September 17, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

Troops arrest Boko Haram food suppliers NEWS

Page 51

•Amnesty: sect killed 400 in Cameroon

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3340 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Osun begins payment of outstanding salaries •Labour hails Aregbesola •www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

10 security agents feared killed by vandals in Lagos

V

ANDALS have killed no fewer than 10 security agents in Arepo, Ogun State. Arepo creeks lie between Ogun and Lagos states.

The killings took place at Isawo in Ikorodu through which the pipelines vandals take their stolen petroleum products.

By Precious Igbonwelundu, Snr. Correspondent

There are various accounts of the killings. The Directorate of State Service (DSS) and the police declined to speak on the matter.

Tuesday’s incident is the latest in the series of killings, police sources said yesterday.

The DSS operatives were

NEWS Page 48

TSA: Banks move N2tr to CBN •Govt to punish defaulting MDAs From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja and Collins Nweze

D

EPOSIT Money Banks (DMBs) have so far moved an estimated N2 trillion, out of the N3.5 trillion public sector funds in their vaults to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), it was learnt yesterday.

This is in line with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy of the Federal Government, which is meant to improve transparency and accountability in the management of revenue.

A major money market operator said there had been no report of violations from the banks, except for some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), where some

brought into the policing of the pipelines, following the withdrawal of soldiers and military men from internal security duties.

Besides, pipelines policing was taken away from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the militant group, which got Continued on page 6

N150.00

•CBN chief Godwin Emefiele

Continued on page 6

P477 MARKET REBOUNDS ON OIL STOCKS P46 •INSIDE: BUHARI REJECTS NAIRA DEVALUATION P4

Alleged false declaration of assets: Saraki for trial It’s frivolous, untrue, says Senate President

SOME OF THE CHARGES

From Eric Ikhilae and Onyedi Ojiabor Abuja

S

ENATE President Bukola Saraki is likely to be arraigned on Friday before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for alleged false assets declaration, it was learnt yesterday.

The office of the Attorney General of the Federation has filed a 13-count charge against Saraki. The charges were endorsed by Muslim Hassan, a deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The allegations are under Section 2 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. The offences are punishable under paragraph 9 of the fifth schedule of the Constitution.

A senior official of the ministry yesterday told our correspondent that the arraignment would go ahead, barring any last-minute change.

In the charges, dated September 11, Saraki

•See also Page 52 is accused of committing, among others, offences ranging from anticipatory declaration of assets to making false declaration of assets in the forms he filed at the Code of Conduct Bureau while he was governor of Kwara State.

The Senate President sniggered at the charges when he told correspondents in Abuja that “most of them are frivolous and not true”.

He added: “I have always done my declaration. We will continue to do our job.

“There is no doubt that it is mischievous. It is not current. The issues are not true. As far as we are concerned, we are not shaking.

We will focus on what we have come to do in the interest of the country?”

WILL THE He also said the allegaCHIBOK GIRLS EVER tion was a reflection of the RETURN? Continued on page 6

?

•Dr. Saraki

•Making anticipatory declaration of House 15A & 15B, McDonald, Ikoyi, Lagos •Failure to declare property on Plot 2A, Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

•Failure to declare property on No. 1, Tagus Street, Maitama, Abuja (Plot 2482, Cadastral Zone A06, Abuja) •Failure to declare property No.3, Tagus Street, Maitama, Abuja (Plot 2481, Cadastral Properties Limited) •Claiming to own property on No 42 Gerard Road, Ikoyi and earning N110,000,000.00 per annum at a time property was under construction •Failure to declare N375m GTB loan converted to 1.5m Pound Sterling and used to purchase property in London •Operating a foreign bank account •Transfer of $3.4m from GTB to foreign bank account during tenure as governor •Failure to declare leasehold interest in No. 42, Remi Fani-Kayode Street, Ikeja

•ENERGY P13 •SPORT P20 •POLITICS P39 •PROPERTY P43 •N/HEALTH P41 •FOREIGN P55

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

2

NEWS

Health sector: The health sector can do with a lot of help.

Players in the sector believe that with President Muhammadu Buhari in the saddle, facilities will soon be enough to meet the people’s health needs. OLUKOREDE YISHAU examines the challenges facing this all-important sector, which has not received any cash for capital projects this year.

•Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo (second right); Deputy General Manager, Coral Banking, Mr. George Oko-Oboh (left); Executive Director, Heritage Bank Limited, Abuja/North, Mr. Niyi Adeseun (second left) and General Manager, Abuja/North Central Zone, Mr. Lekan Busari, when the bank paid a courtesy visit to the vice presidentall at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

•Director-General, National Centre for Women Development, Lady Onyeka Onwenu (left); United Nations Women's Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr. Grace Ongile (middle), and representative of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Development, Mr James Olowoofoyeku, at the opening of train-the-trainers programme on promoting women and girls’ access oo Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and the Internet for gender equality in Abuja...yesterday.

•From left: Regional Head, Global Markets, West Africa, Standard Bank, Mr. Kayode Solola; Faculty member, Lagos Business School/Guest Speaker, Dr Doyin Salami; Head, Corporate & Transactional Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mrs. Yewande Sadiku and Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc., Mr. Atedo Peterside, at the Standard Bank West Africa Investors' Conference in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO..BOLA OMILABU.

•From left: Group Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Obinna Nwosu; environmental activist, Desmond Majekodunmi and Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Dr. Herbert Wigwe at a workshop on International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer at the bank's Lagos Head Office...on Tuesday.

M

INISTRY of Health Permannent Secretary of theLinus Awute has a dream.

He looks forward to a day when medical tourism will become a thing of the past. The country loses millions of dollars annually as patients seek help in India, United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (U.S.). Awute believes President Muhammadu Buhari has what it takes to take the country to its medical Eldorado. The signs are beginning to show, he believes.

The statistics paint a scary picture.

For a nation with a population of over 150 million, there are 38 Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) and federal teaching hospitals. There are nine federal neuropsychiatric hospitals, three orthopedic hospitals, an Ear Nose and Throat Hospital in Kaduna and a federal Eye Hospital in Zaria, Kaduna State. The inability of the Federal Government to go it alone made private organisations to partner with it to establish other eye centres in Idi-Araba, Lagos and Onitsha, Anambra State.

Visits to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and other tertiary institutions around the country confirm the pictures as painted by the statistics. The facilities are just overwhelmed and those who patronise them do not get the deserved services.

Ordinarily, the government should have nothing to do with primary healthcare. It should be the headache of local governments.

The Director, Health Planning, Research and Services of the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Anthony Usoro, said the handicap of the local government areas informed the intervention of the Federal Government in primary healthcare.

Usoro said: “We have the Primary Healthcare Development Agency, which was established because we were not having results peripherally.

The states and local governments were not functioning optimally or they were hardly functioning. The leadership in those areas of jurisdictions has other priorities. So, that’s why we set up the NPHDA. We are actually going to do what we are not supposed to do because health is on the concurrent list in the constitution.

“Ideally, we should cater for tertiary healthcare services by providing leadership. The states have to cater for secondary healthcare services and the local government areas take care of primary healthcare services. But now, we have to do a lot of things for them, including programmes, sensitisation, among others because of this huge gap.”

The non-release of funds for capital projects since the begining of the year has not helped matters in the health sector.

“In 2015, we have not received any capital allocation. What the Federal Ministry of Health has received is only running costs. We have not received any capital allocation for this year, and we are already in September,” Usoro said.

Development partners, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency, have had to come in to offer

assistance. Recently, the U.S. government initiated the establishment of a warehouse for drugs in Lagos. It had earlier worked on one in Abuja.

The Director, Food and Drugs Services of the Ministry of Health, Gloria Modupe Chukwuma, said the development partners have helped a lot.

“Most of our funding is from global funds which provide resources for the battle against HIV, TB and Malaria. Then, the other partners, like the UNFPA and the USAID are big financiers for us. We also have the DFID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These are the major financial backers. They use implementing partners to work, they don’t implement. But, we don’t handle cash. When you hear that we have a $1 million funding, it is not in cash.

These are services and products from all these donors. It’s the worth of the services, products, capacity building and everything that have been given to Nigeria. Those organisations don’t give cash and even when they want to use cash, they will run it through their own mechanisms,” Chukwuma said.

Labour unrest Significantly, the sector has also had to cope with too many labour unrests. If doctors are not on strike, nurses are. When nurses and doctors are at work, other health workers down tools. Unfortunately, it is the people who bear the brunt.

The Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Patience Osinubi, blamed the recurrent industrial disharmony in the sector on rivaly.

“Many of them revolve around rivalry between the different professional cadres. However, much after the Yayale Ahmed Committee, a bit of that has been settled with the issuance of a white paper. Though signed by the President but the people await the outcome of the white paper. The major problem we now have is that the government in previous negotiations, acceded to the fact that it would pay some allowances without due regard to the economic situation of the country. Now, the cock has come to roost because they (health sector workers) latch on to the fact and say, you signed an agreement to pay us this amount of allowances (not salaries) at this rate and you promised us last year that you are going to pay this year, or, you promised in 2013 that you would pay the following year. But, we are not visitors in the country and we know what the economy has been.

Unfortunately, these groups are not ready to listen. Several attempts have been made – Whenever we have any form of industrial action, the ministry sends a team over and we try to speak to them, negotiate, cajole, explain, promise, reach a compromise, all to ensure that the only reason why they are in that hospital - the patients are not affected. In some instances, we have succeeded; we have some recalcitrant health workers, who just say ‘if we don’t get the money, we don’t get back to work’. Now, that’s where the government has to come in because there are rules in Nigeria already in existence, such as the Essential Services Act which prevents any-

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

3

NEWS

: Looking up to Buhari for rebirth

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•Acting U.S. Consul General Dehab Ghebreab and Awute at the launch of the “Warehousein-a-Box”, a project by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with the Global Fund to fight Tuberculosis, AIDS, and Malaria in Lagos.

If doctors are not on strike, nurses are.

When nurses and doctors are at work, other health workers down tools.

Unfortunately, it is the people who bear the brunt •USAID Mission Director Michael T. Harvey at the launch of the “Warehouse-in-a-Box”.

body doing essential services from going on industrial action- they are listed- the police, the fire service and the Army. Have you seen any of those attempting to go on strike even if they don’t pay them for one year? And fortunately for us, hospital services, health is listed among the essential services. What we need is the political will to enforce that Act.” Usoro agrees with her, saying: “I will blame political leadership because there are certain things one should avoid. For instance, if an employee disappears for nine months and now comes back after he finished negotiating with the employer and he said ‘you have to pay me that nine months I didn’t work’, if the employer pays, there is a problem because it disrupts every other sector forever.

Everybody will wake up and do the same thing. The extant regulation don’t allow it, if you want to go on strike, go on strike, you know the consequences. Political leadership in order to solve problems quickly gives in to blackmail from anybody. Nurses can wake up tomorrow and say that they want to be paid the same salaries as the doctors and they listen to them and say,’ okay, you can go back to work. We’ll pay you.’ After working three months, they say ‘no, you have not paid us, we are going back on strike.’ Those are our major problems. I think that the drastic measure is that the public hospitals can actually be privatised. That will solve a lot of problems. They can’t do that in private hospitals, they will be fired immediately. That is our major challenge which is even affecting the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base of the hospitals because they are complaining to us. There should be a way out - enforce the extant regulations - you cannot pay someone for not working. It doesn’t make sense.

When you have a serious cancer, you have to remove it for the person to survive.”

NCDC and its challenges The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is understaffed. The centre, headed by Dr Abdulsalami Nasidi has about 300 members of staff. This is not even up to half of what it needs to truly offer its best.

Nasidi said: “We need more than 1000 to really become strong. For now, we are employing additional 350 - in all areas, doctors, nurses, public health specialists and so on.

They’ve finished the interviews, it is done. It is just to issue letters now. We made request for 650. So, I think the remaining 300 will be employed very

Gains of Buhari’s U.S. trip

A

AFTER President Buhari’s visit to the U.S., the Centre for Disease Control has shown willingness to partner with Nigeria to improve the NCDC. Awute said the NCDC and the National Blood Transfusion Service now collaborate as a fall-out of Buhari’s U.S. visit.

He said the Architect i1000 equipment, which is a fully automated screening machine with a shorter turnaround time of four hours, would be made available to the country.

The permanent secretary said: “Under this collaboration which is facilitated by the U.S. government through the CDC Nigeria country office and one of its implementing partners partnership for supply for Supply Chain Management, Abbott will install and maintain 1 No Architect i1000 machine at each of the three NBTS Zonal Centre’s located in Abuja, Ibadan and Jos. When the new systems are commissioned, the pilot centre’s will screen blood units pooled from other contiguous NBTS Centres as well as from nearby secondary and tertiary hospitals that partner with NBTS, consequently ensuring the availability of larger quantities of safe blood in a timely fashion.

“This is an example of Nigeria’s continuing relationship relationship with the US government on health matters with special focus on International Health Security. The ongoing insurgency often results in mass casualties. Such medical emergencies, give rise to the urgent need for supplies of safe blood in adequate quantities.

The collaboration and support to the National Blood Transfusion Service in the deployment of the Architect i1000 machines for blood testing; will strengthen the National Blood Service to achieve her key mandate. Safe blood, saves lives.”

Nasidi said the President’s visit to America has opened up opportunities for the country to access high possibilities of funding, research collaborations and networking with American institutions. He said: “Obama said we are free to explore that. In his response to Mr. President, Obama spent five to 10 minutes, talking about our achievements on Ebola. So, all we think we are going to do now is to consolidate on that gain - the great job that was done in Lagos, Port Harcourt. And one of the achievements is that as a follow-up to that, already the Director of the

soon again.”

Funding is also a challenge for this centre. Its budgetary provisions are nothing to write home about. “Funding through the budget line is not sufficient because most of our activities are impromptu. So, the budgetary allocation is just for routine activities, but we write proposals and collaborate with partners. They don’t give us cash these days, but at least, they fund some of our activities.

U.S. CDC has visited Nigeria to see which areas we can collaborate on and enhance support to us.

He saw our facilities and I think he made a very wonderful speech that he is very impressed. We are now trying to key in on that, collaborate with U.S. FEMA, U.S. CDC and NIH and other necessary U.S. institutions to establish a very effective National Emergency Operations Centre which we are in the process of doing. Virtually, half of our new administrative building is Emergency Operations Centre and we just got back Nigerian professors who went to train in the U.S. for the operation of that centre. He was trained in the U.S. CDC as a follow-up - Obama promised to help Nigeria to strengthen these areas and as a result, somebody has already been trained at the highest level of health security training.”

Dr. Osinubi believes that the gains of the President’s visit to the U.S. will show more when the ministry has a political head.

“You know those kinds of changes are best felt when you have a minister in place. Like when I was telling you about the place of the minister, I told you that the political head will work in line with his principals’ policies. So, once the President has indicated his policy direction in the area of health, then the minister has to run with that vision. Like we have a few companies coming into Nigeria who have come to say they want to work with the National Blood Transfusion Service in the area of blood safety. That is a fallout of the President’s visit to the U.S. The Abbot Group, one of the largest laboratory groups in the U.S. has also come and they say they want to work with the health ministry as to how to provide equipment in some of our laboratories.

So, there have been things like that. But, for us, in the Hospital Services Department, when you have a sitting minister and they come like that and explained their mission, it will be his role to guide them in the direction of what the government wants to do and once that decision has been taken, the ministry has to run with it.”

The absence of a minister has also made the ministry unable to put in place the National Tobacco Control Committee.

Usoro explains: “In the absence of a minister, the permanent secretary takes over. This interregnum is a bit long but I think we have been

Then, we also work with World Bank and other partners to develop what we call National Emergency Response Plan which we already have, but we want to put more life into it now. If we have counterpart funding like a World Bank grant, we should be able to operate easier,” Nasidi explained.

Despite its challenges, the centre has been designated as the regional hub. Between September 28 and 30, representatives of West African coun-

‘

•President Buhari

coping very well in the absence of a minister.

For instance, we have started the process of operationalising the National Tobacco Control Act. It was signed by the former President on May 26. But, the Act says the Chairman of the National Tobacco Control Committee will be appointed by the Minister of Health. So, that was why we advised the permanent secretary to just take it easy. Apart from issues like that and other regulations that clearly say the Minister of Health, all other services have been running normally as if he was present.”

With time, Awute said things will change because Buhari has shown the political will to turn the sector’s fortunes around. The people are really waiting for it. And the waiting should not be too long.

tries are due in Nigeria to concretise the arrangement. This means it needs assistance to equip itself for the task ahead.

“That is what we are doing now,” Nasidi said, adding: “We are equipping the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control for it to have the capacity to be able to do this job. So, we are now saying before you go to ECOWAS Centre for Disease Control, your Nigeria Centre for Disease Control

should be on its feet completely. So, equipment for the laboratories, equipment for the office, fibre glass networking- everything has been done.

We have than on ground now. So, all we need to do is to activate this place in two, three weeks and then if we have any additional thing, because we don’t have all the money to put all we want now, we shall now be adding them one by one. That is what we are going to grow.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

NEWS

NBA opposes capital punishment for corruption

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HE Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has opposed capital punishment for corruption convicts.

NBA’s President Augustine Alegeh (SAN), who made the position known when he received the national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the Bar House in Abuja, said other countries were moving away from capital punishment.

He said the government should evolve measures to prevent people from looting the treasury, adding that the Treasury Single Account was a measure in the right direction.

Alegeh argued that the plea bargain, which formed part of the Justice system, was a good

Varsities, others got TETFund’s N500b in 4 years, says Bogoro

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

measure of recovering stolen money.

He said if the government had applied it since 2007, a lot of stolen funds would have been recovered.

The NBA president said: “It was on the front pages last week that corrupt people should be sent to the gallows and killed, that there should be capital punishment and I said no.

“The international trend is that every country is moving away from capital punishment. So, where the world is moving away from, why are we going there? In corruption cases, the focus is on recovering of the money. Let us recover that money and use it to develop our country and not to kill the man.

“If you kill the man and the family has the money, have we made any progress? So, let us go for what is right. For us, plea

bargain, which is in our new criminal justice act, is good. If we had done plea bargain with some of the governors in 2007, we would have had more money in the system than today.

“Chelsea Hotel was seized from somebody and is now infested with rats and the man they seized it from now has New Chelsea Hotel. The one that government seized is infested with rats. Assuming that hotel was functional and the revenue going into our consolidated revenue fund or the federation account, is that not adding more money for us. They seized the hotel from someone they said embezzled money and the place is dead today.

That can’t be right.

“Wherever there is corruption, it is money meant for development that has been taken away. The first thing that we should be looking at is how do we get this money and put it back into the system to aid development.

Punishment

should take the back stage while you reform. ‘’What we should be concerned about is what measure do we put in place to ensure that we are not looted, instead of waiting to be looted and then kill the person. We must be proactive and that is our stand. Our position is that the government should put in place measures to ensure that pilfering of government resources is curtailed.

“The Treasury Single Account being introduced by the government is a step in that direction. Let us first know where the money is, we know what we are expecting, we know the account.

“If you know that everyone is looking at that account, you cannot say that the money has not come or the money is in one account or the other. I commend government, but I think there are more steps government can take.

“For us, we believe that the

present administration has taken many steps in the right direction. No man is without error or mistake, but on the whole, the government has taken the right steps in the right direction and we support the administration. As long as they continue to work in the right part, the part of getting our country back on a solid footing, we will continue to support them and offer ideas.

We encourage NLC to also consider the government along those lines”.

On accusations that lawyers often defend people accused of corruption, he said while NBA would do everyting to maintain its position on the rule of law, it is the duty of every lawyer to defend a client even when such a person pleaded guilty to the crime.

NLC President Ayuba Wabba sought partnership of the NBA leadership in the fight against corruption.

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

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HE Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) spent N500 billion for human and capacity building on universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in four years, the fund’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro, said yesterday.

He spoke with reporters in Abuja after monitoring TETFund’s projects in various higher institutions.

Bogoro, who frowned at complaints by some vice chancellors, rectors and provosts that they were not part of TETFUND’s training process, said: “The vice chancellors, rectors or provosts, in terms of academic training, are not our priority. The lecturers are our priority. That is the TETFund’s intervention policy, because they are the drivers of communication and knowledge. If you take away the lecturers, you have created a gap that you cannot fill.’’

The TETFund boss decried what he described as the embarrassingly fallen standard of education.

His words: “TETFund spent between N450 to 500 billion from 2011 to 2015 on human and capacity building on universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. When you talk about quality and ranking, reading culture has almost disappeared in Nigeria. I have been involved in the system for 34 years and I know what it means and what is required in respect of ranking, rating. I have scripts of undergraduates in the ‘80s and those in 2015 and the difference is clear.

“When we, as teachers, tell you standards have fallen, believe it. We should not politicise the ranking and rating of universities and students. I can’t pass a student when he or she has failed.

“Things have improved significantly in the last four, five years in the higher institutions, but the challenges are likely to be at the lower level.

Talking about the number of persons with PhDs, courtesy of TETFund, we now have lecturers in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education acquiring Master’s and PhDs within and outside the country.

“Today, the standard has fallen but things are improving significantly. If we sustain this intervention, Nigerian universities will continue to rise in ranking, not only in African but among the 1,000 in the world.”

Fed Govt to partner firm on hypertension

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HE Federal Ministry of Health is collaborating with an indigenous company to produce anti-hypertensive drugs to be made affordable and accessible to Nigerians.

This is in line with the vision to build a resilient health system capable of responding to any health condition as well as making health care accessible and affordable to all. The partnership is under an innovative programme, tagged: Fight the Good Fight against Hypertension (FITGAH).

Permanent Secretary, Mr. Linus Awute described the initiative as unique judging from its four-pronged strategy of awareness creation, availability of anti-hypertensive drugs, affordability of anti-hypertensive medicines and action, which involves screening and administration of medicines in designated health facilities and health outposts.

He pledged to continue to partner Neimeth because of its positive role during the Ebola scourge.

Neimeth Pharmaceutical was among companies that donated medicaments to the Federal Ministry of Health in support of the Ebola containment.

Managing Director/CEO, Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Plc Ekunno Emmauel said the company decided to cut its antihypertensive drugs by 50 per cent to make them affordable.

He said he was encouraged by the leadership provided by the Federal Ministry of Health under the permanent secretary.

EFCC declares ex-presidential aspirant wanted From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

•From left: Award recipient and president, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, Project coordinator, Centre for Conflict Resolution, Comrade. Kalu Emerson and Executive Director, Centre for Conflict Resolution, Dr. Larry Ayodeji at the National Golden Icon of Peace Award in Lagos...yesterday.

Bulletproof cars: EFCC, IGP fail to appear in Oduah’s suit

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Inspector-General of Police yesterday failed to send lawyers for the hearing of a suit filed by a former Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court in Lagos, on August 26, restrained them from questioning or arresting her for the purchase of two bulletproof vehicles until her suit was determined.

The vehicles, bought under her watch as Aviation minister, were said to have cost N255 million, an amount that sparked outrage.

The judge also stopped the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Attorney-General of the Federation and the IGP from inviting the former minister for interrogation.

The EFCC, it was learnt, did not file any application to discharge the restraining order within the time allowed.

Justice Yunusa had adjourned hearing to October 2, but the matter was, however, listed for hearing yesterday, apparently due to its urgency.

The court’s registrar said hearing notices were issued to parties, but as proceedings commenced, no lawyer an-

•Case adjourned to Nov. 16

By Joseph Jibueze

nounced appearance for Oduah, EFCC and IGP. But ICPC was represented

by Ms. Funmilola Oluborode, who said the commission did not receive a hearing notice.

According to her, she was directed to to represent ICPC by a superior, who got to know the case was coming up for hearing after seeing it in the causelist.

The ICPC lawyer said since other parties were not represented, there was nothing she could do alone. She sought an adjournment.

Oluborode said ICPC was yet to file any response to Oduah’s suit and asked for time to enable the commission file its defence.

Justice Yunusa said the suit was a fundamental rights’ enforcement action, which deserved urgent hearing.

Oduah, in a supporting affidavit, justified the 2013 purchase of two bullet-proof BMW cars by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The former minister, who represents Anambra North in the Senate, said the vehicles were bought for the use of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) officials, who were in the country to inspect and certify the 22 air-

ports being rehabilitated under her watch.

According to her, the vehicles were acquired to safeguard the foreign officials so that they would not be attacked by the rampaging Boko Haram insurgents, who were causing havoc in the Northeast.

Oduah said the bullet proof cars were necessary because the visit of the airport inspectors coincided with “the peak of Boko Haram terrorists’ menace when the United Nations building and the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force were bombed in Abuja.”

According to her, the House of Representatives, led by Aminu Tambuwal (now Sokoto State governor), and its Committee on Aviation, were especially out to get her.

But the lawmakers’ move, she said, was part of a grand plan by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to capture power by all means.

The party, she said, carried out a campaign of calumny by “demonising” the most visible leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Being a frontline PDP member, she also became a target, especially as she was seen as playing a crucial role towards the realisation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-elec-

tion bid.

She said as part of the APC’s campaign of calumny against her and others, the party’s leadership commissioned some faceless organisations to write letters to the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation.

Among others, she said she was falsely accused of “all manner of corrupt practices and offences in respect of my stewardship as minister of Aviation.”

Oduah said was shocked by the allegations because the Aviation ministry, under her watch, was run in the cleanest manner imaginable.

She said because of her electoral value and strategic politicking, she had been a target of the ploy by the APC to weaken the PDP and distract its leaders on trumped-up charges.

According to her, part of the APC plan was to charge PDP leaders “in a criminal trial in a Lagos State governmentcontrolled court.”

Oduah said unless the court intervened, “the APC will unleash repression against her and others and this may cause the country to recede to a one-party state, with gross adverse effects and irreparable damage to our nascent democracy.”

Justice Yunusa adjourned to November 16.

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HE Director-General of the National Task Force to Combat Illegal Importation of Small Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons, (NATFORCE), Emmanuel Osita Okereke, has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for jumping bail.

Okereke was a former presidential aspirant on the platform of the Nigeria Liberation Party (NLP).

According to the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the expresidential aspirant was being prosecuted on a six-count of impersonation, forgery and obtaining by false pretence.

He said the suspect was arraigned on November 21, 2013, before Justice J. Y. Tukur, of the FCT High Court, Apo, Abuja, for allegedly forging a document of the Federal Government, titled: “Restricted, Federal Government of Nigeria, National Task Force”.

Uwujaren said: “He was alleged to have falsely held public offices as DG and director, FCT Command of National Task Force, through which with Ishmeal Chinyere Nwogu, he fraudulently obtained money from sale of employment forms.

“Okereke, who was arrested with several incriminating items, including bullet proof vests, however, jumped bail and is wanted by the EFCC. “He allegedly operates a syndicate, which maintains offices across the country, defrauding the public by selling recruitment forms for N5, 000 in the guise that they would be offered job by the Federal Government.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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NEWS

Parties not on ballot got votes, says Rivers tribunal witness

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N All Progressives Congress (APC) field agent, Achilike WilliamWobodo, has described the April 11 governorship election in Rivers State as an irregular and stage-managed exercise, programmed to favour the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said figures were allocated to parties that were not on the ballot.

William-Wobodo spoke as a witness at the Rivers State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja. He told the tribunal about the many misdeeds and infringements that characterised the April election in virtually every part of the state.

The APC governorship candidate, Dr Dakuku Peterside, also testified yesterday, saying the governorship election in the state was a fraud.

He said it was marred with irregularities and malpractices and called for a fresh election.

Peterside told the tribunal that immediately he concluded casting his vote, hoodlums came and carted away election materials in his presence.

The APC candidate, who voted at Ward 3, Opobo-Nkoro Local Government, was cross-examined by counsel to the three respondents in the

From Gbenga Adanikin, Abuja

petition filed by the APC. The three respondents are Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Governor, Nyesom Wike and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said: "I have answered earlier that there were no elections in Rivers State. I am also aware that INEC allocated figures in the presidential and the National Assembly elections, including state elections in rivers state. I said earlier that immediately I cast my vote, hoodlum came and carted away the election materials.”

Peterside added: “I think the tribunal has done well considering the challenges. At the end of today, we will conclude our part and the defenders will open their case. I have no single doubt, the tribunal is on course.

“I am confident that one day the people of Rivers State will have the opportunity of casting their votes for the candidate of their choice in a free and fair election. I know that day is near. And their dream is that one day too, they will get a governor that will work for their interest, a governor that will be committed to their yearnings and aspirations. I be-

•JTF Commander: cult groups marred April 11 election •Peterside: hoodlums stole materials after I voted lieve firmly that I stand as the candidate that will do that for them.”

Under cross-examination, William-Wobodo spoke on the many abnormalities that played out in the collation of the results. He cited instances where collation officers awarded figures to political parties that did not even take part in the election.

Citing Exhibit A25, UPP, a relatively unknown party, the agent said, was allocated votes despite not being on the ballot.

The same error was also repeated in Exhibit A26 where CPN, another party also benefitted from such indiscriminate allocation of votes.

He added that there was no form of collation of results in any of the local government areas. He alluded to Asari-Toru where collation officials made several alterations even in the open.

According to him, the flagrant violation of electoral rules of engagement by both officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, and members of the PDP could not have resulted in any form

of fair electoral contest. He therefore said that it would have amounted to a big injustice for anybody to judge such an unusual election that was marked by intimidation, violence, killings and harassment as free and fair.

William-Wobodo stated that even before the early morning violent disruption of accreditation which was recorded in almost every part of the state, signs of violence and subversion of the peoples wishes were already evident even before the eve of the election.

Also, Joint Task Force (JTF) Commander in Akuku-Toru and Degema local government areas, Maj. Abdulraman Usman Imam, also told the tribunal that nonstop shooting, threats, harassment, violence, the activities of cult groups and even deaths adversely affected the election the two local government councils.

Maj. Imam said he witnessed during his two-day election assignment in Akuku-Toru and Degema, several instances of these irregularities and threats in the course of his patrol through the different com-

munities.

According to him, he received several distress calls from communities where hoodlums prevented eligible voters from exercising their rights on account of their party.

His words: “I was drafted to Rivers State in December 2014.

I reported for duty a day before Christmas. I recall that a day before the governorship election, I received a lot of calls about people being threatened by some members of the community to leave the town. I still went out to see if I could see the people issuing these threats. We conducted a search and my men were able to confiscate over 20 cutlasses which I handed over to the police DPO. “I also received a lot of complaints that there were no election materials at voting centres.

I told them that it was not my duty to interfere with electoral materials. I advised them to report to the police.

“However, as a good citizen, I decided to go round and see for myself whether there were electoral materials or not.

I went round the polling units and asked people but they said

•Laidlaw flanked by Vice Consul Dimitri Varmazis and Ms Roberson...yesterday.

Contrary to popular belief of high denial rates, Laidlaw said non-immigration visas were issued about 60 per cent of the time.

“In actuality, the non-immigrant visa acceptance rate here is between 52 and 58 per cent. If we include the immigrant visas, we approve almost 70 per cent of our applications here in Lagos. So there is a lot of myth outside, mostly negative, about us,”

Niger Delta Ministry directors arraigned From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

F

IVE directors of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs were yesterday arraigned before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama for allegedly diverting about N655 million and $100,000 belonging to the ministry.

Former Director of Finance, Yusuf Agabi, Deputy Director of Finance, Akpore Okeroghene, Director of Finance, Ayinla Abibu, Deputy Director of Accounts, Idowu Anthony Adewale and another Deputy Director of Accounts,. Ntu James Ngozi were arraigned on a 41-count charge.

They were charged with conspiracy, fraud and forgery, offences said to be in contravention of Section 13 of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) Act 2000 and punishable under Section 68 of the same Act. The charge was filed by the ICPC. The five pleaded not guilty. The defence’s lawyer, Afe Daniel, applied for bail for his clients on liberal terms. The prosecution lawyer, Paul Bassi, did not oppose him.

Justice Husseini-Baba Yusuf admitted the accused persons to bail at N10 million and a surety each. The judge said the surety must not be below a deputy director in the Federal Civil Service, who must also reside within Abuja.

Justice Yusuf directed the accused persons to deposit their international passports with the court’s registrar and adjourned to October 7 for hearing.

HE Ijaw National Congress (INC) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of marginalising the Niger Delta people in the key appointments made so far.

This is even as the association alleged that the anticorruption war of the administration was a selective persecution of its people.

Acting President of the association Mr. Charles Ambaiowei, who made this position known while commenting on the state of the nation, declared that Buhari’s appointments into key positions had showed a brazen breach of the federal character. ”There is a growing concern among the Ijaw National Congress over the brazen breach of the principle of federal character in the appointments and consideration of offices at the federal level in this present administration. Even elected offices in the National Assembly as well as in the judiciary seem to have this colouration of given preponderance of advantages to the Northern bloc as against the South,” he said.

Citing the appointment of Col Ahmed Ali (retd) to the position of Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs, Ambaiowei said President Buhari demonstrated that he was against the Niger Delta people and by extension the Ijaw nation.

His words: “The person who is next in rank to former Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko, is a southerner, a Niger Delta man, to be specific. But President Buhari breached the procedure of ascendancy and went ahead to appoint Ali.” According to him, the Pesident’s decision to limit the probe to 2007 was a plot to undermine former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He added that the sack of the former Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi,was to sideline the people of Ijaw extraction.

The association urged the Federal Government to settle the allowances of the militants undergoing overseas training under the amnesty programme.

T

U

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Appointments: Buhari against Ijaw, says INC Kunle Akinrinade

Nigerians overstay visits to US, says Immigration chief NITED States (U.S.) Consul Affairs Chief Mr William Laidlaw yesterday said Nigerians overstay visits about seven per cent of the time.

Laidlaw spoke when the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos hosted reporters on a tour of consular activities.

He attributed visa officers’ mistakes to wrong information provided by so-called agents that claim to have special information about how to obtain visas.

Laidlaw warned Nigerians against patronising agents.

He said the visa application process was straight-forward and all requirements provided on the consulate’s website.

He said: “As a member of the United States government, we make mistakes.

“The reasons why we make mistakes are those that have to do with visa services advising people to do incorrect things - that has to do with the way people present themselves and information to us.”

there were no electoral materials. I tried contacting INEC staff but they all told me that they too did not see electoral materials.

“At some point, I also I received a call that there was crisis at a certain ward. On reaching there, there was commotion all over the place. I tried to find out what was happening and I was told that some people were preventing others from voting. I addressed them, pleading with them to shun violence and to allow people to exercise their voting rights.

“Towards the evening, I received calls from Degema that another person was shot. The person died and I saw the dead body at the police station. Because of the violence and heavy gunshots in Degema, a lot of people packed their bags and baggage with the intension of leaving the town because of the violence. At a time as we patrolled Buguma, we could not see anybody except very old people. Yet, the shooting continued.”

he said.

He also noted that Nigerians overstay in the United States when they visit about seven per cent of the time.

Laidlaw said the overstay rate for the 21 countries on waiver list was less than three per cent.

In the past five years, despite the stoppage of the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery, the Consular chief said visa applications increased by 179 per cent. Each day, he said, the Consular attended to an aver-

age of 1,100 applicants. Last year alone, 240,000 applications were received.

Speaking on visa interview tips, Acting Non-Immigrant Consular Chief Amanda Roberson said the visa interview was less about documents and more about conversation with consular adjudicators.

Journalists observed the visa officers at work.

Some applicants, who spoke to The Nation about the process, said it was straight-

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

forward but for the delays in scheduled time.

Mr Femi Owolabi, a first applicant, who got visa to travel with his wife, Tolulope, and baby girl, Nifemi, said he was scheduled for 9.30am but did not get to do his interview at that time.

However, he said he did not have to queue because of his daughter.

Another applicant (names withheld), who was denied a visa, said he used an agent for the application process.

Move to reposition PDP suffers setback

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HE move to reposition the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suffered a setback.

A conference planned by a group, known as PDP National Reform Conference, headed by former Minister of Information Prof. Jerry Gana, on how to reform the party, has been aborted by members of the National Working Committee.

A statement signed by PDP National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, said the Reform Conference must be postponed in order “to create room for further consultations and exhaustive consideration by critical stakeholders of the report of the PDP Post-Election Assess-

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

ment Committee, headed by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, which is due for submission this month”.

The reform conference was slated for October.

Gana said his group received the mandate from the National Caucus of the party and its Board of Trustees.

Gana said some of the issues to be considered by the committee include the best ways to “re-ignite the noble ideals and good image of the PDP and restore the party’s core values and directive principles.”

He added that the confer-

ence would also generate fresh ideas on “people-oriented programmes for ensuring good governance, balanced development, human security with social justice, equity and fairness.”

On Tuesday, the committee inaugurated various subcommittees to prepare for the conference.

The conference is expected to address challenges affecting the party with a view to reinventing it in tune with the vision of its founding fathers ahead of 2019 general election.

Members of the NWC stayed away from the International Conference Centre, Abuja, where members of the PDP Reform Conference committees met.

6

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

NEWS

•President Muhammadu Buhari (right) being welcomed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on his arrival from France …yesterday.

•Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (left) congratulating Winner of the Inspiration Woman of the Year Award, C.E.O, Nike Art Foundation, Chief (Mrs.) Nike Okundaye (2nd right) while Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (2nd left partly covered) and Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu (right) at annual National Women Conference organised by COWLSO, at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suite...yesterday

10 security agents feared killed by vandals in Lagos Continued from page 1

the contract in the dying days of the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

A source who spoke in confidence told The Nation that a joint team of military and civil security agents had been deployed in the creeks to flush out the criminals.

He said the police approached the Navy for help, because gun boats were required to fight the vandals.

The vandals are well armed and battle-ready. They have been laying ambush for security agents who dared to disrupt their “business”.

“So many security person-

nel have been ambushed and killed in the last two weeks by the criminals, who usually take their bodies into the creeks and bury them in shallow graves.

“The police and NSCDC have not been able to enter the creeks, they fear for their lives because those criminals are well-armed and have informants.

“Most times some of their members disguise as madmen in the dead of the night, only to feed those siphoning fuel with information on movements in and out of the creeks.

“During the day, most of

them pose as motorcyclists and informing those in the creeks whenever security agents or unknown faces are heading that way.

“It is possible that was what happened to the security agents on Tuesday because I heard they were ambushed.”

Another account of what happened, according to an Isawo resident, is that the DSS operatives were confronted by the vandals at a primary school in the area where they went for a function.

He said: “The vandals thought they had come to attack them because they came

in their outfits. There was confusion. They opened fire on them and killed the officers.”

A police source said the officers were in the community to apprehend the vandals after getting information that they were siphoning petrol from a broken pipeline.

He said the men were spotted by the vandals who opened fire on them.

“The vandals usually use the Arepo end of Ogun State to siphon fuel. They have a depot where they sell at Isawo, Ikorodu. It was around 7pm that we were told to Continued on page 8

Saraki for trial Continued from page 1

saying that each time you fight corruption, the system will fight you.

Saraki also said the allegation of inconsistencies in his assets declaration is “malicious”.

Saraki’s position is contained in a 13-point statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sanni Onogu, in Abuja .

“Though the President of the Senate had (sic) yet to be served any court process in that respect, we feel obliged to explain to Nigerians that all the claims contained in the charge sheet are false, incorrect and untrue.

Continued on page 8

Continued from page 1

P

RESIDENT Muhamadu Buhari will appoint his ministers before month’s end as he promised although he believes technocrats do much of the job.

In a 12-minute interview with France 24 Television during his state visit to France from where he returned yesterday, the President was quoted to have said: “The ministers are there to make a lot of noise; for the politicians to make a lot of noise. But the work is being done by the technocrats. They are there to provide the continuity, dig into the records and then guide us, [those of us] who are just coming in.

“I think this question of ministers is political. People from different constituencies want to see their people directly in government, and see what they can get out of it.

“As for the cabinet, I said

we will have one by the end of the month, and time flies.

The end of the month is coming too quickly for my liking.

I will send the names to the national assembly.

“We have a government but we don’t have a cabinet. I don’t know how you define that but we have a government and that is why I am here. Under this system, we have to have ministers and we are going to have ministers.

On Military, Boko Haram: “The results of the reorganisation we carried out in the military are being seen.

There is progress being done.

Our main concern is the condition of the Chibok girls and how we can recover them.

“We are occupied with negotiations and at this stage, it has to be confidential because we are not sure of the leadership of the Boko Haram- that Continued on page 8

Saudi to give families of dead pilgrims N70m each

F •From left: Deputy Director, Public Affairs, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mrs. Maimunna Jimada; Director General, Mr. Emeka Mba and Director, Public Affairs, Mallam Awwalu Salihu, during a world media briefing on the Digital Switch Over (DSO) in Nigeria, by the Commission, in Lagos....yesterday

Treasury Single Account: Banks move N2tr to CBN are yet to comply with the TSA deadline which ended on Tuesday.

Managing Director, Meristem Securities Limited, Sulaiman Adedokun, said some of the banks which did not have the needed liquidity to move the funds immediately had to sell-off their liquid instruments like Treasury Bills and Federal Government bonds to get the needed cash in the transaction.

He said the CBN is working out measures to cushion the negative impact the movement of the funds will have on banks’ balance sheets and amount of cash available for lending. This, he said, is based on the regulator’s new policy promoting growth and development of the economy.

Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government that failed to meet Tuesday’s deadline to migrate to the Treasury Single Account (TSAs) will be sanctioned, the office of the Accountant General of the

Buhari: I’ll appoint ministers but technocrats do the job

Federation (AGF), said yesterday.

A statement signed by Mrs Kene Offie said “almost all MDAs, especially the revenue yielding ones have all complied with the Presidential directive to transit to the Treasury Single Account (TSA). Sanctions will be meted to any erring MDA.” The AGF office did not identify those MDAs that were yet to make the transition but not less than 90 per cent, about 700 MDAs had migrated.

The statement said AGF Alhaji Ahmed Idris commended all MDA that so far complied.

He affirmed that “the Treasury Single Account has come to stay, the compliance is an indication that Nigeria is at the threshold of a new era of transparent and accountable management of Public finances.”

The Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Umaru Ibrahim said that the full implementation of the TSA was

a signal that the era of armchair banking in Nigeria was over, adding that the TSA policy had presented banks with an opportunity to diversify their sources of deposit mobilisation.

Alhaji Ibrahim emphasised that the implementation of the policy should not be strange to the banks, because, according to him, they (the banks) had been warned about three years ago to take steps that would make them not to over rely on government deposits.

On the rumour of mass retrenchment in the banking system due to the TSA policy, the NDIC boss said the rumour was unfounded. He emphasised that organisational renewal was a continuous exercise whereby banks not only rationalise their branches and entire operations to enhance efficiency but also undertake recruitment to renew their human capital.

The Federal Government ordered all MDAs to start paying into a TSA for all gov-

ernment revenues, incomes and other receipts. According to the directive, the measure is specifically to promote transparency and facilitate compliance with sections 80 and 162 of the 1999 Constitution.

Nigeria’s interbank money market was halted for a second day yesterday after the CBN told commercial lenders to provide cash backing for foreign exchange purchases at its proposed intervention on Friday.

Trading on the interbank market was first halted on Tuesday as banks complied with a directive to transfer government revenues into the TSA. “The market is not trading yet,” one dealer said. “What we have is an indicative rate from some banks because of the instruction from the central bank to provide funding for forex intervention.”

“We only have people quoting about 50 percent as indicative rate for overnight placement,” another dealer told Reuters.

AMILIES of the six Nigerian pilgrims who died in the last Friday’s crane collapse in Saudi Arabia’s grand Mosque will get N70 million each.

They will also be entitled to two Hajj slots each next year to be fully paid for by the Saudi government.

The custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Tuesday ordered that top officials of the Saudi Binladin Group be banned from traveling outside the kingdom after the probe of the incident partially blamed the construction company for the crane crash.

The Saudi authority announced that families of each of the 111 people who died in the accident will be paid a compensation of one million Saudi Riyals.

One Saudi Riyal is the equivalent to N70.

Saudi local newspaper, Arab News, reported that 'King Salman ordered the payment of the following to the families of the victims: SR1,000,000 to the family of each person killed in this accident; SR1,000,000 to each injured whose injury resulted in permanent disability; SR500,000 to each of the other injured."

According to the report, such payment would not deprive the families of the deceased and the injured from claiming for private right before the competent judicial authorities.

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Saudi Arabia

"The king also issued directives to host two family members of the deceased as the king's guests to perform Hajj next year.

“The injured who cannot perform Hajj this year can perform it next year as the king's guests. The families of the injured who stay in hospitals for treatment shall be granted visiting visas to take care of the injured during the remaining period of Hajj and return to their country,” the royal court said.

A royal court announcement published by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said the king is reviewing the report of the Accident Investigation Committee, which suggested negligence on the part of the Saudi Binladin Group, but concluded that it found an “absence of criminal suspicion.”

The report said “the main reason for the accident is the strong winds while the crane was in a wrong position.”

Apart from the 111 people who were killed, 331 others were injured when the giant crane being used in the expansion project at the Grand Mosque toppled and crashed into a portion of the mataf (circumambulation area) around the holy Ka’aba on Sept. 11.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

NEWS Zonal elections for APC groups

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RRANGEMENTS have been concluded by the Coalition of APC Support Groups (Southwest Zone) to hold a congress to elect consensus candidates for the national convention of the Coalition of APC Support Groups An electoral committee saddled with the mandate to conduct the congress was appointed in Abuja on Tuesday by the Steering Committee of the Southwest Zone headed by the interim Chairman, Adebisi Abraham.

The Chairman of the electoral committee is Prince Feyisayo Ijifusi from Ondo State. Other members are Dr. Gboyega Adefokun, Mrs. Adenike Olasoji and Austin Pelemo.

A circular sent to all members of the coalition by the secretary of the Steering Committee, Majeed Yahaya, said only

the coordinators of each group in the zone will take part in the Congress.

“I am directed by the Steering Committee to invite all coordinators to a general meeting and southwest zonal congress/consensus election for zonal executives of the coalition at the Caseg Garden, off Wuse Market, Abuja from 1921 September.”

He warned that no proxy would be allowed to take part in the Congress, adding that the coordinators should come with certificates of group registration issued by the APC’s national secretariat, party membership cards and voter’s cards.

The coalition is a body of all independent groups that worked for the success of APC in the last general elections. It comprises of about 185 groups.

I didn’t ask CBN to stop bailout, says pensioner A MEMBER of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners in Osun State yesterday denied that he urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to put an embargo on the N34.988billion bailout loan released to the state.

Mr. Tunde Oguniyi, who was quoted by a newspaper as the Chairman of Osun NUP, made the denial while speaking with journalists yesterday.

Oguniyi said he did not speak with the paper’s correspondent. He denied being the NUP chairman or a member of the executive.

Oguniyi held that he was the state Chairman of 2011/ 2012 retirees, a subset of the

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

state NUP. He said he did not address a press conference or sign a statement let alone grant any interview to the newspaper or the correspondent.

Oguniyi added that he was embarrassed by the publication, where he was quoted to have called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to declare an emergency rule in Osun.

The former NUP boss held that there was no time he spoke with any media outfit that Governor Rauf

Aregbesola has refused to use the bailout fund for what it was meant for.

He threatened to sue the newspaper, if the story is not retracted. He described the report as false and damaging.

“I woke up this morning and read in the paper that I addressed a press conference calling on the CBN to stop Osun’s bailout.

“The report is a misrepresentation and completely false. It could have been sponsored by faceless people, whose identities are not clear to me.

“The period that the paper

reported that I was addressing a press conference, I was at the secretariat negotiating the salaries of pensioners as one of the eight-man negotiating committee of the NUP. “I still find it disturbing on how it was possible for me to be negotiating in Abere on behalf of my colleagues and at the same time addressing a press conference even when I am not the chairman or secretary.

“The report is wicked, ridiculous and malicious and it is important for me to dissociate myself from such because there was no time we discussed such press conference or anyone sought my consent to issue such statement.”

Women convention

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HE annual convention of The Pearls and Jewels Fellowship International, the women’s wing of the Chapel of His Glory, Ado Ekiti, begins tomorrow.

The programme, which ends on Sunday, has as its theme “A Godly Woman in an Ungodly World.”

It features teachings, community health fair, couples’ night and anointing and thanksgiving service.

The convention, which holds at the church auditorium opposite School of Nursing, Ori Apata, Adebayo, Ado Ekiti, features Rev Lola Adebara as the guest minister. Rev and Mrs Kunle Salami are hosts.

Flood destroys market, court

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UESDAY’s heavy downpour in some parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has destroyed property worth several hundreds of thousands of naira at Omi-Adio in Ido Local Government Area.

The rain, which started at 3.50pm, lasted for more than four hours, causing heavy flooding in some parts of the city.

More than 10 vehicles were washed away; 50 shops

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

and make-shift stores were affected; goods running into thousands of naira were also destroyed.

The Omi-Adio Magistrate’s Court was destroyed. Many case files were destroyed as the area was submerged.

Some of the affected traders appealed for assistance, calling on the federal ,state and local governments to look into the problem.

RCCG gets new province in Oyo From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has inaugurated Province 12 to oversee the affairs of 72 parishes in Oyo State.

The ministers to direct the affairs of the new province are: Pastor Wale Popoola (pastor-in-charge), Pastor and Mrs. Demola Aderibigbe (cooperate social responsibility) and Pastor and Mrs. Olusegun Sholarin (administration).

Inaugurating the new ministers, Pastor-in-charge of Region 21, Pastor Dele Balogun said not all proposals submitted to the General Overseer for the creation of a province were approved.

“Number 12 is very symbolic and when God wants to do something great he uses 12. Jesus had 12 disciples, there are 12 gates to Jerusalem, Moses also sent 12 spies, Jesus filled 12 baskets with bread.

“We are grateful to Pastor Enoch Adeboye for granting our request. We also thank Pastor Jide Ojurongbe of Province 4, because now Province 12 has been created out of it.

We pray that God will use the new officers for Oyo Province 12,” he said.

Deputy Governor gives to quadruplets’ mum

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GUN State Deputy Governor Mrs Yetunde Onanuga yesterday donated some materials, including cash, to the mother of a set of quadruplets, Mrs. Oluwaseun Taiwo, when she visited her at the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta.

Mrs. Onanuga said: “We came to congratulate you on the successful delivery of these beautiful gifts from God and to assure you that you will not suffer in bringing up these children. We must continue to thank God for everything.

By Olalekan Ayeni

“It was through the mercy of God that you delivered these babies. So you have every reason to thank God. “I’m happy to see the mother and the babies doing fine and recuperating. I pray that God will continue to strengthen them.”

Mrs. Taiwo thanked the deputy governor for the visit.

She appealed to Nigerians to support her.

Donations can be made through Matthew Taiwo Sterling Bank account 0023689700

•Pastor W.F Kumuyi preaching at the event

•A man(middle) who healed at the at the Lagos City-Wide Crusade organised by the Deeper Christian Life Ministry in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigerian (PFN) at Ajegunle.

Muslim appointees defend Fayose

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HE controversy raging in Ekiti State over a League of Imams and Alfas’ directive that Muslims should reject rams and other gifts from the government ahead of next week’s Eid-elKabir has refused to go away.

A section of the Muslim community in Ekiti State has defended Governor Ayo Fayose, saying he was not marginalising Muslims.

Chairman of Ado Local Government Dauda Ajise; House of Assembly Service Commission member Tajudeen Arowolo and General Secretary of the League of Imams and Alfas Abdulrazak Adenipekun said Fayose has done nothing wrong against Muslims.

The trio spoke on the tele-

•Community backs NSCIA boss’ position From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

vision channel of the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES), where they called on Muslims to collect rams and other Sallah gifts.

They described Fayose as a “friend of Muslims who had identified and worshipped with them”.

Adenipekun, in a statement, described Fayose as a “defender of all faiths and that he has been fair to Muslims in the appointments made so far”.

He warned Muslims against being used to drag Islam into politics under any guise, saying such could erode the re-

spect the religion commands among Nigerians.

Adenipekun added that those dragging Islam into politics are incurring the wrath of Allah.

“We must state that the governor has never discriminated against Muslims. During his first tenure, he appointed a Muslim permanent secretary, Yakubu Sanni. The Special Adviser on Political Matter, Ademola Bello, is a Muslim.

The Alaworoko-in-Council of Iworoko-Ekiti has declared its support for Sanni over comments he (Sanni) made concerning the alleged marginalisation of Muslims.

In a statement yesterday by

the Odofin, High Chief Johnson Folorunso Bada, the community’s traditional cabinet deplored attacks on Sanni.

It reads: “What Alhaji Sanni said was on behalf of all the Muslims in Ekiti State being the President of Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

“Also, he should not be seen as someone fighting for his interest or that of Iworoko Muslims at the expense of Muslims in the state.

“Therefore, all the allegations made against him by a group of people in IworokoEkiti which has political undertone should not be allowed to tarnish the image of Alhaji Sanni, an illustrious, worthy and reputable son.”

Condemnations trail journalists’ detention

T

HE Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Movement Against Corruption and Injustice (MACI) have condemned Tuesday’s detention of seven journalists at the Ota High Court premises on the order of Justice N. I. Agbelu.

The detained journalists are Daud Olatunji (Vanguard), Samuel Awoyinfa(The Punch), Ernest Nwokolo (The Nation), Abiodun Taiwo (Daily

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Times) , Sulaiman Fasasi (Nigerian Pilot), Wale Adelaja (TVC) and Johnson Akinpelu (Alaroye).

The seven were in the court by 11.44am for two matterscases involving victims of Pakoto demolition and killing in Oke-Ore communitywhich were believed to have been listed for hearing on Tuesday.

Justice Agbelu ordered their arrest and detention for alleged invasion of court premises but set them free

after three hours.

The state chapters of the CDHR, NUJ and MACI, in separate reactions, said Justice Agbelu’s action abridged the journalists’ rights and denied the public the “rights to know and be informed”.

A statement by the NUJ state Chairman and Secretary, Wole Shokunbi and Soji Amosu described Justice Agbelu’s attitude as a subtle way of introducing a culture of tyranny and arbitrariness.”

CDHR’s state chairman Yinka Folarin said: “We

stand to be corrected; the court remains a public place where every Nigerian has a right to observe even proceedings.

“It is highly distorting that a judge could throw confusion of such magnitude to the public. It is of no doubt that the fundamental human rights of the victims have been violated and can be challenged.”

MACI’s National President Solomon Bankole said the court is a public place and temple of justice which guarantees free entry and free exit

8

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

NEWS Saraki to be arraigned Continued from page 6

“The claims are based on outright fabrication and mischief and a politically-motivated prosecution aimed at undermining the person and office of the Senate President.

“We do not know on whose authority these charges are filed when the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act clearly indicate that any prosecution must be authorised by an Attorney-General (AG).

“We know the nation last had an AG in May 2015 and we believe that this is another clear indication that the CCT is acting under influence from outside its domain and therefore ready to bend the rules to achieve this obnoxious objective.

“It is surprising that the CCT is now referring to his (Saraki) assets declaration made in 2003 while in office as Governor of Kwara State to formulate their charges.

“They therefore ignored the recent declaration for which

they last week, issued an acknowledgement.’’

The statement noted that the Code of Conduct Bureau, following its processes, ought to have carried out the verification of the assets and ascertain the claims made.

It noted that for the bureau to come up with allegations of inconsistencies 12 years later, was a clear case of witch-hunt.

The statement said Saraki was ready to meet those behind the plot in court.

“We are of the opinion that the present effort is a desperate move initiated due to external influence and interference. “ It should also be noted that Dr Saraki, as Governor of Kwara State, never operated a foreign account.

“Also, some of the issues contained in the charge sheet are subjects of issues earlier decided on, or on-going in courts.”

Saraki said he had always kept to global standards of transparency and accountability as required and affirmed his belief in the justice system.

Cross River PDP chieftain defects to APC

A

FORMER permanent secretary in Cross River State and member of the Governing Council of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Dr Mathew Achigbe, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

At a reception welcoming him to the APC in his Ofombumgha/Yala Ward in Obubra Local Government Area, Achigbe said his

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

decision was in the interest and development of Obubra residents.

According to him, no true son or daughter of Obubra with the people’s interest would remain in the PDP. Achigbe said APC presented a source of hope because it had won the hearts of the people.

Also, former House of Assembly’s Minority Leader Alex Irek hailed those who dumped the PDP for APC.

Boko Haram leaders tired of fighting, says Centre

T

HE Executive Secretary of the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd) yesterday said some Boko Haram leaders offered to negotiate to ceasefire because they are tired of fighting.

He said the Federal Government and the insurgents should adopt an open mind to the ongoing talks for negotiation.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for expressing the government's willingness to dialogue with the sect.

Anas spoke in Abuja in an on the update on the dialogue being facilitated by the CCC between the government and the insurgents to free the 219 abducted Chibok girls.

He said Boko Haram neither asked for monetary inducement nor compensation during preliminary talks for the dialogue.

He said: "We want to note that none of the suspected Boko Haram elements that spoke with the CCC asked for

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja any form of monetary inducement or compensation as a pre-condition for laying down their arms.

"In fact, many of them said that they were simply tired of fighting and being fugitives in a war that they were deceived into joining.

Nevertheless, the Centre will continue to support and encourage all efforts towards bringing insurgency to an end in our country.

Anas said there is nothing wrong in exploring any possibility of securing freedom for the girls.

He added: "The CCC has noted with satisfaction, the pronouncement by President Muhammadu Buhari that some members of the Boko Haram terrorist group are in negotiation with the Federal Government over the possibility of releasing the Chibok Secondary School girls abducted on April 14, 2014.

"We recall that while briefing the press on August 4, 2015, the Executive Secretary

of CCC, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (retired) had disclosed that some Boko Haram elements approached the Centre for dialogue as a way of ending the seeming intractable insurgency in parts of the country.

"While expressing support for the declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari that the Federal Government was willing to dialogue with genuine leaders of the terrorist group, the CCC believes the new position had become imperative in view of the fact that military option alone has failed to resolve the issue.

"The Centre believes that there is nothing wrong in exploring and exploiting every opportunity that will lead to freeing of not only the innocent school girls but every other Nigerian under shackles of the deadly insurgents.

He asked Nigerians to support President Buhari as he takes tough decisions such as this.

Anas added: "As we stated on August 4, 2015 on this matter, which was widely and ex-

tensively published by the media, every window of dialogue should be open but only for genuine leaders or representatives of the sect who are committed to keeping to their side of the bargain.

"We urge both parties to approach the said negotiation with open mind and with utmost consideration of the interest of humanity."

"To Nigerians, we urge that we continue to trust and support our President even when he has to take tough decisions such as this knowing that what is upper most in his mind and in our minds is the freedom of our girls and all other captives.

"The Centre views this gesture as good. It has opened a window of opportunity for dialogue for those insurgents that are willing and ready to lay down their arms.

"This position is predicated on calls made to this Centre by some members of the Boko Haram requesting for genuine and comprehensive dialogue that could lead to hundreds of them coming out to renounce their membership."

Cross River ready for Buhari's visit, says Ayade

C

ROSS River State Governor Ben Ayade has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s planned visit to inaugurate the 260 kilometre Calabar – Katsina Ala Road as an indication that the president share a good dream for the state.

He spoke while inspecting a portion of the Highway where work has already com-

menced at Nsan village in Akamkpa Local Government Area.

Ayade said the state was ready to host the president.

He said he was humbled and challenged that the President believes and shares in his vision of embarking on the project, with the aim of boosting the state's economy.

“I am excited, challenged and fulfilled that somebody as high as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria could understand and share in my dreams and aspiration to create a Super Highway that will also create that harmony between the northern and southern part of Nigeria," stated He explained that because of the great premium which

his administration places on the signature projects work is already ongoing in spite of consistent heavy rainfall being experienced at this time of the year in the state.

The governor who was accompanied on the inspection by service commanders, said: “We have started work on the road already. Given the amount of rainfall we are experiencing, what we have achieved so far is fantastic. We expect that the President would be impressed when he gets here”.

The governor also inspected ongoing work at the Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC).

The state government is embarking on a 260 kilometers super high way and a

•Ayade

deep seaport expected to cost about N700Billion

Buhari: I’ll appoint ministers but technocrats do the job Continued from page 6

we can talk with to get the girls released. “ We have to first identify that those who claim to be Boko Haram leaders are actually the leaders, and they know where the Chibok girls are and their present condition.

“France is more hands-on in the Boko Haram issue because Nigeria is totally surrounded by former French colonial countries and France has maintained a strong relationship with its former colo-

nies.

On Naira “ I don’t think it is healthy for us to further devalue the Naira. This is why we are getting the Central Bank of Nigeria to make some modifications, in terms of making foreign exchange available to essential services.

“Things like toothpick and rice, Nigeria can produce enough of those. We don’t need to use our hard currency on that but those who insist on buying toothpick from Europe and China, they can go ahead and buy foreign ex-

change.

“The last time I was leader, I was in the barracks, this time I’m in the palace. It is so big and very expensive to maintain but it is there, it cannot be removed. I don’t think I am a different man but I am coming back in a different system.

A better system because this is what works.

“I was convinced in December 1991 when the Soviet union collapsed, that multiparty democratic system is the best form of government, otherwise it will be the same old problem.”

10 security agents feared killed Continued from page 6

close our shops because there would be trouble.

“We started hearing gunshots at about 7pm. I observed that the men drove out some fuel tankers. As of 8pm on Tuesday, all shops had been locked.”

Lagos police spokesman Joseph Offor, said the matter was under investigation.

He said he could not confirm if those killed were DSS operatives, adding that the secret service was yet to inform the police that its men were involved in the attack.

He said: “I have called the DPO in Owutu, Ikorodu, he said there were sporadic

‘

We started hearing gunshots at about 7pm. I observed that the men drove out some fuel tankers. As of 8pm on Tuesday, all shops had been locked

shootings between vandals and security agents.

“But he said he could not say if they were DSS personnel and could not also give details on the casualty.

“He told me the incident happened on Tuesday evening, around 5pm. For now, I know the command has taken over and investigations are ongoing.”

’

At the Lagos office of the DSS in Shangisha, all was gloomy yesterday when our correspondent visited. There were no official comments on the incident.

The spokesman told our reporter on telephone that he was indispossed.

The state director was said to be attending a “crucial” meeting.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

CPC to prosecute Benin, Enugu DISCOs for exploitative electricity billing From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

T

HE consumer Protec tion Council (CPC) said it is set to commence prosecution procedure against Benin and Enugu Distribution Companies for violating its enabling Act in the on-going investigation of the activities of the country’s distribution companies (DISCOs).

The CPC, in a statemnt, said it had to take this decision due to the non- appearance of the two power firms before Council’s Panel, instituted to investigate numerous complaints of electricity consumers on estimated billings and non-provision of metres.

“Benin Distribution Company was expected to appear before the Panel on Wednesday by 10 am, while Enugu’s time was 2pm the same day, in line with a schedule of appearance agreed upon with the representatives of the DISCOs at their meeting with the Council on Monday, September 7.

“The distribution company, like its other counterparts, was also expected to have forwarded some documents that would aid the Council in its hearing by Friday, September 11 even though the date was shifted to Monday, September 14 for all the DISCOs, pursuant to a plea from the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) for more time for the submission of the documents.

“The governors owe Nigerians explanations why they could not pay their workers because they collect money from Abuja every month. So, what did they do with all the money? Some of them were launching ambitious projects that were unrealistic such as building airports.”

-Managing Director, Neo Media & Marketing, Mr Ehi Braimah

March to digital transition on course, says NBC chief N

IGERIA’S march to achieving digital switch-over (DSO) is on course, the Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Emeka Mba, said yesterday, adding insecurity and expensive political activities made adequate funding to prosecute the programme impossible.

Mba who spoke yesterday in Lagos also said when DSO is achieved it will fetch the Federal Government N320billion cash and create no fewer than 30,000 jobs.

The DG who also denied selling spectrum to MTN, said the Commission’s regulatory function does not extend to the sale of spectrum. He said what the Commission did was merely to licence MTN to use part of the 700megahetz (MHz) frequency to do digital pay TV broadcasting services from which it sought and got the permission of former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Communications Technology Minister, Dr Omobola Johnson in her capacity as the chair of the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC).

He said the Commission raised N34billion from the transaction, adding that the fund would be deployed to pursuing the achievement of

• Nigeria ‘to earn N320b’ • ‘No spectrum sale to MTN’

By Lucas Ajanaku

the DSO. He said: “We have successfully licensed Nigeria Ltd to use a part of the 700 MHz to provide digital pay TV broadcasting services. We have thus raised N34 billion, slightly less than 50 per cent of our budget. Through this singular move, Nigeria has once again pointed the way for other African countries struggling with the effort of finding financing for their own digital switchover programmes.”

He regretted that Nigeria missed the June 17 deadline set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for all its member-countries to switch off analogue transmission, lamenting that it was not until June 17, 2012 that the White Paper giving direction to the process came out.

“Again, we continued doing those things we could which included engaging

and sensitising the broadcast sector, setting out the technical specifications for the set top box and putting in place then Electronic Programme Guide system, in addition to a successful pilot project in Jos, Plateau State. All this while, we were waiting for the financing of our budget of N70billion from government (which never came).

“Meanwhile, we have now coordinated another agreement with our West African neighbours and have agreed on a new deadline of June 20, 2017 to complete the digital switchover and achieve analogue switch off.

“When it became obvious that government could not spare the money, and in order to avoid missing another deadline, we began to consider other options. Our broadcast frequency, which is to eventually form part of the digital dividend after the DSO, had portions of it lying fallow while our broadcasters were still using parts of

it.”

Nigeria’s self-funding DSO programme will in the long term, create a N320 billion cash yearly, stressing that consumers also will receive over 30 new free to air channels per annum for the price of a N1500 set top box (STB).

He said a host of other value added services such as news, information and video on demand.

Mba said a leading digital economy is established from the development of a whole TV and content ecosystem, adding that N200 billion yearly boost from additional advertising, content and Nollywood income streams He added that the development of high tech STB manufacturing industry will create jobs while the Federal Government will e a r n N100 billion income from spectrum sales (digital dividend) “A thriving digital economy generating at least 55,000highly skilled jobs will be created too. I want to assure that with the current arrangement through which we have secured more than half of our budgetary needs to transit, and as we explore other avenues, we are confident that the new date is achievable,” Mba said.

Oil theft: Shell loses 37,000bpd

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

T

HE Comptroller-Gen eral, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) has vowed to arrest and prosecute any one caught in the act of smuggling, promising that under his watch, all avenues of revenue leakages will be blocked.

A statement endorsed by NCS Deputy Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, explained that the Customs chief gave the commitment during his maiden meeting with officers and men of the NCS at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja.

The CG said every act of economic sabotage including false declarations, deliberate misapplication of tariff, undervaluation and concealment shall be dealt with decisively.

Ali called on all stakeholders to support Customs in order to achieve its mandate towards the Federal Government’s resolve to secure the nation, boost the economy and create job opportunities for the youths.

The NCS has raked in N37,836million from seizures of banned products in its eighth and nineth week of operations.

The items which were impounded from different locations along the Southwestern borders of the country.

“The war against smugglers of frozen poultry products into the country tagged Operation Hawk Descend has continued to yield massive results as the Service has recorded seizures of the banned products worth N37,836million in eight and nineth week of its operations,” he explained.

‘How NNPC’s measures ‘ll impact on economy’

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

S

HELL Petroleum Devel opment Company (SPDC) loses an average of 37,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd) from its Joint Venture facilities in the Niger Delta to oil thieves.

Its Head, Right of Way Management (RoW), Mr. Afohron Sekobe, who spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday at a seminar for select media executives with the theme Effects of Pipeline Vandalism, Crude Oil theft and Encroachment Issues lamented that oil theft, equipment failure, sabotage, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining as the main sources of pollution in the region.

But he said investigation revealed that sabotage and criminal breach of oil facilities accounted for over 75 per cent of spill incidents from SPDC JV pipelines last year alone.

Giving details of how oil thieves operate in the region, he explained that over 92 per cent of oil volume spilled from SPDC facilities between 2010 and last year was caused by activities of oil thieves.

He said breach of pipeline security and other illegal activities such as stealing of well head equipment caused the deferment of additional 110,000 bpd.

Customs chief vows to prosecute smugglers

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

T • Chevron workers protesting non-payment of salaries and non-implementation of collective agreements in Lagos.

PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

Fed Govt mulls regulatory framework for fertilizer T HE Federal Govern ment has called for the establishment of a regulatory framework to ensure that quality fertilizers are distributed to farmers.

The government said a draft Fertilizer Bill has passed First Reading on the floor of the National Assembly.

Deputy Director, Quality Control, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Chinyere Akudinobi, said the government considered it necessary to develop a regulatory framework for quality checks and enforcement to ensure that farmers accessed

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

quality fertilizers.

In her presentation at the launch of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, in Abuja, said fertilizer was needed to increase crop productivity and production.

She said: “Nigeria’s agriculture sector has enormous potential with an opportunity to increase output by up to 160 per cent in 2030.

“The realisation of the above potential could be achieved by policy capacity, stability, and implementa-

tion efficiency, competitive input end subsidy administration system and optimal use of fertilizers among others.

“One of the measures to ensure quality fertilizers are distributed to farmers especially for the small scale farmers is to establish a fertilizer regulatory frame work system.”

She said Nigerian farmers used 790, 000 metric tonnes (MT) of fertilizer annually, adding that off this, 280, 000 MT are blended locally every year while the rest are

imported.

She said:“It is in this direction that AGRA is supporting the ministry in the establishment of an efficient fertilizer regulatory system which would ensure that the right kind and quality fertilizers are sold to Nigerian farmers at prices such that while farmers achieve higher crop yields, the environment will not be negatively impacted.

“The overall objective of the project is to increase household productivity and income through the establishment of a functional fertilizer regulatory system in Nigeria.”

HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yes terday said the measure the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is adopting to provide petroleum products for the country will help the country .

Its General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo Eson described the strategies as “correct measure” that will attract private investors to build refineries in the country.

The corporation is planning to remain the sole importer of fuel in the nation. It is also strategising to provide land within the premises of existing refineries for private investors to build new ones. NNPC is currently carrying out Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) on its refineries to attain their optimum utilisation.

“These are correct measures, if we get the domestic refineries to work, and we expand the capacity of domestic refining by building new refineries and using incentives to make private investors to also build refineries,” he said during a telephone interview.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

12

BUSINESS EXTRA For the over 4,000 prospective entrepreneurs and career seekers, who attended the Sterling Bank’s Get Ready for Work initiative, in Lagos, the chances of either starting new businesses or securing choice jobs look promising.

The event was an opportunity for the lender to deepen its retail banking segment among youths, support those seeking capital and knowledge and those who want to start new businesses, reports COLLINS NWEZE.

Enlarging youths’, entrepreneurs’, job seekers’ coast E NTREPRENEURSHIP is the soul of every thriving economy and so is a productive workforce.

Sterling Bank’s Get Ready for Work initiative held in Lagos at the weekend broadened the opportunity for young entrepreneurs and job seekers to achieve their life ambitions.

The event, with the theme “Mind The Gap” was organised to help participants understand what they need to make it in life, whether in businesses or paid employment.

The event, part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, was supported by online job portal, Jobberman and skills development centre, Field of Skills and Dream. It empowered over 4,000 graduates with employable and entrepreneurship skills.

The event presented a platform for the bank to bridge the financial exclusion gap as its staff also encouraged participants to open accounts with the bank and enjoy the benefits. For instance, as fallout of last year’s programme, the bank gave grants to those who have started their businesses. Four beneficiaries got N2.5 million, N1.5 million, N1 million and N500,000. The gesture is expected to be repeated this year.

The bank has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to promoting retail banking which allows it to provide banking services to individual consumers. Such services include savings and transactional accounts, mortgages, personal loans, debit cards, and credit cards, among others.

This year’s events also witnessed a psychoanalysis session where the participants had their personalities analysed by an expert to determine what career path would be most suitable for them. It also featured speeches from successful career people on how to tread successfully on whatever career path one may choose.

Chief Executive Officer, Wakanow, Obinna Okezie, urged the participants to be hard working. He said: “We started with nothing, but today, we employ over 500 people in our five years of operation. That is why it is important for you all to pursue your ideas and turn them to reality.’’

Executive Director, Field of Skills and Dreams VTE Academy (FSD) Omowale Ogunrinde, commended Sterling Bank for investing in the future of youths in country through the initiative.

According to her, the bank was responsible for organisations like hers agreeing to take part in the programme without charging participants professional fees. She said her firm is doing everything possible to get more Nigerians prepared to become better entrepreneurs. He said the FSD has in recent years, equipped the youths with entrepreneurial skills that enabled them to start their own businesses. “We are helping to build enduring entrepreneurs. This can only be achieved through training and commitment from organisations as Sterling Bank is doing,” she said.

Sterling Bank’s Executive Director, Finance & Strategy, Abubakar

Suleiman, said apart from getting the youth ready to pursue their career choices and helping them acquire the required skills, the lender will also through the programme, reduce the unemployment rate in the country.

Suleiman, who spoke at the preevent briefing held in Lagos, said: ‘Get Ready For Work’, now in its third year, is the bank’s way of giving back to the society and equipping the youths with the right skills to succeed in their jobs.

He also said the lender is considering extending its “Get Ready For Work”initiative to more states of the Federation and encouraged other banks to join in the project.

He said the lender was committed to helping to reduce the high level of youth unemployment in the country, pointing out that there would be serious consequences for the society if the problem is not addressed.

According to him: “There is no country in the world that would not be affected by a high level of youth unemployment. Once youth employment stands above 25 per cent in any country, such country is heading for chaos.”

He noted that the problem of youth unemployment in the country had been made worse by the fact that what students are taught in schools these days often leaves them ill-equipped to handle simple tasks when they eventually secure employment.

Speaking to reporters during the training, Sterling Bank’s Head of Strategy and Communications, Shina Atilola, said the initiative was part of the bank’s efforts at addressing the paucity of skills in the labour market.

He said: “We discovered that when you analyse the Nigerian labour market there is disconnect between the demand and supply.

Most of the jobs that are available, most people are not qualified for them. But this is because our institutions are not prepared to take them into the employment system.

We also initiated this programme because we realised that some people are qualified but are not employable. This is because, there is no institutional structure to train them and prepare them for a work environment.

“These are the reasons Sterling Bank started this ‘Get ready for work’ initiative. We have brought successful entrepreneurs to come mentor these young people. Beyond that, some people that are just will-

• Sterling Bank CEO Yemi Adeola

ing to work in career employment, we have also brought in people that have made impact and are successful in their careers to come and teach them how they succeeded in it. We also have brought in human resources agencies to teach them how to best market themselves.”

He also said this seminar had over 3,000 people registered, saying that over 4,000 were present. This, according to him was a clear indication that there are a lot of willing applicants with no jobs. Also he added that some applicants would be divided into master classes with seasoned Entrepreneurs, high flying career individuals.

Life coach/psychoanalyst, Jerome Onipede engaged entrepreneurs in a master class on what it takes to develop a business and make it in the cut-throat environment like Nigeria. Another class was also organised for career focused individuals to learn how to become employees of value in any organisation of their choice. The event gave participants the opportunity to interact with human resource representatives of various organisations and undergo on-the-spot testing with a view of securing jobs.

Olise-Emeka Nwachukwu, Consultant at Human Capacity Development Consultants, said Sterling Bank is trying to bridge the gap between competencies in terms of employment and entrepreneurship in the market.

“We have a large number of young people who leave school, and need to take step one to become skilled, in terms of ready to work environment.

They also need to know how to set up their business. People do not have the right attitude to work, they do not have the right skills to take the available jobs. The schools only

• Olise-Emeka

give them theory about the knowledge of the job.

It is about people understanding the competencies that are required to be good performers. “What Sterling Bank has done is to bring these young people together and get experts in different fields to talk to them. And they also give them the opportunity to drop their resume with human resources firms that are here,” he said.

He said his firm helps orgnaisations to develop their staff to optimum levels. “All the collected resumes will be uploaded to our database, and we will match them with employers. Getting a job is a prerogative of the staff. There are few experienced people also, and we are looking at ways to support them. I am looking at theirs skills and experiences, which help us profile the candidates and match them with available roles,” he said.

Nwachukwu said the company also looks at candidates achievements over time, because that could explain that if you have been doing this, there will be possibility that you will do well.

Continuing, he said that it is not everyone that really needs to get a job as a good number are better off with entrepreneurship. “People have to understand that it is not just about getting a job but people can go into entrepreneurship, focusing on everyday needs of the people and they will make their money because people spend so much money on their everyday needs. Young people need to understand their skills, develop them and transform them into money making ventures rather than just looking for job,” he said.

He said the company’s Productivity Plus, looks at people’s lives and train them on how to become suc-

‘We discovered that when you analyse the Nigerian labour market, there is disconnect between the demand and supply. Most of the jobs that are available, most people are not qualified for them. But this is because our institutions are not prepared to take them into the employment system.

We also initiated this programme because we realised that some people are qualified but are not employable’

cessful. “We set your financial goals, academic goals, careers goals and emotional goals and put a system that will help you to achieve those goals. Some of the candidates have been contacted, and will be given direction on the next phase of their lives,” he said.

A Human Resources Officer, H. Pierson, Tom Onoja, said his team had been able to interview 10 candidates, who would progress to the next phase of their career.

“We are helping people that are looking for job find the right employers. We already have 10 people we are trying to get job for in line with our goal of assisting the bank to achieve their goals. We will keep talking to all the people that are qualified, and they will all be contacted,” he said.

A participant, Godwin Nwachukwu, who graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka said his expectations were met at the event. He said his details are already with the human resource mangers from the event, who he believed will contact him later on.

“I am confident that I will be contacted. And besides, what I have learnt is enough to enable be start my own business,” he said.

Managing Partner, Red Media Africa, Chude Jideonwo, said: “We would share skills and knowledge that can help them as they get into the work space because there are so many young unemployed people.”

Partnership with FSD Sterling Bank Plc has signed an agreement with Field of Skills and Dreams (FSD), a vocational training institution, to provide training programmes for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The pact, the bank said, is part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) drive to support skill acquisition among youths to prepare them for self-employment.

Under the agreement, the bank will sponsor the training of NYSC corps members in various vocations during the course of their service year in alignment with its expressed purpose of enriching lives. The lender has so far funded the training of about 100 NYSC members in various vocations during the pilot stage through the NYSC-SAED (Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

NAPE seeks removal of minister as NNPC’s board chair

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HE Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) has asked the Federal Government to stop the appointment of Minister of Petroleum as the statutory chairman of board of directors of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The demand forms part of the group’s recommendations in a communiqué it sent to the government after its special workshop, held about two months ago.

The communiqué, The Nation learnt, was sent to President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and had already met with the group on issues raised.

Its President, Dr. Chikwendu Edoziem, confirmed to reporters in Lagos that members had a meeting

•Industry turnaround proposal sent to Buhari

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

with Prof Osinbajo, but didn’t dsiclose what they discussed.

The communiqué has 14 recommendations including provision of an enabling environment and incentives to increase exploration opportunities, especially in highrisk frontier basins and under-explored deep high pressure high temperature (HPHT), reduction of contracting cycles for services and projects to a maximum of three months and nine months respectively. They added that the lowest bidder concept is being abused through ridiculously low bids.

The association proposed that low to medium cost technical services bids outside operator esti-

mated cost ranges be disqualified.

NAPE pledged to sustain engagement and mutual support between oil and gas producing companies and host communities, and recommended that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), as it is, be unbundled and that the relevant sections of the extant Petroleum Act be amended to meet current realities, and position Nigeria to be globally competitive as an oil and gas producing country.

It stated that the full potential of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) would better be realised if it is empowered as an independent oil and gas industry regulator.

The association wanted DPR

renamed as ‘Petroleum Directorate’ to reflect the proposed changes, increased role and overarching autonomy.

Other recommendations include restructuring and devolution of NNPC, with a spin-off upstream company that is commercially viable semi-public Nigerian oil and gas company with world-class capacity for hydrocarbon exploration, development and production.

This according to them, will allow for effective, purposeful and business-focused decision making.

The association also said participation in, and transparency of future bid rounds would be improved by simplifying the guidelines, increasing the frequency of the licensing rounds, and

reducing the sizes of the acreages on offer. It added that modular and micro refineries be built in the ‘Niger Delta Economic Corridor’, pooling the burgeoning illegal and unsafe refinery operators.

It suggested that the government adopts a strategy of standardised design, streamlined and cumbersomefree approval process, to ensure an efficient turn-around time for construction to full operation of one year.

“Government should accelerate the funding and completion of the new gas projects in the western axis of the Niger Delta to immediately add about 2,000 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) of gas production.

NAPE supports that stranded associated gas that is flared be utilised for power generation via accelerated approvals for captive power plants while targeting top flaring sites,” the association said.

Oil workers seek priority for gas

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HE Federal Government should make gas development its major source of earnings in view of the global slump in oil price, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has said.

The body in a document signed

by Comrades Francis Johnson and Bayo Olowoshile, President and General Secretary, said it was high time the country diversified its economy by giving more attention to gas exploration and exportation for growth.

It said Nigeria’s proven gas reserves of 183 trillion cubic feet (tcf) is huge and capable of bringing enormous revenue to the government if well harnessed.

The document said gas flared annually is estimated at 31.5 billion cubic metres (bcm) about 1.1 trillion cubic feet (tcf) valued $2.5billion is also a huge loss, adding that the waste can be prevented if the right policies are in place.

“With 172million estimated population and our vast growing but grossly under exploited gas markets, the global campaign for the promotion of more environment friendly energy, emphasis on the activities of gas will preserve our forest, and generate more revenues for the country. Based on this, the government of President

By Akinola Ajibade

Muhammadu Buhari will be recording a far more success in improving fiscal resources for the growth of the economy,” it said.

The workers explained that the depletion of Nigeria’s foreign reserves and failure of the government to meet budgetary expectations in recent times, was because the country depends solely on oil.

According to the body, there is the need for a paradigm shift from oil to gas to grow the economy well, stressing that billions of dollars that Nigeria lose from oil was not good enough.

PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates that Nigeria lost $5billon within five months this year, following the problems in the global industry. Also, the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) estimated that Nigeria’s revenue from oil could be cut by about $10billion or 30 per cent before December, if urgent steps are not taken to address problems in the oil and gas sector.

Its Vice Chairperson and Managing Director, Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Elizabeth Proust, warned that low crude oil prices have significantly reduced the level of investible funds at a time when competition for investment is sharpening.

Lagos restates commitment to mining standards •Govt warns illegal sand miners

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HE Lagos State Government has restated its commitment to international standards in sand mining in the state.

The Director, Human Resources and Administration, Mr. Fashola Adeyemi Taofik, said this during an assessment of some sand mining sites inAjah/Lekki.

He said the Ministry will ensure that miners operate according to regulations to boost sustainable development in the state.

In a statement, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, Olaoye Olusegun, Taofik noted that to obtain the mining standard, the Ministry monitors sand miners and ensure that rules are followed.

He said: “In furtherance of the Ministry’s mandate to ensuring a sustainable mining operation, constant monitoring and clinical review of mining methods and its impacts, taking stock of degraded

By Ambrose Nnaji

area as well as putting in place a restoration plan is being done by the Ministry.

“The objectives of the mining site monitoring and evaluation was also to locate and delineate the extent of land degradation at mining sites, initiate and develop land use programme for the identified area, for example, fish farming, agricultural cultivation, coconut plantation, and landscaping. It is also meant to identify the derivable impact of the exercise on affected communities as well as develop mining methods and proper documentation that will ensure sustainable development.”

He said henceforth the state government would not take it lightly with those involved in illegal sand mining as they constitute the majority of those who degrade the environment.

•From left: Executive Director, Operations, Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, Afam Ugochukwu; Group Executive Director, Refining and Technology, Dennis Namdi Ajulu; Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Managing Director, PHRC, Dr. Bafred Audu Enjugu and Executive Director Services, Mr. Ralph Ugwu during a facility tour of the ongoing phased rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited.

Sahara Power eyes 10,000Mw generation

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HE Sahara Power Group, a conglomerate in Nigeria’s power sector, said it is working towards generating 10,000megawatts of electricity (Mw) in Africa within the next one decade.

It promised to achieve it through a combination of expansion projects, offshore acquisitions and investment in renewable energy.

The Group comprises Egbin Power Plc, Ikeja Electric and First Independent Power Limited.

Its Managing Director, Kola Adesina, who spoke at the fourth graduation of the graduate skills development programme of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), which held in Lagos, said the organisation was hopeful that the 10,000Mw target would be achieved, given “a stable regulatory environment, resolution of all the complexities in the sector and capacity to utilise the increased generation”.

He said the target was in line with the organisation’s commitment to tackle the power conundrum with a new approach that is being driven by impeccable work ethics in the Group’s entities.

“Sahara Power Group companies are operating under a new paradigm shift that has seen a resurgence of the values of good governance, integrity, discipline and expertise. The legacy and new staff have embraced this new approach to work, often going the extra mile to learn and do more in the pursuit of creating value.

This is a development that has played a key role in the recent increase in power supply across the nation,” he said.

He continued: “We are generating about 1,200Mw in Egbin Power Plc, which is responsible for one quarter of total power generation in Nigeria. We are ramping up capacity in Port Harcourt and would also explore opportunities for possible acquisition of power generation assets outside Nigeria.

Our main focus for now is Nigeria, where we are laying the foundation for a major transformation in the sector in partnership with KEPCO, the globally renowned power group.”

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, said power generation had been on the increase in the last three months largely due

to improvements in gas supply and repositioning of the generating plants by their new owners.

“Organisations like Sahara Power clearly tell the story of how important and effective the privatisation in the power sector has been. We recently hit a generation peak of 4,800Mw and the trend is looking good. We are working at ensuring that all the loose ends in the sector are addressed to enable Nigeria experience accelerated socioeconomic development that can only be driven by uninterrupted and widespread power supply,” Igali said.

NAPTIN’s Director-General, Rueben Okeke said the institute had concluded plans to enhance the status and depth of its programmes through a partnership with the University of Lagos.

Sahara Power sponsored its 100 graduate engineers to the NAPTIN training programme.

Adesina said the young engineers would form the bedrock of power experts that will extend the frontiers of knowledge in the entire sector to “help improve the quality, cost, effectiveness and sustainability of power supply in the sector”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

14

ENERGY

GE refurbishes subsea AVIATIONtrees’ for growth ‘Christmas

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ENERAL Electric (GE) has embarked on the refurbishment of its Subsea Christmas Trees, to boost its operation.

Subsea Christmas tree is an assembly of valves, spools, and fittings used for oil, gas wells, water injection well, condensate well, among others, in the oil and gas industry.

Basically, the tree is used for petroleum and natural gas extraction, and its refurbishment by GE will reposition the firm for increased operation.

The Chief Operating Officer, General Electric, West Africa, Uzochi Nwagwu, said the trees were being refurbished in line with his company’s growth plans of winning more customers by leveraging on opportunities in the industry.

He said domestic and international oil firms would from time to time, explore for oil in the industry, adding that GE is preparing itself to meet their needs.

According to him, GE offers services to Exxon Mobil, Agip, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and others, add-

By Akinola Ajibade

ing that the refurbishment would help GE win the operators’ confidence at both the on-shore and off-shore segments of the oil and gas sector.

The operators, he said, are happy with GE’s decision to refurbish Subsea Christmas trees, adding that the development will impact positively on the operation of the company.

The trees’ lifespan, according tohim, is between 15 and 20 years, noting that some components of the trees age at some point and need to be removed and replaced to meet the yearnings of oil and gas exploration companies.

He said: “GE selected a number of its trees for refurbishment because they are incapable of meeting the growing needs of existing and prospective operators. At our (General Electric) facility at Onne, Rivers State, what we do now is that we select old trees, remove worn out parts and reshape them to perform optimally.

“This idea is necessary in order to keep in tune with developments in

the global oil and gas industry. As the industry keeps growing, pressure keeps on piling up for operators, who in their own estimation, desire quality services to survive in the industry. By refurbishing the trees, GE is expanding the life cycle of the trees, while at the same, trying to get a sizeable chunk of the oil and gas market. A lot of activities are coming up in offshore and deep offshore, and GE, like any other companies, would like to take advantage of that for growth.”

Nwagwu, who oversees GE’s oil and gas department, said the refurbished trees were in Bonga field, where the company offers services to Shell.

He said the cost of refurbishing Subsea Christmas trees varies because they have different problems.

According to him, the company would be manufacturing components of Subsea Christmas tree in its facility in Calabar, Cross River State soon.

The development, Nwagwu said, would afford the company of opportunities of owning more trees, get more customers and grow its revenue.

‘5,000 vehicles in Nigeria run on CNG’ THE Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO) Plc, an indigenous downstream petroleum and gas operator, has said over 5,000 vehicles run on compressed natural gas (CNG) in Nigeria.

The company said the CNG- powered vehicles had come to stay in Nigeria, since the inception of the project in 2009.

NIPCO’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Taofeek Lawal, said more than 4,000 vehicles had converted to use CNG in Benin, the Edo State capital.

He said over 500 vehicles were also operating in Lagos on the environment friendly CNG. According to him, the aim of the CNG refilling stations in Nigeria, especially in Lagos, was to provide alternative to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at a reduced cost and to boost national socio-economic growth.

He also said aside the economic gains, CNG targeted reduction of unfriendly automobile emissions and exposure of Nigerians to the innovation of powering vehicles on gas, adding that the company has about 10 CNG operating stations nationwide, while others are under construction.

He said the patronage of CNG refilling station, at Ibafo, Ogun, has been impressive with an average of five minutes’ drive by commercial buses and private vehicle owners.

“CNG sustainability in Nigeria is sustainable considering that Nigeria is one of the largest producers of natural gas.

“Ibafo CNG station, near Lagos, is a world-class facility with about 12 dispensing pumps for light and heavy duty trucks. The innovation is sustainable because the private sector is taking the lead, as govern-

ment provides enabling environment for it to thrive,” he said.

Lawal said the conversion of vehicles to CNG compatible costs between N200,000 and N300,000. He said the cost profile of CNG vehicular conversion came with a flexible repayment package and depends on the choice of kit.

He also identified poor awareness, absence of policy on natural gas vehicles and lack of natural gas supply across the country as the cause of poor usage of CNG as fuel for vehicles.

Lawal said stagnation of CNG revolution in Nigeria was also due to the inability of NIPCO and the Nigerian Gas Company to float a Joint Venture (JV).

He noted that lack of gas infrastructure, pricing and the government support militate against CNG expansion in Lagos.

“Nigerians are well informed towards the CNG projects but it can be improved upon. The best time for CNG popularisation is when government increases the price of PMS. This will further compel motorists to think of the cost benefits of powering vehicles with natural gas.

Gas at N55 per standard cubic feet is equivalent to one litre of petrol, which currently sells at N87 with government subsidy. All the necessary approval from DPR has been obtained before commencement of operation,” he said.

The company’s officials at the Ibafo CNG refilling station said motorists pay initial deposits of about N20,000 for conversion to gas while the balance is deducted through subsequent purchase of gas.

NCDMB, NUC to link oil industry with universities

•From left: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Dr GodKnows Igali; Graduate Engineer, Sahara Power Group, Emeruwa Chijioke Iheanyi, displaying the best graduating student award; and Managing Director, Sahara Power Group, Mr. Kola Adesina during graduation ceremony of the graduate skills development programme of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) held in Lagos.

Nigeria still flares 20% of gas, says operator

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T least, 20 per cent of associated gas produced yearly in the country is still being flared, enough to generate 6,000 megawatts (Mw) of electricity, the Managing Director, Energy and Mineral Resources Limited (EMR), Abiola Ajayi, has said.

Ajayi, who spoke to The Nation, said the yearly gas production stands at about 1.8 trillion standard cubic feet (tcf).

He stressed the need for more investments in the sector to monetise the gas instead of burning it.

He said International Oil Companies (IOCs) have failed to contribute to the domestic gas obligation, which has adversely affected output of the power plants in the country.

He said the power sector, which requires about 70 per cent of gas produced for local consumption could not afford a market driven price, which is the reason for the unwilling disposition of the IOCs to commit to domestic supply.

Ajayi said for the country to achieve 20,000Mw generation by 2020, gas required for open cycle power plants is at least 4.5 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscf/d), and 3.5 bscf/d for combined cycle plants.

He also said for the Nigerian Gas

VBy Ambrose Nnaji

Master Plan to succeed, the oil and gas producers must set aside a predetermined amount of gas reserves and production for the domestic market.

Also, they must comply with their obligations or face penalty for gas undersupply, and restrict export of produced gas.

He said categorisation of the domestic gas market into domestic, industrial and commercial, would form the basis for the pricing framework, which according to him will determine the fair price for the various sectors.

He advised that the Minister of Petroleum Resources be empowered to stipulate the requisite amount of gas to be set aside periodically by the international oil companies for a period of between five and seven years.

Ajayi called for the establishment of a gas department within the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to oversee the execution of this regulation in accordance with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

He said for gas supply to be sustainable, the government must ensure, among other things, a bankable commercial framework, gas

investment drive, and address the issue of pipeline vandalisation as well as pricing based on willing-buyerwilling-seller.

“Resolution of issues of gas policy, gas pricing, tariff structures and privatisation will drive the requisite levels of foreign direct investment into the sector,” he added.

Again, building smaller power plants close to gas pipeline routes (embedded generation), realistic enforcement of gas flares sanction policy as well as frequent licensing rounds, he said.

According to him, the challenges of gas supply shortage will require at least five years of significant investments in gas production and infrastructure development, adding that delivering constant power supply to the people would not happen overnight He said there was the need to look towards renewable energy sources based on an integrated resource plan for a more sustainable energy generation landscape, adding that the 20,000Mw power target cannot be easily achieved relying on upstream sources alone.

This, according to him, would take care of off-grid rural area energy demand with the right combination of proper energy storage, policy and fiscal framework.

THE Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) are partnering to link the oil and gas industry with the university curricula so that both sectors can improve their operations for the benefit of the economy.

The management of the two agencies agreed to this initiative tagged: Adopt A Faculty (AAFac) programme at a meeting in Abuja and set up a joint committee to develop a detailed action plan within four weeks.

The Executive Secretary,NCDMB, Mr. Denzil Kentebe, described the AAFac Programme as a capacity development initiative of the Board intended to use academic institutions as a catalyst for local content development.

He said the programme is aimed at facilitating partnerships between the academia and the oil and gas industry to align the university curriculum to industry technology and skill requirements to enable them train their students in courses and programmes relevant to the needs of the industry.

He listed other goals of the programme to include developing a culture for applied research, stimulating commercialisation of research findings from academic institutions, encouraging beneficiaries of oil and gas resources to invest in manpower and innovation and maintaining healthy pipeline of oil and gas talents.

Kentebe confirmed that the Board

would use its regulatory powers and mandate to ensure that oil and gas operating and service companies comply with the AAFac programme.

The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof Julius Okojie, praised the Board for initiating the programme and engaging the commission first rather than going to various institutions.

He said Nigeria has 142 universities with 610 academic programme, assuring the commitment of NUC to partner with NCDMB in the implementation of the AAFac. The NUC boss decried the rejection of various students by operators in the industry due to perceived lack of relevant skills and expressed hope that the initiative will address the trend.

Okojie, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary 1, Prof.

Chiedu Mafiana, said the first step in the AAFac programme, would be to review the curriculum, identify the gaps both in theory and practical and restructuring the curriculum to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry.

The deal identified the inclusion of effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms into the action plan as imperative to ensure the success of the programme.

They regretted that most operators of the oil and gas industry had carried out intensive research and development in their home countries over the years and expressed hope that the AAFac programme will reverse the trend in favour of universities.

Neconde’s July production hits 24,000 bpd PRODUCTION from oil mining lease (OML) 42 operated Neconde Energy Limited, an indigenous oil and gas firm, has grown to 24,000 barrels per day (bpd) in July from 14,194 bpd in June.

The oil asset situated at the Niger Delta basin is a joint venture owned by Neconde and Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the exploration and production arm of the Nigerian National

Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

OML 42 is one of the oil blocks divested by Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC) Joint venture.

The July production is a record output from the asset. The highest production on the acreage before July was in February 2015, when the output averaged 19, 700BOPD. Neconde took over the operatorship of the acreage in May.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

15

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Season of anomie • Robbers and kidnappers descend on the land, even as some police operatives plumb a new low in sleaze

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HE spate of kidnapping and robbery incidents across the country, should worry the government and the security agencies.

Even more worrisome is that media and other professionals appear to have become prime targets.

Just last weekend, Donu Kogbara, a long-running columnist with the Vanguard Newspaper, was released, after spending days with her kidnappers, in Port Harcourt. Earlier this week, Toyin, the wife of Steve Nwosu, the deputy managing director of The Sun Newspaper, was abducted from her home, in Okota, a suburb of Lagos.

As if to rob salt upon injury, there is a media report, that a police man from Area M Police station, covering Egbeda, another suburb of Lagos, allegedly asked for N15,000 from a victim of robbery, one Ayodele Oduniyi, to track the robbery suspects.

Just as the police are allegedly demanding money to do their job, the kidnappers are also demanding ransom to release their victims. In the case of Toyin, the kidnappers according to his distraught husband, are asking for N100 million naira, to release her.

The case of Toyin is particularly surprising, considering the enormous resources Lagos State has invested to rein in violent crimes in the state. Mr. Nwosu has appealed to the kidnappers to release his wife, reminding them that he is a journalist; and does not have the N100 million ransom the kidnappers are asking for.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Mr. Nwosu said: “Apart from yesterday’s (Mondays) contact, the abductors of my wife have not made any other calls. I have left everything to God. All I would say is that I am a poor journalist and do not have the kind of money they are demanding”.

We just hope the kidnappers are human, after all.

Perhaps the government of Governor Akinwumi Ambode recently revved up the state special anti-robbery squad; so they should take the battle back to these hoodlums. Being a state of excellence, the government should never allow the armed robbers and kidnappers any foothold in the state.

To achieve this, the state police commissioner and his officers must gear up to their responsibilities. The reported slow response to the kidnap incidence, in Okota, is unacceptable.

According to sources, the kidnappers whose get away speed boat, had a breakdown, spent about 20 minutes, at the scene before taking off.

The federal authorities must also wade in, with all the necessary security infrastructure and sundry support, to stem criminality across the country, particularly in major cities, like Lagos and Port Harcourt, which are strong economic hubs for the country.

Considering the peculiarity of Lagos, the Inspector General of Police should dedicate a special squad to clean-up the state, of any form of criminality.

Indeed, it is an embarrassment to the security agencies, particularly to the

police, to have incidents like that of the Nwosus’, considering the state government’s enormous investment in their welfare and logistics.

Perhaps, the federal police needs the complement of state police, to make the country safer. That suggestion which we have made severally on this page, needs repeating. After all, the state governments across the country, have made invaluable contributions to the effectiveness of police commands in their states, by buying operational vehicles, building offices, paying special allowances to personnel in their states, and through several other interventions.

For us, whatever is needed to make the protection of lives and property more efficient, should be done to save citizens, from the trauma, associated with a visit by armed robbers and kidnappers.

In the meantime, we join other wellmeaning Nigerians to demand for the unconditional release of Toyin Nwosu. The security agencies should ensure her quick release.

‘Whatever is needed to make the protection of lives and property more efficient, should be done to save citizens, from the trauma, associated with a visit by armed robbers and kidnappers’

Pensioners’ plight • Nigerian senior citizens deserve a better deal ONTINUING reports of senior citizens in pains on account of unpaid pensions, and difficulties experienced under the country’s pension scheme, are increasingly disturbing. This is because the pathetic suffering is no news. It is bad enough that the system created pains. It is even worse that the agonies are sustained in both public and private sectors.

It is worrying that 11 years after the enactment of the Pension Reform Act of 2004, two major employers of labour in the country — state governments and the organised private sector — have been identified as major defaulters, following their failure to fully adopt and effectively operate the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

It is noteworthy that the National Pension Commission (PenCom), the pension sector regulator, painted a sad and condemnable picture of pension operation in the public sector in its Act implementation status report. The document said: “As at the end of the first quarter, 2015,

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‘The country’s pensioners deserve peaceful retirement. The operation of the scheme meant to create an enabling environment for this end must be sanitised to achieve its laudable objective’

26 state governments had enacted laws on the CPS, while the remaining 10 were at the bills stage. Eight out of the 36 states had commenced remittance of contributions into the Retirement Savings Account (RSA) of their employees.”

The reported level of public sector compliance is unacceptably low, and gives little cause for optimism. But the picture is no less gloomy concerning compliance by private sector players.

Importantly, the PenCom report is corroborated by media investigations. According to a recent publication, “Many state governments are unable to pay pensions. Some do not remit their counterpart deductions, as required by the Pension Act, to workers’ respective Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs). Others, yet, have no plans or ideas on how to pay.”

It continued: “Besides, many private sector organisations do not comply with Pension Act regulations requiring them to partner with workers in contributing to the scheme and providing how retirees would access their funds.”

Certainly, the problem cannot be exclusively attributed to the country’s so-called harsh economic realities. It goes deeper than that factor, and reflects a clear insensitivity to the circumstances of pensioners who have invested the energies of their active years only to be tortured by disappointment in retirement. It is unfair to the pensioners; and the defaulting parties must accept responsibility.

The question must be asked: What is the use of the Pension Act, if its regulations can be flouted with impunity? Put

differently, the relevant authorities need to urgently address the injustice imposed on pensioners who are being prevented from reaping where they have sown by a system that is not working according to plan.

Just how terrible the pensioners’ plight is was captured by Comrade Osmond Ugwu, Chairman, Enugu State Workers’ Forum, who was quoted as saying that the contributory pension scheme “prepares the retiree to die before his time, because there is nothing you are hoping on.” Ugwu added: “This particular policy is entirely a policy of frustration and founded on injustice. It has nothing to benefit the worker…It is the lack of fiscal management that has brought this problem on workers.”

Apart from the agonising experience of the pensioners, the situation offers no comfort to workers who cannot look forward to retirement with peace of mind.

It amounts to a double loss: if workers expected to bear deductions from their salaries for pension purposes end up bearing the pain of delayed pension payment — or worse: non-payment of their pensions.

To redeem the system, defaulters should be sanctioned. That should send a strong signal that the scheme is designed to work, so sabotage, in any form, would not be tolerated.

The country’s pensioners deserve peaceful retirement. The operation of the scheme meant to create an enabling environment for this end must be sanitised to achieve its laudable objective.

Health workers’ attitude to patients

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IR: Oluchi was still alive by the time she was being rushed to the medical centre of the school but the doctors and nurses refused to attend to her until they saw her identity card and confirmed that she was a student. They refused to attend to her and that was how the girl died there. The most shocking part was that when I got there, Oluchi wasn’t even placed on a bed; they wrapped her body and placed it on the floor. I told the doctor that it is wrong for them to have done that because sometimes the person could still be alive at that point.

Those were the words of Nkem, the elder sister to Oluchi Anekwe, the girl who was electrocuted by a high-tension wire at the University of Lagos last week.

It is so disheartening how this promising young lad’s dreams of graduating with a first class honour (a rare feat among students), dream of being a chartered accountant among others which has been brought to an abrupt end as a result of her inability to provide an identity card.

My question is even if she is not a student of the institution can’t her life be saved first?

Bluntly speaking, she isn’t the only one to have died as a result of this pitiless act exhibited by health-care workers, across the nation; a lot of emergency patients in dire need of urgent medical attention have been known to be denied treatment based on their inability to either produce a police report or other requirements. if I am yet to read or hear anywhere in other parts of the world where a patient in dire need of medical attention is allowed to die for his/her inability to provide an identity card or a police report as done in this country.

For God sake, it’s human lives we are talking about here. Hands cannot just be folded, watching this sadistic act continue.

Let whosoever that has made this cruel law that has allowed our health-care workers close their eyes on dying patients in urgent need of treatment have it reviewed. This to a large extent will help reduce the high rate at which lives are lost in the country; as attending to these patients will help boost their chances of survival.

It is high time everything needed is put in place to save the lives of Nigerians, since no one knows who the next dying patient in dire need of urgent medical attention may be. It may be you, me or your close ones.

• Solomon Odeniyi Ondo.

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT \Pre-press Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

•Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

16

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: I share your concern for the citizens of Lagos and Nigeria at large and appreciate your efforts so far at holding strongly the good baton handed to you by your predecessor Babatunde Fashola.

As an equally concerned resident of Lagos – Having lived in Lagos for 23 years as ex-banker, now a logistic operator, I feel obligated to advise on your current directives on movement of trucks within the metropolis.

One will not lock up his children at home because there is a prowling tiger outside. You will rather tame or kill the tiger to allow your kids free movement. Frequent accidents of trucks in Lagos have reasons not unconnected with corruption.

Most of the trucks are NOT road worthy and your Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) will rather look at papers instead of real physical inspection. Most of the drivers are not well trained and there is a growing population of inexperienced, underage, and very badly oriented drivers

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EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

Trailer restriction: Letter to Ambode amongst them.

Our roads are bad nationally; no proper efforts have been made to provide good parking / rest/ repair/ replenish points for these professionals. Result? You find them blocking the road all over, go to Apapa, Mowe, Ogere, Ojoo, Pandogeri, Tegina, Kontagora, Birni Gwari, Mara-raba Jos, Shagamu, Ore, Benin by pass, Agbede /Ayuele, , Tarfa, Umunede, Owerinta etc. You will see the menace of Truckers.

What government needs to put in place is proper quality control. For example I know as of fact that vehicles must meet up to company

safety standard at TOTAL and MOBIL before they can lift products. There is need to ensure that similar standards are designed, put in place and enforced at all loading points especially the ports – Apapa, Tincan, P/H, Calabar, Warri, Koko etc.

Private sector companies must be directed to ensure these standards are maintained by their transporters otherwise when vehicles are impounded they also will be penalized.

VIOs should physically inspect vehicles. In as much as they are a revenue centre, their primary assignment should be ensuring that vehicles NOT just their papers are fit to

Is Ifeanyi Ubah above the law?

IR: It is really amazing that it is under an APC-led Federal Government that newspapers would be awash with headlines like “Capital Oil bans fraudulent marketers” (Daily Sun, August 15, page 34) and “Why we banned some marketers from our depots” (Daily Trust, Saturday, August 15,), assaulting the sensibilities of Nigerians. Who, in the name of justice and all that is good, is Ifeanyi Ubah to brazenly arrogate to himself the powers to deny some independent marketers the right to lift the petroleum products they have already paid for but stored by the NNPC in his tank farm? The reward for Ifeanyi Ubah over the role he played during the 2015 presidential election with his Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) cannot be the usurpation of the regulatory powers of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in the enterprise of petroleum products’ distribution in Nigeria.

Even if there exist a legal agreement for the NNPC to store its petroleum products in Ifeanyi Ubah’s tank farm, this is the time to terminate any such arrangement. It is the

height of crass impunity and brazen irresponsibility for Ifeanyi Ubah to arrogate to himself the arbitrary powers of barring marketers from lifting petroleum products they have already paid for but stored in his tank farm, on the silly excuse that “the trucks which they sometimes want to use to lift products were those whose numbers were not on the loading tickets”.

Ifeanyi Ubah is not the InspectorGeneral of police. Capital Oil is not a law enforcement agency and has no powers, whatsoever, to enforce the laws of Nigeria on petroleum marketers. If, as Ubah has claimed in his interview published in several newspapers that, “We warned them (independent marketers) that if they continue that practice we will ban them from loading and we have the right”, then, it is clear that President Muhammadu Buhari must immediately intervene to clip the wings of this former kerosene monopolist who may still be living in the dream world that his protector, former President Goodluck Jonathan, is still calling the shots in Nigeria. If anything, Mr. Ubah should be having some serious chat

with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) over the alleged kerosene subsidy scam unearthed by both the 7th Senate and House of Representatives, some three years ago.

After illegally benefitting from a kerosene subsidy scheme that undermined a presidential directive and breached some provisions of the supreme law of the land, Ifeanyi Ubah thinks it is normal for him to usurp the powers of the DPR by preventing some independent marketers from lifting petroleum products they have already paid for but stored in his tank farm. Well, this time round, Ifeanyi Ubah may not realize he has taken more than he can comfortably chew. This writer will see to its logical conclusion, the resolution of the twin issues of the alleged kerosene subsidy scam and the N22.42billion which the Senate Joint Committee on Petroleum, headed

by Senator Magnus Abe, reportedly claimed was extended to Capital Oil from payment of oil subsidy between January and August, 2011. (Nigerian Oil & Gas, May 15, 2012).

• Nkem Ibekwe, Abuja.

be on the road.

On a general level, Nigeria must insist on minimum standard and age for trucks coming into the country.

Involve government authorities in country of export of these trucks – each Tokunbo truck must be well refurbished – brakes, gear suspensions systems must be certified by an appropriate body before shipment. Involve our respective foreign missions.

Above all, government should fix our roads and create avenues for truck owners to have access to funds to acquire brand new and made in Nigeria trucks.

Training and retraining of drivers must be encouraged and enforced – apart from driving license. Drivers especially truck drivers must, like airline pilots, go for recertification every six months and any employer in violation of this should be sanctioned.

Please put all these in place and get people with integrity to implement because your 6am to 9pm restriction is unrealistic and will hurt the economy especially the economy of Lagos State.

Further more, restricting trailers to night operation will release into the streets more dilapidated trucks because there will be nobody to check them. They will then wreck more havoc and kill more people.

Kindly allow me to insist that the solution is REGULATIONS and insisting on MAINTENANCE of safety standards by ALL players.

•MSB Mahmud, Ikoyi, Lagos.

On corruption and capital punishment

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IR: As their own contribution to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anticorruption war, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama jointly called for capital punishment for anybody found guilty of corruption in Nigeria.

In the old Roman Empire and Greece, it was one way of dealing with criminals and offenders. Some religious organisations also saw it as a method of eliminating anybody who was opposed to the teaching of the organisation. Now, Rome and Greece no longer practice this method.

Meanwhile, the use of death penalty in Nigeria has generated mixed opinions among people in the society. Some people find this form of punishment as a tool which violates the human rights to live which is considered as a fundamental human right.

Although, corruption has grown so deep in Nigeria that it has become a culture of government. But,

what benefit can a nation get from the implementation of capital punishment? What does the victim of murder gain when the convict is killed? These are the questions which need to be addressed by the death penalty proponents.

Some who want capital punishment say that killing the offender will bring pain to bear on him or her. But, is it really true that somebody killed by bullet feels any pain? It is doubtful.

In the same vein, it is a kind of punishment that does not deter or discourage others who might want to commit the same offence. Honestly, once a criminal knows that the moment he or she is caught, only one bullet will silence him or her, such a person will become hardened.

Until the major causes of corruption are addressed, capital punishment will not in any significant way enhance the anti-corruption war nor reduce the tendency to loot public treasury.

• Sunday Ogunkuade, Ogbomoso.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

17

COMMENTS

Ade Adefuye (1947-2015)

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HIS is one of the most difficult tributes that I have ever had to write as a columnist. I have lost my wife, members of my family and close friends, but this is the first time I have lost a close academic colleague who is also a brother, a friend as well as a diplomatic colleague. The difficulty arises out of the culture of the Yoruba of an older person not participating in the burial rites of a younger person, yet Ade was too close to me for me to remain silent at the transition of this relatively young man. As the Yoruba will say, death neither talks of the day it will strike nor does disease say of the month of its affliction. I know also that death is an inevitable end of our earthly sojourn and it will come when it will come. In spite of this when death comes it is still unacceptable to those of us on this side of the earthly divide. I have been reconciled to the reality of death a few times when I watched my loved ones in agony during sickness and silently talking to God and saying if it His will to take them home and knowing they would not survive the sickness then I pleaded to God to take them home. I did this during the sickness of my most beloved wife and my illustrious brother Kayode. In my church we always glibly talk of making heaven but of course nobody is in a hurry to go to heaven. Death is always a difficult topic for man yet it is a journey we will all have to take. In my home town of Okemesi, during the annual masquerade festival the egungun used to say heaven should not be too hasty to receive us since we are all coming there.

I left the University of Ibadan before Ade Adefuye entered there. I first met him in 1974 when I left the Jos campus of the University of Ibadan for the University of Lagos. As a young man, he naturally gravitated towards me being the second youngest man in the department and from that time on we remained brothers until I heard the terrible news of his death.

When the news broke on August 27, my children not wanting to upset me kept the news from me until the next morning when my son was driving me to the airport in Atlanta on my way to Toronto Canada. The whole thing hit me like lightening strike. I tried to call his wife and children who on hearing the news took off from London to be with Sola their mother in Washington. I finally reached one of his children Tolu. What is most terrible about death is its finitude and its irreversibility.

Of course I have asked myself whether Ade had a pre-existing cardiac problem. All I can say for sure is that Ade worked himself to death serving Nigeria and humanity. In 1988, he was appointed High Commissioner to the Commonwealth Caribbean Island of Jamaica and he gave the assignment all the energies he could muster. After two years on the job, he was well known not only in Jamaica but in the entire Commonwealth Caribbean islands. He was on first name terms with their prime ministers. He brought the weight of his

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UDGES wield enormous power. They behave like kings when they hold court. In one word, they can do and undo. But in using their wide powers, they are expected to do so with the fear of God. A judge cannot say because he has the power of life and death, he should just send people to the gallows for the fun of it. Before arriving at such a decision, his lordship must have heard the convict and satisfied himself that the man actually committed the offence for which he is being condemned.

The court is a temple of justice and not injustice. It is not a forum for judges to abuse people’s right with impunity just because they have the power to do so. The power judges wield is given to them by the Constitution. So, everything they do must be constitutional. As conservatives, judges view things from a tiny prism. To many of them, any other person cannot be trusted. They perceive people, except those close to them in bad light and before you say judge, you may end up in jail when you come across a judge on a day he is in foul mood. If you think I am wrong, ask The Nation Ogun State Correspondent Ernest Nwokolo and his colleagues what they went through in the hands of a judge in Ota on Tuesday.

Should judges who sit in judgement over others be hasty in drawing conclusions about people? The answer is no. But in many instances, some judges have been known to

521 DAYS AFTER

STILL WAITING FOR CHIBOK GIRLS’ RESCUE

academic scholarship as a historian of Africa to bear not only on his diplomatic assignment but also on historical pedagogy in their schools where the contribution of Africans to world civilization had been deliberately suppressed to justify slavery and the legacy of white domination even in socalled independent island countries of the West Indies. I had myself taught for a year in the University of the West Indies Barbados in 1971-1972 and had witnessed how the black man was at the bottom of the racial hierarchy in the West Indies. His success in the Caribbean more than justify my firmly held view of the place of the historian in diplomacy as well as the place of carefully chosen professional as a leaven to the sometimes over ritualized diplomatic corps.

His influence in the West Indies became extremely useful to Nigeria when Chief Emeka Anyaoku decided to succeed Sonny Ramphal as Commonwealth Secretary General in 1989. Each commonwealth country had a vote, with India of over a billion people having the same one vote as a small Caribbean island of a 100,000 inhabitants. Through Ade’s influence, the entire 15 votes in the West Indies went to Anyaoku even though on its own his candidacy was a formidable one. Without Adefuye corralling the whole of the West Indies, the outcome may have been different bearing in mind that Anyaoku’s opponent was Malcolm Fraser, a former Australian Prime Minister who had the support of many south African countries which felt a white Secretary General would be more effective in confronting apartheid South Africa and its white minority regime.

Adefuye’s success with the election of Anyaoku led to his being cross posted to London as Deputy High Commissioner, a position he held with much aplomb, dedication and loyalty. After leaving London for home in1993, he was appointed Deputy Director and later substantive Director for Africa in the Commonwealth Office in London working directly with Anyaoku until the latter retired leaving Adefuye behind. His schedule and brief involved travelling all over Commonwealth countries particularly in southern Africa settling political problems and civil strive. He was constantly travelling sometimes at short notice. I once asked him if his constant travelling had any adverse effect on his health. He said it did not but I am aware from well established studies that after a certain age, I think 55 years, even pilots are asked to retire. For 10 years Ade was always on the road or in the air until he reached the age of 60 and having served for 10 years he retired from the Commonwealth Secretariat making this his second retirement having retired from the University of Lagos earlier on in the 1990s. He then subsequently joined ECOWAS in Abuja as a director doing the same trouble shooting job of a peace maker in the ECOWAS sub region. It was from there that President Umaru Yar’Adua through the good offices of Governor Gbenga Daniel appointed him as ambas-

sador to the United States.

As usual with Adefuye, he more than discharged his responsibility as a worthy envoy seeing in particular the establishment of a Bi-national commission between the USA and Nigeria to facilitate closer cooperation between them. He had a Jide difficult job persuadOsuntokun ing the USA to assist Nigeria in selling arms to us in the fight against Boko Haram because of the USA’s perception of Nigeria as a hopelessly corrupt country and because of our army’s alleged violation of the rights of civilians during its military operations in the north-east of Nigeria. Adefuye constantly travelled home at short notice and was many times grilled by officials of the State Department who while recognizing the sterling quality of Adefuye felt he was badly let down by his home government. He was recalled by the new government after serving more than the normal term of posting but had to wait to facilitate the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari in July. It was while he was packing to return home that tragedy struck.

I have followed Adefuye’s activities in the 40 years and there are two things that stand out in his character. These are loyalty and hard work. He was an indefatigable worker who was absolutely loyal to any course he embraced as well as being totally loyal to those who helped him along in his career which will include the late professors J. F. Ade Ajayi, Akin Adesola, both former vice chancellors of the University of Lagos, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu , General Ike Nwachukwu and Chief Anyaoku.

I believe that the place of Adefuye in the history of Nigerian diplomacy is settled. His family can justifiably be proud of his achievement and take solace in the fact that he served his country well. Ade was a good and loving husband to Sola and a good father to Bunmi, Tolu and Baba. His place in his family is definitely irreplaceable. He worried to no end to see his children achieve their potentialities and to settle down in life. Thank God he left two lawyers and a computer genius behind and it is my prayer that God will perfect the ways of these children even beyond what Ade would have wished for them. Rest in perfect peace, dear brother and most beloved colleague.

Power show let their emotions get the better of them in their dealings with others.

They just look at you and feel that they should deal with you, perhaps, because they do not like your face. Judges should have it at the back of their minds that no matter how powerful they think they are, there is a Judge up there more powerful than them and once that Judge speaks, there is no appeal. Their job does not entail that they should play god, but once in a while, they tend to do so forgetting that God is inimitable.

Once God speaks, that is the end of the matter. No judge on earth can question His action. But when our earthly judges vibrate, we the lesser mortals can still query their actions if we feel they have encroached on our right. Judges are expected to be defenders and not abusers of people’s rights. They are judges in order to make society work, and not to turn things upside down with actions unbecoming of their exalted position. If court clerks and registrars do not know their right from their left, judges are expected to know better. They should guide these people and not join them in abusing the rights of those who come to court.

For all the years that I covered the courts, I was never accosted by any judge for having the temerity to come to a ‘’private place’’, which was how the Ota, Ogun State High Court judge defined the court to Nwokolo and co. Is the court a public or private place? The court cannot be a private place, by any standard because it is where parties take their disputes to for adjudication.

It is open to litigants and non-litigants alike. People are allowed to come to court to watch proceedings as long as they comport themselves. If they do not, they are made to pay the price for their contemp-

tuous act. Is it contemptuous for journalists to come to court to cover proceedings? It is not. If it is, we will not be reading about many court cases in the papers.

Are journalists expected to register their presence in court before covering a case? I do not know the practice now, but when I was a judiciary reporter, I just went in and out of court, covering cases that caught my fancy. And I was not for once harassed by court officials. But whatever the practice may be today, it cannot approve of the kind of treatment meted out to Nwokolo and his friends, who went to cover a case at the Ota High Court on Tuesday. Nwokolo, Daud Olatunji (Vanguard), Samuel Awoyinfa (The Punch), Abiodun Taiwo (Daily Times), Sulaiman Fasasi (National Pilot), Wale Adelaja (TVC) and Johnson Akinpelu (Alaroye) were in court for two cases. The first was on victims of a demolition in Pakoto community and the other on killings in Oke Ore community.

Shortly after their arrival, the female Assistant Court Registrar reportedly accosted them, demanding their mission. She wanted to know if they had a letter from the chief judge or a senior judiciary officer to enter the court. Does it mean that everybody, including litigants and members of the audience, must obtain permission before entering the courts in Ogun State? For three hours - 11.45 am 2.44pm - this all-powerful woman caused the reporters to be detained in a room on the judge’s order. Before releasing the ‘insolent’ reporters, the judge, in his imperial magistracy, dressed them down, while delivering an homily : ‘’I put you under arrest. You are under arrest. You will discover that this compound is fenced round; is

that not so? It is not on the major road that you can just come in. If you are representing the public interest, you must know we have a head in this court. I am a judge; I have unlimited jurisdiction in the state. I can even say somebody should be arrested without question, but in exercising my power, I have to enquire into many things. You cannot say because you are representing public interest, you can just burst into my compound or burst into my house. You have a right as a journalist, but where your own stops, my own starts. And if I am the owner of a house, I have a right to my privacy, fundamental right to privacy.

I want to educate you. If you want to infringe on my right that is where your own right stops... ‘’What I am saying is that judiciary has its own right too. You are infringing on our own right too. You don’t know? A report came to me that some people invaded the court, claiming that they are journalists, filming the whole place. It is not a local market and it is not an open market. You are approaching the court. If you are interested in a particular matter in a company, will you just go into the place and start filming and then say you are a journalist? That is what I am telling you.

You don’t just go into a place and start filming and then say you are a journalist. If we said you are trespassing into our land, do you have any defence, answer me now? I am telling you it is not a public place; I am telling you, the court is not a

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204, 08112661612

public place.’’ After the 25-minute sermon, his lordship set his captives free. as there any need for the show put up by his lord ship? The Ota High Court is not his lordship’s private property and the courts generally can never be the private property of any judge. Courts are built with public funds for public use, but if a judge wishes to hear a matter in private, he can do so without venting his spleen on innocent members of the public. Why will a judge receive a report that journalists had ‘’invaded his court and were filming the whole place’’ and just order that they be detained without hearing from them? What happened to fair hearing, a principle, which his lordship must uphold in the discharge of his duty? I rest my case.

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‘The courts are not the private property of any judge. Courts are built with public funds for public use, but if a judge wishes to hear a matter in private, he can do so without venting his spleen on innocent members of the public’

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

18

COMMENTS

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N spite of the notoriety and lack of character often exhibited by a few of our governors, it is still hard to believe that some would divert part of the bailout meant for clearing arrears of unpaid salaries of their workers towards maintaining private aircrafts as was reported by some newspapers last Sunday. If this were true, the planned national carrier has got a boost. A few of the states listed as having either aircrafts or helicopters include Rivers, Taraba, Akwa Ibom, Osun and Lagos. Altogether, the states are proud owners of eight aircrafts and three helicopters with a net worth of about $200m. If we however add the potentials of other states the newspaper did not mention to that of the federal government which has a presidential fleet of about 10 aircrafts including two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets Gulfstream 550and and a Gulfstream iVSP, Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), Cessna Citation 2 and a Hawker Siddley 125-800 at a total cost of over $350m, the nucleus of the proposed national carrier is already in place.

It is an open secret that cruising around in private jets by wealthy Nigerians including governors, and prosperity prophets became a fad in the Yar’Adua and Jonathan years. Nigeria, according to Bombardier, the Canadian aircraft manufacturer ranks behind the United States, United Kingdom, and China among countries that top their orders for the supply of its aircrafts. The figure of privately owned jets according to a Forbes publication some two years back, jumped from 20 in 2007 to 150 in 2012. The Guardian on its part, quoting a top official of the NCAA claims that the ‘ownership of the state-of-the-art jets in Nigeria had grown to over 200 in 2012 from 50 in 2008’.

Of course I don’t think anyone should begrudge Nigerians whether politicians or prosperity prophets who are wealthy enough to regard aircrafts as toys. What should agitate

‘In the weeks ahead they are going to deploy resources towards discrediting the new sheriff’s efforts. They don’t want a national carrier but their own private airlines which will be declared bankrupt after partaking in government bail-out, leaving their toxic loans for AMCON’

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Boost for proposed national carrier our minds is the source of the wealth of some of the names on the list of private jet owners published by the authoritative Forbes. By strange coincidence, it also happened that some of the proud owners of these private jets are also those indicted by the House of Representatives committee probe on privatization which recommended some privatized firms they fraudulently bought be returned to the state. Also on the list are some of those involved in the theft of N1.7 trillion through the fuel subsidy fuel scam who have been shielded from prosecution by government in the last three years on the excuse that ‘the wheel of justice grinds slowly in our country’. Similarly featured are prosperity prophets and ‘merchants of grace for sale’ who claim their private jets were gifts from unidentified benefactors.

In the Jonathan era when ‘stealing was not corruption’ and when implementation of court ruling and House probe recommendations were routinely ignored, government saw nothing abnormal with elected governors and appointed public officials clogging our air space with their shining private jets. Not even the near fisticuff between Governor Mimiko of Ondo and Jimoh Ibrahim, a PDP stalwart at the Akure airport tarmac over who was flying the most expensive private aircraft attracted more than a passing attention from Jonathan government whose only worry was compliance with flight regulations. Thus during the grounding of Amaechi’s jet due to his disagreement with President Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, his adviser on political matters issued a statement saying “If you are a governor and you are flying a private jet, you must do it within

PEAKER of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, recently brought his diplomatic prowess to bear when he pushed Nigeria’s interest before world leaders at the highest level of meetings of world heads of parliaments. He was one of the heads of parliaments from across the world who converged on New York, United States of America for the Fourth Conference of Speakers of Parliament organised once every four years by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at the United Nations Headquarters.

IPU is the umbrella organisation of leaders of parliaments with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and such meetings are only held, to underscore its importance, once in every four years. The summit was a unique forum for dialogue and cooperation between parliaments at the highest level, with the overall theme of the conference focused on peace, democracy, and development as seen through parliamentary lens.

The conference was part of the series of high-level meetings leading up to the UN Summit which will hold late September, where new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be launched. It was preceded by the Tenth Meeting of Women Speakers of Parliament, which held in August.

Speaker Dogara didn’t confine himself to the historic UN General Assembly hall where plenaries took place but went steps further during breaks and sometimes, even late nights, to hold bilateral meetings with Speakers of parliaments of different countries from Africa, Asia and Europe. The first of such legislative diplomacy held on the eve of the conference was the Speaker’s bilateral meeting with delegation of Chinese MPs led by Chairman of the National People‘s Congress (NPC) Mr. Zhang Dejian. There he used the opportunity to solicit for China‘s support for Nigeria‘s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

“We appreciate China for its effort to democratise the institution of the United Nations and appeal that you support our bid to occupy a permanenr seat on the security council,” Dogara told the Chinese team. In response, Mr. Dejiang agreed that there must be a better representation of developing countries in the United Nations and that Nigeria, being an influential country in the world, deserved a seat on the council.

“We support the legitimate demands of Nigeria for a permanent seat on the UN security council, together with the reform of the UN,” Mr. Dejiang said.

Also, agreements were reached on the establishment of a parliamentary friendship group between Nigeria‘s National Assembly and the NPC of China.

The Speaker had also appealed to the Chinese government to review its five percent tax on Nigeria‘s agricultural exports and he agreed to take up the issue with the their authorities back home, in addition to another promise to attract Chinese investors to Nigeria. They also pledged to support Nigeria in

the extant laws…because you are a governor does not give you the license to flout the laws governing your country”. Obviously Jonathan who sometimes moved out for party mobilization along with his vice, the senate president and other PDP stalwarts using four presidential jets did not see anything wrong in governors attending burial or marriage ceremonies using state-funded aircrafts.

Now, we have been told there is a new sheriff in town who believes ‘stealing is corruption’, declares his readiness to step on toes if that is the only way to implement House probe recommendation that those who confiscated our common patrimony give them up, and who also says keeping a presidential fleet of 10 aircrafts even when leaders of advanced economies fly commercial flights like the rest of those they are elected to serve is an economic crime against the people.

Part of his campaign promise was to sell off the presidential fleet. That will no more be necessary with the inauguration of a 12-member Ministerial Committee on the establishment of a National Carrier which according to government is justified not just by “economic considerations, but also strategic national interest, national pride and job creation potential”. Since the proposed national carrier will be based on the Public Private Partnership, nine of the 10 aircrafts can be converted to equity in the proposed national carrier. Some of the states that recently took a bailout to pay salaries at 9% interest repayable over 20 years should also be forced to convert their jets to equity on behalf of the taxpayers of their states that currently bear the burden of maintaining them.

The proposed national carrier will also benefit from a possible confiscation of the shining private aircrafts of those who after benefiting from government bailout of N300b went on to pile up toxic debt of $700m currently being held in trust for our children by AMCON. Governance is all about justice and fairness. And since the new sheriff has said he is answerable to Nigerians and not wheelers and dealers, retrieving parts of our national patrimony confiscated by those elected to keep them in trust for our children through the exploitation of our weak institutions is the reason we have government in place. The alternative will be the law of the jungle which is ‘the survival of the fittest’, which Jonathan and PDP applied in the last six years without ‘giving a damn’.

Of course, the new sheriff in town must expect vicious attack from apologists of privatization who have for 16 years engaged in wars of attrition among themselves over how to keep what they have immorally confiscated. Kema Chikwe in an effort to outwit Atiku Ababakar who was alleged to be interested in buying off the Nigerian Airways established in 1958, came up with ‘Air Nigeria’ using two Pakistanis who according to Chris Aligbe, an aviation consultant and an insider, came ‘without even an Air Transport License, let alone an aircraft’ as fronts. Her “Nigerian Global” alternative failed just as Yuguda’s attempt to bring in South Africa Airline collapsed.

Branson of Virgin Atlantic was frustrated out leaving a debt of $260m for Nigerian taxpayers by those who fraudulently claimed to be fighting our battle. Then Jimoh Ibrahim bought Nigeria Airways after claiming liquidation of the N35b owed UBA only for his Air Nigeria to collapse shortly after taking his N35b share of the government N300b aviation sector bailout. PDP hawks did not even allow Princess Oduah’s Air Nigeria One to take off.

In the weeks ahead they are going to deploy resources towards discrediting the new sheriff’s efforts. They don’t want a national carrier but their own private airlines which will be declared bankrupt after partaking in government bail-out, leaving their toxic loans for AMCON who will keep same in trust for Nigerian taxpayers and their children. What they want is buying off the energy sector after government investment of taxpayers’ money only for them to go back requesting for government bailout and appealing to government for equity participation in companies freshly unbundled by government based on their recommendation.

But since Buhari has made a choice to stand by the Nigerian people, he should remain steadfast as the people according to Abraham Lincoln are always right.

Dogara: Using diplomacy for nation-building

By Turaki A. Hassan the fight against terrorism, describing it as a global scourge.

In another bilateral parley, Dogara secured a commitment from the state of Israel in Nigeria‘s recent efforts to rout Boko Haram insurgents before the end of the year. Speaker of Isreal‘s parliament Knesset, Mr. Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, gave the nod when he met with Hon. Dogara who had solicited for Israel‘s support to Nigeria to help end Boko Haram and other security challenges, in addition to attracting investment in agriculture, solid minerals, energy and tourism.

Edelstein said while responding to the demand made by Rt Hon. Dogara that Israel will continue to support Nigeria‘s fight against terrorism as according to him, there must be global action against terrorists. “We must unite to fight terrorism and not to divide them into their terrorist and our terrorists. Israel is committed to fight against terrorism because terrorists use divisions between nations and even democratic countries,” he stated.

Dogara had told Mr. Edelstein that the international community must find a global solution to terrorism as no nation is insulated from its scourge. He said Nigeria‘s North East region has been under Boko Haram terrorists and the scale of devastation was unimaginable while further urging the Israelis to invest in Nigeria‘s agricultural sector which has the potential to create wealth and generate employment for millions of jobless youths.

He noted that the Israelis were able to transform a desert nation into one of the most agriculturally viable nation on earth and that other sectors such as solid minerals, energy and tourism have a lot of potentials waiting to be tapped.

The Speaker also solicited for technical support from the Isreali parliament Knesset to enable the National Assembly establish its own security outfit by equiping the Sergeants-AtArms. He said plans are underway to transform the SergeantAt-Arms into a modern and sophisticated security outfit as it obtainable in other parliaments even as he disclosed that Nigeria-Israel parliamentary friendship group will soon be established.

Coming closer to home, Dogara held bilateral meetings with president of Niger‘s National Assembly, Mr. Amadou Salifou.

Part of the outcome of the talks is the reiteration of the Nigeriens

of their commitment to supporting Nigeria‘s fight against Boko Haram, with Mr. Salifou saying Nigeriens will continue to support the big brother (Nigeria) until Boko Haram is extinct.

He said Niger had already won the war on its own side of the border.

Similarly, Speaker Dogara also met with his Senegalese counterpart , Moustapha Niasse, who delightfully informed him that he is half-Nigerian as some of his cousins are from Sokoto State. Dogara lauded Senegal‘s smooth democratic transition in recents years as an example for other African countries to emulate.

In the same vein, talks were held with the Second Deputy Speaker of Burundi‘s National Assembly, Hon. Nduwimana Edouad, where Dogara called on African nations to look inward and find solutions to their problems instead of relying on foreign nations. He said Nigeria must, as a matter of necessity, maintain an afrocentric foreign policy because of its commitment to peace and stability in Africa.

In yet another engagement, Speaker Dogara held talks with Speaker of the Serbian parliament, Ms Maja Gojkovic, where he assured her that Nigeria will neither forget nor abandon its old friends who offered helping hands during the civil war.

An agreement was also reached to also establish a parliamentary friendship group between the two nations.

At the end of the conference, the Speaker spoke passionately about President Muhammadu Buhari‘s fight against corruption and pleaded with the international community, especially Western nations, to help return billions of dollars looted from Nigeria. He said Western nations have both moral and legal obligation to Nigeria and other African countries to ensure that monies stolen from Africa are repatriated. According to him, the return of such funds will help create jobs for millions of jobless young men and women and ultimately reduce to the barest minimum, the surge of migrants to Europe from Africa.

Before leaving America, the Speaker took a trip to Washington DC where he met with some key members of Congress and other stakeholders. During the visit, he asked them to pressurise their governments to make the necessary military hardware available to Nigeria in order to rout out Boko Haram terrorists among other issues discussed.

•Hassan is Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Speaker Dogara

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

19

COMMENTS

I

N the past two weeks, I have highlighted the distinctive existence and virility of the many nationalities that make up our country. The reason for this is that the central government of Nigeria since independence has operated on the dangerous agenda that our nationalities should be subdued and destroyed in order to build a united Nigeria. For this reason, we often hear some prominent Nigerians telling us that we should detest our identities as Yoruba, Igbo, Urhobo, Kanuri, Nupe, etc, and identify ourselves only as Nigerians.

For this reason also, the federal government has followed policies aimed at destroying our nationalities – by, among other things, accumulating all power and resource control in the federal centre, by turning the states of our federation into impotent entities, and by banning the teaching of our nations’ histories and languages in our schools. The thinking behind these policies is that when our nationalities’ languages become extinct and we forget our nationalities’ histories, our nationalities will die out and Nigeria will emerge united and strong.

But assuming that we can build Nigeria upon the ruins of our nationalities is a false and dangerous assumption. Countries that are homes for many nationalities are many in the world – such as Britain, Spain, Belgium, India, Switzerland, Indonesia, etc.

In some of these countries, the nationalities have lived side by side for hundreds of years. In not a single known case has any of the nationalities died out. In every case, the wise policy pursued is to let each nationality enjoy some freedom or autonomy to manage its life according to its culture – and thereby make its own kind of contributions to the prosperity of the country to which it belongs.

Part of this wise policy is that India restructured its federation properly after independence, allows much autonomy to its states, recognizes 22 national languages and supports their being taught. Even the Union of South Africa has now recognized 11 national languages. Britain pursues a policy of devolution – meaning, giving much autonomy to each nationality. It is only in the countries of Black Africa that the rulers are trying to destroy their indigenous nationalities – and the result has been conflicts and bloodshed. Those who think that destroying our own nationalities in Nigeria is the way to build Nigeria are trying to create a time bomb that may

A

T last, Lagosians can now sleep with their two eyes closed. The longawaited implementation and total enforcement of the 2012 Lagos State Traffic Law which says that no trailer or truck other than petrol tankers and vehicles used in conveying passengers shall enter into or travel within the metropolis of Lagos between the hours of 6a.m and 9p.m has become a reality.

Last week, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode gave the directive that the taskforce and agencies responsible for the enforcement of this law should swing into action immediately.

For many years, lives have been lost on Lagos roads, particularly in the metropolis due to the recklessness of trailer and truck drivers.

Even when Lagosians staged several protests and made appeals to truck owners and their operators to find ways to minimise these series of carnages on the roads, they did not listen.

Each time a trailer was moving near a vehicle or group of people in town, they all held their breath because people have come to see them as harbingers of death and ill-fortune.

The fear was always in the air that trailers constituted the worse menace to other road users in the state. But how else can this sordid situation be resolved if not the type of strong decision and political-will taken by Governor Ambode? What is the essence of these truck drivers who do not observe the traffic law in the state, when what they do most time is kill people with impunity?

Ambode has always felt that there is already a law in place to checkmate these people. Now that he has made it clear that the task force should begin to impound trailers and long vehicles plying the metropolis in day time, the atmosphere of insecurity on the roads orchestrated by these vehicles has come down considerably.

In all situations, life is sacred and it must be treated so. This is why it is imperative that all the government agencies and security apparatuses involved in this exercise must take the order seriously. In most sane urban places

Yes, ours are respectable nationalities someday destroy Nigeria. It is in the interest of our posterity to resist and stop this evil agenda and make our country pursue the path of sanity.

To show how virile and worthy of respect our nationalities really are, we have looked at our three giant nations – Hausa-Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba. But virility does not belong to these giants only; very many of our smaller nations are strong and respectable too. Today, we will highlight the Kanuri and the Edo. The Kanuri people in the Lake Chad valley had, by as early as the 14 th century, evolved into a large empire, the KanemBornu Empire, ruled by emperors who bore the title of Mai. Very successful farming in the lands of the lake and its rivers made this empire a land of prosperity and thick population. To this prosperity, long distance trade contributed enormously.

Northwards, trade routes connected the empire with the Mediterranean territories to the north, and with the lands of the Nile and Arabia to the north-east. With such connections later came the religion of Islam, and with it came literacy in Arabic.

Westwards and southwards, trade routes linked this rich empire with the lands of the Hausa and of Mali and, later, of Songhai, and, across the Niger, with the countries of the Yoruba and other forest peoples of West Africa. Before the 16th century, probably most of the trade of the peoples of the country now known as Nigeria with the outside world through the Mediterranean passed through the lands of Kanem-Bornu as centre of exchange. By the late 16th century, the government of Kanem-Bornu maintained regular diplomatic relationships and embassies with the Ottoman Empire in the Mediterranean world. The court officials of one Mai who ruled in the first years of the 17th century gave the world perhaps the earliest history book written in the interior of West Africa.

This empire suffered some decline in the course of the 18th century. In the early 19th century, the Fulani-led jihad movement in Hausaland made a bid to conquer KanemBornu, but the old empire defended its ter-

ritories successfully. While defending itself, the empire revived much of its old strength and glory.

Without doubt, by the late 19th century when the European imperialists began to come, this empire of the Kanuris was a coherent and strong state, a state with a lot of proud history. But the British and French empire builders came in the last years of the 19 th century, seized the area, set up boundaries of their own making, and created new countries. The heart of the old Kanem-Bornu kingdom was ultimately incorporated into British-owned Nigeria and the rest into French possessions to the east and north. European imperialism thus snuffed out a strong and beautiful nationstate that had existed for many centuries.

Next, we will look at the Edo nation in the deep forest country to the southeast of Yorubaland. Here, the old Edo kingdom of Benin was, by the 19th century, a rich land of commerce, culture, power and pride. Its capital city boasted broad streets, great market centres, a splendid palace and collections of art, gorgeous royal ceremonies, and an impressive system of city walls. Its central province was the homeland of the Edo nation, and its subordinate provinces the territories of Edo-related peoples (like the Ishan and the Afenmai). Altogether, territorially, it was larger than many of today’s nation states of Europe – such as Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, and the Republic of Ireland. It undoubtedly commanded a first-rate capacity to become a prosperous nation-state or country in the evolving modern world.

The Benin kingdom had been one of the foremost centres of trade with Europeans along the West African coast since as early as the late 15 th century. Benefiting massively from the trade, the kingdom had evolved into a powerful commercial empire, with commercial tentacles reaching out for hundreds of miles in neighbouring counties.

Alarmed by the news of the activities of European imperialist agents in other parts of West Africa in the course of the 1890’s, the Benin kingdom adopted a defensive

Nigerian thoughts mode.

W h i l e still fully welcoming trade with the Europeans, the Benin authorities tried to limit contacts with agents of E u r o pean im-

Banji Akintoye

perialism operating on the coast. But the British were already active in seizing territories in West Africa, and were determined to seize the Benin kingdom.

In 1897, the British asked for permission to send a delegation to the Benin palace, and the Benin government refused to grant the permission. In defiance of the explicit Benin refusal, the British sent envoys from the coast to the palace of Benin, accompanied by some troops. Benin’s security forces ambushed and wiped out the intruders.

Seizing on that as declaration of war, the British mounted a massive invasion, and overran the Benin kingdom. This proud kingdom was ultimately forced into the British Protectorate of Southern Nigeria, and then into Nigeria – where it became one of the many small nationalities in a large multi-nation country.

‘Those who think that destroying our own nationalities in Nigeria is the way to build Nigeria are trying to create a time bomb that may someday destroy Nigeria. It is in the interest of our posterity to resist and stop this evil agenda and make our country pursue the path of sanity’

Making Ambode’s directive

By Bob Okonkwo on trailers work

and civilized climes in the world, articulated vehicles are not allowed to endanger lives and property. They are ordered, based on existing laws, to operate within the stipulated areas for the convenience of the citizenry.

We, as citizens must also recognize and obey laws enacted for the supreme good of the larger society. No law in any society can be said to be effective or workable when the people for whom it is made blatantly refuse to abide by it. This night movement order given to trailers is for the good of all and sundry. The new law indeed should focus essentially on those who are meant to enforce it. They should be tutored properly on the need to see its total enforcement as a way to help and sanitise the system.

It is, in fact, barbaric and totally incongruous to wake up every day to see or hear that many lives have been lost due to the insensitivity and carelessness of drunken trailer drivers.

Let these drivers be made also to appreciate the core value of lives and the importance of this law vis-à-vis the people themselves. The people cannot be living in perpetual fear because a set of die-hard and obstinate drivers have inadvertently chosen to be law unto themselves. The state must take charge.

What Governor Ambode has taken the courage to do shows that it was not a fluke when people voted en-masse for him. His rare sense of urgency in matters pertaining to the people has singled him out as the first among equals. His avowed love for the people is truly consistent with his people-oriented programmes and actions within these 100 days in office. While people from across other states seem to be celebrating confusion and inadequate leadership, Lagosians are daily

being assured of safety in a state where the leadership is in total control of the affairs of the people.

What we in the state should do now is to encourage the governor to concentrate more on issues that will better the safety of the people. This directive ought to place more emphasis on the flawless flow of traffic, while traffic offenders are made to face the full wrath of the law. In compliance with this, all the leaders of various transport unions and other associations related to this sector in the state should make it a point of responsibility to allow this law to work. Indeed, the workability of this all-important directive depends entirely on the readiness of the concerned parties to be partners in progress with the state government to safeguard the lives of millions of Nigerians and foreigners resident in the state.

It is heartwarming to see some trailers moving in compliance with this law within the stated hours. It is not only that this shows some certain level of compliance as it is presently, but this has to be followed with the consistency it deserves. So far, only few trailers are seen on the road in day time. Even the Apapa Road end of Lagos State has been decongested within these few days. However, the tempo has to be maintained and followed up with the urgency it deserves.

This is the only way the people involved will really understand the fact that the state government means business, and that the movement of machinery with reckless abandon can never be more important than the sacredness of lives. If the governor himself

can always display his milk of human kindness in every given circumstance, why wouldn’t the people who are involved in this traumatisation have a change of heart? What it portends therefore, is that the governor is worried about these incessant occurrences to let the people concerned come back to their senses and make the metropolis safe and secured for everybody.

Most motorists and road users who work in Apapa and such other places where trailers have terrorized people for many years on end, now have a sigh of relieve. Many now spend less number of hours to get to work and are therefore thankful to the state government for this wise decision. They all gave kudos to a man they described as specially chosen to salvage the state and who has solved a rather knotty situation within a fear months in office.

The sanity on Apapa roads, within the adjoining streets, both off Wharf road and Burma Street and indeed other busy streets in the area calls for celebration. It is now that the total aesthetic beauty of that area of the state has been fully restored. In fact, most people whose offices are located within these precincts are yet to come to terms with this modern development.

The joy of it all, is that a sensitive and resultoriented governor is in control. When the right leader is in-charge the righteous rejoice. This is the time for Lagosians to do so. But they must continue to give the governor the support he needs to make things work for good continually.

21

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

On November 30, Prof. Isaac Adewole will bow out as University of Ibadan (UI) Vice Chancellor (VC) after a four-year tenure. The professor of Medicine will hand over to the incoming VC, Prof Idowu Olayinka, a geologist. BISI OLADELE examines how Olayinka beat five others to become the premier university’s 12th Vice Chancellor.

• Prof Adewole (left) applauding as Dr Musa (middle) presents a letter of appointment to Prof. Olayinka in the Senate Chamber of the university.

PHOTO FEMI ILESANMI, IBADAN

How Olayinka got UI VC job

W

EDNESDAY, September 9, will remain a memorable day in the life of Vice Chancellor-designate, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Abel Idowu Olayinka. It was the day he was unveiled as the man to steer the affairs of the premier university for five years beginning from December 1.

Olayinka beat Prof Ayodeji Oluleye and Prof David Olaleye to emerge UI’s 12th Vice Chancellor.

The three were recommended after the interview stage. It was learnt that Oluleye and Olaleye tied in the second place behind Olayinka who came first.

The process started six months ago, with the advertisement for the position following the approval of the Governing Council.

His profile

O

LAYINKA read Geology at the University of Ibadan (1977 - 1981), obtaining a BSc (Geology) with Second Class Honours (Upper Division). He read Geophysics at Imperial College, University of London and obtained an MSc and the Diploma of Imperial College, in 1984. He attended the University of Birmingham (1985-87), for his PhD with sponsorship from the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of United Kingdom Universities. He had post-doctoral training as a German Academic ExA search team was constituted. The committee was responsible for fishing out suitable candidates anywhere in Nigeria who may not have applied. The five-member committee succeeded in fishing out Prof.

Muphtha Adekunle Smith from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and Prof. Oluwole

Olanrewaju Adedeji of the Lagos State University. They joined 11 others who applied for the post.

A Selection Committee headed by the Pro-Chancellor, Dr Umar Musa Mustapha was raised. Its members were Prof J. O Babayemi and Prof K. Adebowale, both of the university senate.

INSIDE

Parents petition lawmakers over LASU Law students’ -Page 23 fate

change Scholar at the Technical University Braunschweig (1996) and as Alexander von Humboldt Fellow at the Technical University Berlin (1997-1999).

He joined the University of Ibadan in 1988, as Lecturer Grade II, and was elevated to the rank of Professor in 1999. He has supervised five PhD theses and 76 MSc projects. He has authored/co-authored 41 journal articles, one book and co-edited/written 11 chapters in books. He has presented nearly 100 Conference papers.

He was Head, Geology Department, Dean, Postgraduate School and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic). He is a member of many societies.

‘New national curriculum, varsity requirements at variance’ -Page 35

They shortlisted six candidates and three scaled the interview process that produced Olayinka.

Though one of the candidates (name withheld), claimed the process was not that transparent, many of those interviewed by The Nation said it was legal and conformed to laid-down regulations.

CAMPUS LIFE Rage over UNIZIK’s admission test -Page 25

Factors that worked in Olayinka's favour Aside meeting all the academic and legal requirements for the post, some factors worked in favour of the VCdesignate.

Old students/critical caucus factor: There are some caucuses regarded as critical stakeholders within the university. They are made up of many influential professors, a good number of who are long serving and wellconnected teachers, and some old students. Their members belong to core decision-making bodies such as the governing council, senate and hold key positions including being chairmen of key committees, deans of faculties and other administrative arms of the university. The caucuses are like political blocs which largely deter•Continued on page 26

•A 10-page section on campus news, people etc

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

22

EDUCATION

Corona at 60

Okowa for St Malachys’ old boys’ programme

•To inaugurate alumni

A

LL old pupils of Corona Schools will on Saturday converge at the Corona School Trust Council (CSTC) Lagos office in Ikoyi to inaugurate the Corona Alumni Association.

This would kick off a series of events that would end in December in celebration of the school's 60th anniversary.

CSTC Director Mrs. Olufunto Igun, who announced the programme in Ikoyi on Monday, said the milestone event would not only celebrate the school's success story, but provide a platform to peep into the future.

"At Corona, we have a stable and supportive structure across board. This has been able to drive our vision and mission statement. Over the last 60 years, we have stood for excellence, integrity, balance, quality and professionalism. We continue to scan the environment and aspire to reach the future generations. These qualities would help us grow continually."

Sequel to the alumni inauguration, there will be a charity walk on Saturday, October 3, from Corona School Ikoyi to its arm on Victoria Island.

Mrs Igun said the proceeds from the exercise would fund the nine schools •Continued from page 25 mine who gets what plum appointments in the institution.

Olayinka is said to belong to the caucus that currently holds sway in the system. It is believed that the caucus also favours the outgoing VC. Some members of the caucus attended the same secondary school or have been colleagues on several assignments and share similar worldview and ideology, helping them to bond easily.

Sources say the caucus backed Olayinka to pave way for continuity of Prof. Adewole’s works. Adewole is perceived as a high performer who upgraded the functionality of the entire system and sustained a cordial relationship with both students and labour unions during his five-year tenure.

There were claims that the influence of the caucus swayed the results in Olayinka's favour. Adewole was even said to have attended the interview for Olayinka's selection, which he is not allowed to as a sitting vice chancellor.

However, Adewole denied all suggestions that the process was fraudulent. He also said he did not attend the interview.

He said: "I am not aware of any fraud.

I did not attend any interview. What happened was that there was an advertisement. Council met on Monday to produce a shortlist of candidates who needed to be interviewed and as a member of Council I was there when Council shortlisted. But by law, I was not a member of the joint SenateCouncil committee that interviewed the shortlisted candidates. I was not there. Council met on Wednesday morning to ratify the recommendation of the joint Council-Senate committee and I was there again to look at the report. There was never a fraud, nobody reported fraud and I was not at any meeting of the joint SenateCouncil committee. I was not there to interview any candidate.”

Support from the labour unions The various workers' unions in the university have the back of the new Vice Chancellor designate, who they described as a people's person. They

D

•From left: Mrs Ihonor, Mrs Igun, Mrs Ebo, and Mrs Thomas at a press conference.

By AdegunleOlugbamila

adopted by Corona.

Other activities include: anniversary exhibition (October 8-10); public lecture at the MUSON Centre (November 5); anniversary dinner (November 27) and a music and drama concert in December.

Strategy Development Manager, CSTC, Ms. Ngozi Ebo, said a number of reputable individuals across the

academia have been shortlisted for the lecture, with the theme: “Next generation-Teaching and learning”.

"It promises to be an exciting experience. The lecture will form our modest contribution into re3awakening consciousness into education in Nigeria," she said.

CSTC Director of Education Mrs. Moreni Ihonor said Corona was committed to grooming the Nigerian

child with global focus through its curriculum and co-curricula activities.

"At Corona, we do not only groom children with global orientation, but also focus on training and retraining of staff. We are proud of ourselves and we believe in the dignity of labour. Some of us holding key position in Corona today are either former students or have our children in the school; so, our commitment is high."

How Olayinka got UI VC job hailed his emergence with the expectation that he would be a leader that would seek the well-being of all workers.

Chairman of the institution's branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Segun Ajiboye, said the process that produced him was thorough and that he is acceptable to them.

"In my considered opinion, the process that led to the emergence of Prof Idowu Olayinka as the next UI VC is credible, fair and thorough. All the laid down processes governing appointment of VC in UI have been judiciously followed. The peace that prevails in the university after the announcement is a good indication of general acceptability of the VC Designate," he said.

Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) Chairman, Mr Wale Akinremi, also described Olayinka as "acceptable and respected by all."

With his performance in previous positions of authority, Akinremi said the workers were hopeful of a cordial relationship with him.

"He has held positions of leadership before this new assignment and we at SSANU level can attest to his ability to warm himself into the hearts of the people," he said.

Mr Saka Ogundele, Chairman, National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), said the rooted for Olayinka because of their love for him.

"We are party to his emergence. He is a man that will deliver and follow the good steps of the outgoing VC," he said.

World-class recognition and rich

administrative experience Olayinka is known as a world-class scholar and researcher in his area of specialization - Geophysics. Having obtained his M. Sc. and PhD in two different universities in England at different times with post-doctoral studies in Germany under scholarships, Olayinka, is credited to have attracted grants and scholarships to UI, which may have worked in his favour. He was adjudged to possess the ability to attract more grants if given the chance to emerge as the helmsman.

A senior lecturer in the Department of Geology, Dr Akinade Olatunji, confirmed to The Nation that Olayinka's tenure as the head of the department, witnessed the inflow of some grants and partnerships which brought immense benefits to both students and workers.

For instance, Olatunji recalled that some important equipment was donated to the department through his fellowship in Germany.

"That was the beginning of building of modern equipment in the department," he said.

He explained further that during Olayinka's tenure as the Head of Department (HOD), the department benefitted from the Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd's grant which covers sponsorship of field work training for 300-Level students for five years.

He also recalled that during his tenure as HOD, he developed a robust relationship between the department and alumni which eventually led to the establishment of the Petrological Laboratory in the department. According to him, the quality of the laboratory is such that can compete with any other in the world. The don also

pointed out that there is hardly any of such laboratories in Nigeria in terms of space and modern equipment.

"Sometimes, grant is about the character of the HOD. The way he also related with industry stakeholders was excellent and his successors have been building on that since then," Dr Olatunji added.

Apart from serving as HOD, Olayinka has served as Dean of Postgraduate School and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the institution. His tenure is remembered for his encouragement of scholarship and scholarly publications, mentoring of emerging scholars and capacity building for writing competitive grant proposals. He has an impressive record of fund mobilization and management. He has received travel grants from and served as consultant to many organisations. Sources said all these were remembered during his screening as working in his favour.

Stakeholders' expectations of the new VC Now that Olayinka is in, he has his work cut out for him. The outgoing vice chancellor, Prof Adewole, described the university as "work-inprogress". He said he has done his part of the job, leaving UI better than he left it; and charged Olayinka to do the same and complete the work he left behind.

He said: "I met UI as work-inprogress; I'm leaving it fulfilled but still as work-in-progress. I came on board at a time when workers were low in spirit - salaries did not come regularly. In the course of our administration, we regularised the payment

‘All the laid down processes governing appointment of VC in UI have been judiciously followed. The peace that prevails in the university after the announcement is a good indication of general acceptability of the VC Designate’

First coaching course ends for secondary pupils in Efon

T

HE first ever holiday coaching programme for Junior and senior Secondary schools pupils in Efon Local Government Area of Ekiti state has ended in Efon Alaaye.

The course, which covered such core subjects as English Language, Mathematics, Civic Education, Arts and the Sciences was sponsored by Chief Afolabi Akanni, a member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly represent-

ELTA State Governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa is among guests expected at the ground breaking for the construction of an Information Communication Technology (ICT)/ Library at St Malacys Secondary Grammar School, Sapele.

The event will hold on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 2pm.

St Malacys Old Boys' Association (SMOBA) National President, Mr Lucky Siakpere, said the legacy projects are part of the efforts by the old boys to return their institution to its past glory.

He said the acceptance of Okowa to be Special Guest at the event is a pointer to his commitment to boosting education.

The Head, National Office (HNO), West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Mr. Charles Eguridu, will be the Guest of Honour on the occasion.

Siapere said old boys of the institution were being expected from all parts of the country, including the Lagos State Branch President of the association, Mac Onojake, their friends and well-wishers to attend the ceremony.

ing Efon Constituency.

The course was organised to keep the pupils busy during the holidays and steer them away from mischief and wasteful propensities. It was concluded with assessment tests for the participants.

At the closing ceremony in Efon during the week, Akanni presented the best three pupils in the tests in the Junior and Senior Secondary School categories with mobile phones, Math-

ematical sets, dictionaries and cash gifts.

Akanni, who chairs the House Committee on Works and Transport, also announced that he would payment for the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) application forms for the first three in the SS3 class.

Akanni said he organised the classes as his contribution to the Ayo Fayose administration's efforts to deliver qual-

ity education to children in Ekiti State.

Present at the ceremony were the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Pastor Wole Oluwawole; the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Jide Egunjobi; Chairman, Efon Local Government Caretaker Committee, Hon. Peter Daramola; the Alaaye, Oba Aladejare; Quarter Heads, Chiefs and other prominent personalities.

of all the salaries; we cleared up promotion arrears and we are up-to-date.

So, in terms of welfare which we committed ourselves to, I think we've done well and we can beat our chest and thank God for what we've been able to do. In terms of infrastructure, we added to what we met on ground and I think that's the beauty. We met an excellent road into an uncharted territory and we are putting structures there. We appreciate our predecessors for building that road but we know that if someone could build a road into an uncharted territory, the signal to you is that develop the place and we've done that.

The new vice chancellor should complete ongoing projects."

SSANU Chairman, Mr Wale Akinremi, wants the incoming helmsman to take practical steps to confront issues affecting the workers, and regulate the calendar.

"He knows the issues concerning members of staff and since he is one of us, we are hopeful that he shall endeavour to promote equity, justice and fairness. We are also hopeful of a University of Ibadan that will begin to run the proper academic calendar. We want an improvement on the achievements of his predecessor," he said.

On his part, Chairman of the NonAcademic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU), Mr Segun Arojo, said the union would address issues they want sorted out when the vice chancellor steps into office.

"There are demands but we will want him to settle down first. We pray God to give the new VC understanding," he said.

President of the Students Union, Odesola Oluwafemi Victor, expects the incoming vice chancellor to listen to his students and address problems with the hostels.

"We expect that Prof. Olayinka to continue the good work of Prof.

Adewole. He should have a listening ear and be welcoming to constructive criticism. Most importantly, the students expect that the various issues in halls of residence be fixed, independent unionism be encouraged totally as it is a platform for raising progressive leaders; and most importantly that the welfare of students should be a top priority target of his administration."

Olayinka has already given a response to that. In his inaugural address, he said he would give priority to students of the university.

“The students are going to be the core of our programmes while we will not neglect the staff. We will fasttrack accelerated development through consolidation," he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

23

EDUCATION

Parents petition lawmakers over LASU Law students’ fate

P

ARENTS of Part One Law students of the Lagos State University (LASU) admitted for the 2014/2015 session have petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly Adhoc-Committee on Education to investigate the legitimacy of their wards as students of the institution.

The parents met with the committee, headed by Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, and management of the institution led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof John Obafunwa at the assembly complex last Wednesday.

The students were admitted into the institution last year. However, the National Universities Commission (NUC) had de-accredited the Law programme. But The Nation learnt that the university had made efforts to get the programme re-accredited.

In the petition titled, “Petition on The Plight of Part 1 (one) Law Students of The Lagos State University” and dated August 17, 2015, the parents alleged that the university placed advertisement for admission into its faculty of law through the JAMB brochure for 2014/2015 session.

The parents added that prospective students were duly cleared to undertake the course for the 2014/2015 session.

“Consequently, students were allowed to make mandatory payment of school fees to the university,” they said.

FUNAAB FILE

VC advises student leaders

By Oziegbe Okoeki

However, the parents said they were surprised that the students were excluded from the matriculation exercise conducted by for new students on February 11, 2015.

The petition, co-signed by Dr Lekan Aderibigbe, Mr Ganiu Alokun and others, sought to know “whether the denial of these students to partake in the matriculation of the new students conducted on Wednesday February 11, 2015 was proper and in order.”

It continued: “Rather than redeem their promise as contained in their own newsletter and do the needful for these students, LASU authorities continue to treat the Law students (Part 1) with utmost disdain and reckless abandon.

“Till date, and first semester already gone and eight months after admission, Law students (Part 1) are yet to start receiving/attending lectures.”

The parents subsequently urged the Assembly to intervene so the students do not suffer loss.

“Law students (Part 1) should be allowed to resume normal lectures forthwith and allowances made to enable them cover the lost ground.

While the University authorities should continue in their effort to have the law faculty accredited. The law students (Part 1) should not be allowed to lose any session as a result of this

• Obafunwa

•Gbolahan

impasse. The special matriculation as promised by the University should be conducted forthwith,” they stated.

The parents also appealed to Prof Obafunwa to use his good office to get the programme accredited by the NUC. “It is a family affair; we know the VC can handle the situation. We are appealing to the school to do something about it. Let us find a solution to the problem. We are training the children out of our regular jobs,” said Alokun, Secretary of the forum.

Responding; the VC said he had done his best on the matter and that the parents should not appeal to him as this would make it appear as if he has the power to change the de-accreditation by the NUC, which he inherited on assumption of office.

“If they are begging me, they are giving the impression that the VC does not care about the case. We have tried to turn around the situation in LASU. I inherited backlog of honoraria and I cleared it. People now pay school fees on line and single treasury account started with LASU in 2012. No lecturer can hold the stu-

dents to ransom and we took the power to negotiate marks away from the lecturers,” he said.

Speaking in an interview, Hon. Yishawu said that the committee would find ways to solve the problem.

“The students were screened and they have paid their school fees. We will report to the House with our recommendations after the whole investigation.

“The university claimed that the law programme was not accredited due to the crisis in the university, when the accreditation team came calling.

He said that the NUC has since inspected the facilities at the school, but that the result has not been released, adding that the last time NUC went for accreditation in the university was in 2012 and that the state government has provided facilities for law programmes in the school.

The committee however adjourned its meeting with the management of the school on the issue to Thursday, September 17, 2015, when the LASU management must have visited the NUC in Abuja on the matter.

THE Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof Olusola Oyewole, has admonished the new executive officers of the Students' Union (FUNAABSU), to be dedicated to duty.

The Vice Chancellor gave the charge during the Swearing-in/ Handing-over of the newly-elected officers.

He advised the new executives to stand by the oath of office they took and discharge their duties effectively.

Oyewole noted that the swearing-in was the fourth during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor, promising to partner with the students to move the university forward.

The Dean of Students' Affairs, Prof 'Yemi Akegbejo-Samsons, reminded the officers to be prudent in managing resources under their care, as they would give account of their stewardship.

Olajumoke Peter, who handed over to Dennis Nwenonye as president, appreciated all who worked with him during his tenure.

Nwenonye, a 400-Level student of Water Resources Management and Agrometereology thanked the University Management for its efforts to make FUNAAB a leading institution, while appealing to the Vice-Chancellor to help look into the challenges facing the students.

Other elected leaders include: Vice-President, Olamide Balogun (Environmental Management and Toxicology; General Secretary, Habeeb Oyekunle (Horticulture); Assistant General Secretary, Wahab Ojokuye (Horticulture) and Welfare Director, Ayobami Oyelere (Environmental Management and Toxicology).

Others are: Social Director, Tobi Braimoh (Accountancy); Public Relations Officer, Lawal Olaotan, (Crop Protection); Sports Secretary, Oludotun Aribo (Agricultural Administration); Yusuf Azeez, 200level, Banking and Finance as Financial Director while Ayotunde Akitemi, 400-level, Plant Physiology and Crop Production is the Treasurer.

Workers sharpen ICT skills • From left: NULASS President, Kwara State Polytechnic chapter, Shakirudeen Bako, NULASS Social Director, Dayo Abass, Sultan, Vice President, Adewale Ottun and Shamonda.

LASU Crisis: Lagos students seek govt intervention

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TUDENTS of Lagos State origin under the aegis of the National Union of Lagos State Students (NULASS) have urged the Lagos State government to resolve the ongoing feud between the workers and management of the Lagos State University (LASU).

If nothing happens in two weeks, they promised to take their agitation "to the streets."

They spoke at a briefing in Lagos last Friday where the President of the group, Damiju Sultan, a student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), urged the government not to play politics with the future of LASU students.

He expressed fear that the perennial crisis may lead to the closure of

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

the university due to its failure to meet up with the education requirements of a tertiary institution.

Sultan said: "We believe the government has our best intentions at heart as youths of the nation and leaders of tomorrow and in fact today, so we hope for a positive response from them. We appeal to the Governor, his deputy, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youths and Sports, State Security Service, Commissioner of Police and all stakeholders of LASU to help our students get the best education.

“We may have to take our agitation to the streets and clamour for the progress we seek, if our appeals

go to deaf ears.”

Sultan also faulted the refusal of the workers to fulfil their obligations yet expect to be paid and prayed Governor Akinwumi Ambode to order them to resume work immediately.

The group also passed a vote of confidence on the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof John Obafunwa for a second tenure, in view of his achievements in LASU. They sought the following: "That Prof J. O. Obafunwa is allowed to continue with his tenure undisturbed as the vice chancellor of Lagos State University; that the state government should provide all necessary support to the vice chancellor and guide the university against the continued overbearance of the staff unions;

"That the state government should grant, permit and approve second four year tenure to Prof J. O. Obafunwa to continue his goodwill to reposition LASU." NULASS Vice President, Oluwatoyin Shamonda, of the Lagos State Polytechnic, added: "Since Obafunwa came on board, the institution has enjoyed patronage and high repute in the sight of all Nigerians. Parents were happy to choose LASU as their children's first or second choice of university. But since this prolonged crisis, everyone has been avoiding LASU. How can this be the lot of the only university owned by the Lagos State government, despite the pride and value of Lagos State?"

Ekiti spends N12.5b on primary education KITI State Government spent over N12.5 billion in educating public primary school pupils during the 2013/2014 academic session.

The Chairman of the Ekiti State Universal Education Board (SUBEB), Senator Bode Ola, who disclosed this in his office in Ado Ekiti, said the huge investment by the government was to ensure a better future for

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From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

them.

Ola disclosed that the money was used to pay teachers' salaries, provided physical infrastructure, instructional materials, organise training programmes, and monitoring school projects, as well as learning and teaching activities.

The Ekiti SUBEB chief who said about N70, 000.00 is spent on the education of each primary school child annually stressed the need for parents and guardians contribute their quota to the education of bards.

He reiterated Governor Ayo Fayose's commitment to improving the welfare of teachers.

The Chairman solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders in educa-

tion including parents and guardians, teachers and pupils urging them to pay their dues to justify the huge amount expended by the government in the education sector.

Ola emphasised that the children who are in the center of learning must be properly taken care of from the basic level so that a good foundation would be laid for producing good leaders in future.

SECRETARIES and administrators at FUNAAB have enhanced their knowledge of e-documents thanks to a workshop organised by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Ogun State Chapter.

The 5th Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Executive Workshop was themed, "Advanced e-Document Management Techniques" Chairperson of NCS, Dr. Bukola Onashoga, said the workshop was held in FUNAAB, to enable the university appreciate better the benefits of Information Technology.

She noted that attending the workshop would improve the job performance of the participants.

Topics of lectures delivered included: "Maintenance and Installation Techniques", Mr Akintunde Olubiyi of the Department of Computer Science; "Internet Technologies", Mr. Sodiq Onaolapo of the Centre for Innovation and Strategy in Learning and Teaching (CISLT); and “Preparation of Presentation Slides” by Mr Sanni Waheed of the Information and Communications Technology Resources Centre (ICTREC) Mr. Niyi Orisakiya of ICTREC also spoke on “Tips for Mobile Phone/Devices Usage for Effective Administration;” while Mr. Tunde Tijani of NCS, spoke on “Advanced e-Document Processing Technique.”

Dr. Onashoga’s spoke on, “Research Design and Methodology.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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EDUCATION NUC is sanitising all varsities, says Okojie

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• Mrs Ariyo (second right) flanked by the Permanent Secretary, Teaching Establish and Pension Office, Mrs Sewanu Amosu (left); and Mrs Jegede (right), while presenting to a beneficiary, Togbeola Anuoluwapo (second left).

PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

Lagos plans ‘scholarship’ for artisans •Over 2,000 students get bursaries, scholarships

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ERY soon, there will be some form of empowerment for artisans from the Lagos State government.

Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs Olabisi Ariyo said this at the presentation of bursary and local scholarship to students indigenous to Lagos State last Wednesday.

Mrs Ariyo said the plan to extend the form of scholarship beyond formal education to technical and vocational education is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to the development of all aspects of education.

“The state government is committed to the promotion of Technical Education and Skill Acquisition in order to support and empower brilliant trainees to be self-reliant.

The proposal to provide assistance for artisans such as plumbers, mechanics, welders, etc…is in the pipeline,” she said.

Bursaries of between N20,000 and N50,000 were presented to 1,596 students attending various tertiary institutions nationwide.

Four hundred brilliant students screened

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

also got scholarships worth N200,000 (for undergraduates), N300,000 (postgraduates) and N400,000 (PHD); while 192 students in the Nigerian Law School and Maritime Academy, Oron were presented with N200,000 as bursaries.

The bursaries and scholarship disbursed was worth N282,560,850.

Mrs Omauton Jegede, Director, Lagos State Scholarship Board, also said the Lagos State government had approved the of release of funds to pay outstanding bursaries worth N231,465,000 to 6,940 old beneficiaries.

She urged the recipients to make judicious use of the grants to further their academic pursuit.

“Let me advise the lucky beneficiaries to make the best use of this award. Do not see it as a meal ticket doled out to you by the state government or your own share of the state’s cake. Use the award to empower yourselves towards excelling in your studies. What we have done is to assist you to achieve your goal of higher education and

equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to attain your aspirations and ambitions in life,” she said.

The students were presented with ATM Verve cards of Skye Bank and FCMB. Some of the beneficiaries were receiving for the first time, while were collecting for the second or third time.

First time recipient, Simisola Tiamiyu, a 300-Level Accounting student of the Lagos State University (LASU), said the N25,000 she received would be invested in a small business.

“The bursary is worth it. I can start up something with this. I make clothes. I have decided to make some and sell to my friends,” she said.

Another student, Sultan Danija, who is studying Statistics at the Federal University of Technology (FUTA), said he was collecting the bursary, worth N30,000 for the third time.

He praised Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for approving the payment on time.

“We were not expecting the bursary to come this early after a new government was sworn in so we are really happy. We thank the governor for the timeliness,” he said.

XECUTIVE Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Julius Okojie, has disclosed that the commission is sanitising all universities in the country to compete with global best practices.

He said this in Abuja when members of the Senior Executive Course 37 2015 study group five of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, visited the commission.

Okojie said though there are poor universities across the world but Nigeria through the NUC is taking a drastic step as a regulatory body not to fail in its activities.

To also monitor standard, the NUC boss urged universities to report to the commission when Vice Chancellors are appointed.

Okojie said the Act of NUC of 2004 Cap 3 and 8, is being reviewed to empower the commission to close institutions.

Aside what government is doing, he encouraged private university owners to invest more in their institution to enhance performance.

His words: "We need the rebranding of the Nigeria university system. NUC is short of staff to monitor all the universities in the country. Universities must be up and doing. In my days a lecturer changed

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young women and men, including basic education cycle school leavers as well as provide scholarships to pre-service nomadic teachers in the areas of bee keeping, dairy processing, animal health and production; shea butter processing; ICT and E-learning and sewing and knitting," the report said.

Already, the ICT project has been reported to boost enrolment in the NCNE Model Training centres located in Wuro Nyako, Kachia Grazing Reserve, in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State and Paikon- Kore Grazing Reserve in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

"The benefit of the e-learning activities has boosted enrolment in grazing reserves which were carved out to engender gradual settlement of nomads. In a bid to create windows of opportunity for pastoral children to receive formal education as well as other social services hitherto not enjoyed by them. The aim of setting up the e-learning centers is to expose the nomadic children to the use of

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HE Faculty of Clinical Sciences of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has emerged winner of the university's 2015 debate tournament.

The duo who represented the faculty, Jeremiah Adewale (Physiotherapy) and Minka Naton (Medicine and Surgery) were presented with laptops and cash prize of N50,000 each.

The annual Inter faculty debate which started last month had the theme “Leadership and National Development.”

Clinical Sciences and three other faculties (Education, Environmental Sciences, and Engineering) qualified for the final held last Tuesday.

Debating on the topic: “This House will dialogue with Boko Haram", Adewale whose team

• Nomadic children learning ICT.

Information Communication Technology (ICTs) in achieving literacy and numeracy skills while helping teachers to enhance their

‘The benefit of the e-learning activities has boosted enrolment in grazing reserves which were carved out to engender gradual settlement of nomads’

marks and we dismissed him, but now such is hardly done. There are poor universities everywhere in the world, even in the United States of America (USA), but we are doing our best to sanitize all universities in Nigeria.

"Nigeria must get to the level where we can compete globally. During the era of former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili we draw a list of Vice Chancellors (VC) that can be appointed to various universities, but now that is no more in place. The universities do not report to us when VCs are appointed.

"The Act of NUC of 2004 Cap 3 and 8, is right now been reviewed on how we can close institutions among other steps. We must have that law to operate effectively."

The Director of Studies and leader of NIPPS delegation, Prof Celestine Bassey, had urged the commission to arrest the rot in the university system.

Bassey said the group went round some universities and observed that the level of infrastructural and intellectual development was poor.

He said the good old days where Nigeria universities turned out best brains were no more and urged the NUC to restore the fortunes of the system.

Clinical Sciences wins UNILAG debate

Fed Govt expands vocational training for nomads OMADIC pastoralists now have the chance to acquire vocational and technical skills education through the Federal Government’s Skills Training and Vocational Education (STVE) Project.

A report from the National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE), which is headed by Executive Secretary, Prof Rashid Aderinoye, stated that the Federal Ministry of Education, backed by the African Development Fund (ADF) is taking steps to widen access of nomadic pastoralists to basic education and reduce poverty among them through the STVE project.

It said the ongoing project, which includes training in ICT skills development and e-learning, beekeeping and honey processing, dairy processing and livestock health and production, will improve access to training for disadvantaged and underemployed young children of nomads.

"The project aims at achieving the Federal Government of Nigeria's poverty reduction initiatives that seek to expand access to basic, non-formal and vocational skills education with the aim of achieving the Education for All (EFA) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"Similarly, the project will improve access to training for disadvantaged and underemployed

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

knowledge and competencies in effective content delivery," the report noted.

Through the STVE project, NCNE hopes to increase the participation of female in technical and vocational education from 19 per cent to 30 per cent.

The report noted that training in the various skills have potential to generate millions of naira once established as small businesses.

By Jane Chijioke

opposed the motion argued that it was necessary for the law to take its course so that insurgents who have wreaked havoc, discouraged investment as well as tainted the image of the country should be fought "fire with fire". This, he said, was the only logical way to revive peaceful co-existence in the country.

On the opposing side, Ronald Adimoha who represented the Faculty of Education suggested a peaceful dialogue and granting amnesty to the insurgents, would not only arrest the conflict of interest but preserve lives.

Speaking on his team’s victory, Adewale, noted that he was determined to win as he had identified weaknesses from his past debates. He expressed his gratitude and advised his colleagues to study harder.

However, giving his view on Boko Haram, the 400-Level student called for dialogue in the place of military action.

"I am an advocate of dialogue; it is the key to solving Boko Haram in the country. Going to war will only bring great consequences, because in elementary science you can only fight fire with water," he said.

The Faculty of Environmental Sciences came second and its representatives got Infinix Hot Note phones and N30, 000 each, while the third place representatives of the Faculty of Engineering represented by two students, got Techno phones and N20,000 each.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Rahamon Bello, said the debate was organised to help the students to think fast and enable them to tackle issues in any given condition.

He advised them to always embrace debate and desist from thinking that they cannot do it. He added that the school looked forward to rewarding winners bountifully in the next debate, which is a way of motivating and placing much importance to debate.

The Dean of Students' Affairs, Prof Babatunde Babawale explained that insurgency was a cause for concern for the nation and opinions generated from such debates may be helpful in addressing the problem.

‘Kwara varsity is exploitation machine’

Season of elections at EKSU

*NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

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THE NATION

*CAMPUSES

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CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Anger and complaints have continued to trail the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, the Anambra State capital. While some candidates collapsed amid the pushing and shoving that attended the exercise, many complained about the process, reports OKECHUKWU NNODIM.

•A crowd of applicants trooping to the test centre.

Rage over UNIZIK’s admission test T

HEY fumed with anger as they stood on long queues for hours. Some sat on the floor, looking forlorn. Others were dejected, bemoaning their fate in silence. Their woes were compounded by a downpour, which dampened their credentials and their clothes.

Some, who could endure the pushing and shoving, trudged on; others fainted and were taken to the hospital to receive treatment.

Nonetheless, the majority fought on to achieve that which brought them to Awka, the Anambra State capital.

The foregoing aptly captured the conduct of the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), last week Monday, during which applicants were subjected to harsh treatment by the university.

According to a management source, about 34,000 candidates sat for the four-day en-

•Applicants: exercise was shoddy •School: it’s the best trance examination. It was the first time the university would be organising the exam via Computer-Based Test (CBT), but the applicants were not informed of the development.

In the advertorial placed in newspapers and the university’s website about the post-UTME, the school told the candidates to come with pencils and erasers. But, the candidates were shocked to know the exam would be CBT and would be held at the Prof. Festus Aghagbo Nwako Digital Library.

The applicants got another shocker when they learnt that they had 10 minutes to answer 20 questions. Some of the first applicants, who wrote the test, complained about network hitches that made them unable to answer any question within the given time.

As the applicants moved in for the test in

batches, there was a downpour. But, this did not reduce the surging crowd at the CBT centre. Applicants stood under the rain for hours, with no shelter.

Amid the confusion, five candidates slumped and were rushed to the university Medical Centre. A number of them were injured in a stampede. Many lost their personal effects, including documents, wallets, phones, watches and shoes.

An applicant, Emeka Okoro, described the situation as chaotic. His words: “I have heard so much about this institution and its humiliating treatment for admission seekers. Who can imagine we have been standing for hours under the rain? The process is too slow and the university management did not give it a thought to extend the exam period.”

Another candidate, Chekwube Eze, complained about the duration of the test. “I did not finish because of the time allotted to the exam,” she said.

An applicant, who simply gave his name as Chidiebere, said: “The computer was slow and before I could attempt the sixth question, I was logged out. It was a bad experience for me. I hope I would pass the exam.”

Some guardians, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, expressed worries over the conduct of the exercise. Mrs. Joy Okafor, a guardian, was angry at the crowd of applicants. She said: “This exercise is poorly organised. Look at the candidates, they are tired. They have stood here since morning and are being tossed around. How do you expect someone to write and pass an examination under these conditions? The university authority should brace up and address this •Continued on page 26

•Student dies after falling from six-storey building-P26 •Adeleke varsity graduates pioneer students VC -P32

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

26

CAMPUS LIFE

Why character matters

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HERE are seven sins in the world: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice and politics without principle.”

This great and timeless quote by late Indian statesman, Mahatma Gandhi is a clincher any day and I doubt if any sane person can disagree with it. My main concern today is not the totality of the quote, but the aspect on character. Gandhi was a man of great character. He kept himself away from materialistic desires, always favoured the truth and honesty. He condemned violence and was a ‘celebrity’ whose picture covered the front-page of all the important newspapers in the world at that time. But still he lived the life of character, simplicity and discipline.

When asked about what message he would like to give to the world, Gandhi said, “My life is my message.” And what a life it turned out to be. He wasn’t a great orator, didn’t have a very attractive physique, lived a life of simplicity and avoided limelight as much as he could, but still he is regarded as one of the greatest persons to have ever walked on earth. The reason is he lived a simple and selfless life. He believed that he has a great responsibility to free his country and he had complete faith in himself. He knew he’d play a significant role in the freedom of India and so he did. His faith in himself triggered the faith of millions of Indians in him.

It was very tough to lead the Independence movement of a huge country such as India and that too with non-violence and against the violent and cruel British army.

Gandhi was beaten a lot of times, a lot of times he was left alone, bleeding and lying on the ground and sometimes it seemed that

we are, by and large, not trusted by outsiders in business nor do we trust themselves for reasons that are quite obvious.

The challenging with question on my mind is this: is it possible to reform 08116759750 Nigeria without reforming Nigerians?

(SMS only) Buhari •aagboa@gmail.com While would, indeed should succeed in fixing the problems and challenges we face as he won’t see the sun next day but each day a nation, fixing the Nigerian, in my opinion and each time he faced the opposition, he re- must be collective. The president may be evsisted, he persisted and he got through all the erything right now but he is certainly not a opposition. heart or brain surgeon because what the NiBefore the last election, most Nigerians gerian needs is heart and brain transplant to agreed that we were at a crossroad and trav- change the way we have been ‘wired’ in ‘doelling the same old battered road of the past ing business.’ will definitely lead nowhere. They made a deThree weeks ago, a cement laden container tour with their votes and today it is widely fell off a bridge in Lagos crushing no less than agreed that the country, under President three people to death. Immediately after the Muhammadu Buhari, may still see better days avoidable and unfortunate incident, pictures ahead. started appearing on social media showing For instance, the frontal war on corruption that the same trailer had earlier fell somewhere is gathering steam, power supply is improv- in Apapa before being lifted to continue its ing and there seem to be this general mood death trip. The questions on the lips of those that we have a leader who really leads. How- who waited hours - before heavy equipment ever, it would be naïve to believe that every- to lift the container off the vehicle arrived the thing will fall perfectly in place since Buhari is scene - were asking was on the cheapness of now the “New Sheriff in Town” (apology to life in Nigeria and inertia by the authorities Femi Adesina). While I’m a firm “Buharist,” I concerned in dealing with issues of this naknow he may not succeed without the sup- ture. port of Nigerians.

While we all blame ‘the authorities,’ the root My point is this: He will face his greatest chal- cause is the flawed character in many Nigerilenges, not in dealing with the economy, Boko ans. Why would an individual risk his life and Haram, corruption or infrastructure, but in the lives of others because he wants to earn a dealing with the character of the Nigerian. ‘living’ driving a truck that is not road worLook around you, there may be gains on the thy? Why would an individual, or group of national level to suggest we are heading in the individuals, corner pension funds meant for right direction, but has that change impacted retirees and all he, or they get is a slap on the the character of the ordinary man on the street? wrist. It all boils down to character.

In essence, we must change our character if A story I read in The Boston Globe of Sunday, true Change must happen and a new Nigeria June 28, 2015 is quite instructive. Three 17emerges. year-old students of a regional high school Nigerian is one country where the class strati- chose former Boston crime boss James fication of middleclass and underclass matters “Whitey” Bulger for their National History little when it comes to character. Within the Day competition entry on leadership and ranks you still see bad behaviour characterised legacy. Rather than provide them the reby a ready disposition to cheat, lie, defraud sources they needed, he had some advice for their fellow citizens. They are at ‘peace’ to even them: character matters and crime doesn’t pay. swear on the Bible or Quran while commit- The 85-year-old sent the handwritten letter, ting acts of atrocities. It is little wonder that

Pushing Out Agbo Agbo

Rage over UNIZIK’s admission test •Continued from page 25

issue.I am disappointed.”

A parent, Mr. Joe Orji, lamented the poor conduct of the test, saying: “How can a university, which has no adequate CBT facility, conduct a test for more than 20,000 applicants in four days? It is impossible. The school has subjected the applicants to a very inhumane treatment.”

After the fourth day, thousands of applicants were not able to write the test. They were asked to come the following day.

After the test, applicants took to the UNIZIK Facebook page to express their feelings.

Some complained that the computer kept logging them out, while the time was not steady.

Some applicants, who applied for Law, complained about uniformity of questions.

Speaking to our reporter, Chukwuma Okeke (not real names), who wants to study Law, said he saw Mathematics and Biology questions.

Some complained they got

•Personal effects of the candidates after the stampede

more than one result, each bearing various scores. An applicant, who gave first name as Chris, said: “The computer sent three different results to my mobile phone.

I got 60, 45 and 15. I am still confused as to which is my score.”

Reacting, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Joseph Ahaneku, said he monitored the exercise, adding that some of the applicants were

not qualified. The VC lamented the lack of computer skill among the candidates, wondering how they passed above average in the UTME. Prof Ahaneku said all qualified candidates would be given a chance to write the test.

The Director of Information and Public Relations, Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu, has released a statement to announce the extension of the

examination.

He said the test was “hugely successful”, noting that the university had improved its crowd control ability. He added that some faceless persons wanted to undermine the process because of the strict measures put in place to checkmate impersonation.

He said: “Those who are opposed to the process put in place by the school were quick to criticise the university, forgetting that due process is an integral part of integrity. Those, who came from far places and did not have places to sleep, were graciously provided hostels on the order of the VC.” Ojukwu dismissed the allegation that the tedious process led to the collapse of some candidates. He said: “Yes, some candidates had health challenges, which are unrelated to the screening.

There was a case of an asthmatic patient, who did not come with her inhaler. She was successfully revived after she collapsed. There was also a pregnant lady, who showed sign of fatigue. She was assisted. So, there is no iota of truth in the allegation that the school humiliated anyone.”

The PRO said 135 impersonators were caught and were being questioned by security operatives. They will be charged to court soon, he said.

dated Feb. 24, from federal prison in Florida where he is serving two life sentences.

“My life was wasted and spent foolishly, I brought shame and suffering on my parents and siblings and will end soon. Advice is a cheap commodity some seek it from me about crime - I know only one thing for sure - If you want to make crime pay –‘Go to Law School.’”

Bulger was convicted in 2013 on racketeering charges that included playing a role in 11 murders. He spent 16 years as one of America’s most wanted fugitives before he was captured in California in 2011.

One of the students, Brittany Tainsh, said she was stunned to get his letter because that wasn’t what they were expecting. “He did not really reply to any of our actual questions.

He was very apologetic.” She said they chose Bulger for their project to try to stand out among the other entries and to learn about someone they hadn’t studied in school.

The great American president, Abraham Lincoln said, “Reputation is the shadow.

Character is the tree.” Our character is much more than just what we try to display for others to see, it is who we are even when no one is watching. Good character is doing the right thing because it is right to do what is right.

Character is the solid foundation on which a person’s entire life is based; it is a potpourri of many qualities like honesty, integrity, dependability, diligence, loyalty, compassion, sincerity, attentiveness, determination, confidence, etc. All these traits and many more sum up one’s character.

Everyone has character. It is our character that defines who we are and what we will become. Often we tend to disregard the direct influence character has on our successes or failures. When you consider the individual qualities that come together to make ones character then it becomes easier to understand how character affects our lives. If you are honest at work, it will directly relate to your dependability which in turn will translate into better work being sent your way. If you are discreet, then people will be keener on sharing their knowledge with you.

That Nigeria as a nation is destined for greatness is never in doubt, but the big irony is why a nation so blessed with enormous resources cannot seem to make headway. However, for the first time in a long while, there is a renewed belief in Nigeria. But before that dawn breaks we no doubt need a character revolution.

Student dies after falling from six-storey building

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300-Level Sociology and Anthropology student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Crownwell Nwosu, has died after he allegedly fell from the sixstorey Faculty of Agriculture building.

Corwnwell on Tuesday fell from the topmost floor and was rushed to the OAU Teaching Hospital (OAUTH) by cleaners, who were sweeping the floor when the incident happened. It was gathered that students at the first floor ran away without making efforts to help him.

Crownwell died days •after the incident.

The student was said to be playing with his colleagues whose identities could not be ascertained at press time. The late Crownwell was said to have bled for minutes, before he was discovered by the cleaners and rushed to the hospital.

The Division of Students’ Affairs confirmed the death, but there has been no official statement from the university. It was learnt that the deceased’s parents had taken the body to Imo

•The late Crownwell

From Toluke Akinbode OAU State for burial.

His classmates, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said the late Crownwell was a brilliant student, who had the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE Pioneer graduates of the Kwara State University (KWASU) have alleged exploitation against the school, following its directive that its graduates must pay N45,000 for accommodation. The graduates vowed not to pay, claiming they did not stay in the school hostels. MATTHEW AJAKAIYE (Zoology) reports.

‘Kwara varsity is exploitation machine’ •School: we are not extorting students

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HE Kwara State University (KWASU) in Malete, Ilorin, the state capital, held its maiden convocation last June, with the hope that its first set of graduates would be mobilised for the National Youth Service in October. But, three months after, the institution is yet to release the results of the graduates to enable them participate in the service.

The school’s action has generated discontent among the graduates, who condemned the management’s refusal to initiate the process that would enable them participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

Some of the students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said various letters had been sent to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to draw his attention to their plight, but there was no response from the government .

The students accused the university of using its “extortion policy” to delay their future engagements.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the KWASU management had decided it would not release the final year results of the graduates and stopped the process of their certificates until they pay

•KWASU VC Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah

•The graduates during their convocation

N45,000 each for hostel accommodation. This, it was gathered, is meant to serve as a penalty for the graduates’ refusal to stay in the university-acquired off-campus hostels.

But, the graduates said they could never pay for hostels they didn’t use.

The university authorities mandated all freshers and graduating students to stay in its hostels, on and offcampus, which went for N45,000 per bed space.

The final year students were not satisfied with the arrangement, which led many of them to go for cheaper private hostels outside the campus. They complained the accommodation fee in the school hostels was “exorbitant” compared to the rent they would pay living in the school’s host community.

A student, who simply gave his name as Dayo, said the management was wrong not to allow students to have choice on the accommodation

matter, adding that the school authorities wanted to extort money from the students by forcing them to pay “outrageous fee” for school hostels. He said private hostels are relatively cheap.

“The school hostels are very far from the campus, such that students living in those hostels spend high fare on transportation to and from the school.

This is why many of us decided not to stay in their hostels,” he said.

Another student of Mass Communication, who simply gave her name as Monisola, described the school’s accommodation policy as brazen exploitation, adding that students would not pay for a service they never sought for.

She said: “The KWASU management’s insistence that we pay N45,000 hostel accommodation before they can process our results and certificates is a brazen exploitation and sheer wickedness. How can they ex-

pect us to pay for bed spaces we did not use when we were in school?”

Monisola said students considered the “illegal payment” as “dubious”, alleging that the school management wanted to use the money to pay its staff. She added: “If the Kwara State government cannot fund the school anymore, they should rather privatise it than turning it to an exploitation machine to rip off the public.”

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Gov. Ahmed was embarrassed by the students’ allegation and ordered investigation of the matter, but there has been no official statement from the government.

However, the school management denied allegation of extortion, noting that its policy was introduced in the interest of students. This was contained in a statement released by Information Office on the school’s website.

The statement reads: “KWASU neither extorts nor compels all students to stay in university accommodation.

However, it has made hostel accommodation mandatory for fresh and final year students for their own benefits. For example, fresh students are placed in accommodation where they can be monitored.

“It is equally compulsory for the final year students to stay in the hostel because that is the year they need to take their studies seriously. When they live in the accommodation provided by the school, they will have time for their studies and perform better than living off-campus.”

The management added that, if any student had a genuine reason to stay out the accommodation provided by the university, such student was expected to pick up an exemption form and state his “genuine reason” for rejecting the school hostels.

The celebration that usually marks the final examination of graduating students may have gone for good at the Imo State University (IMSU). After their final papers, the graduating students shunned ‘baptism’ for fear of being punished by the management. EKENE AHANEKU (400-Level Medicine and Surgery) reports.

•The graduating students of Political Science celebrating

FTER writing their final examination, they came out confidently from the hall and hugged to congratulate themselves on the completion of their first degree. After this, the students parted ways. There was no ‘baptism’ - a rite that usually follows such exercise.

That was how graduating students of the Imo State University (IMSU) in Owerri marked their final activities in the school, on Wednesday last week.

Thanks to the warning by the university management before the second semester examination began.

The management, through its Public Relations Officer, Ralph Njoku, issued the warning titled: “No baptism”. He said the university would not condone wild celebration after the examination.

The warning was to prevent a repeat of the wild celebration during which graduating students splash themselves with various kinds of liquids. Last November, the exercise ended tragically, with the death of Chisom Chukwudiebube, a 200-

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•Mass Communication students jubilating after their final exam

No ‘baptism’ for IMSU graduates Level Government Education student, who drowned in a cesspit.

After their final papers, students of the Department of Mass Communication left the campus without ‘baptism’. A few of them came together to take photographs.

This was the situation at the faculties of Education, Social Sciences and Humanities. Students gathered for decorous celebration. It was fun for some students; they drove gently round the campus in flashy cars, chanting ‘song of victory’. Some other gathered to dance as music blared from their cars.

The celebration continued as more departments finish exams. The graduating students were clad in customised shirts, with inscriptions, such as “4years = 8 semesters”, “1,460 days = 71courses”, “graduating = #GodWin”, among others.

Despite the school warning, some students still held ‘baptism’ in their offcampus hostels. Graduating students living in such hostels stayed indoors to prevent being caught. But, some offered themselves for ‘baptism’ to remember the moment.

“I feel better and free,” said Frank Eluagu, a graduating Mass Communication student. He said his graduation was a step towards the achieving his dream. “I feel free not to waste my time and resources but to engage myself in activities that are geared towards achieving my dream,” he added.

Samuel Mbagwu, a graduating Business Administration student, knelt down at entrance of his department, praying: “I thank God for seeing me through without any carry over or missing script.”

The celebration was spectacular at

the Department of Political Science, graduating students, where were clad in customised clothes, entertained their junior colleagues with different dance steps. One of them, who is a hip-hop artiste, invited fellow artistes to thrill his colleagues.

At the Faculty of Sciences, the tone of the celebration was low. As the graduating science students left the examination hall, some of them left the campus hurriedly.

Chidera Okeke, a graduating Physics student, said: “I am happy everything is over. It’s the Lord’s doing and I pray it will not be the end of our lives.”

Recalling her activities as president of Faculty of Science, Chidera said: “I will be remembered for the change I introduced in my faculty politics. I worked with the Dean and also leaders of the Students’ Union. I am part of the students, who revived the

union and this is a great achievement for me. Today, I am leaving the school a fulfilled man.”

At the Department of Optometry, students gathered to pray for successful completion of the six-years course.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Christian Duru, a graduating Optometry student, said: “After years of studies, I am delighted that my hard work and effort have yielded success.

I will forever cherish the relationship I had with my lecturers and colleagues.”

Christian also recalled his political activities, saying: “I was a legislator in the Students’ Union parliament, where I was the chairman of a committee that wrote a new constitution for the union.

As the National President of Nigerian Optometric Students Association (NOSA), I facilitate acquisition of new bus for students’ use. I will be remembered for these activities and I encourage my junior colleagues to remain focus to achieve their academic pursuit.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE Aim for excellence, provost urges alumni

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HE Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Umunze, Anambra State, Prof Josephat Ogbuagu, has urged ex-students of college of education to always aim for excellence in their fields and make good impact on the society. This, he said, is the only way people can respect graduates of colleges of education.

Ogbuagu spoke at the third national meeting of Conference of Alumni Association in Colleges of Education in Nigeria (COAACEIN) held at Ultramodern Hall of the College. The provost charged the alumni to engage in selfless service that would uplift mankind in line with the values of respective institutions.

He said: “I urge you to always exhibit the same strength of character and commitment to your duty wherever you may be and in whatever you do. Never should you forget where you started your life.”

•Prof Ogbuagu (middle) with members of the alumni association

From Emeka Chukwuemeka AWKA He assured that the college would continue to support its alumni, who are doing the institution proud in diverse areas.

Speaking on the theme: Refocusing alumni in Nigeria for strategic planning, Dr Chike Obienyem, guest lecturer, said the theme of the conference was pertinent, noting

that the event was to discuss the need to refocus the alumni association for strategic planning and action that would harness the capacity of college graduates towards education development.

During a courtesy visit to the provost, the National President of the alumni association, Dr J.B. Ugochukwu, hailed Ogbuagu for the college’s support in hosting the event. He appealed to the provost to build a framework that would

sustain the progress the institution achieved in the past years, noting that the alumni had confidence in the college management.

Ugochukwu said that COAACEIN’s aim was to provide a platform for colleges of education alumni to network and partner for improvement of teaching and learning standard. He said the body had been promoting development in colleges by interfacing with education stakeholders for the advancement

of teachers’ education and policy direction.

He called on college managements to seek partnership with the association to unite their ex-students for the purpose of education development.

Highlights of the event included the conferment of honours and Awards of Excellence on Ogbuagu and Registrar, Sir A.I. Udensi, for smooth administration of the school.

Union hails WAPOGA gold medalist

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•Otoghile (middle) with other guests unveiling the magazine

Union unveils Titans of Valour

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INAL year students of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka in Lagos have unveiled the third edition of Titians of Valour, a campus magazine.

The magazine is published by Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders as their parting gift to students. The magazine contains the union leaders’ activities during their tenure, the school philosophy and developmental programmes.

The cover page of the third edition has the picture of the Registrar, Mr Henry Otoghile, and an alumnus of the school, Olakunle Ogunrombi (K-Peace), who won the Nigerian Idol 2015.

The presentation of the magazine was graced by staff of Access Bank.

Some students of the college entertained the guests.

Otoghile unveiled the magazine with N50,000. He was supported by professor of Philosophy at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Jim Unah, a senior staff member, Mr Sunday Oselu, and a lecturer at the Department of Fine Art, Dr Demola Azeez.

Otoghile described the magazine as creative and inspiring work, saying it showed what student could do if they explore their innovation.

He advised the outgoing members

From Omolara Ogunwale AKOKA of the union to be determined and work hard.

He said: “The college has not only trained the students on how to teach, we also teach them what to teach others and what to do with the knowledge they take away from the college. The magazine will make a good reading. I advise all students to get a copy each.”

The SUG President, Tolulope Bolumade, praised the union’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Samuel Kolawole, for coordinating the production of the magazine, saying the publication was to celebrate students and encourage them to strive for the best.

He said: “The magazine gives students opportunity to see and read all our achievements so far.

It is educative and promotes the image of the school, so that people can see that the college produces good students.”

K-Peace described the college as a ground of talents, saying the school helped him to shaped his music talent. He said: “The magazine is a good development, because when I was in school there was nothing like this. I want to advise students to believe in themselves and pursue their passion.”

Samuel, the union PRO, who is also the magazine’s Editor-inChief, said he was happy by the publication, saying: “The college is a campus of excellent, tenacity, strength and greatness.”

A student, Ajibloa Olamikun, said the production of the magazine inspired him. “The magazine will be a veritable source of information to all students,” he said.

‘The college has not only trained the students on how to teach, we also teach them what to teach others and what to do with the knowledge they take away from the college.

The magazine will make a good reading. I advise all students to get a copy each’

HE Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) has congratulated an Accounting student of the institution, Afusat Oyegoke, who won a gold medal in the Female Single Lawn tennis in the justconcluded West Africa Polytechnic Games (WAPOGA) held in Ghana.

The 25-year-old student also won gold medal in lawn tennis at the Nigeria Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA).

In a statement by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Sodiq Olorunnisola, the union said Afusat made the institution proud at the contest.

He said: “We are particularly happy that Afusat, who represented OFFA POLY in lawn tennis, made the institution proud, and we believe the feat calls for celebration. It is our hope that she will be admitted into International Tennis Federation (ITF) for her to achieve more.

“The union equally appreciates the efforts of the Rector, Dr Mufutau Olatinwo, Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, and Majority Leader of the Kwara House of Assem-

From Hameed Muritala ILORIN bly, Hon. Taiwo Hassan, for supporting the polytechnic’s team in Ghana.”

The assistant coach of the institution team, Samuel Adekanbi, said the school participated in six events, which as basketball, volleyball, taekwondo, athletics, badminton and lawn tennis. He added that the school finished in 18th position on the medals list.

About 50 polytechnics across West Africa participated in the competition, which saw the host institution, Accra Polytechnic, leading the medals table.

The SUG president, Imran Yusuf, said it was necessary to celebrate the gold medalist and all students, who represented OFFA POLY in the contest.

Suleiman Salahudeen, a Mathematics and Statistics student, said he was happy to participate in the competition, saying that it was an avenue for young students to showcase their talents.

‘Why varsities must tackle students’ cohabitation’

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ERTIARY institutions must design institutional framework that will discourage students to engage in cohabitation on campus. This was the view of stakeholders at a summit tagged: Cohabitation among students, organised by Division of Students’ Affairs of the Adekunle Ajasin University, AkokoAkoko (AAUA), Ondo State, in conjunction with Airtel Nigeria.

The event was held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Hall on Tuesday.

Leading the speakers was the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, who decried vices among students. He said students’ immoral acts had eroded the cultural values for which all ethnic groups are known.

The university administrator described cohabitation as a sin against morality, calling on all education stakeholders to introduce policies that would discourage the vice.

He said: “Findings by researchers have proved that cohabitation among unmarried students has been on the rise in recent times and if deliberate steps are not

From Richard Adura-Ilesanmi AAUA taken by education stakeholders, including managements of tertiary institutions, parents and religious leaders, this anomaly would continue to be on the rise and the society will ultimately suffer for it.”

Earlier, the Dean, Students’ Affairs (DSA), Dr Bolanle Ogungbamila, identified inadequate hostels as one of the factors responsible for the high rate of cohabitation, stressing that it portends grave implication for students’ future.

In his lecture titled: Campus cohabitation: A negative attitudinal disposition that debases the dignity of womanhood, AAUA’s Director of Women Studies and Development Centre (WSDC), Dr Nireti Duyilemi, c autioned students against indulging in the act.

Some of the participants, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, praised the organisers for showing them the dangers of cohabitation and they could avoid it.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE Mass Comm. applicant emerges best in AAUA test

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PROSPECTIVE student of Mass Communication, Fuad Oriloye, has emerged overall best candidate among 17,717 applicants that sat for the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA in Ondo State.

Fuad scored 259 in UTME and had 86 per cent in the entrance exam of the university.

Mercy Akinmusire, a Direct Entry candidate, who applied to study English Education, came second, scoring 82 per cent.

Other candidates who had high scores include Emmanuel Adeniji, a Direct Entry candidate of Mass Communication, Busayo Leramo, a prospective History and Interna-

•Participants at the seminar

NGO engages ladies in leadership talk

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EPRESENTATIVES of Akintola and Akpabio Halls of Residence at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have collaborated with Wuliareads Initiative, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working on literacy development, to organise Young Women Open Forum for female undergraduates of the institution.

Tagged: #ProjectHerLifeMatters, the forum was aimed at improving participants’ knowledge in literature, leadership, health and career. The facilitators engaged the ladies on challenges they face in the university. The forum was facilitated by a team of four young women, including the Students’ Union Government (SUG) Vice President, Chinaza Nebo, a beauty queen, Diamond Okoh-Obiahu, and a blogger, Ada Monique.

The speakers discussed how they were being able to successfully combine their academics with their passion.

A medical practitioner, Dr Oluchi

From Chikezie Mbegbu UNN Ayogu of Bishop Shanahan Hospital in Nsukka, engaged the ladies on personal hygiene and how they could combat infections from their environment. There was also a free counselling session, where Dr Ayogu met oneon-one with the participants.

Making vote of thanks, the NGO founder, Chimezie Anajama, said many ladies faced challenges because they lacked pragmatic power to deal with problems.

She said: “Many students end up discovering their talents while they are in university. Some, who tried to do things on their own, may even end up not knowing how to accomplish those things. This is the reason we engage ladies in peer review to show participants that some of their colleagues are already flying even as undergraduates.”

“Women are partners in nationbuilding and we must build good fu-

Union pledges support for NAPS leadership

S •Chimezie

ture for ourselves. We must be literate and equipped for that future.

Women must know that literacy is not just about learning to read and write, but also using our talents to build a society we want.”

Chimezie urged the participants to read beyond their academic scopes.

She added: “It is not really the books you read and your exams that define who you are, but the knowledge you have outside the classrooms play huge impact.”

•The ex-Corps members with some of the materials donated.

Ex-Corps members donate to IDPs

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X-CORPS members, who are recipients of the 2014 national award of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), on Saturday, held a free medical outreach at camp of Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs), Wassa in Federal Capital Territory(FCT).

The outreach, which was held in partnership with members of the medical and health Community Development Service (CDS) group, had the displaced persons received relief materials and free medical services.

The youths arrived at the camp early to mobilise the IDPs for the event. The displaced persons were divided into various groups, with preference given to pregnant women and nursing mothers. The displaced women received free ante-natal care and counselling on pregnancy challenges, safe

By Hannah Ojo delivery and infant care.

The facilitators also conducted malaria test and HIV screening on IDPs, which had some of them receiving free medications and treatment. There was also free eye screening for them, where those with eye problems were given corrective lenses.

Children among the IDPs were engaged in fun-filled social activities to enhance their wellbeing, after which they were educated on personal and environmental hygiene.

The outreach was personally funded by the ex-Corps members and some non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The youths donated books, writing materials and relief items, such as mosquito nets, cartons of noodles,

From Solomon Odeniyi AAUA tional Studies student, and John Bamidele, who also put in for History and International Studies. They all had 80 per cent.

Reacting to the development, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic, Prof Oluyemisi Adebowale, expressed delight at the development, saying: “It is a toast and a reflection of the quality of the examinations conducted by the university and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).”

She congratulated the outstanding candidates, saying the university would not only admit them but was also keen to see them joining list of its best students.

About 5,513 of the candidates, who sat for the test, scored 45 per cent and above.

bags of rice, bags of sugar, bags of garri and wheat, among others.

They also set up a mini-clinic, which will be operated by community health workers domiciled in the community.

A member of the team, Yusuf Ibrahim, said the challenges in IDP camps prompted them to carry out the outreach as part of their post-NYSC community development service.

He said: “We are moved by the plight of the IDPs. We call on other well-meaning people both in the public and private sectors to extend the same gesture to the people displaced from their homes by insurgency. We urge people to assist this vulnerable population in the country. They deserve our collective support in improving their living conditions and ultimately resettling and integrating them back to their communities.”

TUDENTS of Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State have pledged their support for the Senate President of National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Jeremiah Friday.

Jeremiah is a Mechanical Engineering student of the school.

After his emergence, Jeremiah visited the PTI Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders to thank them for their support. He was received by the union president, Akamune Oke, who acknowledged his bravery. Akamune promised the union would continue support the Senate President.

A student, Adedotun Olomolatan, praised the union for supporting Jeremiah’s aspiration, saying the feat would bring honour to the institute. The SUG General Secretary, Richard Nwanne, said he was happy a student of the school was elected during his time, wishing Jeremiah good luck in his endeavour.

Jeremiah described his victory as God’s doing, while dedicating the feat to PTI students.

Over 112 polytechnics and colleges of education participated in the NAPS national convention, where a new leadership was

UNN matriculates sandwich students

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HE University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has matriculated over 800 students for its sandwich programme. The event held on Saturday on the main campus.

The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Benjamin Ozumba, represented by the Director of Sandwich Programme, Prof Julia Kogu, urged the students to aim for excellence, saying the event marked the beginning of their academic journey in the school.

Prof Kogu urged the students to be resilient and take pragmatic approach to their studies, saying the management had put measures in place to ensure smooth running of the programme. She advised the sandwich students to compete with their counterpart running regular academic programme, noting that

•Jeremiah

From Gbenga Ojo PTI elected to pilot the affairs of the association The convention was held in August at the Kogi State Polytechnic in Lokoja, where Olugbenga Adeyeye, a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida (BIDA POLY) emerged president.

Other elected members of executive include Vice President for National Affairs, Ibraheem Seriki, Vice President for External Affairs, Olasunkanmi Ijadunoye, Vice President for Special Duties, Freedom Omoniyi, General Secretary, Mohammed Tijjani, Assistant General Secretary, Benedict Olalere Others are Deputy Senate President, Abdulmojeed Oyeniyi, Public Relations Officer, Hammed Olugbede, Director of Sport, Quadri Bamidele, Treasurer, Memuna Saidu, Financial Secretary, Nuhu Abubakar, National Provost, Olayiwola Abubakar, and Ex-officio, Angina Chidiebube.

From Cherechukwu Okoyea PTI the school maintained the same syllabus for all students.

A senior administrator in Students’ Affairs Unit, Mrs Uloma Anosike, said the sandwich programme would not be run concurrently with the regular programme, saying: “We have arranged the school programmes in a way that, the regular students will vacate the hostels before their counterparts in sandwich resume session.”

A member of teaching staff of the Faculty of Education, Mr E. Eleke, advised the freshers to use the occasion of their matriculation to maximise their academic strength.

Eleke said: “People must understand that sandwich is not for the elderly only but also for people who could not get admission to into regular programme.”

A matriculating student in Guardian and Counselling Department, Sunday Emmanuel, said:” “I am happy being admitted into UNN. I will study hard to ensure that I finish the programme with good grade.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE Faculties of Science and Social Sciences of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) were alive with electoral activities as students went to the polls to elect their leaders. OLATUNJI AWE (400-Level Political Science) and TOLULOPE ODUSANYA (300Level Linguistics) report.

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S the largest in Ekiti State University (EKSU), the Faculty of Science activities usually draw students’ attention. So did its election. Its chapter of the National Association of Science Students (NASS) held election, penultimate Wednesday, at the Science Pavilion.

The election was not without drama from the beginning to the end. First, an argument ensued when supporters of one of the presidential candidates, Oluwadamilola Ibikunle, pointed out an error in the spelling of his name on the ballot paper. Members of the electoral committee immediately corrected the mistake to avoid a crisis.

Because of the correction, the election, which was billed to start at 8am, was delayed for two hours, drawing reactions from supporters of other candidates.

At 10:30am, voting started, with the outgoing president, Oluwatosin Fajire, casting the first ballot. Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE afterwards, he said: “The election must be free and fair. If anybody misbehaves, such person would be handed over to the school security.”

The document that would make students eligible to vote was NASS receipt or the association’s identity

Season of of elections elections Season at EKSU EKSU at •Science students being accredited during the election

•Political Science students casting their ballots

card. Students turned out massively for the exercise, but many of them did not see their names on the voter’s list. Some had their identity cards and receipt, but their names were missing on the list.

Many students left in disappointment, but the exercise continued.

The NASS presidency was a keen contest between Oluwadamilola, a Chemistry student, and Ayodele Eyinfunjowo, a Statistics student.

While students of Department of Biochemistry had their names on the voter’s list, many of them were unable to vote. Their president, Isaac Oyegbade, said the election coincided with their continuous assessment test in the department.

He said: “If one of us is contesting election, this is how he would have

because of inadequate preparation by the electoral body.

Students turned out en mass, but many could not vote because of the scanty information about requirement. Some, who did not have their identity cards with them, protested their exclusion, calling the electoral committee not to disenfranchise them. It was later resolved that students should be allowed to present electronic receipts as alternative for identity cards.

At 1:20pm, the electoral committee members were overwhelmed by a crowd of students, who wanted to cast their ballots. School security officers moved in to control the crowd.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that

been edged out. We want the electoral committee to ensure the next election is held on time, so that Biochemistry students can have opportunity to participate and choose people who will lead the faculty.”

The voting ended at 4pm as counting started immediately. At 10:50pm, Oluwadamilola was declared president-elect, having polled a total of 713 votes, against his opponent Ayodele, who scored 621 votes. Oluwadamilola’s supporters moved round the faculty in jubilation.

On Friday, students of the Faculty of Social Sciences also went to the poll to elect their leaders.

The exercise, which held in front of the faculty, started at 11am, some three hours behind schedule

some security officers used electric bats to control the crowd, a development that led to some students raising objection on the use of ‘force’ against them. This led to commotion at the venue for a few minutes. It took the intervention of the Chief Security Officer to restore order.

The voting ended at 4:15pm and counting started afterwards. At 11:30pm, the election results were announced. Ilemikekun Oluwaseun Abiodun, a 300-Level Political Science student, was declared president-elect of the faculty, with 674 votes against his opponent’s 661 votes.

Five of the nine executive positions of the faculty were won by students of the Department of Political Science.

Members of the choir of the Saint Albert Catholic Church of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) have organised a musical concert to unveil songs that won them awards and accolades. EDDY UWOGHIREN (300-Level Medicine and Surgery) reports.

•The male choristers before the event

At their musical best T

•The choristers after the launch of the album

HEY were were clad in navy blue flowing gowns as they filed out to the stage for their performance. Expectation of the audience was high; they expected a good performance from the group. Then, they unleashed the melody in unison. The tunes excited the audience, with some shouting at the top of their voices, applauding the beautiful rendition.

The choir master was at his best, controlling the notes from choristers. The singers performed choreographed dance steps.

That was the scene at the Saint Albert Catholic Church of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) last Saturday, when student-choristers of the church held a musical concert.

The much-publicised event drew

a massive turnout of students, who arrived early for a red-carpet session.

Speaking on the aim of the event, Emmanuel Aikodon, the choir master and a 200-Level Pharmacy student, said the concert was organised to launch the choir’s album and to raise fund for the Forum for the Inculturation of Liturgical Music (FILM).

According to him, FILM is an annual musical concert for studentchoristers in all higher institutions.

Emmanuel said the church’s choristers did well in FILM competitions and had won several awards in many musical events.

Prof Eddy Erhagbe, who represented the Vice-Chancellor (VC), praised the students for their “bril-

liant performance”, noting that the school was proud of their activities in past FILM events. He said the choir’s action was improving the university a good name.

By winning several editions of the FILM competition, Erhagbe said the management was happy that the students found a good extracurricular activity through which they serve God. While stressing the importance of music, he encouraged the students not to get carried away by accolades to the detriment of their studies. “You must not forget your primary purpose of being in school,” Erhagbe charged.

The event, which was tagged: The past, present and future, saw the •Continued on page 32

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

31

CAMPUS LIFE

9/11 and Nigeria’s war on terror A

S the world marks the 14th anniversary of the most deadly terror attack ever known which claimed the lives of 2,996 persons, it is critical for us to look inwards and correlate the events of that day to the acts of terrorism, particularly, religious extremism that has been on the rise in Nigeria since the beginning of this era.

It is an undeniable fact that the four coordinated terror attacks by Al-Qaeda, a radical Islamic terrorist group on September 11, 2001, gave a new dimension and perspective to the concept of terrorism and gave credence to the fact that the world is indeed at war with itself.

Prior to the September 11 attacks, which caused a devastating twin destruction on the World Trade Centre in New York City and the headquarters of the United States Department of Defence known as The Pentagon, the world had handled the issue of terrorism with kid gloves. With the attack however, countries strengthened their antiterrorism legislation and expanded the powers of intelligence agencies to prevent terrorist attacks. Personnel were trained and sent on courses on how best to detect and nip terrorism in the bud. Despite these actions, terrorism grew in leaps and bounds with religious extremism as the basis for such which run contrary to the tenets of morality and dignity of the human person.

Presently, terrorism is probably the greatest challenge besetting the

D

EVOTION and selfless service to our fatherland is indeed a call expected to be answered by every graduate below age 30, on completion of first degree in a higher institution in the country or abroad. It would be recalled that this service scheme was birthed by General Yakubu Gowon on May 22nd 1973 with decree No 24 which gave impetus to the establishment of the National Youth Service corps (NYSC).

The decree reads in part: “NYSC is being established with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity.”

Most youths have rejected the value proposition of the scheme owing to the corruption, obvious inadequacies and shortcomings that has befallen the scheme over time. Consider the issue of mobilisation, for instance. It has become a scramble for those who know one big man somewhere. These days, once you can throw the cash around, you are likely to be deployed to a choice state without hassle. The poor are mainly the ones who end up in terror-stricken states. That’s the agony of being poor in a country like Nigeria. If a Nigerian graduate could decide where he or she wants to serve on the basis of wheeling and dealing, the liberality of choice may as well be extended to the poor as well. For instance, I would have chosen to serve in the luxurious office of an oil tycoon, not a school where they lack the necessary facilities and teaching amenities, just like the predicament of one of my friends who got posted to a

A

DAMU, a motorist who was once a policeman, was caught making a U-turn on an unapproved junction. Tunde, a new policeman at the junction was about giving him a ticket as fine for his act. Now, Adamu told Tunde that he was not the first person to make a U-turn at the junction; hence, he wants Tunde to arrest all the motorists who had made U-turn at the junction to justify that the law is fair to him. To justify that, Tunde does not have a personal hatred for him.

Well, Tunde asked him: “how far do you want me to look?” Adamu replied: “As far as the road was con-

human race as terror groups now use sophisticated and cutting edge technologies to perpetrate their inhuman activities.

Nigeria, the giant of Africa and world’s most populous black nation has, since 2002, experienced an upsurge in terror activities, no thanks to the increased activities of the deadly Islamic sect, Boko Haram which has now gained global prominence as one of the deadliest terror groups in the world. Terrorism which was a little known before 2002 has become a vicious problem in Nigeria. It thrives because it is financed by those who have access to public funds as they now get foreign support from groups that share the same vision and mission statement.

Particularly, the Boko Haram sect is said to be financed by major transborder terrorist groups in Somalia, South Sudan, Egypt, Al-Qaeda, ISIS and Al-Shabaab as well as wealthy individuals within and outside the country.

These increased funding of the Boko Haram sect has led to increased sophisticated weaponry at their disposal such that they are now well able to compete and sometimes defeat gallant soldiers.

The activities of the sect took a new dimension with the bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja in August 2010, killing 23 people in the process. The effrontery with which they attacked the UN house was a clear indication of a group that was ready to go all out

to achieve its aims and send message to the international community that they are a force to reckon with.

Through to it, the activities of the sect has become a night mare for successive governments in Nigeria as the group has expanded it horizon to neighbouring countries of Cameroun, Chad and Niger and have covered more grounds than one would have imagined.

It is estimated that the sect killed and maimed over 17,000 people since 2009 including over 10 people in 2014 alone. The rate at which the number of those killed increases has made Nigeria to be branded among the top five most terrorized nations of the world in recent rankings.

From the foregoing, there can be no doubt about the fact that drastic measures must be taken to checkmate the excesses of this sect that is threatening our peaceful coexistence as a united country.

With increased activities of the sect, government has had to allocate more resources to combat the menace and with retrogressive consequences on economic growth and national development.

Perhaps the low level of education in the Northern part of the country could be attributed to be a contributory factor to the growth of the sect over the years as the terrorist group preys on the disillusioned Muslims of the north who are jobless and with little opportunities.

The challenges posed by the Boko Haram sect are beyond the ordinary eyes and the solutions are scarce. Successive governments have tried. Their efforts have failed to yield any positive outcome.

It is high time we looked away from militarism alone. Military force and power have proven to aggravate rather than alleviate or eliminate the danger. Hundreds of billions of tax payers’ monies have gone down the drain in the fight against the sect and rather than see positive results in the form of reducing their activities, more deaths and deadly attacks are recorded.

Hence, there is the need to change the manner of approach.

The giant stride of this new administration at nipping in the bud the activities of the sect is commendable. Team work rather than individualism is one of the ways at which the war against terror can be won. Hence liaising with neighbouring countries facing the same threat from the sect and the international community is a step in the right direction. Help from the international community must not be focused on military assistance alone. The sect seems to be enjoying the media attention that it presently receives. Efforts must be made at ensuring basic primary education and the ability to read and write for people to understand some basic things themselves and halt their evil education in the north.

It is unfortunate that 14 years after the world’s biggest act of terror-

By Philip Okorodudu

ism, the trend of terror seem to be on the increase. As we look back to the events of that day and to many of the events in the country that have claimed the lives of fellow country men and women and as we eagerly pray and hope that those being held captive especially the Chibok girls would be released soon, it behoves on us not to lose faith that the war on terror in Nigeria and indeed the world at large is a war that can be won with the right mentality.

The world is sick but it is the occupant of the world that made the world to be sick. So if we can cure ourselves of our sickness and embrace peace and tolerance for one another, the sickness of the world would be cured and their lies our solution •Philip, a youth advocate and social commentator, writes from Delta State

How can I serve Nigeria better?

By Everistus Onwuzurike government school. Every day, he keeps complaining that the school lacks everything good to teaching. It’s that bad that he had to volunteer his meagre savings to buy procure a chalk board for the students.

How do we drive the gospel of national unity when folks like my friend are made to go through such ordeals all in service to fatherland? The program is beginning to look like what God himself has abandoned because the people who are to listen and grant solution have become helpless themselves.

Looking at the issues relating to the monthly allowance, the government seems to be a little fair considering the fact that the allowance surpasses the minimum wage of civil servants in the country. But there’s room for improvement. At the state level, some states don’t actually deserve the services of corps members. Some of these states have refused to pay them since inception of the scheme. That’s rather insensitive. These states do not attach much importance to the scheme. And so, they fail to the appreciate the efforts of these young men and women. Most see corps members as instruments for cheap labour. They use them and leave them to their own devices. Imagine scenarios where a corps member teaches all classes from junior classes all through to senior classes. Some-

times, corps members are denied their basic needs, including a stipend in their places of primary assignment. At other times, corps members are rejected on frivolous grounds. It is abusive on the part of the state for one to show up where his service is supposedly needed only to be turned back.

That’s not all. There is the issue of accommodation. How do we serve our fatherland without a roof over our heads? Most of these places of primary assignments do not provide accommodation, leaving corps members to scout for ridiculous accommodation at their own expense. Just like other corps member who suffered similar fate, my experience was quite awful. While leaving camp after the orientation programme,we faced a great challenge as regards accommodation. We were unlucky to stay in lodges provided by some churches. At a point, we contemplated sleeping in an hotel before we eventually found a lodge. Some corps members were staying in hotels and spending their stipend much to their chagrin, pending the time they would get accommodation. I was wondering: why can’t each state or establishment provide accommodation and make serving our fatherland worthwhile?

I believe as a writer, I won’t be forgiven if I fail to be specific here. Posting to places of primary assignment is another area where the scheme seems to get it wrong. There is absolutely

no sense being posted to places that do not match one’s qualification. Why should a Mass Communication graduate be posted to teach in a school? And why should an Engineering graduate observe his service year in a local government council?And after a year, they meet employers who want industry experience before employment.

To be candid, NYSC is now like gold turning rust, the whole idea of service and dedication is gradually withering.

How can I serve my country better when those Iserve seize to appreciate my determination and commitment to serve them? The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to sit and do nothing, so goes a saying.Perhaps, the management intend to improve the lot of the scheme.

But they must be reminded that if they fail to act,doom would befall on the entire scheme.

I perceive there are myriad of issues which the Director General needs to examine critically and quickly too.

Such self-examination would help to advance the objective of the scheme.

Every day,the value and efficacy of the scheme get eroded by an apparent failure to check some of the draw-backs that continue to drag the scheme in the mud.

Ernest Hemingway said: “They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country. But in modern war, there is nothing nei-

Who is afraid of Buhari’s probe? structed.”

That is how I understand the opinion of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who wanted his successor, Muhammadu Buhari, to probe all past administrations. He believes that is the only way the law would be fair on him.

It is Buhari’s duty to probe anyone, including Jonathan. It was Olusegun Obasanjo’s duty to probe Abdulsalami Abubakar and other past military leaders. It was also Umaru Yar’Adua’s duty to his pre-

decessors. If Jonathan decided to be selective in probing past administration, such action should be seen as his personal conviction. Ditto for Buhari.

As a Nigerian, I presume that Jonathan has done the same thing for his predecessor. Why didn’t he want his successor to probe him alone? When Buhari leaves office, it would be his turn to scream. The game is as simple as that.

To Jonathan and his apologists, Buhari should extend his corruption

war beyond immediate past administration. We cannot force a sitting president to take a certain approach in running his government. That is his prerogative. If our hands are clean, we should have no reason to point fingers at where the probe should be directed.

When Jonathan was at the helm, everybody was a saint. Stealing was not corruption. In his twisted dictionary, you could steal all the money in the world and still be seen as cred-

ther sweet nor fitting in your dying.

You will die like a dog for no good reason.” We do not want to get to this stage depicted in Hemingway’s lines.

It is normal for Africans to run towards the wise elders of the village when trouble comes knocking. Let the management of NYSC seek good counsel. They need it.

Most corps members have become totally impatient and their expectations of the scheme are quite high. The scheme was created to add value. Let those who manage its affairs begin to look in that direction.

No reasonable parent would voluntarily kill a recalcitrant child. Solutions can be sought to revive an otherwise dead scheme. I am not among those who feel the scheme has outlived its value. My suggestions are that the scheme should be restructured so that the noble ideals it set out to achieve are realised.

Every Nigerian would agree that the program has helped in creating jobs for many Nigerian youths over the years and has facilitated national unity and inter-cultural relationships. But today, it has become a raging debate among Nigerians whether NYSC serves any purpose or not. This is rather unfortunate. But good things never come cheap. They require unusual sacrifices. I believe NYSC can form a potent weapon to unite Nigerians across cultural, political and socio-economic divides. ible. That’s his warped philosophy of probity in public office. Now, President Buhari wants to do what many Nigerians had hoped to see since the past four years. As a president, Jonathan clearly failed to bring to book, those who looted our treasury dry. Instead of probing them, he decided to join them and even celebrated openly.

For Bishop Hassan Kukah to say that there is “no case of corruption against Jonathan”, I believe the statement was not conjectural but evidential. For a probe that is yet to start, I •Continued on page 32

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

32

CAMPUS LIFE Adeleke varsity graduates pioneer students

I

•The lawmaker representing Ojo Federal Constituency in House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Obasa (middle) with Law students of the Lagos State University (LASU) during their visit to National Assembly.

Corps members sensitise youths on hard drugs

M

EMBERS of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Community Development Service (CDS) group of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Lagos have held a sensitisation rally to educate the public on the dangers of hard drugs.

The event , which was held in Ojota, had the objective to create awareness on the consequence of intake of hard drugs and how it affects body system.

The procession took off at New Garage Bus Stop. The Corps members moved round the streets and main road, talking to the youth and commercial drivers. The use of hard

By Oluoma Omeihe

drugs, the admonished, endangers lives and wellbeing. The Corps members ended the rally at Ojota Bus Stop.

Maureen Achugbu, a member of the CDS group, said some youths promised to change during the rally.

She said: “We met some youths, who confessed to be using hard drugs and they promised to change after we educated them on the danger such conduct portends for their lives.”

President of the CDS group, Olaitan Ogunwande, said: “Our aim is to sensitise Lagosians on the harmful effects of drug abuse. We have achieved some level of success but we hope to organise more sensitisation

rallies in other cities, so that youths will drop the habit.”

He said group had held rallies in areas, such as Surulere and Ojuelegba, adding that the Corps members intend to hold similar event in Mosun Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Ipaja.

The Lagos commander of NDLEA, Mr Aliyu Sule, who was represented by a principal staff officer in Drug Demand Reduction Unit, Mrs Titilayo Ogunluyi, hailed the Corps members for the event, saying it would complement the agency’s effort to reach out to the public in eradicating use of harmful drugs.

T was a carnival-like atmosphere at the permanent site of Adeleke University (ADELEKE) in Ede, Osun State on Sunday as the institution graduated its first set of students, four years that it started academic programmes.

The event was attended by highprofile dignitaries, including Governor Raul Aregbesola, National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Osun governor, Chief Bisi Akande, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Salihu Alfa Belgore, the school Chancellor, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, and the Timi of Ede, Oba Adesola Lawal.

The body of the school principal officers and academics were led to the venue by the institution founder and Pro-chancellor, Dr Deji

From Femi Akinpelu EDE Adeleke.

Other members of the academia at the event included a board member of the university, Mrs Dupe Adeleke-Sanni, Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Julius Okojie, and Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University, Prof Kayode Makinde.

A total of 125 students were graduated from the faculties of Science, Arts, and Business and Social Sciences, among whom 11 had a First Class.

Boluwatife Ruth Alabi of Computer Science Department, became the best graduating student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.90.

At their musical best •Continued from page 30

students rendering different gospel songs, including traditional, spiritual, classical and old music.

The student-choristers, at intervals, changed their costumes to reflect the kind of music they rendered. They performed eight songs at the concert.

The past members of the choir joined their colleagues to perform four songs. The hall became electrified when the church priest, Reverend Father James Okosisi, mounted the stage to play saxophone. He thrilled the audience with his brilliant skill in playing musical instrument.

The priest’s performance was followed by the presentation of the choir’s album, titled: Yesterday, today and forever. It contains no fewer than 10 songs, which were com-

posed by the students and sang at past competitions they had attended.

There was also a fund-raising session for the upcoming FILM competition, where guests and some members of the audience came out to donate generously towards the project.

At the end of the event, Dr Peter Agbonrofo, chairman of the church choir, praised students for the turnout. He said the church was that its choristers were using their voices to glorify God and win souls through music.

Wema Okungbowa, a member of the choir, described the event as successful. She said: “Preparations for the programme was not easy. We thank God for the success as we hope to do better at the upcoming FILM competition.”

Who is afraid of Buhari’s probe?

•Continued from page 31

wonder why everyone had been running helter-skelter. Kukah may be right in his assertion, which I am not quite sure of, but I am sure of my own assertion too that trillions of dollars were looted under Jonathan’s government.

Have we forgotten that the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido, was shown the way out by Jonathan himself, when the former said some $20 billion oil cash was diverted? Should we discuss the scams in the oil sector and maritime industry under Jonathan’s watch? The nation’s treasury under Jonathan depleted profusely and we do not know what the money was used for.

Kukah said President Buhari should concentrate his efforts on providing good governance, rather than expending his energies on probing the deeds of past governments. This is what Nigerians want. This is why Buhari was elected in March.

Has Kukah ever reflected on the changes witnessed in post-Jonathan Nigeria? Does he know that we now celebrate stable power supply which we did not enjoy during Jonathan’s tenure? Does Kukah know that refineries in Kaduna, Port-Harcourt and Warri are now working after almost 30-year lull?

Jonathan could not give us good governance. Yet, he could not probe past administrations to return the country’s stolen money.

GEJ, as former president is fondly called, could not bring back our Chibok girls, neither could he bring back our money. Then, what has he done? Either he watched people steal or supervised the operation. Little wonder, he said: “stealing is not corruption.”

By Burhan Abdul-Azeez I was bewildered at how the National Peace Committee led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar suddenly became Jonathan’s apologist.

Well, here is a committee that was not efficient at restoring peace in the country. It became another tool to massage the flat ego of Jonathanians.

If anything, for the sake of the Chibok girls, Jonathan’s administration should be really probed on many fronts. He needs to account for the profligacy during his tenure.

On this note, I want to appeal to President Buhari not to listen to people that do not want the past administrations to be probed. He must not take such people seriously.

In fact, we should begin to probe such people, because only a thief can have effrontery to defend another thief.

Nigerians should pray for ‘quick recovery’ of Allison Diezani Madueke. She must not die. She must live to give account of how she administered the affairs of the oil sector. Let President Buhari begin the probe of anyone, who soiled his hand during the immediate past administration.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

33

EDUCATION

Okebukola to varsities: Tackle terrorism with research

F

ORMER Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof Peter Okebukola, has urged African universities to conduct research towards tackling terrorism.

Delivering the keynote address at the third Six Universities (U6) international conference at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) last week, Okebukola said universities were well placed to tackle local, national and global challenges ravaging the world.

The U6 is a group of institutions comprising Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa; Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (formerly Bondo University College), Kenya; Kwara State University, Nigeria; the University of The Gambia, The

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Gambia; the University of Cape Coast, Ghana; and UNILORIN, which acted as host.

Noting that the world is facing challenges of leadership and bad governance, decline in the quality of education and others, he warned that “global insecurity and spread of terrorism were capable of bringing down this world within a jiffy.”

He urged un iversity administrators on the continent to ensure safety on “our campuses; promote religious and ethnic harmony.”

Welcoming the participants, the UNILORIN Vice Chancellor, Prof Abdulganuyu Ambali, advocated collaborative researches among member institutions, which he noted would yield better results.

He said: “I want to use this medium to urge our scholars and researchers to, in the spirit of this type of conference, continue to explore joint research projects and collaborative academic activities.

“Interdisciplinary research groups and inter-university research projects are very essential. It is said that two (good) heads are better than one and joint efforts appear to be more rewarding in terms of outcomes.

“Therefore, our participants should make friends across universities and disciplines. They should then follow up with initiatives that will continue to promote scholarship after this important conference.

“The world is now connected and what is done somewhere has implications for what will happen else-

BRIEFS NBTE lifts ban

• Okebukola

where hence the need to reach out to others. For example, the crises in some parts of the Middle East have created refugee problems for Europe. Working together is part of the right steps in the right direction of making our world better. The world won’t change until we all do things right or take the right steps along that line.”

THE temporary ban placed on admission into the School of Engineering of the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State, by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been lifted.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Masa'udu Adamu Kazaure, in a letter with a reference number C/TEB/.235/VOL.1A/247, dated September 1, conveyed the lifting of the ban to the Rector of the Polytechnic, Mr Matthew Itopa Akpata.

The ban in June followed an allegation of lack of practical coverage and over enrolment of students. The Board immediately set up a fact finding committee to investigate the allegations and implemented its recommendations to lift the ban.

In the letter confirming the lifting, Dr Kazaure said that the NBTE had appropriately notified the management of JAMB to allow the polytechnic admit qualified candidates into the engineering programmes for the 2015/2016 academic session.

Rector of the Polytechnic, Mr. Matthew Itopa Akpata, thanked the NBTE for lifting the ban on time.

He assured the board of his management's commitment to meeting basic standards in all programmes of the polytechnic and creating a conducive environment for teaching and learning.

New depts for Bauchi Poly

• Mrs Sarumi and Mrs Akinpelu, with the Head of Geology Department, University of Ibadan, Prof. M. N. Tijani and female Geology and Engineering students.

ExxonMobil women woo female students

W

OMEN professionals in ExxonMobil Nigeria are looking to swell their ranks in the company.

They have taken their campaign to universities to encourage female students in the geosciences and engineering departments to pursue careers in oil and gas.

The programme called, WIN University Outreach, will focus on wooing female undergraduates to pursue careers in ExxonMobil and achieving success while at it.

The initiative, which kicked off at the University of Ibadan last week, is a follow up to another programme, "Introduce a girl to science and engineering", targeted at secondary school female pupils.

Mrs Toyin Sarumi, President of the ExxonMobil Women Interest Net-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

work (WIN), which is pushing the campaign, said in an interview that the women have started their crusade with the 17 universities where ExxonMobil has its intervention programme, the University Assistance Programme (UAP).

Mrs Sarumi, a reservoir engineer, said members of the group would share their success stories with the girls so they can aspire to work in the energy sector.

"We will present ExxonMobil as a company; who we are, what we do; and encourage them to take up careers in oil and gas. When girls take these courses they do not pursue a career because they don't think it is possible to be successful and have a balanced life. I have had a career of

two decades and I have been able to joggle my career with motherhood and being a wife," she said.

Vice President of the group, Mrs Jumoke Akinpelu, added that beyond the career counseling event, members would be available to mentor the students as they advance in their studies and careers.

"Our strategy here is to sell success to them. Our goal is to mentor them to let them know what they need to succeed in Mobil. WE will tell them they can get into ExxonMobil with 2.1.

"A small percentage goes out to practice; it is because they do not have role models. We will be following up; we will take their emails so we can ask them how they are doing," she said.

UNILAG ‘settled’ Theo Vincent

Legal Council lauds UniAbuja HE Council of Legal Edustudent’s feat cation, has commended the

T

University of Abuja on the achievement of one of its Law graduates, who performed exceptionally at the Bar final examination.

The Secretary to the Council, Mrs. Elizabeth Max-Uba, in a letter of commendation to the ViceChancellor, Prof Michael Adikwu, said Sani Fatima Bombom excelled with a First Class honours in the May 2015 Bar final examination, which was a testimony to her hard work and discipline.

Part of the letter issued by the Deputy Registrar (Information), Waziri Garba, reads: "On behalf of the Council of Legal Education, I congratulate you, the entire university management and particularly the Faculty of Law for this excellent performance."

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

Mrs. Max-Uba enjoined the university management to publicise Fatima's achievement to its Law students to motivate them.

In April, students of the faculty had emerged second in a 20-nation international law students' competition held at the College of Law, Nebraska University Lincoln, USA. They were the only African students in the competition won by England/Wales.

They tied with their counterparts from Georgia in second place.

On the students' achievement, Prof Adikwu said that the university would continue to create an enabling environment for serious-minded academics and students to realise their potentials.

The universities to be visited in the first phase of the campaign include: Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt; Osun State University, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun; University of Lagos, Akoka; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; University of Port Harcourt; University of Calabar; and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Others are: "University of Benin; Delta State University, Abraka; Akwa Ibom State University; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Federal University of Technology, Akure; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Anambra State University, Uli; and the American University, Yola.

THE Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi has established two new departments and appointed heads for them. They are: Leisure and Tourism Management Department to be headed by Mallam Abdu Aly Fada and Library and Information Science Department to be headed by Mallam Aliyu Jigawa.

Also two Heads of Departments were relieved of their positions.

They are Mallam Yaya Mukhtar of Accountancy, who will be replaced

by Mallam Abdulmuhyi Auwal while on Study Leave for his Ph.D; and Mrs. Helen Irorakpor, who will be replaced by Mr. Cik Dajur as the HOD of Office Technology Management (OTM).

The new Dean of Students Affairs is Mr Clement Ezeaku, while Mr Mohammed Sani, a lawyer, is the Chairman of the Examination Misconduct Committee (EMC).

In their letters of appointment, signed by the Establishment Officer, Alhaji A. A. Adamu, on behalf of the Registrar, the new officers were charged to put in their best in the discharge of their new responsibilities and use their vast experiences to justify the confidence reposed in them.

•Theo Vincent

T

HE University of Lagos (UNILAG) has explained that the institution fulfilled its obligations to Prof Theo Vincent, who worked there for 34 years.

The university released a statement in reaction to a story by a national daily titled: "Theo Vincent: from Ivory Tower to Lagos Slums", published Thursday, September 3,

2015, which raised questions about what happened to his retirement benefits.

The statement signed by the Deputy Registrar (Information), Mr Adegoke Oke, noted that all entitlements of the professor of English, who served as vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt between 1997 and 2000, had been paid.

The statement reads: "To clarify some of the issues raised in the article, the university wishes to state as follows: •Prof Theo Vincent had a very distinguished career in the University of Lagos, spanning some 34 years.

•He retired in October 2004, under the old pension scheme, and was fully paid his gratuity in line with the scheme.

•The university also paid his monthly pension regularly, until July 2015 when the Federal Government took over the payment of pen-

sion of retirees.

•Though Prof Vincent retired in October 2004, he did not vacate his official residence on Akoka campus of the university until July 2007.

Members of staff are allowed to stay for six months after retirement.

•Similarly, Prof Vincent only vacated his office accommodation in the Faculty of Arts in June 2015.

•Earlier on, the Faculty of Arts, as part of its tradition of celebrating former academic staff of the Faculty, published a festschrift in honour of Prof Vincent.

“The university management wishes to use this opportunity to state that it totally respects the privacy of Prof Theo Vincent, and remains committed to honouring his contributions to the university in particular, and the society, in general. The University of Lagos is also willing to explore all avenues to assist Professor Vincent in this period of distress.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

34

CAMPUS LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS

KWARAPOLY FILE

35,467 scramble for admission NO fewer than 35,467 candidates are seeking admission into the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin for the 2015/2016 session.

However, a statement from the management indicated that only 4,380 candidates would be offered admission into ND and HND. This is in accordance with the capacity of the institution as determined by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), which is the regulatory body for polytechnic and monotechnics in Nigeria.

Support for KWARAPOLY FM THE Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin has been assured of support by the State House of Assembly to realise its dream of running a station, KwaraPoly FM. Conducting the House Committees on Education, and Ethics, Privileges, Public Service and Judiciary around executed projects, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Alhaji Mas`ud Elelu, said about N50 million was needed to start broadcasting to the public as required by the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC).

Elelu also noted that the intracampus broadcasting has been aired for some months ago at 98.5 FM for almost 12 hours everyday.

He however stated that the polytechnic engaged the service of 182 security personnel everyday to protect the lives and property of staff, students and the communities around the institution.

APPROACHING DEADLINE Post doctoral research fellowships at University of the Witwatersrand Continued from last edition ELIGIBILITY: -Have not spent more than 12 months of the prior 24 months in Spain, and not be Spanish citizens/ residents. Spanish citizens may apply however if they spent at least 3 years immediately prior the application deadline in a country other than Spain.

•Be in possession of a PhD degree at the time of the application cut-off-point.

•Have not been awarded the PhD degree more than 5 years prior to the application deadline. Exceptions are made for documented periods of parental leave. Women may claim up to 12 months for child, for a maximum of 3 years.

•Be first author in at least one publication (either submitted,

accepted, in print or published). Copies may be requested.

•Provide complete documentation requested for application.

•Exceptions to the PhD degree requirements will be made for women with children and other documented career breaks. Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. No restrictions of citizenship or gender apply to the ICFOnest+ Postdoctoral Program.

ICFO offers up to 25 incoming postdoctoral fellowships. Fellowships are available for the duration of 24 months.

How to Apply: Applications should be submitted online via the corresponding call at ICFOjobs, our job openings site and online application interface, available at http:// jobs.icfo.eu. The application to the ICFOnest+ Postdoctoral Program is a two-step procedure: First Application Step: Suitable candidates are requested to submit:

•A presentation letter with a declaration of interests, including an explicit indication of the potential ICFO research group(s) that may be of interest, •An updated complete Curriculum Vitae, including: full address, a contact phone number and e-mail address (and indicating any career breaks), and full list of publications, •A copy of the PhD degree (if available at the time of application, or certificate stating the planned award date of the PhD degree), •As part of the application material, and within deadline, applicants should have contacted their two referees whom they have listed in their application form, asking them to submit reference letters to the ICFOnest+ Screening Committee. The reference letters must be submitted electronically directly by the referees to icfojobs@icfo.eu (mailing label: candidate name + "ICFOnest+").

Once an application has been submitted, the candidate will receive an acknowledgement of receipt together with an application reference number for further enquires and the upcoming revision deadline. Updates of application material will only be possible within this deadline.

Second Application Step: Applicants that pass the first evaluation stage will be informed about this decision and asked to submit: •A 2-pages research proposal indicating the ICFO research area/s of main interest.

Applicants will be invited to get in touch with ICFO Group Leaders in the scientific area of their choice, in order to discuss with them the possible lines of investigation. Deadline for submitting the Research Proposal will be indicated to the corresponding applicants.

Scholarship Application Deadline: The application deadline is September 30, 2015

Ortom advises BSU panel on openness

B

ENUE State Governor Samuel Ortom, has charged members of the visitation panel to the Benue State University (BSU) to ensure confidentiality of presentations received from parties.

He gave the charge at the old banquet hall of the Peoples House while inaugurating the panel to review activities of the university.

He said by keeping the confidence of those concerned, they would feel free to make contributions without fear of reprisals.

“Individual members of staff as

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

well as the public at large should feel free to contribute positively. The visitation panel was a stock-taking exercise targeted at the comprehensive review of activities of Benue State University during the period under review,” he said.

“The university community should see the visitation as an opportunity to honestly review their activities and present their views.”

The terms of reference of the committee, amongst others, include: to

inquire into the level of implementation of the White Paper of the last visitation report and to examine the administrative structure of the university in line with the law establishing the institution.

The panel is also to establish the actual students’ population into regular and non-regular courses against the accredited facilities.

The seven-member panel, which has Prof Zachary Anger Gundu as chairman and Iorpenda Tanguhar as secretary, has two months to submit its report.

•Ortom

NPMC turns out largest graduands today

T

HE National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMC) in Ijanikin, Lagos on Thursday last send off its first set of 367 diploma graduates in Family Medicine and Anesthesia.

The occasion was a prelude to its yearly convocation, which holds today and usually in the third week of every September.

President NPMC, Prof Rasheed Arogundade, who addressed reporters at the 33rd convocation briefing last Thursday, congratulated the 341 new graduands across the college’s 15 faculties, the highest in the institution's history.

"This is the climax of the postgraduate medical training that these medical doctors and dental surgeons have undergone in the various teaching and medical hospitals nationwide.

"The uniqueness of the Fellowship training of the college is that it combines the full academic and research content as obtainable in any sound doctoral degree with structured clinical postgraduate training.

This accounts for why it takes a long time to produce a Fellow in

• Group photograph of graduates of Family Medicine and Anesthesia at their convocation.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

any specialised branches of Medicine and Dentistry.

After today's event, NPMC would have graduated 5,046 since inception, Arogundade boasted.

On Family Medicine and Anesthesia, Arogundade told reporters that the programme was designed to fill the gaps to meet the need of the general medical practitioners and overall improve on health care delivery system nationwide.

He said: "The need for diploma certification in Family Medicine is predicated on the fact that it is almost impossible to get all doctors

desirous of further training to enroll into the formal residency training programmes for residency status by obtaining the fellowship.

It, therefore, became imperative for the college to design other programmes, such as the diploma to meet the real needs of the general medical practitioners who are the first line of medical contact with the population. It is our belief that this without doubt, will improve the level and quality of medical delivery in the country."

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko would be bestowed honorary Fellow, while two other dis-

tinguished scholars will bag a Fellow of the institution.

But despite its prominence, Arogundade lamented that the college facilities have continued to grow at a snail speed. Only two out of the four blocks in the original master plan in the first phase of development in the college have been fully built, Arogundaded further grieved.

“Completion of the first phase of the second wing of the Learning Resource Centre has allowed us to put to use the multipurpose hall. Building of the second phase of the learning centre is ongoing

at the moment. ‘’This has been the only capital project in the college since 2009 and we have not received a kobo for this project since the third quarter of 2014. The amount budgeted for us this year is just N20 million out of the required N506,037,218,75k remaining from the sum N599.964.877.89k approved by the ministerial tender's board to complete the project. It is even uncertain that the paltry sum appropriated will be released this year as we are already at the end of the third quarter."

NBTE accredits six courses at Ekiti private health institution

T

HE first private health institution in Ekiti State, Fabotas College of Science and Health Technology, Ado-Ekiti has been granted full accreditation by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to run six courses.

The courses are: Community Health Extension Work (CHEW), Junior Community Health Worker (J-CHEW), Dental Technician, Environmental Health Technology, En-

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

vironmental Health Technician course, Environmental Health Assistant and Laboratory Technician.

The college, which opened its doors three years ago, has graduated over 200 students.

Addressing reporters in Ado Ekiti, its founder and president, Chief Boboye Olanipekun, said FABOTAS was desirous of training students to strengthen health institutions and

ensure the sanctity of human life.

Olanipekun added that the institution had built-state-of-the-art laboratory, a model clinic and other practical-oriented structures to be able to impact proper knowledge in the students.

He stressed that graduates of the institution are infused with both theoretical and practical experiences, to compete favourably with their counterparts in other institutions in the labour market.

Olanipekun, a former commissioner for agriculture in Ekiti State, said students have been contributing immensely in developing health sector in the State, through participation in immunisation and other health related programmes organised by the government.

Olanipekun said: "What I am trying to do is to contribute to manpower development of this country and that we are achieving gradually.

"Though we have many health experts in Nigeria, but didn't have the requisite technical knowhow to handle complex situations. This is what we are trying to address.

"Our students are majorly exposed to practical areas because that is what they would be tasked to do after graduation.

"Our country needs effective and efficient health personnel and both private and public health institutions must rise to the occasion."

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

35

EDUCATION

‘New national curriculum, varsity requirements at variance’

T

HE new education curriculum has been described as one of the best-ever produced in the country because of its specialisation-driven concept.

Nonetheless, for the curriculum to realise its full potential, tertiary institutions, particularly universities, need to synchronise their requirements to meet its demand.

This is the opinion of the Proprietors of Good Shepherd Group of Schools Meiran, Lagos State, Dr Adebayo Bamidele Oyeyemi, who lamented that some subject combinations in the curriculum contrast those for admission into universities, which still use the old requirements.

"University requirements are different from what we have in the new curriculum," Dr Oyeyemi said.

He continued: "We have schools that follow this curriculum but in

By Adegunle Olugbamila

the end their children could not secure admission to universities.

"For instance, if a child is going to study Engineering, the curriculum specifies that that child does not need Chemistry or Biology.

"In the curriculum, there are five compulsory subjects - English, Math Trade, Civic and Computer. Then a student picks three or four subjects from his area of specialisation, and then one elective from the four divisions-Humanities, Business, Science, as well as Mathematics and Technology.

"To be more specific, Business and Technology are having crisis. The new curriculum does not make it compulsory for a student to do Biology, Chemistry or Physics but other subjects like Basic electronics, Basic Electricity, Food and Nutri-

tion and Technical Drawing. But if a child should follow that, he would not get admission into universities which still base their requirements on the old curriculum which states that a child who wants to study Engineering should have Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

"Again, government removed Economics from Commercials and put it under Humanities but universities are still requiring Economics for commercial students. Some schools started doing Economics when JAMB recommended Economics in the UTME and many of those students failed woefully.”

At the school level, Oyeyemi frowns that the new curriculum is becoming enigmatic, and school managements have to modify the curriculum in ensuring students meet university prerequisites.

Identifying curriculum, infrastruc-

ture and manpower, as the three major components of a school system, Oyeyemi further kicks against the scenario where except in Lagos schools, there is dearth of facilities in most public school nationwide to meet the Trade recommended in the curriculum.

He attributes the development to policy somersaults and default of the policy formulators to take a cue from realities from the field (school) before coming up with the policy, resulting into complexities and often inability of schools to interpret such policy.

"The curriculum is perfect but by implementation, there is a gap.

Many schools till now do not know what to do; yet gthe overnment wants us to comply with it to the letter. Now here (Shepherd Group of school), we have to look at university requirements and align it

•Oyeyemi

with the curriculum.

"It's not just about copying what happens in UK or US but customising and communicating it.

It's like we are gambling with the lives of these children. To worsen matters, there is no document to guide the curriculum in case it needs some adjustment. I am suggesting that all ideas should be synchronised and fused into a single document,’’ he added.

Alumni build classrooms for HE Alumni Association of alma mater the College of Education,

T

Ikere Ekiti, has contributed to facilities development in their alma mater. It built a block of classrooms.

The association in a statement by its National President, Deji Abioye and Public Relations Officer, Bayo Oguntuase, said the project was built with its internally-generated revenue.

It said the assoociation built the classrooms to ease students' accommodation problems and reduce overpopulation.

The body said the block of

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

classrooms had been handed over to the management of the college on Tuesday.

The alumni stressed that it is noteworthy that the accomplishment it has recorded was made possible through prudent and frugal expenditure of the funds raised by the association.

It expressed its determination to always cooperate with the management to assist in its growth.

Why education standard declines

S

TAKEHOLDERS in education have identified reasons the standard has been falling in Nigeria.

At the second edition of stakeholders forum organised by the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) in Ondo to facilitate qualitative education in Nigeria, participants reviewed the level of the learners, who have diverse experiences, characteristics, skills and conditions vis-a-vis the level of the education system.

They also considered its managerial and administrative system, implementation of good policies, human and managerial resources and the means to measure learning outcome.

The theme of the conference was: “Education Quality Assurance: A panacea for equity, access and accountability in education".

Participants comprising the Directors of Education Quality Assurance (DEQA) in federal and state ministries of Education, parastatals and agencies, noted that Nigerians have the perception a poorly coordinated supervision, underfunded with inadequate data for planning, as well as poor learning environment.

They also observed that teacher training programme in Nigeria, has not really been taken into consideration the changes that are needed to implement innovative curriculum in schools.

"Many states in Nigeria are yet to implement the quality assurance programme prescribed by the Federal Ministry of Education and therefore, internal quality assurance procedures are not being applied in schools in such states.

They noted that quality assurance departments and agencies (QADA), where they have been established, are sometimes staffed with officers who are not trained in that field. Besides, they are poorly

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

funded and lack requisite operational facilities.

Stakeholders said despite the establishment of many institutions at the tertiary level, and government policies that support access and equity in education, many young people are still out of school in Nigeria.

According to them, examination malpractice, which has assumed frightening dimension in many states, has become a threat, not just to the validity and reliability of the examination itself, but also the overall quality of the entire education system and the society at large.

They noted that perpetrators of examination fraud are not just students and teachers, but also parents, school administrators, government officials, other school personnel, officials of examination bodies and school host communities.

Besides, they identified common causes of examination malpractice to include: undue emphasis on certificates, poor quality of teaching and learning, high level of materialism, parental consent and involvement as well as the pressure mounted on students to pass examinations at all cost in some cases.

On funding, they contended that it was one of the formidable obstacles to the effective implementation of Quality Assurance in education programmes and activities

by FME, Departments in SMoEs, SUBEBs and agencies.

The participants, who are representatives of Ministries of Education from 31 states and federal including NECO, NABTEB and other examination bodies, recommended that all credible education programmes, designed to achieve quality assurance in education should address all the requirements of both learners and the education system.

• From left: Corporate Marketing Services Manager, UAC, Mr Olaseni Fawehinmi; Principal, Lanre Awolokun High School Gbagada, Mrs Abiodun Adams; the Executive Director Corporate Services, Mr Joseph Dada; second overall best pupil, Christoper Ekele; third overall best, Deborah Ikhuoriah, the Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer, Mr Abdul Bello; and the Managing Director MDS Logistics, Mr Solomon Aigbavboa, at the closing ceremony.

UAC ends summer school programme

T

HIS year’s edition of the UAC Free Weekend Classes initiative organised for secondary school pupils ended with commendations for the value of the programme.

The organisers, UAC of Nigeria Plc, are also impressed about the turnout of pupils for the programme at the centres at Lanre Awolokun Senior Secondary School, Gbagada and Newland Senior Secondary School inside the Tolu Schools Complex, Ajegunle in Lagos.

Speaking during the rounding-off of the seven-week initiative at the centres in Lagos, the Executive Director, Corporate Services, UAC Of

•Graduating Pupils at God First School, Mowe, Ogun State displaying musical talents recently.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Nigeria PLC, Mr Joe Dada, said the company was encouraged by the growing popularity of the programme among pupils in Lagos.

The Free Weekend Classes is free to the beneficiaries.

He was, particularly, happy that many of the pupils that registered were from the Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) the target of the initiative.

“Since 2008, our company has been ‘doing good’ - in line with UAC’s corporate tagline-and leading from the front in the grand march to stem the tide of increas-

ing deterioration of the education infrastructure and programmes in our country," he said. The pupils were taught English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Accounts by employees of the managers under its Volunteer Scheme.

They also enjoyed career counseling sessions to prepare them to make the right career choices.

Dada called on other companies and Nigerians to join the march "towards lifting our country out of the mire of backwardness and underdevelopment, which the deterioration in the education sector portends, especially among youths."

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

36

EDUCATION

YABATECH, Berger Paints sign pact Y

ABA College of Technology (YABATECH) and Berger Paint have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance practical training for students studying polymer and paints manufacturing and other technical and vocational programmes.

They signed the deal at a meeting between the representatives of the college led by the Director, Academic Planning Unit, Mr Udoh Inyang, and Berger Paints led by the Managing Director, Mr. Peter Folikwe at the conference hall of YABATECH.

Folikwe expressed the company's willingness to collaborate with the college in research, internship, technical and vocational education, and exchange of ideas.

He also said Berger Paint was ready to add value to the college by subsidising the sourcing of paints to beautify the college.

In addition to training students to produce quality paints, Folikwe

also said the firm would collaborate with the college to introduce a one-year certificate course to add value to the society.

Describing the partnership as the marriage between the industry and the college, Inyang said the partnership would enhance the growth of the institution.

He enjoined the company to send its workers for training in certificate courses that are practical based, and requested the company's assistance in purchasing some equipment for the proposed central laboratory and research centre.

EDUTALK

with

Teaching doctors to communicate

T

HERE are some stories that just refuse to go away.

They keep popping up in various ways until all possible angles are exhausted. The story of Oluchi Anekwe's death is one of them. And I am about to Kofoworola explore my own angle to it by proposing a review of the medical curriculum.

The sad tale of the young lady's Kofosagie@yahoo.com death reminded me of a small, 08054503077 (SMS only) seemingly insignificant book presentation that I attended on July 8, 2015 in Lagos. The book, Medicine Abroad, was presented to a few journalists by the author, Dr Adaeze Ifezulike. The only other person present was her brother, Mr Mike Ogbalu. There was no chairman, chief launcher, or special dignitaries to buy copies for huge amounts; and no representatives from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigerian (MDCN), National Universities Commission (NUC), or the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) - Just the two of them, and, us.

But I thought it was insightful that she wrote the book. She trained as a medical doctor at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) before relocating to the United Kingdom to practice. Before she came up to talk about herself and the book, her brother had given us an insight into the kind of person she was. As a student in Nigeria, Dr Ifezulike was used to coming tops. She had a clean academic record all through her studies. However, she had her first taste of failure when she had to be assessed before she could practice in the UK. It was not in the theory or practice of medicine that she fell short, but in patient management.

It was because of the differences in the ways patients are managed in our hospitals compared to the Western world that Dr Ifezulike wrote the book. She said these differences, which she observed in her 16 years of practicing abroad, were among the reasons why two-thirds of doctors trained in Africa get axed abroad according to a research conducted by The Telegraph.

The cultural perception of doctors as know-alls in Nigeria, which affects how they treat their patients, is not the same as in the UK and other parts of Europe. Over there, she said the doctors respect their patients and do not impose their knowledge. In our country, doctors are so revered they are nearly feared.

In the story I wrote of that event, published on July 16, 2015, she said: "In our culture here in Nigeria, the doctor is regarded as king. Moving over to UK, I found that the consultation is between equals. I understood that you don't just tell a patient this is what you need to do. It is so important that there is a rapport. The patient must be made to feel that he is a part of the decision." (http://thenationonlineng.net/book-tohelp-african-trained-doctors-survive-in-uk/) She hoped that the MDCN and the NUC would review the medical training curriculum to change the way doctors communicate with patients here in Nigeria. She wrote the book to guide African-trained doctors about the cultural differences they must be aware of to practice successfully.

That call has become more pressing now following the death of Oluchi Anekwe at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) last week. Her family blames her death on the negligence of the health workers at the UNILAG Medical Centre when she was brought in. They claim she was alive by the time they took her to the centre but was not immediately attended to. However, the doctors have said that she was already dead by the time she arrived because there was no pulse. It may have been so, since they are the professionals and know what to check. However, they did not communicate appropriately. I have used public hospitals enough to know that this was the case. When you enter to see a doctor, he asks your symptoms. While you are talking, he takes down notes, examines you if necessary, then gives you a prescription and you leave. I have left the hospital many times and when I was asked what the doctor said was wrong I could not answer because I was not told - and did not ask. The only times I have been told anything was when I asked questions.

After noticing there was no pulse when Oluchi was rushed to the Medical Centre, rather than ignore the concerns of her sisters, who believed she was still alive and something could be done, the doctors should found ways to tell them the situation. The explanation that they asked for identity cards to buy time is not tenable.

Like Dr Ifezulike noted, I agree that Nigerian doctors must learn to build rapport with their patients and respect them. Not all patients are ignorant or inferior. Even if they are, they deserve to be respected. A course in Patient Management - complete with how to communicate with a variety of patients should be part of the Nigerian medical curriculum, if it is not already there. If it is there, then there needs to be a change in how it is taught.

Belo-Osagie

• From left: Project Officer, CDNET, Kemi Taiwo; Group Head, Corporate Services, SystemsSpecs, Paul Ibidun; Group Head, Remita Services, Demola Igbalajobi and Head of Human Resources, Tope Ologunoye during the visit to SystemSpecs.

Students get feel of work at DSTV

S

OME undergraduates of various universities picked up valuable lessons when they visited Multichoice office on Victoria Island, Lagos as part of the "Take a girl student to work" initiative of the South African Embassy.

The girls, drawn from the Universities of Lagos and Port Harcourt, Covenant University, Bowen University, Anambra State University, Obafemi Awolowo University, Babcock University, and the Yaba College of Technology, got the opportunity to interact with senior managers on the operations of the satellite television company.

They also toured various departments of the company to learn firsthand how things are done.

During the day, they were told of the importance of learning to communicate, build relationships, be team players, and focused, which are all essential virtues needed to succeed in the work environment.

Head of Operations Department, Mrs Hasiya Abdu, counselled the girls about work place values. She also advised them to start working on entrepreneurship ideas before they graduate, like many of their counterparts in Europe have to do.

"Find what you're comfortable with and do it. You need to be confident in your own skin. That is what sells you. You need to be focused.

"Students are doing well in Europe. They have to work and save for their school fees. Their school fees don't get paid. They have to take

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

loans. Save from your monthly allowance and start doing something," she said.

The interaction with Mrs Abdu turned to a counseling session of sorts as the students used the opportunity to express difficulties they had as young adults coping with their parents at home.

She went the extra mile to counsel the girls to build good relationships with their parents as a precursor to learning to work with superiors in the work place when they graduate.

"Communication is very important. You need to learn to build relationships. There needs to be a twoway communication between you and your parents. I know how your parents feel. I have younger ones

‘Find what you’re comfortable with and do it. You need to be confident in your own skin. That is what sells you.

You need to be focused’

and they spend all the time on their phones but come to me only when they need something. It is not right.

You have to be the ones to have conversations with your parents. They need to know more about you.

She warned them against replacing their families with the social media.

The girls also interacted with the Public Relations Manager, DSTV, Caroline Ogbonna; General Manager Marketing, Matu Mabutho; and Human Resources Manager, Ayo Ajala.

They were told an added benefit for visiting Multichoice was the opportunity of establishing a relationship that could lead to employment for them in the firm after graduation. They met with two employees of the firm who got into the company because they had visited as students.

Speaking on the benefits of the programme, Uchegbu Ugoeze, a 300-Level Law student of the University of Lagos, said the exposure was worthwhile.

"Different people have come to talk to us on different things - like mentorship, how to discover yourself, maximising benefits from every opportunity that presents itself to you. It has been able to expose us to various activities in the work place and how to key into it and cope; bearing in mind communication is very important in the work place. If communication is lacking, it will be very difficult to work," she said.

Seven schools visit ICT firms

P

UPILS from seven secondary schools in Lagos State got reallife demonstration of the application of Information Communication Technology (ICT) to daily life when they visited Systems Specs and Interswitch Ltd. The visits were facilitated by the Career Development Network (CDNET), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) under its Ca-

reer Development Programme tagged: "The Discover Work Taster Programme (DWTP)".

Three schools, Igbobi College, Igbobi, Select International College, Lagos and Reagan Memorial Baptist School, Yaba, visited System Specs Ltd; while four schools, International School, Lagos(ISL), Redeemers International School, Maryland, Baptist Academy, Obanikoro, and Queen's

College, Yaba, visited Interswitch Ltd. The Programme, which involved lectures and practical demonstration of technology, were aimed at exposing the participants to application of technology to life to stimulate their interest in various careers especially within the ICT sector.

The initiative was conceived by the NGO to help pupils choose their careers.

‘I have used public hospitals enough to know that this was the case. When you enter to see a doctor, he asks your symptoms. While you are talking, he takes down notes, examines you if necessary, then gives you a prescription and you leave. I have left the hospital many times and when I was asked what the doctor said was wrong I could not answer because I was not told - and did not ask. The only times I have been told anything was when I asked questions’

38

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

POLITICS

39

We have made the aspirants to sign an undertaking which is ‘optional and all of them have signed the undertaking to abide by the process of the primaries ’ APC @ 2

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is two years old. In this interview with TONY AKOWE, its National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, speaks on the journey so far and the proposed governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States.

Our plan for Kogi, Bayelsa polls, by APC T

HE party is planning to celebrate its second anniversary.

What is the party celebrating?

The party was two years by the 31st of July this year because the APC was registered by INEC on July 31st 2013. Last year when we wanted to celebrate our one year anniversary, we got tied up with preparations towards registration of our members, conducting congresses for our members across the federations, holding the national convention as well as the party primaries for the 2015 general elections which we won by the grace of God. This is the second year and the party wants to roll out the drums to celebrate our second year of existence as a party. It is unprecedented that within two years of being registered as a party, we have won the general elections. It is unprecedented that within two years of being registered as a party, we have twenty two (22) governors elected on the platform of the party.

It is also unprecedented that within two years of our registration, we are controlling the two chambers of the National Assembly. These are the things we considered as giant stride and achievements that call for celebrating our great party on its second year as a political party. The event to celebrate our party at two will hold by the end of this month (August) here in Abuja and we are getting world class resource persons to speak to us on the role of a political party in emerging government as well as talk about our change mantra and what to do to effect the change. We shall hear talks on the change our party is championing, is it change of altitude or otherwise, these are the aspects we will be looking at. We have secured the date and the guest speakers are fine tuning ahead of it. I can say authoritatively that one of the guest speakers will be Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Nigeria’s former permanent representatives to the United Nations. We are also finalising the arrangements to get other speakers from outside the country. So, it is true the APC wants to celebrate its second year anniversary. But it will not be only celebration. We also want to use the avenue for internal soul search to let ourselves know that the task ahead is more than the one behind.

The Kogi governorship elections is coming up in a couple of months. How is the APC preparing for the polls?

In the APC, we pride ourselves with our interest in internal democracy. The first ingredient that gave us victory in the last general elec-

tions is the openness of our presidential primaries. It was transparent and open to the extent that even those that could not make it immediately congratulated the winner and they started working together.

Before the Presidential primaries, some people were thinking that APC had already anointed someone amongst the aspirants. But at the end of the day, you found out that no one was anointed because it was transparently done and the candidate emerged. That is what happened in all our governorship primaries across the federation. As the National Organising Secretary of the party, I have seen primaries conducted by the leadership without any crisis. We have done party congresses across the federation without any crisis; we had our presidential primary without any crisis so I don’t envisage any crisis springing up after the governorship primaries in Kogi and Bayelsa states.

If you have been monitoring our activities so far, you’ll observe that we have painstakingly carry on in a manner that both the aspirants and the party leadership in Kogi State will be comfortable with the process. It is public knowledge that we’ve had screening where we gave equal opportunities to all the aspirants. The screening committee cleared all the twenty eight aspirants for the primaries and that is okay by us at the national level here. There are basic things they looked at and were satisfied that all of them are qualified. So, we can not stop anyone in the name of disqualification. In this country, we have seen cases where an incumbent governor was not even allowed to run for primaries of his party. That is not the style of APC. We have made the aspirants to sign an undertaking which is optional and all of them have signed the undertaking to abide by the process of the primaries. What this mean is that we have a responsibility as a party to ensure that the primaries are free and fair. The aspirants also have the responsibility to do the right thing to ensure that the primaries are hitch free. Once you conduct a free and fair election, the losers will not mind congratulating the winner. People get upset when the process is not free and transparent. If it is free and transparent, a loser will lose gallantly and a winner win gallantly. We have put adequate measures in place and I can assure you that there’ll be no backlash after the primaries so long as we do the right thing. The party is poised to do the right thing by publishing

the list of the delegates. It is not a matter of giving the numbers of the delegates, but making them known to the world. APC will publish the list of the delegates for the primaries and anyone who has questions on who is or who is not suppose to be on the list will raise the issue before the primaries and the party will address such dispassionately.

We have guidelines on who qualified to be a delegate and who is not.

But, for the avoidance of doubt, we’ll go ahead to publish the list to ensure transparency. I don’t think we are expecting any post primary issues as it never happened during our presidential election primaries.

If you observed, only a few of APC controlled states are in court over primary election conflict unlike our opponents. So. in a nutshell, what the APC believe in is her cardinal objective of giving room for internal democracy to reign. As long as you don’t guarantee the membership of your party, internal democracy can not succeed. Even now that we are governing party, if we produce a bad candidate, the tendency is that the populace might vote for him or her but will he or she provide the positive change APC stands for? So when we talk about change, it must start from within. We are going to conduct a good primary and I can assure you that there won’t be a major fallout.

Is there any alliance between the party and the former first lady as far as the election in Bayelsa Is concerned?

Don’t even go far, I’m not aware of what you are talking about. It is not everything that the media report that you will take to be the truth.

She (Patience Jonathan) is not even a member of our party and she has not indicated interest to support any member of our party. If there are things like that, you can just say they are media speculations.

How can the APC leadership ensure unity in the Kogi chapter?

There won’t be any crisis. A political party is just like a church. You don’t stop anyone from coming in to worship. We can’t stop anyone from coming to join APC because we are even looking for more people to join the party. If there so many bigwigs in Bayelsa or any other states coming to join our party, what that means is that our party is doing well. If we are not doing well, those bigwigs will not join us. How do we manage their entrance into the party? That is why we have code of conducts and guidelines for primaries. If anybody who is coming in now is qualified to contest, you can’t stop them from contesting the prima-

•Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, Senate President Bukola Saraki (second left), Acting Clerk to the National Assembly Ben Efeturi and Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Francis Ailimikhena during the familiarization tour and inspection of the National Assembly Fire Service Station.

•Senator Izunaso

‘

Within the last two years when the APC was formed, we’ve had two women as chairmen of our party in the states.

Has that happened anywhere before?

’

ries. It is the delegates that will decide who becomes the candidate of the party. If you look at the delegates electoral college and those who constitute the APC delegates, you will discover that they are more inclusive than the other political party. The other political party will do a special congress to elect three people per ward. In our case, virtually all executive members of our party are delegates. If you have a large number of delegates, the tendency is that people cannot buy them over because the number is large. People cannot camp them overnight.

How do you even do that when you have over four thousand delegates? If you are qualified to run for an election, you can run. We cannot stop any new person coming into the party not to contest. It is the delegates that will determine their fates.

Mind you, we are not doing a new delegate list. It is the other political party that does a special congress to elect an adhoc-delegates that will elect the candidate. The scenario in APC is different from that. Our own is to ensure that the existing executives from the wards to local and state governments levels constitute the list of the delegates. That is our guideline. It is them (delegates) that will know whether an aspirant has worked for the party or not. I wouldn’t want to stress this point.

The bottom line is that everybody will be given a level playing ground to operate, whether you are a new entrant to the party or not, as long as you are qualified.

There was an incident where your party members in Rivers State took their protest to INEC headquarters, Abuja over the refusal of the State Residence Electoral Commissioner to allow them access the electoral materials, is there anything the party at the national level is doing or it is going to do on this issue?

We at the national level find it very reluctant to comment on issues before the Tribunal. Our people in Riv-

ers, Imo, Akwa-Ibom and other states who are having issues at the tribunals have been advised on what to do legally and they are doing that right now. However, I must say that it is condemnable to see some of our members being teargassed by the police. Nigerians have condemned it and we also joined Nigerians to condemn such treatment. They went to INEC to make a specific request and not to demonstrate. So, why won’t they be admitted to state their mission and for INEC to answer them? We know that it is not everything you request from INEC that it will oblige you. Buy if the court gave an order that such should be done, why can’t they obey the court order?

We will refrain from commenting on those sensitive issues because it has gone beyond our domain and is now a judicial matter and we will allow them to finish and if there are issues, we’ve advised our people on how to follow them legally. We pride ourselves as law abiding citizens of this country. Our party is first and foremost a believer in the rule of law and that is the only way the system can be sanitised and nothing beyond that.

Is there any other thing the party is doing to get the women more involved in the affairs of the party, especially in elective positions?

Anything that has to do with gender is somewhat of agitation. When you are agitating for something, you will surely become an Oliver Twist.

If you get this, you’ll still agitate for another one. If you say our women are complaining, then I’ll say it is not true.cIf there is any party in Nigeria that is more women friendly, then I’ll say it is our party. No major political party in Nigeria has ever given a woman the governorship ticket, but the APC gave it’s governorship ticket to a woman in Taraba State. She would have emerged as a governor. Even at that, it is never too late because her case is still in court. What does that mean? It means APC as a party doesn’t do lip services to the issue of gender. If we do, we wouldn’t have given our governorship ticket to a woman. The same APC elected a woman as the chairman of our party in Adamawa State. Today, the same person is now an elected senator from the same state. During the interim administration of our party, a woman in Enugu State was also appointed as the chairman of the party in the state.

Within the last two years when the APC was formed, we’ve had two women as chairmen of our party in the states. Has that happened anywhere before? Even our major opponent, have they produced a woman chairman before; have they produced woman governorship candidate before? Even in the appointment that we are doing, you wouldn’t say women are relegated. A woman is currently the Acting chairman of INEC, the most sensitive electoral body in the country. Mr President has not appointed his ministers and I believe when he does, women will be.

We don’t joke with the issues of our women. The APC is the only party than takes the issue of her women seriously. It is public knowledge that we don’t charge money for nomination form from any of our women who wish to vie for elective positions and the Kogi primary is a clear example. One of the contestants is a woman and the party didn’t collect a dime from her to obtain the form. If a woman is qualified to contest for any elective position on the platform of this party, she’s free to do so.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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SHOWBIZ

I always wanted to be part of Nollywood, says Aurelie Eliam

Marrying Funke was a mistake, says Femi Kuti

By Jane Kolade

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By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

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VORIAN actress Aurelie Eliam, who is in Nigeria for the first time as a member of the cast of Kunle Afolayan’s anticipated movie, The CEO, has revealed her love for the country’s movie industry.

The mother of two, in a chat with The Nation, stated; “This is my first time in Nigeria. But I have always wanted to be part of Nollywood because it is pretty much known in Ivory Coast. We also have a TV station with the name Nollywood TV. People are really interested in watching these movies, more than our own TV stations.”

Though she acknowledged enjoying her stay in the country, she says that she has had her own share of challenges.

According to her, it stems from the fact that The CEO is more or less her first English production.

“Most of the films I have done are mainly in our native language. Although I have done a short film before in English in Los Angeles, I find this one more challenging because it is a real movie and I don’t want to disappoint people.

It is challenging for me because I have to speak English and play in a Nollywood movie,” the thespian revealed.

Many might not recognise her but Aurelie Eliam is an Ivorian actress, model and TV host. Her career, which started with modeling, has seen her grace the local and international screens, with particular focus on francophone countries.

• Aurelie Eliam

TJ Sax backs Heart of Hope Walkathon

• TJ Sax

EIR to the Afrobeat dynasty, and international music star, Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, has attributed his success to his tutelage under his father, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti; first as a trainee, and later as a member of his band.

He told The Nation that his father was his first critic, adding that when he played his first composition to his father, he asked how people could dance to it. The singer reminisced, “Fela asked, ‘so how do you want people to dance to this?’” I only thought of the melody when I composed the song, but on speaking to him, I realised that it was important for Africans to be able to dance to the song.”

Though not a graduate of music, Femi was a protégée of his father, who learned his craft at the foot of a master craftsman, and acknowledged the fact that hard work was a major secret he acquired from his mentor father.

Femi started receiving music lessons from his father as a teenager.

Speaking about his marriage to his ex-wife, Funke Kuti, he noted that he does not believe in the marriage institution.

“I never believed in marriage. I loved my wife, and got carried away. I am happy about the experience. We got married for a number of reasons; she left home, and many people said she had made the greatest mistake of her life. She got pregnant and there were so many reasons to get married.”

Going further, he asserted that his father advised him not to get married but he went against his father’s wishes. He went on to say that getting married affected the relationship, saying, “Now we are great friends, but probably if we had not gotten married, we probably would have still been together.”

He said further: “When you get married, if it breaks up, you get into a very bitter street, that makes it is very difficult for people to make up afterwards. Everything goes bitter around you, and hatred comes in. And when hatred comes, you find that many couples can no longer stand each other”.

By Ovwe Medeme

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OME Saturday, September 19, Nigeria’s teen saxophonist, TJ Emore, better known as TJ Sax shows will be participating in the Heart of Hope Walkathon put together by the Children Living with Cancer Foundation.

The walk, scheduled to kick off at 7:30 am from Dowen

Yung6ix to drop Billionaire Ambition

College, starts from Lekki Phase 1 and goes through GTB gate, Oniru, and back to Lekki Phase 1.

According to the organisers, the event is aimed at making a difference in the lives of children with cancer and to solicit support. Attendees would be given free T-shirts at the venue as it promises to be informative, entertaining and educating.

TJ Sax was born Nov 24 in Lagos Nigeria. He played at the Aso Villa in Abuja in 2011 at the First Lady’s Children’s Day Party where he thrilled the First Lady and her guests. T.J has also played in various churches and corporate events.

In 2011, he released an album which contains tracks like Forever Young, Original by Jay-Z, He Lives in Me, Original by Diana Ross, a Sax Medley and a host of other s. The teenage saxophonist has performed alongside artistes like MI, Sasha P, Mode 9, Rock Steady, Dammy Krane, Solidstar, Vector, Sound Sultan and Tuface Idibia.

The Children Living with Cancer Foundation (CLWCF) is a Non Profit making charity organization dedicated to the care and welfare of children with childhood cancers and their families in conjunction with the Oncology ward of the Pediatric Department of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

NCC clamps down on pirates

• Yung6ix

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ASHING in on the success of his first album, 6ix o Clock, budding Nigerian artiste, Onome Onokohwomo, aka Yung6ix is set to release his highly anticipated EP titled Billionaire Ambition.

The artiste who is signed in the Kash Kamp Trick Billionaire Music (KKTBM) label says that the EP is all about expressing himself.

“Yes, I’m working on my EP titled Billionaire Ambition and it will be out any moment now. The EP is actually supposed to be out there but we did not foresee the success of my latest single, so I just gave it time for it to sink in. We will be putting out another hit any time now. So far, we have eight songs in the EP,” an excited Yung6ix stated.

According to him, the project so far boasts of five songs, two collabos and one instrumental. “We are just putting finishing touches to it. There will be live instrumentations on it. We had different people coming up to put their talent into it; drummers and other instrumentalists are all featured in the EP. I worked with Ekelly, Gospel on the beat, Baller Tosh, Andre 053, Magnum, Dissally Beatx and a host of others and some other producers from america. It will be a crazy sound,” says the artiste.

The young artiste who started out as a rapper says that he now does his own style of music which he describes as Afro Hip Music.

Growing up in the Nigerian music industry and making successful hit songs, he says, you get to understand that there is a certain type

of music that the people accept, and that is afro music.

“I’m selling hip hop from the afro music point of view, from the Fuji music point of view; from the Nigerian point of view. Basically, what I am influenced by is my own environment and our own sound. All these, I have brought to bear in the new EP. It is just about me expressing myself; making heartfelt music,” he said.

• Femi Kuti

CTING on complaints brought to its office by the Yoruba Movie Marketers Association, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) yesterday arrested 35 suspected pirates who were parading the streets of Lagos with illicit copies of home videos and audio CDs. The Lagos Zonal Director, Mr Chris Nkwocha, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that those arrested contravene the Copyright Law of Section (38), Subsection 1.

According to Nkwocha, the suspected pirates were arrested on the streets of IyanaIpaja, Iyana-Iba, Ojo, Obalende and Oshodi respectively, stating that the suspected pirates are now in police custody. He said that they will be charged to court after a thorough investigation for prosecution.

He also revealed that about 50,000 copies of CDs and DVDs estimated at about N2million were seized from the suspects.

Nkwocha said that the anti-piracy raids were carried out in major markets and streets of Lagos, a commercial hub for pirates who sell unauthorised works.

“The raids (were) carried out based on complaints brought to the Commission by Yoruba Movie Marketers Association. The Commission had to speed up action to come to the aid of the association because piracy is a punishable offence in the copyright law.

The commission has the right to arrest anyone who is involved in illegal copyright activity. We then ensure that such person goes to court for prosecution,” he said.

Nkwocha said that the raids were successfully carried out with the assistance of officers of the Nigerian Army, the Police, the Lagos State Video Censors Board and that of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI).

He said that the Commission would not relent in its efforts until it brought piracy to the barest minimum or completely eradicated in the country. He also appealed to the Federal Government to support the commission with necessary funds for effective discharge of its mandate.

• Nkwocha

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

‘Herbal medicine now evidence-based’

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HERE is cheering news for lovers of African medicine.

African medicine is moving towards evidence-based medicine, says a key player and Director of Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories (PAXHERBALS), Fr. Anselm Adodo.

This progress, according to Father Adodo, who spoke at the Seventh National Congress of Pax health care providers, which is an association of all distributors, agents and scientists, would make African medicine evidence-based.

He said the era of describing African Traditional medicine as fetish and pagan has long gone.

Fr Adodo lamented: “Nigeria is still busy discussing whether herbal medicine is a good source of healthcare or not while countries, such as China and India have already invaded the world herbal market like a colossus”.

He continued: “While the yearly world market for herbal medicine is estimated at over $100 billion, Nigerian professionals are busy attending seminars to convince people of the efficacy of herbal medicine, while others are standing by the ringside complaining about charlatans”.

The monk called on the scientific community to join hands to develop African herbal medicine.

Director-General, Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), Mr Sam Etatuvie praised PAXHERBALS for its determination to open new

•From left: Fr. Adodo, Etatuvie, Aighokhian and Aigbodion at the event.

Stories by Wale Adepoju

frontiers in herbal medicine research.

He said his agency will collaborate with Paxherbals in working out a model of clinical trials of

herbal products and other Nigerian herbal products in line with international regulations.

The Chief Medical Director of Irrua specialist Teaching Hospital, Dr. Sylvanus Okogbenin, represented by Dr Peter Akhinor,

said Paxherbals is not just an herbal medicine manufacturer but a full-blown research institute that is ready to move towards clinical research and scientific verification of the claims of its herbal products.

‘While the yearly world market for herbal medicine is esti-

mated at over $100 billion, Nigerian professionals are busy attending seminars to convince people of the efficacy of herbal medicine, while others are standing by the ringside complaining about charlatans’

Sitz bath, carrot can combat cervical cancer, says expert

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NATURAL health practitioner has recommended regular consumption of carrots and sitz bath, which is a warm, shallow bath that cleanses the perineum (the space between the rectum and the vulva or scrotum) for the prevention of cervical cancer.

This, according to the Director of Programme, Green Centre Academy, Darlington Okafor, can help to put the disease at bay.

He said vegetables and fruits are good for preventing cervical cancer, stressing that carrot is one of such vegetables.

“Carrots have strong antioxidant properties and they contain falcarinol, which is a natural compound that is highly effective at slowing down the development of cancer. Scientists found that those with pre-cancerous tumor who eat plenty of carrots as less likely to develop full-scale tumor.

“So, women can cook their carrots or eat them raw. It is best to keep the carrots whole during boiling or steaming and chopping them only afterwards to retain the antioxidant nutrients and falcarinol. Also, maximum benefits can be gotten from drinking two glasses of freshly juiced carrots thrice a week,” Okafor said.

Carrots, he said, are vegetables, which have water soluble vitamins but the vitamins may be lost if the back is peeled before washing. To avoid this, people should wash them without peeling and eat with the back,” he said.

Advising women, he urged them to maintain good hygiene by washing their private part with

•Okafor

•Carrot

clean water. They should also work on their hormone, eat proper diet and enjoy sitz bath from time to time, he added.

Sitz bath, Okafor said, can be a part of a woman’s daily personal hygiene, thus providing relief from pain or itching in the genital area where cervical and uterine cancer occur.

“It is important to know that female genitalia are complex and delicate. The major role of the female genitalia is to hold the miracle of life in the section called uterus. For some women, this role may never get fulfilled because of cancer of cervix and uterus,” he said.

He urged women to protect their genitalia since it is more exposed than those of men, stressing: “It is continually exposed to infec-

tions”.

Women, he said, should maintain good hygiene in this area by avoiding products, such as soap and dust (When they stand to urinate by road sides) and contraceptive foams into it.

Besides, the female reproductive system, he said, is capable of cleaning itself naturally to maintain its acidic PH level.

“If any foreign substance is introduced into it, the acidic state which serves as protection against bacteria and fungi will be lost and it will become home to various infections.

“A common example is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). This type of infection should be avoided like a plaque. This is because the presence of HPV and HIV are most likely to be followed by cervical

cancer.”

Describing how cervical cancer occurs, he said, it starts at the cervix or neck of the uterus, that is, the cells lining before it begins to grow uncontrolled and changes from pre-cancer to full cancer. “A study by the University of Washington in the United States found that cervical cancer is common among women who became sexually active before age 21 and have had more than one partner. This is because the vaginal mucosa and the cervix are not matured at such young age. Smoking and multiple pregnancies are other causes,” he said.

Okafor said the presence of cervical cancer is indicated by abnormal vaginal discharge, persistent pelvic pain, abnormal vaginal bleeding, especially during or after intercourse.

Okogbenin, who chaired the committee set up the teaching hospital to discuss clinical collaboration with Paxherbals, said he was initially skeptical about the prospects of such a proposed partnership, but his doubts got dispelled after learning about the serious research initiatives of PAXHERBALS. He said that he was satisfied with PAXHERBALS reputation as it currently trains over 38 science students from five Nigerian universities.

The Commissioner for Health, Edo State, Dr Aihanuwa Eregie, represented by the state’s Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Dr. Godwin Okonofua, thanked PAXHERBALS for their achievement in changing the face of herbal medicine in Nigeria and Africa, and thus encouraged them to remain steadfast in their mission.

Other speakers at the congress were the Catholic Bishop of Uromi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Gabriel G. Dunia, Vice Chancellor, Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa, Prof. Bernard Aigbokhan, Deputy-Vice Chancellor (academics), Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Prof.

Jack Aigbodion, Head, Microbiology Department, AAU, Ekpoma, Prof. Mrs. E. Ohenen and Prof. MacDonald Idu of the Department of Phytomedicine, University of Benin (UNIBEN), among others.

Dandruff treatment •POUR, rinse, and barely repeat with vinegar Rinsing your hair with vinegar (specifically Apple Cider Vinegar or white vinegar) may sound like a dreadful idea, but it can be quite an effective way to treat dandruff because it actually addresses the root of the problem (pun very much intended.)Put simply, dandruff is the result of skins cells maturing and dying too fast, building up, and causing irritation. Vinegar will get rid of the unwanted skin that would flake off into dandruff, and it won’t clog up your pores or cause more. An overgrowth of fungus can also cause dandruff, and vinegar acts like a fungicide. Using it is straightforward, simple, and is probably easier on your hair than some shampoos out there. Just don’t wash with it before a business meeting in a stuffy room-the biggest downfall is that your hair will smell like vinegar until you shower again (but it does go away.)

•1/2 cup warm water •1/2 cup ACV or white vinegar •A cup Directions Mix together the warm water and vinegar in a cup. The total amount may be varied to be more or less depending on how much hair you have. Pour the mixture over your hair, scrub it around gently for several minutes, and then rinse it thoroughly with water (only water!) Wait about 8-12 hours before taking a normal shower. Repeat once every week or two weeks, depending on how often you feel you need it.

Apple cider vinegar for dry scalp •Source: www.everydayroots.com

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THE NATION THURSDAY,SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

NATURAL HEALTH

Sinusitis, mucus discharge and systemic candidiasis (5)

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ARRING unforeseen circumstances, the curtain should fall today on this series. It has been a long journey from the exploration of possible cause of Sinusitis, the health waterloo of many people, and candidiasis, local as in oral (tongue) thrush or vaginal infection, or systemic, involving some organs or the entire system. The series also threw up possible remedies such as saline nasal flush, inhalation of the vapour of some essential oils, the use of garlic oil, and the deployment of anti-bacterial and immune boosting herbs.

The Mayo Clinic was to expand the scope of the exploration with the findings of a 2009 study which made a landmark discoveryabout the different possible causes of acute (sudden and short-term) sinusitis and the chronic type, which may drag for months, years or even a lifetime. The different causes require different solutions, the study concluded, whereas, hitherto, the tendency was for physicians to regard both types of candidiasis to be caused by bacteria and treated with antibacterial drugs, among other drugs in the protocol. Now, it is believed chronic Sinusitis originates from yeast, of which there are about 250 varieties, including Candida, other fungi and mold. In the Mayo Clinic study, most of the 210 patients investigated had about four strains of fungi in their mucus.

Only anti-fungal drugs, not anti-bacterial, would destroy these parasites and heal the malaise. Last Thursday, the exploration highlighted the controversy over dark field microscopy analysis of the live blood specimens of Candida, other fungi or bacteria. Increasingly, Alternative Medicine practitioners prefer this analysis to light field microscopy favoured by orthodox medicine. In conclusion last Thursday, the series attempted to explain why sinusitis may be acute or chronic, using varied degreesof blood pH as the analytical tool. Today, it would try to conclude the exploration with an offer of some herbs available in Alternative Medicine for the treatment of diseases of bacterial or fungal origins…

Lemon grass In Nigeria, we know of this plant more for its fabled antisnake properties, and anti-malaria effect. At the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) years ago, researchers found that the water infusion kills the malaria parasite, Plasmodium, in the blood stream. But, as part of the poverty of the mind which is crippling Nigeria’s economy and people, it has not been deemed right to grow plantations of this highly medicinal plant and make of it a national anti-malarial tea which will not only save lives but also save enormous foreign exchange spent on the importation of anti-malarial pharmaceutical finished drugs or their raw materials. Yet, every year, doctors report many deaths among pregnant women and children which are linked to malaria fever. How free the country may be from malaria fever is better imagined if every-one grows lemon grass in his flower bed at home or can get a box of lemon grass sachet tea for a drink over every meal at home or in the office. Wouldn’t this be better than sugared beverages which add little or nothing to the health profile? Many studies’ have shown that Lemon grass helps digestion, curbs high cholesterol levels, cleans and detoxifies the blood and tissue, is a healing agent in colds and flu because of its anti-microbial, anti-bacterial and anti- fungal properties, fights even cancer, and is good for reducing arthritic pain.

According to Joanne Marie, writing in the website www.livestrong.com, a laboratory named Sloan Kettering has done some studies on the medicinal uses of Lemon grass.

She says: EMON grass has been recommended by practitioners of Traditional Medicine for many ailments. Modern research suggests that it may have significant health benefits. Lemon grass contains a number of volatile oils, including one called CITRAL that is a mixture of several similar compounds. Information from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center indicates that Citral acts as an antioxidant that can help protect your cells from damage by free radicals.

These unstable molecules form during digestion or when you are exposed to toxins. Over time, they can damage your cells and raise your risks of chronic disorders, including atherosclerosis and heart disease. Research published in the 2003 issue of Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communication found their CITRAL act by activating an enzyme, Glutathione STransferees, that detoxifies free radicals and helps your body rid itself of them, but this laboratory result still needs confirmation in trials with human subjects.

‘Sloan Kettering also indicates that extracts of Lemon grass have anti-microbial properties, helping to prevent or slow the growth of bacteria and fungi. A study published in the January 2012 issue of Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice found that an oil extract from Lemon grass inhibited growth of Streptococcus bacteria in the laboratory, while research in the March 2009 issue of Phytomedicine studied the effectiveness of a Lemon grass infusion in human subject with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) who has an oral fungal infection called thrush. Researchers found that an oral rinse administered three times daily was more effective than Gentian Violet, an anti-fungal medication.

Compounds in Lemon grass also have properties that might help lower your risks of developing cancer. Several laboratory studies confirm that Lemon grass components could prevent growth of cancer cells. For example, a study in the October 2009 issue of FUNDAMENTALS OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY found that CITRAL from Lemon grass slowed the growth of breast cancer cells in the laboratory and also caused them to undergo a process called apoptosis, which caused cell death. According to the Sloan Kettering, components of Lemon grass might also have a sedative effect, increasing the time you stay asleep. In addition, Lemon grass may have anti-inflammatory properties that help suppress the activity

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of cyclo-oxygenate-2, an enzyme involved in inflammation that can cause pain in disorders such as arthritis, although these and other potential benefits still need further study.

According to www.health guide.com, Lemon grass has many medical uses, some of which are as follows: Lemon grass as herbal medicine for gastro-intestinal problems, stomach ache, diarrhea, gas, bowel spasis, vomiting,flu and headache. Lemon grass oil mixed with such essential oils such as coconut oil, is used as liniment for back pains, rheumatism, neuralgia, sprains and other body pains… To treat circulatory disorders,some authorities recommend rubbing a few drops of lemon grass oil on the skin of effected areas. It is believed to work by improving body flow. Lemon grass has natural antimicrobial properties, is an antiseptic, suitable for use on various types of skin infections, usually as a wash or compress, and is especially effective on ring worm, infected sores, acne and athlete’s foot.

Lemon grass is effective in killing cancer cells. It is useful with respiratory infections such as sore throat, laryngitis and fever, and helps spread of infectious” diseases.

Inwww.organicfacts.com, we learn that: Lemon grass is an aromatic store house of essential nutrients providing a wide array of health benefits. It is a source of essential vitamins such as Vitamin A, B1 (thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacen), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridozine), folate and vitamin C. It also provides essentials minerals such as potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Manganese, Copper, Zinc and Iron, which are required for healthy functioning of the humanbody. It offers no harmful cholesterol or fat.”

When I lived in 39 Emine Crescent, off Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos, I grew more than 100 heads of lemon grass from which my family obtained its tea, and from which I made cuttings for my friends. Let us return to Mother Nature by planting lemon grass today in our flower bed or flower pots. We may discover from taking lemon grass tea every day that a cup every day may keep the doctor away.

PAU d’ ARCO Three readers of this column sort of gave me Pau d‘ Arco as a nickname after it helped to resolve their health challenges.

One did not have to have surgery, earlier slated, to resolve his occult blood problem, a condition in which bleeding ulcer in the colon may lead to cancer. Another almost have his testes removed when a PSA (prostate sensitive Antigen) of more than 400 points (Norman is 0-4 points) led to a suspicion of prostate cancer.In the Websitewww.healthandwellness.com, Loretta Nanphier, N.P., Advises us that: “A native to South American, Pau d`Arco has been used in herbal medicine with a wide range of health concerns, including pain, arthritis, inflammation of prostate gland (prostitis), fever, dysentery, boils and ulcers and various cancers. Even as early as 1873, there are reports of medicinal uses of Pau d` Arco.” it is interesting to note that scientist have identified two active chemicals in the inner bark of Pau d` Arco. These natural and active chemicals are called Laphthoquinones. Lapacnol and Beta-Lapachone.In lab studies, Lapachol has been shown to have great potential of application in fighting metastases (spread of cancer cells). According to Dr. David Boothman, a professor at the HaroldSimmons Comprehensive Cancer center and Author of a study that appeared in the proceedings of the National Academy of Science,Beta-Lapachone distrupts the Cancer cells ability to repair its DNA, ultimately leading to the cell’s demise. (BetaLapachone)andLapachol have also been found effective in killing certain types of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites as well as possessing anti-inflamatory properties.

“We must note that both Lapachol and BetaLapachonehave been studied as individual components, however, there is only a trace of Lapachol in the bark. In its isolated form, Lapachone is quite aggressive but in Pau d`Arco tea, Nature has brought together a concert of healing substances in the inner bark that act in a synegestic manner.

It should in no way be limited to any individual substance.

According to Walter Lubeck, author of THE HEALING

e-mail:johnolufemikusa@yahoo.com or johnolufemikusa@gmail.com

POWER OF PAU d’ARCO, “The very low concentrations of Lapachone in tea extracted from inner bark of the tree activates various immune cells in the human body, the Lymphocyctes and the Granulocyctes.

Considerably higher concentrations of Lapacholdon’t have such a good effect in this regard, “It is very important to take the time to take and drink Paud’Arco tea in its complete and natural form.

BernhardKreher, a Munich researcher wrote his doctoral work on the immunestimulating effects of Paud’Arco and found that the body’s defence system activity increased by more than 48 percent when Paud’ Acro was regularly consumed . Paud’ Acro also contains Selenium, a powerful antioxidants that removes free radicals which can damage cells and trigger disease. Paud’ Acro has a holistic effect on the body, meaning the whole body is detoxified.

Harmful toxic substances, including heavy metals, pesticides, preservatives and even the residue from chemotherapy may be thoroughly eliminated. Blood vessels, the lymph system, cells, tissues and organs are all detoxified, allowing the body system to function properly and effectively.

Loretta Lamphier says the health benefits of this herb includes, (in her own words) anti-inflammatory, inhibits, candida albicans preventative during the cold and flu season, effective blood purifier, stimulates production of red blood cells, anti-oxidant properties, anti-microbial, antibacterial, anti – tumour effects, analgesic effects, sight parasites, antineoplastic, effective against E-coli, accelerates healing of skin wounds, strengthens immune system, protects against Staph infection, toxic effects on leukemia cells, maintains regular bowel activity, helps respiratory disorders, good for allergies, useful for arthritis, useful for diabetes, dissolves phlegni.”

It is recommended at least four, eight-ounce cupfulls be taken daily for cancer and, for maintenance, three to four cups daily.

GOLDEN SEAL ROOT This is one of my favourite antibiotic herbs, especially when it is combined withEchinacea. One of its active Ingredients, Berberine, which is present also in Oregon Grape, Coats the surfaces of tissue so that germs cannot adhere to it.

This makes infections difficult and the germs, unable to draw nutrient from the body, become weak and easy preys for immune cells.

According to www.healthsystem.com: Golden seal has been used historically as a mouth wash to help heal canker sores.

OLDEN seal contains Berberine, and alkaloid with antibiotic and antifungal activities that (have) also been used to help relieve the diarrhoea seen in some people with chronic candidiasis. Tintures of various herbs, including Golden seal, have been applied topically to herpes outbreaks in order to promote healing.

Golden seal root has antimicrobial and mild immune stimulating effects. It smoothens irritated Mucus membranes in the throat, making it potentially useful for sore throats.

Golden Seal Contains Barberine, an anti-bacterial constituent that has been chemically studied for eye infections. This websites says Berberine slows the growth of Helicobacter pyloribacterium, a cause of peptic ulcer.The herbs is described as digestive stimulant, is immune supportive, anti-microbial especially when used with a wild indigo.www.healthsystem.com says “Berberine killsamoebaand can be used successfully to treat Giardiainfections.

According to www.all for naturalhealth.com: for the digestive system, Golden seal has properties that stimulates appetite, aids digestion, often increase the production of bile and cures digestive problems. It also has an astringent effect in addition to certain antibacterial properties which work effectively in treating digestive tract conditions like gastritis, E-coli and yeast infections. This particular property of the Golden seal herb also works effectively in treating ulcer in the mouth. For anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antiseptic properties, the health benefits of Golden seal help to treat inflammation and infections of the eye, nose and throat.

Conjunctivitis, too, can be effectively treated by using Golden seal eye wash. In addition, Golden seal is a very popular cure for infections of the gums or gingivitis.”

Golden seal is reported to help blood circulation to the liver, pancreas, spleen and thyroid gland, to mention a few of the glands it helps.

Women should be happy to note that golden seal helps regulate the menstrual cycle that used in a douche, it helps to cure “Eucorrhea and other forms of vaginal infections.

I would like to conclude this reference on Golden seal root with www.herbwisdom.com which says: “in particular, it is the alkaloid, Berberine that is most likely responsible for golden seal’s effectiveness against bacteria, protozoa, fungi, streptococci and it also promotes easier removal of the bacteria by inhibiting their ability to adhere to tissue surface. Berberine is also anti-fungi and strongly anti-diarrhoea.

It aids against the infection of mucus membranes such as the lining of the oral cavity, throat, sinus, bronchi, genito urinary tract and gastro-intestinal tract. Clinical studies have shown its effectiveness in the treatment of diarrhoea cause by E-coli (traveler’s diarrhea), Shigella dysentery (shigellosis), Salmonella(paratyphi), (food poisoning), GirdiaLamblia (giardiasis) and vibroCholerae (Cholera).

There is a lot more to say about Golden seal root, which time and space do not permit. Orode my Lawyerfriend and an avid reader of this column, will be giggling over that. I can read her mind. She is seeing unforeseen circumstances already at work.

G

Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 08116759749

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

43

THE NATION

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes * Real Estate

BUSINESS PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com 08114495369

property@thenationonlineng.net muyiwalucas2002@yahoo.com

The lull in the delivery of housing units under the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme to Ogun, NSIA, allottees may be over very soon. The delay may not be unconnected with the change in govern- Lafarge partner on ment and the re-engineering of government operations going on in the state. Now, in furtherance of empowering more residents to own houses, the state is set to roll out a rent-to-own Forest Restoration HE Ogun State Government, in scheme, raising the hope of millions of Lagosians, writes MUYIWA LUCAS.

T

• Pa Anthony Enahoro Housing Estate, Ogba... a reference point for LagosHOMS. Insert: Odunlami

LagosHOMS: Allottees to smile as rent-to-own scheme set for roll-out I

N Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, shelter comes second after food. This is why no government interested in the welfare of its people toil with accommodation for its citizens.

The Lagos State government, aware of the enormous pressure this constitute, has through various schemes tried to ameliorate the sufferings of the people in this regard. One of such initiatives is its Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (LagosHOMS), launched toward the end of the last administration.

But the continued pressure on the state government to deliver on the scheme has been slowed down. This is because of the change in government and the restructuring of government business.

But last week, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Mr. Olatunji Odunlami, in a meeting with allotees of Mushin, Igando and Sangotedo schemes, assured of the renewed efforts to deliver the houses on schedule.

Odunlami appealed to the allottees be patient promising that government is determined to deliver quality and well finished houses to the allottees. He blamed the electioneering period which usually affects government business and the reengineering of government business at this period, as the cause of the delay in handing over units in the Mushin scheme, assuring that the allottees will get their house keys by this month end.

The delay According to Odunlami, the delay in the delivery of the houses was due to the state government’s afforts at streamlining the approach to providing services to residents.

He said: “The government is trying to reengineer itself to serve the people better. Those houses ought to have been completed and delivered because the Mushin project is already at 95 per cent but the estate will be completed and keys handed over to the allotees at the end of this month. “The governor has

given a mandate to the ministry to do a review of all the ongoing housing estates under the scheme to help in completing all the outstanding.”

Allottees demand At the meeting with the state government, the allottees appealed to the government to look into their demands and request, especially since they were supposed to have taken possession of the units since December last year. They demanded that government should refund rents already paid by allottees to their landlords from December last year to the time they will get their allocation.

Responding to the demand, Odunlami explained that whether government would pay them the rent that is owed, will involve dialogue.

“We can keep talking and definitely, government will do what it can do because these are our people.

Whatever they have asked and whatever is possible is what we are going to do. Some of them may be saying they want to take back their money. We don’t want them to do that because we have committed to them.

“But if somebody is insisting that he wants to take his money, maybe he thinks his money has been spent, then they would be asked to come and pick up their money.

Government has committed that they look; we are going to deliver to you, as far as it is a commitment of the government, then people should hold on to it. Like I was discussing with someone that even if someone wants to take his money, today-that let me come my money temporarily, we won’t withdraw the allocation. So when he is done, bring back your money and pay it to us. It is just to show your com-

mitment and that is why you are paying. If you don’t do that and then you don’t it on time, then you will have issues at the end of the day.”

Rent-to-own scheme Odunlami said to further provide housing for Lagosians, the state government will soon commence a rentto-own scheme under the Homeownership Mortgage Scheme. He explained that modalities were being worked out to ensure its smooth take off. The scheme was initiated by former governor Babatunde Fashola, to encourage residents to participate in the state’s housing scheme aimed at reducing shortage of homes. He said under the scheme, those who cannot afford the equity for an outright purchase of a house will pay a rent for a specific period, which will go towards offsetting the cost of the house.

This, he further explained, is part of government’s efforts aimed at expanding the home ownership schemes as much as possible for people. “For government to bring out a policy, we have to think about it critically; consider the entire element involved vis-a-vis the people for whom you are planning the programme. We are in the process now; we are working out the number to see what it comes to, based on our yardstick which is usually the public servants whom we can easily track. The private sector can also key into the scheme,” Odunlami said.

Other schemes The Sangotedo and Igando schemes, the Permanent Secretary assured, would be co mpleted in phases and done simultaneously. The permanent secretary said all previous agreements reached in respect of the houses would be implemented.

“We will continue to work simultaneously on the Sangotedo and Igandu

schemes, Sangotedo is 60 per cent completed, “Look at Anthony Enahoro Estate in Ogba; all its facilities are in place; that estate is connected; they have transformer there, that’s what they are using now. The only thing that they were talking about was the issue of alternative power supply. I think a lot of people felt that alternative power is a responsibility of government, it is not.

Infrastructure, maintenance An allottee under the Mushin scheme, Mr. Dotun Coker, appealed to the state government to address the issue of power supply to the estate and others. To this end, Odunlami explained that the estates would soon be connected to the national grid as generating sets would not be allowed under the scheme.

Besides, the state government would engage facility managers from the private sector to manage the estates. “There is a need for coordinated approach to maintenance and facility managers will be employed. The government is not set to manage the estates, it will provide the necessary wherewithal and allow the private sector to run it,” he clarified.

In estates such as Anthony Enahoro in Ogba, Odunlami said he is aware of the issue of alternative power supply. He disclosed that though everybody wants to use generator, but for health and other reasons, that will not be possible. “We don’t allow people to bring in individual generator. You won’t be able to control it. That is why the best thing to do is to bring what is readily available, a big generator. But the running of it is the responsibility of the residents because they are the ones consuming it; that is what we are working on now,” he said.

partnership with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Lafarge Africa Plc, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the joint development of Ogun State Forest Landscape Restoration Project. The MoU was signed during President Muhammadu Buhari’s state visit to France. The MOU will enable the creation of a legal entity to develop the project, engage development agencies and climate change funds, and promote it to large agriculture and forestry investors.

The project is set to transform 108,000 hectares of heavily degraded land into an arable green area. It is designed to employ innovative approaches to achieve best-of-breed environmental, social and economic results. The first part of the area will be rehabilitated through mixed reforestation to provide biodiversity hotspots corridors, allowing nomadic herders to cross the area with their herds and encouraging subsistent farming. The other part will be leased to agro-industrial investors interested in the development of largescale tree crop such as cocoa, coffee, rubber and oil palm as well as annual crops such as maize, sesame, cotton and cassava amongst others.

Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, explained that the restoration and enhancement of the state’s forests benefits the environment and creates jobs in rural communities. Besides, he reckons that it will increase the pace and scale of restoration of forests, which is critically needed to address a variety of threats - including fire, climate change, deforestation and others - for the benefit of the ecosystems and forest-dependent communities. “This project will show that enterprise and achieving strong mitigation are mutually supportive in tropical agriculture,” Amosun said.

The Managing Director/CEO, NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji, said that ‘the NSIA Act permits us to participate in infrastructure projects of this nature. We are therefore committed not only to promoting economic development but also to stimulating greater environmental responsibility through the projects we support and participate in. We view this project as an important investment in sustainable development and remain focused on facilitating incremental participation in initiatives that reduce carbon foot print across the country and reverse deforestation for the benefit of future generations of Nigerians’.

Similarly, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Lafarge Africa, Mr. Peter Hoddinott, stated that ‘Our strong commitment to the environment and social sustainability of our operations and the communities within which we operate leads us naturally to support the Ogun State project that promises strong positive impact on these issues, particularly on climate change. The use of agro-ecology and agro-forestry principles in these project will increase their productivity, ensuring the land becomes one of Nigeria’s best carbon capture areas and generating biomass waste that Lafarge intends to use to fire its cement kilns.’

In December 2015, France will host the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. That confab will aim to achieve a binding agreement to keep global warming below 2°C. In that context, the Ogun State Forest Landscape Restoration Project is a pioneering initiative demonstrating how a private group can join force with proactive public entities to launch sustainable projects and will position Nigeria as an African leader to launch sustainable Climate Change PPP projects.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Construction lifts GDP by 3.2 %

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HE Chief Executive Officer, InstinctWave, Mr. Akin Naphtal, has said the nation’s construction industry contributes about 3.2 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This contribution, he noted, cannot be neglected because it has become a veritable index in terms of employment generation for both skilled and unskilled manpower.

This, Napthal said, is an indication that construction industry has seen considerable growth, especially considering its 1.3 per cent growth in 2012.

This development has made the industry to be recognised as Africa’s sector largest market which is also expected to grow at the fastest rate in the world through 2020. Factors such as a growing population, rapid urbanisation and rising demand for housing and infrastructure, were identified for this development.

But, laudable as this feat is, players in the sector have not been adequately recognised for the role they play in the development of the industry, in spite

Stories by Muyiwa Lucas

of their creativity and innovativeness.

Now, after successfully holding similar awards in Ghana- the MarketingWorld Awards and Africa Brand Conferences, InstinctWave, the publisher of InstinctBusiness magazine, is set to honour Nigerian operators in the construction sector for their contributions to the sector in the maiden edition of the Nigeria Construction Awards 2015.

According to him, the awards, slated for November 20 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, is to recognise and honour companies and individuals for their accomplishments and contribution to the growth of the industry.

“The construction industry plays an important role in economic growth. However, the industry has been overlooked in terms of rewarding innovation and creativity. Our goal is to celebrate the achievements of those construction companies and individuals who have made it their responsibility to transform this industry and advance the country’s infra-

structure development,” he said.

He hoped that the awards ceremony would present an opportunity for stakeholders to advocate for the industrialisation of the country by way of investment in the area of civil engineering, building, industrial, residential construction and beautification.

Napthal assured that the awards ceremony will not be just another networking opportunity for participants, but one that would allow companies and individuals a platform to tell their success stories and accomplishments while opening windows for synergies in the sector.

Various categories of awards are being considered for different aspects of construction work, companies and individuals including Construction CEO of the Year; Industry Personality of the Year; Lifetime Achievement Award; Excellence Award for Women in Construction; Real Estate Entrepreneur of the Year; Best Infrastructure Development Bank Award; Construction Company of the Year; Public Private Partnership of the Year; Best Local Contractor; Concrete Producer of the Year; Block Manufacturing Company of the Year, etc.

PROPERTY LISTING FOR THE WEEK (ABUJA)

Sujimoto to change Nigerian luxury estate •National President,Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Dr. Femi Olomola (second left), flanked by members of the institute in the House of Representatives, Nkole Udo Ndukwe (representing Arochuckwu/Ohi Federal Constituency) left; Dr Muhammad Sani Abdu (Kirfi/Alkaleri Federal Constituency) and Shehu Adamu (Bauchi Central Federal Constituency) at the training in Kaduna.

‘Land Use Planning Report’ll ease land use’ T

HE President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Dr Femi Olomola, has assured that the Land Use Planning Report (LUPAR) will expand Site Analysis Report (SAR) applications.

He spoke during the institute’s 17th Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPDP) in Kaduna, Kaduna State.

The forum had as a theme: “Development of a Multi-User Template for Land Use Planning and Analysis Reporting (LUPAR) in Nigeria.”

He said the initiative, conceived by his administration, would build on the SAR’s processes and procedures, add references and other information on buildings, title deeds, the local land use and development, and permits on property.

According to town planners, the new LUPAR format, in addition to other benefits, can become a useful and authentic instrument that supports applications for opening of corporate bank accounts, process bank loans, make requests for insurance cover, and incorporate/register new companies with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Besides, it would address the applications for building plan ap-

provals/permits, issuance of certificates of occupancies (C-of-Os), and value to security and regulatory agencies, among others.

“With LUPAR, it is hoped that 95 per cent of all problems related to lack of data, inadequate personnel and stress on development control will be significantly addressed. This shall lead to situations where our colleagues in government can now rely on LUPAR as a companion in their decision making processes. A combination of two or three LUPARs in the same neighbourhood will, if carefully joined together, provide an updated base map of the neighbourhood at zero cost to the Town Planning Authority,” Olomola explained.

He added that the expanded areas of its application cut across various sectors of the economy, many of which have relevance to the financial sector and regulatory agencies.

He said the MCPDP was aimed at building consensus on the new template among the practitioners and to allow for input before the report will be presented in October.

He said a draft of the report would be ready before the institute’s national conference and yearly general meeting in October in Ilorin, the

Kwara State capital.

“Be rest assured that a draft of the LUPAR will be prepared and made available in time for our next conference in Ilorin in October. All suggestions bothering comments, observations and corrections made during this MCPDP and the previous ones in Port Harcourt and Ibadan will between now and October be looked into and possibly adopted so that will have a robust LUPAR that we will present to a full house of the NITP in Ilorin,” Olomola said.

Kaduna State Chapter Chairman, NITP, Muhammad Lawal Ubale, said the state has been fortunate since its inception in having plans for its development.

He recalled: “The first plan was drawn in 1913. The Kaduna master plan was prepared in 1967 to cover the planning period from 1961 to 2017. In 2010, the master plan was reviewed and Kaduna Spatial Development Framework was prepared for a planning period from 2010 to 2050. You may also wish to know that Kaduna became the administrative capital of Northern Nigeria from 1917 to 1959. It became the regional headquarters of Northern Nigeria from 1960 to 1966. In 1969, Kaduna became the capital North Central State up to 1975. Kaduna also became the capital of old Kaduna State which included the present Katsina State.

F

OR high end property seekers, nothing compares to luxury and comfort. But even luxury has different categories. For instance, what is luxury for someone that lives in Chelsea, London might differ from what is luxury for someone that lives in Ikoyi, Lagos. This is because describing a luxury property in London might not be comparable to ‘luxury’ in Lagos.

According to the Managing Director of Sujimoto, Mr. Sujibomi Ogundele, the fundamental principle of luxury is the capacity to blow people’s minds. This, he said, is what his firm has used religiously in its mission to change the Nigerian luxury real estate market.

“Is quality really that expensive?

What is expensive is our intention to deliver quality. Unfortunately, the need for immediate gratification by indigenous developers has had a negative effect in the luxury property market sector, leaving consumers to lean towards Italian, German and Lebanese companies alike. What these foreign firms can do, we can do better, faster and even cheaper! The Nigerian Real Estate Sector has refused to meet five per cent of its potential, and whilst clients and real estate enthusiasts testify that our buildings meet international standards, it is also an amazing investment vehicle for property investors,” Ogundele said.

He said Sujimoto’s market intelligence showed that the most expensive apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos, is of 300sqm size, and on

•Ogundele

offer for $2 million. While comparing the local luxury real estate market to what obtains in Europe, Ogundele said among all properties in Ikoyi, very few or almost none of them would meet 50 per cent of Lorenzo’s architecture, finishing and features. He, therefore, urged investors to key into its scheme, assuring that it would offer good return on investment.

“First lucky investors would gain the opportunity to buy our luxury homes at a fraction of the outright sales price, thus, propelling their return on investment and above all, owning a property with a $2.5million value at a $1million investment. Some critics are still thinking, hoping, visualising and deciding, but as I always say, only the few brave optimists can control the wealth of the many pessimists,” Ogundele said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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46

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 15-09-15

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 16-09-15

Oil stocks tickle stock market to modest recovery

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IL and gas stocks led a modest rally that saw a rebound at the Nigerian stock market on Wednesday, offsetting the Tuesday hiatus that broke the two-day successive uptrend that started last Friday. Three oil and gas stocksTotal Nigeria Plc, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc and Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, led the advancers yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), leading the market position to a modest gain of 0.16 per cent.

After raking in N326 billion in two successive trading sessions on Friday and Monday, quoted equities succumbed to profit-taking transactions on Tuesday, dropping by N20 billion.

The stock market recovered slightly on Wednesday as aggregate market value of all quoted equities rose by N16 billion from N10.418 trillion to close at N10.434 trillion. The All

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

Share Index (ASI) - the composite value-based index that tracks prices of all quoted equities, inched up by 0.16 per cent to close at 30,359.47 points as against its opening index of 30,311.77 points.

Average year-to-date return moderated slightly to -12.40 per cent, still highlighting previous accumulated losses by investors over the past eight and half months.

Total Nigeria, Nigeria’s downstream major, led other 25 advancing stocks with a gain of N6.38 to close at N150. Seplat-an oil and gas exploration and production company; followed with a gain of N3 to close at N233.

Mobil Oil Nigeria, another downstream major, rose by N2.50 to close at N145 per share. Cadbury Nigeria gathered N1.14 to close

at N24.07. Guaranty Trust Bank added 51 kobo to close at N24.01. Zenith Bank rose by 48 kobo to N17.75. Flour Mills of Nigeria chalked up 24 kobo to close at N22.84. Union Bank of Nigeria rose by 22 kobo to N6.13 while Nascon Allied Industries and Red Star Express added 20 kobo each to close at N6.50 and N4.23 respectively.

Turnover of activity however fell below recent average. Investors traded a total of 169.86 million shares valued at N1.42 billion in 3,518 deals. FBN Holdings was the most active stock with a turnover of 39.49 million shares worth N242.79 million in 582 deals. United Capital followed with a turnover of 21.72 million shares worth N31.61 million in 56 deals while Unity Bank placed third with the exchange of 12.62 million shares worth N16.01 million in 62 deals.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 16-09-15

THE N

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

47

MONEYLINK

Buhari rejects further naira devaluation

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HE naira should not be devalued further, President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday, even as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) struggles to keep the naira afloat.

Nigeria has been hit hard by the fall in global crude prices, prompting the apex bank to impose strict foreign exchange rules to save its reserves and avoid what would be the third devaluation in a year.

Stories by Collins Nweze

The naira fell to as low as 242 per dollar on the parallel market in July, versus the official rate of 197. It has lost around 15 percent against the dollar over the past year with an official devaluation in November and a de facto one in February. “I don’t think it is healthy for us to have the naira devalued further,” Buhari said in an interview with France 24.

“That’s why we are getting the Central Bank to make modifications in terms of making foreign exchange available to essential services, industries, spare parts, essential raw materials and so on — but things like toothpicks and rice, Nigeria can produce enough of those,” he told Reuters.

In June, the CBN restricted access to foreign exchange for the import of 41 items ranging from rice and

toothpicks to steel products and glass. The stringent restrictions have not gone down well with investors, who have called for a relaxation.

Last week, JP Morgan said it would remove Africa’s biggest economy from its influential emerging markets bond index by the end of next month, citing a lack of liquidity and the CBN’s currency restrictions.

Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves fell by three percent

to $30.69 billion by Monday, from $31.63 billion monthly earlier, CBN data showed on yesterday. The reserves were down by 22 percent from a year earlier.

The CBN ate up much of its reserves to support the local currency, selling dollars to bureaux de change operators twice weekly to narrow the gap between the official and unofficial exchange rate.

The bank cancelled the auctions in February.

Companies may fail to repay debt if dollar scarcity persists

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IGERIAN companies are finding it in creasingly hard to get hold of dollar due to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) forex restrictions and may struggle to repay their debts.

Yields on a number of dollar corporate bonds have risen close to record highs this week, reflecting investors’ anxiety despite an assertion by Nigeria’s richest businessman that no borrower will default due to the currency shortage.

Since 2007, Nigerian financial and energy firms such as FBN Holdings and Seven Energy have issued more than $5 billion of dollar-denominated debt on international capital markets, including almost $3 billion in Eurobonds since the start of 2014, according to Thomson Reuters data.

But storm clouds have been gathering over Africa’s top oil exporter and biggest economy as benchmark crude has again fallen below $50 a barrel, less than half the mid-2014 level.

Plunging energy revenues, which make up 70 percent of government income and 90 percent of foreign currency earnings, have hit public finances and the naira. It has lost around 15 percent in the past year, with devaluations in November and February before Nigeria pegged the national currency.

Companies across the board have started feeling the dollar shortage due to restrictions imposed by the central bank to halt the naira’s fall and preserve its foreign currency reserves.

The foreign currency rationing is hurting.

•From left: Deputy Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Tony Okpanachi; Head, Premier Banking, Korede Demola Adeniyi and Head, Personal Banking, Kingsley Umadia with the award of the “Best Bank in Private Banking in Nigeria” won at the Businessday yearly Banking Awards in Lagos.

MPC member Salami faults CBN’s 13% interest rate

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ONETARY Policy Committee (MPC) member, Doyin Salami, has faulted the 13 per cent bench mark interest rate stipulated by the apex bank, saying it is too high.

Speaking yesterday at the Standard Bank Investors’Forum in Lagos, he said the MPC should revisit the rate, given that as a frontier market, Nigeria should pay higher inflationary price that comes with lower interest rate, provided inflation does not get out of control.

He said low interest rates would stimulate economic growth, adding that both the

manufacturing and oil and gas sectors are going through recession.

Salami said CBN’s forex restrictions would slow economic growth and that foreign investors were confused by the Central Bank’s attempts to defend the naira since March.

Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Atedo Peterside, said the forum’s theme was: ‘Nigeria: From promise to progress’.

He said Nigeria has gained alot of political goodwill both at home and abroad for its unprecedented peaceful political transition at the Federal level.

“We, at Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, believe that Nigeria’s leadership must ‘midwife’ sustainable progress has been made more challenging on account of a sharp shift in the global economic context in which Nigeria is operating at present, given the end of the commodities boom and the sharp reduction in global commodity prices, including crude oil on which our economy has been so dependent,” he said.

Peterside said Nigeria derived close to 70 per cent of its Federal Government budgetary revenues and 90 per cent of its foreign exchange earnings from crude oil sales

and that both price and production levels have fluctuated below desired levels.

He said efforts at economic diversification are still at a relatively early stage of execution and this has created a very challenging backdrop for policy makers to operate against.

“Nigeria needs to find ways for public and private capital to effectively collaborate in order to deliver the tangible economic progress that is urgently required,” he said.

He said Nigeria must accelerate economic growth and job creation and also accept that public sector capital will be insufficient to deliver the desired growth.

BUA Group chairman praises govt on resuscitation of refineries

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HAIRMAN of BUA Group Abdulsamad Rabiu has commended the Federal Government on the resuscitation of local refineries and reduced price of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) from N77.94 per litre to N51.38 per litre.

Rabiu, who is also the Chairman of the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, said the improvement in the refineries operations has led to increased supply of LPFO to its Sokoto Cement plant.

He said CCNN, the makers of Sokoto Cement, is the only operating cement plant in the whole of North-West Nigeria and the single largest employer of labour in Sokoto state. However, the company’s effort have been slowed down over the

years due to infrastructural challenges including erratic supply of fuel oil to the plant.

“With the recent appointment of the new Group Managing Director for Nigeria National Pertroleum Corporation by the President Muhammadu Buhariled government, we are however beginning to see the impact of improved production at the refineries.

“Last year, CCNN spent about N7billion on fuel oil alone.

However, this welcome development will bring about improved, cost-effective production and efficient capacity utilisation at Sokoto Cement which should further engender a sustainable pricing regime that will make cement more affordable in the North Western

region in the medium term.”

Rabiu further added that the moves of the current administration to ensure optimal operations at the Nation’s refineries will rejuvenate moribund industries.

“For instance, access to cheaper fuels associated with increased production at the refineries is already stimulating the rejuvenation of key industries including textiles and manufacturing in the North. I believe this effect will be replicated across the nation where certain industries are dependent on the refineries as their primary sources of fuel,” Rabiu said.

On the new line being added

by BUA Group in Sokoto, Rabiu commented that at $300million, the project is currently the single largest private investment in the North West region.

He said BUA Cement was committed to ensuring the timely completion of the project in2016 which is expected to add an additional 1.5million tonnes per annum to CCNN’s current 500,000tpa capacity as part of the group’s Cement Strategy for Nigeria. Although, the additional line will come with Coal as the primary source of fuel, LPFO will still be used as a backup fuel at the plant.”To further consolidate our position as a major player, wewill continue to pursue our mid-term cement expansion strategy vigorously and are currently exploring opportunities for further expansion especially in Nigeria” added Rabiu.

Abdulsamad also spoke on BUA Group’s social responsibil-

ity initiatives especially in CCNN’s primary area of operation in Sokoto State in which the company has invested immensely in various health, education, capacity development, employment generation and water supply project for its surrounding communities.

“For us at BUA group, CSR is an integral part of our business, especially in areas where we operate. We are very conscious of responsible and sustainable business practices as it relates to environmental management, responsible sourcing, working conditions, education andhealth and, we do our best to ensure we work hand-in-hand with all stakeholders within the communities,” he said.

CBN: Forex reserves down by three per cent to $30.69b

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HE foreign exchange reserves fell by 2.97 per cent to $30.69 billion by September 14, from $31.63 billion a month earlier, data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed yesterday.

The reserves were down by 22.42 per cent from a year earlier. The apex bank has used the reserves to support the naira, selling dollars to bureau de change operators twice weekly to narrow the gap between the official and unofficial exchange rate.

Reserves picked up shortly after President Muhmmadu Buhari took office in May, which was attributed to efforts to plug leakage and demand management by the CBN. The apex bank restricted access to foreign exchange and introduced tight control of the currency market to curb speculation and conserve reserves.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government is planning to raise N100.88 billion in treasury bills with maturities between three months and one year at an auction on September 23, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said yesterday.

The bank said it would issue new 91-day paper worth N31.19 billion, N10.61 billion in 182-day bills, and N59.08 billion in one-year debt, using the Dutch Auction System.

Results of the auction are expected to be released the following day.

Nigeria issues treasury bills twice-monthly to fund the government budget deficit and manage liquidity in the banking system.

NDIC funds NIPSS’s research building

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MAGNIFICENT Directorate of Research building complex donated by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Jos has been inaugurated by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The Vice-President, who was represented by the Director of Administration in his Office, Alhaji Ibrahim Yabani, praised the NDIC for the gesture.

Osinbajo asked organisations in both the public and private sectors to emulate the corporation.

He expressed optimism that the building would provide a conducive environment for research.

He charged the institute’s management to formulate policies that would accelerate the socio-economic development in the country.

NDIC’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Umaru Ibrahim, said the Corporation’s gesture was part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, which the NDIC started it about 10 years ago.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

NEWS

Osun begins payment of outstanding salaries

Don’t relegate women, say Ambode, Bagudu

By Oziegbe Okoeki

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•NLC hails Aregbesola From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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HE Osun State government yesterday began the payment of outstanding salaries to workers.

The state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Jacob Adekomi, announced this to reporters after a meeting with government representatives at the Government House, Osogbo.

He praised Governor Rauf Aregbesola for disbursing the bailout loan for the payment of backlog of salaries.

The NLC chairman said there was no disagreement between Labour and government on whether or not the bailout loan would be used to pay salaries as speculated in some quarters.

He added that labour was sure that the fund was intact but was meeting with the government on the modali-

‘YOUWIN’ beneficiaries allege diversion of grants From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

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LEVEN beneficiaries of the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN) in Ekiti State have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the prolonged non-release of their grants.

They alleged that their findings from the Federal Ministry of Finance showed that the grants meant for beneficiaries in Ekiti and Osun states were “diverted”.

YOUWIN is a job creation platform established by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to empower young entrepreneurs to strengthen and expand ideas into businesses.

Addressing reporters in Ado Ekiti, their coordinator, Stephen Olutola Afolabi, said of the 1,500 beneficiaries, Ekiti had only 11.

He said they received their first tranche on January 9. On May 28, the second tranche was paid to 1007 but only nine of the beneficiaries in Osun and Ekiti were paid.

Afolabi said: “We have been patiently waiting and expecting since May 28 but to no avail. Each time we call the YOUWIN secretariat the responses have always been ‘we are still processing your payment’.

“On Tuesday, we sent delegates to the ministry in Abuja.

“We were shocked when the delegates reported that a reliable source said the money meant for both states had been “diverted”.

“We want our plight looked into so that our grant can be given to us without further delay.”

ties of how it would be disbursed based on the July 13 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The NLC boss said the funds to be disbursed would cover the payment of outstanding salaries for January to June.

“In order to ensure sustainability of payment of salaries in Osun, the first disbursement from the bailout loan should cover the payment of outstanding September and December 2014 deductions, balance of January and February salaries and full payment of March, April and May salaries for government workers.

“Local government workers and primary school teachers will be paid the balance of March and April salaries as well as full payment of May and June salaries.

“State pensioners will re-

•Adekomi flanked by Oyetola (right) and Head of Service Sunday Owoeye...yesterday.

ceive the balance of December 2014 pensions and full payment of January to March pensions. Their counterparts in the local government and primary schools will be paid up to June.”

Leading the government delegation to the negotiation meeting, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Gboyega Oyetola, said: “Government is working for the interest of workers and bailout loan is just once, hence the need for government to properly disburse it.

“Osun is not the only state that has got its share of the bailout loan and most of the states have not even disbursed the loan.

“So, there is nothing special about Osun taking its time before properly disbursing it.

“What we have done was to align with workers who asked that the number of actual workers be ascertained through verification. That is what we have just concluded.

We must consider what will happen and what to do after this disbursement.

“We want to be sure that people we are paying are real workers who are still in service. We must also have the understanding that after the disbursement of the bailout loan, whatever remains from the federal allocation and IGR will be used to pay workers.”

Oyetola described as false and unwarranted the earlier insinuations by opposition that the governor had been mobilising contractors back to work from the bailout loan.

Ambode constitutes governing councils of tertiary institutions

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AGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday approved the composition of governing councils for tertiary institutions.

In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello, the governor listed the names of members of governing councils for the State University, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, State Polytechnic, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education and the State College of Health Technology.

He named Justice George Oguntade (rtd) as chancellor for the State University and Prof Bayo Ninalowo as prochancellor and chairman of the council.

Other members include Mrs. Tayo Olabenjo, Mrs. L.O Durosinmi, Kayode Anibaba, Koye Edu, Dr. Ayo Sonibare, Ken Igbokwe, Akinsanya Sunny Ajose, Mrs. Yewande Zacchaeus, Mrs. Olabisi DejiFolutile, Lateef Olaseinde

By Oziegbe Okoeki

Karim and Prof Musliu Onilude.

Others are Mrs. Carlene Alaja-Brown, representative of the Ministry of Education, four representatives of the Senate, two representatives of congregations and representative of Alumni.

In Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, the governor approved the appointment of Alhaja Sekinat Yussuf as Chairman.

Sunday Kappo, Toun Adeniran, Mrs. Shade Agbalajobi, Ajibade Emiabata Balogun and Mrs Yinka Babalola are members.

The Council also has representative of the Ministry of Education, Chairman of the State Conference of Primary School Head teachers, Secretary of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board and representative on the Ministry of Finance as members.

Professor T.J Gbadamosi

was appointed as Chairman of the Governing Council of the State Polytechnic. Timothy Ishola Bankole, Owolabi Amisu, Mrs. Tinu Feyiseyan and Prof Bunmi Otubanjo are members.

Also on the Council are representatives of the Ministry of Education, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Alumni Association of the Institution, Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, two representatives of the Congregation and representative of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

Ambode also appointed Prof Tunde Samuel as Chairman of the Governing Council of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education.

Dr. Rafiat Olufunmilayo Olatunji, Mrs. Iyabo Osifeso and Wasiu Aderibigbe Lawal will serve as members.

A representative each from the Lagos State Principals Conference, University of Lagos, Ministry of Education,

•Ambode

Alumni Association of the Institution, Academic Board and Teachers Establishments and Pensions Office were also appointed in the governing council.

In the State College of Health Technology, the governor appointed Mrs. Tilley Giyado as Chairman of the Governing Council while Alhaji Rasaki Adetunji Ilelaboyo, Mrs Sulaiman Arigbabi, representative of the Ministry of Health, representative of the Ministry of Education and two elected members of the Teaching Staff of the College will serve as members.

Tribunal orders Returning Officer’s arrest

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HE Election Petitions Tribunal in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has ordered the arrest of the Returning Officer (RO) for the April 11 House of Assembly poll in Ilaje Constituency II,Dr James Adewuyi.

Adewuyi, a lecturer at the Adeyemi University of Education, Ondo, declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Malachi Coker, winner of the inconclusive poll.

The tribunal issued the warrant of arrest, directing the police to bring Adewuyi before it by 9am today.

The order followed the RO’s refusal to appear before the tribunal to tender documents under subpoena in the petition by the All

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Gbenga Edema.

The tribunal had directed that the officer should produce his copy of the letter written to the Resident Electoral Officer (REC), Segun Agbaje.

In the letter, it was stated that he was forced to declare Coker the winner of the election in Ilaje Constituency II, whereas the election was declared inconclusive.

The APC’s counsel, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, told the tribunal that after Adewuyi was served with the subpoena to appear yesterday, he “switched” off his phone.

Consequently, the tribunal chairman ordered the police to arrest and bring him before

‘

He told the court that if unlawful votes were cancelled in polling units where irregularities were recorded, he would have scored 12,239 as against his opponent’s 11,871 votes.

’

the tribunal by 9am today.

APC and Edema announced their decision to close the case after calling all witnesses.

In the petition challenging the election in Akure South, APC and its candidate, Festus Aregbesola, have closed their case.

The PDP and its candidate, Mrs Kemi Adesanya, are expected to open their defence today.

APC called seven witnesses, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Administrative Secretary, Kabiru Omosanya.

Aregbesola urged the court to declare him winner of the election, having scored the highest number of votes.

He told the court that if unlawful votes were cancelled in polling units where irregularities were recorded, he would have scored 12,239 as against his opponent’s 11,871 votes.

Aregbesola said votes in Ijo mimo oluwa, Idi-Iroko in Oke-Aro ward 8,unit 18 were not collated at the collation centre.

AGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his Kebbi State counterpart, Atiku Bagudu, have warned against relegating women in governance.

The duo spoke yesterday at the opening of the annual women’s national conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO).

They said their administrations would pursue programmes and policies to empower women to be self-reliant.

The conference has the theme: “Relevance in Economic Turbulence” was held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.

Ambode said his administration would establish more skills acquisition centres to equip women.

“The creation of our new Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment is to complement the achievements made by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA),” he said.

In his goodwill message, Bagudu said: “The theme of the conference is timely considering the difficult phase our nation is going through. It calls for a concerted effort and the contribution of everyone.

“Apart from the challenge of stabilising the homefront and shielding it from the full effects of the current economic reality, we must harness the time-tested skill of women in financial management.

“Women are too important to be relegated in the search for appropriate strategies to facilitate the recovery process and efforts at putting the economy on the path of sustainable growth and development.”

COWLSO’s Chairman Mrs. Bolanle Ambode said the conference was in line with government’s vision of providing a platform for women to contribute positively to the development of families, communities and the nation.

Alaafin: my son is a graduate From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

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HE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has said his son, Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi, did not forge any certificate.

He spoke yesterday when the younger Adeyemi, a member of the House of Representatives, gave NECO forms to 100 indigent students.

The monarch said: “My son studied geology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He graduated with a second class upper degree.

“In the 12 years that I served as the chancellor of the University of Sokoto, 120 indigenes, who were nonrelatives, benefited from my personal scholarship annually.

“Several other people both within and outside Oyo had benefited from my sponsorship to study at various universities, notably University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Ibadan. None of these beneficiaries thought it wise to show appreciation till today.

“So, if I can do this for others, how can I abandon my own children without educating them?’’

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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NEWS Bailout not solution, says Osun Assembly Chief Whip

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HE concern of the Osun State government is how to sustain payment of salary after using the bailout to clear salary arrears, Chief Whip of the House of Assembly, Oladoyin Bamisayemi-Folorunso, has said.

Folorunso said the state will be back to square one because its monthly allocation of N1.6 billion falls short of the N3.6 billion monthly wages.

He spoke yesterday on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme.

He said Governor Rauf Aregbesola had been holding consultation with stakeholders, including labour unions, traditional rulers and opinion leaders, on the way forward.

“This is the moment of clarity for the government and the workers. The present wage bill of N3.6 billion is unsustainable,” he said.

The lawmaker said payment of the salary arrears would start today. “I can assure you the workers will start receiving their pay in the next 24 hours. The rumour that the bailout had been diverted is not true; the money is intact.

“Our concern is that after the

By Leke Salaudeen

bailout, what next? That was why the state government had been brainstorming with the stakeholders. The state’s economy can’t sustain six tertiary institutions. That is why all of us should come together and face the reality. It is either we sacrifice or we continue to face the problem of salary arrears.”

On Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), BamisayemiFolorunso said the people are not ready to pay tax. The government introduced a flat rate of N1, 500 per adult, which sparked off protest. He said given the state of finance, government may have to rationalise its work force because, according to him, the state revenue could not sustain the current 35,000 workforce.

But tertiary institution workers said they will not accept a salary cut. They insisted that their full salary, including allowances, should be paid since the bailout was meant for that.

They advised the government to stop pension deduction because the previous deduction was last remitted to the pension firms last September.

Nwosu: council information officers plead with abductors

By Joseph Jibueze

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HE Conference of Local Government Information Officers, Lagos, have urged the abductors of wife of The Sun Deputy Managing Director Steve Nwosu, to free her without harm.

Its Director of Information Mrs. Sola Oladunni, in a statement, appealed to Mrs. Toyin Nwosu’s kidnappers to show mercy to the mother.

The group made the plea at an emergency meeting in Mushin Local Government council.

Mrs. Nwosu is a member of the association and works as an Information Officer at the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area.

“It is agonisng for a mother not to set her eyes on her children for two days running now. Whatever the motive behind the action, they should realise that she is a mother.

“Her children have just resumed school from a long vacation. The children need her now more than ever before because they are very tender.

“The psychological effect of being kidnapped is killing,” the group said.

My regrets, by outgoing UI VC

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HE outgoing ViceChancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof.

Isaac Adewole, has said he would do some things differently if he had another shot as the institution’s helmsman.

His five-year tenure ends on November 30. His successor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, emerged earlier in the month.

Given another chance, Adewole , in an interview with select reporters, said he would not make certain appointments he made, adding that he would also not take some of the decisions he took during his tenure.

But he did not mention such decisions or appointments, declaring that some of them would be reflected in his planned memoirs.

He said: “Well, it’s normal, especially when one has quiet moments to reflect. Some of the things I will not want to openly disclose because of my phobias. I made some appointments I would never have made. If I had cause of doing them again, I wouldn’t make those appointments. I took some decisions that if I had to go over them again, I would never have done. So there were those things and I will love to leave that in my memoirs.

“When I read the biographies

of Emeritus Prof. Ayo Banjo, who was the longest serving Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan entitled: “In the Saddle” and “Water Must Flow Uphill” by Prof. Roger Makanjuola, (a former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife), I derived a lot of strength.”

Adewole recalled that he fell victim of politics in the system when he was turned down in 2005 when contending for the position of the Vice Chancellor.

Affirming that there exists two main power blocs in the system, he said he was told pointedly that it was not yet the turn of the College of Medicine.

“Oh! It worked against me in 2005. I wanted to be Vice Chancellor and they told me sorry, don’t waste your time, it is not the turn of the College of Medicine. That’s politics. There is an unwritten zoning formula in UI. In the last 25 years, the vice chancellorship has rotated between the College of Medicine and the main campus. That’s politics, it is not written anywhere but it is deeply supported by some people, many of them faceless.”

The Professor of Medicine, however, revealed that he would not join party politics after his tenure because he does not have the financial muscle to participate as a major player.

•Outgone Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Jonathan Ango (right); his wife, Regina and incumbent FOC, Rear Admiral Raphael Osundu with his spouse, Aires after the handing /taking over at Apapa, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU

Okorocha to Ndigbo: don’t antagonise Buhari

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MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has appealed to the Igbo not to antagonise President Muhammadu Buhari over his appointments but continue to support the administration in the interest of national unity and development.

The Governor, who made the appeal while addressing reporters at the Government House, advised that Ndigbo should focus on how to strengthen the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

of the 2019 elections.

He said: “Appointments are the President’s prerogative, it should not be over politicised. Rather, our prerogative should be how to attract projects to the Southeast. Our people should not antagonise President Buhari but come together under the APC as a national party and be in the mainstream of Nigeria politics.”

Debunking insinuations

of a face-off between him and other APC leaders, especially in the Southeast, the Governor said “we are one big family and are working together to achieve the party’s campaign promises.”

The Governor has also debunked allegations that his administration sold some government establishments. He said rather than sell these establishments, his administration bought those sold by previous administrations, such as Resin Paint, Mbaise, and Pa-

per Packaging Industry, Owerre Ebeiri.

Addressing reporters at the Government House, Okorocha said he would embark on the concession of some parastatals against outright sale.

He praised the people for showing understanding with President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments, pointing out that the appointment of aides were made within his constitutional powers.

Ooni: Court restrains Giesi from producing candidate

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N Osogbo High Court has restrained the Giesi Ruling House from nominating a candidate for the Ooni of Ife. The Lafogido Ruling House had filed an injunction at the court restraining Giesi Ruling House following the announcement by the kingmakers that the latter would produce the next Ooni.

The injunction, which was granted yesterday by Justice A. A. Aderibigbe is sequel to a suit filed by the Lafogido ruling house seeking the restraining order against the Osun

From Bisi Oladele and Sikiru Akinola, Ibadan

State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; the Obalufe of Ife, Oba Solomon Omisakin and the Lowa of Ile-Ife, Chief Joseph Ijaduola, pending the determination of the matter before the court.

The matter was filed on behalf of the Lafogido family by Sooko Bunmi Adegoke, Prince Marcus Adebola Akinmoyero as plaintiffs and Governor Aregbesola, Omisakin and Ijaduola as defendants.

The injunction read in part:

“An order of interim injunction is granted restraining the defendants from accepting nomination, selecting candidates or taking any steps whatsoever in the process of selecting the new Ooni of Ife to fill the vacant stool pending the determination of the motion on notice dated September 15, 2015. Returns date shall be Thursday, September 23, 2015.”

The kingmakers had on Tuesday addressed a briefing announcing the resolution of the 16-member kingmakers’ council, conceding the nomination of candidates to the Giesi Royal

House, insisting that the 1980 declaration on the selection of the Ooni of Ife as gazetted by the old Oyo State remains valid.

According to Chief Omisakin, the other three ruling houses of Ogboru, Osinkola and Lafogido should wait for their turn.

However, the Lafogido Ruling House has criticized the decision, saying the declaration does not represent the true status of Ile-Ife royal system and that it should be reviewed before appointing the new Ooni of Ife.

•Program Officer (Media), Development Communications Network (DevComs), Ayodele Adesanmi; Lead Consultant, Quoraz and Associates, Bolaji Adepegba; Legal Officer, Women Advocates Registration and Documentation Centre (WARDC) Bukola Osidibo and Program Officer, DevComs, Abiodun Owo when they visited The Nation, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

50

NEWS Oshiomhole nominates new commissioners

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DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has nominated Chief Tom Uloko and Mr Gideon Obhakhan as commissioners-designates.

The governor has sent the names to the House of Assembly for screening and clearance.

Uloko, a chartered accountant, was the chairman of the state’s procurement agency and Obhakhan the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the House of Representatives in the March 28 National Assembly election.

Both are expected to come on board with their wealth of experience and inject fresh ideas into the State Executive Council (Exco). Both men are married and have children.

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, FBN Capital Limited, Mr Kayode Akinkugbe; Managing Director/ CEO, Wema Bank Plc, Mr Segun Oloketuyi; Managing Director/ CEO, FMDQ OTC Plc, Mr Bola Onadele-Koko and Deputy Managing Director, FBN Capital Limited, Mr Taiwo Okeowo, at the signing and presentation of Commercial Paper Quotation Certificate to Wema Bank by FMDQ OTC, in Lagos... yesterday.

El-Rufai shuts churches, hospital

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Dickson’s sole candidacy worsens Bayelsa PDP crisis T HE crisis in Bayelsa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has worsened, following the disqualification of other aspirants to allow Governor Seriake Dickson emerge as the party’s sole candidate in the December 5 election.

A third-time senator representing Bayelsa Central in the National Assembly, Emmanuel Paulker and former Chairman of KolokumaOpokuma Local Government Area, Chief Ebitimi Diongoli, were disqualified by the party’s screening committee.

Paulker, a close friend of former President Goodluck Jonathan, and Diongoli were the only aspirants who came for screening after refusing to step down for Dickson.

Paulker’s campaign organisation told reporters in Yenagoa, the state capital that the senator and Diongoli were reportedly not cleared by the screening committee for some “incredible” reasons.

The campaign organisation’s Director-General Dr. Ayakeme Whisky said the aspirants were not told the reason for their disqualification until they discovered that it was on spurious allegations of not attaching acceptable tax documents.

Whisky said: “This was, indeed, laughable. That a

•Gov urges members to obey party’s decision From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

senator, who ordinarily should have nothing against him (Dickson), should be whimsically disqualified by the same party that allowed him to fly its flag to the Senate barely six months ago on a flimsy excuse of tax papers - is most unfortunate.”

The campaign chief said the disqualification of Paulker was “a culmination of some well choreographed plots” by those who believed that they could play God in the lives of men.

He added that those advancing their personal interests above the collective aspirations of the state were behind the undemocratic actions in the PDP. Whisky said the disqualification of Paulker came after Dr Jonathan tried in vain to prevail on him to withdraw from the race and allow Dickson to become the party’s sole candidate.

He said: “We are aware of how much former President Jonathan prevailed on our principal to withdraw from the race to allow Dickson become the sole candidate of the party.

“We are aware of how much energy he exerted to create a seamless ride for Governor Dickson because, in his thinking, only sitting governors can win an election. It was this myopia that led to the incalculable damage the leadership of the party foisted on the PDP, which led to its plummeting fortunes after the 2015 elections.

“Where is the promise by the party’s leaders to provide a level-playing field for all aspirants? Can the party leaders, including Dr. Jonathan, come clean to tell Nigerians that a serving senator does not have tax papers or committed such heinous crime against the party deserving of disqualification?

“It appears the PDP is not yet tired of losing more of its members to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Perhaps, it is also not clear to so many people that part of the reasons for the large scale defection in Bayelsa State was premised on the leadership style of Jonathan.”

Whisky noted that since Jonathan was promoting his

personal interest above the collective aspirations of Bayelsa people, there is need for the residents to decide their fate on December 5, based on what he called enlightened self-interest.

But in a live broadcast yesterday in Yenagoa, Dickson said the PDP was intact and united in its resolve to win the forthcoming election.

The governor said his nomination as the party’s sole candidate was the decision of PDP’s highest decision-making organ.

He urged the disqualified aspirants to respect the party’s action.

Describing Diongoli and Paulker as his friends, Dickson appealed to them to bury their hatchets and work for the party’s victory.

He said: “The party has spoken. They (other aspirants) are my friends; one of them was a commissioner under me. I expect them at this time to respect the supreme organ of the party.

The campaign now is about our party and I look forward to welcoming them.”

Oshiomhole heads Bayelsa APC primary’s panel

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DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole will lead a seven-man committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at its governorship primary in Bayelsa State.

This is coming as the party’s leadership shifted the date from Saturday, September 19 to Tuesday, September 22.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, APC said the postponement was a directive from the party’s National Chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun.

The statement reads: “I am directed to inform the Bayelsa State executive committee of the APC, all APC governorship aspirants and all our teaming members and supporters

•Party’s leadership shifts date •Insecurity worries members From Tony Akowe, Abuja

in the state that the governorship primary earlier scheduled for Saturday, September 19, will hold on Tuesday, September 22.

“The venue and time for the exercise remain unchanged. All inconveniences are regretted please.”

Some of the committee’s members expressed concerns about their safety because of what they called the volatile security in Bayelsa.

A member of the committee, Chinedu Eluemunoh, raised the issue and the likelihood of violence during the primary.

He said: “We are worried about the volatile environment where the primary will take place. We hope that tight security will be provided in the course of discharging our duties.”

But APC’s National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, who inaugurated the committee, assured that tight security was in place to ensure a hitch-free and transparent primary at the Samson Siasia Stadium venue of the primary in Yenogoa, the state capital.

Izunaso said the Bayelsa Police Command and the State Security Service (SSS) would ensure the protection of life and property during and after the

primary.

He said the delegates would be identified by their “permanent voters cards (PVCs), international passport and national identity cards”.

According to him, no other means of identity should be accepted by the committee members to identify the delegates.

Izunaso urged the committee members to forward any petition that might come to their table after the primary to the appeal committee, which he said would be set up before the end of the election.

The committee’s secretary, Senator Ishaq Salman, who spoke on behalf of Oshiomhole, said the chairman would ensure a free, fair and credible primary.

ADUNA State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has shut two churches, a seminary and one hospital at Saminaka in Lere Local Government.

He ordered that the buildings be closed down to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

The closure, according to the governor, followed leadership crisis in the Assemblies of God Church (AGC) at Saminaka District in Lere local Government.

A statement yesterday by Governor El-Rufai’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, indicated that the measure was taken at the end of a Security Council meeting. The governor said the step was to forestall sectarian crisis in the local government and in the state.

He gave the names of the affected religious institutions as Theological Seminary of Northern Nigeria (TSNN), Saminaka; Shalom Compre-

From Blessing Olaifa, Assistant Editor, Kaduna

hensive College, Saminaka; Assemblies of God Church, Nmbare, Saminaka; Assemblies of God Church (Jerusalem) Saminaka, and the AGC Evangelist Hospital, Saminaka.

El-Rufai said his administration would not tolerate the use of religion and ethnicity by any individual or group to cause crisis.

He said his government would prosecute anyone causing crisis.

The governor said those affected would be admitted into government schools or hospitals, if they so wished, adding that the government and security agencies would watch development in the area.

He said the status quo regarding farmlands, houses and other assets of the church should be upheld, pending the resolution of the leadership crisis, which is a matter before the Supreme Court.

Lalong orders SEMA to help victims

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LATEAU State Governor Simon Lalong has ordered the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to move to Kadunung village to assist the victims of gunmen attacks, to prevent further deaths.

He gave the order yesterday through a statement by Samuel Nanle, the director of Press and Public Affairs.

The governor urged residents of the border areas to remain calm and allow security agencies take control of the incident.

Govt warns herdsmen on cattle grazing From Gbenga Omokhunu and Grace Obike, Abuja

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HE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has warned herdsmen grazing cattle in and around Abuja to desist or face the wrath of the law.

FCT Permanent Secretary John Chukwu, who spoke yesterday, said the directive became imperative, considering the improper grazing of cattle in the city and its environs.

He said the action constituted nuisance and hazard to road users.

Chukwu said: “This practice has effect on the environment and must not be allowed to continue. Abuja is the country’s capital and the window through which the world sees the nation.” He said all hands must be on deck to ensure the maintenance of the city in accordance with the change mantra of the Federal Government.

Ex-Senate Leader Ndoma-Egba quits PDP

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ORMER Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba yesterday ended speculations about his political future with his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

His personally signed letter of resignation from his Akparabong Ward of Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, dated September 14, was addressed to the PDP’s Acting Chairman.

Ndoma-Egba, who represented Cross River Central Senatorial District, cited the factors that necessitated his exit from the party, on which platform he won elections into the Senate for 12 years – from 2003 to 2015.

He said PDP’s current policies and direction had become inconsistent with his philosophy and commitment to democratic principles.

The former Senate Leader said he “returned to politics to pursue certain ideals and values, to contribute towards strengthening democracy, to give a voice to his people, a people who have been most kind and generous to him, retain his state ...in the national consciousness, attract Federal Government presence to Cross River” and offer his people choices and options.

He added: “Hitherto, PDP was strong in Cross River because it offered members an atmosphere and opportunity for self-expression within its confines. Today, those values, which underline democracy, have totally become strange to the party, “I, therefore, resign my membership of the PDP forthwith and urge you to take the necessary steps to reflect this in your records...”

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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NEWS Police nab arms manufacturers

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HE Kaduna State Police Command has arrested the owners of illegal arms factories in southern part of the state.

The suspects were paraded before reporters at the command headquarters yesterday.

Police Commissioner Shehu Usman said they specialised in the production of arms and ammunition, supplying them to criminals terrorising the southern part of the state.

He said they were arrested in Kaura and Zangon-Kataf based on intelligence reports by the detectives attached to the area commander in Kafanchan.

Usman said during the raid, 37 locally-made pistols, 11 pistols and 34 single barrel guns were among the weapons recovered.

He said: “The suspects manufactured and supplied arms and ammunition to criminals.

They are Isah Yahaya, Zamari Peter, Baye Tswan all of Ma-

Blessing Olaifa, Assistant Editor, Kaduna

bushi in Kaura Local Government and Felix Paul of Samaru in Zangon Kataf Local Government.

“Items recovered include four manual hand drilling machines, six electric drilling machines, three gas cylinders, three bench vice, two dane guns, one 7.62mm ammunition, three 5.56mm ammunition, two tiger generators, a box containing parts of locally-made pistols/rifles and a tool box for the fabrication of rifle parts.”

Also nabbed and paraded was Mrs. Moji Olangunju, who specialised in printing fake identity cards and documents of organisations.

The commissioner said when a search was carried out in her home, nine fake police identity cards, seven fake military identity cards, 10 fake driver’s licences and 19 identity cards were found.

Shettima creates Ministry of Resettlement •Governor appoints 21 commissioners

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ORNO State Governor Kashim Shettima yesterday announced the creation of a ministry charged with reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement of victims in the communities attacked by Boko Haram insurgents.

He appointed Dr. Babagana Umara Zulum as the commissioner for the new ministry.

The governor’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, said in a statement emailed to reporters that Shettima appointed Dr. Zulum, the former rector of Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, because of his performance at the institution.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa, has announced the appointment of 20 commissioners.

Dr. Mohammed Bulama retains his portfolio as the commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture; Adamu Alhaji Lawan heads the Ministry of Works and Transport; Hajiya Inna Galadima is the commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Youth Empowerment; Yerima Lawan Kareto heads the Trade, Investment and Tourism Ministry; Usman Ali Zanna is in charge of the Ministry of Local Government and Emirate Affairs; Mohammed Aliyu Dilli is the boss of Agriculture and Natural Resources Ministry; Zainab Gimba heads the Ministry of Water Resources; Dr. Haruna Mshelia is the commissioner for Health and Human Serv-

ices; Sugum Mai Mile is the boss of Land and Survey Ministry and Babagana Tijjani Banking is the commissioner for Housing and Rural Electrification.

Others include Ahmed Usman Jaha, commissioner for Higher Education; Abubakar Ibrahim Babale, Sport Development; Mohammed Kauji, Finance Budget and Planning; Fanta Baba Shehu, Women Affairs and Social Development; Musa Inuwa Kubo, Education; Waziri Imam, Environment; Kaka She hu Lawan, Justice Ministry; and Magaji Wandeo, Ministry of Animal Fisheries and Development.

Ali Abatcha is the commissioner for Inter- Governmental and Special Duties and Mustapha Fannarambe is the commissioner for Religious Affairs.

Governor Shettima has sworn-in caretaker chairmen of 27 local governments. He also swore-in Hassan Aminami as a permanent secretary.

The governor urged the appointees to be hard working, to enable him meet his target.

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Troops arrest suppliers of foodstuff to Boko Haram

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NTENSIVE patrols and vigilance of troops have continued to yield positive results with the arrest of 33 suspected food suppliers to the Boko Haram insurgents on Damboa axis, near Azir-Wajiroko Road, Borno State.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, in a statement yester-

day said the suspects were nabbed with the foodstuff meant for Boko Haram terrorists at Korode.

He said nine of the 33 suspects are from Korode, five from Auma, 10 from Geargube, four from Kausautaya, four from Bulbul and one from Dolomi villages.

Col. Usman said although some of them

claimed to be traders, they did not, however, deny buying and selling food items to the insurgents.

“Interrogation is ongoing to unravel the level of involvement of the suspects.”

He said the troops, during clearance operations of Boko Haram hideouts, discovered and destroyed Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by Boko Haram terrorists

at Sandia village on the Korode Road.

According to him, more men, women and children were rescued from the insurgents at Buduwa on Bama axis.

“They were part of those abducted by Boko Haram terrorists at Buduwa in Bama Local Government, which was earlier occupied by the insurgents.”

18 persons killed in Plateau attack

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VER 100 gunmen on Tuesday night invaded Kadunung village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing 18 people and injuring others.

Sources said the gunmen, suspected to be Berom youths, also set ablaze houses.

The Chairman, Management Committee of Mangu Local Government, Mr. Titus Bise, who confirmed the attack, said: “Over 150 houses were torched by the attackers.

“I was part of the people, who rescued the victims. We have recovered 11 bodies.

“In a house, we saw seven charred bodies. Eighteen peo-

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

ple have died so far. We suspect there are more bodies in the bushes. Youths are searching for more bodies.

The recovered ones have been buried.

“The attack has created a problem for the government. Over 5,000 residents have been displaced. Their houses were burnt down.

“Although members of the community allege that the gunmen are their Berom neighbours, this will be confirmed after investigation.

I’m not in a position to confirm this.”

Troops in the state called ‘Operation safe haven’ de-

scribed the attack as a reprisal allegedly launched by the Berom, following an earlier attack on their community.

‘Operation safe haven’ spokesman Capt. Ikedichi Iweha said: “It’s true there was an attack on Kadunung village. Houses were torched and residents were displaced.

“The troops got the information very late. But we have taken over the area in search of the gunmen. We can’t confirm the attackers are Berom because we are yet to arrest anyone. We will discover the attackers after our investigation.”

Bise appealed to government agencies at the federal and state levels to assist the victims.

The villagers have fled their homes.

The leader of the Berom vigilance group in Barkin Ladi, Mr. Pam Bot, denied the allegation, saying the Berom could never attack their neighbours in that manner.

He alleged: “This kind of attack is carried out by the Fulani militia lurking around the boundary between Barkin Ladi and Mangu. I have received reports of some of the gunmen who died in this attack. It is a confirmation that the attackers are Fulani, not Berom.

“The Berom community sympathises with the families, who lost their loved ones in the attack.”

Boko Haram has killed 400 in Cameroon, says Amnesty •Governor Shettima

Civil servants frustrating Ortom, says APC HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has said civil servants are frustrating Governor Samuel Ortom in fighting corruption and recovering billions of funds stolen by the last administration.

It said 45 permanent secretaries were loyalists of ex-Governor Gabriel Suswam.

A statement by the party’s Secretary, Onov Tyuulugh, alleged that almost all the heads of government agencies were hurriedly appointed by the former governor at the end of his tenure to cover up corrup-

•Some of the suspects. Inset: Some of the foodstuff

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

tion.

He referred to Radio Benue and Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC) where he alleged fraud was perpetrated by the last administration, yet those at the helm were frustrating investigation.

The APC scribe alleged that at Radio Benue, a transmitter worth millions of naira was diverted to Ashi waves Radio Station, owned by the ex-governor’s brother, Dr. Terkula Suswam.

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OKO Haram has killed 400 civilians since last year in northern Cameroon, with dozens dying in a “heavyhanded” response by security forces, Amnesty International said in a report published yesterday.

The report titled: ‘Human rights under fire: Attacks and violations in Cameroon’s struggle with Boko Haram’ and published in Yaounde, is based on three research missions in 2015, Amnesty said.

It said the group has killed at least 380 civilians since January last year.

Cameroonian security forces have responded with raids on villages and the arrest of more than 1,000 people, including children, Amnesty said.

At least 25 people have died in custody with more

than 130 people missing.

“As Boko Haram has brought its violence to Cameroon, civilians have come under fire,” said Alioune Tine, Amnesty International director for West and Central Africa.

“By killing indiscriminately, destroying civilian property, abducting people and using children as suicide bombers, they have committed war crimes and caused untold fear and suffering to the civilian population.”

But Tine said security forces had responded in kind.

“Cameroon’s security forces have killed civilians unlawfully or through excessive use of force. People have been arbitrarily arrested, and many held in inhumane conditions, which have led

to dozens of deaths.”

Amnesty quoted one witness as saying Boko Haram fighters shot or slit the throats of at least 30 people in the border town of Amchide in a raid last October.

On April 17, Amnesty said another raid saw more than 100 Boko Haram fighters storm Bia, killing 16 civilians, including two children, as well as torching dozens of houses, while recent weeks have seen a slew of suicide bombings, using girls as young as 13, killing more than 70.

In listing the horrors of Boko Haram’s actions, Amnesty criticised the brutality of some security operations undertaken in response.

“The military have used excessive or lethal force. In one cordon-and-search operation, at least eight people,

including a child, were killed and more than 70 buildings were burnt down in the villages of Magdeme and Double on December 27 last year.”

Many of those arrested “are held in appalling conditions at Maroua prison.

Overcrowding, lack of sanitation and inadequate health care led to the death of at least 40 prisoners between March and May,” Amnesty said.

It said at least 130 of more than 200 men and boys arrested in July remained unaccounted for.

“It is unacceptable that nearly nine months after the mass arrest of 200 men and boys, most of their families still do not know whether they are dead or alive,” Tine said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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NEWS

The charges against Senate President Saraki by Code of Conduct Bureau In the Tribunal for the Trial of Offences under the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Holden at Abuja Charge No: CCT/ABJ/01/15 Between Federal Republic of Nigeria And Dr Olubukola Abubakar Saraki Charges COUNT 1 That you, Dr Olubukola Abubakar Saraki whilst being the Executive Governor of Kwara State, on or about 16th September, 2003 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal did make a false declaration in the Assets Declaration Form for Public Offices on assumption of office as Governor of Kwara State by making an anticipatory asset declaration in that you claimed to have owned and acquired No 15A & 15B McDonald, Ikoyi Lagos through your company Cartisle Properties Limited in the year 2000 when the said property was in actual fact sold by the Implementation Committee on Federal Government Landed Properties in year 2006 to your companies Tiny Tee Limited and Vitti Oil Limited for the aggregate sum of N396,150,000.00 (Three Hundred and Ninety-Six Million, One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) and you thereby committed an offence under Section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraphs 11 (1) & (2) of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and punishable under Section 23 (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and as incorporated under paragraph 18 of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

COUNT 2 That you, Dr. Olubukola Abubakar Saraki whilst being the Executive Governor of Kwara State, between October 2006 and May 2007 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal did acquire properties (after your declaration of asset on assumption of office in 2003), to wit: No17A and 17B McDonald, Ikoyi, Lagos from the Implementation Committee on Federal Government Landed properties in the aggregate sum of N497,200,000 (Four hundred and ninety seven million, two hundred thousand naira) which acquisition was not fairly attributable to your income, gift or loan approved by the code of conduct for Public officers and which you wrongly claimed to have acquired from proceeds of sale of rice and sugar commodities and you thereby committed an offence under section 15(1), (2) & (3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap, C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 18 of Part I, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

COUNT 3 That you, Dr OLUBUKOLA Abubakar Saraki on or about 3rd June, 2011 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal did make a false declaration in the Assets Declaration form for Public Officers at the end of your tenure of office as Governor of Kwara State in 2011 by your refusal to declare Plot 2A, Glover Road, Ikoyi Lagos which you acquired between 2007 and 2008 through your company Carlisle Properties Limited from the Central Bank of Nigeria for a total sum of N325,000,000.00 (Three Hundred and twenty-five million naira) and you thereby committed an offence under section 15(1) & (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

COUNT 4 That you, OLUBUKOLA Abubakar Saraki on or about 3rd June, 2011 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal did make a false declaration in the Assets Declaration Form for Public Officers at the end of your tenure of office as Governor of Kwara State in 2011 by your refusal to declare Plot 37A, Glover Road, Ikoyi Lagos which you acquired between 2007 and 2008 through your company Carlisle Properties Limited from the Implementation Committee on FederalGovernment Landed Properties for a total sum of N325,000,000.00 (Three Hundred and Twenty-Five Million Nair) and you there-

by committed an offence under section 15(1) & (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraphs 11 (1) & (2) of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and punishable under section 23(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and as incorporated under paragraph 18 of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

COUNT 5 That you, DR OLUBUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI whilst being the Executive Governor of Kwara State, on or about 16th September, 2003 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal did make a false declaration in the Assets Declaration Form for Public Officers on the assumption of office as Governor of Kwara State in 2003 by your refusal to declare No. 1, Tagus Street, Maitama, Abuja otherwise known as Plot 2482, Cadastral Zone A06, Abuja which you claimed in your end of tenure asset declaration form in 2011 to have acquired in November, 1996 (from one David Baba Akawu) and you thereby committed an offence under section 15 (1) & (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraphs 11(1) & (2) of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and punishable under section 23(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and as incorporated under paragraph 18 of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

COUNT 6 That you, DROLUBUKOLAABUBAKARSARAKI on or about 16th September, 2003 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal did make a false declaration in the Assets Declaration Form for Public Officers upon assumption of office in the year 2003 as Governor of Kwara State by your refusal to declare No.3, Tagus Street, Maitama, Abuja otherwise known as Plot 2481, Cadastral Properties Limited from one AlhajiAttahiruAdamu before your assumption of office and you thereby committed an offence under section 15(1) & (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraphs 11(1) & (2) of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and punishable under Section 23 (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and as incorporated under paragraph 18 of Part Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

COUNT 7 That you, Dr Olubukola Abubakar Saraki on or about 11th July, 2007 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal did make a false declaration in the Assets Declaration Form for Public Officers upon assumption of office for the second term in the year 2007 as Governor of Kwara State by your refusal to declare No. 3, Tagus Street, Maitama, Abuja otherwise known as Plot 2481, Cadastral Zone A06, Abuja which you acquired through your company Carlisle Properties Limited from one Alhaji Attahiru Adamu before your assumption of office and you thereby committed an offence under Section 15 (1) & (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under

paragraphs 11 (1) & (2) of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and punishable under Section 23 (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and as incorporated under paragraph 18 of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

COUNT 8 That you, Dr Olubukola Abubakar Saraki on or about 3rd June, 2011 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribbunal did make a false declaration in the Assets Declaration Form for Public Officers at the end of your tenure of office as Governor of Kwara State in 2011 by your refusal to declare No. 3, Tagus Street, Maitama, Abuja otherwise known as Plot 2481, Cadastral Properties Limit4ed from one Alhaji Attahiru Adamu before your assumption of office and you thereby committed an offence under section 15 (1) & (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraphs 11 (1) & (2) of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and punishable under Section 23 (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and as incorporated under paragraph 18 of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

COUNT 9 That you, Dr. Olubukola Abubakar Saraki whilst being the Executive Governor of Kwara State, on or about 16th September, 2003 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal did make a false declaration in the Assets Declaration Form for Public Officers on assumption of office when you falsely claimed to own an asset to wit: No 42 Gerald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos in which you claimed to be earning N110,000,000.00 (one hundred and ten million naira) per annum through your company known as Skyview Properties Limited when the aid property was under construction and you thereby committed an offence under section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraphs 11 (1) & (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and as incorporated under paragraph 19 of Part I, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

COUNT 10 That you, Dr. Olubukola Abubakar Saraki on or about 3rd June, 2011 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal did make a false declaration in the Assets Declaration Form for Public Officers, which you submitted at the end of your second tenure as Governor of Kwara State wherein you failed to declare the loan in the sum of N375,000,000.00 (three hundred and seventy five million naira) obtained from Guaranty Trust Bank in February 2010 the proceed of which you converted into Great Pound Sterling in the sum of 1,516,194.53 GBP and remitted for Fortis Bank SA/NV as full and final payment of mortgage redemption for the undisclosed property you purchased in London and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 23 (2) thereof as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part 1, fifth schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1989 (as amended).

‘

That you, Dr. Olubukola Abubakar Saraki on or about 3rd June, 2011 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal did make a false declaration in the Assets Declaration form for Public Officers at the end of your tenure of office as Governor of Kwara State in 2011 by your refusal to declare Plot 2A, Glover Road, Ikoyi Lagos which you acquired between 2007 and 2008 through your company Carlisle Properties Limited from the Central Bank of Nigeria for a total sum of N325,000,000.00 (Three Hundred and twenty-five million naira) and you thereby committed an offence under section 15(1) & (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

’

•Dr. Saraki

COUNT 11 That you, Dr. Olubukola Abubakar Saraki on or about 25th August, 2008 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal, while being a public officer as the Executive Governor of Kwara State did operate a bank account outside Nigeria when you transferred the sum of $73,223.28 (seventy three thousand, two hundred and twenty-Three Thousand Dollars, Twenty-Eight cents) from your Guaranty Trust Bank Plc domiciliary account No. 441441953210 to the American Express Services Europe Limited No. 730580 for onward credit to your American Express Bank, New York Card account No. 374588216836009 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to paragraph 3 of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and punishable under paragraph 9 of the said Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and section 23 (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. COUNT 12 That you, Dr. Olubukola Abubakar Saraki between August, 2009 and October 2012 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal, while being a public officer as the Executive Governor of Kwara State and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria did operate a bank account outside Nigeria when you transferred the aggregate sum of $3,400,000.00 (Three Million, Four Hundred Thousand Dollars) from your Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, domiciliary account No.441441953210 to the American Express Services Europe Limited no: 730580 for onward credit to your American Express Bank, New York card account N:374588216836009 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to paragraph 3f of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and punishable under paragraph 9 of the said Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and section 23 (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. COUNT 13 That you, Dr. Olubukola Abubakar Saraki on or about 16the September, 2003 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal did make a false declaration in the Assets Declaration Form for Public Officers upon assumption of office in the year 2003 as Governor of Kwara State by your refusals to declare your leasehold interest in No. 42, Remi Fanikayode Street, Ikeja, Lagos which you acquired through your company Skyview Properties Limited from First Finance Trust Limited on 12th December, 1996 and you thereby committed an offence under section 15 (1) & (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and TribunalAct, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2001 and as incorporated under paragraphs 11 (1) & (2) of Part I, Fifth Sehedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and punishable under Section 23 (2) of the Code of Coduct Bureau and Tribunal ‘Act and incorporated under paragraph 18 of Part I, Fifth Sechedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

Date this ……………Day of ………………….

2015 ……………….

M.S. Hassan Deputy Director Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, Abuja

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

53

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08158604763

Govt, truck operators meeting ends in stalemate

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HE stakeholders meeting held yesterday in Lagos on the ongoing strike by truck operators ended in a stalemate.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, at a point, the truck operators walked out of the meeting, held in Apapa, in anger.

Association of Maritime Truck Owners chairman, Chief Remi Ogungbemi said the meeting would continue today in the office of the general manager of Western Ports in Apapa.

Representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and two groups of truck owners and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) were in attendance.

Ogungbemi said the Lagos State government’s restriction of their time of movement was not good for business as terminal operators and shipping companies did not work at night.

He described the restriction order as “rather biased” against truck operators as fuel tankers were allowed to

move at anytime.

Tin-Can Island Chapter of RTEAN Deputy Chairman Mr Anthony Agbanose accused Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) of unnecessarily going after truck drivers, often times, resulting in accidents.

Agbanose also blamed the incessant falling of containers off moving trucks on the deplorable state of roads across the city.

He said it would be better if the restriction order was not on only a selected category of trucks.

Mr Cajetan Agu, who is in charge of compliance and monitoring at NSC, told truck operators to keep to their agreement with the state government during a meeting at Alausa, Ikeja.

Agu urged the operators to, henceforth, ensure that they maintain their trucks as the stakeholders worked out the possibility of calling off the strike.

He said the operators should also be prepared to keep to using the service lane and driving under over-head bridges.

Agu said government would rescind the restriction order when the operators submit the letter indicating their willingness to keep to the agreement.

Responding, the operators said they were on their way to submit the letter to the office of the Ministry of Transportation permanent secretary at Alausa.

Lamenting the shippers’ plight, Lagos State Shippers Association president Mr Jonathan Nicol urged NSC to determine who would pay the demurrage for locked-up containers.

Commissioner of Police, Port Police Command, Mrs Hilder Ibifuro-Harrison, said the police would ensure compliance with the law, adding that the law banning truck movement during the day had existed since 2012.

She said the government had the responsibility to protect its citizens, adding that the police would work along that line with human face.

The commissioner said security would always be provided to free the economy.

Ibifuro-Harrison said it was not good that work had

been on hold for two weeks, adding that it would be demanding for all stakeholders by the time they resumed work.

A company, FT Global Ltd., represented by Chief Chris Orode, said a “call-up” system must be put in place to ensure sanity in trucks operations.

Orode said a truck park had been secured, adding that they have been discussing with NPA, NSC and the government to ensure a healthy business environment.

A representative of Greenview Terminals, Mr Yakubu Abdullahi, blamed truck operators, saying production has been difficult since his company did not get its cargo on time.

He urged stakeholders to be transparent on all issues affecting them and solicited government’s support to fix the port access roads.

The General Manager, Western Ports, Chief Michael Ajayi, said it was sad that trucks were falling and killing people.

He said government was only carrying out its responsibility of protecting citizens by restricting movement of trucks.

Ajayi said truck operators could seek redress in court since the issue involved an existing law.

•Executive Secretary, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Mr Jaiye Alabi (third left) presenting a cheque to a visually-impaired, Opeyemi Phillips (second right) to empower him set up a vocation. With them are (from left) Secretary to the council, Mrs Abimbola IkeNicholas; Deputy Executive Secretary, Mr Remi Gbadegeshin and Supervisor for Health, Mrs Otuyemi Yemisi.

Truck owner remanded in prison custody over Ojuelegba tragedy

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N Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos has remanded in prison Adeyanju Kilani, the owner of the articulated vehicle from which a container fell off the Ojulegba bridge 14 days ago.

Kilani, 50, is facing trial on a two-count charge bordering on permitting his driver, Wasiu Adeleke, to drive without a licence, Ministry of Transport (MOT) test and Road worthiness certificate.

Prosecutor G.O. Osuyi said the offence was committed on September 2, on Ojuelegba Bridge along

By Rukayat Jimoh

Funsho Williams Avenue, Lagos.

He said: “Adeleke, drove a diesel truck marked Lagos EPE 46 XK carrying a 20-foot container loaded with iron doors and white cement in a negligent manner.

“In view of his alleged reckless driving, the container fell, causing the death of Abubakar Sule, 52, Umaru Sulaiman, 46 and Kamilu Umaru, 28.

“The truck also damaged a Toyota Corolla with number-plate LSD 532 CN, valued at N2 million belonging

to Sumaila Marksman and a Nissan Sunny, marked DG 750 LND, valued at N600,000, belonging to one Joseph Ajayi,” he said.

The offence, Osuyi said, contravened Sections 31 and 36 (1) and (2) of Lagos State Road Traffic Law 2012.

Kilani pleaded not guilty.

Chief Magistrate Folashade Botoku was furious on learning that Adeleke, the driver, was arraigned before the court on September 11, on an elevencount charge of reckless driving and causing the death of three motorists.

She said Osuyi should have informed the court of the similar sister case and asked for a consolidation of the charge.

Defence counsel W.O. Toriola urged the court to grant Kilani bail on self-recognition as “a senior citizen” without criminal record.

Osuyi did not oppose the bail application.

Botoku ordered that Kilani be remanded in prison pending her ruling on his bail application.

She adjourned till September 23 for ruling.

N85m lost to bird flu outbreak

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BOUT 79,134 birds worth over N85 million were lost to Avian Influenza, popularly known as bird flu in Lagos, the Director, Veterinary Services, State Agricultural Development Authority, Dr Ganiu Adams, has said.

To control the spread of the disease, he said the veterinary department depopulated 71,026 birds.

He said 20 farms in Lagos have been confirmed positive for bird flu infection following laboratory examination by the National Veterinary Research Institute in Vom, Plateau State.

In a statement in Abuja, Adams said bird flu education remained a critical and central strategy of control of the disease worldwide.

He said many poultry trades risked being affected by the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza, adding that few commercial farms and live birds markets practice adequate bio-security measures.

“Since the beginning of July, streams of reports of high mortalities of birds in various poultry farms across Lagos State have been pouring into the Avian Influenza desk office. So far, 20 farms in Lagos have been confirmed positive for bird flu infection following laboratory examination carried out by the National Veterinary Research Institute.

“The current scourge has led to the loss of 79,134 birds with an estimated worth of over N85 million. This excludes the stock of farmers who did not make official report to the state. To control the spread of the disease, the veterinary department depopulated 71,026 birds,” he said.

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a blood relation of the accused; the other must own property within the court’s jurisdiction.

He adjourned the case till October 5.

The accused - Godwin German, 36, Tamarami Tunwa, 23, Akowe Jacob, 41, and Mayibi Hazeez, 29 – are facing a 10-count charge bordering on conspiracy and kidnapping.

The accused, who were first arraigned on September 8, pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Raymond Odion, told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 24, 2014, at Arepo, Ikorodu area of Lagos.

Odion alleged that the accused kidnapped nine policemen and officers who

were on duty.

The kidnapped policemen, he said, were ASP Abdullahi Bature, Inspector Raymond Oriere, Inspector Usman Mohammed, Inspector Oguntimehin Kolawale and Inspector Tijani Jimoh, Corporal Elogbamen, Corporal Yakubu Alitu, Corporal Usman Abdulkareem and Corporal Dauda

Adams, who spoke at the Sensitisation/Awareness Workshop for Stakeholders on Preventive Measures against Avian Influenza, added that the state was at risk of bird flu infection through birds being brought from other parts of the country.

The state, he said, accounts for over 200 poultry markets and serves as the most popular outlet for poultry and poultry products from different parts of the country.

Earlier, the Federal Government called for collaboration with the private sector to prevent further outbreak of the disease.

The Director, Federal Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development, Dr. Abdulganiyu Abubakar, said it was sad to note that after about eight weeks of non-report of suspicious outbreak of the flu nationwide, the disease was recently recorded in Lagos and Oyo states. It also made incursions into Abia and Enugu states.

He said the problem must be urgently addressed because of the grave consequences of the outbreaks on the traumatised poultry industry.

Abubakar said: “It is thus imperative that concrete steps are taken to reduce the socio-economic impact of bird flu and improve the well-being of our people. I am aware that participants at this workshop are important stakeholders from the private and public sectors.

“This I believe will foster the much needed spirit of public-private partnership and collaboration in the current fight against the on-going threat of bird flu.”

Man held for impersonating police

By Vivian Anaba

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60-YEAR-OLD man, Bayo Abidolu, has been arraigned before an Ogba Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ikeja, Lagos, for allegedly impersonating a police officer.

Prosecuting Superintendent of Police Lugard Ahonle said the defendant wore a police uniform and pretended to be a sergeant with a fake police warrant and forged service number 385572.

He said the offence was committed on August 6, at Kollington bus stop in Ojokoro.

The prosecutor said the defendant committed the same offence in March at Ikeja.

He said the offence contravened Section 79(a) and 77 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011.

Abidolu pleaded not guilty to the first count and guilty to the second.

Chief Magistrate T. Akanni granted him N100, 000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

She adjourned the matter till September 21.

Mother accused of aiding son’s escape

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HE Police have arraigned an aged mother, Falilat Umar, before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly aiding her son, Rasak Umar, jump bail.

Mrs Umar has been unable to produce her son at Area ‘F” Police Command in Ikeja

High Court grants policeman, three fishermen N4 million bail HE Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday granted three fishermen and a police constable standing trial for the alleged kidnapping of nine police officers N1 million bail each.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa ordered the accused to produce two sureties each in the like sum.

One of the sureties must be

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

Mohammed.

He said the offence contravened Section 2 (c) (ii) of the Terrorism prevention Act, 2011.

Defence counsel, Mr. S. W. Baide urged the court to grant the accused bail on liberal terms.

“The accused persons are responsible citizens that will not jump bail,’’ he said.

By Vivian Anaba

since December 29, 2014 after being granted bail.

The mother reportedly stood surety for her son, who was alleged to have defrauded his clients of N1.95 million for visa documents.

She is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy to pervert justice and failure to produce her son for trial.

Prosecuting police Inspector Roman Unuigbe said the bail sum was N3 million which the defendant failed to pay.

Unuigbe said the offence contravened Sections 97(1) (3) and 132 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Mrs Umar pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Hafsat Sule granted her N20,000 bail and adjourned the matter till September 23.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

54

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08158604763

Community, DISCO meeting deadlocked

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MEETING between residents of IgbehinAdun in Ilasamaja, Mushin, Lagos and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) ended in stalemate.

There were hot arguments between members of the community, especially the youths, and EKEDC Mushin District officials during the meeting held at Olayinka Close in Ilasamaja on Tuesday.

Last week, the residents protested what they called the epileptic power supply in their area and “loath-some” billings by EKEDC. Their representatives made their grievances known at EKEDC head office on the Marina in Lagos on September 3.

They alleged that they were being billed for what they did not consume by the Iyana-Isolo and Idi-Araba districts of EKEDC. The EKEDC team was led by the Distribution Manager, Francis Nduka, the Commercial Manager, Kunle Ogunmoroti, and Public Relations Officer Mrs Bola Bayo-Kujore. They were received by the community’s traditional leader, Rasheed Asheni-Irokosu; Omonigbehin Landlord Association’s chairman, Hon Dele Dasaolu and two community leaders, Chief S.K. Daniyan and Alhaji Ganiyu Olukotun.

An 11-point resolution was tabled before the EKEDC officials.

Tagged “Committee against EKEDC Injustice and extortion in Ilasamaja and its environs,” the resolution reads: “Rejection

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

of outrageous ‘crazy’ bill in the name of estimated bill. Rejection of incessant power outage from the hours of 7pm till the following morning which makes the environ vulnerable to attack of thieves and armed robbers; rejection of the N750 monthly service charge and demand for the refund of the previous payment; rejection of any payment on prepaid meters through overt or covert means; demand for immediate repair of faulty feeder pillars, transformers and cables serving our environs; demand for free replacement of faulty prepaid meters; declare that we shall pay the sum of N2,000 monthly on energy consumed pending the time prepaid meter will be made available as it is obvious that the present estimated billing is customer unfriendly and killing; declare that EKEDC should write off all accumulated bills from the ‘crazy’ bill and outrageous estimated bill regime; declare that there should not be any distribution of bills and disconnection pending the time issues raised above are resolved; declare that we are law abiding Nigerians ready to pay for energy consumed as long as the right parameters in billing are followed and declare that EKEDC Officials are safe in our environment in the discharge of their statutory duties.”

Neither party was ready to shift ground after hours of discussions. They have

•The residents protesting after the meeting

agreed to meet again to resolve the knotty areas.

Until then, the community leaders urged residents not to pay any electricity bill. EKEDC was enjoined to provide uninterrupted power supply. It was also advised against embarking on disconnection of electricity.

Although, Nduka promised the community 14-hour daily power supply, but many residents expressed doubt about EKEDC of fulfilling its promise.

Baale Asheni-Irokosu warned EKEDC against disconnecting light, pending the resolution of the dispute.

He also assured the EKEDC officials of their safety, describing the residents as peace-loving.

•From left: Alhaji Olukotun; Nduka; Hon. Dasaolu and Baale Asheni-Irokosu during the PHOTOS: TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO meeting

NEWS

Enchanting real world (II)

•Mr Adeeyo

Continued from yesterday HE real world won’t give you its key. You have to fight and struggle to obtain it. But our fabulous four may better teach you how to have control over your life in a way that you hardly can believe the kind of infinite perfection and profitable circumstance into which their honest and expert counselswould certainly install you.

The real world vibrates with hope and futility, and with joy and misery. With your interface with these super achievers at Adeleke University today, I trust and believe that the synergy ignited will awaken your ambitions with fresh and furious enthusiasm that would unbound your wings with eager readiness to soar into the spacious skies as companions to these fabulous four, who are receiving the first ever highest honours issued by our University.

May the minds and souls of our graduates possess God’s serene contentment. Their lives and careers too shall attain lofty prosperity and the highest success akin to the immense

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By Adewale Adeeyo greatness that God entrusted to these marvellous and dazzling iconic personalities.

Needless to say, the gracious presence of each recipient and the Vice President gave zest and prestige to this occasion, and the university authority extend exceeding gratitude and the highest esteem to our inestimable recipients.

Of course, the position and status of the Vice President is already at life’s loftiest destination. May your life endure robust wellness. Your visit is great inspiration to us all. Sir, thank you so much. God ever bless you and your family.

Somehow, everything about life has ever marched and shall forever march towards truth. Be virtuous. Let integrity obliterate the darkness of your human soul. Despotism, evil and callousness have their devotees in the real world, and these forces ceaselessly feud with wisdom and the virtues of honour, humility, truth and even justice.

Beware of reckoning! It ever lurks in our shadows, making sure that the good in mankind operates even if the bad secures more attention. As you traverse the real world, I entrust you to the wisdom espoused by the book of Ecclesiastes in the Holy Bible that eloquently cautioned thus:”I have seen all things that are under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and vexation of the spirit.”

No matter your ambition, you cannot raise yourselves above yourselves. Take it easy, dear graduates.

Let not humiliation mock you. Be not in a hurry. Neither must you worry.

Why not leave everything to God so that He may make you the instrument of His grand design and use you for your own comfort and the collective joy of humanity?

Let me make some remarks before I lay on you the powerful ex-

hortation of John Wesley that would be our parting point. I am personally attracted to the fascinating glimpses of what is implied when one person has done the most good for his community and his nation at large. I also hasten to state that the context and impact of freedom cannot be realized unless we all get off our knees and fiercely connect to education and the intrinsic value of intellectual liberty.

Education is the substance of freedom as well as the constellation of power that is residual to both our personal and collective liberation.

We all become free by incessantly broadening our world orientation, by limitlessly visualizing premises and possibilities of action, and by allowing all motives to speak to us and to work within each of us, at all times, until the critical elements that uphold society makes us boundlessly free, and even necessarily freer, through a diffusion of knowledge that activates the underlying point of everything in our existence, in generally valid intellectual terms.

The founder of this university has lived with great gumption and the biblical fear of God. The clue to his generosity of spirit arise from his reasoned belief that the fundamental importance and the economic viability of each of us must never be allowed to flounder nor even slightly diminish because direct access to higher education is nil or is hopelessly hard to obtain.

It is always better for all of us to be in a general state of equal opportunity that education soundly promotes than for the rumblings of violent protests of the weak to decimate the structures of social balance and our collective joy, and in the case of a revolution, our dear lives.

I understand that those who possess the kind of compass that God gifted to the founder are the earthly

heroes installed by the angels who, without reverse or deviations, enliven the hope of mankind with all the elements that produce a happy and satisfying life.

I shall focus on the sublime mystique of the founder and Pro Chancellor of this splendid intellectual enterprise and incredible legacy by imposing the enigma of sensible silence on his name!

However, I shall hail to the high heavens my esteemed colleagues on the University Governing Council who played a leading and predominant part in the motions that forged the steady progress that solidly built the stability of this grand institution and its magnificent campus.

I also must extend robust gratitude and prodigious courtesies to the sturdy management team and staff members of our university who daily combatted obstacles of gestation inherent in the start-up of a vast enterprise that is as grand as was our dreams for Adeleke University.

The collaboration of these good men and women plus our vibrant student body was fantastic. Every component part of the Adeleke University machine worked very hard to make good decisions that were implemented and thus ensured that we made history today by graduating our pioneer students. We appreciate you all, and we heartily thank you.

Finally, I had loved to send you forth with an explicit message of service to humanity from the teachings of John Wesley. Mr Wesley was a Methodist theologian, philosopher, academic and real good man who was also a great humanist. Wesley believed that all persons standing atop the soil of the earth would triumph magnificently if we all seek and employ purposeful understanding to ignite the infinite joy that resides not in our individual persons but in life itself.

Spiritually, it is beyond doubt, that we have less reasons to concern ourselves with our lives because if we at once had cared for life itself,

everyone shall happily share in the abundant munificence of God who lent to life mercy, joy, boundless grace and inimitable balance. God does no wrong. And He means well for each person.

Most times, our timid minds and weak faith see nothing worthy in this world except ease, enjoyment and rowdy amusement that we miscall happiness. But John Wesley weaved a remarkably convincing prose that spoke to the higher ideals of service and altruism. I now must escort our graduates to lofty ascent in the real world through the incredibly elevating words of John Wesley that rumbled thus: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, as long as you can.”

Dear graduates, be strong.Be selfassured.Man may have no ending.

But he is a paddle broken and warped. By each of us doing good always, we would have mended the fractured paddle.

Be thus rooted in the righteous path. For he that once missed the way, the further he pushes forward or sideways, the further he goes astray.

In the end, education is the superlative force that highlights the dark contours of real life, and it is what makes man persist like art that is too precise in every part of its mystical consciousness.

May our Lord Jesus Christ firmly hold your hands, and forever steady your gait.

All of us have got your back, dear graduates. I wish you everlasting Godspeed! And I resoundingly salute your gratified parents.

I thank you all for listening and wish you well always.

•Adewale Adeeyo an Officer of the Order of Niger (OON) and member, Governing Council, Adeleke University, Ede, delivered this Commencement Speech at the Maiden Convocation and award of Honorary Doctorate Degrees at the University Campus, Ede, on September 6, 2015.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

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FOREIGN NEWS

Assad says his priority is ‘defeating terrorism’ in Syria

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YRIAN President Bashar Assad said in an interview aired yesterday that his priority is “defeating terrorism” in Syria and urged all political and armed factions in the country to unite in the fight against terrorist groups.

In an interview with Russian media, Assad also said there can be no political solution for his country’s crisis until terrorism is defeated. He singled out the Islamic State group, which has captured about a third of Syrian territory along with large swaths of land in neighboring Iraq, as well as al-Qaida’s branch in Syria, the Nusra Front, and “some others,” without specifying.

The government in Damascus has long labelled all armed groups fighting Assad’s forces as “terrorists”.

Assad made no reference to the extreme violence his forces have used

on civilian areas during the country’s civil war, now in its fifth year, repeating only that some mistakes have been made.

Moscow has been a staunch supporter of Assad throughout the crisis.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said it is impossible to defeat the Islamic State group without cooperating with Damascus. He has urged other nations to follow Russia’s example and offer military support to Assad's government.

In recent days, Moscow has sent about a half-dozen battle tanks and other weaponry along with military advisers, technicians, security guards and portable housing units to Syria with the apparent goal of setting up an air base near the coastal town of Latakia, an Assad stronghold.

U.S. officials have said Moscow is simply trying to prop up Assad and

Migrant crisis: Clashes at Hungary-Serbia border HUNGARIAN riot police have fired tear gas and water cannon to force migrants back from the Serbia-Hungary border.

Hundreds of people have massed at a closed crossing point near the Serbian town of Horgos, and are involved in a tense stand-off with police on the other side of the border.

Some migrants threw missiles, including stones and water bottles.

Tens of thousands of migrants have crossed the border in this area to enter the European Union’s Schengen zone, which allows people to travel between member countries without restrictions.

The Hungarian government says 20 police officers have been injured, amid reports that some migrants had attempted to break through the border.

Several people received medical treatment from the Serbian ambulance service on the other side of the border, some suffering the effects of tear gas.

A clash was inevitable. For more than an hour, in the afternoon heat, a group of migrants and refugees stood inches from a line of Hungarian riot police at the border gate. A water cannon stood behind the police.

“Open the gate, open the gate,” the group shouted.

Israel re-arrests Palestinian hunger striker A Palestinian prisoner who nearly died during a 66-day hunger strike resumed his protest Wednesday after he was re-arrested following his release from an Israeli hospital.

The move sparked renewed Palestinian outrage after days of unrest at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site and a spurt of violence that killed an Israeli motorist on the Jewish New Year. The unrest has raised fears of a new outbreak of heavy violence in the holy city.

Supporters of Mohammed Allan said he was detained in a hospital courtyard in the southern city of Ashkelon just moments after being discharged. Allan had been hospitalized for the past month after suffering brain damage and other health issues during his hunger strike.

His father, Nasser Allan, said his son had resumed the hunger strike.

“This means they want to kill him,” he said. “They know he is very weak, and they know if they don’t release him he will resume his strike and that puts his life at real risk”.

Allan staged the hunger strike to protest Israel’s controversial practice of “administrative detention,” which allows it to hold suspected militants without charge for months at a time.

Allan has been held since last November under the procedure.

have rejected his participation in the global war on the Islamic State group, also known by its acronyms ISIL or ISIS. “Nothing’s changed about the fact that we don’t want to see the Assad regime getting any support,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said. “There can’t be a role (for) the Assad regime in efforts to stabilize the situation in Syria, much less go against ISIL”.

In the interview, Assad did not directly address the Russian moves, only praising Moscow as an “independent state” and an “impartial” broker of dialogue between Syrian groups.

He urged the formation of a united front against the Islamic State group, saying the priority of every single Syrian citizen is to be secure.

“We, the political parties, the gov-

ernment and the armed groups that fought against the government, we must all unite in the name of defeating terrorism,” Assad said. He added he would only give up power if the people ask him to do so, not the United States.

Assad said the U.S., which has been leading a coalition that is carrying out airstrikes on IS militants in Syria and Iraq, refuses to work and coordinate with his government.

For the U.S. officials, “if they cooperate with the Syrian army, this is like recognition of our effectiveness in fighting ISIS,” Assad added. “This is part of the willful blindness of the American administration, unfortunately.”

Assad also took the opportunity to deny claims that there is an Iranian initiative on the table, saying there were only “ideas and principles” that

• Assad

are based on the issue of Syrian sovereignty and combatting terrorism.

The Shiite powerhouse is also a key ally of Assad, who hails from the minority Alawites, a Shiite offshoot.

Venezuela extends state of emergency to third border state

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• Maduro

ENEZUELAN President Nicolas Maduro has announced he will extend a state of emergency to another 10 municipalities on the border with Colombia.

Three of them are in Apure state.

The others are in the state of Zulia, parts of which had already been placed under a state of emergency.

The move is part of a crackdown on crime near the border, where smugglers and guerrilla groups are active.

The crackdown has heightened tensions between Venezuela and Colombia.

The president did not say if border posts in Apure would also be closed as they have been in the states of Tachira and Zulia.

Under the Venezuelan constitution, a state of emergency can be declared

if the security of the country, its citizens or its institutions are at risk.

It temporarily restricts some constitutional rights and allows security forces to search homes without a warrant.

President Maduro took the measure after three soldiers and a civilian were injured in an attack in San Antonio del Tachira near the border last month.

The 2,200km-long border (1,400 miles) between is porous and there has historically been a steady flow of people both ways.

It is also a haven for smugglers, who make an easy profit buying subsidised goods cheaply in Venezuela and selling them at much higher prices in Colombia.

The Venezuelan government estimates that up to 40% of goods it

subsidises are lost to smuggling, exacerbating shortages of key products.

Locals have also complained about being extorted by gangs and Colombia’s left-wing guerrilla groups.

Image copyright EPA Image caption Paraguachon is one of the latest border posts to be closed Last month Venezuelan security forces deported about 1,400 Colombians they said were living in Venezuela illegally.

Another 20,000 are estimated to have left Venezuela out of fear of deportation.

Some said they had been mistreated by the Venezuelan security forces, prompting Colombia to recall its ambassador from Caracas in protest.

Venezuela later recalled its ambassador from Bogota.

Thousands of Mexican families mourn the 'other disappeared'

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HE convoy of gunmen fanned out across the southern Mexico municipality of Cocula before dawn. Some carried names and blasted their way into homes. Others simply swept up whoever crossed their paths.

Seventeen people vanished from Cocula on this single day, July 1, 2013 - more than a year before the disappearance of 43 college students in the nearby city of Iguala would draw the world’s eyes to the mountains of northern Guerrero and to the issue of Mexico’s disappeared.

The disappearance of the students from the Rural Normal School of Ayotzinapa on Sept. 26, 2014, gave hundreds of other families who had loved ones vanish the courage to come forward, many for the first time, to report the crimes. These, they

• Serbian border town of Horgos blockaded by Hungarian riot police...yesterday PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

said, were the “other disappeared”.

Among them was Rosa Segura Giral, who waited more than a year to report the abduction of her 19year-old daughter, Berenice Navarijo Segura. Berenice disappeared on that July day in Cocula, just hours before her high school graduation.

“What if I report it and my daughter is nearby and they know I reported it?” Rosa Segura Giral had wondered, could they “hurt her or something?”

It was not until other families began meeting at a church in Iguala last fall to search the surrounding mountains for their missing that Segura Giral finally filed a report with authorities.

More than 25,500 people disappeared in Mexico between 2007 and July 31, 2015, according to the

government’s count. In recent months, The Associated Press interviewed the family members of 158 of those “other disappeared” who came to report their cases at the church, provide DNA samples and go into the surrounding mountains with machetes and steel rods to look for hidden graves.

Many were more than reluctant to be interviewed. Still fearful but also furious, they speak hesitantly of children, parents and siblings dragged away before their eyes, of those who left home for work or stepped out to buy milk and seemed to be swallowed by the Earth.

Men or boys accounted for all but 15 of the 158 disappeared and ranged in age from 13 to 60 years old, with the majority younger than 30.

The families have found 60 graves

and, with the help of federal authorities, recovered the remains of 104 people. Six of those have been identified and returned to their families.

There are many possible reasons for the abductions: Recruitment to fill the cartel's ranks with young men. Attacks on competitors. Profit from ransom money, or punishment for failure to make extortion payments. Regardless, the abductions sow fear.

Fear and the silence it induces allow the cartels to operate unhindered.

Their infiltration of the police was so deep that after the disappearance of the 43 students, federal authorities arrested 66 members of the Iguala and Cocula police forces. The government investigation said the local police had illegally detained the students and then turned them over to the Guerreros Unidos gang to be killed.

TODAY IN THE NATION

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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HE soothing wind of change sweeping across the land seems to have affected public discourse. The words we use and the way we use them have, no doubt, conveyed, deliberately or otherwise, the change that our leaders are preaching so much so that I am damn sure that language experts must now have their hands full.

But, before we proceed, a clarification. The idea of this column is not original to me.

Respected journalism teacher Olatunji Dare patented it in his Rutam House days when he was Chairman of the Editorial Board/OPED Editor, with his “Matters lexical” passing comments on vital issues of those days when soldiers were in charge. Thankfully, the “khaki boys” - as our then leaders were derogatorily referred to by “bloody civilians” who detested the way they ran the show- are back in the barracks.

Consider President Muhammadu Buhari’s speech at the yearly Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) conference in Abuja in which His Excellency urged lawyers to stop defending “crooks” and “looters” so as to strengthen the war against “corruption”.

Of course, we all knew the battle that raged endlessly among the elite over the seemingly simple definition of “corruption” and “stealing” in the recent past. So complex were the intellectual duels the matter generated that till now we can not say for sure who carried the day.

Pardon the digression. Unknown to President Buhari, he had set off a huge debate.

“How do we know ‘crooks’ and ‘looters’ before they are so labelled by the courts?” some lawyers asked dejectedly. “Isn’t an accused presumed to be innocent until he is proven guilty? Ei incumbit protatio qui dicit non qui negat.” “Isn’t everybody entitled to defence, in the principle of fair hearing?” “How do we earn a good living if we presume that all big clients are “looters”? “Where is the ageold principle: he who alleges must prove?”

Others argued: “If a public official is living above his means, do we need to go to court to establish that he is a “looter”? When does a “looter” become a “crook”? Is it after he has stolen billions and he is able to hire an army of Senior Advocates when he is called to account? What maketh a “thief “ and a “crook”? What constitutes “loot”? Millions?

Billions? In dollars or naira?

The fireworks are still on, I am told. But, learned gentlemen, should there be any obfuscation? The President was simply reacting to situations in which lawyers go to court to ground the wheel of justice, filing motions upon motions and securing perpetual injunctions as well as long adjournments that make corruption cases conclusively inconclusive, thereby obstructing justice and fuelling “graft”.

The word “corruption” seems to be yielding space to “graft” in the newspapers. Why? Is it for its length or ease of pronunciation? I really do not know now. My worry was compounded the other day when embattled FIFA President Sepp Blatter insisted that there was no “corruption” in football even as several officials of the organisation had been arrested as part of the massive probe into how hosting the World Cup may have been bought.

The phrase “hit the ground running” has also dominated public discourse since Buhari

VOL. 10, NO. 3340

‘In the weeks ahead they are going to deploy resources towards discrediting the new sheriff’s efforts. They don’t want a national carrier but their own private airlines which will be declared bankrupt after partaking in government bail-out, leaving their toxic loans for AMCON’ JIDE OLUWAJUYITAN

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

•Editor of the Year (DAME)

Lexical matters

•President Buhari

•Blatter

mounted the saddle on May 29. Some critics have called him “Baba Go Slow”. He acknowledged this but insisted that he would rather go slowly and get it right than rushing things and failing. It has since been discovered that some of those shouting do not know the meaning of the expression. Imagine somebody saying the other day that “should Buhari hit the ground and hurt his foot, how will he run?”

The fuel queues have disappeared. Electricity has improved and Boko Haram is feeling the heat. Many corruption cases have been investigated and suspects taken to court. All in about 100 days. How else do you “hit the ground running?” Has Buhari not worked hard and successfully at governance?

A newspaper headline yesterday read: “How Wike hits the ground running in Rivers”. Does Wike “hit the ground everyday?”

The writer listed some of His Excellency’s achievements, including a housing project and

roads. He forgot to add the probe of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Is that not a landmark achievement of a governor who has hit the ground running?”

In the same newspaper, right opposite the Wike story another writer assessed Cross River State Governor Prof. Ben Ayade’s 100 days in office, “declaring that the governor has hit the ground running”.

Among today’s popular words, “quiz” and “grill” number. The anti-graft agencies, held down by stronger powers, seem to have found their long-lost form. Suddenly. Many high profile cases are being filed and heard. Former Head of Service Steve Oronsaye has had his day in court. So have former governors Ikedi Ohakim, Murtala Nyako and Sule Lamido.

Former Immigration chief David Parradang has been “quizzed” over the bloody jobs scandal, which many thought had been killed and buried. By the way, “interrogation” seems to have lost its potency to “grill” and “quiz”.

Again, I do not know why. I leave it all to lexicographers and etymologists.

Does the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) actually “grill” its guests like fish tossed into the oven? Do they sweat?

Do reporters use the word “grill” when a guest spends hours at the agency’s office? Does “quiz” apply to those who stroll in, escorted by a crowd of busybodies, and come out a few minutes after? I really can’t tell.

Talking about the anti-graft war, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been howling that its members have been the target. In fact, the other day, PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh accused Buhari of running a “dictatorship”. But, needless to say, that was no popu-

LET TOYIN NWOSU GO TODAY

I

T has been some three harrowing days since Toyin Nwosu, an employee of Amuwo Odofin Local Government and wife of The Sun Deputy Managing Director Steve Nwosu was forcibly removed from her home in Okota, Lagos, by gunmen who smashed their way in the dead of the night.

Steve has been traumatised. So have been the kids. So have been all of us who have encountered Toyin. The abductors are said to be demanding N100m ransom. Where will a professional get N100m in a country where salaries are poor and many workers, including journalists, go on unpaid for several months, driven only by the passion they have for their trade?

Where?

Despite the various steps taken against abduction, the evil

trade thrives. Criminals find it so lucrative, probably because of the secrecy surrounding the resolution of any such incident. A ransom is collected and the victim is let off. Quietly. Then the next victim is grabbed. We all seem so vulnerable and helpless. We are at the mercy of gunmen.

•Mrs Nwosu Lord have mercy!

Toyin is harmless, always in high spirits, ever-smiling, humble and friendly - as her abductors may have discovered. I plead for her unconditional release today. May the Almighty touch the hearts of her abductors. And the hearts of those leaders whose action and inaction have brought the economy to this pitiable level, driving into crime those who see no future in our future.

Won’t you say “amen”?

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

HARDBALL

W

HERE does the right of a judge begin and where does that of snake end in a court of law? On Tuesday September 15, not even the judge of the Ota High Court, Ogun State, could answer this.

She had detained a number of journalists in the course of their professional assignments on the high court premises.

The judge, whose name could not be picked up by the arrested journalists, ran away from where she exercised supreme power when a snake bit one of her staff. She, detained journalists, audience and staff of the court were dismissed summarily by the mouth of the sly beast.

The theatre of snake and judge began when the journalists arrived the court premises in two vehicles. The journalists included Daud Olatunji (The Vanguard), Samuel Awoyinfa (The Punch), Ernest Nwokolo (The Nation),

lar view. Before the anti-graft agencies began to pick up suspects, Buhari, to the PDP, was slow. Now he is a “dictator”. Who knows, Metuh, who now has so much time for a research, may be teaching us a few things on the etymology of the word “dictatorship”.

Whoever says being in opposition has no gain.

You will recall that as soon as Buhari took office, he declared his “assets” in the way and manner specified by the Code of Conduct Bureau. But some critics insisted that he should make the declaration public. His spokesman Femi Adesina said the President would do so within 100 days.

Buhari has kept his word. So has Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Among Buhari’s belongings are two mud houses, 270 head of cattle, 25 sheep, birds and trees, among others. Now, the critics, obviously those who still feel the pains of losing power, are crying that Buhari and Osinbajo should also “declare” their liabilities. Is that what the law says? To what purpose will that be? How about asking our PDP chiefs why they never made public their “assets”? Can they do so now, if for nothing but to show their sincerity and strengthen their claim that they never shortchanged Nigerians?

Senator Shehu Sani, following Buhari’s and Osinbajo’s example, made public his “assets”.

Among them were his two wives. He immediately set off a debate. Wives? Why “declare” their number, thereby widening the scope of this exercise to a seemingly uncomfortable level? If the electorate insist on knowing how many wives our politicians have, will they not think the size of an aspirant’s harem will dictate how prudent he will be if he gets elected? How many politicians can “declare” their women as “assets” and not “liabilities”? Are our women-activists comfortable with a politician declaring his wives as “assets” as if they are some property or commodities?

Anyway, the verb “declare” is fast yielding its use as an expression of interest in an office, such as “declare for governor” and “declare for Come and Chop Party of Nigeria” to the phrase “assets declaration”. In the immediate past administration, it was never used in relation to “assets” or “liabilities”. But that is not to say it never featured; it did so often when military chiefs were not sure whether to “declare” just a “war” or “total war” on Boko Haram–as they threatened several times before getting the push.

And talking about the war, Boko Haram now knows “a new Sheriff is in town”. Oh yes!

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

A snake’s day in court Abiola Taiwo (Daily Times), Sulaiman Fasasi (National Pilot), Wale Adelaja (TVC) and Johnson Akinpelu (Alaroye). A police officer, who knew his place, inquired about the newsmen’s mission, and when they told him, he retreated to his post.

But an assistant court registrar looked askance at the so-called intruders and informed the judge in the middle of a court proceeding.

Her majesty was incensed and ordered the immediate arrest of the newshounds. The journalists languished in detention for about three hours.

One of them reportedly fainted.

It was while the judge was addressing the journalists in her hectoring style that a snake bit one of the court staff. The judge dismissed the journalists, the court officials, and of course her-

self. The snake had spoken (sorry, bitten) and everybody found their way.

The reptile reportedly slithered into a staircase area where - can you guess? - the office of the assistant court registrar was located. The ACR was the snitch who squealed to the judge that the reporters were filming something on the court premises. Can you call that snake judgment?

So, who owned the court? The snake or the judge, or the people of Nigeria? If it was the judge, why did she flee? Well, if she has to wield her powers, she would have to press charges against the snake, or at least detain it. She locked up journalists who did no harm but watched as the snake crawled out of sight after spewing venom in a staff’s bloodstream.

Now, what would she charge the snake with?

Hardball has a few suggestions. One, trespass. If the journalists could spend three hours in confinement for stepping onto the premises of the court, what of the snake that could not be seen until it bit? Two, assault. The snake bite was not only a source of discomfort, some read voodoo once they saw a runnel of black liquid on the victim’s skin. Three, contempt of court. How could the snake slip into the court where justice was in the offing? It was totally unacceptable.

Four, interference in the world of human beings. It was bad and ominous enough that it was in the bush, but to move and take its place where a hallowed human institution was in action was the ultimate disregard for the superiority of the homo sapien.

But first she must send her minions to catch the snake in the bush. Or else we can say, it was the snake that had its day in court, not the judge.

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