigerian Tribune

one, he lived a good life. He left a good name. He was a man of peace, little wonder the whole of Ibadanland enjoyed peace throughout his reign.

“He was a first class monarch who stood for righteousness. From the accounts of his last moments, he was close to his creator till the last.”

Pastor Omowumi further stated that it was indeed painful that good people like this would die and leave their loved ones behind, adding, however, that the reality we must all face is death, because the scripture says: “it is appointed unto man once to die and after this, the judgment.”

He prayed that God would bring to the family and the entire people of Oyo State the much needed comfort and peace at a time like this.

Other members of the delegation were Pastor Michael Adeogun, Pastor Amos Akangbe, both Regional Pastors; Pastor O. Olagunju, Pastor Abel Afolabi, Pastor C. Gbenro, Pastor Aina, Pastor Sam Adegbite, Pastor Taiwo Holo, among others.

It’s an irreparable loss —Maye Iyalode

By Seyi Sokoya

THE entire executives and members of the Yooba Omo Odua Forum has joined other well-meaning Nigerians to mourn the demise of Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, just as they described his death as an irreparable loss to Ibadan people and the nation at large.

This was contained in a release signed by the founder and grand matron of the forum, the Maye Iyalode of Ibadan, Chief (Mrs) Adeyinka Adegbite (JP) and made available to the Nigerian Tribune.

The forum also commended the monarch for his sterling leadership qualities and fearlessness to stand by the truth.

“We in Yooba Omo Odua Forum had till the death of the Olubadan depended on him for advice and moral guidance on matters that bother on socio cultural interest of Yorubas in Nigeria and Diaspora,” Adegbite said.

Ibadan City Polytechnic commiserates with family, govt

By Olaide Sokoya

THE Management, Staff and Students of Ibadan City Polytechnic situated at Alakia-Isebo/lyana Church Road, Ibadan, have commiserated with the family of the late Olubadan

of Ibadan land, Oba Samuel Odulana, Oyo State government and the people of Ibadan on the demise of the Ibadan paramount traditional ruler.

During a condolence visit to the late king’s Monatan Palace, the Chairman, Gov-

erning Council of Ibadan City Polytechnic, Mr Amos Ajanaku, accompanied by hundreds of staff and students of the institution, expressed the polytechnic’s heartfelt condolences to the family of the late monarch, the government of Oyo

State and the entire people of Ibadan land.

He described the late Olubadan as a God-fearing king, an educationist and a great disciplinarian when he was alive.

Mr Ajanaku, therefore, prayed that God Almighty

would grant the soul of the late Olubadan a peaceful rest.

In his remarks, the late Olubadan’s son and former Commissioner for Information in Oyo State, Prince Gbade Lana, appreciated the management and students of the polytechnic.

news

16

Nigerian Tribune

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Lagos confirms another Lassa fever patient dead

Rolls out measures for prevention Bola Badmus - Lagos

L

AGOS State government on Wednesday, confirmed the death of another

patient of Lassa fever, saying the deceased, a 27-yearold lady, died on Tuesday, a few hours after been admitted into Ijede General Hospital, having traversed

one private hospital and three churches before she was referred to the government hospital on January 23, 2016.

Commissioner for Health,

Ekiti Assembly commends govt over proactive moves on Lassa challenge THE Ekiti State House of Assembly has lauded the state government, Dr Ayodele Fayose, for taking cogent preventive steps against the Lassa fever rampaging the nation from becoming a pandemic in the state.

Chairman, House Committee on Information, Chief Olugboyega Aribisogan, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Wednesday, quoted the Speaker, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, as saying the governor had done impressively well “in rolling out all available arsenal for information, sensitisation and prevention of the spread of the deadly virus in our dear state.”

The House spokesman said the speaker noted that he had been inundated with calls from people in his local government, Moba, about the level of awareness created by the governor in the area, as the state government’s sensitisation programme kicked off there.

“We, as a House of Assembly, are happy that the governor is working in tandem with our personal resolve to ensure the wellbeing of the people that voted us into office. The governor’s proactive measure against this scourge of Lassa fever has pleasantly astounded us.

“I was speaking with our Speaker, Right Honourable (Pastor) Kola Oluwawole, about the matter and he

told me of the overwhelming calls he had received from the people of his constituency’s headquarters, Moba Local Government, about how they had been

made wiser about the hazardous virus by the sensitisation programme kickstarted by the governor in two local governments, Moba inclusive.

Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this during a joint press briefing, with the Commissioner for Information, Mr Steve Ayorinde, among others.

The commissioner said so far, Lagos State had recorded 20 suspected cases of Lassa fever as of January 26, 2016, since the outbreak of the disease in the country last November, disclosing that the ministry had line-listed 537 contacts of the confirmed cases and 534, amounting to 99 per cent of the contacts were currently being monitored.

President, National Associaton of Resident Doctors, Dr Muhammad Askira (right), addressing traders at Bodija Market, during Lassa fever awareness outreach by the national executive council of of the association, in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN.

Nurses threaten to embark on indefinite strike over demise of unit head

One die, 26 under surveillance in Jigawa

By Ademola Adegbite and Adamu Amadu

FOLLOWING the sudden demise of one of the nurses that treated Lassa fever patients at Dahaltu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday, Mr Zakari Os-

hafu, the nurses of the institution, on Wednesday, threatened to embark on an indefinite strike, unless the entire premises was fumigated.

Mr Oshafu, 39, who was in charge of Accident and Emergency Unit, was said to have given up the ghost

shortly after he was informed by one of the doctors that he has contacted the infection.

According to one of the nurses, who did not want her name in print, “Mr Oshafu tested positive but the doctors were keeping the information from him un-

Be cautious of suya consumption, NARD warns

By Sade Oguntola

PRESIDENT, Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr Muhammad Adamu Asikira, has cautioned on suya con-

sumption, saying when such is wrapped with disposed paper, it stands a chance of being contaminated with rat faeces and urine, thus exposing to Lassa fever.

Asikira, who spoke during a Lassa awareness outreach to Sabo community and Bodija market in Ibadan,

by NARD, on Wednesday, said wrong handling of food items, including Kulikuli

Rat poison business becomes lucrative in Kano Kola Oyelere - Kano

FOLLOWING the resurgence of the deadly Lassa fever outbreak in some parts of the country, the Agro Dealers Association of Nigeria, North West Zone, said the sale of rat poison has gradually become a lucrative business in Kano State.

The chairperson of the Association, Mr Abbullahi Muhd, an engineer, dis-

“Fourteen (14) suspected cases tested negative, four (4) suspected cases were confirmed positive of Lassa fever, while the results of three (3) suspected cases are pending. One (1) case was confirmed on January 15, 2016, two (2) cases were confirmed on January 18, 2016 and one (1) case was confirmed on January 26, 2016,” Dr Idris said.

Giving the circumstance that led to the death of the latest victim, the commissioner said the affected lady had travelled to Edo State

closed this on Wednesday, while speaking with pressmen.

He said that more people were now venturing into the business, as rat poison is currently a popular demand in the country due to fear of the well publicised Lassa fever outbreak.

Muhd, who expressed satisfaction over the development, said it was a clear indication that the awareness

campaigns against Lassa fever by all stakeholders in health sector have started yielding positive results.

Speaking with some of the rat poison hawkers in Kano, they also confirmed the recent higher demand of the product.

They however promised that the development would not influence them to increase price of the commodity.

and suya, remains a potent way of contracting the deadly infection.

Asikira, noting that environmental and personal hygienic practices, including rat control and washing of hands, were key to preventing the spread of Lassa, declared “the men selling suya should be seen to maintain hygiene in the processing and selling of suya. They should sell with disposable nylon.

“It should not be on all kinds of paper; some of these papers may be contaminated by the urine of these rats. Instead of using paper, they should cut the suya directly into a clean disposable nylon bag.”

til Monday, when someone told him that he has been infected. So, he was shocked to hear that and after that, his blood pressure continued rising until Tuesday, when he finally gave up the ghost.”

The Nigerian Tribune exclusively learnt further that before his demise, John Ajayi, an 18-year old man, also died of the same endemic which the information was kept away from the public by the management of the institution.

Efforts to get the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the institution, Dr Ahmed Yakubu Ashuku, was not successful, as he was holding an emergency meeting with heads of department and other staff, but Dr Usman Ahmed Agi-Kana, confirmed that he contacted the infection and died, on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Jigawa State Commissioner of Health, Dr Abba Zakari Umar, confirmed the death of a person and 26 others, who are put under surveillance following the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

for the burial of her relation, who had died of Lassa fever and returned to Lagos on January 2, 2016.

According to him, she became ill on January 14 and received care in one private hospital and three churches before she was referred on January 23, 2016 to Ijede General Hospital with fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and body weakness.

He said the patient died within a few hours of admission, adding that the remains of the deceased had been kept in the morgue in leak proof body bag.

Idris said the deceased would be buried after due consultation with her family, adding that 90 persons had been line-listed as contacts of the last confirmed case and contact tracing was on-going.

The commissioner said several ways by which people could contact the dreaded disease, include ingestion of foods and drinks contaminated by the saliva, urine and faeces of infected rats, catching and preparing infected rats and food, having direct contact with a sick person’s blood or body fluids, through mucous membranes, like eyes, nose or mouth, said vigorous sensitisation of the members of the public were on-going by his ministry.

According to Dr Idris, people at greater risk of infection with Lassa fever include families and friends of an infected person in the course of feeding, holding and caring for them, and the health workers who had attended to infected persons.

He urged Lagosians to join hands in prevention of the dreaded disease by observing a high level of personal and environmental hygiene, ensuring proper environmental sanitation by using appropriate methods of collection and disposal of waste, and avoiding open defecation.

Dr Idris also enjoined them to wash their hands properly before and after cooking of foods, eliminate rats from dwellings, avoid consumption of rat meat, protect food items from rodents by storing them in plastics containers with covers, while he equally tasked Lagosians to cover all foods and water, including left-overs.

He called on all health workers to have high index of suspicion in cases with high fever not responding to treatment, especially those with positive history of contact with infected person and adhere strictly to infection control measures while providing health care to the people.

17

Thursday, 28 January, 2016 With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

From left, Deputy Commandant, Nigeria Army School of Education (NASE), Colonel Y. Z. Momoh; Commandant, NASE, Brigadier-General Ayo Fayahun; Kwara State governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed; Chief Instructor, Coops Courses, NASE, Colonel M. A. Uba and the Staff Officer, NASE, Colonel A.A. Goni, during a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Ilorin, on Tuesday.

Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Dutse, Professor Taoheed Adedoja (right) with the representative of President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Muhammad Hamisu, during the maiden convocation of the university in Dutse, recently.

Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola and the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, during a thank you visit to the governor, after his official coronation, at the Government House, Osogbo, recently.

Cross-section of directors of Odua Investment Company Limited, at a meeting of the board, recently.

Publisher/Chief Executive Officer, Marketing Edge Magazine, Mr John Ajayi (right), presenting a customised 70th birthday card to the chairman, STB-McCANN, Sir Steve Bamidele Omojafor, while Amos Oladele (left) and Anietie Udoh, both of Marketing Edge, looked on when the team visited the celebrant in his office, last week.

From left, Mr Biodun Adegbite, and his wife, Esther, Mr Kayode Adegbite and Senior Prophetess Titilayo Adegbite, at a programme in Ilaro, Ogun State, recently.

Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Dutse and the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji (Dr) Nuhu Muhammed Sanusi, during a courtesy visit to the emir in his palace, recently.

Chief Kolawole Adegbola, the Eketa Balogun of Ibadanland and his wife, Jumoke, during their visit to commiserate with the family of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba (Dr) Samuel Odulana, at the palace in Monatan, Ibadan. PHOTO: D’TOYIN

Mr Niran Adisa and Dr Abiola Adisa, during the burial of their father, Chief Adeoye Adisa, at Omolewa Street, Yemetu, Ibadan, Oyo State, recently.

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

18

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

yournews

SEND YOUR SHORT MESSAGES TO: 08054005323, 08055001746

•What an ineffective signpost! PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

On CBN and the naira fall I really don’t know what policy measure the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, is adopting; he is hinging the economic survival of over 180 million Nigerians on the completion of projects by just a man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote. Simple economics says once supply increases, prices will fall. The CBN should, therefore, make forex avaiable to businesses, as well as increasing all card limits. This will make the demand from the parellel market to fall.

•Kunle Jimber, 08050449999

Appeal to BEDC OGWUASHI-Ukwu community in Delta State appeals to the BEDC to restore electricity to the area.

•Feyisetan Akeeb Kareem, 08068337894

Buhari, continue with anti-corruption war PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said that if Nigerians don’t kill corruption, then corruption will kill Nigeria. As a result of this, I find it most necessary to tell the president to continue with his anticorruption campaign. It is a pity that many Nigerians are wallowing in abject poverty; there are many who have gone to school but have no jobs, and the fund which we could have used to develop the country have been stolen. However, I don’t want the anticorruption campaign to be limited in scope to those who served in the immediate past administration alone; it should start from 1999, when we returned to democracy.

President Buhari should help us bring sanity back into this country; the truth is that our country, Nigeria, is sick, and corruption is the disease killing it slowly. Corruption is just like a terminal disease. Virtually all our sectors are nothing to write home about, from health, to education, defence, pe-

troleum, solid minerals, among others.

In the same vein, I would like to appeal to President Buhari to, however, allow the judiciary to discharge

its duties accordingly. The president is not expected to interfere with the judiciary, and anyone who gets bail must be freed, while the trial continues.

I know the anti-corruption agencies have a way of keeping tabs on suspects to prevent them from jumping bail. Also, those who will stand as sureties

for the accused will also be monitoring them so that they don’t jump bail.

•Jimoh Mumin, 080 b e 34435211

FG should focus on the economy LET me use this opportunity to urge President Muhammadu Buhari not to forget his social contract with the people by transforming the country to one Nigerians will be proud of.

Our economy needs adequate attention, and that is why this administration must pursue aggressive economic policies that will revive moribund government companies, and also inprove the potentials of the private sector.

I am also calling on President Buhari to encourage state governments, the private sector, and wealthy individuals to intensify their efforts in exploring the means of diversifying the sources of our national income, while initiating genuine policies that

would protect the citizens, create wealth and absorb the teeming unemployed youths.

President Buhari also needs to unite the country that has been fractured by ethnicity, religion and politics, while he should give

all Nigerians a sense of belonging in the Nigerian project in order to lay to rest all divisive tendencies that worked against the growth and progress of the country in the past.

I enjoin all Nigerians to support President Buhari’s

fight against corruption, as it is only by this that we can achieve success as a nation.

•Rev’d / Prophet Oladipupo FunmiladeJoel, 08033733470

On the abandoned prison project in Ibadan I want the Federal Government to look into the abandoned prison yard in Ibadan. The project, which is located at Olunde-Ayegun-Olojuoro Road in Oluyole Local Government Area of Ibadan, Oyo State, was started during the era of Alhaji Usman Sheu Shagari. Since it has been abandoned, different nefarious activities have

been taking place there, and people now call it the Second Soka. Soka is the area where human ritualists were found some years back.

This abandoned prison has become a hiding place for criminals, including armed robbers and drug traffickers.

Human ritualists might also be using the place,

since no sane person dare go there to inspect it.

I am, therefore, appealing to the relevant authorities, particularly the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) to come and restart the project. It will even help in decongesting the various prisons in the South West.

•Adekunle Sebotimo, 07033387607

19

editorial

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Elections: Bayelsa, Kogi and beyond

W

ITH the conclusion of supplementary governorship elections in both Bayelsa and Kogi states, it is incumbent upon the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to learn from the mistakes made in the exercise, in order to position itself to deliver rumpus-free elections in the future. In Bayelsa, the substantive election held on December 5 2015 had been declared inconclusive following reports of widespread malpractices in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. In Kogi State, the original November 22 election was declared inconclusive because of problems in 91 polling units across 18 local government areas of the state.

With the exception of the drama and brief uncertainty created by the sudden passing of Abubakar Audu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate; and the generally low turnout of voters, the supplementary election in Kogi was generally peaceful. Indeed, the swearing-in of the APC’s Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the state governor was done on Wednesday, January 27.

Bayelsa is a different kettle of fish. Although INEC has declared the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Seriake Dickson as winner, the situation across the state remains tense, and already, the APC’s Timipre Sylva is, as is his right, vowing to contest the result in court. But a possible challenge to the incumbent governor’s victory seems to be the least of Bayelsa’s problems. Both the substantive and supplementary elections were marred by serious inter-party clashes, with a yet to be determined number of people killed on both sides. In addition, the elections in Bayelsa have been marred by kidnapping and arson. The ugly situation in the state has evoked comparisons with some of the worst examples of electoral violence in the history of the country.

Although some of the comparison is clearly overblown, the worry that things could easily get out of hand, especially if the violence in Bayelsa were to spill over into neighboring states, seems legitimate.

Therefore, the onus is on the security forces, especially the police, to ensure that legitimate political disagreement is not used as a pretext to sow terror and create panic among the populace. In upholding law and order, members of the Nigeria Police must

do their utmost to remain impartial and desist from any action that might be interpreted as favoring one candidate to the detriment of the other.

INEC, too, must get its acts together. Clearly, it is too late to do anything about the recently concluded elections. But in planning for future elections, it should endeavor to use modern technologies in such a way as to practically nullify the possibility of malpractice.

For instance, the electronic card readers need not be as temperamental and unreliable as they have been known to be, especially in the substantive election in Bayelsa. Furthermore, the current situation in which registration of voters is often an eleventh hour thing is far from ideal. INEC should consider seriously, the possibility of making voter registration and review of the register a continuous process. The aim should not be to make future elections perfect, but to drastically reduce the scope and opportunity for rigging.

In saying this, we are cognizant of the fact that elections themselves cannot be excerpted from the larger political ecology in which they are organised.

For instance, it must be acknowledged that one of the reasons why elections are typically a do-or-die affair in Nigeria is because political office remains the surest path to personal wealth. In the immortal words of Claude Ake, the late political scientist, “As was the case with the colonial state, the distinguishing characteristic of the post-colonial state in Africa is its lack of autonomy; power was highly fused and used by those in control of the state simply as the instrument for serving their own interests.” In such a situation, the struggle for political office takes on an existential aspect.

Nor are we unaware of the many reform measures being currently undertaken by INEC itself. A 2015 report by the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) copiously documents some of these measures, and we salute Chairman Mahmood Yakubu for pursuing them with verve and doggedness.

The country as a whole needs INEC to be on top of its game, and we have confidence in its capacity to deliver logistically sound elections that the country can be proud of.

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opinion The militant hopes of Nigerian pensioners 20

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

By Bode Sowande

T

What is stealing?

When we ask these questions in simple terms, we may in one stroke solve the problems of the pensioners.

MONEY is energy that can neither be created nor destroyed and it changes its form. Yes, this is a scientific definition.

Money is a means of exchange. This means of exchange is animated with, or by energy. You cannot hold that energy tightly to yourself or you should not hold that energy to yourself because when you do, it turns you to so many unpleasant things; a THIEF, a CHEAT; a MISER; a WASTEREL; a PRODIGAL; in all AN ENEMEY OF MONEY. Who is the friend of MONEY? He is that individual who is a channel of MONEY to its positive usage on all levels and all directions.

In Nigeria, in many instances, money belonging to pensioners has been held in bondage by one or all of the following kinds of persons; THIEVES, CHEATS, MISERS or the PRODIGALS. It is on record that certain individuals have misappropriated pension funds. We do not need to go further in our search for what endangers the lives of pensioners. It is the leakage through stealing. That is one leakage.

Of all the enemies of money, it is the CHEAT that is most difficult to deal with. This is because a CHEAT is a very cunning specie.

Unfortunately, when a government; any government refuses to pay pensioners, it qualifies as one of our definitions for cheating.

No Nigerian government will like to be accused of cheating pensioners.

Let us see if we can define CHEATING in this context.

First, we shall look at the REWARDS that pensioners receive in some organised social systems, this time Great Britain, that originally colonised Nigeria.

Pensioners, who are called Senior Citizens enjoy free medi-

HE title of this article was given to my humble self and it goes thus: “Nigerian Pensioners as endangered species.” I do not like this title because it is a negative affirmation. I shall alter this title and my new title is “The Militant Hopes of Nigerian Pensioners.”

If the pensioners were endangered, it would be a curse on the Nigerian society, as it would be said that this nation is in the process of killing its pensioners. This is a frightening conclusion and, therefore, let us just change the picture from that of an exhausted group of retirees, waiting to die, to that of a group of tired retirees in a marathon hope for their entitlements.

Marathon is a race that came to us from the ancient Greeks, when sports and religion were of the same disciplines. A marathon runner is an individual on punishing race, testing his endurance and championing his capacity for survival. The marathon runner is young and vigorous, and it is expected that his strides will be long and determined.

The pensioner in Nigeria is old and the wait for his entitlements is that of a marathon. He lacks the physical strength to survive the marathon, and so his only tool is that of HOPE. If the pensioner loses hOPE, he loses his life. It is not that simple, if he dies waiting for his entitlement. The long process of dying from exhausted hope translates to an open curse to a government that is as uncaring, as it is openly ostentatious if you are a pensioner, your hope must be militant. The very fire of militant hope is medicinal for your old bones and you will still be there when your entitlements arrive.

What is the pensioner waiting for?

It is money.

What is money?

And how did the pensioner get to this stage?

At the beginning, every pensioner was once a worker.

What is work?

When work is done, by the laws of labour, work must be rewarded through earnings, and by these same laws, when time frames have been clocked over the years, justifiable vagaries of pensions are calculated and paid till the very last day of the pensioner on planet earth. If the pensioner does not get his money, it means someone or some people in any government or social system have cornered it for misuse or theft.

What is stealing?

Let us look at the question again.

What is money?

What is work?

cal care. Many public transport services offer retirees heavily discounted fares. It is assumed that once you become a senior citizen, your financial income has relief through discounts in public services.

This is defined as REWARDS earned after many years of work and labour in public and private services.

We must not forget that pension funds are moved in investment portfolios for profits that benefit governments and pensioners.

Take the events unfolding in Edo State where pension funds fraud has been discovered and the state b oard has just been sacked.

The challenge is in finding those individuals or governments who are honest enough to administer large quantums of money belonging to other people, without stealing it.

THAT is the challenge.

Governments are often as guilty as individuals who CHEAT pensioners of their entitlements.

A man through the laws of labour has fulfilled all his obligations of labour with absolute trust that his pension will be paid as at when due.

When this pension is due, some very uncaring governments will eye the funds and assume that because pensioners are exhausted, and perhaps inconsequential in political jobbery, this money can be diverted and delayed. Then with dramatic posture, the government will release a tiny percentage of what is due, which is applauded by the legion of pensioners, like the thirsty marathon runner that is quenching his thirst from a sponge of water!

It is a great shame that some state governments that parade the social ideology of Awolowo, with all pervasive welfarist slogans, will be defaulting in the payment of pensions!

Finally, I conclude, do you know your true age? Have you looked critically at every pension scheme? Have you sought the advice of experts in pension schemes, so you can choose that scheme for your comfortable future?

Many continue to labour when it is time to rest because they reduced their biological age at the entry to public service employment. This biological factor among pensioners is an index of risk when the wait is too long before pension is paid.

Yes, the hope of pensioners must be very militant in this political era when the trust in government pension scheme is being subverted by the uncaring administration of government itself.

•Sowande is a professor of Dramatic Arts.

Maikasuwa and the challenges of NASS bureaucracy

By Ibrahim Biu

led to increased productivity and efficiency.

As team leader, Maikasuwa has since he assumed duties as the CNA, introduced a far-reaching administrative reforms to enable him and his team successfully implement his reform agenda of the Assembly’s management which has been described as the first of its kind since 1999 when democratic activities fully came back in the country.

The reforms have positively impacted on both the workers and planned projects. This style of leadership has endeared him to his subordinates and peers alike, apart from putting smiles on the faces of over 5000 workers of the Assembly through interactive sessions with bureaucrats.

It is also clear that this strategy has made it possible for the Maikasuwa team to record positive changes in its assignments as could be seen all over the place, especially in the way the bureaucrats interact with the public on all official issues such as due process, rule of law, first come

first serve rule, formal regulations compliance and merit which have been prioritised in line with the CNA’s determination to offer quality service to the nation.

Apart from the introduction of welfare packages for his staff for effective mobilisation, Maikasuwa’s administrative ingenuity played out prominently when he successfully organised the entire civil servants to be proactive and much more competent as required by the lawmakers. This is due to Maikasuwa’s experience, administrative savvy and maturity in worldly affairs.

Maikasuwa’s wide exposure, life experience, open door policy and transparent interactions at all levels especially on controversial issues and other related activities have compelled his traducers and even critics to agree with his policies as most of the projects being undertaken are there for people to see on ground.

No wonder Maikasuwa’s efforts have pushed him this far, thereby enabling him to break another record at the Assembly’s management in service of democracy since 1999.

Maikasuwa’s current five year stewardship is indeed another record of silent achievements of sort as no other CNA has recorded such a feat according to assembly sources who have also expressed the belief that the current assignments are preparing Maikasuwa for higher national assignments with time. A recent encounter with the team leader in Abuja enabled this writer to appreciate the passion and compassion of a technocrat determined to do his best with service to the nation and to humanity.

•Biu sent in this piece from Kuje, Abuja.

,

THE re-appointment of Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa as the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), not too long ago did not come as a surprise to those who are close to this hardworking and dedicated technocrat.

Maikasuwa has no doubt become one of Nigeria’s much talked-about and enigmatic bureaucrats. His assignment as a Permanent Secretary and Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA) has made him into a well-known figure in Nigeria. Maikasuwa’s name means different things to different people, depending on which divide you are.

Even before he became CNA in 2010, Maikasuwa’s profile had already generated avoidable controversy while he was still at the National Institute for Strategic Studies Kuru, Jos, Plateau State.

One of the issues which brought him to the limelight was the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly which produced Dr. Bukola Saraki and Mr. Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker respectively even though the issue later turned out to be a bit controversial due to the selfish actions of some lawmakers and their supporters.

Thank God the issue has been amicably resolved now and the Assembly has moved ahead in its work as witnessed by the passage of many motions, bills and even the national budget. From the onset it could be said that Maikasuwa’s style of administration has been a unique and an all-inclusive one, with individual officers being delegated with specific responsibilities which they were held accountable for, due to Maikasuwa’s liberal nature of administration of the Assembly’s bureaucracy. He has succeeded in redefining work ethics which has ultimately

21

Thursday, 28 January, 2016 Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

maka nd’igbo

Traders minding business at a popupar market in Anambra

Ekwulobia traders arrest 40 fake revenue collectors Suzy Oruya -Onitsha

A

UTHORITIES supervising Ekwulobia main market in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra have reportedly arrested 40 fraudsters and armed robbers terrorising innocent traders, especially women in markets.

The fraudsters specialised in collecting illegal revenues in the name of government, some specialised in faking products and selling of expired products, while another group specialised in tricking as well as picking pockets.

President General, Ekwulobia Traders and Allied Workers Association (ETAWA), Honourable Eberechukwu Fidelis Nnofu, who announced this in his briefing in Ekwulobia, said that the suspects had been handed over to the security agents for further investigation and prosecution with all the evidences against them.

He presented some suspects who were selling well-packaged condemned motor oil in the name of crude oil to traders inside the market and the unsuspecting traders were busy buying, thus endangering their lives more.

Ekwulobia is the fourth largest urban

city in Anambra State with official 17,000 shops and unofficial 30,000 shops with a federal institution around it at Oko. The

Ekwulobia market, with 21 unit chairmen and secretaries, is administered through the College of Chairmen known as

Market transactions going on in another market in Anambra.

Day Eckanker faithfuls converged on Nsukka

—pg22

Group moves to deal with youth restiveness in Imo communities —pg22

councillors as well as committees aside the central executive of ETAWA led by Nnofu for administrative convenience.

Nnofu said the arrests were carried out between the month of November, 2015 and January, 2016 even as he announced that ETAWA had banned all kinds of hawking of drugs and allied matters in the market without an official permit from ETAWA to be able to checkmate the activities of the fraudsters, painting the market black.

He informed that the fraudsters’ confessional statements showed that they were not from Anambra State, but from Imo State , Orlu to be precise, as well as Abia, Ebonyi among others, to perpetrate one fraudulent act or the other in the market.

He said the war against fraudsters had enabled them to recover goods worth several millions of naira from the cheats and appealed to the Anambra State government led by Chief Willie Obiano to donate a security van and other gadgets to the security team of the Ekwulobia market as they had not received anyone since the distribution of security vehicles started while some markets like Onitsha got 15 security vans.

The ETAWA President General decried lack of electricity, parking lot, toilet facilities and other basic infrastructure in the market despite the taxes and other levies the traders paid and appealed to the relevant offices to assist ETAWA in its quest to make the market a modern one with infrastructural facilities.

“There are so many fraudsters in this market collecting government revenues without remitting them to the government; hence we rise to the challenge of flushing them out to enable the state and local governments have their revenue. If that happens, we would be able to demand for the basic amenities which, as I speak to you now, are non-existent in the market; there are no fire service, toilet facilities, parking lot and electricity. The road to the market is even an eyesore. You can see traders trading on the road because there are no spaces for traders to do business .

"We are sanitising the market, dealing with fraudsters engaging in all kinds of illegalities in the market. We have banned all forms of hawking of drugs and other consumables that are dangerous to human health. For you to sell, you must have an office or address and register your products so people could know where to complain should anything happen’’, Nnofu said.

He stated further that in an effort to unite against the infiltrators, his administration organised a unity football competition and leadership training session for the leaders of the 21 units that comprise ETAWA.

CREW Jude Ossai-Enugu-South East Bureau Chief 08052817955 Joe Nwachukwu- Owerri 08033271227 Suzy Oruya- Onitsha 08063653735

22 makand’igbo

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Day Eckankar faithfuls converged on Nsukka Jude Ossai - Enugu

T

O many people, last Saturday, January 23, 2016, was just an ordinary weekend which was mainly spent to attend to social gathering and domestic work.

But to Eckankar faithfuls in Enugu State and beyond, the day was remarkable as it was a day they laid the foundation stone of their centre at Nsukka.

Maka Ndigbo observed that the university town of Nsukka was a beehive of activities as many people within and outside the state came to grace the

foundation laying ceremony.

Speaking at the occasion, the Regional Eck Spiritual Aide (RESA) in Nigeria, Ifeatu John Areh, urged Nigerians to demonstrate love to one another in order to promote cooperation among the various ethnic nationalities and foster national cohesion.

Areh advised Nigerians to demonstrate practical charity by loving one another the way they wished to be loved. “In Eckankar, we don’t only teach love, we practise it”, he said.

According to Areh, who was appointed the leader of Eckankar in Nigeria in October, 2013, genuine love is still lacking

Group moves to curb youth restiveness in Imo communities Joe Nwachukwu - Owerri A group known as Oguta Human Rights Monitoring Committee has been set up in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State to monitor reported cases of Human Rights abuses in the local government area with particular emphases on voluntary principles (VPS) in the area.

According to the spokesman of the group, Christian Okororie, the committee is also to focus on the operation of security agencies in the oil rich local government area and its co-relationship with the extractive (oil/gas) industries operating in the LGA on one hand and the security agencies on the other land.

Okororie stated this at a one-day sensitisation workshop on voluntary principles on security and human rights in Oguta by a non-governmental organisation, CLEEN FOUNDATION, which featured the presentation of a paper on “Creating a Healthy Environment for the Development of Community” by the Executive Director, Development Dynamics and Central Coordinator, Niger Delta Anti-Corruption Network (NIDAN), Dr Jude Ohanele.

He identified the absence of sound moral and academic discipline among the youths as a potential threat of human rights, saying that the committee had already identified the wanton display of arms and ammunition by some reckless youths as a security threat in all communities in the community.

He observed that the various oil companies operating in the Oguta LGA had been indifferent to the performance of their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) as a result of the delayed MoU between the LGA and NAOC in particular.

Said he, “But as fate may have it, we are happy to inform you that the much awaited MoU and NAOC is to be signed soon and various challenges confronting Oguta Community will soon be a thing of the past”.

Mr Okororie commended the CLEEN FOUNDATION for facilitating the project of empowering communities, stakeholders, security agencies and the oil and gas companies in the use of voluntary principles mechanism in resolving human rights issues.

The programme officer of the NGO, Mr Ifeanyi Anyanwu, in an address, decried the upsurge of youths’ restiveness, violent confrontations between oil companies and their host communities and the resultant vandalism of oil installations in

the area.

Mr Anyanwu lamented that the situation had impeded the growth and transformation of the communities in the local government area, stressing that it was imperative for the oilproducing communities, oil companies and government to work in harmony for growth and preservation of the economy.

This, he said, would bring about the desired development in the Niger Delta region and the nation at large.

Why speaking to Maka Ndigbo in an interview at the workshop, he said that there would be no meaningful development in area that lacked unity and love.

According to him, the lake of Oguta ranks tenth in the world and urged the community to make use of the lake which God had blessed them with.

in Nigeria despite that all religions in the country preach love to their adherents.

He explained that Eckankar meant “Coworker with God”, with the purpose of helping individuals find their way back to God through direct personal spiritual experiences such as soul travel, dreams and other spiritual techniques.

The RESA maintained that Eck’s spiritual exercise was necessary to unlock the kingdom of God and advised that individuals should set aside mundane distractions and pay attention to the purity of their inner minds to enable them hear the sound of God He outlined some of the basic beliefs of Ekankar to include: the eternity of souls; the existence of souls based on God’s love; the unfolding of human spirit through Karma and reincarnation and that human souls are on the journey of self and God realisation.

The RESA said that the Nsukka Eckankar Centre, which is among the 124 Eckankar Centres in Nigeria, was an extension of

Eck Temple in Chanhassen and therefore belonged to nobody. “Mahanta, the living Eck Master is in charge of this centre, he will provide resources for the building”, he said.

The local director of the centre, Dr Ikenna Onwuebuna, said that the building was necessary to advance spiritual activities in the area. He stated that all spiritual and religious activities in the area would depend on Eck current emanating from the Centre.

Dr Onwuebuna noted that the community hosting the Centre would be blessed as its indigenes would be privileged to find genuine love and solutions to their problems. “We teach people how to fish, and we transform individuals to transform the society”, he said. He also explained that the main hall of the Centre would have a sitting capacity of 500, while the children and youth wing was designed to occupy 100 persons.

Ifeatu Areh laying the foundation

Malnutrition: Health workers decry high rate of deaths in Igboland Jude Ossai - Enugu THE Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, Enugu State Chapter, has attributed increase in deaths of children in Igboland and other parts of the country to malnutrition.

The association noted that the Nigerian government, in collaboration with key stakeholders, came up with a strategic plan on nutrition sensitive interventions with measurable targets to be achieved between 2014 and 2019.

In an address, the group presented to the deputy governor of Enugu State, Mrs

Women at a maternity centre.

Cecilia Ezeilo during a courtesy visit to her office at the Government House, Enugu and the coordinator of the local working group, the State Chapter, Dr Agunwa Chuka, noted that 450,000 children died in Nigeria as a result of malnutrition.

To this end, they have engaged many stakeholders to look for a solution and way forward for the people in the state..

He, however, added that an assessment across all the states of the federation had shown that Enugu State had the best nutritional index across Nigeria which showed that the state government was doing the right thing for its people in that sector.

He added that in appreciation of the state government effort in the sector, the association was organising an award for the deputy governor as “the nutritional champion of Nigeria” soonest.

The coordinator observed that the award would motivate the deputy governor to continue her role of sensitising the people on the need for quality food to our children and women, urging her to help in financing the organisation yearly to maintain the nutritional content in Enugu state.

Dr Chuka also appealed that certain legislation should be made to assist in actualisation of the drive of the association to maintain nutritional content in the state.

He said that the association, in collaboration with the Enugu State Committee on Food and Nutrition, would convene a meeting of all stakeholders in the state to discuss important nutrition issues and practical steps to improve the nutrition status of the people, especially pregnant women and children.

In a brief remark, the deputy governor, Honourable Mrs Ezeilo affirmed the determination of government to assist the association achieve its drive.

She added that the state government would assist in the areas of legislation and policy formulation to actualise its objective in the sector, noting that health issue was one of the priorities of the state government.

23

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

education

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

Unemployed graduates as teachers: Solving a problem, creating another?

The plan by the federal government to convert unemployed graduates to teachers may indeed help reduce unemployment, but at what cost to the quality of training in schools? NAZA OKOLI writes

I

T is not known the number of unemployed graduates in Nigeria, though several reports indicate that the number is alarmingly high. One of the most notable indicators of this fact in recent years is the 2014 recruitment exercise organised by the Nigerian Immigration Service. It was attended by more than half a million young graduates, 19 of whom unfortunately lost their lives, and hundreds wounded after several cases of stampede at different centres across the country.

Speaking in Enugu in December 2015, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, said the Federal Government had resolved to deploy most of the nation’s unemployed graduates to schools as teachers.

“Most unemployed graduates will be converted to teachers,” he said. “The move is equally aimed at boosting the education sector. For the social safety needs, we have budgeted N500 billion for the next fiscal year. We have captured unemployed graduates. We are doing two things: we get those who read Law, Engineering, and other disciplines but do not have jobs.

We will train them for nine months and convert them to teachers.”

This was also buttressed by President Muhammadu Buhari while presenting the 2016 budget estimates to the National Assembly recently: “As an emergency measure, to address the chronic shortage of teachers in public schools across the country, we also will partner with state and local governments

to recruit, train and deploy 500,000 unemployed graduates and NCE holders.

These graduate teachers will be deployed to primary schools, thereby enhancing the provision of basic education especially in our rural areas.”

“Not qualified” Some aspects of the planned exercise have, however, remained unclear. For example, what is to be the nature of the ‘training’?

Dr Ifeyinwa Ezenwaji, a lecturer in the Department of Educational Foundations at University of Nigeria, Nsukka, told Tribune Education on Saturday that unless these graduates obtain a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), they are not qualified to teach at any level.

“They have to obtain their PGDE before they will be qualified to teach,” she said.

“Education is not just a job that everybody can go into. We have the technology, the methodology, and other things. Anybody aspiring to be a teacher has to learn these things first. You don’t have to push people that did Law to go into the school system to teach. You will be murdering the whole idea of education. We have courses like classroom organisation and management which I know that they did not do. So if the government really wants them to teach, it should offer them scholarships to go and obtain PGDE first.”

Ezenwanji also ruled out the possibility of learning on the job, insisting that teaching is far too complex and important to be entrusted to people who had not been certified

to teach by recognised institutions.

“I don’t think they can learn on the job,” she said. “First of all, they should go and obtain their PGDE. There they will be taught how to teach, and they will go for teaching practice for some months. That’s how they can learn the skills of teaching. People feel that teaching is an easy job, and that even a truck-pusher can teach. What kind of students do you want them to produce at the end? Does the Federal Government think that teaching is the cheapest profession?

It would be a great mistake, because the quality would be compromised.

“If anything, entrepreneurship opportunities should be created for these unemployed graduates. That is how to empower young people. We have a lot of people that read education and they have not yet been employed. Bringing engineers and lawyers to teach will not help matters. What subject can a lawyer teach?”

Teacher-student ratio A major problem plaguing primary and secondary school education across the country is shortage of teachers. Speaking in 2013, Mr Tochukwu Okafor, acting National Moderator, Civil Society Action Coalition, described the situation as a “crisis.”

“The right teacher-pupil ratio is 1:40, while Nigeria has about 1:134 or 1:78 across the states of the federation.”

Also, according to figures given by the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) in 2010, the ratio stood at 37.55 in Nigerian primary schools and 33.08 in secondary schools (the number of pupils divided by the number of teachers).

Mr Adewale Kupoluyi, Assistant Director of Public Relations at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), who spoke with Tribune Education on Monday said the situation demands drastic

measures.

“The idea is okay,” he said. “There is no problem with that. One, unemployment has reached an alarming stage. So, if the Federal Government decides to adopt a drastic measure to address the situation, it is okay. But my bone of contention is this: if you want to employ people as teachers, it should not be because there is no job. We shouldn’t create a situation where teaching is seen as a kind of dumping ground.

Why must it be teaching? Why not Law? Why not Pharmacy? The way forward is this: train them thoroughly, and once the graduates are employed, they should be registered with relevant teaching professional bodies, and they must abide by the code of ethics of the body. Once these are done, there should be no problem.”

Nine months Attempts made to obtain further information concerning the programme from the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, were unsuccessful. The Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Mrs Priscilla Ihuoma, who had promised to “get back to” Tribune Education was, as at press time, yet to do so.

The labour minister had stated that the training to be given to the unemployed graduates would last nine months – suggesting it would be a crash course. The duration for Postgraduate diploma courses in most Nigerian universities is 12 to 18 months.

There is yet another problem. As it is obvious that most of the graduates to be recruited for this exercise will be people who had never intended to make a career out of teaching, how much commitment will they bring to bear on the job? And who is to say they would not abandon their posts at the earliest opportunity?

24

education

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

How Nigeria can achieve food security in 14 years —ACU don

By Laolu Harolds

A

Professor of Microbiology and Head of Department of Biological Sciences at the Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Professor Morenike Olayinka Sannni, says that with commitment and dedication, Nigeria can achieve sustainable food security and industrialisation in 14 years.

While presenting the university’s 2nd Inaugural Lecture on Thursday, Professor Olayinka proposed a four-phased (research and intervention) model tagged Sanni Autodynamic Industrial Model (SAIM), which she believes, if faithfully implemented, is capable of leading the country to achieve enhanced food security and industrialisation.

According to the model, Phase I (Year 1-5) involves needs assessment, research and beefing up of constraints. Here, research involves location of raw materials, time of availability and prioretisation of relevant food industry with emphasis on staples and accompaniments.

Phase II (Year 4-8) involves initiating industries.

According to Sanni, the goal here will be to establish an aggregate of demand-driven small scale industries in every state in the country based on location of raw materials. This, she says, will provide goods and services on the one hand, and jobs, income and purchasing power on the other, thus ameliorating unemployment and poverty.

During Phase III (Year 7-11), small scale industries

are increased and medium scale industries created, with emphasis on processing of nourishing food, reduction of wastage or spoilage and “stepwise” reduction of food imports such as rice, oil, flour and vegetables.

Phase IV (Year 10-14), ac-

cording to the model, will involve upgrading of some industries to large scale and increase of the number of small and medium scale industries. Sanni says there should be both diversification of products as well as scaling up of processing,

while fewer foods are imported.

All these, she says, will work only with the commitment of the government and cooperation of stakeholders at all levels of governance.

Professor Sanni noted that lack of industrial develop-

Professor Morenike Sanni delivering ACU’s 2nd Inaugural Lecture last Thursday.

ment in Nigeria has resulted in low level of income-generating activity and high level of unemployment – which in turn has kept a great majority of people in what she called the ‘poverty trap’.

She identified poor infrastructure and neglect of rural development as constraints to industrial development and food security in Nigeria. It will be difficult, she argued, for the country to achieve food security and industrial development without a virile steel industry, regular electricity supply, good and adequate roads network and provision of potable water.

Sanni also identified lack of local research and inadequate attention to post-harvest technology. She recommended that research grants be allocated to universities and polytechnics based on the needs and raw materials

IBB University’s courses receive NUC’s nod Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

THE National Universities Commission (NUC)

has approved 14 academic programmes of the Niger State-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Muhammad Nasiru Maiturare disclosed this last week to Governor

Abubakar Sani Bello, the Visitor to the university, when he presented the NUC’s report on the accreditation exercise of the

Mass Communication Students of the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State, during their excursion to Tribune House, Imalafalafia, Ibadan, recently.

Make teaching attractive, educationist urges government AN educationist and president, Performance Fact Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mutiu Fagbayi, has urged government to create conditions that will attract bright individuals into the teaching profession.

Impoving the quality of teachers through the introduction of the right incentives and training, he said, is the most important intervention needed in the education sector.

Fagbayi, who is the Chief Operating Officer, National Centre on Education and Economy, a non-governmental organisation in Washington DC, United States, lamented that the teaching methods employed by his teachers 40 years ago were still in use, adding that teachers in the country need

in each locality.

She said there is an urgent need for Nigeria to mobilize its resources to finance the type of development that will ensure a high rate of employment. This, she said, would “cater for the increasing population of restive, largely educated, young innovative labour force, mainly in the urban centres where they have come to search for the elusive employment.”

“The reduction of unemployment and imports translates to income and better nutrition. All these are integral parts of a quest for national food sufficiency, in such a way that by improving food security, the socio-economic climate of Nigeria will improve. We will translate from being a consumer economy to an exporting nation.”

to be familiar with scientific teaching methods in order to develop the capacity of their pupils.

While commending the federal government on its decision to employ 500,000 teachers to boost manpower in the sector, he, however, said a long-term plan to retain individuals who are passionate about the teaching profession is more viable than recruiting volunteers.

According to him, poor performances by pupils in national examination will also be reversed if the quality of teaching is improved.

“The most important factor is the quality of instruction as well as the effectiveness of teaching and learning. So, the most significant thing to focus on is how to help our teachers

and head teachers get better and how to attract and retain our best minds within the teaching profession.

Fagbayi said: “If you study the research about those countries whose pupils perform best on international comparisons of student achievement, you will find that those countries place a high premium on teacher quality.

“Countries such as Finland, South Korea, Singapore and Japan are consistently at the top of the list, year after year. And none of those countries – except Finland – has a lot of natural resources like oil or gold.

They recognise that their most valuable resources are their people, and that by training them well, the whole country thrives.

Fagbayi, who said his organisation has started a pilot project in literacy and language development for pupils in the Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, added that management and leadership skills are also being taught to 50 head teachers and council managers, who are in turn expected to train their peers.

Fagbayi noted further: “Many American pupils – especially pupils from poorer homes, ethnic minorities, or pupils whose home language is not English – are not performing as well as their white counterparts. There is a persistent ‘achievement gap’ that results in many pupils being ill-prepared for the university and career. In fact, a large percentage is re-

quired to complete remedial courses when they get to the university. Nigeria faces a similar challenge.

“Pupils from less affluent homes do not have access to the same quality schools that are available to the children of wealthier parents. We, too, do have an ‘achievement gap’ here in Nigeria. However, in America, they seem to recognise the problem and have been working on it since 1983 when a report, ‘A Nation at Risk’, warned America to fix its schools or risk becoming a weaker country.

“The most important factor in educating all pupils at a high level is the quality and effectiveness of the teacher. No other factor is more important.”

courses offered by the institution.

According to the vice chancellor, of the 14 courses presented for accreditation, 11 courses were given full accreditation while three courses were granted interim accreditation.

The courses with full accreditation are Business Administration, Agriculture, French, History and International Studies, while in the Faculty of Education, five courses: Agric Education, Biology Education, Geography Education, Mathematics Education and Guidance and Counseling had full approval. Chemistry Education, Computer Science Education and Physics Education got interim accreditation. Food Science and Geology also got the nod of the NUC. The vice chancellor also said that the university is planning to introduce medical programmes and that a consultant has been engaged for the design of the programmes of the university’s College of Medicine, while the institution is linking up with formidable medical colleges abroad to ensure quality of teaching.

He commended the state government for supporting the institution, even prior to the NUC accreditation exercise.

In his remarks, the governor assured the institution’s management of his government’s resolve to support the university’s effort at running the medical school.

25

education

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

FUTA don canvasses indigenous machinery for agriculture

F

OR Nigeria to achieve food security and take full advantage of its huge potential in agriculture, government at all levels must formulate and drive policies that will enhance indigenous development of agricultural machinery and equipment for mechanized agriculture.

This was the submission of Professor Leo Agbetoye while delivering the 74th Inaugural Lecture of the Federal University of Akure (FUTA).

Agbetoye, who spoke on ‘Mechanized Agriculture: A Route to Enhanced Food Security’ said he believed that such policies would discourage indiscriminate importation of machine and equipment and also create enabling environment and logistics for local fabrication of machinery.

The Professor of Agricultural Engineering said that most of the limitations of agricultural mechanization in Nigeria are caused by the near total dependence on

imported machinery and equipment, which are generally unsuitable to the local soil, climate and farming systems due to their high cost, complexity and sophistication. These, he noted, results in frequent damage, high cost of maintenance and general underutilization.

To fast track the process of reversing the trend, he called on the government to set up technology acquisition centres or agricultural machinery production centres; increase funding of the research institutes and development centres to enhance dissemination, and adopt research findings and commercialise them.

He also called for the restructuring of the curricula of the various institutions of higher learning where engineers are produced for result-oriented programmes.

While highlighting the advantages of the introduction of efficient, sustainable and cost-effective mechanization technology, Professor

Professor Adebiyi Daramola and Professor Leo Agbetoye shortly after the latter delivered FUTA’s 74th Inaugural Lecture.

Agbetoye said it would lead to improvement of timeliness and efficiency of various operations and increase in the supply of raw mater-

ials for agro-based industries, thus providing better rural living conditions for Nigeria’s teeming population of over 160 million

people.

He also advocated the revival of the iron and steel industry to produce at full capacity, such that relevant

Kwara to retrain 400 teachers Biola Azeez - Ilorin

KWARA State government, in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation, the Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), will train 400 teachers in its employ

on 21st century teaching skills.

The training is meant to boost quality of education at secondary school levels in the state.

The training, which will begin next month, will also

see to the provision of fully equipped mobile workshops as well as impart entrepreneurial skills to the people of the state.

These facts emerged when the Voluntary Services Overseas, led by the Head

Oyo School of Science alumni donate materials to alma mater

By Modupe George

THE Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Oyo State, Mrs Aderonke Oluwafunmilayo Makanjuola, says that education is a joint venture, and that government alone cannot satisfy the educational aspirations of its people.

She made the remark last Thursday during the inauguration of the newly installed marker boards donated to the Oyo State School of Science, Pade, by members of the classes of 1915\96 of the institution.

Mrs Makanjuola called on private organisations, corporate bodies and philanthropists to join in the restoration, transformation and repositioning agenda of the Governor Isiaka Ajimobi administration to move education to the next level in the state.

She said the state government would continue to provide necessary facilities and infrastructure needed to promote education delivery in schools and colleges.

While commending the effort of the 1995\96 sets, she said: “Without gainsaying, the installation of marker boards in the school will not only add value to this great citadel of learning, but will also facilitate teaching and learning of science education in the school.”

She then admonished the school authority and

the students to make the best use of the materials so that the primary objectives behind its installation would be achieved. She also challenged the students to start thinking of what they would do for the school in the nearest future.

The principal of the school, Mr Ojedokun Gabriel Adebayo, earlier in his address noted that the introduction of the modern apparatus had aided the teaching and learning process in the school. Apart from lessening the burden associated with the use of traditional chalk boards, “it has also completely eradicated the health hazards associated with the use of the latter.”

He therefore thanked donors, assuring them that

grades of steel required by the fabricators can be made readily available at the local markets.

Concluding, Agbetoye said that the development of indigenous machines and equipment as well as their commercial manufacture are desirable to attain technological development and enhancement of food security.

In his remarks at the occasion, the vice chancellor, Professor Adebiyi Daramola described the lecturer as an erudite scholar and an astute administrator who has served the university in various capacities and has contributed immensely to research and academic development in his field of specialisation.

his officers and students would make judicious use of the apparatus.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the president, Mr Omobolaji Akangbe, stated the pro-

ject was born out of a longterm desire to give back to the institution that imparted so much to them and made them whom they are today.

He spoke of plans by the

old students association to do more for their alma mater, including an award this year to outstanding SSS 1 and SSS 2 students of the school, as well as plan to equip the library.

Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Oyo State, Mrs A. O Makanjuola, launching the white marker board after the inauguration, while the school principal, Mr G.A Ojedokun (second right); the former principal Pastor J.B Oladele (third right) and other representatives of the alumni look on.

of Programmes, Mr Ananb Kishore Das, paid a courtesy call on the governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, at the Government House, Ilorin.

Governor Ahmed said the slow pace of development in Nigeria could be attributed to the deficit in human capital development, hence the need to bridge the deficit in all sectors.

He noted that one of the challenges in the teaching sector is getting the right teachers to get things done, but said his administration has reviewed school curricular with emphasis on human capital developmental.

The Head of Programmes, Voluntary Services Overseas, Mr Kishore-Das, in his remarks said the organisation currently operates in 25 schools in two local government areas of the state with emphasis on mathematics and science subjects.

Dr Kishore-Das, who said the organisation would soon increase the number of schools where it operates to 35 for better results, commended the state government for its commitment to the provision of qualitative education.

‘We’ll make Federal University, Dutse, world-class institution’ Adamu Amadu - Dutse

24-YEAR-OLD Caleb Musa says he and his fellow pioneer graduates will work together to make their alma mater, the Federal University, Dutse, a world class institution in no distant future.

Musa had emerged as the Best Overall Student, Best Graduating Student in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Best Graduating Male Student at the maiden convocation of the university held last week

with a Cumulative Grade Point Aggregate (CGPA) of 4.84.

In his address as the first valedictorian of the institution, he said: “Federal University Duste may not be world class at the moment, but in the shortest time, it will be the hub of global academic activities. With time, it will be the pace setter. With time, you would wish you were a product of this university.”

Over 176 students were conferred with the first degree and postgraduate

diploma in different disciplines.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by Professor Muhammad Hamisu, in his message to the occasion, called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to ensure that universities in the country graduate role models.

The vice chancellor of the university, Professor Jibril Dahiru Amin, enthused that FUD scored over 80 per cent in NUC’s assessment of its facilities and

academic effectiveness.

Professor Amin said that since its establishment five years ago, the university has witnessed remarkable academic and physical development, as well as significant staff capacity expansion and growth.

From five academic departments and three faculties in the 2011/2012 academic session, Amin said the university now has 19 academic departments and five faculties; while students’ population has steadily increased

from 205 to the current 3,200.

He said: “As part of our academic expansion programme, the university has set the pace among its peers, the nine new universities established in 2011, to establish a College of Medicine which will be offering Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Bachelor of Dentistry (BDS) and B.Sc Environmental Health Management. Already, the college has admitted its first set of students.

26

education

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

World school debate: Nigerian students shine in Singapore

By Kehinde Adio

S

TUDENTS from Anambra and Niger states made the nation proud in Singapore during a one-week foreign trip organised by the President’s School Debate Nigeria (PSDN).

Competing with students from the CHIJ Katong Convent High School, one of the best secondary schools in the region, the Nigerian representatives from Anambra State did not just win the contest, but also produced the best speaker of the tournament.

Similarly, in a debate contest involving their counterparts from Niger State and students from the Anglican High School, Singapore, the Nigerian team produced the most improved speaker of the competition.

The Africa Asia Foreign Investment and Development Associates (AAFIDA) had earlier received the Nigerian team, led by the National Coordinator or the PSDN, Elder Dare Oritu, to Singapore, with a welcome dinner. Subsequently, an intensive pre-debate training was then held for the participants.

After the training, the associates then invited two of the best secondary schools in Singapore for a debate contest with the Nigerian representatives.

The participants were asked to speak on the motion ‘This house believes that slum tourism does more harm than good’.

Anambra did not only win the match, it emerged the overall best team of the

tournament and also produced the best speaker of the competition.

Elder Oritu said that the trip to Singapore was meant to open up an enduring educational relationship with Singaporean students and their Nigerian counterparts to promote academic excellence among Nigerian youths.

“This international programme marks the inaugural annual meeting that will continue to exist between Nigerian students and those of Singapore, as Nigeria is fully prepared to receive Singaporean students in the country in the nearest future.

“President’s School debate has the objective of assisting youths in improving their communication skill, inculcating in them a reading culture, leadership qualities, spirit of healthy rivalry and sportsmanship. By our years of experience in debating activities home and abroad, Nigeria is duly prepared to host 2018 World School Debate Championship.”

Members of the Nigeria High Commission in Singapore, led by Zainab ZakariAwami, commended Oritu for exposing Nigerian youths to international debate programmes.

The development, they said, would go a long way to improve their thinking and orientation towards national development.

The World School Debate Executive Chairman, Mr. Mark Gabriel, also commended the Nigerian students for their command of English.

Teachers’ education our top priority – YABATECH rector THE Rector, Yaba College of Technology YABATECH, Dr. Margaret Kudirat Ladipo, says that teachers’ education will remain a top priority in the college’s planning and development.

Addressing matriculating 100 and 200 Level degree students of the School of Technical Education (STE), run in affiliation with the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, Mrs Ladipo said the college would continue to provide conducive learning environment for its students.

“We have a commitment to equip you with the requisite skills and competencies that will empower you to contribute your quota to the development efforts of this country.

“We do expect maximum cooperation from you as students to enable us accomplish the set objectives for which the STE was estab-

lished,” she said.

The rector charged the new students to consider themselves fortunate to have had the privilege of undergoing their programmes at the first indigenous university in Nigeria, UNN, in collaboration with the cradle of higher learning in Nigeria, YABATECH. The Vice Chancellor, UNN, Professor Benjamin Ozumba, also charged the new students to guard against situations that would make the society perceive them in negative light.

Professor Ozumba, who was represented by the UNN’s coordinator of affiliation programmes, Dr. Joshua Umeifekwem, warned the new students not to allow perceived intellectual possession or the acquisition of sudden freedom to weaken their moral upbringing.

Afe Babalola, Funke Akindele, Kunle Afolayan, others for ANUCA awards Doyin Adeoye FIRST interuniversity award in Nigeria, the Annual University Crest Awards (ANUCA), is set to honour celebrities as well as student achievers who have made their marks in various walks of life in the past year.

ANUCA is an initiative of young and vibrant entrepreneur, Dabira Ayotunde, who says the award is aimed at promoting student entrepreneurs and encouraging students to be job creators.

Some of the personalities to receive the special recognition award include Aare Afe Babalola, as the Education Icon of the Year; GTBank, as the Students’ Bank

of the Year; Kunle Afolayan, Students’ Choice Role Model of the Year (Male); Funke Akindele, Students’ Choice Role Model of the Year (Female); Kiss Daniel, Students’ Choice Artist of the Year and Seyi Law, as the Students’ Choice Comedian of the Year.

Students across various institutions have been nominated for over 50 categories of awards, set to hold in March. Some of the categories include: Most Enterprising Student of the Year, Student CEO of the Year, Students’ Union President of the Year, Most Outstanding Student in Sports, Student Brand of the Year, Student Music Producer of the Year and Student Journalist of the Year, among others.

From left, Mr. Babatunde Bakare, Dr. Nike Akinwunmi, Dr. Akin Odebunmi, Professor Matthews Ojo (vice chancellor), Dr. Kayode A. Ogunleye (Registrar), Dr. Ayo Banji, Dr. Bisi Olawunmi, Mr. Gboyega Aderoju, Mr. Bayo Ilupeju (Deputy Registrar) after a recognition award for editorial board members of the Bowen University Newsletter.

Anambra State Commissioner for Education Professor Kate Omenugha receiving best speaker award for her team from Zainab Zakari - Awami of Nigeria High Commission at the end of the debate competition held in Singapore recently.

While the team members watch.

27

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Group Business Editor Sulaimon Olanrewaju

aviation

m:08055001708 e:lanresulaimon@yahoo.com t:@lanresulaimon

anchor Shola Adekola

m:0803 365 4818 e:sholanig@yahoo.com

Delta Airlines nets $1.45bn profit in 2015

From left, Representative of Airport Council International (ACI), Douw Smuts; International Air Transport Association (IATA) representative, Seda Protus; International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) representative, Albert Taylor; Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s Director of Operations, Captain Abdulahi Sidi; Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Mr Ibrahim Abdulsalam, IATA representative, Adefunke Adeyemi and FAAN Director of Operations, Captain Henry Omeogwu, during the opening of the recent Runway Safety Workshop at Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Ikeja.

NAMA MD urges staff to comply with TSA tenets Stories by Shola Adekola

T

HE Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engineer Ibrahim Abdulsalam has called on workers in the organization to adhere strictly to the tenets of the newly introduced Treasury Single Account (TSA), tax policy as well as all other policy initiatives of the Federal Government as they were all targeted at repositioning the economy towards greatness.

Abdulsalam who made these remarks at a one-day workshop attended by top management staff of NAMA at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Training Centre, NCAA Annex, Ikeja, explained that the Treasury Single Account is a unified government accounting system which enables consolidation and optimal utilization of revenue.

According to the NAMA Chief, in the light of dwindling oil fortunes, there was the need for all stakeholders to support and encourage the reforms of the Federal Government both in their individual and collective capacities to succeed, as these policy initiatives according to him were bound to give the Nigerian econ-

omy and by extension, the aviation sector the needed boost and turnaround in the long run.

The Abdulsalam also charged participants to look inwards and device new frontiers where

the agency could generate more revenue from non-aeronautical sources, just as he cautioned against waste and frivolous expenses.

“The present economic realities

have left us with no other option than to align ourselves with the policy direction of the Federal Government by prioritizing our expenditure and also blocking leakages,” Abdulsalam said.

AMERICAN Delta Airlines has reported financial results for the December 2015 quarter, including adjusted pre-tax income of $1.45 billion, a $430 million increase year over year.

Adjusted net income was $926 million or $1.18 per diluted share, up 51 percent from the December quarter of 2014.

Delta’s chief Executive Officer, Richard Anderson in a statement said the carrier’s 2015 performance was a record for Delta on all fronts – with industry-leading operational performance, superior customer satisfaction, and a $5.9 billion adjusted pre-tax profit.

These results he said showed the commitment of the Delta people to running the best airline in the world every day.

According to him Anderson; “It’s an honour to reward their performance with $1.5 billion in profit sharing for the year. As we look ahead to 2016, we have a significant opportunity to improve our performance even further. With over $3 billion in potential savings from lower fuel prices and numerous commercial, operational and cost initiatives already in place, we expect to again perform in the top tier of the S&P Industrials on earnings growth, margins, and cash flows this year despite global economic challenges.”

Delta’s operating revenue for the December quarter decreased by two percent, or $145 million, due to $160 million in foreign currency pressures.

Greater Washington empowers 600 youths in cargo business GREATER Washington Logistics, one of the leading cargo companies, presently holding sway in the country’s aviation sector has so far empowered over 600 youths in cargo business.

Speaking on the development, the managing director of the firm, Mrs Adenike Brown, explained that the empowerment and training of the youths formed part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) to help reduce the high unemployment rate in the country.

The applicants, who were trained for five days at the conference hall of the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), were exposed to the rudiments of cargo business in Nigeria and how to source for them.

According to Brown, “the training would enable some of the youths to be self-employed and be able to set up their own franchise companies in the future which she said was also in-line with the plans

of the Federal Government to reduce unemployment rates in the country.

While she said that some of the brilliant trainees among them would be absorbed into the system by the management, Brown however, noted that the major essence of the training was for the youths to make extra money through cargo and logistics business.

Her words: “The primary aim is just to give back to the society and at the end of the training, we will identify the scholars among them and employ a few of them. As we all know, there is really no job out there and we all have to keep the youth aware of what they can do for themselves to make extra money and take people off the street. With this, they will have knowledge of things they can do and make extra money for themselves.”

Also speaking on the occasion, the Assistant General Manager, Corporate Services and Admin-

istration in the firm, Mr. Bright Aghogban said that the company had always taken safety and training as a very key objective that must be met by all.

He declared that in order to ensure safety at all times, the company had consistently in the past two years trained registered agents that carry goods on its platform airlines, which he said had reduced carriage of dangerous goods onboard airlines drastically.

On the trainees, Aghogban told journalists that the company exposed them to where the cargo items could be sourced and trained them on every skill required to survive in aviation industry.

“We have taken them to the cargo facilities to expose them to how the business runs and we let them know that it doesn’t take rocket science to actually do well in this business. You don’t even have to be graduate to be a cargo agent or own a cargo agency.

“What they just need to know

is what we have given to them in these five days. We have trained them in the entire body of knowledge that forms logistics and supplier chain management in Nigeria, which is the commercial aspect of the operations, airlifting and movement of items from one place to the other.”

Besides, the Regional Head, Empowering African Youth International Organisation, EMFRICA, Mr. Babajide Akin-Thomas explained that no fewer than 5000 youths applied for the training, but only 600 were eventually shortlisted for the final training programme.

He insisted that none of the applicants paid any amount of money for the programme and expressed hope that this would help to expose them to various business opportunities in the cargo business.

The training was in collaboration with the management of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two, MMA2.

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aviation

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Aeronautical engineers task FG on maintenance culture

crucial moment With Shola Adekola

0803 365 4818

The sensitive marriage between Amaechi and Sirika THERE is no doubt that the country’s aviation sector is yet to fully take its rightful position under the present government courtesy of various reasons.

While it has started dawning on workers of the various agencies and other stakeholders that situations have changed as witnessed by the scrapping of the hitherto ministry of aviation and its merger with the ministry of transport, the appointment of a minister of transport in the person of Right Honourable Chibuike Amaechi as the overall minister is a pointer to the fact that the level has changed.

Though Amaechi is the minister of the entire ministry of transport under where aviation, maritime, railway are expected to function, in view of the importance and sensitivity of aviation, a minister of state for aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika who coincidentally is a trained pilot was also appointed to run the aviation sector.

As expected, Sirika is to work hand in hand with Amaechi to bring the required change to the sector in line with the goals of the President Muhamadu Buhari led government.

The difference between Amaechi and Sirika is that while one is a non-aviator, the other is an aviator who in other words, is familiar with the rules of the game as regards aviation terrain.

It is based on this that key players in the sector have expressed their faith in the appointment of Sirika as the minister of state for aviation knowing that because he is chosen from within that it will be very tough for anyone to cajole him as done in the past.

There is no doubt that Amaechi though may not be an aviator but obviously because he too is a technocrat in his own field and as a former governor he is definitely not a push over.

It is generally believed across the sector that with the combination of the two and with the support of President Muhammadu Buhari, the sector is expected to benefit from the change blowing.

While it is hoped that the change being expected in the sector will not take too long to be felt, there is however the need for the two ministers to tread cautiously in the course of performing their duties to avoid clash of interests.

Presently, stakeholders are nursing the fear that there may be future clash of ‘ego’ between the duo which may have negative effect on the sensitive sector as the minister of state for aviation is expected to take some urgent professional actions without input from the minister of transport which should not be misconstrued.

According those in this group, it is expected that after the general tour of facilities done by the two, the minister of state for aviation should have visited Lagos to personally interact with the various professional bodies who are ever ready to give information rather than stay back in Abuja.

The need for the two ministers to avoid subsequent clash of interest is not far from the peculiarity of the sector which past ministers had capitalized on to perpetrate corrupt practices which have been the bane of the sector.

In the past many of the ministers had turned the sector into their ‘ATMs’ where they either inflated contracts or used their companies or those of their friends to carry out questionable projects that only mortgaged the future of the sector.

Even in the course of scrambling for the juicy projects by some of the past ministers and other members of the political class including members of the National Assembly, such projects either ended up falling below expectations or used to put the sector under financial pressure.

There is no doubt that this same impunity may not rear its head in this we dispensation, but there is the need for the two ministers to apply wisdom while attempting to take some steps by putting into consideration the interest of the sector.

This becomes necessary in view of the impending restructure of the sector which though is needed to reposition and clear the mess perpetrated in the past but this must be done sincerely.

The success of the sector surely depends on the ability of the two ministers to understand the peculiar nature of the sector by taking steps devoid of personal interests.

Presently, the sector is sick and needs a good surgeon who will not create further complications and this can be achieved through absolute sincerity and maturity from the two ministers.

Nigerian Tribune

FG to partner professionals for aviation growth

M

INISTER of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has declared that the Federal Government’s resolve to work with Aviation experts to build the industry and make it viable to meet with international standard.

Dropping this hint when a delegation of concerned airport professionals led by a former Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Sani Baba paid him a courtesy call in Abuja last week, Sirika, expressed his delight with members

of the group and their commitment to help in finding solutions to issues and challenges that affect the growth of the Aviation industry.

Sirika declared: “I am delighted to see that you find time to organize yourselves into a concerned group and have the time to come to me and make valuable contributions on the way Aviation industry can be moved forward”.

While promising that the President will continue to encourage Private Investors in the Aviation sector to do their businesses in

line with international best practices, the minister appealed to the group to make themselves available when they are called to assist in finding solutions to the Challenges facing the Aviation Industry.

He thanked the group for coming and assured them of Government’s determination to revamp the sector.

Earlier, Engineer Shittu, a former MD of FAAN made a Power Point Presentation where he highlighted the current Situation of the Aviation industry, prospects, challenges and way forward.

Dana Air rewards guests on Lagos/Accra route NIGERIAN carrier, Dana Air has announced a series of benefits to reward its customers flying on the Lagos – Accra - Lagos route.

The offer which is also tied to its frequent flyer program, Dana Miles, will enable guests flying on the Accra route earn 4,500 miles extra to fly for free on their next trip.

The airline declared that the “rewards will continue throughout the month of February, 2016 and it entails guests to fly with their partner on a round trip on the Lagos - Accra- Lagos route to get 4500 miles which is equivalent to a free ticket, while those travel-

ling on the business class will stand a chance of being upgraded to silver membership, which is the second highest membership level for guests who are able to acquire 9,000 miles within one year on their flight with Dana Air; and also enjoy the advantage that the program has to offer.”

According to the Chief Commercial Officer of Dana Air, Mr Obi Mbanuzuo; “the reward is just the airlines’ way of saying thank you to its loyal guests on the Accra route and to encourage them to spend this year’s valentine in Accra.

“This is our own way

of appreciating our loyal guests who have embraced our unique flight services on the Accra route and to also encourage couples to enjoy their getaway this valentine in the beautiful city of Accra.

“Our guests should also expect more giveaways on our social media platforms and can also participate in our ongoing valentine contest in collaboration with Pulseng on instagram’’ Dana Air recently launched daily flight services from Lagos to Accra with an introductory online fare of 22,000 to boost leisure and business trips from Lagos to Accra.

MEMBERS of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Aeronautical division have charged various government agencies to imbibe the maintenance culture on its equipment to keep the system going.

The president of NSE (aeronautical division) Engineer Bola Bido who gave this charge in Abuja when he led members of the association on a courtesy visit to the director general of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), noted, that lack of maintenance culture was responsible for the folding up of some companies in the country. Bido stressed the need for parastatals’ heads to engage the services of local engineers in the aviation sector to handle all equipment maintenance related issues.

According to Bido with the dwindling resources in the country, there was no way organizations will survive by seeking the services of expertrates where Nigerian engineers were capable of doing the job.

According to Bido; “With the dwindling resources, it is necessary to look inwards by challenging our engineers to learn”. “Jobs that can be done by Nigerians should be given to Nigerians in order to encourage them”. Bido decried the high rate of ageing workforce in the aviation sector saying, it remained a source of worry to the association and stakeholders.

While commending the Nimet boss, Dr Anthony Anuforom for the transformation in the agency, Bido noted that the ICT department of the agency remained a reference point and requested for the integration of Nimet services in Air Traffic management in all the airports to enable all the airlines get its information.

He described the success recorded by the director general as enormous following what he called as result of continuity in office and appealed to government to allow heads of parastatals to transform various agencies during their tenure.

S/African Airways begins Abuja-Jo’burg flight operations SOUTH African Airways (SAA) has commenced direct flight services between Abuja and Jo’burg with the sale of tickets on all SAA’s distribution channels.

The airline commenced flight operations on the Abuja/Jo’burg route on January 26, 2016.

According to the airline, the three weekly flights will operate non-stop between Johannesburg and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja

aboard modern Airbus 330-200s, offering SAA Business class comfort and luxury, with the latest in In-flight entertainment.

In excitement, the airline said adding a second gateway in Nigeria to SAA’s existing daily service to Lagos materially strengthens SAA’s position in West Africa where it plays a significant role in enabling the movement of goods and people between Southern Africa and West Africa thereby enhancing the

growing trade and cultural exchanges between these two regions.

The addition of Abuja to SAA’s network follows closely on the successful introduction of the Accra, Ghana to Washington Dulles, USA route, as a West African platform in August 2015.

SAA launched flights between Accra, Ghana and Washington DC in North America, in cooperation with Africa World Airways.

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Thursday, 28 January, 2016

maritime

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Tola Adenubi

m:07068476673 e:adenubiadetola@yahoo.com

Cargo lull: Redundancy hits Customs Commands —Investigations

The persistent lull in cargo throughput at the seaports has forced many private organisations into reducing their workforce. For government institutions like the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), it has been a case of wastage of valuable man-hours. TOLA ADENUBI writes on this.

T

HE activities of shippers and importers who have diverted their cargoes to Nigeria’s neighbouring ports, thereby resulting in a lull in cargo throughput at the nation’s seaports is beginning to have an adverse effect on the moral of employees of government institutions whose operations are related to the ports.

For many private institutions whose operations were affected by the lull in activities at the ports, many simply declared redundancy and laid-off some of its workforce to balance its books. However, for government controlled agencies like the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), it has been wastage of valuable man hours at some of the Customs Commands.

For some of this Customs Commands like the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command along the Apapa-Oshodi express way and the Lillypond Terminal popularly called Ijora Command, it has been huge loss of valuable man hours for Customs officers.

When the Nigerian Tribune visited some of this Customs Commands, it was observed that some Customs officers, out of idleness at the Commands, take nap in their offices for hours while some engage also idle agents in lengthy discussions or leisure games like card and chess playing during working hours.

Pre cargo lull Prior to the Federal Government policies (Auto policy and the rice ban) that drove importers and shippers away to neighbouring ports in the sub-region, cargoes were being

stemmed from the Apapa port and the TinCan Island port to this Customs commands.

This singular action, borne out of the fact that there are enough cargoes at the Apapa and Tin-Can ports, is backed by the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Section 19, Cap C45 LFN 2004 which explains the powers of the service to control movement of uncleared goods landed or arrived at the Customs ports and approved border stations.

That section of the CEMA reads that: “The Board may, from time to time, give general or special directions as to the manner in which and the conditions under which goods chargeable with any duty which has not been paid, or drawback goods, or any other goods which have not been cleared, or any class or description of such goods, may be moved between any place in Nigeria and any other place therein.

“Any such directions may include directions requiring that any such goods shall be moved only by such routes, by such persons, in such ships, aircraft or vehicles or by such other means as may be approved by the board for the purpose; and any such approval may be granted for such period and subject to such conditions and restrictions as the board may think fit and may be revoked at any time by the board.”

Due to adequate stemming of cargoes from Apapa and the Tin-Can ports in the past, Customs Commands like the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal and the Lillypond terminal were put to maximum use as officers posted to this Commands always had a busy day like their counterparts at the Apapa

Customs Command and the Tin-Can Island Customs Command.

Ports to ensure that ships are stemmed at Lillypond and Kirikiri Lighter Terminal with immediate effect or we suggest that both Customs Commands be shut down to avoid further wastage of public funds. Such waste emanates from paying idle Customs officers salaries for doing nothing.”

Post cargo lull However, with the slump in cargo throughput at the nation’s busiest ports, investigations have revealed that many of this Customs Commands are experiencing daily loss of man-hours and wastage due to idleness.

Further findings revealed that the lull in cargo throughput at the nation’s seaports has forced terminal operators manning the Apapa and Tin-Can port not to stem cargoes to dry ports like the Lillypond and Kirikiri lighter terminal, thereby rendering many Customs officers with no jobs to do.

In the words of the Secretary General of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Mr Arthur Igwillo, “At Lillypond Terminal in Ijora alone, it is on record that about 200 officers are idling away. These officers for the past years may have added little or no value to justify their earnings from the public treasury. The same thing goes for other unviable Customs approved depots.”

Igwillo, in a letter to the Customs Comptroller General dated 22 January, 2016, further stated that, “we want the Customs CG to evoke the Section 19 of the CEMA Act and direct that containers be stemmed at Lillypond in Ijora and Kirikiri Lighter Terminal for the sake of government revenue, trade facilitation, security of the state, job satisfaction of resident Customs officers and our members.

“We encourage the CG to direct the Customs Area Controller of Apapa and Tin-can

Customs at a crossroad The situation at this virtually idle Customs Command has not gone unnoticed at the Service headquarters in Abuja. When contacted on the implication of the loss of manhours to the service, the NCS image maker, Wale Adeniyi, stated that the service is looking at reducing the postings of men to this Commands.

“We are all aware of the economic situation confronting the country right now.

There is a downturn in the economy and this has affected the volume of importation all over the country.

“However, to cushion the unnecessary waste of man hours at some Commands which are not getting enough jobs to do, we are trying to conduct what is called a Manning level to determine how many officers will be posted and will optimally be deployed in certain places. That exercise is in progress and our subsequent postings will be done based on the outcome of the Manning level exercise.

“The Manning level will afford us the opportunity to know how many officers that would be posted to certain places. The Manning level will allow us to look at the volume of jobs that is taking place in a command and the adequate number of people that will be required to do such jobs.

“When we look at the amount of work that is available in those places, it will reflect in our deployment of men to such places,” he said.

30

maritime

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Nigeria surpasses IMO benchmark for ISPS Code implementation

From right, Acting Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Haruna Baba Jauro; leader of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Needs Assessment Team, Ms. Gisela Vieira and a member of the team, Brian Cranmer, when the team paid a working visit to the agency recently.

THE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has stated that Nigeria has surpassed the benchmark set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for the actual compliance level of the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

The Acting Director General, Mr Haruna Baba Jauro, made this known while receiving the IMO Needs Assessment Team at the Headquarters of the agency.

Mr Jauro who described the maritime sector as a major economic driver assured the team that the agency will not rest on its oars in ensuring that the nation’s seaports are safe and secure for business activities to thrive.

“From being less than 9 per cent compliant in 2013, I am happy to inform you that we have surpassed the 70 per cent benchmark in na-

tional compliance level of the ISPS Code implementation in Nigeria and the current management is leaving no stone unturned to ensure 100 per cent compliance level,” he said.

Ms. Gisela Vieira, the leader of the IMO Needs Assessment Team, commended the management of NIMASA for the commitment and zeal shown towards ensuring the effective implementation of the ISPS code.

According to her, the audit is not mainly aimed at identifying the faults but specially meant to set an agenda on how to better the current implementation status.

It would be recalled that NIMASA was in May, 2013 officially named the Designated Authority (DA) for the implementation of the ISPS code after the dissolution of the Presidential Committee on Maritime Safety and Security (PCOMSS).

In order to ensure full compliance, the Agency has continually clamped down on some erring facilities who have remained non -compliant after several entreaties for the facility managers to remedy the identified breaches.

failed because government has not been able to control Nigerian cargoes.

“In every country that cabotage has succeeded, it is because the government of such country

indigenous operators carry such cargoes?

“The success of cabotage is predicated on the ability to have cargoes. If there are no contracts, then cabotage will fail,” he stated.

Seme Customs impounds N6.9m worth of contraband

Shipping development is not port building —NISA Stories by Tola Adenubi- Lagos

T

HE Nigerian Ship-owners Association (NISA) has stated that shipping is much more than development of ports infrastructure. This is even as the association frowned at Nigeria’s perception of shipping which it claims is more focused on port development.

Speaking in an exclusive chat with the Nigerian Tribune, the President of NISA, Capt. Niyi Dada Labinjo, stated that successive governments in the country have erroneously viewed shipping development as ports building in the past.

According to him, “At times like this, when a country is faced with efforts to diversify her economy, one primordial area to concentrate on is shipping. Shipping is one of the oldest professions all over the world, aside prostitution.

“We will inform the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi when we meet that shipping does not start and end with the development of ports as erroneously portrayed by successive Nigerian governments in recent past.

“Successive Nigerian governments, once they start talking about maritime; they immediately think of development of ports.

This is wrong. Shipping is about ships. Shipping must be at the centre of every maritime development efforts because it is when we have ships that every other aspect of maritime will fall into place.

“Development of ports is ancillary because if you don’t have ships, what do you need ports for?

If you don’t have ships, why do you need to dredge your channel?

If you don’t have ships, why do we need NIMASA? So, it is shipping that should be at the centre of maritime, not port development.”

On cabotage, the NISA helmsman explained that the Act has

has been able to determine who gets what as regards cabotage. If government does not know the services to be rendered or cargoes to be carried, how will such government enforce that only its

Maritime Microfinance Bank to support MSMEs with N201m in 2016

THE Maritime Microfinance Bank Limited (MMFB) said it has earmarked a total of N201 million for disbursement as loans to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in 2016.

While N120 million will be disbursed as micro-loans, N81 million will be disbursed by the bank as SME loans.

Acting Managing Director of the bank, Mr Oluwaseyi Hamilton, said the planned loan disbursement aims to support the Federal Government’s drive to diversify the nation’s revenue

base, create employment and encourage small and medium enterprises.

“We have since inception focused on economically empowering micro-entrepreneurs and low income earners by providing financial services in a sustainable and ethical manner. In this regard, we have developed a variety of loan products specifically designed for individuals running micro, small and medium enterprises.

“Our processes and procedures are also tailored and customised according to the requirements of

APM Terminals to support Customs’ revenue collection drive AS Nigeria moves towards diversifying its economy in the face of dwindling oil revenue, APM Terminals, Apapa, has assured the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) of support in enhancing the collection of tariffs, duties and other levies on imports and exports.

Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa, Andrew Dawes, gave the assurance when the new Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area Command of NCS, Comptroller Willy Egbudin, visited the terminal recently.

Dawes, who received his guest at the expansive 55-hectare yard facility, also said APM Terminals remains committed to the facilitation and enhancement of trade.

“We are fully committed to providing as much service as

is required in ensuring smooth operation at the port. We are committed to developing and supporting trade growth, which drives the revenue collection of Customs. We are fully aligned with your ambitions and you will have our full support in delivering your mandate,” Dawes said.

He said APM Terminals, as an international container terminal operating company, employs the most modern and technologically advanced terminal handling equipment available in the world.

“We are dedicated to setting the industry standards for efficiency, safety and sustainability and it is our goal to support Nigeria’s drive for economic diversification and growth,” he said.

our customers. We take pride in providing the fastest turn around time for processing loan applications.

“We have, since inception supported the growth and development of small businesses.

We have also been consistent in providing much needed financial support and solutions to businesses and individuals in the maritime industry and the larger economic space,” Hamilton said.

He said the MMFB, which experienced phenomenal growth within its first year of operation, would continue to deploy modern technology to provide fast and more efficient services.

“We actively seek to understand our customers’ challenges, expectations and needs with the aim of meeting and surpassing their expectations in our service delivery,” Hamilton said.

The Maritime Microfinance Bank Limited was incorporated on the 24 January, 2014 to carry on the business of micro banking in Nigeria and to arrange/ raise funds or loans.

Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and fully insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), MMFB commenced operations on the 1 December, 2014.

A seasoned banker and former Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Adetola Atekoja was appointed the Chairman of the bank last year.

THE Seme Customs Command under the new leadership of Compt. V. D. Dimka, has impounded sundry items with a duty paid value of N6,941, 637. This is even as the new Comptroller has restructured the Command’s enforcement unit for optimal performance in order to meet the current dynamics of the terrain.

According to a statement signed by the Command’s spokesman, S.C. Taupyen, officers and men of the command have been drafted to man all the porous outlets that can be used by smugglers.

“As a disciplinarian, the address of the controller at the general parade had earlier send signals to every officer on the need for adjustment. Consequently, there is a far departure from acts of indiscipline observed among officers and men to better commitment and strict adherence to procedure and guidelines in the discharge of their duties.

“The body language of the new boss and his readiness to implement and enforce discipline to the later where necessary has actually impacted positive behavioural and attitudinal change among officers and men of the command.

“The result of this action was the seizures of sundry items with a duty paid value of N6,941, 637.

A breakdown of the seizures that was made in the second week of his resumption shows 695 cartons of seized imported frozen poultry products, 115 x 50kg bags of imported rice, 117 kegs x50 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), one truck and two scrap vehicles, being means of conveyance with three suspects,” he said.

31

Thursday, 28 January, 2016 With Adewale Oshodi tribunearts@yahoo.com 08054005323

Retracing the ancestry of the Yoruba from Israel A review of Dr Olapade Agoro’s book, Yoruba (Yehhuba): Factual of a people’s anthropogenesis by ADEWALE OSHODI.

M

ANY researches have been done on the real origin of the Yoruba people of South West Nigeria, as well as those in other West African states, but this discourse is just about to get more interesting as Dr Olapade Agoro, a religious leader, traditional ruler, educationist and frontline politician, has delved into the fray with the publication of his book, Yoruba (Yehhuba): Factual of a People’s Anthropogenesis.

In Dr Agoro’s submission, the claims that Yoruba people fell from heaven, or migrated from Saudi Arabia are all false, but in actual fact, this tribe descended from Jewish ancestry, and the tribe’s name in Hebrew, the language of the Jews is Yehhuba, which has changed over the generations into Yoruba.

“It hurts for one to mention that the most twisted and inconsistent history of mankind is that of the Yoruba people.

There are lots of misplaced facts spread about Yoruba history and historical background, making fallacy ground for mischief makers to fool around with.

“A careful study based on pure conviction for facts establishment and for posterity to benefit from reveals that almost all of the existing Yoruba history on the book shelves globally is bound on maladaptive.” (P3) In starting the research, Dr Agoro explains the interconnectivity of the Atapami people --- Atakpame in Togo, Atapami people of Igbo ‘Tapa (Igbo Atapami) in Ile-Ife, Omoowa ‘Tapa in Itapa-Ekiti, Atapami in Itapa-Ijesa, Atakpa people of Ibibio, Atakpa people in Benin Republic, ‘Tapa people in Nupeland, among others, saying that all these people must have relativity connection beyond ordinary geographical placement.

The author believes that the Atapami, Atakpame, Atakpa, Itapa or ‘Tapa people all have connections to Israel, and that they had moved from the land of the Jews to Ethiopia, down to Nigeria, Benin, Togo, before spreading across the world to Cuba and the Latin America, particularly Brasil.

Apart from his own research, Dr Agoro also identifies a very important research finding by Jide Uwechia (The Yorubas and other Canaanite/Isrealites of Nigeria), Which states that: “Yoruba and the neighbouring nationalities have this oral tradition of an origin extraneous to West Africa.”

He also cites the research, Hugh Clapperton’s 1820 work, which claims Sultan Ahmadu Bello, Caliph of the Sokoto Empire, admitting that “the Yorubas were descended from Canaanite tribe from Palestine.”

•Cover of the book

This claim is also made by Samuel Johnson around 1880 that the Yoruba descended from Lamurudu, the father of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race. Lamurudu, according to Dr Agoro’s research, is Nimrod in Hebrew, and he was the first king of Mesopotamia. Johnson’s book, The History of the Yoruba, was not published until 1923.

The book also explores the story of the Iberian Jews of Yoruba nationality. These people, Bnai Ephraim, or children of Ephraim, came from Morocco after the Jews were banished from the Iberian peninsula around 1492. These people speak a dialect that is a mixture of Moroccan Arabic, Yoruba and Aramaic, and were known as Emo YoQuaim, or strange people.

•The author, Dr Olapade Agoro

Thousands of these black refugee Jews of Iberia resettled in the environs of Lagos, Porto Novo, as well as Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome, either as slaves or outlaws. Some groups eventually made it deeper inland.

“In actual fact, Yoruba is an age long Hebrew word, Yehhuba, which has been bastardised and mispronounced for generations after generations.”

The author, however, didn’t stop at that, he uses Biblical references to back up his claims that Yoruba people are Jews who had to leave Israel because they could not deviate from their worship of their own god, Ifa, which is Ivah in Hebrew.

In the book of 1 Chronicles 7 verse 34, the Bible records the Yoruba people as

Jehubbah, but the letter ‘J’ is pronounced as ‘Y’ in Hebrew, and in order to further convince the people about this, the author draws out a list of common Yoruba and Hebrew words which have the same meaning.

Dr Agoro is also able to link the Yoruba Oduduwa with the Hebrew Hodaviah using Biblical references. The research states that the Yoruba god of Ivah (Ifa) was among the gods of the tribe of Manasseh, which the family of Hodaviah (Oduduwa) went worshipping instead of the God of Isreal. This was the reason the Yehhuba people were expelled from Israel.

In linking the Yoruba and the Jews, the book further highlights the traditional correlative values of eight-day child naming, while also giving Biblical examples of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, who were both named on the eighth day. The culture of paying obeisance to elders/superiors also links the Yoruba and Jews.

This research, therefore, debunks the claims of some commentators that “Yoruba has no meaning in language that is known to man, and as well as where Yoruba indeed came from.”

This 31-chapter book also focuses on other aspects of Yoruba culture and traditions, with special focus on religious and traditional rulers.

With this work, Dr Agoro has contributed in no small measure to the raging debate about the true origin of the Yoruba people. The book, Yoruba (Yehhuba): Factual of a people’s Anthropogenesis, is, therefore, a must read for scholars, researchers, students of History and language, and all Yoruba people who had been living in a state of confusion as to how the Yoruba tribe came to be.

Book written over 100 years ago rediscovered A new story written by Beatrix Potter more than 100 years ago, featuring Peter Rabbit, is to be published for the first time.

The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots was rediscovered by publisher Jo Hanks after she found a reference to it in an out-of-print Potter biography.

Quentin Blake, best known for his work with Roald Dahl, has illustrated the story, to be published in September.

Potter had only completed a single drawing to go with the manuscript.

She sent the story to her publisher in 1914, saying it was about “a well-behaved prime black Kitty cat, who leads rather a double life.”

The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots also features an appearance from an “older, slower” version of Peter Rabbit.

Ms Hanks, a publisher at Penguin Random House Children’s, found a reference to Potter’s letter to her publisher and the unedited manuscript in the 1970s literary history about the author.

•Cover of the rediscovered book, The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots.

Three manuscripts were then found in the Victoria and Albert Museum archive, handwritten in school notebooks - a rough colour sketch of Kitty-in-Boots, a pencil sketch of villain, Mr Tod and a dummy book, with some of the manu-

script laid out.

Potter said in letters, also kept in the archive, that she had wanted to finish the story but “interruptions began,” including the First World War, her marriage and illness.

32

arts&review

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Telling the history of one of Nigeria’s oldest schools

By Bukar Usman

F

LOREAT COLLEGIUM 100 Years Of King’s College, Lagos is the title of a book published by the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA). The book in the colour of the college and with a high picture quality was published to mark 100 years of the establishment of King’s College (KC) as the first public school in Lagos colony in 1909. Floreat Collegium a Latin expression meaning ‘May the College Flourish’ was King’s College’s old motto which was subsequently changed to Spero Lucem (‘I Hope for Light’). It

still stands as the beginning of the first stanza of the college’s anthem. Floreat is also the common expression in exchange of felicitation among current and old students of the college. Although reference is made to ‘boys’ in the old students’ association, sight should not be lost of the fact that a few females were admitted into KC prior to 1960.

The book has 9 Chapters categorised under 4 Sections and 6 Appendices. The Chapters are composed of articles subscribed mostly by notable former and current executive members of KCOBA. Section One tells the story of the college from its inception right through

the ages to the current millennium and looks at issues beyond its centenary celebration. It is in this section we learn of the lofty objectives of the founding fathers, the modest beginnings of the college, the standards set and the commitments of the British colonial administrators. Some of the pioneer staff (expatriates and Nigerians) who selflessly gave of their best to put the college on a proper footing towards the attainment of its immediate and long term objectives were recognised and honoured by naming prominent features of the college after them.

It is remarkable to learn that the es-

Britain releases coins featuring Shakespeare, Beatrix Potter IMAGES representing Shakespeare plays and Beatrix Potter tales will be among those featuring on coins in 2016, the Royal Mint has said.

The coins are meant to give a snapshot of Britain over the past 1,000 years.

The histories, comedies and tragedies of Shakespeare will be depicted on £2 coins, 400 years after his death.

A 50p coin will honour Beatrix Potter to mark the 150 years since her birth, while another commemorates the Battle of Hastings, 950 years ago.

A picture of the Great Fire of London will be embossed onto a £2 coin to mark the event’s 350th anniversary.

The Royal Mint’s five-year programme to mark the centenary of World War One will continue with a £2 coin remembering the community pride that fuelled the rise of the “Pals” battalions, and will

bear a design reminiscent of the art deco styling of the time.

Each coin bears the fifth definitive portrait of the Queen by Royal Mint engraver Jody Clark.

Anne Jessopp, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, said: “It is always exciting to see the new year’s de-

signs revealed, commemorating the moments that matter, and revisiting some of the great events and stories from our history.

“The British public should start to see these coins appearing in their change from spring 2016.”

French Consulate in Nigeria honours Funso Adegbola

By Adewale Oshodi THE French Consulate in Lagos has honoured the president of the Committee of the Alliance Francaise, Ibadan, Mrs Funso Adegbola with the Academic Palms award.

Speaking during the presentation of the award last week at the Alliance Francaise, Ibadan, the General Consul of France in Nigeria, Mr Laurent Polonceaux, said Mrs Adegbola had impressed with her efforts towards the growth of the French language in Nigeria.

“The Ministry of Education in Paris is awarding Mrs Adegbola the Academic Palms for what she has done, and continues to do for the development of education and promotion of the French language.

“Her love for languages, despite being a lawyer, is inspiring, and as such, she deserves the recognition she is getting today,” Mr Polonceaux said.

In his opening remarks, the Acting Director of the Alliance Francaise in Ibadan, Mr Nicolas Michelland, revealed that the award was instituted by the late French philosopher, Napoleon 1st, “and it continues to bear witness to the achievements of members of the educational community who have contributed to the spread of the French culture across the world.

“Mrs Adegbola has been the president of our committee since 2010, and she has worked tremendously to promote the French culture in Ibadan.

•From left is the General Consul of France in Nigeria, Mr Laurent Polonceaux; Head of Cooperation and Cultural Affairs, French Embassy, Mr Arnaud Dornon; the awardee, Mrs Funso Adegbola, and the Acting Director of the Alliance Francaise, Ibadan, Mr Nicolas Michelland, shortly before the presentation of the award to Mrs Adegbola. PHOTO: ADEMOLA BAMIGBELU. “I hope this award will continue to spur her to do more for the French language in the state, as well as in Nigeria as a whole,” Mr Michelland said.

In her acceptance speech, Mrs Adegbola, thanked her late parents, Chief Bola and Justice Atinuke Ige for the sound educational foundation they gave her.

“It is a great honour to be given the award while doing something I love, and I promise to continue to do my best to promote the French language and culture in the country,” Mrs Adegbola said.

At the event were family members and friends of the awardee, as well as students of the Alliance Francaise, Ibadan.

tablishment of KC preceded the amalgamation of the Lagos Colony and the Protectorates of Southern and Northern Nigeria in 1914 to form what was subsequently known as Nigeria. Only a few private schools were established earlier than KC. These were CMS Grammar School, Lagos established in 1859; St Gregory’s College Lagos 1876; Methodist Boys’ High School Lagos 1878; Methodist Girls’ High School Lagos 1879; Baptist Boys’ High School Lagos 1885 and Hope Waddell Institute Calabar 1895.

However, it should be noted that “all the missionary post-primary schools mentioned were not full secondary schools as they were unable to present candidates for secondary certificate examinations.

It was not until after King’s College was established in 1909 that graduants of these mission schools had the opportunity of going to King’s College and taking the final secondary schools examinations. This explains why many of the pioneering students of King’s College in the early years were ex-students of notable mission schools” (P. 34).

Perhaps even more remarkable is the revelation that King’s College known initially as King’s School was a 10,001 British pounds sterling project. That meagre amount by current estimation was sufficient to put up a structure of 8 lecture rooms, a laboratory, an office and a hall to accommodate 300 students on a choice land on Lagos Island, the seat of the colonial administration. The school was open to anyone who could afford to pay the annual fee of 6 British pounds sterling in contrast to Barewa College set up in Zaria in 1921 primarily to cater for the children of the nobility. King’s College curriculum was said to have been designed similar to the existing University system in Britain. The college was therefore, set off as a nucleus and precursor of tertiary institutions such as the University College Hospital Ibadan and the Yaba College Lagos.

Subjects such as Latin and Philosophy were in the curriculum up to 1960s.

There was an aura of mysticism or some might say fetishism about the opening of KC. Once the legal instrument was promulgated preparations were made to open the college ‘at the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month of the ninth year of the century’.

However, the college was opened with 10 students on September 20, 1909.

Section two throws up lots of information about the heritage of King’s College, the ideals and extra curricula activities of the college. In addition to these, the section emphasises that academic discipline was relentlessly pursued by the college administration since inception to nurture the students, in and out of the classrooms. The overall objective of the college was to produce ‘gentlemen’ as well as manpower to meet the needs of government and the private sector. The emphasis was on leadership qualities of chivalry, truthfulness, camaraderie, obedience and perseverance embodied in the College Anthem. This was done with practical demonstrations in running the affairs of the college through active student involvement and institution of military discipline.

•Dr Usman is a former Permanent Secretary in The Presidency.

33

Thursday, 28 January, 2016 Editor:

health YOU&EYE

Sade Oguntola sadeboguntola@yahoo.com 0805 506 9260

SEX,SEXUALITY&YOU

In Ayedun Ekiti, health costs only N100

INSIDE

Cure for Lassa fever perhaps in Yoruba race —Happi, Dean PG studies, RUN Page 36

NATURAL HEALTH Herbal cures occur as commonly as plants next door —Tella, herbal practitioner

Page 37

Beware, these can destroy good sex!

Page 37

HEALTH QUOTE

NATURALHEALTH

By Sade Oguntola

I

F not for anything, Mrs Florence Aribasoye, a 62-year-old retired staff of Ekiti High Court of Justice, would always be thankful for the Ayedun communitybased social health insurance that ensures she gets prompt health care when sick.

“I remember a day, I was preparing to go to work and started to feel unwell. I did not hesitate to quickly go to the government General Hospital, where the doctor attached to the social health scheme treated me well,” Mrs Aribasoye recounted at the official flag off of the Ayedun community-based social health insurance.

Aribasoye, a widow, confessing to less stress from caring for her health since she enrolled on the community health scheme, said: “Recently, when I had malaria and people were advising me on what drugs to use in treating it, I declined but went to the hospital because the scheme opened my eyes also to the dangers of self medication.”

According to her, “it is cheaper to use facilities from the community-based social health insurance; it has made access to health care easier for me.”

The experience of Mr Emmanuel Ogunlade, an electrical contractor turned farmer on his family’s participation in the health insurance is no less pleasant.

Ogunlade said proudly, “I am involved in the strenous hard work of farming, I am healthy and I regular go for medical checks up and seek prompt care, without money restraining me.”

With his family of seven also on the pro-

Akingbade noted.

Although NHIS was long inundated with enquiries on “when this laudable programme will touch my life”, he said the flagging off of the Ayedun community-based social health insurance was an indication of public acceptance of the scheme.

Community-based health insurance, though a necessary tool for universal coverage, he said, however couldn’t on its own lead to the attainment of the objectives of universal health coverage but requires supplementation with private health insurance supplement as a strategy to cover all citizens.

Chairman, Board of Trustees, Ayedun communityEnrollees of the scheme raising up their membership cards. based social health insurance pilot scheme, Chief gramme to ensure they enjoy free drugs and Dapo Adelusi, said enrolees only pay N100 per prompt treatment, he declared, “It is not only month, adding that, already, the programme when I am sick that I visit them, but I always go had been expended to Ayebode Ekiti and to ask that they check my body all over, includ- Ipao Ekiti, both neighbouring communities of ing my blood pressure.”

Ayedun.

But Mrs Titlayo Amoran , a 69-year-old reAlso, the programme was also working on tired school bursar, joined the community enrolling younger age groups also in the comhealth scheme because of its lofty goal of as- munity, especially men. suring health care at the grass roots.

Dr Sunday Ogunlade, a consultant at the “I joined the programme because it offers Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital and opportunity for good health to the people and member of the BOT, indicated that the health now my whole family has enrolled, so that if we insurance coverage was at the primary health have things like malaria, we can easily access care level and for diseases prevalent in the treatment,” Amoran declared. communities. But the complicated and termiLittle wonder, the official flag off of the nal diseases are promptly referred to the GenAyedun community-based social health in- eral Hospital Ikole. surance pulled a mammoth crowd. It had Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, monarchs from neighbouring towns, repre- who was appreciative of the initiative, said: sentatives of different professionals groups, “the programme being flagged off cannot be including the Nigeria Medical Association and more appropriated than now, when individutraders, and government officials represented. als have to be participatory in the management Ayedun is a small town between Omuo and of their health”.

Ifaki in Ekiti State. The town is midway beGovernor Fayose, represented by the Ekiti tween Abuja and Lagos. This health insurance State Health Commissioner, Olurotimi Ojo, pilot scheme, which started in 2011 currently, assured of his government’s continuous suphas about 5,000 enrolees. port for the scheme, as well as the promotion Acting Executive Secretary, National Health and sustenance of quality health care.

Insurance Scheme(NHIS), Mr Femi AkingThe initiator of the scheme and President, Nibade, speaking through NHIS’s zonal Coordina- gerian Medical Association, Dr Kayode Obemtor, South West Zone, Mrs Joke Balogun, said be, emphasised that universal health coverage the flag off would go down in history as a day to is critical to improved citizen’s health through consolidate health insurance in Ekiti State. different modes of fund raising for health, in“It indicates the initiation of the provision cluding insurance and community financing. of health cover and financial risk protection to In order to achieve its goal, Dr Obembe said, the vast majority of our people and signals the resource mobilisation, risk pooling and strateattainment of the NHIS mandate of universal gic purchasing should be basically operational coverage and easy access to health care for all at community base level so as to capture all Nigerians in the shortest possible time,” Mr household enrolees.

A healthy attitude is contagious but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.

—Tom Stoppard

34

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Dr. Ben Ajayi 0805 400 5447

you-and-eye@gmail.com

Cancer diagnosis is death sentence in today’s Nigeria

T

HE title of this article is a provocative response to the title (not the substance) of the article, which appeared in the Nigerian Tribune newspaper on Thursday 14, January 2016 – “Breast cancer diagnosis, not a death sentence.”

Cancer is a public health problem worldwide, affecting all categories of persons and nearly all growing tissues of the body. It is the second common cause of death in developed countries. The diagnosis of breast cancer, or any cancer whatsoever, should really not be a death sentence anywhere in the world, as there are proven ways to prevent and cure many cancers.

Sadly, this is not true of Nigeria. The diagnosis of cancer in today’s Nigeria is tantamount to a death sentence for the majority of Nigerians! There is probably no one reading this article who is not acquainted with the lingering and painful challenges of cancer or has not been deeply touched by the loss of a loved one to cancer.

A few years ago, there was an alarm by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the rising global incidence of cancer, especially as it affected developing countries such as Nigeria. About 10,000 cancer deaths are recorded annually in Nigeria but the true figure is probably about 70,000 (Nigerian Cancer Organisations and Resources). The wide discrepancy is due to under-reporting.

About 200,000 new cases develop yearly but just about 100,000 are recorded, because most of them die without any diagnosis, the slogan, “The wicked have done their worst,” was at a time, a common feature in obituaries following such undiagnosed deaths.

It was projected that malignancies will increase by 23 per cent in Nigeria (as opposed to 9 per cent in developed countries). The bulk of the cancers arising from infections are expectedly related to human immuno-deficiency viruses (HIV), human papilloma viruses (HPV) and hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and aflatoxin.

Recent advances in the care of HIV will not diminish the health concerns associated malignancies in survivors!

In real numbers, with the projected population of 180million, we should expect about 250,000 new cases per annum by the year 2020. This is just a couple of years away and it is, therefore, worrisome that there are no visible plans to prevent the disease or provide treatment and care for patients.

The following stories are real but have been modified to protect the identity of the patients and the caregivers who probably gave their best with the available resources.

They are recounted, not to frighten you but to highlight the plight of cancer patients and prepare you for the shock if and when you or someone close to you become a sufferer.

However, if you respond positively

to the call at the end of this article, the shock may be averted.

Mr. A. B. visited in a Teaching Hospital near him, complaining of difficulty with swallowing for about two weeks. Preliminary investigations, albeit limited in scope because of lack of appropriate instruments, after three weeks in agony, could not determine the cause. He had to be fed through a tube passed into his stomach through his nose.

One day, he suddenly could not breathe and a life-saving hole (tracheostomy) had to be made into his windpipe to pass oxygen into his lungs. During the procedure, a tumour was found blocking his airway. To find out the type of growth, a specimen was sent to a pathology for histology.

Ordinarily, in developed countries, the result would come within a few days. Relatives were asked to come back for the report in three months. Sadly, Mr. A. B. died about two months later without the report, which should form the basis of his treatment.

Mrs P. Z had been very finicky about her health. She regularly had annual medical check-up. Last year, during her medical examination, a lump was found in one of her breasts. A specimen of the breast was promptly removed and sent for histology. Histology confirmed cancer of the breast. She had read about the beautiful work the great daughter of Nigeria, Olufunmilayo Olopade and her col-

leagues were doing in faraway USA on precision treatment for breast cancer.

Herceptin, she had read, is an effective treatment both before and after surgery for people with HER2-positive breast cancer. She had to know her Herceptin status. She persuaded her physician to send a sample for analysis. After three months waiting for the result, with recurrence staring her in the face, she was advised to commence chemotherapy.

Now she has completed the course of treatment and was supposed to follow with radiotherapy. Unfortunately, of the seven centres offering radiotherapy in the entire country, only one is functional and the cost is not within her reach. Now in a telephone conversation, she said ruefully, “I have metastasis all over. I am just waiting to die.”

While writing this article, I was interrupted by a patient who related her experience in India where she had taken her husband for cancer treatment. They had encountered many Nigerians who had come for similar treatment, many of them too late. Now the question is what will you do IF and WHEN it is your turn? A Yoruba proverb says, “Iku ti on npa ojugba eni, owe l’n pa fun ni.” Translated, it means what is happening to your friends and family is a veiled warning of what can happen to you. If you care and would like to find out what you can do, send an sms to 0805 400 5447 now!

Dr Abayomi Ajayi

ivf &you

info@nordicalagos.org

0700 6673422

Management of male infertility: Past, present and future MALE infertility is alarmingly on the rise.

Although much of the blame is placed on women, the reality is that more than half of all cases of infertility may be related to male factors. A 2012 study revealed that just one in four men have optimal semen quality. Sperm counts around the world may have dropped by 50 per cent since the 1930s according to estimates.

About 40 years ago, infertility was not much of an issue. Couples didn’t have to wonder if they were going to be able to conceive a baby, fertility problems were almost unheard of. Now, the problem is so widespread that if fertility rates continue to drop at the current rate, the world’s fertility will fall below the global replacement rate in the next 10 to 40 years.

Average sperm counts were at least 100million per ml with many men having between 300 and 500 million sperms per ml. Now few have up to 40million per ml considered the ideal lower limit for men to easily impregnate a woman. This shows the magnitude of the problem of male infertility and is worrisome.

The cause of rising male infertility is not known for sure, but it’s clear that some of the factors that plague our modern world in general are at least partly to blame. For example, toxic chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors, such as insecticides, flame

retardants, and phthalates from plastics, affect hormones responsible for sperm production, and excessive oxidant stress can damage DNA and impair sperm function. Diet and obesity are an additional factors.

Until recently, there have been few options for ameliorating male infertility. The breakthroughs in fertility medicine since the birth in 1978 of the first “test-tube baby”, Loius Brown, have mostly been confined to new treatments for female infertility. But in the last decade, there has been a revolution in the treatment of male infertility.

As in any condition in medical practice, a good management involves attempting to make a correct diagnosis by obtaining a good history, conducting a proper physical examination, doing the relevant laboratory investigations and then treating accord-

The cause of rising male infertility is not known for sure

ingly.

Traditionally, the simple sperm analysis was enough investigation for male infertility. Presently hormonal assays, antisperm antibodies/immunological test, scrotal ultrasounds, DNA analysis and so on are sometimes done in a bid to find possible causes that may impact on treatment. However, some authorities feel such tests may not necessarily impact on the treatment and may be a waste of time and scarsce resources.

The standard sperm analysis, which measures sperm count, motility and morphology has been around for more than one hundred years. Though today, we rely on the computer to define these parameters for us much more accurately and reliably, what has not changed is that while an overtly abnormal sperm analysis (regardless of how it is performed) allows for the diagnosis of male infertility, intermediate values are often difficult to interpret. More frustrating is the fact that some men having perfectly normal standard sperm.

Assisted reproductive techniques remain an option for patients with idiopathic male infertility; however, they are expensive and treat the female partner for a male problem. Multiple gestations and other complications are not infrequent.

In the recent past, the major stumbling

block to treatment of infertile couples was the infertile male. With the exception of obstructive azoospermia (which could be treated with microsurgery) there had been, until ICSI, no treatment for male infertility that was uncontroversially regarded as effective.

With the development of ICSI, we have now completely reversed the way we look at male infertility. With a few exceptions (i.e., when no sperm whatsoever can be located in the azoospermic man’s testicle), the only limitation to treatment of male infertility may, in truth, be the female, and most specifically, the age of the female.

With ICSI, the presence of only a few very weak, barely twitching spermatozoa in the semen specimen (even if there is 100 per cent abnormal morphology) is all that you need for normal fertilisation and pregnancy.

More so, there have been significant improvement in methods of sperm retrieval from the testes and even small islands of sperms can be assessed and usable sperms retrieved. Blind needle aspiration of sperm cells is not currently advocated by some, as its traumatic, painful and can result in complications along with a poor viable sperm recovery rate. to be continued

35 everydayhealth

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

PSN charts course to strengthen health sector

By Victor Ogunyinka

T

HE president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ahmed Yakasai, has highlighted his agenda and given an appraisal of the health sector in the last calendar year.

Yakasai made his presentation at his first media chat at the pharmacy house, Lagos, since elected as the 20th president of the society.

Against the backdrop of countless challenges bedevilling the health sector, which has led to clashes in superiority among the different health workers, Yakasai highlighted a 21-point agenda, which he said would “strengthen our society with collaborative, participatory, responsive and transparent leadership.

“My focus to achieve these visions include: enhancing the role of PSN by means of wider advocacy at various national and international fora; stimulating public awareness and knowledge on various health issues with specific emphasis on drugs; promote rational use of drugs with cooperation from medical fraternity; foster better communications with federal and state ministries; strengthen ties and professional organisations; establish a mechanism for recognising and endorsing valuable contributions of members; encourage, give more opportunities and build capacities of young pharmacists and students of pharmacy.

“Strengthen institutional framework; review of pharmacy laws and regulation in collaboration with relevant arms of government in tandem with global best practices; actualisation of Pharm. D. Programme as minimum entry requirements for the practice of pharmacy in Nigeria; implementations of National Drug Distribution (NDDG) and National Health Act 2014; promote and support

drug research and development; creativity in organising annual national conference of PSN to match international standard; creation of online system for professional registration and e-learning for MCPD needs of pharmacists; initiate professional

indemnity insurance to pharmacists and strengthen group.”

Others are establishment of friends of pharmacy forum to strengthen bonds with external bodies; to bring about digital innovations to enhance the efficiency of our practice

in-line with international standards and greater engagement with public through educative and enlightening special promotion campaigns.

Also, Yakasai explained in his appraisal of the health sector of the last calendar year that the sector

witnessed a mixed fortune, stating that the efforts of government and care providers to prevent new episodes of the wild polio and ebola viruses were particularly impressive.

He however stated that the sector is still battling with poor access to public health

Dr Ola Oduwole, explaning to participants in the study, the need to be protected from HIV during the programme

Incidence of HIV among sex workers still high —Study

By Sade Oguntola NO fewer than 21 of the 377 female sex workers counselled and tested for HIV from three local governments in Ibadan tested positive for HIV, a study has said.

This was the finding of a project intervention by Association of Concerned Others in collaboration with Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (Oyo SACA) to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infection in Ibadan NorthWest; Ibadan South-West and Ido local government counsels in Oyo State.

HIV prevalence in Nigeria and Oyo State is put at 3.6 per cent and 5.6 per cent respectively but among brothel based sex workers, HIV prevalence is put at 27.4 per cent The project manager, Dr R. Ola Oduwole, speaking on the intervention, which offered 350 female sex workers, their partners and clients opportunity to enjoy family and reproductive health services, said HIV prevention was still a challenge in these vulnerable women that sometimes have sex with multiple partners and often at least five

times a day.

The 15-month intervention that recorded six of the female sex workers already using antiretroviral drugs and one of their clients also HIV positive, he said also found some that inject hard drugs, that were raped or who had developed complications of abortion.

Oduwole, remarking that some got involved in the use of hard drugs due to peer influence and overtime become addicted, said “they often end up selling sex to meet their demand for the drugs.”

“We discovered that most at risk population for HIV

engage in behaviours and practices that expose to the virus like having unprotected sex with multiple partners and injection of hard drug.

“Aside, some also using hard drugs, most times they do not use condoms for protection. At the same time, we found that the incidence of sexually transmitted infections in the group is high.

This also increases their chances of getting HIV. To reduce incidence of sexually transmitted infections among them is the reason why we also ensure they have early diagnosis and

‘Dirty underwear as bad as dirty toilet’

By Victor Ogunyinka WITH more emphasis on dirty toilet as a source of disease, expert has warned that wearing dirty underwear could be as dangerous as dirty toilet.

Dr Taiwo Aderemi, Medical Director of Safepath Hospital, Challenge, Ibadan, Oyo State explained that though the toilet could be a very dan-

interventions and advocate for a review on the nation’s dependence on donor agencies, urging the government to strongly create enabling environment creating intervention funds to enable local drug manufactures produce antiretroviral drugs and vaccines.

gerous place when its hygiene is questionable, not taking proper care of the underwear would also predispose one to diseases.

“If somebody does not take good care of the underwear; wash it properly, clean it with appropriate detergent or antiseptic, spread it where it would dry well before wearing and then, frequent washing of such things, one

could be exposed. You don’t use underwear twice whether you are a male or female. Wear one per day, that’s ideal then, wash it properly with detergents and clean water then add little antiseptic if possible and then spread to dry.

“The other aspect is the care of the toilet; if you take good care of your underwear but you carelessly use a dirty toilet, there is

the likelihood of still contracting this infection. The same way for the toilet if the toilet is clean and the user is dirty, it can still happen.

“If the toilet that is not well taken care of and the users are not observant enough, they can have contact with lots of microorganisms from such a toilet.

When they are exposed to this, it evades their lower

urinary tract, thereby destroying organs it meets on the way, right from the organ that is exposed to the toilet directly. In the case of man, it is the penis and vulva in the case of the woman.

The organism would move up into the bladder then the urethra and to the kidney. If care is not taken, it can lead to terrible kidney disease,” he said.

treatment.

“We also advocate and promote the use of condoms all the time; they are also taught how to use it because many do not wear it correctly. “ Meanwhile, Oduwole said as part of interventions to get female sex workers off the profession, the project was able to group them into a cooperative society and access loan from Oyo State SME, so that they could access loan and start other forms of business like trading.

In subsequent intervention, he said the NGO was going to ensure that the women could also be screened and vaccinated against Human papilloma virus (HPV), the virus that causes cervical cancer.

36

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

healthpeople Cure for Lassa fever perhaps in Yoruba race —Happi, Dean PG studies, RUN Christian Happi, a Professor of Molecular Biology and Genomics and Director, African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University in this interview with SADE OGUNTOLA, speaks on efforts to find a vaccine for Lassa fever virus and its current epidemic in Nigeria.

Excerpt: careful about such diseases. Cases as these were also reported the more.

Why is Lassa fever a public health problem discovered back in 1969 not known for a long time?

Lassa fever remains a public health problem because it has been neglected since the discovery of the virus in 1969.

Also, in the past there was no research on Lassa fever in Nigeria. For instance, I developed the first in-country test for Lassa fever in 2008 and validated it at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Edo State.

Prior to this time, samples from suspected cases of Lassa fever were shipped overseas for diagnosis. As such by the time the results came back, the people would have all died and nobody will actually know what led to their death.

The development of the first in-country test for Lassa fever was also the beginning of awareness on the disease. People started realising that Lassa fever could be diagnosed and treated in Nigeria. Before then, when you have Lassa fever, you are considered a dead patient.

Happi

L

ASSA fever virus is said to be one of the most dangerous organisms, why is this the case?

Lassa fever belongs to what we called in virologist jargons category A agents. It falls into the same category as Ebola fever and anthrax. It is a dangerous organism that kills fast. This can actually create a major health problem in an environment within a short period of time.

Are Ebola fever and Lassa fever epidemics comparable?

Although Ebola Virus Disease is often as a result of epidemic, Lassa fever has now been found to be endemic in countries like Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Both are different viruses, but Ebola fever virus is more lethal than Lassa fever virus because its ability to transmit from human to human is very strong.

But evidences published in international journals by our research group at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemers’ University indicated that the possibility of human to human transmission for Lassa fever is almost zero.

In August 2015, we used molecular clock to date the age and emergence of Lassa fever. The virus emerged from the present day Nigeria about 1,060 years ago. It then moved out of Nigeria to the rest of

West Africa about 400 years ago. It went through Cote D’Ivore, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. It precisely reached Sierra Leone 154 years ago. This was published in the prestigious scientific journal Cell.

Redeemers’ University has generated the largest catalogue of Lassa fever ever sequenced. We actually sequenced over 260 of these viruses to know their genetic makeup. This is a feat never achieved anywhere in the world before. Our extensive studies on the genetics make up of the Lassa virus indicate that its ability to transmit from one human to another is almost zero. Basically, its transmission occurs more from animal to humans.

Moreover, people’s comment that the virus in this year’s outbreak is different from that of previous years is mere speculation. The genetic makeup of the virus this year is not different from that of previous epidemics based on scientific facts and evidences that we have generated.

If it is not different, why then did we have many Lassa fever suspected cases and deaths this year?

It is all about awareness. In 2012, we recorded more cases than we currently have this year. It is not that this epidemic is the biggest, but that the level of awareness made more people to report suspected cases. After the Ebola disease virus outbreak, people became more aware and

Is there any possibility of a permanent cure, like a vaccine?

The insight that we have provided in understanding the genetic makeup of the virus, its evolution and how it is circulating in the region, through our research in my laboratory and ACEGID, Redeemer’s University may pave the way for developing a suitable Lassa fever vaccine. We are working quietly towards that. You will hear about this in the nearest future.

Moreover, we are also developing a rapid diagnostic test kit for Lassa fever similar to the one we developed for Ebola Virus Disease. We have the prototype in our laboratory. The 15-minute Lassa fever diagnostic test kit will be validated with blood samples from suspected Lassa patients within the next couple of weeks. After validation we will seek approval for its deployment for emergency use from regulatory bodies. I believe that in the next six months we should be home and dry.

At the ACEGID, Redeemers’ University, we have the technology and the know-how to develop rapid diagnostics test against pathogens like the virus that cause Lassa fever and other diseases. That was why in four months, during the Ebola crisis, the group was able to develop a rapid diagnostic test for Ebola fever, which was approved

by WHO and US Food and Drug Agency.

We are also going into its treatment; there is no specific treatment for Lassa fever as at now. The drug, ribavirin that is currently being used for Lassa fever, was not initially designed for the condition.

That is why it is only effective when used in the early phase of the disease. But most of the time, cases are referred or diag-

nosed when it is often too late.

Over the years, from our studies on Lassa fever survivors, we have been able to identify four molecules or antibodies that effectively kill the virus under laboratory conditions. Already, the manuscript demonstrating this is currently under review in another prestigious scientific journal called, Nature Immunology.

In terms of developing vaccines, we have been able to make some progress. We sequenced the genome of populations across Nigeria and we found that some individuals are exposed to the Lassa fever virus and do not get infected. This is due to the fact that they a mutation in one of their genes. That gene is called the LARGE gene. Due to this mutation, the virus cannot enter into their cells.

We saw a dramatic difference in the frequency of the LARGE genes in the studied population. For instance, the Yorubas in Nigeria have mutation in their LARGE gene that makes them resistant to Lassa fever infections. That may explain why you do not frequently see cases of Lassa fever in the whole of the Yoruba land. But the disease is highly frequent in other parts of Nigeria because they are more susceptible.

This finding published in 2012 is still being followed up because we believe that the potential key to Lassa fever cure is inherent in the genome of the Yorubas. So we are trying to understand how we can mimic what is making them resistant to the infection.

There is a school of thought that an integrated approach should be adopted in tackling human, animal and ecosystem health on account of their interdependencies. What is your opinion on this?

That is very true. There is no single virus that you talk about today that you will not see its origin in wildlife. Viruses evolve, adapt and eventually have the capacity to now jump to humans. And when this happens, it can effectively infect humans. Now, even when it is within humans, it develops capability to survive during infections.

We were able to demonstrate this in Sierra Leone looking at the evolution and transmission of Ebola virus during its outbreak in country. Initially, there were three different strains of the Ebola fever virus infecting people. But over time, one strain became more adapted than others and eventually overshadows the other two and remains in circulation. That is adaptability; that is capability to strive better under pressure.

So, “One world, One health” approach is actually what should be used because there is really no pathogen that you do see in humans that do not evolve from animals and it is very important that we bring these approached together.

37

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Herbal cures occur as commonly as plants next door —Tella, herbal practitioner

By Sade Oguntola

N

OT many people would consider that all plants in our surroundings, including those referred to as flowers, have medicinal uses. Well, surprisingly common herb like waterleaf, Amarathus and stubborn grass help to improve infertility and control raised blood pressure.

Mr Seye Tella, a herbal consultant, Tehla Herbal clinic, DSTV office Complex, Liberty stadium, analysing the usefulness of common plants in our environment for condition such as hypertension, weight loss, diabetes, impotence and skin problems, said nature is rich in what humans need to live healthy, including foods.

Tella, a pharmacist, said that many times, individuals weed their compounds, never considering what the plants could be used to improve their health.

According to him, in Yoruba land, it is said that every leaf is a medicine, but knowing their usefulness is another issue.

From his study of herbs, he said, bitter leaf, commonly referred to as Ewuro in Yoruba land, helps in reducing blood sugar, repairing pancreas, regulating blood cholesterol level as well as treating stomach ache.

Also, bitter leaf prevents malaria, prevents toothache, induces labour, a worm expeller, fights fatigue and exhaustion, inhibits breast cancer as well as enhances good night sleep.

The herbal expert cited grape fruits, lemon and turmeric as also common ingredients for ensuring weight loss.

Interestingly, he declared that the every parts of trees such as orange, mango and sponbim are sources of natural recipes for different health problems.

Tella, saying that even though the same plant could be used for different conditions by different herbal expert, scent leaf, also called efirrin, works for health problems such as stom-

Beware, these can destroy good sex!

YOUR brain is the body’s most important sex organ. This well known phrase bears more than a little truth. Functional sex organs, appropriate hormone levels, and the ability to become sexually aroused alone do not guarantee good sex. Other factors such as brain factors can get in the way. These include:

ach disturbances and lowering of blood pressure “If you have stomach ache, just chew or squeeze some scent leaf. Also, for high blood pressure, squeeze it in water and take a shot of it,” he declared.

Aside fresh water leaf or its water extract, which lowers blood pressure, he said it is used for hormonal regulation in infertility cases, corrects frigidity in women, ameliorates menopausal symptoms and helps to ensure menstrual regulation.

“Water leaf, in combination with some other herbs, was used in treating a woman whose menses had stopped for 14 years. Her menstrual cycle was restored and that year, she conceived,” he said.

Tella, however, said a combination of herbs is used in natural medicine therapies.

For diabetes treatment, for instance, herbs that naturally increase the body uptake of sugar are combined with others to improve insulin production, make the body more sensitive to insulin and ensure the body’s general wellbeing are combined.

“The active chemicals extracted from the plant may be effective in animals but not work in humans; as such, the whole plant is used alongside others to reach the

Every parts of trees such as orange, mango and sponbim are sources of natural recipes for different health problems.

natural

health threshold required for its effectiveness. What is done is to look for other herbs that have complementary activity and bulk it up. However introducing heat, drying or other forms of processes oftentimes affect the effectiveness.”

The expert in herbal therapies for many ailments including weight control, a predisposing factor for many non communicable diseases such as diabetes, stroke and cancer, emphasised individuals eating as close to nature as possible to say healthy and that are free of many prevalent ailments.

“It has been proved over time that problem starts when we do not eat right. That is why you are better off eating like vegetarians, who eat as close as to nature as possible. From basic science, heat for instance can change the chemical composition of a food item.

“Aside applying heat, other condiments such as sweeteners and artificial seasonings further make the food more deadly. Natural seasonings like ginger, turmeric, locust beans and garlic are better. The benefits of locust beans, for instance, outweigh monosodium glutamate that is present in bouillon cubes.

“Eating artificial sweeteners and condiments tilts the pH level of the body towards acidic levels and the more acidic the body system, the more it is prone to diseases and infections. But eating naturally and exercising ensures the right pH is maintained in the body.”

In treating conditions such as diabetes, stroke and hypertension, he said, aside herbal therapies, diet and exercises are central.

According to him, “Once the client is committed to exercising and diet prescription, over time, he or she is weaned off conventional medicines that only use herbal therapies to take care of ailments such as hypertension and diabetes.”

sex,sexuality

&your health With Monica Taiwo

strictly adult teenagers, adult & geriatric sexual well being

08187754992 (sms only) taiwomonica@gmail.com

Relationship problems Tension and emotional distance can undermine a couple’s sex life. Conflicts even when it has h nothing to do with sex, like finances or child-raising issues, can be at the root of a sexual problem. A sexual issue also can strain a couple’s ability to get along.

Anxiety on sexual performance: When either the man or woman becomes so worried about sexual performance, then, sex is not enjoyable, or even possible. Performance anxiety becomes more common for both men and women as they move into their 50s.

Self-esteem a lot of things could make a person feel less sexy. Gravity is not kind to the body as it ages. Childbirth, poor diet, weight gain, or thinning hair can also leave a person feeling less than desirable. Such feelings can get in the way of a sense of closeness or inspired lovemaking. It can inhibit a person from initiating or responding to sexual advances.

Expectations and past experiences Your sexuality is a natural drive that is with you from birth, but your family, culture, religious background, the media, and your peers shape your attitudes toward sex.

For some people, this history supports a healthy enjoyment of sex. For others, it complicates sexual relationships.

Stress and lifestyle challenges Stress and fatigue can quickly sap your sex drive. Stress can hit from any direction; challenging children, finan-

cial worries, aging parents, health concerns, career woes, and more. An overload of competing demands may keep you and your partner from nurturing your relationship, sexual and otherwise.

38

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

health As the whole nation is unanimously combating the growing incidence of Lassa fever, VICTOR OGUNYINKA, writes on how improper storage of grains have led to the upsurge of the disease.

W

ITH 17 states, 62 deaths and several hundreds quarantined in the six weeks ravage of Lassa fever in the country, unless the root of the deadly disease is routed; only time can stand in its way before it becomes a national outbreak.

As it stands, an average person is in the know of what Lassa fever has turned out to be, particularly with a domestic nuisance, rodent, as the carrier of the dreaded virus.

What is however unknown or ignored is how ignorance and illiteracy of farmers and farm workers have led to the continual outbreak of Lassa fever in the past 50 years.

But questions that readily comes to mind is how come developed cities like New York with a higher rodent population haven’t recorded any case of Lassa fever for decades? Is the disease a geographical sensitive one? Is it common in a particular season of the year? What exactly is wrong with our storage technique?

Do farmers really understand the formation of zoonotic diseases?

Rodents feeding on stored grains

Lassa fever: Beyond killing rats

Diseases that mimic Lassa fever Like Lassa fever, there are a handful of diseases with similar characteristics and mortality components; they are haemorrhagic in nature and scarcely with cures.

According to Dr Babasola Olugasa, a veterinarian, senior lecturer in the department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine and the principal investigator of the Centre for Control and Prevention Zoonosis, University of Ibadan, highlighted five other diseases that share characteristics with Lassa fever and are not transferred by rodents.

“The sister diseases and viruses to Lassa fever include one in Germany that is called Marburg virus, it produces the same haemorrhagic fever as Lassa fever and it affects places around Europe. Because they are very strategic in their surveillance and control, they put it under very good check and management control. The second one is Dengue fever; it is an exact replica of Lassa fever found in Latin America even though it is not transmitted by rodent but by mosquito, it is absolutely clinical in nature to Lassa.

“Another one in Uganda is the Rift Valley fever, a fourth one is the Yellow fever virus, it has been stamped out the world over with a very effective vaccine. And the last one is Ebola virus, which is an absolute sister of the haemorrhagic family and it has been a resident of eastern and central African republic until the spill over to western Africa.”

Illiteracy, ignorance bane of Lassa fever The real reason behind the spread of Lassa fever virus has been traced to illiteracy, ignorance and poverty of farmers, which has indirectly endangered the lives of several others.

It is no longer news that the favourite diet of the multimammate mouse, the carrier of the virus, is grain; rice, wheat, millet, sorghum and cassava. The right storage of these grains have proven to be the major challenge farmers are facing in keeping the deadly animal away from infecting these foods.

Dr Olugasa explained that Lassa fever could be season sensitive because during raining season, there are more farm activities and the carriers have higher representation in the farm environment.

“During wet season, multimammate mouse are discov-

contrasting studies on how deadly Lassa fever virus could be.

Researches have rightly proven that not up to 60 per cent of those affected with the virus have exhibited clinical signs.

Dr Olugasa however added that most cases along the Lassa fever belt in West Africa are probably mild. “A study showed that out of about 300,000 to 500,000 cases recorded only 500 deaths was recorded. The problem again is that of illiteracy and ignorance. When some of these farmers notice any strange feelings, they end up taking herbs instead of proper treatment. That is not to say the disease is not very dangerous.”

Lassa fever doesn’t have a vaccine, but it is treatable with ribavirin but the side effect of that is hearing loss; it requires careful dosage compliance with weight of the individual and the dosage that must go with it, frequency and duration of administration. So, early preparation of Lassa fever case with the right dosage would save a lot.

Dr Olugasa ered to be present in the farm area because there are more grains for them to eat in the farm. But during the dry season, grains are stored, mostly inappropriate in places where they are exposed to infections. Take for instance, rice is stored in bags after drying, but because they are stored wrongly, there is a chance that the heat generated during storage would trigger moisture and that way, can make the virus potent.

Poverty and illiteracy increase the risk of not complying with hygiene measures.”

While recounting how he preserves his cassava products, the chairperson of cassava growers association, Ekiti State chapter, Chief Tope Adepomola, explained that “after soaking and the grain is soft enough, we then dry it on a concrete area or a hard stone. Usually we can dry for about 12hours.

Then, you pack in the bag and that way, I don’t think the rats can gain access but for those farmers who dry their products by the roadside, the rats could end up urinating or defecating on the products, which could be a way of transferring the virus to man. I believe it is poverty and ignorance that make those that do so do it.”

Virulent rate of Lassa fever There are many myths surrounding the mortality rate of Lassa fever. Because of its morphological characteristics with more virulent diseases like Ebola virus, there has been

Any end in sight?

The million dollar question for a disease that is almost as old as the country is, would the annual death routine ever come to an end?

For some, it is battle line drawn against all types of rodents whether multimammate or not, but for most, that would just be a scratch on the surface.

Dr Olugasa said: “It is good to intensify efforts against rats, one of the major advantages against rats will be that those that cannot carry the virus today could be carriers tomorrow and that way, we have lesser thing to worry about.

“However, what we need at the grassroots now is surveillance for Lassa fever within the population or rodents, community by community. As we have primary healthcare services to the grassroots, there must be state empowerment for the animal and human health authorities so that they will be able to pick regularly from farms many of the different species of rats. If we deplore this strategy of surveillance and watchfulness, we will be able to tell categorically that the population of rats in a particular area are free from a particular virus and those that are affected are able to yearly allocate resources to destroy those that are infected with the virus.

“Lassa fever is such a terrible disease that we can never close our doors to by just controlling, containing or preventing it. It is a candidate disease for eradication. The national programme, state and local programme, eradication should be the goal. Shouting after annual outbreak without a programme or managing the human to human occurrence is not enough,” he said.

39

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

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

Mark will win Benue South re-run poll —Moro Immediate past Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, in this interview with newsmen, speaks on the forthcoming rerun election of Benue South senatorial district, where former Senate President David Mark, is re-contesting and defection of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders to the All Progressives Congress (APC). JOHNSON BABAJIDE, who was there, brings some excerpts:

S

OME political leaders in Benue South Senatorial district defected from PDP to APC. What does this portends for the candidate of your party, Senator David Mark in the forthcoming re- run election in the zone?

To answer your question, what you saw January 23 in Otukpo by some politicians who had used the platform of PDP to get to the zenith of their political career only to defect to APC will not change the election of Mark. Well, they are bigwigs in their own right, but let me tell you that elections are won and lost by voters. Supporters and sympathisers of Mark are in large numbers who have resolved to ensure his victory. So, the defection of politicians will not have any negatively effect on the result.

First, look at the characters that defected.

These are the people, who were in opposition before PDP won election but defected to PDP, when it won election. When they came, they attempted to seize the structure of the party in their respective localities; these are the same persons moving to APC. I wish APC good luck but, I hope they will not ground the party like they did to PDP. When is PDP kick-starting its campaign for re –run poll?

This is a re-run election not fresh poll.

Campaign for the re-run election, on the side of PDP, started since the 2015 election was nullified by an Appeal Court in November. We have strong men and women, who have volunteered and are going from one place to another within the senatorial district to campaign for the revalidation of the election of the former Senate President.

Looking at the achievements of Senator Mark in the National Assembly in the last 16 years, what do you think is likely to be the implication for the Idoma in case he loses the re-run election?

Let me confirm to you today that by His grace, Mark will not lose the election because the people of the zone have seen how Mark has given them hope; carved out an identity for the Idoma nation in the country. Mark has placed the Idoma conspicuously on the map of Nigeria, coupled with the huge infrastructural development his leadership has attracted to the zone which is unbeatable. The people of the zone have resolved to return Mark to consolidate on the achievements.

There is a rumour doing the round that Mark is on the verge of following the bandwagon by leading some of you to the APC, whether he wins or not?

I think many Nigerians know the character of the man called Mark. He is a man that is not given to long talk; he says it as it is. If you remember, Mark had, at the moment the PDP lost the elec-

With the presence of Mark, the Idoma people are more relevant in PDP because Mark has used the platform to develop the people, and has also used it to ‘open’ the eyes of Nigerians that an Idoma man can help stabilise the nation. You all can testify to many dividends of democracy the Idomas enjoyed under PDP, which are there for all doubting Thomas to see; is it in terms of appointment both at state and national levels or infrastructural developments, some completed and some ongoing! We were able to actualize all these in PDP through Mark.

But within the last few months of the coming of APC, Idoma has not gained anything. Rather, some of the things that were attracted to Idoma land by previous administration are being reversed. For instance, the University of Health Science has been reversed to College of Health Sciences.

The appointment of Secretary to the State Government (SSG) has always been giving to the Idoma. But, what do you have now? So also is membership of boards. Do you know that the present administration in the state had grounded the Idomas until someone had to draw their attention to the law surrounding constitution of board members? So, it is better to be in the party that has respect for the Idoma nation.

Moro tion, said that nothing whatsoever would make him leave PDP, even if he becomes the last man standing in the party. So, there is no way Mark will leave PDP. Concerning the re run election, what do you think is the interest of the other tribes trying to demystify Mark?

I do not know because I am not cut out for rumour-making. But, I think what people are saying is that the towering political cre-

dentials and the long list of achievements of Mark, which seem to have dwarfed the political profiles of the other politicians in the state, may be the reasons for such interest.

But, let me emphasise here that not all Tivs believe in this because there are some size able numbers of the people (Tivs), who see Mark as a strong person that has raised the status of Benue State on the nation's map.

But, do you think that the Idoma can sustain their relevance in opposition?

Upon a thorough search of their car, the police found guns, hoods and other dangerous weapons, which made the police to arrest them, and they later confessed that I was their target.

There was a report about an alleged attempt by some unknown persons to assassinate or kidnap you?

Yes, but I thank God for his mercy to have frustrated their efforts. What actually happened was that before the incident, we got an intelligent report that some people had penciled down some of us to either get rid off or push us out of circulation. But that fateful day, the vigilance group accosted four young men in a white Toyota Camry with a gold lining parked opposite the gate of my house about 11 p.m. When the vigilante members inquired from them their mission at that hour, they claimed that the fuel in their car got exhausted. They asked whether I was in the house, but the vigilante members ordered them to leave the place. So seeing the seriousness in the vigilante group, they left only to run to a road block mounted by police. I gathered that upon a thorough search of their car, the police found guns, hoods and other dangerous weapons which made the police to arrest them and they later confessed that I was their target.

But, what do you think could have been their motive?

That I cannot tell; whether they had come to kidnap or assassinate me. But, I got to know that the leader of the group was identified as those who were on the wanted list of the police in the state for attempting to kidnap a business woman within the area recently.

40 politics&policy

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Why Lagos is insulated from horrendous oil crash —Ayorinde Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, is a seasoned journalist, author, writer and former editor. In an interview with TUNDE BUSARI, he speaks on the membership of Lagos State Government in the Oodua conglomerate, owned by South-Western states, as well as other issues of interest. Excerpts:

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HERE was a media report on the interception of a group of Boko Haram escapees by the police on their way to Lagos.

What are some of the measures the Lagos State Government has taken to prevent such threat?

We are glad that the security agencies are alert to their duties. We are aware that this is not the first time such interception would occur. You would recall that in October and late November last year, we also had reported cases of similar interceptions. This goes to say all hands are on deck. It is a joint effort among the law enforcement agencies.

On our own part, we are to work with the security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and tackle robberies, violent crimes and all forms of anti- social behaviours. This is evident in the government donation of security assets worth N4.8 billion to the Police and RRS (Rapid Response Squad). This is a landmark in the history of state government intervention. No other state can boast of a security helicopter. Patrol vehicles, gunboats, APC s, power bikes, bulletproof vests and other items were supplied to the security agencies. Governor Akinwumi Ambode believes so much in equipment as a means of having the best of security agencies. What we are doing essentially is to work not only with the police, but also with other security agencies. On monthly basis, the governor meets with all the heads of security agencies, including the commissioner of police.

And the governor on Tuesday, at the second edition of the quarterly meeting, told us that the statistics confirmed a significant drop in crime rate by 65 per cent after the handing over of the equipment. Also for five days, we held the Lagos fiesta in five locations: Epe, Agege, Victoria Island, Ikorodu and Badagry. The result of the fiesta showed the effectiveness of the security measure we have put in place so far. But, we would not rest on our oars. We will continue to support the security agencies.

Why has it taken so long for Lagos State to join the Oodua conglomerate?

The decision has been on for more than four years until the fives: Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states, finally absorbed Lagos State to be a part of the group. History shows that Lagos State is one of the six South-western states, though as the administrative capital of Nigeria, which, thus, enjoyed special status. What we are looking at is regional integration.

What value is Lagos State bringing into the group?

The benefit is both economical and infrastructural. It will be mutual. I must say without sounding immodest that all the five states will enjoy Lagos membership. It is going to demonstrate the real concept of regional integration. Lagos State, being the heartbeat not only of Nigeria but Africa, is going to add great value to the group. If Lagos State were a nation-state, it would be the second largest in West Africa with its GDP equal is to 42 African countries combined. Coming at the time things ap-

the House insisted that they needed more time and that they would do two layers of screening. The House had its way. We were made to pass through two different screenings. Every nominee had to address each committee. There was no rubberstamp.

They ensured that those screened really deserved to be commissioners. Of course, there would be an area of disagreement. It is a disagreement on principle, which shows democracy is working. But after every disagreement, there is always a meeting point, where issues are resolved for the interest of the generality of the electorate.

The pulling down of some structures at Oshodi generated some noise. How did government find the reaction?

It is funny that some people would want to test the patience of the government. But, I must say that we have put the incident behind us. The truth of the matter is that Rule of Law is never convenient for some people, especially law breakers. But when you remind them their limitation, they put up a resistance. That is where a government must show a will power to implement policy, because what a responsible government must not do is to condone irresponsible behavior.

Before the bulldozer moved in, we had reminded them of the need to move to the alternative place we have made available at the most ridiculous rate. We ensured the rate is very affordable to them. Yet, they discountenanced the call and later painted it in ethic colour. This did not matter anyway because they know we were resolute. Something about this government is that we have a governor who is very compassionate and also determined to improve the life of the citizenry.

Ayorinde

The truth of the matter is that the Rule of Law is never convenient for some people, especially law breakers. pear a bit tight now, in terms of economy, the five states stand to benefit from the integration. Essentially, what we are looking at as the vision of the group includes railway, independent power project, food storage facilities, all of which will make the group a model for others. As at now, Lagos is the only one with light rail and massive street lights. There is no way other members would not share from the advantage of these. It is a platform for member states to sit, discuss, exchange note and see how to network among themselves. It has been predicted that oil is going to be discovered here in Lagos. Adding this up to it gives South-West two oil-producing states. The values Lagos is bringing are enormous and limitless. I think it is better late than never best captures the development.

It is argued that state House of Assembly operates at the mercy of the executive. How true or otherwise is this?

I would not think so. Take the Senate President Bukola Saraki as an example. As arguably untidy his emergence might seem, the Presidency did not muscle him. The independence of that arm of government has not been tampered with. And both have succeeded so far. On the issue of budget, an alarm was raised on two versions. The Presidency had to explain with a letter of clarification. It did not accuse the Senate of anything. Another example is on the list of the cabinet members, which Governor Ambode sent to the State House of Assembly. The governor wanted an expedite screening, but

Is that the reason some people say he is slow?

Not at all, if such perception is ever there!

He is not slow. I have two words to describe him. One, he is a good manager of resources. Two, he is compassionate. His style of governance is all-encompassing. In other words, he is running a government of inclusion. He is being caring and not slow.

For the first time, we had a fiesta in five locations with huge success, unlike when the fiesta held in one place leaving out others.

In less than one year, we have done about 114 roads, which simply means no single LCDA (Local Council Development Authority) is left out. We have two per local government. Again for the first, a governor visited Aboru. The residents could not believe it.

But, Governor Ambode was there, and saw the situation of the community. During the last Yuletide, he said the government would not spend a huge amount on Xmas decorations. We rather encouraged banks to do it and it was successful. Also, one of his demonstrable compassion is that he lives at Government House in Ikeja, a departure from the era of governor living at Marina.

Lagosians appreciate the pace at which he goes as long as it is bringing result. We also have what should be called the peoples’ budget; 58 per cent of the budget goes to capital expenditure. This goes to say that Governor Ambode runs a people-oriented administration. We have more to spend on infrastructures and education. We provide Ibile tablets for students, while 70 per cent of our revenue comes from IGR (Internally Generated Revenue). This is saying that Lagos State is insulated from any turbulence in horrendous crude oil crash.

Thursday, 28 January, 2016 41 news Synagogue: Engineers challenge AG on manslaughter charges IGP drums up support for Ayomide Owonibi -Odekanyin -Lagos

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HE two engineers that superintented the construction of a building on the premises of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), which collapsed and killed 116 persons who were mostly foreigners, have challenged the Lagos State Attorney General for filing manslaughter charges against them.

The AG had filed charges against the board of trustees of SCOAN, the two engineers, Oladele Ogundeji, Akinbela Fatire-

Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: Companies lament non-payment of compensation

gun, Hardrock Engineering Company and Jaydly Investment for their role in the collapse of the building.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, Chief E.L Akpofure and Mrs Titilola Akinlawon, who are counsels to the engineers, challenged the manner of service and the legality of the suit by the AG against them.

Specifically, Akpoofure reminded the court of a ruling

by Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, where an order was given restraining the Lagos State AG from prosecuting the two engineers.

Justice Buba had also granted an order of injunc-

tion restraining the Commissioner of Police from arresting and detaining the engineers.

The judge said that the orders would subsist until the state appeals his ruling.

Apkofure further contended that the Lagos State defied the order of the higher court, saying “Their action is tantamount to flouting the order. Any attempt by the AG to go on with the matter amounts to an abuse of court processes,” he said.

They argued that the order is still subsisting, adding that the state ought not to have filed charges against them.

“The manner of service by

way of substitution is spelt out by the law. So carrying out such service in the manner they did is a nullity,” Akpofure maintained.

Responding to their submission, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Idowu Alakija told court that they have filed a response to their applications.He noted that the order of substituted service was brought in compliance with the law,adding that the service was effected properly.

She argued that the option left for the applicants’ respondents is to file an appeal on the order of the court.

On the issue of legality of the suit, Alakija argued that the order of Justice Buba cannot stop the proceeding of the court.

According to her, the proceeding had commenced in the court before the order seeking to restrain the AG from prosecuting them, adding that the suit was not instituted based on the verdict of the coroner.

She cited Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution upon which AG derives its power to institute and continue with criminal proceedings.

After listening to their arguments, Justice LawalAkapo, therefore, adjourned ruling till February 8, 2016.

By Paul Omorogbe COMPANIES around Kilometre 9 area, displaced by the ongoing reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway have appealed to the Works and Housing Minister, Mr Raji Fashola to expedite action on the payment of compensation over their forced relocation.

The affected companies want the minster to intervene on the prolonged delay in payment of compensation.

Alhaji Wasiu Ola-Kareem of Ollan Holdings Ltd, one of the affected companies in the area which is close to the Ibadan Toll Gate, told Nigerian Tribune that “We received a letter from the Ministry of Works between 2009 and 2010 informing us of the planned road expansion. We were asked to value our properties after which we received an acknowledgement of evaluation. Later, they gave a certificate of payment of compensation.

However, since 2011, we have heard nothing from them.

“As law-abiding citizens, we had to rush immediately to relocate and incurred high costs of acquiring new land and moving equipment which has taken its toll on our businesses.

“We have written several letters to the ministry to no avail and we are appealing to the new minister to intervene,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Godwin Abegunde of Intec Printers, another affected firm in the area, said “I am not aware of any of the affected companies that have received any compensation for the forced relocation.”

Managing Director of Gioco Poles Ltd, Mr Godson Ifeanyiaka, said “We held a protest recently over the issue, and till date nothing has been done.”

Wife of the Ogun State governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, immunising Mrs Sekinat Adigun’s child, during the kick off of Follow-up Measles Campaign/ commissioning of the renovated Iberekodo Health Centre, Iberekodo, in Abeokuta, on Wednesday.

N3.1billion debt: Zamfara appeals judgment

freezing its accounts Ayomide Owonibi -Odekanyin -Lagos FOLLOWING an order freezing EcoBank’s account, the Lagos Division of the Appeal, on Wednesday, reserved ruling in the appeal filed by the Zamfara State government against the judgment of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Lagos, which ordered it to pay bank debt of N3.1billion from the federal allocation accruable to it.

The Zamfara State also prayed the court to set aside a garnishee order attaching the money of the state, in all the banks, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive appeal.

It will be recalled that Justice Abang had, in his judgement, ordered the Zamfara State government to pay a judgment sum of N3.159, 017,940.71 to the Ecobank Nigeria Limited, being the outstanding indebtedness to the bank.

Justice Okon Abang gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Ecobank Nigeria Lim-

Nigeria police

IN continuation of efforts aimed at sourcing requisite support towards the advancement of the change mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari regarding the professionalism of the Nigeria Police, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Solomon Arase has embarked on a four-day official visit to Italy.

The visit which commenced from Tuesday, January 26, 2016 is at the invitation of the Italian Government. It was initiated to demonstrate Italian government’s willingness to support the Federal Government of Nigeria, towards enhancing the capacity of the Nigeria Police, particularly, in the area of intelligence, special operations and investigations.

The visit will provide a unique opportunity for the Inspector-General of Police to highlight the efforts of the Federal Government, towards repositioning the force and situating their operations within the dictates of rule of law and best international policing practices.

The visit is also timely, especially now that the force is preparing to restore civil authority in the areas liberated from insurgents in the North-East region of Nigeria. Areas of bilateral cooperation and interventions will also be extensively explored.

Kano vehicle licence revenue increases from N500,000 to N3m daily Kola Oyelere -Kano

ited, against the Zamfara State government.

Other defendants in the suit are Zamfara State Attorney General, Zamfara State Ministry of Finance; Accountant General of the Federation; Attorney General of the federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Dissatisfied, Zamfara State appealed against the

judgment and urged the appellate court to set it aside.

The appellate court, on Wednesday, heard arguments on the appellant’s application dated October 30, 2015 asking the court to set aside the garnishee order made by the lower court, pending the hearing and determination of the

appeal.

Addressing the court, counsel to Zamfara State, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko argued that while the appeal against the judgment of the lower court was still pending, Ecobank went ahead to secure garnishee order freezing the account of the state in all the banks in Nigeria.

Joe Nwachukwu -Owerri GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has stated that whatever decision taken by his administration is in the best interest of the people and future generations.

He made this statement while briefing newsmen at the Government House in Owerri, on arrival from his 10- day overseas trip.

Okorocha said he would not take any decision that would not positively change the life of an average Imo indigene.

He disclosed that he completed the payment of work-

ers’ salaries since December 2015, except for the workers of Adapalm, adding that the government was owing them N25 million because they failed to agree with the government on certain issues.

Speaking on his overseas trip, the governor said a Chinese company would soon arrive in the state to help build a refinery for economical growth of the state.

Answering reporters’ questions, Okorocha explained that Imo State economy would totally collapse under his administration, if he failed to take certain decisions now, noting that future

generations would not forgive him.

According to him, the state would clock 40 years in February 2016, adding that and the state government had mapped out activities to celebrate the event.

Meanwhile, the Imo state government has asserted that its economy would collapse if adequate measure were not taken to review workers’ salaries downwards.

The state Commissioner for Information, Chief Chidi Ibe made this declaration while briefing newsmen in Owerri, the Imo state capital.

Decisions taken by my administration is for the best interest of Imo –Okorocha

AS a result of Kano State government’s renewed drive to generate funds internally to address developmental issues, the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from the state vehicle licensing office, has gone up from N500,000 to N3 million daily, in the past few months.

The state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who made this disclosure recently, said this is just a tip of the iceberg, adding that government intended to motivate the citizens to pay taxes duly, by investing whatever is collected in communal projects. ‘’When people see their money being used to erect developmental projects and not siphoned into pockets of some individuals, they would be encouraged to support our revenue generation drive,” the governor said.

According to him, the sharp increase in the revenue collected by the vehicle licence office, is a pointer to the potential revenue that would accrue to the state from other sources.

42 news

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Minimum wage, subsidy removal: NLC, TUC meet CSOs tomorrow

Nigerian worker deserves N100,000 minimum wage —TUC Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja

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HE organised Labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) will hold a crucial stakeholders’ meeting with civil societies groups tomorrow, over the contentious issues of new National Minimum Wage, subsidy removal, increased electricity tarrif and other national issues.

The meeting is coming at a time when the president of TUC hinted that Nigerian worker deserves a N100,000 monthly salary, being the minimum, in the face of the present economic reality, exchange rate

and devaluation, which had eroded the purchasing power of naira.

Labour will also meet with its civil society allies and prominent business groups and associations to harmonise their positions on various national issues affecting the workers and Nigerians in general.

One of the associations to meet is the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) and some lawyers, who had already gone to court against the recent incessant increase in electricity tariff.

The meeting is to mobilise and sensitise the workers and the civil society allies on these issues.

President of TUC, Com-

rade Bobbio Bala Kaigama, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune, said Nigerian worker deserved N100,000 national minimum wage, pointed out that he would not call a particular figure before the meeting with the NLC. He stated that on the side of the TUC, a committee had been set up working on the issue, but would now harmonise their position with that of the NLC. Comrade Kaigama regretted that the Nigerian government took more care of prisoners serving jail term than the workers, who were generating the wealth.

Making a comparism with the prisoners, the TUC president said each prisoner

was entitled to N300 per meal, three times in a day, which was N900 a day and N27,000 per month.

He explained that the N27,000 was just on meal alone, while they enjoyed free accomodation, electricity, water, health and even education or skill acquisition traning as the case may be.

Comrade Kaigama said: “In this country, government spends N300 on a prisoner for a meal, meaning N900 is spent on a prisoner per day. Multiply N900 by 30, it would give you N27,000 as amount spent on a prisoner per month. You also know that with this N27000, he is been accommodated, med-

ically, electricity, and water bills, all free and upon that government still train him to learn one skill or the other.

“If you add these up, how much can it amount to? Then relate it to average Nigeria worker, who contributes to wealth creation, who is not a criminal, who has a family to cater for, who has his education, health care, clothing, accommodation, transport to and fro work and so many a sundry issues to meet. How much do you think a Nigeria worker should earn as minimum wage?

“When you add these up, vis a viz what a prisoner earns, an average worker in Nigeria should not earn less than N100, 000 per month.

NLC leadership crisis: I’m not interested in any position —Ajaero Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja DESPITE the many issues affecting Nigerian workers and masses that need urgent intervention of the organised Labour, especially the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the raging leadership crisis in the congress has continued unabated.

Following a letter written by the factional president of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, to quit the negotiation process at the end of January if it was not concluded, the congress has again set up a seven-man action committee, headed by Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, the first president of NLC, to look at all the contentious issues and resolve the crisis in a very short time.

The meeting, which was held at the Bolton White Hotel, Abuja, on Monday, had the NLC president, Comrade Ayubba Wabba and Comrade Ajaero in attendance, and was chaired

by Comrade Sunmonu.

Speaking with Comrade Ajaero, the factional president said he was not really interested in a leadership position or any position to be ceded to his faction, but insisted in due process being followed.

Ajaero stated that the issue of NLC state chapters which had also been polarised should be harmonised and resolved, while so many continous issues that were done against the NLC rules and regulations before the last national delegates’ congress and elections must be redressed.

Some of the conditions and demands expected by the Ajaero group to be met especially was the appointment of the present General Secretary of the congress, Comrade Peter Ozo-Eson, whom they argued was not qualified, based on age requirement.

Other issues were that of some NLC officials who had retired from service but were still holding on to their positions in the NLC against the rules must be replaced according to the laid down rules of the congress.

Comrade Ajaero said the issue of states chapters was needed to be resolved, emphasising that the issue was beyond filling the vacant positions, but the appointment of the general secretary.

He agreed that the cri-

sis was affecting the NLC and the organised Labour from defending the interest of workers and Nigerians, pointing out that the issues of subsidy, electricity tarrif, Imo State and other issues.

Ajaero said: “I don’t want to play politics with the issue. Things are spoiling, do we need to keep quiet?”

The NLC president, Comrade Wabba, told Nigerian Tribune that they got the letter from Comrade Ajaero threatening to quit the reconciliation, but stated that it was the same old stories and “I don’t think that is what we need at this point in time.”

But he said the NLC was committed to the process, adding that “the issue of reconciliation is what we initiated, we love to see it conclud-

ed. We remain committed to our own part of the bargain and it has gone to the main organs of the NLC. “It will be in our own interest to try to look at this because many unions are

suffering now, including his union which I can say clearly, because the issue is that there are battles that you can’t fight alone in your individual union, because in unity lies our strength.”

Go to other African countries, look at their minimum pay.

He, however, said the figures to be presented to government would be agreed between NLC and TUC, and committees were working on that.

On the affordability of many states, Kaigama said the National Minimum Wage was a legal issue and the law proscribed that the wage be reviewed after every five years, which was long overdue.

“What we are also saying is that those governors who feel they can’t pay the present minimum wage should resign, because in the first place, when the agitations for state creation were on, there is no state that has not documented that they can pay the salary of their workers with the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

“For them now to abandon the pursuit of boosting their IGR to now depend on the Federation Account allocation is sad and regrettable.

Lawyer drags Heritage Bank to court over forceful ejection Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt ANTHONY Ezenwoko, a legal practitioner in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has vowed to approach the Court Appeal to rescind a decision of the state High Court which turned down his bid to stop his ejection from his operational office.

The plaintiff had approached the state judiciary, seeking to prevent Heritage Bank from

an alleged forceful ejection from the property accommodating his chambers.

The property, formerly owned by the defunct Enterprise Bank and situated on No 11, Azikwe Road, Port Harcourt, became an object of legal litigation, when it was taken over by Heritage Bank.

Heritage Bank, having acquired both the assets and liabilities of the former Enterprise Bank, immediately

directed the occupants of the property to immediately vacate their tenancy, allegedly, without any prior quit notice.

Ezenwoko, who had his office, named ‘Renewal Chambers’, approached the High Court, presided over by the state acting Chief Judge, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, to seek for an order restraining the defendant from ejecting him from the property.

Enugu killing: 5 more bodies discovered

•As ‘Keke’ riders’ association identifies 3, demands justice Jude Ossai - Enugu FIVE more bodies have been discovered in a shallow grave at Ugwuaji, near Enugu, even as the Tricycle Riders’ Association, popularly known as “Keke Riders,” on Wednesday, identified three of the victims in the suspected ritual killing as their members.

Speaking when he led the executive members of the association on a condolence visit to the Enugu Central Mosque at Asata Enugu, chairman of the union, Comrade Ikah Benjamin Ejiofor, described the gruesome murder of the ‘keke’

riders as “most wicked and despicable.”

He gave names of the victims as Babangida Sale, Ashahabu Dauda and Ismahil Abdulahi.

It will be recalled that three bodies were, on Monday, exhumed from the foundation of a building project, located at the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.

Comrade Ejiofor, who was moved to tears, described the killing as most barbaric and against the principles of life.

According to him, “our members are rendering very important services to the society and it is so bad that the same people we are serving

should turn back to treat us this way.

“We are grieved over this colossal loss and that is why we are here to commiserate with the Hausa community in Enugu. We are, indeed, in this tragedy together; we are so much pained.”

Giving insight into the incident, he said the ‘keke’ riders left their different units on Saturday, but never returned, adding that “a search party was later organised and with that came the result of what we saw on Monday.

“At this moment, our plea to security agents is that this evil should not go un-

punished; no stone should be left unturned in a bid to bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act to book.

“We cannot categorically say whether they were killed for ritual or not, because even their tricycles have not been found; so, we are leaving that aspect for security agents.”

He advised ‘keke’ riders to, henceforth, stop picking people for drop to isolated areas.

In his remarks, one of the leaders of the Hausa community in Enugu, A.A Sambo, described the death of their brothers as most shocking.

“We lack words with which to describe this situation; it is so sad that vibrant young men left home in the morning in search of their daily breadm but never returned alive; it so sad that they were hacked to death in such manner,” he lamented.

One of those who participated in the search further disclosed that apart from the fresh bodies of the three ‘keke’ riders, there were about five other human skeletons found there.

“We even saw some female bags at that scene, which suggests that some women must had also fallen victims,” he disclosed.

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Thursday, 28 January, 2016

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Zika in Europe: Danish, Swiss tourists diagnosed with virus

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ENMARK and Switzerland have joined a growing number of European countries to report Zika infections among travellers returning from Latin America, where the mosquito-borne virus has been blamed for a surge in birth defects, the Guardian has reported.

“A Danish tourist who travelled to Central and South America was diagnosed on his return with the Zika virus,” a hospital in eastern Denmark said late on Tuesday. The Danish patient was a young man who was expected to make a full recovery, Aarhus University hospital told public broadcaster DR.

Pregnant women at the Guatemalan Social Security Institute. Some countries in Latin America have advised against pregnancy during the Zika epidemic. PHOTO: AFP/GETTY IMAGES. Two people returning to Switzerland from Haiti and Colombia were also diagnosed with the virus, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health said. Neither was

...Obama calls for rapid research as virus spreads

US President Barack Obama

PRESIDENT Barack Obama has called for the rapid development of tests, vaccines and treatments to fight the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects and could spread to the United States in warmer months.

According to Reuters,

United States health officials are stepping up efforts to study the link between Zika virus infections and birth defects, citing a recent study estimating the virus could reach regions where 60 percent of the U.S. population lives.

Obama was briefed on the potential spread of the virus by his top health and national security officials on Tuesday.

“The president emphasized the need to accelerate research efforts to make available better diagnostic tests, to develop vaccines and therapeutics, and to ensure that all Americans have information about the Zika virus and steps they can take to better protect themselves from infection,” the White House said in a statement.

pregnant and neither required hospital care, a statement said.

Zika virus by the numbers: travel advisories issued

bies born with microcephaly to women who were infected with the virus, has issued no such recommendations.

But Colombia, which has the second highest Zika infection rate, after Brazil, and has at least 890 pregnant women infected with the virus, called on women to delay pregnancy for six to eight months.

“I believe it’s a good way to communicate the risk, to tell people that there could be serious consequences,” said Alejandro Gaviria, the health minister, who is touring Zika-hit areas this week.

Wisell, head of microbiology at the agency.

In Spain, two cases of Zika were detected in late 2015, authorities in Catalonia confirmed. Both were South American women – aged 30 and 45 – who had travelled to the continent over Christmas. Diagnosed upon their return, they have since fully recovered. Neither of the women were pregnant.

In Moscow, health minister Veronika Skvortsova said Russian authorities had been “monitoring (Zika) since it appeared. Now we are working on controlling it as soon as any strange strains appear ... to have domestic medication for prevention and treatment.”

£8,742,000) earning for Winfrey on a single tweet, or more than $3 million an hour.

In the video advertisement that appears in the tweet, Winfrey states that

she “loves bread” and that she now “just manages it.”

Winfrey says, “I don’t deny myself bread every day... I lost 26lbs and I eat bread every single day.”

Fellow bread-lovers responded to Winfrey on Twitter, celebrating her weight loss.

The diet company, which had previously struggled with a $2 billion debt, saw share prices jump more than 100 per cent in response to the announcement of Winfrey’s position last October.

Shares peaked again later that month when the talkshow host and media icon appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show, explaining how she lost 15lbs by using the Weight Watchers points-calculator system.

Oprah Winfrey makes $12.5 million with single tweet about bread A tweet by Oprah Winfrey, in which she claims to have lost 26lbs (almost 12kg) by following a Weight Watchers healthy eating programme, while still eating bread every day, has seen the diet company’s United States share prices skyrocket by 20 per cent.

Before the 66-character tweet, which included the hashtag #ComeJoinMe and a link to the Weight Watchers website, was posted on Tuesday afternoon, the company’s stock was trading at $11.35 a share. It closed at $13.29 a share.

Winfrey is said to own 6.4 million shares in the compa-

Oprah Winfrey.

PHOTO: GETTY. ny, approximately 10 percent of the stock, after she became a board member in October 2015.

The recent spike in share prices equates to a $12.5 million (approximately

otherNEWS

Report lists Somalia, North Korea as world’s most corrupt countries

...Activists denounce Zika advice to avoid pregnancy in Latin America WOMEN’S rights advocates in Latin America say government advice to avoid getting pregnant because of the risks posed by the Zika virus was irresponsible and failed to recognise the realities of their own countries.

The Guardian said the recommendations by health authorities in at least five countries affected by the mosquito-borne Zika virus were made as concern rises over the number of babies born with severe brain defects linked to the disease.

Brazil, where doctors saw a significant increase in ba-

across the world Health watchdogs in a string of European countries meanwhile said they had recorded Zika cases dat-

ing back to as early as March 2015. The Netherlands confirmed 10 cases and Britain five, all among people returning from South America.

In Italy, the Spallanzani National Institute of Infectious Disease said four cases were recorded in March 2015, while in Portugal, the health ministry said four Portuguese people had been infected. All eight had been travelling in Brazil.

A woman in Stockholm was diagnosed with the virus in July 2015, the Swedish Public Health Agency confirmed on Wednesday.

“The symptoms were treated and the woman recovered,” said Karin Tegmark

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud

North Korea Kim Jong Un

A new report lists Somalia, North Korea and Afghanistan as the most highly corrupt nations on Earth.

Transparency International released its annual Corruption Perceptions Index on Wednesday, relying on what it calls expert opinion from around the world to measure

perceived levels of public sector corruption.

Low scores mean more corruption, and the report gave Somalia and North Korea an eight, while putting Afghanistan at 11.

No country scored a perfect 100, but a few came close, with Denmark at 91, and Fin-

land and Sweden each at 90.

Jose Ugaz, chair of Transparency International, said the report shows corruption is still a “blight” across the globe.

“But 2015 was also a year when people again took to the streets to protest corruption,” he said.

Ivory Coast ex-President Gbagbo’s trial to begin at The Hague FORMER Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo goes on trial at the International Criminal Court on Thursday, the most senior politician to do so since the global war crimes tribunal was set up 13 years ago, Reuters reported.

Accused of unleashing a civil war that killed 3,000 people after he refused to accept los-

ing a re-election bid in 2010, Gbagbo remains an influential figure at home and his trial could rekindle tensions in the world’s largest cocoa grower.

It is also a test for the ICC, seen in much of Africa as a neo-colonial institution that does the bidding of its European financial backers. Its

last attempt to try an African president, Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, failed amid diplomatic lobbying and allegations of witness intimidation.

Gbagbo, 70, and his co-accused, youth leader Charles Ble Goude, 44, face four counts, including a campaign of rape and murder aimed at Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo. PHOTO: AFP. hanging onto power.

44

communitynews

Thursday, 28 January, 2016

Development issues to feature as Oke Ogun hosts Bayo Shittu

T

HE issue of regional and grassroots development will again be in focus on Saturday, January 30, 2016 as the people of Oke Ogun under the auspices of Oke Ogun Development Council (ODC) host the Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, to a civic reception.

The reception will hold

at Iseyin District Grammar School, Iseyin, Oyo state.

According a release signed by the general secretary of the organisation, Mr. Jare Ajayi, the people

have decided to use the civic outing for three purposes. First is to express their appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Shittu as

a minister. Second is to showcase Bayo Shittu as an admirable ambassador of Oke Ogun and Oyo State while the third is to draw attention to the various

developmental challenges confronting the people of Oke Ogun.

“This was why the reception will be preceded by a working visit to Ikere Gorge Dam. The dam is

Community leaders urged to champion war against corruption

By Olaide Sokoya

A community leader and business mogul, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, on Monday, appealed to community leaders to conduct themselves in a decent manner and shun every corrupt act.

Chief Adeyemo, who made the appeal while speaking with Community News, argued that if every community leader purges himself of corruption, the menace would be reduced to the barest minimum.

According to him: “Charity begins at home.

Community leaders should champion the cause of eliminating this retrogressive element (corruption) from their various communities.

“If every community is sanitised and cleansed of corruption, the country as a whole will be the better for it.”

While commending the ongoing war against corruption, Adeyemo warned the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration against partisanship.

In this regard, he charged President Buhari not to limit the probe of suspected looters to members of a political party.

This old, collapsing building on Oke-Ado/Molete Expressway in Ibadan does not only constitute an eyesore but threat to life. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

Cattle rustling: Breeders ask Kwara govt for security Biola Azeez-Ilorin

THE association of Fulani cattle breeders in Kwara State, Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, has sought the assistance of Kwara State government to enable members overcome the menace of cattle rustling, kidnapping of their kinsmen among other challenges.

The association made the appeal in Ilorin, on Monday, when members paid a courtesy visit to the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.

While lamenting the

unending clashes between cattle breeders’ and farmers in some parts of the state, the state chairman of the association, Alhaji Usman Adamu, appealed to the state government to include them in its soft loan scheme designed for Small and Medium Enterprises in order to give them a sense of belonging.

They, however, praised the governor for sustaining the harmonious relationship among the various tribes in the state.

Also speaking, Governor Ahmed said the state government would strengthen security across the state by setting up a special se-

curity committee to check kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminal activities in the state.

The governor expressed concern over the frequent clashes between Fulani and farmers in the state,

THE umbrella body of all socio-cultural associations in Offa town in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, the Offa Descendants Union (ODU), has appealed to the people of the ancient town at home and in the diaspora, to support the current development initiatives in the community.

A statement jointly signed by the chairman and secretary of the home branch of the union, Alhaji

Fasasi Balogun and Prince Raheem Amototo, said the community had been witnessing rapid development since the ascension to the throne of the present traditional ruler of the town, Oba Mufutau Oloyede.

The union, while pledging its support for the traditional ruler in his efforts to develop the community, said the town had, in a short while, witnessed many developmental projects such as reconstruction of the burnt Owode market, establish-

ment of an Open University Centre, completion of ODU hall complex, Offa Central mosque, among others.

It, however, expressed dismay that some individuals and groups in the community were allegedly engaged in running down the community instead of using their wealth, knowledge and influence for the good of the town.

ODU said such individuals and groups are those who constantly take legal actions against the tradi-

saying that government was working round the clock to curtail the problem through the establishment of grazing reserves and stock routes.

The governor, who also promised to provide the

cattle breeders with social amenities, cautioned them and the farmers against clashing with their host communities, adding that they should respect their hosts’ traditions and culture.

Lawmaker promises Iseyin, Okeho, others more development

By Moses Alao

THE member representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Abiodun Olasupo, has promised the people of the communities

ODU urges Offa people to support development initiatives Biola Azeez-Ilorin

capable of generating and supplying electricity and water to people in parts of Oyo, Ogun and Lagos States. It is also capable of making farmers to be productive throughout the year rather than during the rainy season only just as it would further provide job opportunities for aquatic farmers, among others,”the release stated.

Among dignitaries expected on the occasion are the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and his deputy, Otunba Moses Adeyemo as well as the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Audu Ogbeh who will be the chairman.

Ministers of Works, Housing and Power, Barrister Babatunde Fashola and his counterpart in the Water Resources Ministry, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu are among other federal cabinet members expected to grace the occasion.

The programme was originally slated for Saturday, January 23, 2016 but had to be postponed by a week for an unavoidable reason.

tional authorities of the town to the detriment of the town’s development.

The statement thus appealed to those concerned to channel their resources towards constructive activities in the community instead of fanning the embers of religious crisis.

The union also called on the people of the town to dissociate themselves from those who want to use religion to cause disaffection among indigenes and residents of the community.

in the constituency more development.

According to him, one of the ways of doing this is by revisiting abandoned Federal Government projects such as the Ikerre Gorge Dam, the Okeho-Iseyin road and others, and facilitating employment for youths, among others.

Olasupo, who made the pledge during an interaction with youths in Iseyin, maintained that he had begun appraisal of Federal Government projects that had not been given attention in the constituency.

The lawmaker, who noted that though the legislature’s business were to make laws and oversee the implementation of projects by the executive, said he would not relent in facilitating employment for youths. This is just as he revealed his plans for sport development in the community.

He, however, encouraged youths to stop looking for white collar jobs as the only means of gainful employment, urging them to start whatever they have passion for.

“Coming into politics, I had resolved to be peopleoriented and I made the decision to have regular interactions with my people.

As a student of government, I know that you cannot decide for the people what they need; this is why this meeting is important and this will not be the last,” Olasupo said.

Speaking earlier, the President of the Movement for Ekunle Development (MED), Mr Ademola Wasiu, described the meeting with youths as historic, noting that it was the first time youths would be able to sit with their representative at any level to discuss the progress of the constituency.

45

Thursday, 28 January, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Osimhen rejected Anderlecht’s 2m euros offer

Chikatara will get car, N750,000 monthly —Abia Warriors boss THE management of Abia Warriors, a Glo Premier League side has said it will match an offer of N750,000 monthly salary (about $3,000) and a car from Kano Pillars for their striker, Chisom Chikatara.

Chairman of the Umuahiabased side, Chief Emeka Inyama said Chikatara, who netted four goals at the ongoing CHAN 2016, remains a player of Abia Warriors despite a deluge of offers from home and abroad before him.

“During a transfer window, you can hear any type of rumour but the fact is that Chikatara is an Abia Warriors player.

He told me t h a t

—Report

A

detailed offer worth two million Euros (about N600m) from top Belgian club, Anderlecht was reportedly turned down

by Nigerian youngster, Victor Osimhen, reports Africanfootball.com.

Osimhen and his team are currently in Germany to finalise on a deal with top Bundesliga outfit, Wolfsburg after he visited the club last year.

Ever since the teenage striker set a new goal record of 10 goals at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, he has been bombarded with offers from some of Europe’s top clubs including Juventus of Italy.

The proposed Anderlecht offer will be for four-anda-half seasons with a guaranteed minimum salary of 100,000 Euros a year.

This could be raised to as much as 350,000 Euros gross should be start up to 30 official matches for the club.

The first part has a cash offer of a million Euros – the club will pay 250,000 Euros when Osimhen signs the contract.

He will get another 250,000 Euros at the start of the 2016/17 season in

Belgium, which will be July 1, 2016.

And the big pay day will be on his 18th birthday on December 29, 2016, when he will receive 500,000 Euros.

The second part of the deal is performance based as he will get an additional payment of 100,000 Euros when he has made 10 starts for Anderlecht in either the league, UEFA Champions League or Europa League.

Another 100,000 Euros will follow after 20 starts and subsequently an additional 100,000 Euros when he starts 30 matches for the club.

There will be a bonus of 100,000 Euros should he finish top scorer in the league, Champions League or Europa League.

There will also be 250,000 Euros for him to pick should Anderlecht win the Belgian Jupiler League with him having played 75 per cent of the matches.

Champions League quarter-final with him having played 75 per cent of the matches in that competition will fetch him an extra 250,000 Euros.

He will equally be paid another 250,000 Euros should he be named the best player in Belgium.

Oyo Assembly summons 3SC mgt, sports ministry

By Nurudeen Alimi OYO State House of Assembly’s committee on sports has summoned the management of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and representatives of the state’s ministry of youth and sports

Mafo seeks support to move ODSFA forward THE newly-appointed Chairman of the Ondo State Football Agency, Prince John Ola Mafo has promised to consolidate the achievements of the erstwhile chairman, Mr Akin Akinbobola.

Mafo stated this on Wednesday in Akure, while Akinbobola was handing over the affairs of ODSFA to him following his announcement by the state government on Monday.

“This place (ODSFA) remains his home, Akinbobola is also a board member of this agency, I pray God will assist us and we will do well.

“It is my prayer that we will have reasons to celebrate at the end. It is the same government, we will continue with the same policy, changes will only be made to where it is necessary,” said Mafo who is also the president of Sunshine Stars and Sunshine Queens.

He also solicits support that would assist his administration to surmount the challenges ahead.

“It is very important for all stakeholders to come together so that we can achieve the desired results of making the state number

Pillars offered him N750,000 (a month, about $3000) and a car and I promised him that I will match that offer,” said Inyama.

“He has not put pen on paper for any other team except Warriors.”

Chikatara

Inyama further disclosed that Warriors are currently studying a string of offers from overseas for the highlypromising striker.

“As I am talking to you now, I have about 15 offers on the table both from Europe and North Africa. We are analysing the offers and we will see what will be good for him and the club,” he said.

“One thing is that his development is so important to me. He calls me ‘daddy’ and I wouldn’t fail him. In whatever deals he is going into, I will make sure his interest is well protected.

“I took him away from home. His mother handed him over to me and I promised her that the boy will bring more than kolanut home.

“This was a boy who had never played football o u t s i d e Umuahia before I snapped him up.

Now the whole world has taken note of him.”

one in the country as far as football development is concerned. We shall carry everyone along and listen to suggestions and pick the useful ones that will guide us in achieving success,” Mafo added.

Meanwhile, in his remarks, Akinbobola who is now Special Adviser to Governor Olusegun Mimiko on Political Affairs and Mobilisation rallied for support for the Mafo administration.

“It is very important for all of us to work in harmony with the new ODSFA boss so that he can achieve the set targets,” he said.

to appear before it today.

The forum as Tribunesport, gathered is to deliberate on issues militating against the growth of the traditional clubsides in the state and activities of the Oluyole Warriors especially in the areas of player’s signing and transfer in recent past.

Chairman of the house committee on sports, Honourable Fatai Adesina, who spoke with Tribunesport by phone decried the way the club is being run in recent times.

“It is a known fact that every state government in the country can not afford huge funding of football clubs and if we put a structure in place and well monitored by all stakeholders, a lot of income would be generated to support the funding of the club by the government,” he said.

Meanwhile, one of the coaches who are interested in handling 3SC this season,

Kadiri Ikhana, is also expected to appear before

the committee today for interview.

Sports veterans launch health insurance scheme for members

By Nurudeen Alimi NIGERIAN ex-internationals under the aegis of the Association of International and National Sports Veterans, a brainchild of former national table tennis star, Chief Waheed Ekun, have launched an health insurance scheme that will cater for healthcare needs of its members.

The health insurance scheme was officially launched during the maiden edition of the association’s end of the year party held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.

Speaking with Tribunesport, Ekun said: “The healthcare initiative is about taking care of ourselves. When nobody cares for you, I believe you have to take care of yourself and that is excatly what we are planning to do.

“In order to make life easier for members, I am offering 50 per cent of the expenses while they will take care of the remaining 50 per cent which I believe is a token amount of money. This initiative is aimed at creating an enabling environment so that whenever any member is sick, such person will feel free to go to any of the accredited hospitals and get urgent medical attention.

“With this initiative, it would enhance the living standard of our members. When you see our ex-sportsmen these days, you find a lot of them in poor health conditions because they don’t have money to go to hospital to seek medical attention, and I believe if there is an health insurance scheme in place, the wellbeing of our members will be enhanced.”

46

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Change is the only permanent thing in life.

SWINDON and BANSLEY= S + B= 21 on 21.

All protocols must be dwely observers when an Authentic winning information is at work. No story No grammar! Your winning is our consine.

This 4th round F.A. Cup Naps is strictly on tabulation, calculation Dr B4 Dr new Era Nap – cost N30, 000= flat rate – No regret.

VICTORIOUS VICTOR

–08126994034.

(17XX 21) 07X 15X 21XXX – 20F 27X

Congratulation our pre Cup Naps got the Nap correctly and the bonus pair 27xxx.

The pre Cup Nap success is the assurance to our 4th round Cup Nap. FREE – Position. of Man Utd and opponent or westbrom in last cup to draw this cup, starting from Cup 1 to Cup five (5) winning continues and get VICTORIOUS. N25,000 = Good luck. (17XX 21XX).

ISRAEL BAIL OUT NAPS = 09085712800 WINNING – CONTACT= 09085712800. STAKERS BAILOUT Congratulations we come on Tribune Pools page to add value to all readers and stakers lifes.

Our previous 2 week explosive Nap in week 26 and 27 plus one winning sequence on away teams on Nos 26 and 27.

Week 26 away teams no 26 and 27, CRYSTAL P. – LEICESTER – NEWCASTLE C= 3+1= 4XX, L=12+1= 13XX, N= 14+1= 15XXX Week 26= 4x 13x 15xxx NAP Week 27 Away teams No 26 & 27 were BURTON A. – GILLINGHAM – PORTVALE B= 2+1= 3XX, G= 7+1= 8XX, P= 16+1= 17XXX Week 26 – 3x 8x 17xxx NAP. Week 28, 2016 and week 13 – 2008 was a replical but on different winning sequence on COLCESTER AWAY 31.

1st AWAY ALPHABET 3WKS – 13, 14, 15. NAPS Week 13 2008 – COLCHESTER (C)= 3= 2x 3x 4x Naps Week 14 2008 – LYTON O (L)= 12= 11x 12x 13xx NAP Week 15 2008 – NORTHAMPTON (N)= 14= 13x 14x 15xx NAP COLCESTER AWAY 31 & OTHER SETTINGS STARTED IN WEEK 28, 29 & 30, 2016.

Week 28 – X X X Week 29 – X X X CONFIRMED 3 WKS WINNING Week 30 – X X X SEQUENCE. WIN SURE NAP COST N50, 000–1MILLION

MID-WEEK OFFERS 3…10 (08087176217)

Did you read our writer-up last week did you grasp the contents of our assertion that not all forms and sequences are off-target? We were vindicated by the result of the pair we gave free on 25/26xx. Majority of the users of our pair picked No 25 there but allas, it was No 26xx that drew.

This week again, we offer Nos 3 & 10 for one sure draw. Add the due to our 1BK and have your 2 over 3.

They are billed to give a draws.

Our 1 BK costs only N1,500.00; 2 Draws cost N3,000.00 and 3 Draws sell for N10,000.00 on 08087176217. Good luck!

DOSA 08072241664 8XXBK PLUS TWO OTHERS

It is your turn to laugh to your bank on Monday with your winning on pool staking Believe it or not, my 3 bankers will all play draws this weekend, therefore if you too want to be part of lucky winners on Saturday send to Dosa N2,500 MTN recharge card to play my own and be expecting good result on Saturday.

IBUKUN OLU NAPS

07026839837. FOR WKS 29, 31 Bank 27xx plus 2, others Congratulations as our 3 draws And pair scores 4 over 5 correct in week 27 on Nos 3xx 27xx 45ff pair 8xx 15xx coupon No 45 save pools promoters on our Napping this Week 29 is another Jackpot Week Again cost N20,000 cash pay to Account Number 2015600860. U.B.A Bank in the Name of ALAKE SAMSOM. Call 07026839837. Bank 27xx Plus 2, others.

PETER NAP 6XX 08076546261

All is set for special cup release this week as the above one banker must draw this week together with two others making 3/3. My weeks release cost just N25,000.00 pay to saving acct No 3023114822.

First bank in person of Mr Onaolapo Peter G. And call on 08076546261. Meanwhile bank in 6 to draw this, and promote another three draws next week.

MALLAM BAWA SET FOR CUP (08052506287) Hot 20, or 9.

WK.28=22x,26x27x=3/3.

Stakers, I advise you to get my special Cup Nap for week 29. Play it and win. It can not disappoint you. Cost price is only N10,000 cash payments at Access Bank to Mallam Musa Ibrahim Bawa, accts No. 0042075587. Call 08052506287. Congrats to all.

SHORT – GUN

08050614477/08168241902

2 HOT 26

The 4th Round F.A in Cup in England promises to recoup their losses. The above pair must play this weekend with other fixed draws. The game cost N25,000.

Stop losing your money, join the experts.

HERITAGE NAP

(08032428168) 23 MUST 38 We are set again for another winning week with the pair which must supply this weekend with other gazette draws from the experts in England. Pay N25,000 and get the game that will change your life. You are a winner already.

EDITOR’S PLACE 2 1- 2 3

PAIR 23XX & 36

PAIR 23XX & 36

MRS. HENRY 08170779623 & 08071554934 Attention! Attention!! Attention!!!

I am fully back again, to enrich the stakers, starting from WK 29 - WK 31, which is going to play 3/3. KEY:COVENTRY at week of play in advance coupon, open to previous week pair 23 & 36 and two others. This three weeks operation will shake the promoters because it is fixed draws. So, I am calling on all stakers to win pool and smile to bank.Cost price-N30,000 (Thirty thousand naira only)

Call - 08170779623 & 08071554934 AMUKO & ASSOCIATES — 07014686970.

THE CUP MANAGER — 4TH ROUND SURE WIN. WELCOME

DRAW COMMANDER TWO BANKERS N3,000 WK 26 CUP X27X X35X PAIR X31X X33X

WK 29 CUP CUP PAIR CUP CUP

WK 30 CUP CUP PAIR CUP CUP

BEST ENGLISH MAGIC TWO BANKERS N3,000 WK 26 CUP X15X X31X PAIR X10X X13X

WK 29 CUP CUP PAIR CUP CUP

WK 30 CUP CUP PAIR CUP CUP

JOINTLY 4 SPECIAL DRAWS N25,000 WK 26 NO 10X 20X 27X 31X=4/4 WK 27 RED NO RED RED RED RED =4/4. SEND MTN CARD TO 08095602590.

MADAM-DE-MADAM- 08023329191. 21 SURE 42= 42 and 21

SWINDON SURE BANSLEY – 21, DUNDEE and MOTHERWELL – 42 Calculated and Tabulation sure win from the madams fixed matches drawing board.

The duo of our madam are now fully ready to booast our clients savings (fat account) Swindon home 21 Dundee Hon 42 are 2 different winning sequence that make one. Our week 29 winning has no compromise.

Week 29 – win – sure Nap Contact Mr Joshua our media manager for you irresistible Naps – N30, 000 (considered price).

F.A. CUP TOTTENHAM VS PROMOTERS = 08139714848 NO 5XXXBK

4 SPECIAL DRAWS N6,000 TWO banker n3,000 key every f.a.cup 7 bank tottenham to draw. wk 29 no 5.5.5. plus 3 others cost n6,000 wk 17 f.a. cup 1 = key 1x 10x 34x 35x = two bk n 2x 19x wk 21 f.a. cup 2 =key 10x 22x 29x 31x two bk no 10x 13x wk 26 f.a. cup 3 = key 27x 31x 20x two bk no 10x 13x wk 29 f.a. cup 4 =key 5 cup cup cupn two bk cup cup. wk 30 blue a wk after cup key cup cup cup two bk cup cup stakers, try to get F.A. CUP TOTTENHAM 4 spcial draws this wk 29 CUP 4 cost N6,000 two bankers this wk 29 cost N3,000. Send MTN card = 08139714848 the game will send to you by text message. 08139714848.

ZENITH CUP NAP – 08146879314 (03XX AND 41)

2015/2016 DIRECT WINNING CONTACT. C and C= A and A= A and A. Congratulations all our Esteem clients our Direct winning contact for 2015/2016 programmed alphabets sure win is confirmed again. ‘Scheduled 5 times win in a season.

1st ALPHABET HOME NOS. 1 and 49 Week 8’ 2015 – 8x 17x 36xxx – 21x= 9drs Week 26’ 2016 – 10x 15x 43xxx – 20x= 11drs Week 29’ 2016 – X X X - 03x= 10drs New Zenith new dream winning information is to put all our clients to zenith of wealth. Join the happy stakers. Win along with the ZENITH SURE WIN ON WINNING INSTRUCTION – N50, 000=

DR EKONDO (08034483290)

BANKER DRAW= 41XXBK

Hip-Hip-Hurrah! Yes the master of round 4 cup is here, his name is or ekondo would you like to win with him? if yes, call him for special discussion on his 3 draws that cost N10,000=cash. its 3 weeks operation please stay and be connected draws are fixed good luck.

NJOROGE MR ASSURANCE – 08177474535.

05 ASSURES 06

COLCHESTER — TOTTENHAM, CRYSTAL P — STOKE C on C on Nos 15 and 16 in week 28, C on C on Nos 5 asnd 16 in week 29 NJOROGE was a while with a fued with our oversea due to some misunderstanding or lack of adequate information from our media man and our representatives. Thanks God we are now on direct contact with them last week on our HISTORY is to REPEAT ITSELF AGAIN. Week 25 — 16x 40x 44xxx Week 28 — 16x 40x 44xxx STEVENAGE at home 44 — XXX NEWPORT at home 16 — 40 —XXX CHARLTON at home 16 — X X X. At New Njoroge, our pride is you and our priority is your winning. N50,000= Old & New friends. CONGRATULATIONS.

47

tribunepools

DR. JACKSON–

08156829811= 24XXX 25.

07X 21X 26X 40X=

The winning numbers that ended our 4 weeks Naps in preparation for the 4th Round F.A Cup NAP.week 29 stating key=Man City away 2. 2015 and 2016=cup or No Cup draw are fixed–(3weeks 29, 30, 31) with reference weeks.

Week 29–2015–10x 22x 40xxx– 24x 25.

Week 30–2015–13x 27x 41xxx– 24x 25 Week 31–2015–17x 26x 46xxx– 34x 35 Last year weeks 29, 30, 31 was controlled by Man City away No 2.

January 30 or 31st as one of the 2 dates of play. Jackson 4th cup win is scheduled on fixed matches.

Win–win–win =N35,000 = Goodluck

EMIRATES—NAP— 08087104491 21X 13X 24X 25X 41X Free flight on Emirate to your bank on Monday starting of our CUP to CUP. Weeks 29, 30, 31, 32. Free week 29 to open clear winning chance to week 30, 31 and 32. Call for your Nap — N10,000 but the free permutation is absolutely free. Get prepared —N70,000 week 30.

SUNDERLAND SYSTEM 25. 26.

09038460009= 13X 14X

4. Special draws N6, 000 Wk 26 F.A. CUp No 4x 10x 13x 31x = 4/4 N6,000 4. Special draws N6, 000 Wk 29 F.A. CUP No CUP CUP CUP CUP = N6,000 4. Special draws N6, 000 Wk 26 NO 4X 10X 13X 31X with 28X 27X WK 28 2F 34X 35X 37X 34X 33F 26X Two Bankers N3000 WK 26 CUP 3 NO 31X 33F PAIR 10X 13X 27X Two Bankers N3000 WK 29 CUP 3 NO CUP CUP PAIR CUP CUP Two Bankers N3000 Wk 26 NO 31X 33F PAIR 10X 13X 27X WK 28 NO 2F 34X PAIR 26X 35X 37X Time to win pool this wk 27 Sunderland system 4 special draws this wk 29 play 4/4 correct hurry to get your copy today two Bankers cost N3000 wk 29 NO X X PAIR X X. 4 Bankers wk 24 12X 13X 32X 35X WK 26 NO 4X 10X 13X 31X with 13X 27X. Send WK 28 NO 2F 33F 34X 37X 25X 35X 36X = 4/4 MTN Card 09038460009.

JOHN SUPER TIPS 08160052969 3 SPECIAL RELEASE PAIR 39XX29.

Readers and stakers of Nigeria Tribune should go all out with above pair with my 3 special Draws to be release this wk 29, cost N10,000.

MAGIC KINGDOM-

08056753098/07085060512

NAP-24X 25X 26XX PAIR-21 & 37.

Congratulations this is another fulfilled cup week starting of our 4 weeks operational nap in weeks 30, 31, 32. Meanwhile the above free win is to prepare you fully for the 3 remaining weeks at N25,000 each week Starting winning now.

Payment to Balogun Adesina Kamoru FCM Bank No 0279550010, Wema Bank No 0206965116 or G.T Bank no – 0115505082.

MIGHTY INT NAP 08032300297 11 HOLD 26

After a long break in compilation of fixed draws. Mighty Nap is now back in action and to make all his pool fans happy and smilling to the bank.This week is very special and we have a special Nap for a special people like you. Why waiting just call us for the Nap with = 11xx 26xx, cost=N20,000. Goodluck.

SIR MICHEAL

35 PAIR 36 (08130011263)

Last week release got, 35xx, 36xx, 37xx 3/3 the pair 5xx, 7xx, making 415. Meanwhile another 3/3 and 4/5 this week cost just N10,000.00 call for acct No or mode of payment.

MAGIC EXPERT IN POOLS BETTING 08160742266 (10XX 0R 20XX)

Congratulations to all winners of week 28. I am using this medium to call on pool stakers nationwide to get MAGIC EXPERT week 29, 30, 31 and week 32 on the condition of a week purchase and get a week free. Buy this week 29 Nap = 3/3 at N15,000 and get next week Nap free. Join now and testify on Monday to your bank.

WOMEN COMPILERS FORUM RELEASE 08052503889. SURE PAIR 33,46.

Wk.28 Releases played 10x, 30x, 40x, as direct Nap. Congrats once more to all our lucky customers. This Week 29 cup is the last week of our 3 weeks welcome. Cost is still N10,000 cash, totally guaranteed to make you win and smile to your bank. Join the lucky train this week and pay at UBA, to Mrs Omoyeni Ibrahim, accts No. 2027165320.

PLEIAD DE MAXWELL – 09099968585.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH = 21XX 23 Now SWINDON MUST ACCRINGTON.

Attention: The above games is sure for a draw, make sure you add the 2 games to your week 29 Cup selections for buoyant winning.

The management of Dee Maxwell now operates with a new serious minded Eperts with great winning value.

Arsenal last week lost at Emirate to Chelsea put Chelsea out, our relegation zone with hope of finishing among the best 4 teams in Premiership. Let’s wait and see. Up BLUES! Arsenal again at home in the 4th Round F.A. CUP hosting the hard tackling Burnley the 3rd position in the Sky Bet Championship table. Aston Villa hosting Man City at Villa park, the match has a draw look but Hull is favoured on Bury but in Cup prediction may be wrong.

Congrats, your winning is sure with the Maxwell draw clinic under the directions from the highly placed foreign Experts. Token Manager. Win sure bet.

FAITHFUL INTERVENTION –– 07082899957 THE TRUST MAN NAPS. (25 MUST 24).

LEYTON .O. –– MEETING LETTER ‘C’ on 25

‘C’ = CREWE, COVENTRY, CRAWLEY AND CAMBRIDGE UTD Refrence week –– 16 and 19 = 2014 AND week –– 29 and 34 = 2016= 2/2 YEAR CONFIRMED WIN. Week 16’2014 –– 8x 21x 35xxx 22x 23 Week 19’2014 –– 6x 17x 40xxx 22x 23 CURRENT IN 2 YEARS AFTER Week 29’2016 –– X X X––– 24 x 25 Week 34’2016 –– X X X –– 24 x 25 The 3 draws are on fixed matches from the Pools Panel desk in England.

Bonus & Standby PAIR –– COLCHESTER and GAME UNDER = 24 MUST 25.

You only need to win with us with your outmost ‘FAITH’ THEN YOUR WINNING IS SURE #50,000= FAITH WIN.

NAZAR MASTER THANKS STAKEKEHOLDERS

As we are bit ahead of the middle in the current U.K Football Season with the 4th round F.A Cup in England, NAZAR Master Pools Company Limited, Ibadan, Oyo State has again thanked all stakeholders in the pools industry for their patronage so far also lauded them for their understanding and co-operation.

The leading pools company in Oyo State and environs gave the commendation in a statement made available to TRIBUNE POOLS during the week.

According to NAZAR Master, “the patronage from stakers, collectors, agents and other stakeholders has been fantastic and tremendous. We too have been rewarding them with big dividend on our Trebble Chance odd, we shall not disappoint throughout the season, so stakers should continue to bet on our coupon.

MR SOLUTION (SILENT LEADER) 08072974729

4TH ROUND CUP= i=- 1ST, 2ND, 3RD (WINNING RECORD) now 4th.

Mr. Solution Cup winning project breed millionaires from our unequal winning directives/information from I “, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th round CUP Naps.

Our cup Authentical direct/instructed win. l “ cup - 12 + 23= 35xxx NAP 2nd cup - 10 + 27= 37xxx NAP 3rd Cup - 04 + 27= 3I xxx NAP 4th Cup - X X = X - NAP Get solution to your winning problem this week, let’s put an end to your not winning storm. We always advised our clients to embark on meaningful projects in all our special releases week. A memorable winning empire) - N50, 000= Welcome.

MR CYRIL REMAINS UNBEATABLE. 08154836338(13 MUST 25)

2015/2016 WINNING IS ON GAZETTED TEAMS ON FIXED MATCHES. WOLVES BURNLEY ON 21 = controlled.

Week 17 –– Wolves –– Burnley on 21x Week 22 –– QPR –– Burnley on 21x Week 28 –– QPR –– Wolves on 21x and others 3 fixed matches.

The above illustration is to show you how draw is fixed on numbers and teams.

The unbreakable most reliable CYRIL in your winning place, on our foreign Experts advise. Welcome and win with us N35,000 (NO EXCUSE FOR FAILURE). Goodluck.

JOSEPH RESUMPTION (08167278061)

THE STAKERS CHOICE = WIN AGAIN = WEEKS OF 9s.

13XX 41.

10—10 WEEKS ASSURANCE NAPS. Week 09 — 06x 20x 49xxx —41x = 11 drs Week 19 — 11x 29x 46xxx —13x = 11drs Week 29 — X X X — 41xx 13 = 11 drs.

Congratultations, our weeks of 9s Nap is not new to all our regular friends/ Clients. Joseph is now the stakers’ pay contact. Set to unleased terror on Promoters to put a lasting smile to our clients/stakers faces. Welcome as your winning is CRYSTAL CLEAR = N50,000= Goodluck.

4MEMMBERS. 4 BANKERS (08162705220).5 nap 6

4 BANKERS N5000 WK 26. CUP 1 NO 10X 20X 29X 43X= 4/4 N5000 4 BANKERS N5000 WK 28 NO 9X 34X 35X 36X = 4/4 = N5,000 4 BANKERS N5000 WK 29 = CUP 4 NO CUP CUP CUP CUP = 4/4=N5,000 4 BANKERS N5,000 WK 30 BLUE NO NAP NAP NAP NAP = 4/4=N5,000 Stakers try to get 4 members 4 bankers. This wk 28 cost N5000 wk 26 No 10x 20x 29x 43x wk 28 No NAP NAP NAP NAP Cup.

IKECHUKWU ON RAMPAGE IN 4TH ROUND CUP.

08168157259= 08 MUST 10.

ANNUAL PROMOTERS PAY BACK CUP WEEK.(SURE).

ANNUAL 4TH ROUND WIN (4 YEARS) .

2013– 2014 – 2015 – 2016 2013 ––– 6x 17x 43xxx – 5x 13.

2014 ––– 4x 21x 35xxx – 6x 12.

2015 ––– 08x 19x 40xxx – 7x 11.

2016 ––– X X X –– 8x 10x - ascending & decending PAIR. Draws are fixed, Ikechukwu & Brothers fixed annual 4th round Cup is to enrich wise stakers. We are known as promoters EBB – on our recent outwitted analysis. No much talking when our record speaks for us. BE A WINNER = N50, 000= Goodluck.

HOPE NAPS & CO 08107128449 BANK ON NO 14 PAIR 42

Hope do assure fans and stakers that this pair we surely give you at least one draw on Saturday, while our release for the week will gives you sure winning with 3 direct draw. Call Hope aps and pay to first Bank Pic Account No 3088328923 while the week release will be sent to you when your payment confirmed, through phone. Pair 14 & 42: 14 & 42, 14/42.

Thanks God bless Bye.

AKIN MR AKIN –– 07067202291

C ON C AND C ON C = MADE OUR WEEK 28 WIN 15X 16X 37XXX 24–36X

Our newly introduced Experts unveiled winnings to us on instruction.

C on C and C on C at SKYBET ONE and 3 in week 28 made our winning success possible but unimpressed with plenty form draws. Never mind Promoters are paying their last week savings. CUP– CUP– CUP–CUP (4th) 4th round cup now ready for your winning delight 3 fixed and directed Nap and Cup. Pair–– 2 teams on No 10 in cup 2 to Cup 3, Cup 3 – teams on No 10 = Bolton Eastleigh unfortunate Eastleigh is not on coupon Now – Bolton and 10 as a formidable pair = N50,000 = Read and understanding (crosscheck) before call. We are on winning instruction. Goodluck.

TRIBUNE POOLS FORTUNE PAGE

Thursday, Jan. 28 - Feb. 03, 2016 MODUPE (08033566694) 17- 24- 40. 2drs Call for your special 4th round CUP NAP.

MANCITY SYSTEM F.A. CUP SYSTEM C 08135888720= 2 NAP 3

Wk 26 cup 3 no 9.10x 27x 31x with 13x. 35x wk 28 no nap nap nap nap with nap nap two bankers n3000 wk 26 cup no 10x 27x pair 13x 35x two bankers n3000 wk 29 cup no cup cup pair cup cup 4 special draws n6, 000 wk 26 cup no 9.10x 27x 31x with 13x 35x 4 special draws n6, 000 wk 29 cup 4 no cup cup cucp cup with cup cup stakers try to get mancity. 4 special draws this 29 f.a. cup 4 n6, 000 two bankers wk 29 n3000 we set for 4 wks operations wk 26 cup no 9.10x 27x 31. 4 bankers wk 29 f.a. cup 4 no cup cup cup cup with cup cup = 4/4. 09038633666.

DR M.M PROMISE

08052207802 PAIR 22,23

WK. 28 Nap= 7xx, 19xx, 10xx=3/3.

The paymaster and Nigeria’s foremost pools compiler last week enriched his teeming customers with 3/3 and 4/5 correct Nap results.

This week 29 cup week, the erudite compiler has promised stakers are poised to win with his Nap again, cost N20,000 cash payable at UBA, to Dr. Maxwell M.Promise, acct No. 1003610591.

TRIPLE SPICE GIVES 23-36 (08035324990)

Your indomitable triple spice international is glad to offer to all punters Nos 23&36 this week for a compulsory draw. This cup week offers another golden opportunity for many lovers of pools to be in money as things have started working well. Add the pair to our 1Bk and get your 2/3. Pronto! Our 1Bk still sells for N1,500.00; 2 Draws cost N3,000.00 and 3 good draws cost N10,000.00. on 08035324990.

LAWRENCE NAP FOR WK 29.

6XXX 8XXX FOR ONE

Readers, I command coupon Nos 6xx 8xx to give us one draw must with my 3 fixed draws on Saturday do not miss IT, cost 5,000 Naira cash just send GLO, card or M.T.N call 09050512097.

AKANDE GOT 3 DIRECT CORRECT

10xx 15xx 35xx Pair 20f 40x.

08140575314 Pair 18x 19x

I congratulates my clients for my week 28 Release that got 3 Draws correct on os 10xx 15xx 35xx Pair 20f 40xx though the Glut of Draws low winnings, we are going to enjoy the 4th cup this week 29 Insa-Allah.

The fixtures this week 29 encourage full payment of winnings as the cost of my 3 draws remain N I 0,000 cash.

Pay to Keystone Bank Pic. Account No. 6017037192 in person of Akande Ashatokun Bola Mustapha and collect the 3 Draws on phone after your payment is confirmed.

MAC-ANTHONY NAP

0806-904-8857. 18X 19X

Get our week 29 sure Nap xxx = 3/3 pair 18x 19x at N15,000 cash, payable @ U.B.A. to Engr. Michael Akam. Acct.

No: 2029382770. A week miss may cost your fortune.

DIAMOND NAP— 08102874949. 21x 23x

SWINDON and ACCRINGTON ACCRINGTON under the Bar in Cup once a year winning directory.

Diamond lives forever, let’s give you a diamond/golden current winning formular. Strictly confidential. N25,000.

A week miss is a week regret. Welcome.

22 CODE 08059580326 17 PAIR 22

Winning on poll betting continue this week 29 as 022 code present 3 nap draws and 1 hot pair. All your problems will be solving this wk 29 if you can buy me for my bank acct number for payment if you want to be among the lucky winners.

LOVE NAP– 08071066293.

1,2,4,15 (FOR 2 DRAWS)

Congrats our 4th round Cup is ready to enrich all our Clients. So, call for your winning details. Gooduck.

WEEK 28 XRAY

Whao! The plenty formed draws on pools board last week saved many Promoters from early fold up or bankruptcy, many of them are now trying to get on their feet with the recent shelling on them.

Mister draw lead our one banker series, winning galore gave a good account of 3 draws on 4 games.

Our pair Experts were consistently on song, Mid Week, Sir Braka, Professor One Banker, Mallam Bawa Musa, Shadow, Magic Expert, Dr. Jackson, Proff Innovation, Innocent, Hope Nap, Adeoti Syndicate, Fortune Donor, The Cyril, 002 Code, Akande Best Bargain, Faithful International, Women Compliers, Sir Michael and Njoroge added to our readers winning dividends. The CUP managers at it again in 4th F.A. UP round. Join the winners.

LOVE BEST = N4000 TWO BANKERS N4,000

WK 26 X27X X35X PAIR X04X X10X

WK 28 X10X X30X PAIR X15X X16X

WK 29 CUP CUP PAIR CUP CUP

MOVE FORWARD = N4000 TWO BANKERS N4,000

WK 26 X15X X31X PAIR X13X F14F

WK 28 X26X X36X PAIR X09X X10X

WK 29 CUP CUP PAIR CUP CUP

4 SPECIAL DRAWS N25, 000 WK 28 NO 10X 26X 30X 36X =4/4 08135888720.

IBUKUN OLU NAPS (07026839837) Congratulations as our 3 draws scores 4 over 5 in wk 27 on Nos 3xx 27xx 45FF pair 8xx 15xx.

This week 29, is another Jackpot 3 gazetted draws cost N20,000 cash. Pay to Account Number 2015600860.

U.B.A. Bank in the name of ALAKE SAMSON.

SATURDAY RESULT SUNDAY RESULT TWO BANKERS N3,000 WK 26 X10X X20X PAIR X27X F38F

WK 28 X16X X30X PAIR X36X X37X

WK 29 CUP CUP PAIR CUP CUP

TWO BANKERS N3,000 WK 26 X13X X31X PAIR F02F X04X

WK 28 X34X X37X PAIR X35X X37X

WK 29 CUP CUP PAIR CUP CUP

JOINTLY 4 SPECIAL DRAWS N25,000 WK 26 NO 10X 20X 27X 31X=4/4 WK 28 NO 16X 30X 34X 37X =4/4. SEND MTN CARD TO 08139714848.

VIC DESTINY TO BETTER STAKER LIVES AGAIN!!!

CONGRATULATIONS! FOUR WEEKS OPERATION...

WK 28 NAP 22X 32X 35X = 3/3 PAIR 17X 27X = 4/5 WK 29 NAP NAP NAP = 3/3 X X : WK 30 NAP NAP NAP = 3/3 X X CALL3819 1 WK 31 NAP NAP NAP = 3/3 X X 998 COST PRICE N15,000 WEEKLY. 090 AMUKO & ASSOCIATES-07014686970

1ST, 2ND, 3RD CUP 4th = WINNING MUST. WE OPERATES ONLY IN CUP WEEKS. WEEK 17 (1ST CUP) 10X 19X 38XXX. WEEK 21 (2ND CUP) 06X 22X 41XXX. WEEK 26 & 29 (3RD & 4th CUP) WIN SURE CUP NAP XXX Our previous cup winning weeks confirmed our cup winning tactics strictly on Experts directives in 2015/2016—cup winning diary —N50,000.

SIDELINES

NO 14,424

N150

THURSDAY, 28 JANUARY, 2016

“I have referred to all these examples to show the role played by clients themselves in contributing to the malaise affecting our justice delivery system. The win at all costs attitude encourages many to employ all manner of unscrupulous means to achieve their own ends without reference to the lawyer.”

O

VER the past couple of weeks I have highlighted why I remain of the view that Lawyers and Judges have been unfairly singled out as the cause of the loss of public confidence in the Justice delivery system in Nigeria. I have already stated how Lawyers and Judges are “hamstrung” by the facts presented to them by their clients and litigants respectively and how the insistence of Lawyers on due process of the law may sometimes be misinterpreted as being responsible for delays in the hearing of cases in Court. This week I want to draw attention to what I will, not for want of a better phrase, refer to as the Nigerian or human factor in the administration of Justice System in Nigeria.

EROSION OF SOCIETAL ETHICS AND ITS EFFECTS ON ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE Every society is defined largely by the ethics which overtime have been accepted by its people. I am not here concerned with a scholastic definition of ethics. I am for the purpose of the subject of this discussion concerned with those values such as selflessness, honesty, hard-work, humility etc which are meant to guide members of virtually all societies in their everyday lives and which as I have said earlier ultimately define that society. Nigeria is no exception to this concept. Given my age I can say that I have experienced life in Nigeria at almost every pivotal aspect of its development as a Nation. I can therefore attest to the fact at the very beginning, Nigerians largely epitomized the best of virtues and that perhaps the same can still be said even today of the vast majority of Nigerians who daily strive to eke a living through various honest endeavors.

However it cannot be denied that just like every aspect of human existence, our values have been eroded by numerous factors the most prominent being the at-

OFR, CON, SAN, LL.D, D.Litt

A court in Italy recently acquitted a man of corruption charges after he attempted to bribe a police officer with 100 euros (about N30,000) to avoid a drunk-driving fine, as it ruled that the amount was too small to be labelled a bribe. Perhaps, N30,000 is chicken feed in Italy, but big enough to send both the giver and the taker to jail in Nigeria.

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Justice: Loss of public confidence Lawyers alone not to blame (4) titude “of anything goes” by which many have come to believe that just about anything can be achieved in Nigeria by less than honest or honourable means with great assurance that there will be no attendant legal consequences. This can be seen in most aspects of our national life and a prominent example was the last collapse of some banks owing to large scale mismanagement and corrupt practices. Unfortunately this attitude extends even to judicial proceedings in numerous forms such as bribery, threats of violence and even actual violence. As I did two weeks ago, I will refer to some personal experiences.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES Some decades ago, I was involved in a prominent case at Ila-Orangun. Given the proximity of the place to Osogbo, I decided to pass the night on some occasions in Osogbo before proceeding to Court the following day. On one of such nights I was informed by the Hotel Manager that I had some visitors who turned out to be the opponents of my clients in the matter in Court.

Not only was their visit to me strange, but stranger still was the fact that they came with a bag filled with currency which they offered to me to secure my “assistance” in the case as according to them they were worried at the turn the case was taking in Court. I rejected their offer and asked the Hotel Manager to summon the Police to have them arrested. After much pleadings, I allowed them to leave with their bag of money. The following morning I was surprised to meet a huge party made up of supporters of my client at the outskirts of the town who were jubilating that the other side were unable to bribe me!

Some years later I was involved in another land matter which in those days were

a veritable source of revenue for lawyers.

At the time of briefing my client asked to know what I would do to ensure that he did not lose the case. I assured him that I would do my best within the confines of the law to secure his interest. His response was “What if the parties on the other side all die?” I dismissed this question as nothing more than the misguided comments of man frustrated at having to litigate over something that he felt was rightfully his. I turned out to be wrong. Not too long after the matter began, the Principal party on the other side died. When another member of the family of the deceased party was brought in to substitute him, he too died not too long after. A third member of the family brought in again after that also died! After this third death, even the Judge began to ask questions and eventually the matter was abandoned as all parties became wary of the seeming fixation of death on the parties.

In more recent times I was briefed by a prominent Politician to represent him in a matter which threatened to cut short his then just blossoming Political career.

He told me expressly that he just needed my clout by putting up an appearance for him in court as according to him he had already been assured of victory by the Judge in charge of the case. This experience is similar to one in which a wellknown society figure had falsely obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars from a former member of the last military regime on the premise that I requested for the said amount as my fees for representing him. Not only had I not met with him, I had also never discussed with anybody, the possibility of representing the retired military official.

In another recent development, a court registrar was convicted of soliciting and receiving bribes from an accused person standing trial before the Court to which she was assigned as Registrar. She had deceived the accused person into believing that the Judge had requested the bribe.

Luckily for the Judge, who incidentally was and is still acknowledgedtoday as one of the shining lights of the Judiciary, nothing was found even remotely suggesting that he had knowledge of or had approved of the scheme of his Registrar.

I have referred to all these examples to show the role played by clients themselves in contributing to the malaise affecting our justice delivery system. The win at all costs attitude encourages many to employ all manner of unscrupulous means to achieve their own ends without reference to the lawyer. A situation in which litigants believe that bribery of the opposing lawyer or the Judge is the way out is not one that will augur well for anyone. Sadly it is attempts like this that fuel the insinuations or unfounded allegations that some Judges had been bribed. It is for example not impossible that the accused person who gave money to the Court Registrar would have confided in some confidants that he had already bribed the Judge who as stated earlier was totally in the dark about the criminal conduct of his registrar.

Thus before laying the blame entirely at the doorsteps of Lawyers and Judges, a society must firstly undertake a scrutiny of which or what values are still held dear or sacrosanct by its members. Like a popular musician once sang: “If you want to change the world, take a look at yourself and make that change!”

To be continued.

CHAN 2016: I will leave Eagles if I’m tired —Oliseh

By Mojisola Adewunmi COACH Sunday Oliseh has said he is prepared to step aside as Nigeria coach if he is tired.

He gave the damning verdict following the ouster of the Super Eagles from the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda.

Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles had on Tuesday, in Rwanda, needed a draw to advance but lost 0-1 to Syli Nationale of Guinea to crash out of the biennial tournament.

Oliseh, according to Africanfootball. com stated that his crew and the entire team worked in an unfriendly atmosphere.

“We are the most poorly equipped technical crew to manage Nigeria’s super Eagles since I started playing for the country. The least for what anyone can do is to be grateful for what we are doing.

“I’m coaching Nigeria and if I get tired, I will leave the work,” Oliseh who took over from sacked Stephen Keshi last July said.

The former Nigeria captain though expressed disappointment over the Eagles’ failure in Rwanda, but maintained that they couldn’t have offered more than what they did at CHAN 2016.

“My players have children and families. Adult tournaments are not youth tournaments.

“It’s a big disappointment, but I’m proud of my boys even though we did not go through. They gave a good image of themselves.

“Somewhere inside it was difficult for the players. They have given their best,

they needed that lift and they couldn’t find it then “We came out to win, but we did not play. My players are human and there is limit to what they can hold. For some morale reasons, they couldn’t fight it today (against Guinea),” said the former Borussia Dortmund player.

Meanwhile, the Eagles are expected to return home later today.

According to the team’s programme, they will fly out of Kigali direct to Lagos by 2pm local time, a flight estimated to be about four-and-a-half hours.

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