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Buhari leaves for UN General Assembly

...terrorism, global security top discussion with world leaders ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari leaves for New York, United

Vol. 5 N0. 1206

States, tomorrow to attend series of meetings and interactions with notable world leaders within and on the sidelines of the main events of the 70th Session of

Wednesday, September 23 , 2015

the United Nations General Assembly.

Buhari would hold talks, deliberations and interactions with the United NaCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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Saraki docked, pleads not guilty, released on bail 60 Senators, others storm tribunal

OBIORA IFOH AND GEORGE OJI

S

enate President, Bukola Saraki, was yesterday arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, where he pleaded not guilty to 13-count charge of alleged false assets declaration preferred against him by the Federal Government.

Shortly after the first of the charges was read to him, the accused informed the tribunal that the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, violated its own law following its deliberate refusal to first invite him (Saraki) for CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Unions ground airlines over N25bn debts P.7 APC admonishes Metuh to show decorum P.7

Senate President Bukola Saraki docked at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on charges of corruption and false assets declaration, in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

OPC launches manhunt for Falae’s abductors Agbekoya threatens showdown with kidnappers

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747,000 people living with HIV taking treatment in Nigeria –NACA

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Saraki docked, pleads not guilty, released on bail CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

clarifications of the discrepancies in his assets declaration forms as provided for under section 6 of the CCB Act 2004.

Saraki, who used his arraignment to open up, told the tribunal that he was being brought for trial because of his new status as Senate President.

He expressed shock over the charges preferred against him, stressing that he was seeing them for the first time.

The Senate president also urged the tribunal, headed

by Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar, to act in the best interest of justice and not in favour of external forces that were out to fight him on

vendetta.

“I am one of the strongest believers in the rule of law. I am a law abiding citizen and my faith in the judiciary remains unshaken but when trial is being instigated outside the purview of normal procedure, then the tribunal must watch it and must be on the side of justice,” Saraki said.

Prosecution team, led by Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, had briefed the tribunal on how the accused, while in office as the governor of Kwara State, filled four different assets declaration forms with the first one in 2003 and the second in 2007.

The third was also in 2007, while the fourth was filled in 2011, when he left of-

fice as governor.

Jacobs among others alleged that the Senate president made anticipatory assets declaration while in other cases, he failed to declare other properties acquired while in office as governor.

He also alleged that the senator operated two foreign accounts in the United Kingdom while in the office as governor and made some huge deposit in foreign currencies into the accounts with the aid of Guarantee Trust Bank, GTB. The alleged offences were said to be contrary to section 15 of the CCB and CCT Act 2004.

The prosecuting counsel also announced his inten-

tion to tender the four assets declaration forms as exhibits and that he would also call five witnesses to give evidence against the senator.

After the presentation of facts of the case by the prosecution, the tribunal chairman ordered that the bench warrant earlier issued against Saraki for police to arrest him has been vacated and that the accused should go home.

Justice Umar also announced that the tribunal would hear all the motions already filed by the accused to challenge the jurisdiction of the tribunal before going into the main issue.

“It is not the intention of this tribunal to shut out the accused person in the

numerous applications he has filed. It is in the interest of justice that we will hear all the motions in one way or on the other before going into the main case,” Justice Umar said.

Earlier the defence team, led by Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, had insisted that Saraki would not be docked by the tribunal until all his motions challenging the jurisdictions of the tribunal are disposed off.

Daudu premised his argument on the fact that until the issue of jurisdiction was first determined, the plea of any accused could not be taken.

Jacob however coun-

L-R: ECOWAS Commission President, Kadre Ouedraogo; Prime Minister Mohammed Said Fofana of Guinea, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, President Mohamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic, President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic, President Muhammadu Buhari, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo and President Alassane Ouattara of Cote’ d’Ivoire, during the extraordinary meeting of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on the political crises in Burkina Faso, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, yesterday.

Buhari leaves for UN General Assembly CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tions Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, Presidents Barack Obama of the United States, Francois Hollande of France, Vladmir Putin of Russia, Xi Jinping of China as well as Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, Prime Minister Narenda Modi of India and others A statement issued yesterday by Special Adviser to the President on Media

and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said the deliberations would focus on domestic developmental issues, bilateral relations, the war against terrorism, countering violent extremism, the enhancement of global security, peacekeeping operations, climate change and the adoption of a post 2015 global development agenda.

Buhari, who would be accompanied by the governors of Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger states, the Na-

tional Security Adviser and the Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance, Health, Industry, Trade and Investment, would deliver Nigeria’s statement to the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, September 28.

Buhari is also scheduled to address the World Leaders Summit on Violent Extremism to which he was personally invited

by Mr. Ban Ki Moon dur-

ing the Secretary-General’s recent visit to Nigeria.

Also on the President schedule in New York are a meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, a High-Level Roundtable on SouthSouth Cooperation organised by President Xi Jinping of China and the United Nations, and participation in the launching of an updated global health strategy for women and children.

Also on Buhari’s sched-

ule are meetings with former President Bill Clinton of the United States, Mr. Bill Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which is assisting Nigeria in several areas, including polio eradication, and former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, United Nations Special Envoy on Global Education who is one of the main drivers of the Safe Schools Initiative.

The President would return to Abuja on Tuesday, September 29.

tered the arguments, claiming that the first thing for a court or tribunal was to take the plea of any accused standing trial before listening to him on any point.

Justice Umar upheld the submission of the prosecution and ordered Saraki to enter the dock which he complied with.

After a brief consultation by lawyers in the issue, the case was adjourned till October 21, 22 and 23 for trial.

Meanwhile, despite the network of security woven around the venue of the trial, sympathisers of the Kwara State-born politician were able to penetrate to show solidarity with their political idol.

Clad in carton colour ‘agbada’ brocade with a matching cap, Saraki waved ceaselessly to the cheering crowd as they shouted adoringly to him when he alighted from the 32-seater, tinted coaster bus, which brought him in company of some senators to the tribunal.

The ovation became even louder when Saraki, who as initially speculated, would be remanded in prison by the tribunal was let off the hook.

“Sai Bukky, Sai Nigeria, Baa Bukky, Baa Nigeria,” was part of the chanting that rented the air as Saraki walked back to the same coaster bus that brought him to the tribunal.

The Senate president was to meet even more surging, chanting and cheering crowd as he made his way to his Maitama, Abuja residence.

The entire neighborhood of his Maitama residence was literally taken over by sympathisers, who came from as far as his home state to receive him.

Once Saraki was cited by the supporters, they erupted in jubilation, singing and praising the politician in his native Yoruba language.

Inside the tribunal chambers proper, the crowd intermittently disrupted the sitting as they jeered occasionally when the lead prosecution counsel made remarks considered to be unfavourable to the Senate president.

In the same vein, the crowd also cheered when favourabe remarks were made about Saraki.

The high point of this was when the tribunal

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

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L-R: Acting Director, Development Finance, CBN, Dr. Olaitan Mudashir Adeola; Head of Operations, Anglophone West Africa, African Management Services Company (AMSCO), Ms. Eno-Obong Amelia Edet and Managing Director/CEO, AMSCO, Paul Malherbe, during AMSCO/NPC day with the theme: Accelerating Enterprise Competitiveness and Growth in Nigeria Building Capacity for Sustainable Development, in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Representative of Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministary of Education, Mrs. Hindatu Abdullahi; Head of European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Mr. Michel Arrion and Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, at the 7th International Conference on Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Africa, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

L-R: Non-Executive Directors, Heritage Bank, Oladele Oyelola; Tony Madojemu; Executive Director, Mary Akpobome; Chairman, Akinsola Akinfemiwa and Managing Diretor/Chief Executive Officer, Ifie Sekibo, during a media parley in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Wife of Editor, Nigerian Media Leaders (Voice Beyond the Newsroom), Mrs. Joy Ikiebe; Chairman on the occasion and former Chairman of Punch Nigeria Ltd, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola; former Ogun State governor, Chief Segun Osoba; Chairman, Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Sam Amuka; former Managing Director, Concord Newspaper, Mrs. Doyin Abiola; Guest Speaker and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina and Editor, Nigerian Media Leaders, Mr. Richard Ikiebe, during the public presentation of “Voice Beyond the Newsroom” (volumes 1 and 2) in Lagos, yesterday.

National News

CBN urges govt to focus on key sectors to revitalise economy …reduces CRR to 25%, retains MPR 13%

Tola Akinmutimi

M

onetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday rose from its two-day meeting in Abuja, warning that the country’s economy could slip into recession by next year if proactive measures were not taken to boost productive activities in key sectors.

Also in line with most analysts’ projections, the committee tinkered with the Cash Reserves Requirements, CRR, of Deposit Money Banks, DMBs, reducing it from 31 per cent to 25 per cent.

However, it retained the Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, at 13 per cent, the symmetric corridor of 200 basis

points around the MPR; and left the Liquidity Ratio unchanged at 30 per cent.

Briefing the media at the end of the committee’s meeting, CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, attributed the increasingly fragile state of the economy to waning Gross Domestic Product, GDP, growth rate, among other militating factors.

According to him, the country’s GDP rate recorded a slow growth in the second quarter of this year, signaling the second consecutive less-than-expected performance for the current fiscal year.

National Bureau of Statistics had reported a few weeks ago that real GDP grew by 2.35 per cent in the second quarter of this year, representing a significant

decrease when compared with the 3.96 per cent and 6.54 per cent in the preceding quarter and corresponding period of last year, respectively.

The Bureau projected that the country’s GDP would stabilise at 2.63 per cent this year, indicating a significant drop from the 6.22 per cent recorded in the last fiscal year.

Emefiele pointed out that if the ugly trend in the domestic economy were not addressed with appropriate fiscal and other critical policy measures, there are strong indications that banking sector performance may be adversely affected.

The CBN Governor expressed serious concern that liquidity withdrawals from banks, occasioned

by the implementation of the just introduced Treasury Single Account, TSA, policy; extension of the tenor of state governments loans as well as loans to oil and gas sectors, could aggravate liquidity conditions in banks and impair their financial intermediation roles.

He pointed out that the developments portended risks to the banking sector and the larger economy, unless some actions are taken by the government to ease liquidity conditions in the markets.

He said: “The committee noted that the overall macroeconomic environment remained fragile. The committee noted that liquidity withdrawals following the implementation of the TSA, elongation of the tenure of state government loans as well as loans to the oil and gas sectors could aggravate liquidity conditions in banks and impair

their financial intermediation role, thus affecting economic growth, unless some actions were immediately taken to ease liquidity conditions in the markets.

“Having seen two consecutive quarters of slow growth, the committee recognized that the economy could slip into recession in 2016 if proactive steps were not taken to revive growth in key sectors of the economy.”

Emefiele said the committee acknowledged that there was need for synergy between monetary and fiscal policies as this would serve as the most potent option to sustainable growth.

He added that the Committee also observed that the impact of the persistent decline in global crude oil prices on the fiscal position of government continues to grow public sector credit.

While noting that the gradual rise in inflation

rate in the past few months would thaw as harvest season approaches, he expressed the committee’s optimism that business confidence would continue to improve as government continues the implementation of its economic programmes On reserves position, Emefiele disclosed that the country’s gross official reserves dropped from $31.20bn at the end of July to $30.63bn on September 17, 2015, assuring that notwithstanding the withdrawal of MDAs account from banks as required by the TSA policy, the banking sector would survive.

On the closure of official window of forex market to importers of 41 items earlier excluded from the foreign exchange market, the governor said the policy was already yielding desired results, saying that “the impact is as far as we are concerned positive.”

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Wednesday, September 23 , 2015

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OPC launches manhunt for Falae’s abductors AYO ESAN, CHIDI UGWU, OJO OYEWAMIDE AND FEMI OYEWESO

O

odua People’s Congress, OPC, yesterday launched a manhunt for the abductors of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Olu Falae.

This is even as his abductors brought down the N100m ransom demanded for his freedom to N90m.

Falae, who was also a former finance minister, was on Monday abducted at his Ilado farm in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State by a group of suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Founder of OPC, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, while reacting to the abduction in Lagos, said he had ordered operatives of the congress to immediately launch a manhunt, combing all nooks and crannies of Ondo State and beyond, for the kidnapped politician.

Falae and Fasehun shared the same birthday, September 21.

The OPC leader described the kidnap as an assault and insult on the Yoruba people, and challenged security operatives and agencies to produce Falae within 48 hours.

He has also summoned all members in the country to attend an emergency meeting on Sunday.

“OPC is not interested in crisis but it was founded primarily for the protection of its own and for building bridges in Nigeria,” he said.

Warning of possible consequences, Fasehun pointed out that eyewitnesses account indicated that Falae was abducted by strangers.

His words: “At my turning 80, the entire world would expect me to be a bridge builder. And I have prepared myself to be just that. But if any missile is thrown at you, and it is likely to affect your eyeball, you must avoid it at all costs.

This is my view of the insult now being unleashed, being flung at Nigeria by the enemies of Nigeria’s unity.”

Recalling that Falae had rendered “impeccable” service to the country as permanent secretary, minister of finance and SGF, Fasehun described the victim’s current ordeal as uncharitable.

“When we heard that

Falae was kidnapped, we thought it was impossible, as kidnappers would not be mad enough to kidnap a man of peace, a man who has selflessly served Nigeria.

“Falae is by any standard a leader of the Yoruba people, a leader of Nigeria and a significant leader in Africa.

He is a leader of Afenifere.

He was a leader of NADECO. And any assault on him is an assault on Nigeria and Nigerians,” he added.

He also frowned at the fact that 24 hours after the kidnap, the Federal Government was yet to officially react to the incident.

He urged all traditional rulers in Nigeria to rise up for his release, saying that Falae, as the Olu of Oba-Ile, is the ruling monarch of his homestead.

According to the OPC president, the organisation felt concerned at Falae’s kidnap, which he described as an affront.

Fasehun feared that the kidnapping of the top-flight politician portended ill for his fellows.

South West farmers also yesterday demanded Falae’s unconditional release by his abductors or risk the wrath of its members across Yorubaland.

The farmers, under the aegis of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, South West geo-political zone, also issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the abductors within which to release him unhurt or face the wrath of its ‘Agbekoyas.’

AFAN SW zonal coordinator, who is also the Ogun State chairman of the association, Olusegun Dasaolu, who spoke with journalists yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, explained the abduction was a big surprise to the entire farmers in the South West.

Dasaolu, who emphasised that AFAN was not unaware of the running battle between Falae and Fulani herdsmen in Akure, however, declared that his association was ready to mobilise all members to comb the entire region in search of the 77 years old man.

Dasaolu stated that whatever affected Chief Falae in his farm could also affect any farmer in the geo-political zone hence, the readiness of his association to mobilise its members to go all out in search of him.

He also appealed to Fulani herdsmen, who have been living peacefully with their host communities across the South West to join hands with AFAN in search of Chief Falae.

The coordinator of the South West farmers also called on security agencies to as a matter of urgency, live up to expectation and redeems their image by ensuring that Chief Falae is released unconditionally and unhurt.

Also in its reaction, Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, demanded his unconditional release.

IPAC, which described the abduction as sacrilegious in a statement issued by its chairman, Chief Peter Ameh, in Abuja, said hurting the eminent senior citizen is a tragedy for the nation.

Noting that it received the news of the kidnap with great shock, sadness and dis-

appointment, IPAC, however called on security agencies to act fast to salvage the national pride by prompt rescue of the elder statesman.

Ameh said: “Chief Falae, a prominent elder statesman and revered member of IPAC, has served our country meritoriously in several capacities and deserves the greatest respect from every Nigerian because of his simple and exemplary life style and the huge contribution and sacrifice he has made to the development of our nation.

“That any one will even contemplate kidnapping or hurting this eminent senior citizen is a tragedy for our dear nation.

“While appeal to the kidnappers to release him unconditionally, we call in the security agencies to act fast to salvage our national pride and respectability by ensuring his immediate rescue.”

Meanwhile, the kidnappers have brought down the N100m ransom demanded for his freedom to N90m.

Our correspondent gathered that family of the All Peoples Party, APP, presidential candidate in 1999, was still negotiating with his abductors.

Falae’s wife, Rachael, was prevented from talking to journalists when our correspondent visited his residence along Oba-Ile road.

State Commissioner of Police, Mike Ogbodu, was among the sympathisers at the elder statesman’s residence.

Ogbodu assured the family that everything would be done to rescue the former minister.

Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, described the abduction as shocking and sad.

A statement by the state chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, said: “APC condemns in en-

tirety this rude and unimaginable act, which no doubt offends the psyche and pride of our people.

“It has become an insult too many for our people to bear, as these same set of people violates the farmstead of our people unchecked and even our highways without control.”

Kekemeke called on security agencies to end kidnapping in the state and find and prosecute Falae’s abductors without delay.

The chairman further urged the Federal Government to ensure that security agencies act with a sense of urgency in this matter.

“Ondo State government should regulate the activities of these itinerant herdsmen, just like it regulates citizens’ use of public utilities. These lawless herdsmen, if they must live in Ondo State cannot be law unto themselves.”

Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode (middle); Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule (3rd left); Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello (right) and members of the Governing Board of Tertiary Institutions, during swearing in of the board in Lagos, yesterday.

Saraki docked, pleads not guilty, released on bail CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 promptly opposed by Dau-

chairman pronounced that Saraki was granted bail on self-recognition. At this point, the crowd threw all cautions to the wind, as they erupted in joy.

Overwhelmed by the level of solidarity, the prosecuting counsel, had to intervene to point the attention of the tribunal chairman to what was happening, even as he urged Umar to compel Saraki to pledge to be of good conduct.

Jacob’s application was

du, who reminded the tribunal that as politicians, it would be difficult to control the actions and conducts of Saraki’s supporters.

Also at the tribunal to show solidarity with Saraki were about 60 senators, including his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

Some of the other senators cited at the tribunal included Shaaba Lafiaji, Theodore Orji, Mao Ohuabunwa, Samuel Egwu, Ben MurrayBruce, Aliyu Wamakko,

Gilbert Nnaji, Kabiru Gaya, Alasoadura and Samuel Anyawu.

Others were Foster Ogola, Sunny Ogbuoji, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Isa Hamma Missau, Emmanuel Paulker, Obinna Ogba, Kaura Tijani, Clifford Ordia, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Peter Nwaoboshi, Rose Okoh, Mohammed Ohiare, Gershom Bassey and Olaka Nwogu, among others.

In a statement issued after the tribunal’s sitting and signed by Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba, on be-

half of the Eighth Senate, the lawmakers pledged unalloyed loyalty to Saraki.

Danbaba reinstated his colleagues’ support for Saraki as the popular choice leader for the Senate, even as he commended the decision of the Senate president to voluntarily appear before the tribunal.

The lawmakers expressed the belief that at the end of the trial, the country’s democracy and the people wiould end up as the beneficiaries.

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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

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Indian hospital offers free health camp in Abuja

I

ndian specialist hospital in Nigeria, Primus International Super Specialty Hospital, is offering a free health camp from September 15 to 26 in the Federal Capital Territory.

The hospital’s management said the decision for the free health camp was part of its corporate social responsibility to open its services and state-ofthe-art equipment to Nigerian patients, majority of whom could not afford treatment abroad.

The hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Umaru Jibia, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja said, “the free camp consultation is for the following departments, knee/hip/ joint pains, neck and

back pains, arthroscopy, minimal invasive orthopaedic surgery, orthopaedic surgery, internal medicine, diabetes, hypertension and HIV, general surgery, laproscopic surgery.

Others include, cardiology, dental, ophthalmology, physiotherapy, hemorrhoids, fistula/ hernia, kidney treatment and dialysis, gynaecology/fibriod and artificial limbs appliances.

It would be recalled that in the last three years the hospital conducted 18 free camps with over 9,000 patients benefiting from free consultation and other services.

The hospital has also offered a free First Aid Assistance to residents of FCT.

Govt agencies to collaborate in tackling smuggling –Osinbajo Rotimi Fadeyi ABUJA

V

ice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said government will explore ways to ensure that relevant agencies, including the National Boundary Commission, NBC, collaborate and coordinate effectively to deal with smuggling activities at the borders of Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

A statement issued by Special Adviser to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said Osinbajo spoke during briefing from the commission.

Osinbajo said the commission, the Nigeria Customs and the Immigration authorities could work together to tackle the problem of smuggling, adding that it would be useful identifying actual points where smuggling is taking place.

While appreciating the work and detailed presentation of the Commission, the vice president, who is Chairman of the Commission’s Board, expressed the desire to see more collaboration among relevant government agencies and called for a plan in that direction.

Earlier in his briefing, Director General of the commission, M. B. Ahmad, said the boundary commission functions include interven-

ing and dealing with any boundary disputes that may arise between Nigeria and any of her neighbours with a view to settling it.

According to him, the commission also intervenes, determines and deals with boundary dispute that may arise among states, local government areas or communities in the federation with a view to settling them.

He said the commission was in-charge of the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission, NNJC; Nigeria-Benin Joint Commission, NBJC; Nigeria-Benin Joint Technical Committee on Delimitation; Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, CNMC; Lake Chad Basin Commission, LCBC, and ECOWAS/ Cross River Initiatives, CBI. Ahmad noted that the commission has intervened in many internal boundary disputes in the country including states like Jigawa/ Kano, Kaduna/Kano, Kaduna/Katsina, Kaduna/ Plateau in the North and other areas in country.

The Director General cited the challenges faced by the commission to include funding, straddling settlements, re-establishment of destroyed/ missing boundary pillars as well as demographic movements with the emergence of new settlements, among others.

Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd) and his wife, Dupe, during a condolence visit to the family of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo on the death of Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, in Ikene, yesterday.

747,000 people living with HIV taking treatment in Nigeria –NACA

Joel Ajayi ABUJA

N

ational Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, has disclosed that over 747,000 living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV, are receiving anti-retroviral therapy, ART, treatment in over 1,050 facilities across the country.

Assistant Director of Programme, NACA, Dr Emmanuel Agogo, stated this yesterday during the 2015 candlelight memorial organised by the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, NEPWHAN, with the theme: ‘Supporting the future of people living with HIV.’ However, with over 33 mil-

lion people living with HIV today, the AIDS Candlelight Memorial that began in 1983 serves as an important intervention for global solidarity, breaking down barriers of stigma and discrimination, and giving hope to new generations.

According to Agogo, there are more people who we think are eligible, who are out there and we want them to be put on treatment.

He said: “That is why there are lots of efforts to test and get people to know their status because it is based on their CD4 count that we offer these treatments.

“The Nigerian government has moved on to the most recent guidelines on

treating HIV where everyone eligible based on their CD4 count from 500 and below should be enrolled on treatment.

“As far I am aware, issues of availability of drugs and where care can be accessed has been sorted out. This is because we have over 1,050 facilities in Nigeria where if you require ART treatment, it would be provided” National Coordinator of NEPWHAN, Edward Ogenyi, said the candle-light memorial is still relevant because AIDS is still a pressing public health concern and threat to development.

“We have to do this to remember our past heroes, people who in spite of stig-

ma and discrimination in the early days of AIDS still came out to declare their status. They advocated to the government and demanded for treatment, and today we remember them,” he said.

He said apart from remembering the past heroes, there wass need to support the future of persons living HIV/AIDS in terms of providing them with treatment, care and protection.

He said the vision 9090-90 targets that 90 per cent of Nigerians know their HIV status by getting tested, placed on treatment and have virus operation, a level at which they cannot transmit the virus again by 2020.

2015 budget: Reps accuse perm sec of negligence Tordue Salem ABUJA

H

ouse of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating non-implementation of about N557 billion capital component in the 2015 Appropriation Act, yesterday, accused Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastasia DanielNwoabia, of negligence.

Daniel-Nwoabia had on three occasions failed to appear before the committee’s public hearing because of other official engagements assigned to her by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Members of the committee were yesterday, however, miffed by a request from Director, Budget Office of the Federa-

tion, BOF, Aliyu Gusau, that a grace period be allowed the Permanent Secretary, who, according to the panel, must coordinate a meeting of the affected agencies to reconcile all inconsistencies in their respective submissions, and forward a harmonised report to clerk of the committee within seven days.

“No, no, no! We take it that she (Daniel-Nwoabia) is not alive to her responsibilities to the parliament.

She is not only responsible to the President. We expected her to be here in person but in three meetings she has been absent.

That is for a whole month, she is absent. We are going to put in our report to the House that she is negligent in her duty,” Chairman of the Committee,

Aliyu Pategi, told Gusau, who represented the Permanent Secretary at the three previous sessions.

The committee had also raised issues on a reported fuel subsidy expenditure of N222.1 billion between January and July 2015, which Gusau confirmed was not in the 2015 Appropriation Act, but pleaded that he be allowed to go and cross-check on whether approval was obtained from the National Assembly for such supplementary expenditure.

“I do not have enough information on that. I will go and cross-check and get back to the committee,” he pleaded.

Meanwhile, the committee which earlier directed some of the affected agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Finance, Office

of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Federation among others, to go back and reconcile some inconsistencies in their submissions, was still not satisfied yesterday, a development which resulted in a call to them to convene a joint sitting, after which a harmonised report should be forwarded to it not later than 30 September, 2015.

Heads of other organisations which the committee wanted to be part of the meeting, after a brief consultation with them were the Nigerian Customs Service, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Inland Revenue Service, National Bureau of Statistics, and the Fiscal Responsibility Commission.

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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

APC admonishes Metuh to show decorum Ayo Esan and Ebere Ndukwu

A

ll Progressives Congress, APC, has admonished National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, to show some decorum in his public

statements and avoid the use of trench language in public discourse.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Metuh’s increasing resort to the use of putrid language in his press statements was distracting from the message

he might want to pass across, while at the same time sending a bad signal to the younger generation of Nigerians, who look up to him and other politicians. ‘’Mr Metuh, being the spokesman, first for a ruling party and now the main opposition, puts you on the rarefied level of being a role model

and a pace setter. You denigrate your office and your party when you use that platform to spew hate and abusive words. ‘’You might choose to be bombastic, sharply critical and even aggressive in your statements, but you do not have to resort to the use of crude language like calling your fellow spokesman a “renowned liar,” a ‘’mas-

ter liar’’ or a ‘’shameless veteran’’ to make your point. Apart from distracting from the issues at stake, those words reflect more on your personality than on the man you have chosen to skewer, and their vulgarity is stomach-churning,’’ it said.

APC said every statement being issued today will become a reference

7

material in the weeks, months and years ahead, hence the need to keep them decent, polished and dignifying, even when they are hard-hitting.

The party said it has chosen to call the PDP spokesman to order rather than reply him in kind, hoping he will see the reason not to continue on the path of profanity.

Corruption allegations: Amaechi fights back

…drags PDP, others to court, demands N300bn damages

Dennis Naku

PORT HARCOURT

F

ormer governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has dragged the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, party chairman in Rivers State, Felix Obuah, and two others before an Abuja High Court over allegations of foreign accounts ownership and funds embezzlement against him.

It would be recalled that in a press statement from the PDP, Rivers State chapter, on August 6 and 21, 2015, the party had alleged that Amaechi stole the sum of $757 million or N80 billion of Rivers State public funds and stashed them away in an account in his name in Bancorp Bank in Minnesota, United States of America.

The PDP also alleged that Amaechi had embezzled millions of dollars of Rivers State money and stashed the money in other foreign accounts in his name, including a bank in Switzerland.

The PDP claimed that the various Amaechi foreign accounts were revealed and blown open

by Christiane Amanpour of America’s Cable News Network, CNN, among other allegations.

However, in this fresh suit filed before an Abuja High court, FCT, and made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, by his media office, Amaechi stated that each of the said malicious publications by the Defendants (PDP, Felix Obuah and two others) “are untrue, false, motivated by ill-will and without any founda-

tions in truth whatsoever.

He further averred that the defendants made the said libelous publications after the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, failed to win the presidential election and with a view to rubbishing him in the eyes of right thinking members of the society and the persons to whom the said libelous publications have been made.”

In his statement of claims in the suit, Amaechi averred that he did not steal the sum of $757million or N80 billion of Rivers State public funds and did not stash them away in Bancorp Bank in Minnesota in United States of America or stashed any State public funds in Switzerland.

He also said the Bancorp Bank in Minnesota in United States of America did not at any time reveal that he (Amaechi) embezzled or misappropriated or connived in the embezzlement and misappropriation of monies meant for Rivers State people in the sum of $757million or N80 billion and stashed them away in his name with Bancorp Bank in Minnesota in United States of America.

Amaechi further stated that ever since the said invidious, insidious and vitriolic malicious libelous publications by the PDP and Felix Obuah to the general public, he has been inundated, bombarded and confronted by several persons who expressed lack of respect, loss of faith in him and who no longer regard him as trustworthy and now view him as a common criminal.

L-R: Prof Folake Solanke; wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Funso Amosun and daughter of the deceased, Rev. Tola Oyediran, during a condolence visit to Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s family on the death of Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, in Ikene, yesterday.

Unions ground airlines over N25bn debts

•NCAA releases grounded aircraft after payment of N7m fine Olusegun Koiki Aviation unions yesterday halted activities at the domestic wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Ikeja, Lagos, for over three hours following massive debts owed the agencies by airlines.

The unions, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN and National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, barricaded gates leading to the premises of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN. Addressing the gathering, Acting General Secretary of NUATE, Olayinka Abioye, said all the airlines especially Arik Air owed the agencies over N25 billion arising from services rendered to them.

Abioye attributed the debts owed the agencies to why promotions could not be effected in the parastatals, stressing that there

was no money to pay for various allowances.

He urged workers of various agencies to brace up for battle against debtor airlines.

Also addressing the workers, the President of ATSSSAN, Benjamin Okewu, said the debt profiles of the airlines were becoming unbearable to the unions.

Okewu said bleak future awaited all debtor airlines as it will never be business as usual.

He recalled how Meavis, a concessionaire was sent packing from the airport, vowing that debtor airlines would be shown the exit soon by the unions.

“If we want to achieve, let all prepare for war. We must act and consolidate our decision to do the right thing.”

He noted that Arik since its inception had never had any of its aircraft grounded with all its aircraft well maintained and serviceable and won-

dered why they could not pay debts owed agencies.

Meanwhile, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, yesterday said it on Monday released one of the two foreign registered aircraft; Bombardier 700-100 with registration marks G-RBEN Global express S/N 9083 operated by Gama Aviation, United (UK) Limited grounded in the country for several months due to illegal operations.

The agency said that it released the aircraft, which was grounded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, NAA, Abuja after its operator paid the required penalties of N7m.

The agency also said that the operator paid the sum of $20,000 to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, for the same office before it could be allowed to return to its base.

However, the authority said that the other aircraft, Embraer 135J

with registration marks XA-MHA would remain grounded in the country until its operators meet all the conditions set for its released.

The Acting General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, disclosed this to journalists at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos.

On grounding of the two aircraft and investigations by the agency, Adurogboye hinted that the NCAA wrote a letter of sanction to the operator.

He said: “In the light of the above you are hereby sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of section1 .3.3A and Section B of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCAR) 2009 and you are required to pay within seven days from the date of receiving this letter the sum of N7million being the total civil penalty for the above violation.”

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South West

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Dragging Ife chieftaincy before court’ll degrade Ooni’s stool’ BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

I

ndigenes of Ile-Ife studying in tertiary institutions across the country and beyond, yesterday said that taking issues regarding the vacant Ooni stool before a law court would degrade the power and influence associated with it.

The students also listed qualities of whoever will succeed the late Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuade, must possess.

Addressing newsmen in Ile-Ife, the students under the aegis of National Ife Descendants Students’ Association, NIDSA, also warned against actions that can cause confusion in the town, insisting that

tradition and law must be strictly adhered to in choosing the next monarch.

Reading the position of the students, NIDSA national president and chairman, press committee, Famakin Olawole and Oladimeji Abimbola, respectively, said whoever would be the next Ooni must be ordained through

divine consultations.

Regarding his personal attributes, according to NIDSA, the would-be Ooni must be eloquent, bold, endowed with sharp intellect, amenable to guidance and wealthy to a reasonable extent.

Speaking further, the NIDSA president said: “Tradition has its place and so is the place of law

which cannot be over-emphasised in a king making process. We opine that the duo have the sole objective of ensuring peace, harmony and development of the community.

“If the law and tradition as regards king making have the same purpose, then they must be complementary. The

students’ body believes strongly that in the position of tradition and law on this matter. We insist that whoever will be next Ooni must be ordained through divine consultations.”

The body also enjoined all stakeholders to respect tradition and ensure peace continues to reign in Ile Ife.

Lagos deputy gov calls for more women in governance FRANCIS SUBERU

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L-R: Managing Director, CBC Energy Ltd, Mr. Kunle Oderinu; Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori and Governor Rauf Aregbesola, during a courtesy visit to the governor by management team of CBC Hydro-Power Project, at the Governor’s Office, Abere, Osogbo, yesterday.

CAC backs Buhari on anti-corruption war K EMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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hrist Apostolic Church, CAC, Worldwide, yesterday, threw its weight behind the anti-corruption crusade of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the 50 per cent salary offer by the president and vice president was a step in the right direction.

President of the church, Pastor Gabriel Lagunju, said this while delivering his presiden-

tial address at the annual Pastors’ Conference of the church held at CAC, Ile-Aanu, Alasepe, Ikire.

The clergy, who said corruption had become a major cankerworm that has eaten deep into the nation’s fabrics, maintained that the time has come to make political appointments less attractive to Nigerians.

According to him, politics should be for those with integrity who meant well for the citizenry and the country, insisting that the era of job for the boys need to

become a thing of the past.

Pastor Lagunju whose address was read by the general secretary of the church, Pastor Joseph Oguntile, however, kicked against death penalty for indicted corrupt public officers, noting that life is sacred and that what is needed is to continue to pray to God to change the minds of corrupt elements.

While lauding President Buhari for standing against gay marriage in the country during his recent visit to the Unites

States of America, he urged the government to provide employment for the teeming youths, stating that this would help in reducing the problems confronting the country.

Speaking on the crisis within the church, he charged genuine members not lose hope, saying “God will soon touch the hardened hearts of those who are benefitting from the elongation of the church’s crisis.

We still rely on God through your fervent prayers; we shall soon shout for victory.”

Lagos assembly approves Ambode’s reordered budget FRANCIS S UBERU

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agos State House of Assembly has approved the request for re-ordering of the 2015 budget by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

The House approved

N19,743,164,323 for capital expenditure, and N5, 697,089,009 for recurrent expenditure, bringing the total approved sum to N25,440,253,332.

The House also admonished the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget to henceforth do a quarterly review of approved budget

to enhance effectiveness and determine the level of compliance by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Ambode had on September 15, 2015, wrote to the Assembly, asking it to re-order N23.97 billion in the 2015 appropriation law to enable his administration

execute some strategic projects.

According to the letter, the governor listed reasons for the re-ordering as the construction of a pedestrian bridge at Ojodu Berger, construction of fly-over bridges at Ajah Roundabout and Pen Cinema, Agege.

agos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, has advised women across the country to get more involved in political activities and governance in order to make their voices heard and enable them contribute to the socio-economic developments of the country.

Dr. Adebule made the call yesterday while briefing newsmen on the forthcoming Women in Government Conference organised

by South West Office of the Department for International Development, DFID, in collaboration with her office between Monday, September 28, through Wednesday, September 30, 2015, in Lagos.

She explained that the three-day conference was aimed at identifying and resolving bottlenecks that have been militating against women’s participa-

tion in local government elections in the country, while at the same time encouraging them to be more proactive in issues relating to governance, political participation and economic developments.

The deputy governor stated that the conference would also help women to create a platform that would facilitate a mutually-beneficial and sustainable relationship between women in politics and their counterparts in business. She noted that there is urgent need to bridge the gap between the two in the interest of women development.

According to her, about 75 women delegates from the South West geo- political zone, including Kwara State, are expected to attend the conference, adding that issues that are germane to women’s survival, participation in governance and their general development would be extensively deliberated upon at the conference.

Workers protest unpaid 3 months salaries in Ondo

O

ndo State workers yesterday in Akure marched to the office of the state’s accountant general at Alagbaka area to demand payment of their three months’ salary arrears.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as: ‘Ondo Government, where is our bailout money?’ ‘Accountant general must go’; N14.68bn bailout fund fixed by Mimiko; and the hardship is getting worse; among others.

The protest was led by state chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, Comrade Sunday Adeleye.

He expressed displeasure at government’s fail-

ure to pay their salaries despite receiving bailout fund from the Federal Government.

Adeleye also gave the government 24 hours to pay all outstanding salaries and deductions to the state’s workers.

He called for the removal of the accountant general for allegedly refusing to pay their outstanding salaries.

Addressing the protesters, Mr. Toyin Akinkuotu, Head of Service, assured that the workers would receive their salaries soon.

Akinkuotu assured that all outstanding salaries of workers would be paid.

He said government would also pay their two months deductions of May and June.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

9

Ambode inaugurates LASU, LASPOTECH, others governing councils Appoints new LIRS chairman

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L-R: Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole; Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr. Umar Musa and Gen. Abdul-Rahaman Danbazzau (rtd), during the inauguration of new board of the Advance Centre, University of Ibadan, yesterday.

Ekiti gets bailout fund …to pay outstanding workers’ salaries after Sallah A BIODUN N EJO ADO EKITI

E

kiti State government yesterday acknowledged receipt of the Federal Government bailout fund.

The governor made this known during a meeting with tipper drivers’ owners and suppliers in Ado-Ekiti.

The governor said the account of the state government was yesterday credited with the Federal Government’s bailout fund.

He, however, added

that details of what was given would be made known later.

The governor said: “I want to formally acknowledge the receipt of the Federal Government’s bailout fund. The money was credited into the state’s accounts this morning. It is for the payment of outstanding commitments to workers such as leave bonus, salary arrears, among others.

“Commissioner for Finance and Accountant General of the state are in Abuja now. It is when they come back that we

will begin the payment of the salaries. Details of what came in will be explained later. I will speak to the people on radio and television. By God’s grace, we will begin to pay after the Sallah holiday,” he said.

The governor had last week assured that the money would not be diverted but would be spent for the purpose it was meant.

The state owes public servants September 2014 salaries, while some workers are owed August 2014 salary.

Workers are also owed

2014 and 2015 leave bonuses.

Meanwhile, the meeting with tipper owners, drivers and suppliers was inconclusive due to the battle for supremacy among them.

When the governor, through submissions by the various groups, saw that they were not working as a team, he fixed another meeting with representatives of the groups.

He urged them to allow peace to reign stating that it is only in the atmosphere of peace that development could take place in the state.

…says it’s a drain pipe ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

A

ll Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has described the planned airport project by the state government as a drain pipe to siphon money from the state’s treasury.

The APC said the promotion of elite project while neglecting initiatives for the growth of local economy for the masses of the agrarian state was insensitive, wicked and selfish.

The party said this in a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, that the promoter of the project had no motive other

than the “characteristic flight of the state funds” in such capital projects that have little or no relevance for the local economy.

The governor had recently set up a committee on the airport project to ensure its completion before the end of next year, saying it would enhance the development of the state.

The APC criticised some community leaders for their alleged accomplice role in the airport project, which it said was “mainly planned for the fancy of the few who see Ekiti State as their private property”.

According to Olatunbosun, the governor, had

highly industrialised city.

He said: “The Ekiti Airport project estimated to cost a whopping N17 billion is the most economically unviable project at this period considering how the state governor daily laments that the state has no money”.

Olatunbosun said the airport project was meant to benefit only the few that are prodding the gover nor to enhance their private businesses and bring money to their pocket.

He added that with the state’s lean purse, the airport project would foreclose any hope for infrastructure development.

Court as Chancellor of LASU, Professor Adebayo Ninalowo, a Professor of Sociology at the University of Lagos as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of LASU, Professor Tajudeen Gbadamosi, a Professor of History at the University of Lagos as Chairman, Governing Council of LASPOTECH, Alhaja Sekinat Yussuf as Chairman, Governing Council of MOCPED, professor Tunde Samuel as Chairman, Governing Council of AOCOED and Mrs Tilley Giyado as Chairman, College of Health Technology.

The governor said the multifaceted problems and challenges plaguing tertiary institutions in the state could only be solved by taking concrete steps with the right people driving the process, urging members of the council to see their appointment as a challenge and call to duty to bring back the lost glory of tertiary institutions in the state by instilling discipline, integrity, accountability and responsibility in their affairs.

Dufil Foods announces judges for 2015 IIDA award SAIDAT ALAUSA

APC carpets Ekiti govt over airport project in a desperate move, embarked on begging and cajoling some first class traditional rulers with mouth-watering offers to support “this wasteful venture.

“Of what economic sense and use is an airport to the economy of Ekiti State when the Akure Airport is less than one hour drive to Ado Ekiti? What has been the positive economic impact of the Akure Airport on the economy of Ondo State, which has hundreds of big industries compared to Ekiti with none?”

Olatunbosun wondered why the governor could not learn anything on the poor state of Ibadan Airport in that

agos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday inaugurated the Governing Councils of the Lagos State University, LASU; Lagos State Polytechnic, LASPOTECH; Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, AOCOED; Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, MOCPED; and the Lagos State College of Health Technology, with a charge to work assiduously to reposition the institutions as foremost citadels of learning.

The governor at the inauguration ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of Lagos House, Alausa, said his administration’s belief that tertiary institutions are critical in achieving economic prosperity prompted the careful selection of diverse professionals from the academia, public and private sectors with proven track record and sterling antecedents to manage the affairs of state institutions.

Among those inaugurated include Justice George Adesola Oguntade (CFR), a retired judge of the Supreme

D

ufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of leading noodles brand, Indomie Instant Noodles, have announced selected members of panel of judges for the 2015 edition of its corporate social responsibility initiative - Indomie Independence Day Award for Heroes of Nigeria, IIDA. The selected judges are Mr. Japheth Omojuwa, Principal Grange School, Ikeja, Lagos; Mr. Graham Stothard, Executive Director, Corona Schools; Mrs. Olufunto Igun, Editor, Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Mideno Bayagbon; Publisher and Editor, Genevieve Magazine, Mrs. Betty Irabor; MD, Heritage Homes, Mrs. Osuntokun and Deputy Provost, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Mr. Jide

Johnson.

This list was contained in a statement issued by Public Relations Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, on progress of activities for the 2015 edition of the Indomie Heroes Award.

In the statement, Ashiwaju acknowledged the credibility and integrity of the selected judges.

The judges are expected to sit to adjudicate and select the final three winners from the top stories already penciled down by the selection committee having met the set down criteria.

Asiwaju disclosed further that the verification team is already on the field to authenticate, validate and simulate ‘the selected stories which will be used during the judges’ meeting for the selection of the first, second and third place winners.

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South East

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Imo govt concessions 29 agencies, 38 health facilities …suspends perm secs Chris Njoku Owerri

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mo State government has finally concessioned about 29 parastatals and 38 health facilities, including all the general hospitals in the state, in a bid to revitalise and make them productive.

The state government also suspended some permanent secretaries, Directors of Accounts and officials, who were indicted by the recent verification and audit exercise in the state.

Most of the parastatals and health facilities, according to government, have

continued to enjoy government’s “huge monthly subventions without any thing to show for such cash investments.”

Some of the parastatals listed for concessioning are Imo Newspapers, Imo Orientation Agency, NEPAD, Imo ADP, Agric Loans Board, Water Corporation, PFMU and PSGRDP, Consumer Protection Council, Imo State Council for Arts and Culture, Imo State Sports Council, Imo State Tourism Board, Imo State Zoological Garden, Imo State Library Board, Imo Job Centre and Imo State Investment Promotion Agency.

Ebonyi engages 14 firms for waste evacuation Aliuna Godwin Abakaliki

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bonyi State yesterday said it has contracted 14 firms to evacuate waste in the state to enable it meet its policy of aggressive environmental sanitation.

Briefing journalists in Abakaliki, Commissioner for Environment, Moses Nomeh, said the specifications of the contract involves sweeping roads within the city, clearing grasses and evacuating refuse dumps within the state capital and environs.

It was gathered that the contract is to cost the state a whopping N336 million annually and N28 million monthly, with the allocation of fund to the contracted firms based on the terms of contract, according to the commissioner.

Nomeh, who said some contractors saw their jobs as political settlement by the governor, warned them, however, to take their contracts seriously or risk losing them.

The commissioner further recounted that when the state Ministry of Environment handled the refuse evacuation under direct labour method, it did it effectively and frowned at the non-performance of some of the contractors. He also maintained that the contract was awarded to ensure division of labour for optimal performance.

He said the installation

of refuse impulverisation plants procured by the state will commence in second week of October 2015 and put to use before November end.

On the directive given to landlords in the state to provide toilet facilities in their houses and business areas, the commissioner disclosed that they have started complying whereas those who failed to comply have been arrested and prosecuted.

He added that same directive has been extended to landlords in sub-urban and rural areas in the state and they are complying satisfactorily; just as he stated that the state is embarking on aggressive tree planting in the capital city and beyond.

Others are the State Directorate for Employment, Okigwe Cattle Market, Imo Livestock, Ministry of Agric and Natural Resources Shop, Niger-Delta Bureau, Poverty Alleviation Bureau, IWADA, Bureau for Public Procurement and Price Intelligence, ENTRACO, Imo Marketing Company, Imo Blue Lake Oguta and Imo Essential Drug.

The health facilities the government also listed to concession their managements are the General hospitals and health centres in the 27 local government areas in the state including the General Hospitals at Aboh Mbaise, Ngor Okpala, Ihitte Uboma, Okigwe,

Aro-Ndizogu, Mberi, Awo Omama, Oguta, Ogwa, Ohaji Egbema and Specialist Hospital, Umugwuma.

In the case of the Health Centres and General Hospitals, the government said it concessioned their respective managements to give them the needed teeth to make healthcare delivery system in the state responsive, effective and serviceoriented, especially when the government’s experience in the affected health outfits has been nauseating.

In addition, the government has dissolved the Youth Must Work Scheme with the aim of re-organising it and making it more efficient to achieve the goal

for which it was set up.

However, the government said the Primary and Secondary teachers recruited under the scheme would not be affected by the dissolution.

Also dissolved, the statement said, is the the Community Government Councils, CGC, adding that the action was also designed to help in repositioning the body to become more vibrant and result-oriented.

Similarly, the state government said it has taken over Imo State Teaching Hospital staff primary school at Orlu and FSP Primary School Ugwu-orji, Owerri. This is to enable them enjoy the free education pro-

gramme of the state government and also take the two schools to the expected level in terms of quality.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Rochas Okorocha, has directed the immediate payment of salary arrears of all staff in the affected parastatals listed for concessioning, including the hospitals and health centres affected, and those of CGC. While appealing to indigenes of the state for their cooperation and understanding, the governor explained that the actions were taken in the overall interest of the state and her people, adding that it was designed to keep the state on the fast lane of development.

L-R: Site engineer, Engr. Talal Isa; Abia State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mr. Richard Nwala; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and his Deputy, Ude Okechukwu, during an inspection tour of Okonu-Aku bridge in Ohafia LGA, yesterday.

Enugu Assembly approves N14bn loan for Ugwuanyi Emmanuel E zeh Enugu

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nugu State House of Assembly yesterday approved N14.2bn loan request by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

The loan is to enable the government offset outstanding salaries/ subventions, pensions as well as enable it embark on development and infrastructural projects.

A breakdown of the loans approved includes N4,207,000,000 for the arrears of salaries and

pensions and N10bn for development and infrastructural projects.

Passing the resolution on the motion on notice presented to the House by the Leader, Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, representing Udenu Constituency, the House said: “That this honourable House does resolve to authorise the state government to obtain loans of N4,207,000,000 and N10 billion respectively, from the Central Bank of Nigeria to liquidate arrears of salaries (subventions) and pensions, and for

development of infrastructural projects to be secured by excess crude account, ECA.” The House reached the resolution to approve the loans based on the outcome of the National Economic Council, NEC meeting of June 2015 that authorised CBN to create a pool of loanable funds up to a maximum of N10 billion for any interested state to access.

The House also noted that it was emboldened to authorise the accessing of the loans because the repayment period

was spread for a 20-year period.

“The loans carry a single digit interest rate of nione9 per cent and tenure of 20 years repayment period, and it is cheap and convenient.

“Enugu State had earlier applied for the restructuring of its Commercial Bank loan of N6,413,942,870.84 as at June 2015 and when this is approved, the monthly repayment will be reduced as the tenure of the loans will be extended over 20 years, thereby leaving reason-

able balance monthly for the state to operate, and as such, the repayment of this bailout can still be accommodated,” the House noted.

Ugwuanyi

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South south

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

11

Army arrests soldier training militants in Rivers

•uncover cache of arms •12 suspects in custody Dennis Naku

PORT HARCOURT

N

igerian Army has arrested a soldier, who specialises in training militants in the Niger Delta, during arms and ammunition mop-up in Kula, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The rogue soldier is said to be training the militants in weapons handling and operational tactics.

Commanding Officer of 2 Brigade Garrison of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Lt.-Col. Timothy Opurum, disclosed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday.

Opurum said the ‘rogue’ soldier, a member of a 13-man militant gang, who was alleged to have been terrorising many communities in the state, deserted the army in 2002.

He said: “Based on intelligence reports, we carried out a sting opera-

tion where we captured a 13-member militant gang, including their notorious kingpin leader simply known as Kenneth.

“We also arrested a soldier who deserted the army in 2002 and specialises in training militants in weapons handling and operational tactics.

“The soldier (names withheld), who is a Private, joined the army in 1998 and served in the 331 Artillery Regiment, Kalapanzi Barracks in Kaduna before he was declared missing in 2002.

“The soldier, who is related to the kingpin of the militant group, is still in

our custody and will be released to prosecuting agencies after formal dismissal from the army.”

Opurum said troops raided the Kula community following incessant cases of militancy, kidnapping, piracy, cultism and killings in the area.

The commanding officer said intelligence revealed that the community was not only serving as hideout for criminals but that hoodlums were also storing caches of arms and ammunition in the area.

Opurum added that the raid was “highly successful” as arms and ammu-

nition were recovered by troops during the operation.

“However, some of the arms and ammunition had already been moved by the militants before our troops arrived at the community.

“Twelve suspects, excluding the deserter-soldier, the arms and ammunitions had been handed over to the state Directorate of Security Services, DSS, for further investigation and prosecution,” he said.

Opurum, who led the operation, however, denied an allegation that troops opened fire on innocent fishermen and traders, and destroyed their wares during its operation in the community.

He denied claims by some community folks that soldiers assaulted innocent civilians during the operation to mop up arms and stop criminal activities in Kula community.

“There was no case or cases of manhandling both on the part of civilians and on the suspects who were arrested over their involvement in gun running activities,” he said.

It would be recalled that the paramount ruler of Opu-Kula in AkukuToru, Hope Opusingi, had alleged that soldiers battered his people and destroyed property worth millions of Naira during the raid on his community.

Opusingi claimed that soldiers invaded his community “under the guise of carrying out a presidential directive against oil theft and attacked harmless elders and innocent fishing settlements.”

The monarch said the action by the army was an abuse of power and a gross violation of the right of his people, and called for an investigation into the invasion by the soldiers.

We’ll miss Ndoma-Egba, says PDP chairman Richard Ndoma CALABAR

C kingdom. He will start receiving visitors coming into the royal family in due course.”

On Chief Yaya Pessu, the Ojomo of Warri kingdom, who is being described as chief priest, Ekpoko clarified that

“neither the Ojomo or Ologbotsere is the chief priest. Also note that the last Ologbotsere of Warri kingdom was Chief Ogbemi Newe Rewane and not his sibling, Alfred Rewane, as reflected in some reports.”

ross River State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ntufam John Okon, during a media forum yesterday described the exit of former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, as painful to the party.

Okon stated that the former Senate Leader was a personal friend and his exit was painful considering his stature and the kind of contributions he made toward the development and growth of the last Senate.

Richard Ndoma

The brothel, which is situated along Flower Mills Junction, Calabar, is said to be owned by children of Deaconess Offiong Edem Umoh.

Ngaji, while fielding questions from journalists in Calabar after the raid, which lasted about four hours, stated that the hotel had turned into a ‘Sodom and Gomorrah,’ where commercial sex thrived.

The SSA stated that

the brothel is being used in the perpetration of all sorts of criminal activities, including the selling of hard drugs and safe haven for criminals in the area.

“Given the tourism status of Cross River State, the present administration led by Governor Ben. Ayade frowns at this despicable act where under-aged girls are engaged in prostitution.

L-R: Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson; Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd) and former Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, during a meeting with PDP Super Delegates, at Opolo in Yenagoa, yesterday.

Olu-designate begins coronation rites Theophilus Onojeghen WARRI

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s Itsekiris mourn the death of their monarch, Ogiame Atuwatse ll, Olu of Warridesignate, Prince Godfrey Ikenwole Abiloye Emiko, has reportedly gone into seclusion as part of the process that would prepare him to mount the revered throne.

Prince Emiko would become the 20th Olu of Warri when he is crowned at the end of three months mourning declared by Itsekiri kingdom.

Speaking on the development, secretary, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILT, Mr. Edward Ekpoko, explained to newsmen in Warri that the move was

in line with Itsekiri tradition.

According to him, the Olu-in-waiting could not be reached until passage rites of the demise monarch are concluded.

His words: “I have been bombarded with media inquiries to meet Abiloye since he was chosen on Saturday. The simple response is that he cannot be reached until passage rites of HRM Atuwatse II, his predecessor, are concluded.”

Ekpoko, who is also the chairman, Warri Study Group, added: “It is at that point within the next 90 days that his coronation commences that he comes out of seclusion.

In his absence, Prince Eroro Emiko, Olori-Ebi (head) of the royal family assumes regent of the

CALABAR

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team of policemen headed by Cross River State Security Adviser, SSA, Mr. Jude Ngaji, on Monday night stormed a brothel popularly known as ‘Peace Garden Hotel’ and arrested 54 prostitutes alongside 56 men who had gone to petronise them.

The state party chairman, however, stated that the reason the former senate leader lost in the November 2014 National Assembly PDP primaries, was beyond the state’s leadership of the party.

“Senator Ndoma-Egba’s exit from the party is painful because we did not believe he would leave. But I must say that since he lost the November election last year, his spirit has gone out of the party,” Okon added.

He added: “The former Senate Leader is my personal friend. I have nothing against him; he lost to a formidable contender who is a grassroots person. Remember that the election was decided by the people of the Central Senatorial District which was out of the purview of the state executive.”

The PDP chairman explained that after the election, several efforts were made by the state leadership of the party to reconcile Ndoma-Egba with the party, but regretted that such efforts yielded no positive responses as, according to him, “NdomaEgba’s spirit was out of the party.”

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North

Omeiza Ajayi Abuja

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ederal Government has said it will spend N70 million on this year’s independence anniversary celebration.

This figure is believed to be a far cry from what previous administrations used to spend on the annual ritual, which were always shrouded in secrecy.

At a pre-independence media interface yesterday,

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

FG spends N70m on 55th independence celebrations Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, said President Muhammadu Buhari equally approved four events for the celebration.

“It is only N70 million that is being spent on the entire programme. It is so small, and it took a while to get the president to even approve that figure,” the

Ishaku accuses predecessor of looting treasury Justin Tyopuusu Jalingo

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araba State Governor Darius Ishaku yesterday said his predecessors thoroughly emptied the state’s treasury before leaving office.

Ishaku opened up on the state of the treasury nearly four months after assuming office as governor when he met with journalists in the state.

“I don’t like making promises because if I make promises, I am bound by them. Unfortunately, I made a lot of promises during my campaign and when I got to the seat, I met an empty treasury.

“To fulfill my campaign promises now is a problem because of the state of the treasury. I am currently taking loan to pay workers salary, which is what I hate doing because of the high interest rate charged by commercial banks.

“The workers are barely one percent of the state’s population and I can’t continue taking loans to pay workers. What would I do with the rest of the population,” he queried.

The governor was referring to the immediate past acting governor of the state and now a senator, Sani Danladi and Garba Umar who was ousted in November, 2014 by the Supreme Court.

There were allegations that Sani Danladi packed things in the Government House before leaving office as acting governor in May this year, including cars, television sets and even curtains.

Ishaku urged media men to help him in propagating the gospel of peace in the state, saying he can only embark on developmental projects when there is peace, as doing otherwise would be counter-productive.

Resident doctors want sacked members reinstated

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ational Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has asked the Federal Government to reinstate house officers in the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, and the Umuahia and Jalingo Federal Medical Centres.

Dr Muhammad Askira, President of the association, made the call in an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

He alleged that those sacked were victimised for fighting for their rights.

He described the alleged victimisation and threats against the association’s members as “civil terrorism’’.

Askira threatened to mobilise his members to embark on an industrial action if the action was not reversed.

He claimed that members of the association at

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the Federal Medical Centres in Owerri, Lokoja and Katsina, among others, were facing varying degrees of intimidation, especially text message threats, for participating in the auditing of hospitals’ accounts.

He said that the auditing resulted into the discovery of huge amount of monies allegedly siphoned by those hospitals management in the guise of personnel emoluments.

Askira further called on the Federal Government to immediately constitute an investigative panel into the matter.

The association president further attributed series of pocket of strikes in hospitals to the reluctance to implement agreements reached with the Federal Government, as well as the non-payment of complete allowances by hospital managements.

SGF said.

Represented by Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs in the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mrs Ibukun Odusote, the SGF listed the events as Juma’at prayers at the National Mosque slated for Friday, September 25, and an interdenominational thanksgiving service at the National Ecumenical Cen-

tre on Sunday, September 27.

At 8am on October 1, there will be a ceremonial change of guards at the State House even as the president is billed to address the nation at 7am same day.

The fourth event is a children’s party which is slated for Saturday, October 3, at 3pm at the State House.

Odusote said the government recognises the economic situation of Nigerians, hence the need to cut costs.

“This year’s celebration is indeed low-key. This is because the present administration appreciates the economic hardship that Nigerians and indeed, the nation is confronted with today.

“To address the situ-

ation, government has adopted a general policy to be very prudent in the management of our financial resources. This year’s celebration is therefore in consonance with the costsaving policy direction of this administration,” she said. Odusote added that four sub-committees have also been created in order to facilitate a hitch-free celebration.

L-R: MD/CEO, Sanhar Industries Ltd, Sani Haruna; Head of Gombe State Civil Service, Alhaji Ahmed Usman and State NLC Chairman, Comrade Haruna Kamara, during the commissioning of 30 hectares of land for distribution to civil servants in Gombe, yesterday.

Maiduguri blast, a national tragedy –ACF A za Msue Kaduna

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pex northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday described the multiple bomb blasts at Gomari and Bulunkutu areas of Maiduguri, Borno State capital, which killed over 50 people as a national tragedy.

In a statement by ACF spokesman, Muhammad Ibrahim, the group con-

demned in strong terms the continued use of suicide bombers by Boko Haram terrorists to kill innocent people in the name of religious war, saying no religion condones such cruel and barbaric act.

ACF said: “Maiduguri town had in the past witnessed many of this dastardly act of suicide bombing where innocent souls were unjustifiable terminated in markets, motor parks, mosques and churches. However, with

the renewed effort of the military and the civilian JTF, Maiduguri has experienced relative peace and harmony until this wicked act of barbarism on the 20th September, 2015.

“ACF wishes to commend the military and other security agencies for the continued onslaught on the terrorists’ enclaves and hideouts, thereby dislodging them from their strong holds.

The ACF urges the military not to be deterred by

the cowardly act of the Boko Haram terrorists as their renewed effort and determination will soon end the insurgency.

ACF also appeals to the military to intensify its synergy of sharing intelligence with the local community” “ACF extends its condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones, the government and people of Borno State over this tragic incident,” ACF said.

Atiku urges Nigerians to conquer hate, political intolerance

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ormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged Nigerians to rid their hearts and minds of hate, intolerance and prejudice, which he said promote violent conflicts and destruction of life and properties in the country.

In his Sallah message on the occasion of Eidel-Kabir celebration, the former vice president said every passing day he was saddened by the “deepening frenzy of hate, intolerance and bigotry,” which produce toxic effects on

unity and harmony among Nigerians.

According to the former vice president, Nigerians should use religion to create a conflict-free society, adding that “love is the universal language of all the world’s religions.”

He urges Muslims and other Nigerians to be good ambassadors of the teachings of their own religions.

Atiku appeals to the Muslim faithful to pay greater attention to stemming and eliminating poisonous extremist ten-

dencies by ensuring that people with violent ideologies are not allowed to influence the innocent in the wrong direction.

Atiku said Muslims must speak with one voice against extremism because of the great harm it is causing the image of Islam and its adherents.

He added that the greatest honour Muslims can do to their religion is to live by its virtues.

The former vice president explains that the virtues of Eid-el Kabir should not be treated as a

transient attraction and forgotten soon after the celebration was over.

Speaking on the hardship among ordinary Nigerians, the Turaki Adamawa urges Muslim leaders to identify with the plight of the people.

He urges well-to-do Muslims to contribute in their own ways to job creation instead of expecting the government to carry the entire burden.

The former vice president wishes Muslims a happy and peaceful Sallah celebration.

Wednesday September 23, 2015

Credibility will play major role in Kogi guber –Ozigi, PPA gov candidate

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Politics

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APC considers Akume, Remi Tinubu as Saraki’s replacement A za Msue KADUNA

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Chairman of the seven-man committee in-charge of the APC primary election for Bayelsa, Governor Adams Oshiomhole (middle), arriving the venue at Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Ovom, Yenagoa, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Ekiti APC stakeholders back Falana for ministerial slot Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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takeholders in the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State have said that rights activist, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), is qualified for the office of minister based on his antecedents as advocate of good governance and defender of human rights.

The APC stakeholders from Ekiti South-West Council Area of the state, who threw their weight behind the nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari of Falana as minister, said appointment of the rights activist, who they described as a “completely neutral person, is the best thing that can happen to the party in the state for now as the legal luminary would be in the best position to rally all factions for success in future elections”.

They described as “mischief makers”, those who wrote petitions to challenge his nomination on grounds that he was not a card-carrying member of the party on Ekiti State.

The APC stakeholders from the council area spoke in a communiqué signed by all the party leaders and read by Bunmi Akinniyi, former state organising secretary of the APC at the end of their meeting in Ado Ekiti yesterday.

The meeting was attended by former House of Assembly members, former council chairmen, former party state executive committee members and all the party executives in all the wards in Ilawe Ekiti where Falana hails from.

They urged Buhari, APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; and

all members of the National Executive Committee, NEC, and other patriotic party leaders “to discountenance the unscrupulous petitions and weigh the efforts of Mr Femi Falana, his long years of advocacy for good governance in Nigeria and his ability to assist Mr. President in his efforts to fight corruption against frivolous excuses”.

The communiqué reads in part:”Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari has promised Nigerians that

by September, he would appoint his cabinet members. Consequent upon this promise, some names are said to have been forwarded to the security agencies for screening and clearance, among which was Mr Femi Falana (SAN) from Ekiti South West Council Area, Ekiti State.

“Arising from this, a clique of mischief makers wrote petitions to black-

mail Mr Femi Falana, challenging his nomination on grounds that he is not a card-carrying member of APC in Ekiti State.

“The meeting noted that this unpatriotic action is least expected against the person of Mr Femi Falana who is not only known as a crusader for good governance and a defender of human rights, but who, as a political leader, had used his professional knowledge and material resources to support ACN and APC in Ekiti State and particularly in Ekiti South West Local Government where he hails from.

“The meeting expressed appreciation to President Buhari for deeming it fit “to nominate our forthright, incorruptible Femi Falana (SAN), to join other patriotic Nigerians in his cabinet to fight corruption and return Nigeria to her past glory.”

s Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki appeared yesterday before the Code of Conduct Tribunal over alleged false assets declaration, the ,All Progressives Congress, APC ,was said to be considering former senate leader, ,George Akume, wife of the national leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu , Senator Remi Tinubu and two other ranking senators from the South West zone as Saraki’s replacement.

Apart from Senator Akume who is from the North Central zone and Remi Tinubu, no other names were mentioned but sources said other two ranking senators also from the South West are being considered on APC shop list.

Feelers from Abuja reaching Kaduna, the second home of President Muhammadu Buhari revealed that, barring any ast minute change of plan, Saraki may be asked to resign or if he refused, may be im-

peached on moral ground to concentrate on his trial.

National Mirror gathered that, Senator Ahmed Lawan who was anointed

by APC as its sole candidate but lost to Saraki would emerge senate leader from the North East, since the Speaker is also from the zone.

One of the credible sources explained that, though Saraki and Dogara jettisoned APC’s ,earlier zoning of National Assembly principal officers which favoured the north which has both the Senate President and Speaker but that under the new power sharing deal, South West zone may produce the senate president.

South East and SouthSouth have no APC senators and are already out of the new deal.

Meanwhile, one of the anti -Saraki’s groups, Northern Ethnic Nationalities Unity Congress, NENUC, had called on the senate president to resign or face impeachment over CCT 13 count charges against him.

Kwara people condemn call for Saraki’s resignation Wole Adedeji ILORIN

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he All Progressives Congress, APC in Kwara state yesterday expressed strong exception to the call for the resignation of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki over his ongoing trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT. The party through its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Suleiman Buhari was particularly irked by the call made by the Lagos APC, spokesperson, Mr. Joe Igbokwe and those it called “desperate politicians and their agents” that Saraki must resign as the senate president..

He described Igbokwe’s

role in the matter “as a clear act of impersonation” because he believes Igbokwe is not in a position to speak for the party at the national level.

Buhari’s words; “the attention of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Kwara State has been drawn to a recent press statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the Lagos State chapter of our party, Mr Joe Igbokwe, wherein he claimed “APC does not want Bukola Saraki as the Senate President”.

He also described “Mr. Joe Igbokwe as an impersonator on a mission to cause confusion within the APC family in the country”.

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Politics

Wednesday September 23, 2015

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Credibility will play major role in Kogi guber –Ozigi, PPA gov candidate You were in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, why did you move to another platform?

Moving away is not the issue. The issue is the platform on which it is convenient for you to run the election. I look at the election not on the party but on the candidacy of individual. That is what matters not the platform. Actually, I used to be a card carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kogi State specifically, from Okene and because of the call for a change in the governance system of my state, it was highly impossible for me to get a ticket under PDP and that informed me changing party to PPA.

Emmanuel Ozigi, is a financial consultant and real estate developer who is also the governorship candidate of the Progressives Peoples Alliance, PPA, in the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State, in this interview with OBIORA IFOH, says he will bring the much needed development the state never had since its creation.

You will contest with two heavyweights, Abubakar Audu of All Progressives Congress, APC and Idris Wada of PDP who is currently the incumbent governor. Both of them are from Kogi East which has the numerical strength. In the light of these two factors; incumbency and ethnicity, what are your chances?

As I said from the beginning, there is a yearning for change even in the eastern part of Kogi State. There is a desire for change in the governance and the way things are been done. The fact that both flag bearers are from that particular area doesn’t give the platform for a success.

Like I said, it is the desire for the whole state not just because I am from central. My ticket is not a singular desire but a collective desire.

By its location, Kogi State serves as a gateway to the southern part of the country. The present status of the state in terms of infrastructure isn’t encouraging. How do you hope to improve the condition of the town especially, Lokoja, the state capital?

Like you rightly said, Kogi is a central point like a convergence point either to the South, East, to the North even to the western part. I am not here to condemn anybody but the issue is that it is obvious that there are governance issues in the state. There are lots of issues that appened.

With my experience, there are things that I can bring to bear that will elevate the state. Firstly; the poverty level of the state. Secondly, is the decay of infrastructure in Kogi.

Thirdly, you look at the potentials Kogi has which hasn’t been tapped, not in terms of human resource, I am talking in terms of natural resources, terms of tourism, in terms of education, all other sectors that we can galvanize to turn around the economy of the state. When you look at all these indices, you will ask have they been present in the state? Yes. They have been present but it is possible that they are not the priority of whoever is governing the state.

So, that is why I said I don’t criticise because I don’t know how they run their programmes but my own programme will be basically citizen-driven. At the same time, we want to open up the economy of the state to the wider world.

Have you considered the place of money in the project, knowing full well that politics apart from being a game of numbers, also involves money?

As you rightly said, this is a game that we are all going into and I said that it is a collective issue. You see, we are going away from the politics of money gradually. I am not saying that you are not going to spend but it is not like before. It is now politics of ideology, your plan, what exactly are you bringing to the table, the credibility, the integrity at stake. These are what actually matter now and in my acceptance speech in Lokoja after winning the primaries; I told them that I will be held accountable for every penny of the state. That is to say we are going to employ a bottomup approach. If you are going to have that as part of your campaign plan; the decision to govern the state must lie in the citizens that means you are citizen friendly with your programme. Then, the citizens that have been yearning for change from poverty, lack of opportunity, unemployment, lack of basic infrastructure and amenities which make life meaningful.

Ozigi

I think that people will have a rethink whether to risk their votes again. So, that is our strong point. If you notice, the West part of the state and Centre, they have been yearning for a change and there have been alliances, independent assessment of who and who should come up and who should run first and even within the eastern part that has been ruling the state. They want a change because they have been asking themselves, “we have been having our people rule for the last 16 years and we can’t see any meaningful change, let’s try other areas and see whether we will benefit from this”.

The state is a bit sensitive in the sense that we are not looking at religion or where you come from but who will deliver exactly what will suit the citizen of the state and that is the strong point we have. We might not have the finances to confront all these issues at once but the issue is that people will not vote wrongly this time around again and we are out of the era where people smuggle ballot boxes. Card readers are there for you to be able to evaluate. I am not saying it is full proof but to a large extent. You can see it in the air if you travel to Lokoja, from the feeling and yearning of the people; they need a change.

You see, we are going away from the politics of money gradually.

I am

not saying that you are not going to spend but it is not like before. It is

now politics of ideology, your plan what exactly are you bringing to the table

So, how do you intend to fund the campaign since you are downplaying the relevance of money? Again, why PPA? I am not downplaying the fact that you don’t need to spend money but it is not going to be as heavy as it used to be. The fact that it used to make people scared, even good people who don’t have enough, can try. It is not everybody that is a thief.

Money is not going to decide who wins the election. It is your integrity and competence. One of the key things is that you might be very intelligent and very strong, have capacity to do something but because you already know that from the beginning, if you don’t have so and so amount of money, they will not even listen to you which have been the mentality. But our key driving now is vote for what will develop you, what your children’s children will enjoy because if I have to give you money now, it is like paying for the future. I will have to get the money back which is an investment. So, we are not going into business with the mindset that we are going to recoup; no!

We are going to serve. We are going to organise a fund raising for sure. We will raise funds externally; friends, family relations, even the party people will be ready to fund because it is not something I alone can bear.

I must tell you the truth, I don’t have the financial strength to come out and say that I am going to fund it 100 per cent but what I am saying are the basic things you must do. People are keying into the project and I am sure it is a viable project and they are willing to participate.

Secondly, you talked about the platform; the platform like I rightly said the platform might look virgin but it is not the platform that is the issue now, it is who is on the driver’s seat. Is it someone we can count on, someone we can rely on, someone that has the credibility, someone that will not fail us? That is one and I can assure you that that is the wave in the country now. Every one of us in the old party the PDP, has now shifted from PDP when they lost to APC. But all of us can’t be in the same party that is why it is democracy and that PPA is not PDP or APC doesn’t mean it is not a registered party in the country.

Are you saying that people that have the same intentions like me shouldn’t run because they have lost out?

They should still come out. That should be the more reason why they should come out and get these other parties.

Why is Kogi underdeveloped?

Because we have had a very poor governance system in the state and it is not because funds are not available.

Funds are given to Kogi State like other states that receive funds from the federal government. The problem is how do you apply these resources into use? And one of the key things is when you see breakdown in terms of development is as a result of corruption, misappropriation, mismanagement of funds. Not only public funds, even the IGR that is been generated in the state can be used to do something good. You have four years to run your government.

It is not compulsory that you must drag everything at the same time because, firstly, you don’t have the resources to do that.

Secondly, you don’t have the time so you prioritise. If you are concentrating on health, education and something like road, water, electricity, you prioritise it. People would say yes when this person was there A, B, C was done and this is now the road map and the next person will take it from where you stopped and move on but the norm has been because it is APC or PDP or it is because it is this person I am not going to go that way; no!

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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

From The Civil Service

FG to introduce new grading system for varsities P.42

NSIA assures on prudent funds, assets management Chidi Ugwu, Abuja

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L-R: Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Linus Awute; DirectorGeneral, NACA, Mr John Idoko and Mr Ado Mohammed, during the Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health Service (RMNCH) Advocacy meeting at the office of the wife of the President, at Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday.

No more concessional posting of Corpers –NYSC Joel Ajayi, Abuja

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he Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, has disclosed that the scheme would no longer entertain request from people, seeking for concessional positing for their wards, relatives and friends mobilised for the NYSC mandatory one year service .

To this end, the scheme has introduced what it called ‘self-deployment’ mechanism to enable the prospective corps members choose a state, where they wished to serve their father land.

Olawumi made the disclosure during an interview at the opening ceremony of the training organised by the NYSC and the Housing Developers, Cooperative Society for Corps Members at the NYSC Orientation Camp Kubwa, Abuja, on

Monday.

He explained that their online platform was designed in such a way that those corps members that had been enjoying concessional posting would not be denied of the privileges, urging the member of the public to stop disturbing the scheme with their requests, as it would not be granted.

“The NYSC is barring concessional posting, we have to take that decision, because in the past, we allowed concessional posting for prospective corps members, who have medical challenge, or married women or pregnant women, but as it stands now, our online registration platform has been designed in such away to address the problem of those prospective corps members who have health challenges or married women.

“So, all they need to do is that in the process of doing their registration, there are

NSCDC deploys 40,000 personnel for Eid-el-Kabir

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information these categories of people need to supply and upload the documents; our portal has been designed in such a way that it will automatically post them to where they filled.

“I want to say that in the past few weeks we have been receiving requests from various quarters ministries, departments, agencies, private institutions and individuals seeking for concessional posting. I want to say that they are just wasting their time,” he categorically asserted.

The NYSC boss maintained that the scheme and the Housing Developers’ Cooperative Society had teamed up to training corps members to bridge shortage of skilled manpower in housing sector.

According to him, “the inauguration of 200 youth corps members for training in special areas of labour need in the housing development sector reaffirms

our pledge to give useful skills to every willing graduate partaking in the national service.”

Earlier, the NYSC Director of SAED, Mrs. Mary Danabia, noted that “Eight skill/vocations will be taught during the two weeks training namely: Electrical installation, Plumbing, Welding, Fabrication and Aluminium.

Others are Tiling, Painting, Plaster of Paris, Bricklaying/interlocking iles as well as Carpentry and Joinery.

“The corps members attending were selected based on their interest and confirmation to participate in the training. They have been invited from the 36 states and FCT.” In his remarks, the FCT State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr. Olanipekun Alao, said “this is another occasion showcasing the creative intelligence of the leadership of the scheme”, advising the participants to pay serious attention to it.

Corruption in Civil Service not caused by poverty –Kifasi

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he Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has said that all its funds and assets are intact and fully accounted for as detailed in the Audited Financial Statement for the year ended 2014.

The NSIA’s Communications Adviser, Titilope Olubiyi, in a statement noted that the audited financial statement was published on March 28, 2015.

According to the statement, the Annual Report was subsequently issued by the NSIA in September, 2015, adding that NSIA’s funds had been invested profitably, realising a Net Comprehensive Income of N15.8billion in the year ended 31st December,2014, compared with N505 million recorded in the fifteen months ended December 31,2013.

In addition to the Audited Annual Reports of 2013 and 2014, the NSIA has made available its quarterly audited accounts until March 2015 on its website.

NSIA’s accounts are audited quarterly and annually by PricewaterhouseCoopers, an international firm of auditors, using the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS).

The seed capital of $1billion provided in 2012 has been managed in three different ring-fenced funds: 20% in Stabilisation Fund; 40% in Future Generation Fund and 40% in Nigeria Infrastructure Fund respectively.

The assets invested in each fund are detailed in the Annual Report.

The NSIA maintained

that it had never been invited by the ad-hoc committee on the Management of Excess Crude Account proceeds and accruals of the National Economic Council (NEC) to make a submission on its operations in the first instance, neither did it make any presentation or submission whatsoever to the ad-hoc committee.

“The Management of NSIA remains open and available to provide details on its operations and accounts to all its stakeholders.

“Furthermore, the NSIA wishes to state that it has made no investment in the rail sector, even though it remains an area of interest. And, of its total commitment to the Second Niger Bridge project, only $2.2million has been disbursed for project development related consultancy costs. In addition, N10.3billion was disbursed on early construction works on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Works. This has been addressed in previous press releases and briefings by the NSIA. “Out of the 15 sectors of interest for the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund, the immediate areas of focus are: Motorways, Power, Agriculture, Real Estate and Healthcare. The Future Generations Fund invests in a diversified range of assets covering public and private equities, hedge funds and “other diversifiers” using the services of best-in-class investment managers and global fund custodians. The Stabilisation Fund targets the preservation of capital,” the statement reads in part.

Housing: Charting new directions in property, security rights

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Civil Service

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

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NSCDC deploys 40,000 personnel for Eid-el-Kabir Omeiza Ajayi

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he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has said it is deploying no fewer than 40, 000 personnel across the country in order to ensure a hitch-free Eidel-Kabir celebration.

Spokesman of the

NSCDC, Emmanuel Oke, in a statement said the Commandant General of the Corps, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, who approved the deployment, equally assured Nigerians that in spite of the uncertain security situation in some parts of the country, adequate preparations were being made to protect

critical areas such as places of worship, markets and schools among other soft targets.

While calling on citizens to be extra vigilant and security conscious at all time by reporting strange movements and objects to security personnel, he said the Corps was prepared to protect all critical national as-

sets such as telecommunication masts and oil pipelines among others in collaboration with other security agencies.

“In our efforts to fight miscreants and criminally-minded individuals who see festive periods as the time to perpetuate their nefarious activities, all hands must be on deck in the

areas of intelligencegathering and reporting all suspicious behaviour to relevant security authorities,” the statement added.

While felicitating with

Peace, a necessity for national development –NOA Joel Ajayi, Abuja

T

Wife of the Vice President, Dolapo; Vice President Yomi Osinbajo and Managing Director, FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma, at the Presidential wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, following his condolence visit to the Awolowos, at Ikenne.

Bwari, 31 other councils get mobile clinic for HIV

Chidi Ugwu, Abuja

A

t least, 32 local councils in the country are to receive a mobile clinic for testing and treatment of HIV, courtesy the United States government.

Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, (a US programme in the country) Dr. Patrick Dakum, disclosed this to journalists recently in Abuja at the presentation of the mobile medical vehicle to Bwari Area Council.

The clinic contains laboratory and other clinical facilities for testing and treatment of the disease.

Although National Mirror could not obtain the list of the remaining local councils, Dakum however said the criterion for choosing the benefiting councils was high prevalence of the disease within the LGAs across the nation.

Rivers, Taraba, Kaduna, Nasarawa and FCT are current states with highest prevalence rate with

HIV in the country, according to the National Agency for the Control of AIDs, NACA. Dakun said: “We have worked in Nigeria in partnership with Nigeria at federal, states, and local councils, principally for the purpose of mitigating the effects of HIV/AIDS for prevention, care and treatment. And, we have worked at Bwari council.

Part of our work is how prevention of mother-tochild transmission will not take place by identifying HIV-pregnant women and placing them on treatment so that the children will not get the virus. That has shown to us that one, there are HIV positive people in the community and the prevalence of 6,7% in the FCT also tells us that the burden of the disease is high.

“Now, with the increased support of the US government to focus on 32 local governments, Bwari area council is one of them and the Institute of Human Virology is the implementing partner here.

It is very clear to us that

for us to really get a hand on the virus; we must go to wherever we can find the virus in people.”

Similarly, a medical epidemiologist from the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, whose agency is a partner in the gesture, Dr. Ted Ellerbrock, said at the event: “Recently, we are finding out in certain areas overseen by the council. We really need to move the mobile clinic to areas where there is no clinic, so that people can be tested and

people start being treated if they are positive, and then follow carefully with our laboratory testing with our mobile clinic.”

He explained that many people could not come to the local council or health facilities to get tested for the disease, and that with the mobile clinic, such people would be reached in their communities for testing and treatment.

“This shows why it is important for all of us to reach epidemic control for HIV epidemic and it

all Nigerians, especially the Muslims on the Sallah celebration, the CG urged them to continue to imbibe the spirit of peaceful co-existence and tolerance at all time.

he Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, has advised Nigerians to love one another and live in peace irrespective of class, ethnicity or religion.

Omeri stated this yesterday in Abuja as the world marks the 2015 United Nation International Day of Peace with the theme, “Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All” which aims to highlight the importance of all segments of society to work together to strive for peace.

According to him, the foundations laid by the patriotic founding fathers of the nation was

is very important that we have people who can help us to work so that we can really serve the people.

“US government has been working in Nigeria to fight the epidemic through the Federal Ministry of Health, through the state government and through the local LGAs since 2003. We provide both funding and other supports. We are currently supporting over a half a million people on AIDS treatment nationwide.

important for national reflection as a nation of diverse people with varying culture and religious leanings to live in peace.

He said: “Nigeria is our country; we have nowhere else to either go or call our country. Therefore, we must preach, embrace peace and live together in harmony. All hands must be on deck to support the present administration towards achieving lasting peace in the country”.

He further advised Nigerians to imbibe good virtues, work together as one and always focus on making positive contributions for the development of the country.

This, he said, would ensure lasting peace and national development in the country.

NOA boss also said the 2015 International Day of Peace was an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the security challenges facing the nation and resolve to work together in surmounting them in the interest of peace and national development.

Mr. Omeri commended the efforts of the military in the fight against insurgency and called on Nigerians to support the president towards ensuring sustainable peace in the country.

British Council launches cultural initiative in Nigeria Joel Ajayi, Abuja

T

he British Council in Nigeria has taken a giant step toward the growth and development of cultural art, having launched various programmes and events in arts and cultural to serve as a window for cultural exchanges between the two countries.

However, visual art will also place greater emphasis on enhancing bilateral

communication and understanding between the two countries through various cultural exchange channels such as workshops, African Arts & Crafts Expo, the Korea-Nigeria Arts & Crafts Exchange Exhibition, and Arts Exhibition amongst other.

At the official launching of UK/Nigeria cultural season, 2015-16, on Wednesday in Abuja, many arts entrepreneur, enthusiasts alongside government, private sector guest gathered to wit-

ness the occasion.

The cultural programme includes: visual art, graphic, fashion, literature, film, music theaters, architecture, skills training and so on.

In her opening remark, the British Council Programme Director in Nigeria, Louisa Waddingham, noted that the year-long cultural season aimed to create increased access to the arts as well as facilitate creation of new digital work, innovation and work with young people in Nigeria.

According to her, this will be the biggest cultural art ever seen in Nigeria.

She said: “What you have been experiencing such as tie-and-dye, exhibition, shopping, precious stones; accessories among others will be going on in Nigeria in the next few months “The creative event here today is symbol of a partnership between Nigeria and UK that will promote strong the existing relationship as well as bring more development to the Nigeria economy.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Is PDP beyond redemption?

R AHEEM OLUWAFUNMINIYI

F

ew years ago, a popular Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) stalwart boastfully claimed that the party was going to rule Nigeria for 60 years. At the time, it seemed as a very genuine and plausible statement for many. The PDP was not only the most powerful party in all of West Africa, but also the largest in the continent.

From 1999 until its recent defeat at the polls, both at national and state levels, the PDP held sway, bestriding our political landscape like a colossus.

Political scientists, historians and those that matter have provided overwhelming reasons why the PDP has lost out in the nation’s power game.

While some remain convincing, others appear spurious. Just as this writer does not deny the avalanche of reasons deduced for the fall of the once powerful political party, I dare say that the PDP’s fall went beyond the reasons touted. The party did not lose because of the personal intellectual ingenuity of a particular individual from the All Progressives Congress (APC), or because of a calculated merger of former feuding opposition parties, neither did it lose because it fronted an unsellable candidate. The PDP has lost out mainly because it took Nigerians for granted.

How? It would be recalled that from the

middle of last year, the various interest groups and individuals in the main opposition parties jostling to upstage the PDP at the centre realized that only a formidable opposition could make this possible; thus the formation of the APC. Even harsh critics, who thought the success of a mega party was only a pipe dream, eventually ate their words, when it appeared that the so-called party of strange bed fellows held a primary that showed they meant business in the 2015 general elections.

While the newly formed APC came up with a taintless candidate, using the change mantra as its campaign slogan and in the process gaining even more popularity nationwide, the PDP went by the idea of a coronation. President Goodluck Jonathan, who many Nigerians had given up on following a below-par average performance in the last four years, was picked by the party. This action, amidst other political missteps perhaps would turn out to be the political albatross of the party.

Even its staunchest members, having discovered how embarrassingly humiliated and politically rotten the party had become, trooped en masse, with little or no shame to join the APC, a party they had once derided. The rest, as the saying goes, is history.

The party was badly beaten at the 2015 general elections that it is still

T HE PDP

LOST

THE LAST GENERAL ELECTIONS MAINLY BECAUSE IT TOOK

N IGERIANS

FOR

GRANTED finding it very difficult to come to terms with its present status of an opposition. The PDP appears more like a prodigal son yet their prodigalism is far beyond redemption. In its battle to stay relevant, the party has failed to really adjust to its new position as opposition party, or how else can one explain the endless unsavoury statements it has been churning out, most of which do not go in tandem with the current reality of change in the polity?

The party does not realise that it still has the mettle to challenge the new ruling party.

The PDP can still come back to national fame and acclaim only if the national leadership can see where they got it wrong. They need to do the first things first before anyone can take them seriously to run this country once again. How can the party achieve this?

First, they need to apologise to Nigerians and show remorse. They must shed all forms of egotism and arrogance and ask Nigerians to forgive them for all their sins. The days of ego-

17

trip is over, the days of unnecessary boasting has ended. Second, the PDP must show to Nigerians that it is now a changed party that is ready to pursue internal democracy, an action plan still missing within the ruling APC. It must not allow money bags to control it any longer, while giving everyone a level playing field to operate and grow within the party. The party has to restructure from bottom to top and play politics in ways that will endear many to it.

Third, the party should come out of its shell and also follow the same path the APC took by way of a merger with other floating political parties. It must not see itself as too big to bring other parties in. If this will swell its ranks, the better! An agglomeration of strange bed fellows will not do any harm, in fact, it will add more bite – the APC had taught us so.

Lastly, the PDP should stop raising unnecessary banters in its criticisms of the current ruling party. The APC government under President Buhari has shown it is on the right track and more than half of those who voted the party to power are today feeling not only the effect but also the air of change in the country.

Let the PDP take heed before it is thrown eventually into the dustbin of history.

Oluwafunminiyi wrote from Abuja via creativitysells@gmail.com

Peter should read his books EJIMONU UDENKA

C

hief Peter Obi, ex-governor of Anambra State, has gone back to school according to his agent provocateur, one Valentine Obienyem who announced during the final days of former President Goodluck Jonathan that his boss was embarking a sponsored programme at Oxford University. Val also jocularly inferred that Peter may also need sandals, cabin, beverages etc. to help him stay healthy and focused at school.

However, recent events point to the fact that Peter may not be taking his studies seriously, as he spends more time in Anambra State exorcising the ghosts from his eight years in office and inciting proxies against his successor at the expense of his studies. Reliable sources say that Peter’s attendance register at Oxford is anything but encouraging following the loss of his last minute appointment by GEJ as chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Peter is a wealthy man by all standards, but one thing about him is that he does not take responsibility, especially when it concerns spending money. He would rather attribute it to a third party than be seen to have done it himself. Many who know the man closely will confide that he likes using proxies in all his undertakings; thus he is a closet Capone, who likes to keep

CAN PETER SUSTAIN HIS NEW FOUND LOVE FOR SCHOOL TOURS AND

FALSE PHILANTHROPY…? the distance from the hit for others to take the fall.

Such is the man’s penchant for subterfuge that when he pays money for anything good and expensive, he distances himself. Even as governor, whenever Mr. Obi flew a private jet, he attributed it to a favour from a rich friend. He preferred to be seen as the governor who queued for his ticket and flew economy, even though he could be offered the business class. Even now that he wants to lick the wounds of his recent political misadventure by attending a fellowship at Oxford, he would rather that someone is sponsoring, with his aide calling for donation of sandals and school bag. How ridiculous?

Peter Obi has caught the bug of emergency philanthropist, and has been going round schools in Anambra State telling the management what he did for them and demanding photo Ops with the students. The drill, according to insiders, is that his aides convinced him that he has to remain relevant through public philanthropy hence the birth of the N1-2 Million Cheque presentation to select schools. Good gesture, but as always with Mr. Obi’s selfish intentions.

Peter suddenly realized that having tasted power, he could not afford a minute away from the lime-light.

Hence he goes round schools in Anambra like an emergency philanthropist, to inspect projects and take pictures, under the watch of a substantive governor. Many would recall that Mr. Obi cried and shouted over the same shenanigans allegedly carried out by Senator Chris Ngige, who was said to have inspected roads in the early days of Peter’s tenure.

Lest some think Peter is being hounded, I have not heard a whimper from the current governor’s camp. I just know that there are many philanthropists in Anambra who support the course of education and other things in a quiet but dignified way rather the obvious display of false philanthropy.

Peter has seen his political fortunes plummet following his miscalculations of joining the PDP camp of politicians he swore never to dine with few years ago. In his typical manner, he has accentuated the fractious Anambra PDP into more splinters with one ken Emeakayi as the arrow head for his Machiavellian schemes in the state all geared towards distracting Governor Willie Obiano.

Apart from his School tours, Mr. Obi has upped the ante with his almost twoyear old story of a phantom ‘N75 billion cash’ he allegedly left in the coffers of Anambra. Tried as he did, I understand Governor Obiano, his friend, felt there

was no need to engage Peter in public spat. As an auditor, banker of repute and manager of men and resources, he is better placed to decipher the differentials in figures produced by a trader and that of a forensic auditor. More so, Peter never talked about liabilities, the multiple projects he awarded till last day, six thousand teachers recruited without posting and the local government election he remembered after eight years, all few day to handover.

That’s the proxy warrior in Peter.

Another question is can Peter sustain his new found love for school tours and false philanthropy, not to mention the new PDP dance drama in Anambra? But haven been bitten by the political bug, Peter is beginning to display some desperation for control like never before; having failed to maximize the opportunity to build a pan Igbo platform and galvanize people in his home state by choosing the part of the minimalist, Peter now have a lot of time on his hands to distract others who dare.

Please, help advise Peter to pay attention to his books.

Udenka wrote from Orumba, Anambra State via ejimonu247@ gmail.com Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs.

Pseudonyms may be used but must be

18

Editorial

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

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All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, CFR PUBLISHER

SUNDAY OLAJIDE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO BEN MEMULETIWON ACTING DAILY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI SATURDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN SUNDAY EDITOR DOZIE OKEBALAMA COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD CALLISTUS OKE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR OBIORA IFOH ACTING ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF AUGUSTUS IMEKAN ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS

Saraki: Predicaments of a Senate President

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari’s ascension to power on May 29 this year has since been chronicled by many as an incident of fate. To scores of others, however, it was the product of dogged commitment to goal attainment, even when all hopes seemed lost - a commitment that demanded stooping low to conquer and the swallowing of bitter pills. But apart from the challenges of a comatose economy, run-away corruption and insurgency, a good guess is that nothing as yet has rattled and rankled Buhari’s Presidency and the top hierarchy of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the coalition of roughly four political parties on which crest the APC rode to power as the irritating emergence of the leadership of the Senate. Incidentally, too, they seem not to have accepted the ‘triumph of Saraki’ as fate-driven.

While basking in the euphoria of victory, the APC and Presidency probably took for granted the fact that what came together to form the party were more or less strange bedfellows whose ambitions, predilections and perfidies were not just inexhaustible, but were as unpredictable as the harmattan rain. Not surprisingly, personal interest, as against the corporate wishes of the ruling APC, took over when the leaderships of the two houses of

THEY SHOULD FIND BETTER OPTIONS TO BEAT THE TORTOISE

AND ITS TRICKS; AND IN SUCH WAYS THAT DO

NOT INSULT NIGERIAN’S INTELLIGENCE OR COURT PUBLIC RAGE the National Assembly were inaugurated on June 9, 2015. The physical manifestation of the mongering for power for strictly selfish reasons are the sitting Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, purported to be a member of the APC, as well as Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a veteran on the job, though still sitting tight.

Since Saraki and Ekweremadu took over the mantle of Senate leadership, the nation has been, and may still be regaled with intrigues without bounds between the APC and the ‘errant’ NASS leadership. We, for instance, do not believe that the Monday July 6, 2015 invitation extended by the Nigeria Police Force to Ekweremadu for the purpose of clarifications on alleged alteration of Senate rules used to conduct the election that produced

Saraki and himself as leaders of the senate was not tendentious.

We hold the same view about the recent questioning for about six hours by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, about contracts executed in Kwara State when her husband was governor between 2003 and 2011. By the same token, the Saraki-led Senate may not be speaking with all candour if it insists that the upper legislature’s investigation of EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, over allegations bordering on his misappropriation of N1 trillion of looted but recovered funds, was borne out of patriotism. Neither is Buhari administration’s intolerance of corrupt public officers. Grand political schemings they all might have been.

But the most ridiculous, perhaps, would be the order given to the Nigeria Police Force by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to arrest the controversial Senate President, Saraki. Saraki was accused of making false and anticipatory assets declaration on assumption of office as the Executive Governor of Kwara State in 2003. The CCT, sitting in Abuja last Friday, issued a bench warrant for his arrest on the strength of the said charges exhumed several years after the man served as governor.

ON THIS DAY

That the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and its sister, the CCT, both of which have portrayed themselves literally as deaf and dumb castrated wolves before now, could bounce unceremoniously to reckoning, perhaps in the Buhari spirit against corruption, is indeed to the credit of the two organisations. Suspect, however, is the choice of the case they chose to debut with. It may be extremely difficult, for example, for the CCB and CCT to convince Nigerians that their decision to prosecute Saraki is not blemished by politics, given some of the issues already raised here. We, therefore, frankly advise the CCB and CCT to wait for a more auspicious time to sort out their grouses, if they have any, with Saraki.

The game of politics is about winning or losing. Politics should be left for the politically witty and resilient. The judiciary should not encourage what appears the impunity preference of those that hate Saraki’s guts and face. They should find better options to beat the tortoise and its tricks; and in such ways that do not insult Nigerians’ intelligence or court public rage.

Indeed, the APC and President Buhari should avoid situations that might cast them in the mould of that proverbial glutton carrying a cow on its head, but was using its legs to hunt for crickets.

September 23, 1983

September 23, 2002

September 23, 2008

Gulf Air Flight 771 was bombed and all 117 people on board killed. Gulf Air Flight 771 was a flight from Karachi, Pakistan to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. On September 23, 1983, while the Boeing 737-2P6 was on approach to the Abu Dhabi International Airport, a bomb exploded in the baggage compartment. The plane crashed in the desert near Mina Jebel Ali between Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE.

The first public version of the web browser, Mozilla Firefox (Phoenix 0.1) was released. Mozilla Firefox is a free and open-source web browser developed for Windows, OS X and Linux, with a mobile version for Android, by the Mozilla Foundation and its subsidiary, the Mozilla Corporation. Firefox uses the Gecko layout engine to render web pages, which implements current and anticipated web standards.

Matti Saari killed 10 people before committing suicide the Kauhajoki school shooting. The incident occurred at the Seinajoki University of Applied Sciences in Western Finland. The gunman, a 22-year-old hospitality management student, Matti Juhani Saari (May 20, 1986 – September 23, 2008), shot and killed 10 people with a Walther P22 semi-automatic pistol, before shooting himself in the head.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

19

Health & Wellbeing ‘Govt should embrace PPP to equip hospitals ’ 22

Pregnant women beware!

FRANKA OSAKWE

W

hen 29 year old Vivian brought Andy, her 16-month-old boy to Medway hospital Obalende few weeks back, he appeared very thin and pale as a withered grass. His body size looked like that of a 5- month-old. His head appeared larger than his body, with sparse hair and dry skin. According to Vivian, nothing was wrong with Andy, “I breastfed him for one year, after 6 months, I started giving him other foods. I give him all the food we eat; fufu, eba, rice, still he is just getting lean. At his age, he couldn’t talk properly and he can’t walk. He will just be gazing at you or be crying”, she said.

After series of tests, Andy’s condition was traced to microcystic anaemia, caused by vitamin B12 and iron deficiency. According to the Medical Director Medway hospital, Dr. Tuyi Mebawon, Andy’s mum who is HIV positive, had anaemia and Vitamin B12 deficiency while she was pregnant with him. This caused the child’s deficiency despite him being breastfed exclusively.

B12 deficiency can cause developmental delay in toddlers, hypotonia, tremor, seizures, failure to thrive, reduced IQ, and mental retardation, he explained.

The doctors then placed him on treatment consisting of B vitamins, iron supplement and other nutritional support. Few weeks later, Andy became fully recovered, his weight tremendously improved and he is now attempting to speak.

Another similar incident occurred at the outpatient Paediatric ward LUTH Lagos. 34 year old single mother Rita has just been told that her 28-day old baby boy has to be operated immediately because he has spinal cord defect that will cause serious development issue in future. The spinal bifida was accompanied by hydrocephalus, another condition resulting in excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. This problem was traced to the mother’s inability to take enough folic acid and vitamins while pregnant.

According to Rita, few days ago, her baby had developed a seizure and very high temperature while at home. She immediately took him to a maternity home, ‘Saint Mary’s maternity home Agege’ where she was referred to LUTH for further check-up.

At LUTH, series of tests were done before the doctor finally gave her the report showing that the baby has spinal bifida with hydrocephalus and required immediate surgery and shunt.

“Over my dead body!” Vivian, shocked at the report, retorted. “But how can my son have such disease when it is not in my family? My enemies have done their

Malaria death drops –WHO/UNICEF report 21

Hidden malnutrition could ruin your baby’s life

Vivian and her baby

worse”.

One of the attending nurses who over heard her immediately lashed back at her, accusing her of being responsible for her son’s predicament.

“Why are you calling your enemies now?

Are you not the one responsible for your son’s problem?” the nurse said. The bewildered Vivian did not understand how she could be responsible for her son’s sickness.

“Me? Responsible for my son’s sickness? How?” she asked.

The nurse replied: “Did you take all your folic acid and vitamins when you were pregnant? Were you not given some folic acid during your antenatal?”

Vivian still puzzled quickly responded: “I don’t know if I was given folic acid o!

But I know I took all the drugs they gave me, I did not cause my son’s sickness!”

Nurse: “you people will always lie. Even when you did not take your drugs you will say you did. You better go and look for money for the operation otherwise your son’s head will grow bigger and bigger and his problem will be worse” Vivian took her baby and walked out of the hospital premises in tears. When National Mirror correspondent accosted her, Vivian insisted the she took all the drugs given to her. “I have to go and meet my pastor. My enemies have done something to my baby. How can my little baby have such disease when it is not in my family?” she

said.

According to the analysis by a senior residential paediatrician at LUTH, Dr. Moyin Omidiji, the risk of having a baby with spina bifida, hydrocephalus or other neural tube defect is normally avoided if the mother had taken enough folic acid right from the first month of conception.

“The spine and neural tube of a foetus develops during the first few months of pregnancy so if the mother is deficient in folic acid at that time, something might go wrong resulting in these defects. While a mother may claim she took her folic acid, it depends on how early she started taking them. Folic acid is needed for the development of the baby’s brain. That is why it is good for pregnant women to start antenatal very early so their Pact Cell Volume (PCV) or blood level will be checked. If her blood level is low, that is an indication that she has anaemia and folic acid deficiency”, he said.

Micro nutrients such as folic acids, Bvitamins and Iron are very important for infants from conception to age 2 because this is the period the infant’s brain develops, the National President, Paediatric Association of Nigeria, Prof. Adebiyi Olowu, said.

“Adequate nutrition during this period will enable a child have improved brain and physical development, proper immune system to fight off infections and

disease, and sharper mental abilities.”

Micronutrient deficiency is a silent hunger and the major cause of malnutrition among children in Nigeria, explained Head Nutrition Federal ministry of health (FMOH), Dr. Chris Isokpunwu.

“These micronutrients are vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, Iron, Folic Acid, Iodine and Zinc, most of which are not made in the body, or made only in insufficient amounts. They are required in small quantities to ensure normal metabolism, growth and physical well being”, he said.

Of these, he described iron deficiency as most prominent, with over two billion people being anaemic globally.

He said the reason for micronutrient malnourishment is intake of monotonous diets high in starch and sugar and low in vitamins and minerals.

Other reasons, according to him, include low intake of animal source foods, low prevalence of breastfeeding, low micronutrient density of complementary foods, pregnancy and lactation, chronic infection (e.g. tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS).

Many children in Nigeria may not look sick or thin yet, they are suffering from one or more micronutrient deficiency, explained a UNICEF nutrition expert, Arjan De Wagt, during a workshop on malnutrition held in Calabar recently. According to him, vitamin and mineral deficiency account for over 50 million disability adjustment years.

“Iodine deficiency leads to poor growth, stunting, mental retardation, and cretinism. Malnutrition in Nigeria is not exactly as a result of lack of food lack of proper diet. Even the rich are affected because they too do not know the right thing to feed their children. Many of them do not know that exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months will prevent illnesses”, he said.

Dr. Isokpunwu however said that interventions such as fortification (increasing the content of essential micronutrientsvitamins and minerals) of staple and complimentary foods, is one way to prevent micro nutrient deficiency. He said that the effects of malnourishment such as stunting, underweight and wasting could be corrected over time with food fortification.

“For instance, vitamin A fortified food, will decrease all-cause of mortality in children aged between 6 months and 5 years by 23 percent,” he said

20

Health & Wellbeing

Nutrition for Health chizobanwobu@yahoo.com 08120807588 (sms only)

A

vocado also known as “alligator pear” or “butter fruit” is a pear – shaped large berry that has a brown coated single seed at its center enclosed by a buttery pulp and a hard skin which is green skinned but turns dark brown with pebble surface when ripening after harvesting.

The fruit is not sweet, but rich, and distinctly yet subtly flavored, and of smooth, almost creamy texture.

It is used in both savory and sweet dishes, and popularly used in vegan dishes. They are parked with heart-healthy compounds.

The avocado originated from Central America but is now cultivated in tropical climates and sub-tropical regions of the world.

Botanically, the fruit belongs to the family of Lauraceae, the family that also includes some unusual members like bay laurel, cinnamon, etc. Scientific name is Persea americana.

Avocados contain excellent source of healthy fats than most other fruit. It contains monosatu-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health benefits of Avocado

rated fats and calories.

They also provide essential nutrients such as potassium which helps balance potassium to sodium ratio in the body. They aid weight loss because it contains both insoluble and soluble fiber; which aids in bowel movements thereby preventing constipation, lowers blood cholesterol level, prevents colorectal cancer and aids in appetite control. They are made up of vitamin E which prevents conditions like retinopathy. Avocados contain carotenoid leutein, an antioxidant that specializes with protecting the eyes from oxidative stress damage leading to poor vision, cataracts, and macular degeneration; B-vitamins help the body’s metabolism and its maintenance of a healthy skin tone; the vitamins K they contain plays a fundamental role in making sure that the bones grow properly and the bone density is maintained in later life, They contain folic acid, a vitamin which cuts the risk of birth defects.

A high folate intake is also associated with a lower risk of heart attacks and heart disease. They are also excellent sources of minerals like iron and copper which aids in

Chizoba Benson

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

production of red blood cells; magnesium which aids bone strengthening and has a cardiac-protective role; and manganese which is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme.

Avocados serve as an important staple in the diet of various groups where access to other fatty foods are inadequate. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, an alternative medicine proponent and osteopathic physician said that, “eliminating grain carbs is one of the best ways to support your health and maintain your weight, but when you cut down on carbs, you need to increase your intake of healthy fats. Avocados are an excellent source, along with organic raw butter, coconut oil, and organic pastured eggs, olives and nuts.”

Researchers from Ohio State University found that two of avocados’ inhibited the growth of cancer cells. From their findings, fats in avocado are antioxidant and block cancer growth such as prostate and breast cancers.. The new research looked at the antioxidant capacities of the avocado and found that the avocado’s phytonutrients, provide the bulk of these antioxidant benefits. One research from Japan suggests that this pow-

erful fruit may also help protect against liver damage.

Antioxidant glutathione supports the liver and the nervous system. It is responsible for replenishing and recycling other antioxidants in the body. It is vital for a strong immune system. According to USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, avocados contain a complex package of phytonutrients, including carotenoids that may provide numerous health benefits. Carotenoids appear to protect humans against certain cancers, heart disease and agerelated macular degeneration. The fruit has a high concentration of tannin which has beneficial antiinflammatory, anti-ulcer and antioxidant properties. Avocado slows digestion and helps keep blood

sugar from spiking after a meal.

A diet high in good fats may even help reverse insulin resistance, which translates to steadier blood sugar long-term.

It is important to store avocado in a cool, dark place. Unripe fruit usually placed in a paper wrap with a banana or an apple usually speeds up ripening. Besides being healthy, there are many ways to enjoy avocado, it can be used as a first food for babies, in lieu of processed baby food; it can be used as a fat in baking by replacing the fat with equivalent of the same amount of avocado; avocados can be used into various recipes, juice or smoothies or may be used as salads or combined with other foods or dishes.

They may also be as a rejuvenating facial cream. Avocado leaves, bark, skin, or pit are documented to be harmful to animals; cats, dogs, cattle, goats, rabbits, rats. The avocado fruit is poisonous to some birds, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) lists it as toxic to many animals including cats, dogs, and horses. Go get some avocados and enjoy them with salt and lemon or vinegar or whatever way you find pleasurable!

Sexual solutions and love products for adults I worry that I objectify women a lot.

Many times when I see a beautiful woman, I go straight to imagining having sex with her. That is the first thing that I think of and I feel dirty for being this way. What can I do about this? Elo Elo it is the nature of man to desire women. This desire is a primal human response that is embedded in male DNA. Every man experiences these sexual feelings towards beautiful women. So what you feel does not make you dirty or abnormal. This is nature’s way of ensuring the survival of the human species. Imagine what will happen the day men stop wanting women?

That will be the beginning of the end for the human race. It is not a coincidence that women’s bodies are very alluring and seductive. Women are designed to seduce men without even trying. Just by doing something as simple as walking down the road, a woman is already in full seduction mode with her breasts and backside jiggling seductively as she walks. This is not an accident. The female form was built to seduce and be desired. There is a natural order to our survival on this planet. Men must be seduced. Women must get pregnant. Babies must be born. This preset activity is what has ensured the survival of our species for millions of years.

So you don’t have to feel guilty about these sexual impulses provided you don’t go raping women. It is okay to appreciate the female form and still respect it. Selfcontrol is what separates normal people from sick perverts. Self-control is what ensures that we don’t pounce on women when we are seduced by their beauty because sex must be consensual. Once you have that control over your natural impulses, then

you are a well-balanced person – Uche I have a really small penis. My mates in boarding school used to make fun of me back in the day. I thought I was still growing back then and that it will get bigger.

But nothing has changed. I am an adult man now and I feel uncomfortable around women. I want enlargement – Justin Justin that is understandable. We humans are constantly modifying our looks in search of our best selves because that is how we feel the most comfortable. There are many enlargement options for you to choose from. A combination of Vimax and Machismo Penis Pump can help you gain three to four inches over time. Extenze Maximum Strength and VigRx are also effective penis enlargers so the choice is yours – Uche I have been using the Stud Extension Sleeve I bought from you for some months now. I just want to know how much longer I can use it before discarding it. So far it works well – Benjamin The Stud Extender is used primarily for prolonging sexual action before ejaculation and for making the penis look bigger and fuller. If it is not torn, you can use it for as long as it lasts. Just wash it properly after use and store in a cool dry place – Uche I need a realistic vibrator that feels like the actual thing. Not too big but big enough. If it vibrates, that will be okay too – Cindy The Jelly Chocolate Dream fits that description so I recommend it. There is also another version of it with a suction base that enables you to stick it to a bathroom wall or floor. It is called the Jelly Chocolate Wall Banger – Uche I have read a lot about your erectile

dysfunction solutions. I have a similar problem. At 56 years, my erection is so soft that sex is impossible. It has been that way for two and a half years now.

I want help but I am diabetic. I don’t know if anything can be done. Thanks – Chukwuemeka There are drugs for erectile dysfunction which can be used by diabetics. Libigrow is a good example and very effective too – Uche Please do you have Rhino enhancer? If you do, please how can I get it? I have heard so much about it. I am in Uyo – Festus Yes we do.

Rhino 7 is available and can be delivered to you in Uyo or wherever you choose – Uche I just tested the Gladiator Cream. It took a while for me to climax. For some reason, I couldn’t believe that it can help me with premature ejaculation but it is working. Thanks – Bukola You are wel-

come – Uche And that is it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08171912551, 08027901621 or 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.comUche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

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Malaria death drops –WHO/UNICEF report

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alaria death rates have plunged by 60% since 2000, translating into 6.2 million lives saved, the vast majority of them children, according to a joint WHO-UNICEF report released Thursday.

The report – “Achieving the malaria MDG target” – shows that the malaria MDG target to “have halted

and begun to reverse the incidence” of malaria by 2015, has been met “convincingly”, with new malaria cases dropping by 37% in 15 years.

“Global malaria control is one of the great public health success stories of the past 15 years,” said Dr. Margaret Chan, DirectorGeneral of WHO. “It’s a sign that our strategies are on

target, and that we can beat this ancient killer, which still claims hundreds of thousands of lives, mostly children, each year.”

According to the report, an increasing number of countries are on the verge of eliminating malaria. In 2014, 13 countries reported zero cases of the disease and 6 countries reported fewer

than 10 cases. The fastest decreases were seen in the Caucasus and Central Asia, which reported zero cases in 2014, and in Eastern Asia.

However, the report says despite tremendous progress, malaria remains an acute public health problem in many regions. In 2015 alone, there were an estimated 214 million new

Rotary supports efforts to reduce mother, child mortality

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s part of efforts towards attaining safe delivery, reducing complications during childbirth and infant mortality, the Rotary Club of Abuja Kubwa, District 9125, has embarked on a “Safe Mothers, Healthy Children Project”.

The first phase of the project was carried out recently at the Byahzin Primary Health Centre, Byahzin, Kubwa, a satellite community in the nation’s capital.

The club donated birthing kits,other essential materials for safe childbirth. It also gave out treated mosquito nets to over seventy pregnant women during their weekly ante natal clinic programme at the health centre.

Making the presentation to the pregnant women, President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Kubwa, Rotarian Olugbenga Oke, pointed out the maternal and child health care was one of the major area of focus of Rotary International organisation.

He added that the club embarked on the “Safe Mothers, Healthy Children Project” to assist pregnant women during childbirth and to help prevent malaria from attacking the women and their children after delivery.

According to him, a safe mother will surely give birth to a healthy child. He therefore promised that the project would be extended to other primary health care centre within the Kubwa community and its environs.

Reacting to the gesture, officer in charge of the facility, Mrs Gloria Ahazhizhi, who received wheelchair and the other items donated to the facility on behalf of the management of the centre thanked the club for gesture.

She noted that the effort would go a long way in assisting the health centre to offer satisfactory services to the public.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute, checks his blood pressure to flag off a free hypertension screening programme for Abuja residents initiated by Neimeth Pharmaceutical International in partnership with the ministry.

FG to vaccinate 40 million children against measles FRANKA OSAKWE

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he Federal Government has disclosed its readiness to vaccinate about 40 million under-five children in the country against measles.

Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ado Muhammad, disclosed this recently during a courtesy call on him by the Managing Director, Leadership newspaper, Mr. Abraham Nda-Isiah, and some members of the company’s editorial team.

A statement made available to National Mirror by Head, Public Relations Unit of the agency, Sa’adu Salahu, quoted Muhammad as saying the campaign scheduled for November this year and January next year would be conducted in two phases.

The first phase, the release quoted him as saying, would be conducted in the northern part of the country with a target population of 24.5 million children from November 21st – 25th, 2015, while the second phase would take place in the southern part of the country from January 28th – 1st February, 2016, with a target population of 14.5 million.

He used the opportunity to highlight major achievements of the agency on primary health care including non-transmission of polio virus in the last 13 months in Nigeria. He also commended the efforts of the media in projecting the agency`s progammes and the remarkable achievements recorded in the delivery of effective and efficient primary health care service, especially immunization activities.

He thanked the team and

described the visit as an honour to the agency, the statement stated.

“Dr. Ado appealed to them for continued partnership and support by providing an objective and a developmental reporting of the Agency to the Nigerian populace.

“In his remarks, the Managing Director, Mr. Abraham Nda-Isiah said they were in the agency to appreciate the leadership role of the Chief Executive of the Agency especially his unprecedented achievements in primary health care services to the generality of Nigerian populace and explored greater opportunities to deepen the partnership between the two organizations “He assured him of continued support of the leadership newspaper in the service to Nigeria and humanity in general,” the release concluded

cases of malaria, and approximately 438 000 people died of this preventable and treatable disease. About 3.2 billion people – almost half of the world’s population – are at risk of malaria.

Some countries continue to carry a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. Fifteen countries, mainly in subSaharan Africa, accounted for 80% of malaria cases and 78% of deaths globally in 2015.

Children under 5 account for more than two-thirds of all deaths associated with malaria. Between 2000 and 2015, the under 5 malaria death rate fell by 65% or an estimated 5.9 million child lives saved.

“Malaria kills mostly young children, especially those living in the poorest and most remote places. So the best way to celebrate global progress in the fight against it is to recommit ourselves to reaching and treating them,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “We know how to prevent and treat malaria. Since we can do it, we must.”

Research WHO also reports that new research from the Malaria Atlas Project – a WHO Collaborating Centre based

at the University of Oxford – has shown that ITNs have been by “far the most important intervention” across Africa, accounting for an estimated 68% of malaria cases prevented since 2000.

ACTs and indoor residual spraying contributed to 22% and 10% of cases prevented, respectively. The research, published last week in the journal Nature, provides strong support for increasing access to these core interventions in post-2015 malaria control strategies.

Other key findings from the report In 2015, 89% of all malaria cases and 91% of deaths were in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Of the 106 countries and territories with malaria transmission in 2000, 102 are projected to reverse the incidence of malaria by the end of 2015.

• Between 2000 and 2015, the proportion of children under 5 sleeping under an ITN in sub-Saharan Africa increased from less than 2% to an estimated 68%.

• 1 in 4 children in subSaharan Africa still lives in a household with no ITN and no protection provided by indoor residual spraying.

In 2015, only an estimated 13% of children with a fever in sub-Saharan Africa received an ACT.

Indian hospital offers 12-day free services

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esidents of the Federal Capital Territory and adjoining states would receive 12-day free services, courtesy the Primus International Super Specialty Hospital, an Indian Specialist Hospital in the nation’s capital.

The hospital stated this in a statement made available to journalists by its Public Relations Officer, Alh Umaru Jibia recently.

Tagged “Free Health Camp,” the statement stated that the programme was part of the hospital’s corporate social responsibility, and would enable it open its services and state of- the art equipment to patients, majority of whom, the release said, could not afford to go abroad for treatment.

According to the release, the services, which began yesterday, 15th September, ends on 26th of this month.

The programme, will cover knee/hip/joint pains, neck and back pains, arthroscopy, minimal invasive orthopaedic, surgery, orthopaedic surgery, internal medicine, diabetes, hypertension and HIV, general surgery, laparoscopic surgery.

Others are, cardiology, dental, ophthalmology, physiotherapy, haemorrhoids, fistula/hernia, kidney treatment and dialysis, gynaecology/fibroid and artificial limbs appliances, the release said.

“It would be recalled that in the last three years, the hospital conducted eighteen free camps with over 3000 patients benefiting from free consultation and other services.

“The hospital has also offered a free First Aid Assistance to residents in the FCT,” the statement concluded.

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Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Govt should embrace PPP to equip hospitals ’ Nigeria has been described as a dumping ground for all sorts of substandard medical equipment. A medical doctor, who is also a renowned medical equipment supplier, Dr Forster Ihejiofor, Managing Director of Grace Fountains Int’l Ltd, in this interview with Franka Osakwe says government would have to embrace public private partnership (PPP) to be able to furnish public hospitals with adequate standardised medical equipment. Excerpts: You left medical practice for medical equipment business.

Why? I think medical equipment business is very integral to medical practice because you need appropriate technology to deliver accurate therapeutic procedure and as a medical student and afterward a graduate, I was troubled by the abject lack of proper technical aid for medical practice in public institution. For me, there was a yawning need to bridge that gap and I wanted to be part of it. Delving into sourcing medical equipment, I realized it was something that required a significant part of my time so I decided to give that a bigger proportion of my attention. In any case, as a medical student in my last one year in school, I got a divine guidance from God that I should delve into business alongside medical practice. Specifically the spirit of God told me to build him a fountain of oil to oil the missionary of the gospel, and that is how the name Grace Fountains came about. That was what prompted me into focusing on business, otherwise I was so keen on surgery and I had efficiency in dissecting. It would interest you to know that I was one of the few students selected by the school to do what they call ‘Prosection’, for the junior students. That is the procedure in which you dissect the cadaver exposing various tissues and organs for teaching purpose. I was selected to do that as a holiday work and the school paid me for that. The money I earned from the two months of that internship I used to buy my first refrigerator and a big music box and then I still had some money left.

Did you go into business right after school?

What is your view on this?

The solution is public private partnership which I have suggested. This will bring in all sorts of specialized equipment and make sure they work. PPP will also bring in specialist in any area and ensure they get paid. It will make sure hospitals are clean and tidy and make the place attractive. Government should just provide oversight and allow those in the business of health to run it.

I graduated from medical school in 1984, did my housemanship 1984-1985, my youth service 1986 and took up private practice until 1989 when I began to combine the practice with business. In 1991 I began travelling abroad to get medical equipment and by then it became impossible to combine both.

So since 1991, I have been into sourcing and supply of medical equipment.

Any regret so far?

Regret? Certainly not, though there have been issues and challenges, I have had the joy of being in what God will have me be.

I have experienced the helping hand of God and I can testify that it is what God will have me do. While in medical practice, I had met the supposedly big shots in medical equipment, but a few years after I got there, they began to feel like, ‘oh! Where did this giant come from’, because shortly after I got into medical equipment business, God gave me opportunity to service some contracts that came from multinational bodies like W.H.O, UNESCO, and it wasn’t long after, about ten years later that I got my own properties, erected my own building and things just kept happening.

How will you rate the medical facilities and equipment in government hospitals?

Well, prior to the civilian rule, it was a terrible state of affair, the military left everything in disarray, but after the civilian came into power, there has been a trend among the government at state and federal level, to focus on providing appropriate technology for medical practice, however, there is no standard. You cannot say this is the kind of equipment I will

of the whole business too high for the supplier and at the end of the day; the business man might go and bring in something substandard or inflate the cost in order to meet up with the cost of procurement. They lure you into bringing in equipment, and then all of a sudden the money they are supposed to pay you which is yours by right, all of a sudden they divert it into something else. I think this is wrong and government should make it a criminal offence for people to buy something and refuse to pay.

Lack of specialized equipment in our local hospitals has led to medical tourism.

Ihejiofor

see when I get to general hospital, or teaching hospital. I think we need to standardize, we need to have what we can say is the minimum for every general, cottage, or teaching hospital.

At the moment, people are doing what they want, what they feel and nobody is checking. In terms of equipment, there are no equipment yardsticks for judging which hospital is truly equipped.

Is there a way that government can partner with medical equipment companies?

Oh yes. Government can seek for private dealers and embark on deliberate partnership to upgrade and standardize medical equipment. As a medical equipment dealer, there should be opportunity for public private partnership (PPP) which is what is working in India, America, UK, and most places were health service is working. If Government is willing to partner with private dealers, we can take

up refurbishing and re-equipping of government hospitals and share the income over an agreed period, that will ensure that these equipment work because if I have an x-ray machine, for instance, I will put someone there and will ensure that the equipment work, if it doesn’t work then I don’t get paid. Government put in place deliberate policy for people to use the facilities; they can also liaise with private companies to bring in and manage theses equipment.

Challenges so far?

There are too many interests coming between health care decision makers and procurement of medical equipment. Instead of giving the equipping of hospital contract to those that have the experience, they will give it to those in their political camp or their family. The worst experience in this business is when you supply equipment at various level and they owe you for a long time. This makes the cost

There have been reports of lack of essential equipment in public hospital department such as accident and emergency. What is the health implication of this?

Every hospital called a hospital should have an accident and emergency equipment profile, otherwise people will come in there and simply die. Accident and emergency unit should be properly equipped with essentials such as defibrillator, suction machine and something as basic as patient trolley. Most times people go and buy inferior stuff, against this I will advocate they get pre-owned equipment.

For patient trolley, for instance, the right type is the one with x-ray translucent where you can tilt the head of the patient wherever you want. If someone is bleeding profusely, you would want the head down to prevent blood from going to the brain, if the person is in cardiac arrest, you will want the head up so that water gravitates. Such features in patient trolley are no luxury and should not be compromised.

But from what I have seen in my experience, hospitals buy trolleys without considering these things. Equipment in accident and emergency should not be compromised because that is the first point of call in emergency situation and lives can be lost if not taken care of. There should be a standard enforcement unit set up by the ministry of health, they should go round and check the kind of equipment used by hospitals at state and federal level, and they should down grade some hospitals not compliant.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

23

Arts Lounge

Abuja: ‘Go Woman Go’ attracts Laura Aldridge

Acting requires passion –Matel Eyengho

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Synchronising Nigerian films and literature Nigerian film makers seem to be ignoring creative writers and this has negative results as very few creative works have been adapted in motion pictures.

Isiguzo Destiny

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n most countries, film makers go after authors with exceptional creative master pieces that can be adapted into motion pictures. But the reverse is the case in Nigeria as film makers have continued to ignore or inadequately capture literary works by Nigerian writers in their movies. Ajeluoruo Anote while decrying this situation wrote in one of Nigerian dailies that “in spite of the success Nigerian Literature has made over the years, Nollywood has till date, maintained a respectable distance from it.

Very few works of Literature are made into films.” Though this this position was taken few years ago, there is still little improvement in the adaptation of Nigerian creative works into movies except for very few ones like Funke Fayoyin’s “The Gods are still not to Blame”, Akinwumi Isola “Efunsetan Aniwura”, Wole Soyinka “Kongi’s Harvest”, “The Lion and the Jewel”, Ola Rotimi “The Gods are not to Blame”, Femi Osofisan “Restless Run of Locusts” and more recently, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun” adapted in a movie by Biyi Bandele which some critics believe was so wrongly depicted in the movie that one begins to think the director of “Half of a Yellow Sun” was bent on dancing to a different tune other than swaying to the rhythm of the love and war novel.

A film journalist in one of the leading newspapers told the reporter that “worst still is the featuring of Thandie Newton a foreign actress who gave poor interpretation of the character of Olanna because of the cultural barrier that stood between Newton and Adichie’s Olanna. In all, the actors could not recreate the emotions Amanda attempted to create in the novel and lacked in-depth realization of the characters”. Apart from this recent trail of adaptation, Nollywood with the huge chunks of movies it turns into the market every year has done little or no justice to the Nigerian creative world”.

Critics have identified that the origin of Nollywood which sprung from the market and a colossus of semi illiterate traders rather than the “literary and dramatic world” as Ernest Emenyonu puts it is the focal reason that has made the industry maintain a noticeable distance

Set of Half of a Yellow Sun

from the creative literature. Nigeria can boast of a wide rich range of complex intrigue ridden plays and novels with global fame which can serve as ready materials for movie makers in Nigeria but this source is often times ignored.

Hyginus Ekwuazi in a lecture he gave in ANA convention decried this negligence by Nigerian movie makers. He said “the creative collaboration between the industry and Nigerian literature obviously died with the cine. The industry as it presently configured has absolutely no need for ANA and its members – whom it no doubt regards as part of the cognoscenti, in spite of whom its films are made”. He regretted that “ANA cannot be honest without admitting that its contribution to the Nigerian home video is exactly minus zero. And so we search the Nigerian literature its bite: the endless creative experimentation with form and technique; the creative extension of the borders of narrativity, and that voice empowered by indignation and sympathy”.

The recreation of literary works in motion picture will no doubt encourage dy-

ing readership that is being experienced due to the emergence of internet and social media. Commenting on the importance of literary works’ adaptations into movies, Earnest Emenyonu identified many advantage of such venture. “There are many advantages – educational, cultural, intellectual, commercial- that would accrue from adapting popular works of fiction into films. In the African situation, in addition to all these advantages, the film versions would popularize the creative works, and also act as a catalyst for the improvement of the reading culture, as well as stimulate interest in literary studies, and afford teachers the opportunity to use technology to enhance or reinforce their classroom methodologies when they add films or power point presentations to their pedagogical resources”.

Apart from negligence and the unartistic orientation of movie financiers and producers in Nigeria, Abiola Fasoranti identified lack of skills in adaptation of creative works into movie as another factor that limits Nollywood and creative writers’ synergy in movie making.

In one of his writings, Fasoranti is of

There are many advantages – educational, cultural, intellectual, commercial- that would accrue from adapting popular works of fiction into films

the view that “although, Nollywood is credited with a lot of educative and informative plots which have brought immeasurable economic, socio-cultural, political, psychological, mental and physical growth and development to the nation and her people, but the industry is not without its own challenges, especially in the area of adaptation from stage play to screen script. As much as some film script writers and directors are trying to embrace and explore the art of adaptation from stage script to film script, they are often faced with the challenges of lack of skills needed”. Emenyonu agrees with this position when he rhetorically asked “are there African filmmakers talented and equipped enough to undertake the venture?”

Script writers and directors should avail themselves with the requisite training that will foster creativity in terms of adaptation of literary writers’ works as this will further promote the presentation of Nigeria’s literary culture.

Olawale Oluwadahunsi a Nigerian film critic based in the USA said Nigeria has great talents that have what it takes to adequately recreate literature into movies and enlisted the likes of Kunle Afolayan, Biyi Bandele as those who can undertake such venture with adequate exposure.

There are also commercial gains to make as Nigerian literature has a ready audience as various Nigerian literature are used within and outside schools at different levels of “educational systems inside and outside Africa”.

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Arts Lounge

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

VOICES

Inside Nigeria’s film industry

Sandra Oyewole

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igeria’s film industry was born many decades ago. It comprises English language films (Nollywood), the Yoruba film industry, the Kano film industry (Kannywood) which produces films in Hausa, Igbo language films as well as those in other indigenous languages of Nigeria.

The direct-to-video (VHS, VCD and DVD) distribution system which is a hallmark of Nollywood was triggered in 1992 with the film Living in Bondage, the first commercially successful movie shot straight-to-video. It heralded a new era of Nigerian filmmaking demonstrating what could be achieved with few resources and lowering barriers to entry for many talented filmmakers.

Nigeria’s diverse cultural traditions and lifestyles (180 million people, 300 tribes and some 500 languages), offer a wealth of material from which the country’s filmmakers skilfully draw to recount simple stories of daily life that resonate with Nigerians, as well as audiences sharing a similar culture and heritage across Africa and the African diaspora.

These colorful and entertaining stories capture the imagination of audiences; they echo their life-experiences, feature a strong moral theme and yes, juju (black magic). Newer generations of filmmakers, however, are focusing on harder-hitting social issues such as rape (Tango with Me), domestic abuse (Ije) and cancer (Living Funeral). Nollywood is recognized as an expression of the depth and breadth of Africa’s cultural diversity. It is enabling Africans to tell their own story.

Although Nollywood’s distinctive storytelling holds broad appeal, the films produced have tended to be of low technical quality. Films with predictable storylines have been churned out according to tried and tested formulae. For many years, filmmakers made films without a formal script, with actors simply making up their lines as they went along. In recent years however, filmmakers are working hard to shed amateur practices and placing greater emphasis on enhancing the quality of films produced.

An informal structure To a large extent, the Nigerian film industry remains informal with a structure that is

Oyewole

understood and that works for its filmmakers. It is a notorious fact that in spite of Nigeria’s copyright law, which expressly provides for written contracts to prove ownership of films, chain of title (the bundle of documents that prove ownership of the rights in a film) has not been an important factor in raising film finance in Nigeria. This can be attributed to the operations of Nigerian film marketers who have for many years monopolized the business of financing, producing and distributing English language films in Nigeria. The marketers operate networks of shops and other outlets and wield significant influence over which films are made and sold. Revenues are almost exclusively derived from home video rentals and sales and this has, to a large extent, worked in their interests. It is this model that helped catapult Nollywood on to the world stage.

The industry’s informality and the absence of a plan, outlining how to capture a return on investment, has deterred other forms of private financing and closed the door on potentially lucrative distribution

opportunities in overseas markets where chain of title is a prerequisite. However in recent years, filmmakers, independent of the marketers have begun to emerge. These filmmakers, with business proposals, the right contacts and perseverance, are able to secure finance from public and private sources. Several of films produced by these independent filmmakers also have the required chain of title agreements in place. Quite a few are now being premiered in Nigerian cinemas and selected countries around the world. The theatrical release means that filmmakers can now derive revenue from ticket sales.

Distribution matters In the 1980s, Nigeria’s cinema-going culture went into decline, triggering the phenomenal growth of direct-to-video production mentioned earlier. At that time, television broadcasting of Nigerian films was very limited. This, coupled with rampant piracy and the poor quality of outputs, significantly dampened revenue generating opportunities. The launch of the first Africa Magic Channel on Digital Satellite Televi-

The advent of the internet gave rise to another form of piracy, namely, the unauthorised, illegal streaming of films

Memorable Reads Who is your favourite author?

I don’t have a single favourite author, but the one thing that ties the books I enjoy is writing that is aesthetically pleasing and at the same time says something about the human condition, the politics. But with that said, I have enjoyed writings by James Welch, Louise Erdrich, Ben Okri, and Richard Wright.

What books shaped your reading habit during your childhood?

I read a lot of Enid Blyton –Famous Five and Secret Seven, and also popular fiction like ‘My Life in Crime’ by John Kariamiti.

What is your annual budget for books?

I don’t have an annual budget though I should – I tend to buy books on a need basis.

But thinking about it, I should – after all I have a beer budget.

What influences the books you buy?

Mukoma wa Ngugi

Author

Recommendation from friends, or sometimes I happen to know the writer.

What theme are you most passionate about in your writing?

I like beauty in writing. Not in a physical sense, but in the sense that it is beauty that moves us as readers, no matter the subject.

But I think that if we follow James Baldwin’s advice of writers writing about what they know and in their times, then my writing by definition has to be political. For example, the journey from our house to visit our grandmother took us through trenches dug by the British to keep the Mau Mau out of concentrated villages. They were now overgrown with grass and trees and pleasant to look at, but how can I write about their beauty and not think about the scars?

sion (DStv) in 2003 and the opening of Silverbird Cinemas in 2004, however, went a long way in improving the distribution channels and revenue streams available to Nigerian filmmakers. The National Film and Video Censors Board has to date licensed up to 80 fee paying cinemas and DStv now has 8 Africa Magic fee-paying channels broadcasting Nigerian films in the languages of 53 countries. In 2011, the launch of iROKOtv’s video streaming platform created additional income-generating and distribution opportunities for filmmakers.

The anti-piracy war The embryonic nature of Nigeria’s cinema infrastructure and the informal nature of film distribution have opened the door to rampant film piracy. Within hours of a film’s release pirates are selling bootleg copies for a fraction of its retail price. Huge demand for Nollywood films among the African diaspora has also fuelled a surge in the export and sale of Nigerian films without the permission of right owners. The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has stepped up its drive to shut down illegal printing presses and prosecute infringers, but much still remains to be done.

The advent of the internet gave rise to another form of piracy, namely, the unauthorized, illegal streaming of films. However, iROKOtv’s video streaming platform for licensed films has gone some way in addressing this problem. Well-crafted and targeted public awareness campaigns are essential to educate the public about the damage piracy causes and to encourage them to stop buying pirated films.

Recognizing its huge economic potential, in recent years, Nigeria’s government has worked to improve IP awareness within the film industry. Through a range of training courses, seminars, and practical workshops, filmmakers are becoming more IP-aware.

A new IP savvy generation of filmmakers is emerging; one that ensures that IP rights are recognized and protected and that appropriate contracts are in place. Access to such formal training is fostering a more businessoriented approach among filmmakers, and enhancing the quality of scripts, acting and other technical aspects of Nigerian film, making it an increasingly attractive investment proposition.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

ARTISTE UNCENSORED From stage to film, Matel Eyengho is an actress with great knack for details.

Ngozi Emedolibe

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atching the stage play, Olu Akengbuwa, directed by her busband, Alex Eyengho, confirms what one thinks about Matel Alex Eyengho. This model, actress, make-up artiste, and costumier, who trained at the University of Lagos, still finds time to manage a couple of other artistes while acting in films.

She calls this her first love. “I may be found doing make-up or costuming but I hold my acting dearly because that is one moment when I transform to become another character entirely. I am always at home with this and will regard it as my first love”, she says of the career, which has seen her getting credits in some Nollywood productions like Irony, Natives, Blood on My Hands, Beyond Obligation, Ogodobiri , Nanna of the Niger Delta, Scruples and Ugbeyi, a documentary she co-produced.

As a principal partner in a film and publishing company which she runs with her husband, Alex Eyengho, a notable Nigerian film producer, Matel oversees the operations of the organisation and has occasionally been saddled with the responsibility of helping to develop scripts that would be shot into films.

Her Itsekiri language work, Oma Tsen Tsen, according to her, is a confirmation of how versatile she is. The role, which contrasts from her real life, she says, presented her with a lot of

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Acting requires passion –Matel Eyengho enthusiasm while filming was going on. “That is one role I looked forward to doing because it presented its own challenges, but I accepted to do it to prove a point. The character is a typical fun-loving girl, leading some women who believe that a woman must date for the money, but along the line the girl in question was confronted by her past and present at the same time. It was a challenging role and I thank God for the encomium that has been coming as a result of this role. As you are aware, it was done in Itsekiri, and got The Audio Visual Awards, TAVA as the Best Indigenous Film”.

Matel incidentally is one of the movie personalities who are happy about the giant strides the Nigerian film industry is making lately. According to her, it is a sign that the industry would soon leap to higher realms.

“Things have been changing and that is quite commendable because some time ago people were afraid that the industry would collapse with the way it was going. I think that lull is bringing out the best in Nollywood now; if you watch closely the quality of picture, story and other technical details are improving. I have the hope that in a few years from now, our productions will rightly begin to dominate the African continent because we have the right stuff; not because we make the most movies.”

She has advice for producers in Nollywood about the need to protect Nigeria’s indigenous languages through films. “I think the producers have a lot to do in this regard. The only way we can keep the interest of Nigerians in our indigenous languages is to make sure that our films are done in the indigenous languages. I do not think that a producer will lose any audience by making his movie in the indigenous language, so long as it is properly subtitled.

Once it is subtitled in English or French, it makes the work available to a wider audience. Several films do win awards in international festivals and they were done in languages other than English.”

Of course, a lot of upcoming acts would be looking up to Matel as regards pursuing a living in the film business, and she feels that the creative industry will accommodate anyone who is deeply passionate about what the job is all about. “When people who are coming in ask me what it takes to make it in the movie industry, I tell them to be passionate about the job first. The passion is what would

take them through the rough times in the industry, because they are part of career hazards. For the women especially, let them not flaunt their bodies for roles, because they would use them and dump them. It is only your talent that can keep you there”.

The only way we can keep the interest of Nigerians in our indigenous languages is to make sure that our films are done in the indigenous languages

With Nobert Young in stage play, Olu Akengbuwa

MIDWEEK JUMP

The Africa Centre – Call For Artists In Residency

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he Africa Centre has announced that applications for the 2015 Artists In Residency (AIR) Programme are now open. Each year, the Africa Centre, provides artists with the unique opportunity to spend four to six weeks fully dedicated to developing their craft. This year through partnerships with residency programmes in Australia, Brazil, India, Italy, Kenya, Spain, Tanzania and the United States

we are proud to offer thirteen unique residencies for our 2015 AIR programme. AIR is seeking applications from high caliber African artists who are provocative, innovative, socially engaged and stretching the boundaries of their artistic practice.

The residencies are available to artists in different stages of their career development (from emerging to late career) across all disciplines: visual arts, performing arts; creative & literary

arts; film; music & curatorial practice. Each residency offers a distinct structure, set of requirements and duration. Read the application guidelines for further information about the thirteen residency opportunities and apply. Deadline for application submissions is 30 September 2015.

Troubadour International Poetry Prize 2015

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he annual Troubadour International Poetry Prize is open for entry. A prize of £5,000 (approximately US$7,750) is given annually for a poem. A second-place prize of £1,000 (approximately US$1,550) is also given. Both winners receive publication on the Coffee-House Poetry website and an invitation to give a reading in London in December. Poems should be no longer than 45 lines long and there is an $8 entry fee per poem.

Submissions are open to writers around the world and there is an entry fee of US$8. The deadline is 19 October.

Artists in residency AIR Africa centre commonwealth writers opportunities

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Arts Lounge

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Glo Laffta Fest in Abeokuta

FAR AND NEAR

Abuja: ‘Go Woman Go’ attracts Laura Aldridge A

pplause has continued to pour in for national telecoms operator, Globacom, for organising the Lafta Fest comedy show, an initiative designed to give back to the society by reducing stress and fostering peace and harmony.

Olawale Oluwadahunsi

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he British Council has welcomed Laura Aldridge, British artist, popularly known for her works across art forms such as photography, screen print, ceramics, fabrics and cement, to Nigeria for the Go Woman Go! project.

In advance of the workshops, the official launch of the UK/Nigeria 2015—16 season in Abuja, saw many arts entrepreneurs, enthusiasts and creatives alongside government and other private sector guests gather at the British Council office, in Maitaima, Abuja on Tuesday, 15th September, 2015.

Go Woman Go! is the first project in the programme which spans September 2015—April 2016 to take place in Abuja.

“We are delighted to have Laura Aldridge in Nigeria”, said Louisa Waddingham, Director Programmes, Brit-

Laura Aldridge at the event

ish Council Nigeria. “Her work over the years has been incredible and we look forward to the exchange of knowledge and perspectives between her and participants in the Nigerian arts industry. It is my hope that each of the projects in this season creates new collaborations and strengthens the relationships between Nigeria and the UK.”

The Abuja Season launch also featured a make-space facilitated by the Nike Arts Centre Abuja even as DJ Lambo, popular female DJ, treated the guests to some delightful music.

The year-long season aims to create increased access to the arts as well as facilitate creation of new digital work, innovation and working with young people.

Traditional fashion parade at Spirit Assembly

At Spirit Assembly

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t was indeed a moment of celebrating our culture and identifying with our roots last Sunday, when the Word and Spirit Assembly Church, located in Satellite -Town, Lagos, held its Traditional Sunday in grand style.

The Traditional Sunday as explained by the founder and General Overseer of the church, Pastor (Dr. ) Chris Ekeh, was significant and a special one , as the church celebrated the different cultures and the various ethnic languages in Nigeria which were ably represented in the congregation.

At the epoch- making event, members adorned themselves and glow in their different traditional outfits, depicting their roots. Prayers and songs of praises were also rendered to God in various ethnic languages. It was indeed

a sight to behold and the experience would remain gray in the minds of the excited congregation.

But beyond the razzmatazz, the highpoint of the day was a traditional fashion parade, which saw three male contestants as well as three female contestants emerging winners, and walking away with awards and cash prizes ranging from N50,000(for 1st prize), to N20,000 and N15,000 for2nd and third prize winners respectively.

However, the winners for the best dressed traditional attire for the male were: Mr. Ozo Ifeanyichukwu Nkemka who took the 1st position; while Mr Godday Ejumetara and Mr. Nwadike Andy came second and third respectively at the contest.

For the female, Mrs. Chibuzor

Iheagwam won the first position at the traditional fashion parade while Mrs. Juliet Ogbebor and Mrs. Mary Johnson took the second as well as the third position.

On his own, Pastor Ekeh, presented the awards and cash gift to the winners. He congratulated and charged them to be steadfast in the Lord, be obedient and continue doing good works.

The day also witnessed the presentation of a cheque of N200,000 to a female ex-inmate, Miss. Jennifer Ngozi Mberekpe by the General Overseer of the church to enable her start a new life outside the prison walls.

Miss. Mberekpe was recently freed from the Female Kirikiri Prison, Apapa, where she has been behind bars since last year, following a case of fraud preferred against her.

She was freed 12 days after Pastor Ekeh visited the prison on the 17 of July 2015, to celebrate his 40th birthday with the inmates. The pastor had promised to render financial assistance to any inmate that would be released after his visit. Her case was struck out by the trial judge.

Pastor Ekeh seized the opportunity offered by the celebration to redeem his pledge to the inmates.

Presenting the cheque to Miss Mberekpe, the celebrity pastor said, “This is my own little way of sowing seed in your life and also, of fulfilling the promise I made during my recent visit to the Kirikiri prison.”

Overwhelmed, Miss Mberekpe while receiving the cheque thanked the man of God, stating that the gesture came to her as a surprise.

A special guest at the Abeokuta edition of the show, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, who is the Secretary to the Government of Ogun State, said at the OK Events Centre, Ibara Housing Estate, venue of the show, that Globacom’s gesture by bringing the show to Abeokuta has given the people of the rock city a sense of belonging. He added that the show synchronized with the programmes of the State Government through the morals and etiquette learnt from the jokes.

“Globacom is doing remarkably well in Corporate Social Responsibility programmes and we are very proud of Dr. Mike Adenuga.

A gathering like this is very good as it encourages our youth to invest their time in worthwhile ventures rather than vices like cultism,” he said.

Another government official with the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation who spoke with our reporter, Mr Biodun Ogundipe, said it was long over-due for a show like Glo Laffta Fest to happen in Abeokuta.

Mr. Yinka Adelowo who was at the show said the idea of having Glo Laffta Fest in Abeokuta is very laudable as it brightened up his mood, which was hitherto, downcast. He reiterated that the show was very uplifting and that it was his first time attending a show of that magnitude in Abeokuta.

A top rated Glo ambassador, Odunlade Adekola, who made a guest appearance at the show, confirmed that Globacom is second-tonone in the telecommunications industry.

“I give it to Glo for spreading joy all over the country. For recording this impressive crowd in Abeokuta known for conservatism, big ups for Glo” he enthused Sixty-six year old Mrs. Rachael Opaleye said she thoroughly enjoyed herself while a civil servant, Mrs Adekoya Folasade said she was impressed with the smooth organization and relaxing ambience of the venue.

The show also featured a dancing competition which was won by Olamide Olabode, an Accounting student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.

Bovi Ugboma anchored the show dishing out rib-cracking jokes and jolting the audience off their seats. He gave out recharge cards to anyone fast enough to load the digits.

A number of highly talented comedians also performed at the Abeokuta show including Cyril Ugege, aka Osama, Memory Card, Odogwu, Omo Baba, Bashiru Adekunle alias Bash and Seyi Law. Reekado Banks performed his popular song to the delight of the audience.

The duo of Sunday Omobolanle, known by his stage name, Aluwe and Bolaji Amusan, Mr. Latin took the show a notch higher by enacting a hilarious drama sketch.

Bovi Laffta Fest anchor

Business

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Master bakers seek soft loans to boost operations32

JV partners explore alternative funding options to sustain operations 33

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigeria not in Africa’s most innovative countries’ ranking 31

Group backs CTN for conformity to global best practice FRANCIS EZEM

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He also said that the CTN, which originated from the United Nations Organisation UN, through its maritime organ regulatory organ, the International Maritime Organisation IMO, is in line with the International Ships and Ports Facility Security ISPS, Code, which seeks to forestall a repeat of the September 2001 terrorist attack on seaport infrastructure.

He said: “The ISPS Code regulations require that port uthorities initiate and develop security plans for vessels, port facilities, cargo

and persons. The CTN in this regard is meant to provide relevant information that would help to check maritime security threats” While urging practicing freight forwarders to to embrace and support the new CTN initiative, he argued that it would not in any way constitute a clog in cargo clearance process, neither does it increase the cost of doing business in the ports.

“In the past, freight forwarders have had cause to protest what constitutes the cost element of ocean

freight rates for Nigeria -Bound Imports, the exorbitant port charges and delays in the positioning of goods for customs examination” He cited arbitrary port charges such as the seven per cent port surcharge, five per cent sugar levy, Terminal Handling Charges THC, the two per cent National Automotive Council NAC levy, among several others, which apart from increasing the cost of doing business at the ports, also pose a major threat to speedy cargo delivery.

he National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders NAGAFF has thrown its weight behind the Nigerian Shippers Council NSC, Nigeria’s port economic regulator over the proposed introduction of the Cargo Tracking Note CTN. The CTN, which is practiced in most port jurisdictions across the globe, is a web -based high technology tool for import and export of goods that allows the generation of advanced online real time statistics. It is also an international verification solution and cargo procedure that facilitates the monitoring of cargo while on transit.

President of the association, Chief Eugene Nweke, said that before now, freight forwarders and their principals, the importers before now believed erroneously that the re-introduction of the system would increase cost of operation.

According to him, after due consultation with the NSC, the freight forwarders, importers and other port stakeholders, have come to the realisation that the CTN would not in any way affect the price of imported goods neither will it increase port charges nor L-R: Retail Head, Lagos & South-west Region of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Funmilola Paseda; Deputy cause additional delays in the clear- Commandant of the Nigeria Police College, Ikeja, Lagos, Mr. Ero Oga; the Bank’s Zonal Head, Victoria Island Zone, Mrs. Omowunmi Kalejaiye, during the Bank’s Work Place Fair in Lagos last Thursday. ance of goods out of the ports.

US envoy lauds ITF over SMEs devt, empowerment initiatives

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he United States of America Assistant Secretary of State, Ambassador Charles Rivkin, said the development and empowerment ingenuities of the Director General of Industrial Training Fund, (ITF), Dr. Mrs. Juliet Chukkas Onaeko, were capable of resolving the country’s industrialization and unemployment challenge.

Rivkin said the ITF leadership deserves accolades for having conceptualized creative inventiveness in line with the policy trust of President Muhammadu Buhari that focuses on non-oil sector as a maintainable way of

evolving, increasing and nourishing the nation’s economy.

He said his country was eager and prepared to partner with and support the ITF in order to guarantee that greater access to skills and training prospects are accessible to Nigerians, while small businesses and startups entrepreneurs are provided with sufficient boost needed to thrive.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 2015 Small and Medium Entrepreneurs, (SMEs) Financing Conference in Abuja, Ambassador Rivkin noted that economic development and sustainable growth in Nigeria can only be at-

tained when stakeholders cooperate with each other to provide growth, training and financing opportunities for SMEs. The Ambassador assured the support of his country to the economic growth and quick industrialization of Nigeria, while advising the ITF to continue on the path of creative innovations and skills acquisition for Nigerians., pointing out with the information at his disposal, that the ITF leadership has what it takes to meet and surpass the nations manpower requirements.

On her part, the ITF Director General told the Ambassador

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that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has already made it clear the government was committed to women and youth empowerment, saying job creation and elimination of poverty is a fulcrum of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s policy thrust which the ITF has already keyed into.

She noted with the support and encouragement of the Federal Government, that the agency has successfully mapped out and was implementing strategies that will train and empower millions of the nation’s youth on an annual basis.

AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES Med-View Airline Lagos- Abuja (Mon-Fri): 07.00, 08.50, 12.00, 16.30. Abuja- Lagos (Mon-Fri): 09.00, 14.00, 15.00, 18.30. Lagos-Yola (Mon-Fri): 8.50am. Yola-Lagos (Mon-Fri): 13.00. Lagos- PHC (Mon-Fri): 17.00. PHC-Lagos: 19.00. Abuja-Yola: 11.00. Yola-Abuja: 13.00.

Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50.

Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00.

Lagos-PHC (Sat): 17.00. PHC-Lagos (Sat): 19.00. Lagos-Yola (Sat): 08.50. Yola-Lagos (Sat): 13.00

Dana Air Abuja-Lagos 9am, 1pm, 5.28pm daily Lagos-Abuja 7am, 11am, 1.23pm,3.30pm daily Lagos-PH: 7.20AM, Ph-Abuja9.54am, Abuja-ph: 3.30pm and Ph-Lagos: 5.28pm daily Lagos-Uyo: 9.20am, Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am, Abuja-Uyo 1.05pm, Uyo-Lagos: 3pm daily Weekends Lagos-Abuja: 7.02am, 9am, 3.30pm Abuja-Lagos: 9am, 2.20pm and 5.28pm Lagos -Phc: 11.07am Phc-Lagos: 1.05pm Phc-Abuja: 12.51pm Abuja-Phc: 10.50am Lagos-Uyo: 9.18am Uyo-LOS -3.03pm Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am Abuja-Uyo: 1.05pm

Aero Contractors Lag-Abj: 06.50, 13.30, 16.30, 19.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun), 12.30 (Sun) 16.45 (Sat) Abj-Los: 07.30, 13.00, 19.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat, 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 (Sun, 18.30 Sat) Lag-Benin: 07.45, 11.00, 15.30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 12.30 (Sun 15.30 (Sat) Ben-Lag: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 17.00 (Sat) 14.00 (Sun)Lag-Owe: 7.45am, 2pm daily

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Executive Discourse

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We’ve mapped out strategies to boost non-oil The Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, in this interview with OLUFEMI ADEOSUN, speaks on the broad initiatives of the Council targeted at revitalizing the nation’s non-oil export sector and transform it into a primary source of foreign exchange earnings for the country.

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s the nation’s apex export promotion agency, what are the new strategies being put in place to increase non-oil export?

Diversification through Non-Oil Exports remains the new and only avenue for developing the economy and achieving prosperity – as oil has become unreliable. It is in pursuit of this goal that the Federal Government marked out 13 National Strategic Export Products that are meant to replace oil and shore up the country’s foreign exchange earnings. This is part of the spirited moves by the government towards reviving the dwindling national economy with emphasis on rapid growth of the nonoil sector for exports. In this regards, 13 National Strategic Export Products (NSEP) in three categories are now in focus. These include, Agro Industrial - Palm Oil, Cocoa, Cashew, Sugar and Rice); Mining related products - Cement, Iron ore/metals, Auto parts/cars, Aluminium and Oil and Gas Industrial Products - Petroleum products, fertilizer/Urea, Petrochemical and Methanol. Nigeria needs to join the league of other successful nations. But investment in development of the sector is germane. For instance, the upswing in UAE’s economy and its transformation has been made possible by investing revenues derived from oil in other sectors of the economy. Already, activities that the agency deemed as being critical for successful diversification are also at their various stages of implementation. They also include, micro-economic stability, addressing of supply side constraints, provision of adequate pre and post export incentives, revitalization/ provision of export processing zones, export production facilities and industrial parks/cluster, targeted at export manufacture, adopting/implementing new changer concepts (One State One Product (OSOP), National Development Export Strategy (NDEX). Others include, promotion of export of services (in line with WTO GATS standards, creating and adopting favorable investment climate/policies , developing solid

Oluwole Awolowo minerals sector, adopting a paradigm shift to export of manufactured goods, developing and promoting new non-oil export products such as horticulture/ floriculture, honey, smoked fish and adopting pro export support policies especially through development financial institutions/banks including BOI, NEXIM, BOA among other relevant export development Agencies.

tion could lead to increased demand for Nigerian Non-Oil Exports since it would make manufacturing exporters to look inwards in raising the bars of marketing indices such as quality of products, adaptation to demands, technical regulations, Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) standards, increase in production quantity, packing, packaging and labelling requirements among others.

To what extent would you say that the recent dip in the purchasing power of the Naira affecting non-oil export?

Devaluation of Naira will surely make non-oil exports more cumbersome as exporters would generally spend more to do business, while importers pay with a stronger currency. For instance, purchasing power of production inputs, machineries and even training/ manpower development that has foreign content becomes costlier – thereby making non-oil export business less attractive. On the other hand, the situa-

What implications does it portend – that Nigeria has been declared as the largest economy in Africa while it still exports raw produce despite its abundance resources?

The recent debasing actually showed that Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, and could therefore become a key player in the world economy. Recent dwindling in world oil price has yet presented us (as a country) the opportunity to have a rethink on what positive things Non-oil exports could do to our economy. To me, it is a blessing in disguise because this offers us an oppor-

Since poor packing, packaging and labelling could mar the chances of products being accepted, NEPC takes the issue seriously, and therefore arranges trainings/seminars/ workshops on this as a way of getting the exporters to do the rightful thing for our goods to be competitive in the international market

tunity to refocus our economy from its monolithic oil dominated economy to the non-oil export sector. We have started preparing for this moment already hence the economic transformation of this administration. Nigeria does not gain much from exporting just raw materials, so we are working towards backward integration to ensure more manufacturing takes place here to enable us get better value for our products in the global market.

What strategies are you putting in place to improve Nigeria’s export trade performance, especially at this critical stage in the nation’s history where revenue accruing from oil exports is declining?

Already the Council has developed a road map for improving Nigeria’s export trade. This is contained in the action plan for accelerated implementation of the Nigerian National Export Strategy document. The active plan gives an analysis of where we are today, where we want to be in future, and how to get there. Meanwhile, as funds would permit we frequently train and re-train producers and exporters on meeting with standards of target markets. We make deliberate effort at developing Micro, Small Scale Medium Enterprises to produce for export and to imbibe export culture. This is done by provision of common facilities for clusters of MSMEs in terms of infrastructure, equipment for processing and packaging and transportation with conditioning facilities. Provisions of infrastructure like power, good road network, rail system, conditioning facilities at

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

29

export earnings –Awolowo strategic locations are also essential.

This will cut down production cost thus making Made-in-Nigeria products competitive in international market. Deliberate effort of Nigerians and government to launder our image globally is another way out. Patriotism and zeal for use of Made-in-Nigeria products are germane here.

The Council also intends to use the One-State-One-Product (OSOP) initiative: a programme plan where each state of the federation is expected to choose a product for development and promotion into a brand for export market. While this will be done through a strategic plan and advocacy by promoting choice product, market specialisation, improvement on quality, increase in quantity produced and market segmentation as well, to enhance the competitiveness of such products in the International market. Also, taking advantage of Nigeria’s population abroad, the Council is working on what we refer to as Nigeria Diaspora Export Programme (NDEX). A concept with three platforms: Establishment of Nigerian Heritage City – a cultural enclave that will warehouse goods of Nigerian origin; Cuisine beyond Borders – standard restaurants that showcase Nigerian food; and the encouragement of our Diaspora brothers to invest in export business – since it will be easier for them to operate in the market – as they are residents in the US. Let me also mention that the NEXIM’s initiative on establishing a sub-regional shipping line named Sealink when fully in place will facilitate trading in the West Coast and other parts of Africa. Trading within Africa which should form the main bulk of our export has been quite low because of the challenges posed by lack of indigenous shipping line. When this is provided, Nigeria export will skyrocket.

Nigerian exporters have not been able to derive full economic benefits from the few products accessible at the international markets because they are predominant raw produce without much value-addition. What efforts are you making to ensure proper packaging to achieve acceptability in the international market so as to earn more foreign exchange?

Packing, packaging and labelling are all very important requisites for successful export business considering that this is the first point of attraction and contact for a buyer. More so, apart from storage and preservation, packaging allows for display of required information on a product, and all these are to specifications and prescribed standards of the buyer. Since poor packing, packaging and labelling could mar the chances of products being accepted, NEPC takes the issue seriously, and therefore arranges trainings/seminars/workshops on this as a way of getting the exporters to do the rightful thing for our goods to be competitive in the international market.

Industry stakeholders have said that the recent ban on some agricul-

As we speak, the Council is now focusing on administering a pre-shipment incentive based on the Export Development Fund (EDF) scheme – to primarily assist the micro, small and medium scale industrialists in export business

tural food exports from Nigeria by the European Union was a blight on the nation’s efforts to improve on its non-oil export products. Are the fears being expressed on this development genuine, or is it something that nobody should really worry about?

Considering the expected drop in revenue accruable from exportation of these agricultural foods to the European Union and United Kingdom, there is actually some cause for concern. But International trade is governed by certain norms and conventions and practitioners must adhere to prescribed rules of engagement.

Note that two issues are germane to successful participation in international trade and these has to do with common quality related functions Viz: Quality assurance which is the prevention of defects, such as by the deployment of a quality management system and preventative activities, and Quality control which is the detection of defects, most commonly associated with testing which takes place within a quality management system typically referred to as verification and validation While NEPC has the specific mandate to develop and promote non-oil exports we re-direct exporters to the appropriate authorities where they obtain necessary certification for specific exportable items. As long as exporters do the right thing regarding adherence to expected standard guidelines of importing countries Nigerian products will not be rejected and our economy would be better for it.

The Export Expansion Grant (EEG) scheme is one of the incentives geared towards stimulating activities in the non-oil export sector. Sadly, those who are expected to access the facility have alleged lack of transparency in the handling of the scheme. Could you please react to this?

The post-shipment export incentive EEG has never lacked transparency in its implementation considering the number of agencies cum private sector bodies involved in its administration, much more the numerous check-gaps embedded in it. It is administered by an Inter-Ministerial Committee that consist of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nige-

ria Customs Service, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Special Adviser to the President on Manufactures and Private Sector – with NEPC as the Secretariat. As we speak, the Council is now focusing on administering a pre-shipment incentive based on the Export Development Fund (EDF) scheme – to primarily assist the micro, small and medium scale industrialists in export business.

Recently, your agency embarked on a media tour of some exporting companies across the country including Lagos, Enugu, Ilorin and Akure.

To what extent do you think this tour would enhance their production capacity?

You are referring to the recent facility visits by journalists to manufacturing exporters of manufactured and semi-manufactured goods. The media tour is part of the Council’s 4-Year Strategic Communication and Media Strategy to educate Nigerians on the efforts, achievements, challenges and prospects of our local manufacturing exporters/ entrepreneurs who continue to promote Made-in-Nigeria products in the international market, especially the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Through the exercise we (Council) periodically get to assess the activities of manufacturing exporters to realize areas of concern and challenges which would assist in packaging future strategies for enhancing

sector’s performance. At the same time, I am sure that carrying you and your colleagues along has enabled journalists to see things for themselves. As invaluable partners in progress, the publicity received through your medium will go a long way in affirming their (companies) product brands thereby adding marketing value to them and strengthening trust in Made-in-Nigeria goods..

Just few days back your agency inaugurated Inter-Agency Technical Committee on non-oil Exports - with the mandate to chart a new course for the nation’s non-oil exports. Do you think this is the right thing to do now, given the fact that the issue with Nigeria always has to do with policy implementation and not the lack of it?

The establishment of Inter-Agency Technical Committee on Non-oil Exports is primarily necessitated by the recent issue of rejections of Nigeria’s exported processed and semi-processed food items and some agricultural commodities to the European Union and the United Kingdom. It is actually a right step in the right direction given the importance of contribution of the sector to our Gross Domestic Product vis-à-vis the urgent need and yearning for diversification of our economy. I have no aorta of doubt that the Committee will deliver on its mandate: ensuring that Exporters of Nigerian agricultural and food items conform to stipulated food safety measures and documentation requirements. It is my sincere hope that this Committee, whose membership spans Regulatory/ Certifying Agencies, Facilitating Agencies, Private Sector Associations, among others, will help to streamline and chart a proper focus for Nigeria’s non-oil exports towards not only achieving a ZeroReject Policy but also re-positioning the non-oil exports sector as the nation’s first line revenue earner. This platform will improve institutional synergy and capacity to smoothen areas that present bottlenecks to performance of non-oil exports especially the agricultural exports.

Oluwole

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Business News

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cheapest reinsurance not always best in buyers market –S&P R elying on the cheapest available source of reinsurance capacity is not advisable, according to rating agency Standard & Poor’s. Insurers seen to use cheap reinsurance capital in an undisciplined manner, could face rating downgrades the rating agency warned.

In the current softened reinsurance market environment, reinsurance capital and capacity is almost as cheap as it has ever been.

With more capital than ever before in the sector, thanks to well-capitalised traditional reinsurers who have not faced major catastrophic losses for a few years, as well as the grow-

ing pool of alternative capital augmenting capacity and availability of risk transfer, the temptation to leverage cheaper reinsurance for growth or arbitrage is great.

However the rating agency feels that this would be inadvisable.

“We could take rating actions if we start to see insurers rely on cheaper forms of reinsurance to support excessive growth, poor underwriting standards, or insufficient risk management,” said Standard & Poor’s credit analyst Tracy Dolin.

S&P has noticed that ceding insurance companies are adopting different strategies towards their protection, resulting in

a “bifurcation of reinsurance optimization strategies” which highlights different levels of strategic risk management sophistication and also risk tolerances.

While S&P does not believe that “insurers are changing their risk tolerances and/or underwriting guidelines just

because cheaper forms of reinsurance are available,” the rating agency does warn that any signs that companies begin to base key decisions on the availability of lower cost reinsurance capacity could result in a rating downgrade.

So S&P is warning insurance and reinsurance ceding compa-

nies not to become complacent just because market conditions for buyers of reinsurance or retrocession are favourable, but to ensure that reinsurance purchases are undertaken with similar levels of discipline to insurance underwriting.

S&P notes that the trickle down effect of cheaper reinsur-

MTN Nigeria gets N70bn broadcast licence Isaiah Erhiawarien

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he direct to home television broadcast in the country may soon witness stiffer competition as MTN Nigeria has acquired a broadcast licence from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

The licence, which is said to be worth about N34 billion will enable the mobile operator provide digital Pay TV services to Nigerians thereby making it the second South African company providing pay TV services in country and rival to another South pay TV provider, DSTV, owned by Multichoice Nigeria.

Details about the entrance of MTN Nigeria into the pay TV business were disclosed at a world press conference organised by NBC in Lagos.

A source however told National Mirror that MTN Nigeria had acquired the licence for pay TV services but did not disclose the details of when the licence was acquired or how soon the company will com-

mence operation.

According to the NBC, the move is beneficial for both parties as MTN will use part of the 700 MHz spectrum to provide pay TV services while the NBC said that the fund will be used as part of the funding needs for Nigeria’s the digital switchover project.

It explained further that the N34 billion was 50 per cent of the initial fee of N70 billion meant for the licence.

Nigeria missed the initial June 17, 2015 all digital TV deadline along with many African countries. The country has now set a new deadline in concert with other West African countries for June 20, 2017. NBC believes Nigeria is on target for the new date.

“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” MTN’s move into cable TV services is a sign of reducing reliance on voice telephony services as various VoIP platforms like Whatsapp, Viber

L-R: 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, recently.

Again, Nigerian elected Afreximbank President

Isaac Asabor

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arely a month after Nigeria’s Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, resumed as the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), another Nigerian banker, Dr. Benedict Oramah, on Monday, in Cairo took over the leadership of the African ExportImport Bank (Afreximbank) as the third President of the continental trade finance institution.

At the investiture ceremony presided over by Dr. Denny Kalyalya, Governor of the Bank of Zambia, on behalf of Alexander Chikwanda, Minister of Finance of Zambia and Chairman of the General Meeting of Shareholders of the Bank, Oramah swore the oath of office to formally assume office.

He took over from Mr. Jean-Louis Ekra, who has led the institution since 2005, succeeded Christopher

FAAN satisfied with level of work at Kano airport –MD Olusegun Koiki

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he Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma, has expressed his satisfaction with the level of work at the new international terminal of the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

He expressed his delight on Monday when he paid a working visit to the airport to supervise the on-going construction of the new terminal.

It would be recalled that the

Federal Government had embarked on the project of constructing five new international terminals at five international airports, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu.

Dunoma, while on this followup visit on the heels of the recent working tour to the airport by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Aviation, noted that the project was embarked upon to increase the capacity of the affected airports while positioning them for world-class standards services delivery, in order to maintain best practices as prescribed by the In-

ternational Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO. He assured the public that the FAAN would continue to upgrade facilities at the nation’s airports to ensure security, safety and comfort of all airport users.

Volkswagen drops 23% on admission of diesel emissions cheat Volkswagen AG lost almost a quarter of its market value after it admitted to cheating on U.S. air pollution tests for years, putting pressure on Chief Executive Officer Martin Winterkorn to fix the damaged reputation of the world’s biggest carmaker.

The shares plunged as much as 23 percent to 125.40 euros in Frankfurt, extending the stock’s slump for the year to 31 percent.

The drop wiped out about 15.6 billion euros ($17.6 billion) in value.

VW halted sales of the models involved on Sunday and said it’s cooperating with the probe and ordered its own external investigation into the issue. Winterkorn, who has led the company since 2007, said he was “deeply sorry” for breaking the public’s trust and that VW would do “everything necessary in order to reverse the damage this has caused.”

Edordu, the pioneer President, who served terms starting with the Bank’s creation in 1993.

In a speech setting out his vision for the Bank, Dr. Oramah pledged to make the promotion and facilitation of intra-African trade the cornerstone of Afreximbank’s work in the years ahead.

“I believe that intra-African trade holds the key to a technology-driven growth on our continent as it will facilitate the attainment of dynamic comparative advantage in the production and export of certain kinds of manufactured goods and services and will prepare African firms for better global competition,” explained the new President.

He said that the Bank would work to create the capacity for export manufacturing, especially light manufactures, by shifting resources more to the financing of the import of investment or capital goods while de-emphasizing the financing of the import of nonessential consumption goods.

It would also broaden the investor base for the financing of the import of investment goods into Africa by promoting the use of forfaiting service and using it to create a market for banker acceptances in African trade docu-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Business News

31

Nigeria not in Africa’s most innovative countries’ ranking

… Switzerland, United Kingdom, Sweden top global index SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

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espite huge financial resources and policy frameworks committed to Nigeria’s technological innovation and research development in recent years, the county is not in the list of the most innovative countries on the African continent still.

Kwara commits N150m to 2nd micro credit scheme Wole Adedeji, Ilorin

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wara State Government on Monday announced the second phase of its credit schemes for medium entrepreneurs with the sum of N150 million.

The new scheme tagged ‘Kwara New Entrepreneurs’ with has the N150 million would be managed by the Bank of Industry.

Announcing the kick off of the scheme at a media briefing, the Technical Adviser to the government on micro and medium credits, Mr. Segun Soewo, said that selected successful businessmen in the state had been chosen as captains of the phase and serve as mentors of those that would emerge as beneficiaries.

The ‘captains include the Olofa of Offa, Oba Musbau Esuwoye, former Chief of Naval Staff; Admiral Samuel Afolayan, Chief Gabriel Adewumi, Executive Director of the Bank of Industry, Mr.Waheed Olagunju; Mr Kunle Afolayan and Alhaji Yusuf Ali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. Soewo explained that every lucky beneficiary in the phase would get up to N10 million to fund his choice of business under good supervision.

Mauritius comes atop of the list of innovative countries, trailed by South Africa based on the just published by Global Innovation Index, GII 2015, a leading benchmarking tool for business executives, policymakers and others seeking insight into state of innovation around the world Unfortunately, Nigeria was not captured in the global index, heightening speculations of the possible status of the giant of Africa.

The GII 2015 looked at “Effective Innovation Policies for Development” indicating new ways that emerging-economy policy makers could boost innovation while spurring growth by building on local strengths and ensuring development of a sound national innovation environment.

Globally, the African countries in the top three fared less, when compared to 141 other nations. Mauritius ranked 49, Senegal 84th and South Africa 60th.

On the opposite spectrum of the index, Kenya was in the 92nd position compared with Mozambique (95) and Uganda (111), which were

the top low-income countries in Africa for innovation.

“A number of low-income economies are innovation achievers

- economies that outperform their peers for their level of gross domestic product and performed increasingly well at levels previously reserved for the lower-middle-income group,” the report stated.

Crucial to Africa’s economy, is developing regulatory, legal and business framework that effectively promote innovation.

Sub-Saharan Africa stands out with Rwanda (94), Mozambique and Malawi (98) performing like middle-

Retrenchment: We don’t operate in isolation –SAHCOL Olusegun Koiki

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he Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, has explained why it might disengage about 250 workers from its payroll soon.

The General Manager, Corporate Communications, SAHCOL, Mr. Basil Agboarumi, told our correspondent that the economic situation in the country led to the plan of the management to disengage about 250 workers from its establishment.

Agboraumi specifically said that the ground handling company was not operating in isolation of the economy, but assured that the affected workers would be given all their benefits as required by the law.

He insisted that whatever step the company would take on the

issue would be with human face and informed that discussions were still ongoing with the workers unions on the final decision it would take on the matter.

On the allegation from the industry unions that the management only planned to give the affected workers just three months salaries in advance, he declared no decision had been taken yet.

He said: “We don’t operate in isolation of the economy. What is going on has to do with the economy. That’s why we want to take such step and we are doing everything with human face and we have also been talking with our staff.

“On the three months’ salary you talked about, nobody has collected a letter yet. There are discussions ongoing with the workers, but one thing I can assure you is that there is a need for us to

L-R: Manager, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), GamboAboki; Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Saleh Dunoma; Regional General Manager, MAKIA, Zakari Mamuda and the Hajj/ Cargo Terminal Manager, Hajia Altine Hamza, during the Managing Director’s visit to inspect Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, recently.

downsize at the moment. Every organization is downsizing.

“The representatives of the staff saw reasons with us. It’s either we do it or nobody will be in business. There is a need for us to go this direction. However, we have not come out with a decision yet”, SAHCOL spokesman added.

On the demand of the industry unions that most of the organisation’s contract staff should be disengaged, rather than sack the workers who receive a paltry N40, 000, Agboarumi declared that the organisation engaged contract staff because they were beneficial to the system.

“Some companies even go for expatriates and these contract staff you are talking about are Nigerians. People may have argument on how things should be done, but I can assure you that we are dialoguing with them.”

It would be recalled that the leading industry union; National Union of Air Transport Workers, NUATE, Comrade had last week raised the alarm about the plan of SAHCOL to downsize its workforce by additional 250.

The Ag. General-Secretary, NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye had said that the unions as the representatives of the workers would kick severely against maltreatment of workers in the ground handling company.

Abioye told our correspondent that the management of SHACOL had already notified the two unions; NUATE and the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, of its intent to sack some workers, stressing that following the Section 20 of the Trade Union Act, the unions had commenced dialogue with the company.

Goldman Sachs predicts hard times for investment managers

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ow return dispersion and a stock market selloff combine to make life hard for active investment managers.

Something very rare just occurred in the S&P 500 and it’s going to make the rest of the year pretty difficult for active investment managers seeking to beat the broader market, according to Goldman Sachs.

David Kostin, the bank’s U.S. equity strategist, and his team

note that return dispersion -- or the difference in returns between stocks -- has fallen following last month’s dramatic market sell-off.

To complicate matters further, Kostin notes, equity sell-offs and falling dispersion rarely occur at the same time. In fact, since 1981, Kostin says this has only happened twice: Black Monday in 1987 and in the latter stages of the tech bubble.

He says that this means the

selloff isn’t due to changing views on company fundamentals but a more general set of macroeconomic events instead. Market uncertainty means that Kostin and team don’t expect this to change soon, making 2015 a tough year for those seeking the elusive outperformance known as “alpha.”

“We ultimately expect dispersion to remain low during the next several quarters, owing to our economists’ forecast for sustained

economic growth.

“During periods of economic strength, most S&P 500 firms generate solid sales and earnings growth, diminishing performance differentials among stocks. In contrast, during periods of weak growth, return dispersion increases as the market becomes increasingly discerning over which companies are best positioned to weather economic downturns” So what’s an investor to do?

Goldman obviously has some suggestions.

Kostin and Co. published a list of 25 stocks with “high dispersion scores,” meaning they’re more likely to react to company-specific trends rather than general macro events, and that have the potential to outperform analyst expectations. They also include 10 stocks with high dispersion but a tendency to underperform.

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Business News

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Apple’s iOS App Store suffers first major attack

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pple Inc said on Sunday it was cleaning up its iOS App Store to remove malicious iPhone and iPad programs identified in the first large-scale attack on the popular mobile software outlet.

The company disclosed the effort after several cyber security firms reported finding a malicious program dubbed XcodeGhost that was embedded in hundreds of legitimate apps.

It is the first reported case of large numbers of malicious software programs making their way past Apple’s stringent app review process. Prior to this attack, a total of just five malicious apps had ever been found in the App Store, according to cyber security firm Palo Alto Networks Inc The hackers embedded the malicious code in these apps by convincing developers of legitimate software to use a

tainted, counterfeit version of Apple’s software for creating iOS and Mac apps, which is known as Xcode, Apple said.

“We’ve removed the apps from the App Store that we know have been created with this counterfeit software,” Apple spokeswoman Christine Monaghan said in an email.

“We are working with the developers to make sure they’re using the proper version of Xcode to rebuild their apps.”

She did not say what steps iPhone and iPad users could take to determine whether their devices were infected.

Palo Alto Networks Director of Threat Intelligence Ryan Olson said the malware had limited functionality and his firm had uncovered no examples of data theft or other harm as a result of the attack.

Still, he said it was “a pretty big deal” because it showed that the App Store could be compromised if hackers in-

fected machines of software developers writing legitimate apps. Other attackers may copy that approach, which is hard to defend against, he said.

“Developers are now a huge target,” he said.

Researchers said infected apps included Tencent Holdings Ltd’s popular mobile chat app WeChat, car-hailing app Didi Kuaidi and a music app from Internet portal NetEase Inc. The tainted version of Xcode was downloaded from a server in China that developers may have used because it allowed for faster downloads than using Apple’s U.S. servers, Olson said.

Chinese security firm Qihoo360 Technology Co said on its blog that it had uncovered 344 apps tainted with XcodeGhost.

Apple declined to say how many apps it had uncovered.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Master bakers seek soft loans to boost operations WALE IBRAHIM , LOKOJA

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aster Bakers and Caterers Association of Nigeria have appealed to Federal and State Governments to support their members through soft loans access to enable them expand and standardize the industry.

Kogi chapter Chairman of the association, Chief Gabriel Bamidele, made the appeal at the inauguration of newly elected executive members on Monday in Lokoja. He explained that such soft loans would enhance development of the industry and enable economic growth and expansion of businesses as well as generation of employment opportunities. While commending the North-East Zonal Coordinator of the National Caretaker Committee of the association for the allocation of bakery equipment to members across the country, Bamidele implored the Kogi State Gov-

ernment to review the various taxes, fees and levies being charged bakers and bakeries in the state. He, therefore, appealed to the national body to sustain its efforts at retrieving Flour fund meant to assist bakery industries. Bamidele, who was returned as chairman of the association for the second time, solicited more support from members and urged them to improve on the standard of bakery products. He noted that the industry was a competitive one where members had to be abreast of modern trends in the industry using modern technology to attain international standards and also commended the state government and security agencies in the state for the relative peace in and the enabling environment for businesses to thrive. The newly elected officials were sworn-in by Mr. Kola Tolufashe, the association’s Legal Adviser and witnessed by representatives of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON).

World Bank appoints new Country Director for Nigeria L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Oando Marketing plc, Mrs. Olaposi Williams; Aro of Ipetumodu, Chief Rufus Oladele Onifade; Agbaakin of Ipetumodu, Chief Akinloye Olarewaju; Iyaloja Roundabout of Ipetumodu, Mrs. Grace Kayode Oyatomi and Head, LPG Oando Marketing plc, Ganiyu Azeez during the unveiling of O-Gas usage initiative, in producing beans cake (Akara) at Osu, in Osun State. recently

Fiji, CTO to partner on cybersecurity strategy Fiji, CTO to partner on cybersecurity strategy

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he Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) and the Republic of Fiji will work together in the coming months for the development of a cybersecurity strategy for Fiji which can then be used as a model framework for other Pacific island nations.

A statement issued by the CTO in London on Monday indicated that the partnership was unveiled during the Organisation’s Forum 2015 concluded last Wednesday in Nairobi, Kenya In recent years, the growth of

cyber criminality and cyberterrorism has become a major concern for the global community, and countries are adopting different strategies to address it.

Fiji’s Attorney-General and Minister for Communications, Honourable Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, said that his country was “committed to doing its part to ensure a safer cyberspace for all.

Working with the CTO will assist us in establishing the right national frameworks and in allocating the right level of resources to address criminal activities in

cyberspace that originate in our country and collaborate with the international community as needed.”

He further reiterated that as the regional hub for ICTs in the South Pacific, it was important for Fiji to share its experiences and knowledge with its neighbours to help build regional capacity in cybersecurity.

The CTO is currently assisting other Commonwealth countries such as Botswana and Cameroon in adopting their national cybersecurity strategy.

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he World Bank has appointed Rachid Benmessaoud as the new Country Director for Nigeria and Coordinating Director for West Africa Regional Integration Programme.

Rachid joined the World Bank in 1990 as an Energy Planner in the then Europe, Middle East and North Africa Vice-Presidency. He takes over from Marie Francoise MarieNelly whose tenure ended in July 2015.

A Moroccan national, Benmessaoud has held various positions in the Bank, including Lead Energy Specialist, Operations Advisor for India with his most recent assignment as Country Director for Pakistan.

He will lead the Country Programme and Team to continue to improve the impact of the World Bank’s portfolio in Nigeria and to support the Government’s development priorities including power, education, quality of public spending, trade and regional integration.

Rachid, an electrical engineer, has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the USA and a Doctorate Engineering Degree from France, has worked on energy, infrastructure, and municipal finance projects in North Africa, Central Europe and South Asia.

His appointment as Country Director for Nigeria is effective October 1, 2015.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EnergyWeek Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Daily average power generation hits

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LCC tasks FG on policy inconsistency in agric sector 35

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Apple’s iOS App Store suffers first major attack 39

JV partners explore alternative funding options to sustain operations

Power plant

The low crude oil prices have affected operations in the petroleum industry. But barely three months to the end of 2015, UDEME AKPAN reports that the nation’s Joint Ventures have started adopting alternative options to finance ongoing projects and programmes.

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rom over $100 last year, crude oil prices have crashed to below $50 per barrel in the international market with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC basket of 12 crudes hovering at $44.34 per barrel last Friday.

The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

The prices of other crude oil grades – Brent and WTI stood at $47.47 and $44.68 respectively in the volatile market. Investigations showed that the prolonged lull has seriously affected operations in the industry.

For instance, the joint venture partners which had early this year slashed their budgets by as much as 40 per cent have started to explore other options in order to sustain operations, including crude oil and gas exploration and production. The decision is partly based on the calculations that the year will soon be gone and that the situation may not witnessed much improvement in 2016.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, last week confirmed that it had secured a $1.2 billion multi-year drilling fund for the development of 36 offshore/onshore oil wells under the NNPC/Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture. This is to support the conventional Federal Government’s cash- call commitment to funding projects in the oil and gas industry.

The option, it was learnt, would go a long way to boost exploration and production which have grossly reduced because of the current lull in the oil market. The package which is being fi-

nanced by a consortium of Nigerian and International lenders is an integral part of the Accelerated Upstream Financing Programme initiated by NNPC to address the perennial challenge experienced by the Federal Government in providing its counter-part funding of JV upstream activities.

Apart from supplementing the CashCall commitment, it is also the thinking of the Corporation that the option would help in the maintenance of current production levels in the short term as well as replacing depleting reserves.

The breakdown of the NNPC/ Chevron JV deal which was executed at a signingceremony in London over the weekend indicate that the $1.2bn is to be channeled into the development of 23 onshore and 13 offshore wells on OML 49, 90 and 95 in two stages over 2015- 2018.

The stage one, comprising 19 wells is projected to deliver 21, 000 barrels of crude oil and condensate per day along-

side 120 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, mmscf/d, over 2015 and 2016. Stage two, comprising 17 wells is projected to yield 20, 000 barrels of crude oil and condensate per day alongside gas production of 7 mmscf/d between 2016 and 2018. It is envisaged that both stages of the project would generate $2 to $5 billion of incremental revenue to the Federation account.

The projected peak incremental gas production of 127 mmscf/d, which is the electricity equivalent of 400 megawatts, would help boost the Federal Government’s domestic gas aspirations with expectant positive effect on power supply. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Group Managing Director of the NNPC, described the new alternative funding arrangement as the new contractual model in upstream financing which would serve as a template for future initiative to supplement the FedCONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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Energy Week

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

JV partners explore alternative funding options to sustain operations

Buhari

Kachikwu

Emefiele

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 eral Government’s Joint Venture Cash Call commitment. The GMD indicated that the Corporation will not relent in the renewed effort to restore probity and transparency to the process of generation, collection and remittance of crude oil proceeds.

The Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Clay Neff, expressed the readiness of Chevron to work assiduously with the NNPC to meet its set target in the project. With the completion of its financing, Project Cheetah stands as the pioneer project under the Accelerated Upstream Financing Programme of the NNPC. The project is operated under the NNPC/ CNL JV which is owned on a 60-40 basis in favour of the NNPC. The NNPC./ CNL Joint Venture is reputed as the 3rd largest producer in Nigeria. Project Cheetah is projected to achieve a peak incremental production of 61 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Prior to the oil glut, payment of cash calls and requests for payment for anticipated future capital projects sent by Joint Venture operators to the Government as non-operating partners had always been a challenge, with payments either being partially made or not at all.

A Joint Venture operation is standard practice in the ownership of assets in Nigeria; it usually takes the form of an agreement between the national oil company, NNPC, international oil companies, OCs and sometimes indigenous oil companies. In the arrangement, all parties contribute to funding oil exploration and production operations in the proportion of their JV equity holdings and receive crude oil produced earnings in the same ratio.

As at January 2015, NNPC owed $5bn in cash calls to its Joint Venture partners. Speaking on this issue the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Seplat Petroleum Development Plc., Mr. Austin Avuru, had at an industry event in January, raised concerns about the NNPC’s value to the industry. He

Oil companies are owed billions of dollars in cash call arrears putting the jobs of our members and other workers in the industry in jeopardy as companies easily rationalize disengagement of staff and reduction in welfare packages due to lack of funds

said, “The cost of operation in the upstream sector has soared. Two critical factors account for this – security issues in the Niger Delta and bottlenecks in NNPC; project delays and $5bn of cash calls in arrears that have not been paid to the point where you ask the question: Is NNPC really adding value to the industry today?”

This particular challenge has adversely affected production output by 200,000 barrels per day. Production from JVs, which in the past accounted for about 95 percent of Nigeria’s crude oil output, has continued to decline yearly as international oil companies increasingly shift offshore due to onshore risks including funding, oil theft and sabotage.

According to the Public Relations Officer of PENGASSAN, Emmanuel Ojugbana, “Oil companies are owed billions of dollars in cash call arrears putting the jobs of our members and other workers in the industry in jeopardy as companies easily rationalize disengagement of staff and reduction in welfare packages due to lack of funds.”

Evidently with the continued oil crisis, the NNPC will be unable to meet their JV funding obligation this year.

Platts, a US-based publication that provides information on energy and metals data recently quoted sources at the NNPC as saying “The NNPC has informed its Joint Venture partners that

this year’s capital expenditures will be cut by 40 per cent from the initial proposed budget of $13.5bn. The $13.5bn has been the level that has been maintained in the past three years, but because of the drastic decline in oil prices, that level cannot be sustained this year.”

The government has also come to the realisation that the current JV funding model isn’t working; over the years a series of models have been adopted as a source for alternative funding proving futile. In 1993 the PSC model was adopted as the preferred petroleum arrangement with IOCs. Under this arrangement, the concession is held by NNPC and it engages the IOC or the indigenous company as Contractor to conduct exploration and production activities on behalf of itself and NNPC. The contractor takes on the financing risk and if exploration is successful, the Contractor is entitled to recover its costs on commencement of commercial production. If the operation is not successful, the Contractor bears the loss.

The second model adopted was the service contract. Under this model, the Contractor undertakes exploration, development and production activities for, and on behalf of NNPC, at its own risk.

The concession ownership remains entirely with NNPC, and the Contractor has no title to the oil produced. The Contractor is reimbursed cost incurred only from proceeds of oil sold and is

paid periodical remuneration in accordance with the formulae stipulated in the contract. The Contractor has the first option to buy back the crude oil produced from the concession.

Industry experts have suggested more appealing alternatives for all concerned parties such as a Modified Carry Arrangement (MCA). The MCA is a financing agreement whereby the IOC will advance a loan to NNPC for the purpose of investing in upstream projects with an understanding that the IOC will be reimbursed through a combination of tax relief and incremental oil production derived from the JV operations.

Another option is reducing the percentage of government equity (usually 60%) in the operations and letting the IOCs and indigenous companies cover exploration and development costs.

Suggesting a way forward, the Head of Energy, Ecobank Capital, Mr. Dolapo Oni said “The best option will be to incorporate these Joint Ventures and list them on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), so that they can raise their funds through equity or debt directly, and also pay dividends to investors.”

From all indications, there is a great need for stakeholders to continue to explore other funding options to finance projects, especially those that have huge prospect for the nation’s economy.

At present, alternative funding models adopted by some IOCs have witnessed some success. For instance, ExxonMobil has successfully generated about $15 Billion of alternative capacity through external financing and Modified Carry Agreement. This has accounted for about 70 percent of current JV production. ExxonMobil’s model of external financing entails that commercial banks provide funding for approved JV work program at cost-effective, market driven borrowing rates; the lenders have no recourse to JV assets and the loan is secured by revenues from forward sale of incremental production volumes.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

35

Investors target opportunities in gas sub-sector STORIES: UDEME AKPAN 270 investors have indicated interest to invest in the nation’s gas sector because of the commercial and other benefits.

The nation’s gas reserves is currently put at about 187 trillion standard cubic feet which are sufficient to sustain production for several years.

The interest was indicated at the just concluded business submit hosted by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria Ltd (SNEPCo) in Aberdeen, September 12, at which over 270 personnel representing Nigerian companies within and outside the country explored opportunities to repatriate skills and experience to the oil and gas industry back home.

The forum, christened The Global Nigerian is the third in Europe’s oil and gas hub, and had the theme Networking and Collaboration as a tool for national Development and Growth.

SNEPCo Managing Director Tony Attah, said in an address. “When, in 2013, we set out with the initiative for local companies to collaborate with Nigerian experts in Aberdeen on opportunities and challenges in the Nigeria oil and gas industry, we knew this would be a game changer. Today, we can say that the game changer is beginning to take shape as Nigerians have started returning home to set up businesses.”

A representative of the Nigerian High Commission, Mr. Hassan Hassan agreed: “This is the right time for our experts based abroad to return home to make a contribution and be part of the success story.”

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Denzil

Oil workers at work

Kentebe commended Shell on both The Global Nigerian and Partnership Facilitation Programme and confirmed the board’s continuing support for both initiatives.

In a presentation on procedures for potential contractors in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, the Deputy Manager, Reservoir Management and Evaluation, JV oil operations, at the Nigerian National Petroleum Investment and Management Services (NAPIMS), Mrs. Martina Atuchi told the experts: “We are inviting you to be part of the leading economy in Africa with a lot of untapped hydrocarbon resources.”

General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Shell Nigeria, Chiedu Oba gave a progress report on the decisions of The Global Nigerian since the first business summit in Aberdeen in 2013.

He said several Nigerians had returned home to establish businesses in the oil and gas sector, while networking had continued on a collaboration

portal which recorded more than 12,000 visitors every month by the 60 registered companies and users.

The participants agreed that the return of a significant number of Nigerian oil and gas professionals could make a ‘game changing’ impact on the efficient delivery of many opportunities that exist in the upstream, mid-stream and downstream sectors.

They also suggested the need for low interest rates to boost the growth of the companies.

The Global Nigerian 2015 was enthusiastically supported by government and industry leaders including representatives from Nigeria’s leading oil and gas trade organisation PETAN and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).

Shell companies have continued to support Nigerian companies in the execution of contracts in their operations. In 2014 alone, 90per cent of the contracts valued at $1.9bn was awarded to Nigerian.

NCDMB begins training of Nigerians on pipe manufacturing

T

he Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board, NCDMB has sponsored 22 young Nigerians to China for training in Steel Pipe Mill Manufacturing Training.

The trainees, who left Nigeria on Sunday 6th September 2015, arrived China safely the next day to commence their training at the premises of Baoji Petroleum Steel Pipe Company (BSG) Limited, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

The training is advance preparation by the Board to ensure that there are

Nigerians with requisite skills to operate a Steel Pipe Mill company currently under construction at Polaku community near Yenagoa, Bayelsa State by Mainland Pipe Nigeria Limited in collaboration of the Board.

The Coordinator, Legal Services Directorate of the Board, Mrs. Rose Chukwuonwe said on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Mr. Denzil Kentebe that it would assist to realise the aspirations of the personnel, and by extension the nation.

She expressed optimism that the

trainees would take the training seriously and ensure that they master the skills required for the technology transfer.

The Legal Coordinator reminded the trainees of the Executive Secretary’s charge to them during their pre-departure induction at the Board’s head office in Yenagoa, where he urged them to see their sponsorship to China as a lifetime opportunity.

He urged them to make the best use of it and do themselves, their families and Nigeria proud by passing all tests

Commodity

Units

Price

Change

% Change

Time(ET)

Crude Oil (WTI)

USD/bbl.

43.89

-0.74

-1.66%

12:40:51

Crude Oil (Brent)

USD/bbl.

46.55

-1.59

-3.30%

12:40:15

TOCOM Crude Oil

JPY/kl

36,690.00

-850.00

-2.26%

12:40:30

NYMEX Natural Gas

USD/MMBtu

2.75

+0.05

+1.93%

12:40:46

Source: Bloomberg as at September 14, 2015

required for relevant certification in Steel Pipe Manufacturing technology – so that they would return home as worthy ambassadors, who would pioneer the operation of Polaku Steel Pipe Mill.

She also reminded them the trainees of the Executive Secretary’s admonition to them on code of conduct, reiterating that they must be careful not to break the laws of the host country especially possession and use of illicit drugs because the punishment is very severe and that would be deeply disappointing to every stakeholder – the Board, Family and the Nation at large.

Speaking earlier through an interpreter, the Deputy General Manager of BSG, Mr. Yang Zongwan briefed the trainees on how to conduct themselves within the training facility and strict adherence to Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) rules.

In his remarks, the BSG Director of Human Resources, Mr. Liu Jun enjoined the trainees to be serious with every bit of their training and upbeat to succeed.

36

Energy Week

BP, Ningxia Baota seal pact on new technology

B

ritish Petroleum, BP and Ningxia Baota Chemical Fibre Co., Limited have signed an agreement to license BP’s latest generation purified terephthalic acid (PTA) technology, the third such deal agreed by BP. Ningxia Baota intends to build a 1.2 million tonnes per annum (tpa) unit at the Ningxia Ningdong Energy and Chemical Zone in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China, to produce PTA, the primary feedstock for polyesters used in the textile and packaging industry.

Baota expects the PTA plant to come on stream in 2018.

“This is the first third-party PTA licence for BP in China since our recent decision to license the use of our market-leading technology. Baota is a renowned petrochemical company in China and I’m proud that they’ve chosen BP’s advantaged technology,” said Rita Griffin, Chief Operating Officer of BP’s Global Petrochemicals Business. “We have now licensed this latest PTA technology in India, Oman and China – three significant growth markets – and have our own world-scale plant running at Zhuhai in Guangdong, China.

We see great potential long-term in the polyester supply chain.”

“Our PTA technology has significantly lower capital and operating costs relative to conventional PTA plants. The technology is substantially more energy efficient, uses less water, and produces less solid waste. We continue to invest heavily in our proprietary technology to maintain BP’s PTA technology as the global leader and as the technology of choice for the future.

Innovations are constantly being developed and these will be available to our licensees including Baota.” said Dan Leonardi, BP’s Vice-President for Technology & Licensing, Petrochemicals.

Mr. Gao Guozheng, Chairman of Ningxia Baota Chemical Fibre Co., Ltd. and Chief Executive of Baota Petrochemical Group, Ningxia Region said: “This investment is highly strategic for us, fulfilling the local requirements for PTA at the lowest possible cost and contributing to the economic development in Ningxia region. We appreciate the quality of BP PTA technology and look forward to a long term successful cooperation with BP. BP’s Global Petrochemicals Business has total (net to BP) capacity at 18 locations in ten countries of 18.3 million tpa including 6.7 million tpa of PTA. BP is one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, serving millions of customers every day in around 80 countries, and employing around 85,000 people.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Expert decries gas supply shortage to power plants Stories: Chidi Ugwu ABUJA

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he pioneer Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Mr. Ransome Owan, has decried the idle state of the over five billion dollars (about N996.2billion) electricity stations built under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) over lack of concrete gas supply terms.

Owan, who is the Group Managing Director on Power for AITEO Group, lamented the ugly development during the Discussion Session for Sustainable and Profitable Gas Sector at the Powering Africa Nigeria Summit in Abuja.

He said: “Even with over $5billion invested in the NIPPs, they are down as gas is not there to power them. The projects cannot come to a financial close because there is not enough gas for the plants.

“The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) cannot sign their Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) unless they answer these two things: do you have gas and can you evacuate power? And the seller, which is the government, cannot answer the questions.

“To have a sustainable gas sector, the risk should not be with the IOCs, the gas transporters or the power companies. It is the federal government of Nigeria because it has the army, the joint taskforce to protect the infrastructure,” Owan

National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs)

advised.

In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Gas Association and CEO of Oando Gas & Power, Mobolaji Osunsanya said that the NIPPs were designed to fail. Nobody builds that size and scale of power plants without being sure of dispatch and gas supply, adding that the solution of gas supply risk will be a Federal Government-backed instrument while the IOCs, the gas transporter and other parties must also give assurance of supply within their purview.

Advocating a single gas regula-

tor, Owan further pointed out that to efficiently gasify the nation’s economy, there was the need to have a sector regulator to set a foundation, the rules and regulation for the market.

This was done in the power sector.

“As pioneer regulator we created the power reform Act and now we have the second generation regulation. We have come from PHCN being one company to 11 companies and more being sold in 2013 for about $3.1billion. We now have 10 NIPP plants that have been auctioned for about $5 billion. In all of this, the country still has benefits in

the privatisation because it owns 40 per cent in Discos and 20 per cent in Gencos,” he said.

Audrey Joe-Ezigbo, Executive Director, Falcon Petroleum said the start point for this was for government to look at the gas regulating agencies and collapsing them.

He noted that remained a critical resource in the country with farreaching implication for any economy, adding that ultimately Nigeria must get to a point where there is a Ministry of Gas in order to address the teething problems constraining its abundant supply.

Nigeria needs well-developed electricity market – Igali

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he Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Amb. Godknows Igali has charged participants in the electricity market to imbibe best business practices in order to bequeath a well-established electricity market to the next generation.

Igali was speaking during the closing ceremony of a 2-day interactive workshop on ‘Interpreting and Understanding the Market Rules’ for the electricity market

Godknows Igali

participants in Abuja recently.

In a speech in which he highlighted the history and experiences leading to the power sector privatization, Igali called on the market participants to be open, willing to learn and become better operators as the sector was still going through a learning curve.

According to a statement by the management of System/Market Operation, a business unit of TCN and signed by Director(Public Affairs), Obiora Uzodike, the Permanent Secretary expressed confidence and optimism that the current challenges would be surmounted with time and the objectives of the privatization achieved to position Nigeria on the path to sustained industrial development.

The Permanent Secretary assured the market participants that the Ministry was discussing with relevant Federal agencies such as Central Bank of Nigeria and Pension Commission for the purposes of providing a pool of funds that can be accessed at single-digit to

ramp up operations and service delivery.

He also informed the workshop that bi-lateral discussions were on-going with several international agencies on how to build flaredgas power plants, micro-grids and other renewable energy plants in order to provide more power for the grid and for Nigerians.

Earlier, the MD/CEO, System Operation/Market Operation, Mrs. Ngozi Osuhor welcomed the Permanent Secretary and informed him that the interactive workshop was organized to enhance the understanding of the market rules and grid codes among market players so that they can be more efficient and effective in delivering superior services.

She stated that the System/ Market Operation was through organizing the workshop, performing one of its core responsibilities of providing education and capacity building for participants in order to grow the market on a sustainable basis. Similar

workshops, Mrs Osuhor assured would be held on regular basis as a platform to continue the interaction and exchange of industry and operational knowledge among market participants so as to be upto speed with developments in the ever-changing world of electricity market.

She stated that decisions on the way forward reached at the end of the workshop deliberations would be sent to the regulators for necessary follow-up.

The workshop which was organized by Infranet Energy Services had several industry experts such as Engr. Uzoma Achinanya, Engr. Musa Gummel, Engr. Chidi Ike, Abdulkadir Shettima, Robert Grant, etc, delivering papers on various aspects of the Grid Codes and the Market Rule. It was attended by participants from all the electric value chain; gas production, generation, transmission and distribution companies as well as allied service providers.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, September23, 2015

Poor projects’ implementation stalled 8,000mw power target – Amadi STORIES: CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

T

he Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr Sam Amadi has pointed out that part of the challenge besetting the power sector is really to do with project performance management.

Amadi said this at the Commission in Abuja during a two day workshop with Industry Performance Management officers of Generation and Transmission Companies.

He said, “If we have delivered all the NIPP projects, the capacity of existing generation companies, we would have been doing over 8,000mw today. We need to develop the skills to project and deliver.”

He said that the need to take the sector to an amiable height that could stand international reckoning makes it imperative to build a team of performance management officers, who would both monitor and report to NERC. “Because we have had ineffective project management in the past we couldn’t achieve it. If the privatized plants were running close to 80percent of their installed capacity we would have

been a different country today,” Amadi said.

The workshop provided a template for effective performance management for the industry.

On improving the distribution networks capacity, Amadi said, “Our strategy is to keep increasing the network and providing commercial incentive for Discos to take all the power they can take. With the removal of imbalance penalty Discos have no commercial reason not to take more power.”

Already, the Chief, of Training and Operations Nigerian Army Headquarters, has assured Distributing Companies, DISCO’s, Generating Companies (GENCO’s) and Transmission Companies of Nigeria (TCN) that the army will do everything possible to ensure a round the clock safety of the Power infrastructure assets across the country.

This is against the backdrop of the general insecurity in the land, especially the ongoing insurgency in the North – East region. The Army Chief said it is the Army’s constitutional duty to provide security when national assets are under high level threat of attack.

The Deputy Director of Press in the ministry of power, Timothy Oyedeji, in statement said the assurance was given at a meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, in Abuja, which was attended by Discos, Gencos, TCN, Market Operator, NELMCO, NEMSA and all key players, with the Military high command, where all issues pertaining to deployment of troops, logistic support and operational review, since the period preceding the handing over of assets to private companies were examined.

The Permanent Secretary (Power), Ambassador Godknows Igali, who presided over the meeting, used the occasion to commend the gallantry of the men in securing these infrastructure, especially when labour unions were hell bent in truncating the privatization efforts. Adding that in spite of the obvious threat to lives and property by the ravaging union members no live was loss.

He challenged the Army to prevail on their Officers and men on the field to sustain the momentum of providing safety for the nation’s power infrastructure, pledging the Ministry’s commitment to leave no stone no stone

Amadi

unturned in ensuring full restoration of power to areas already liberated from the Boko Haram Insurgency.

Ambassador Igali further gave the assurance that Power Sector Stakeholders are prepared to do their best in the quest to energize all liberated territories, just as he said that Nigerian Government will do all possible to reintegrate people in that region.

He used the occasion to announce that Power has been restored to Ibbi in Taraba - State, under Yola Disco that had electricity disruption as a result of communal clashes in the area, debunking the insinuation that it was as a result of insurgency.

NDPHC seeks security for electricity projects in Abia, others

T

he Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC has said it is seeking the intervention of the federal government and security forces in dealing with vandals attacking its power transmission projects in the Southeast.

A document obtained by National Mirror weekend, indicated that NDPHC Managing Director, Mr James Olotu has already written to the Inspector General of Police seeking for interventions in one of such cases

Transformer

which was initiated at the State Criminal Investigative Department (CID) in Umuahia, Abia state capital.

Olotu listed the criminal acts in Abia state alone to include vandalism of national assets of 330KVA Alaoji –Calabar line in Ugwunagbo Local government Area on May 28 and stealing of 10 drums of transmission conductors weighing over 40tonnes on May 31 at Umuahia.

NDPHC Executive Direc-

tor, Legal and Company Secretary, Mr Abdullahi Salisu who confirmed the cases said the 132/330KV transmission tower worth N40million was hacked in Ikwuano town even after the community was duly compensated after obtaining a Right of Way (RoW) for the over 200km line to Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom.

Salisu said the acts are responsible for the delay in completing the North-South transmission loop connecting the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) including 563mw Calabar plant, 330mw Egbema plant in Imo, 504mw Alaoji plant in Abia state, at an ongoing transmission interchange yard in Ikot Ekpene town of Akwa Ibom state.

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Power, Dr. Godknows Igali recently said the loop is expected to be completed this year and would boost the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) evacuating capacity of the 6,000mw target by year end.

But the NDPHC officials handling the 10 NIPPs and other facilities in the power value chain said without government

intervention to stop the vandals’ act and the many unwarranted court injunctions, the projects may still not meet the set timeline.

“The plants are ready but we cannot wheel out the capacity generation to the grid due to the sabotage on our transmission lines that hinder us from evacuating the stranded power,” NDPHC Secretary said.

NDPHC began its journey in 2004 as The National Integrated Power Project (NIPP). It was conceived as a fast-track government funded initiative to stabilize Nigeria’s electricity supply system while the private-sectorled structure of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) of 2005 took effect.

NIPP was originally designed around seven medium sized gas fired power stations in the gas producing states, and the critical transmission infrastructure needed to evacuate the added power into the national grid.

A commitment to electrify host communities in the vicinity of the power stations and major substations gave rise to the distribution component of the project.

37

AEDC centralises electricity vending for efficiency

T

he Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC has collapsed its five fragmented vending platforms into a consolidated system for efficient selling and purchase of token for electricity customers.

Its Executive Director, Commercial Services, Engr.

Er nest Mupwaya said this recently while briefing members of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Investigation of the Power Sector from 1999-2015 and Unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Abuja.

Mupwaya who represented the Managing Director of the company, Mr Neil Croucher at the forum, said the decision will guarantee speedy service delivery to its customers noting that all registered customers can purchase their electricity units at any of the company’s area offices or service centres for use anywhere under the network.

Among the great points, he said include a variety of options to choose from for the purchase of tokens for their electricity. Customers can now buy electricity units at the periods and points that are convenient for them using payment channels like, credit card, ATMs, POS. The new system will also cut the lengthy queues amongst other previous inconveniences just as it is set to help improve revenue collection, reduce commercial losses, improve commercial efficiency with enhanced payments processing, and providing a more secured way of sales and cash collection for AEDC. Abuja Distribution company (Discos) also said it is working with three companies: e-Tranzact International Plc, Kallak Power Limited and Pagatech Limited as vendors to facilitate electricity sales and revenue collection through the various electronic power purchase options.

The Disco distributes electricity to consumers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Niger, Kogi, and Nasarawa states.

Meanwhile it has commenced a series of meetings where the management engages staff to share progressive ideas.

38

Energy Week

Chevron appoints new Joint Venture Director

C

hevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the NNPC/CNL Joint Venture (JV), has announced the appointment of Mr. Monday A. Ovuede to the position of Director, NNPC/ CNL JV. Monday replaces Mr. Supo Shadiya who recently retired from the company after 32 years of meritorious service to CNL and Chevron Corporation. Monday has since resumed work in his new position.

Mr. Ovuede received his Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Benin, Nigeria in 1986.

He joined the Company in 1997 as a Senior Petroleum Engineer and has held numerous technical and management positions of increasing responsibility in Nigeria and the United States in the course of his career.

These include: Reservoir Engineering Advisor; Agbami Project Director; General Manager, Marine Services Group for Chevron Shipping Company, and Vice President, Organizational Capability for Chevron Corporation.

According to Mr. Clay Neff, Chairman & Managing Director, CNL, Monday was appointed to the position based on his “leadership skills, sound understanding of Chevron’s operations and demonstrated ability to build effective relationships with relevant stakeholders”.

Chevron is the third-largest oil producer in Nigeria and one of its largest investors which has made many contributions to the development of the nation’s oil and gas industry.

“In Nigeria, we operate under a joint-venture arrangement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and have assets on land and in near-offshore regions of the Niger Delta.”

“The Chevron Way explains who we are, what we do, what we believe and what we plan to accomplish. It establishes a common understanding not only for those of us who work here, but for all who interact with us.”

“Chevron also has extensive interests in multipartner deepwater operations. We operate the Agbami Field, one of Nigeria’s largest deepwater discoveries. We also have a non-operated interest in the Usan Field,” it added.

Chevron’s maintained that its upstream business has major operations in the world’s most important oil and gas regions.

“The world has produced about one trillion barrels of crude oil to date. Over the next century or so, approximately two trillion barrels more are expected to be produced from conventional proved reserves and undiscovered conventional oil.”

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Daily average power generation hits 4,159.03mw UDEME AKPAN

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he nation’s average electricity generation has risen from over 3,700 megawatts, mw to 4, 159.03mw.

The increase is said to be driven by increas4ed gas supplies to the thermal plants, including Egbin, the country’s largest power station currently generating at full capacity.

The presidential Task Force of Power which made this known in its latest report puts daily average energy generated 4,159.03mw.

It also put the nation’s daily average energy distributed at 4,068.87mw, meaning that the country still to generate and distribute about 10, 000mw to meet its estimated 14,000mw national demand.

However, there is hope as some investors have expressed commitment to stake more resources in the sector.

For instance, the chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu had said that the government made a bold decision when it decided to affect the changes envisaged by the Power Sector Reform Act — legislation that had been on the books since 2005.

He said that bold step was reinforced during President Barack Obama’s last visit to Africa. We felt more strongly than ever, the need to help power Af-

rica.

“Our experience so far at Ughelli power plant is testimony to the size of the opportunity; our amazing team has taken that plant from 150mw capacity when we took over in November 2013, to 450mw today; we expect it to increase 700mw by October and to achieve 1000mw by the second quarter of 2015.

At that rate, we’ll be contributing 20 per cent of Nigeria’s total power generation. To push the possibilities further, we are working on a greenfield project that will expand the capacity of Ughelli by an additional 1000mw in the next three to five years and we’ve signed an MOU with GE and Symbion Power to facilitate this.”

“I must add, however, that gas is an integral part of power generation and we are pleased that our oil assets in the Niger Delta will eventually produce gas to meet our gas needs at Ughelli. At current production projections, by the end of 2015, 150 mmscf per day will be produced and that will meet about 40 percent of the gas demands for Ughelli.”

“In Nigeria, one of the biggest challenges to power generation is transmission and in fact, while Ughelli Power Plant generated at full capacity for the first time in July, we’ve been asked to scale down gen-

Power plant

eration because of the outdated transmission systems; for every 100mw generated and sent to transmission companies, 40 per cent is lost, in part because of this infrastructure issue,: he said.

He maintained that the challenges go beyond transmission; many plants in the country can produce more than they currently do, but the limited availability of gas makes it difficult to produce according to the companies’ individual capacities.

Elumelu indicated that this affects the total supply and explains why the average Nigerian hears reports of increased capacity which has not yet

translated to increased power availability in homes and places of work.

“Also, power generation is capital intensive and as it stands, we send the power we generate to the transmission company as soon as it’s generated and we count on the government to pay in a timely manner, but that has posed a bit of a problem.”

“What’s more, while regulation isn’t a key challenge, it is an issue within the sector that if addressed, has the potential to speed sector growth exponentially. We need pragmatic regulation that recognises that within Nigeria, the sector is nascent and so policies must be designed to encourage growth,” he added.

NEITI report implementation shoddy – Lawan CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

R

elevant stakeholders’ failure to implement the report of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI is limiting the impact of the audit, the former Chairman, Public Complaints Committee in seventh Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan has said.

Federal Government inaugurated NEITI in February 2004, with specific mandated to promote transparency and accountability in the manage-

Lawan

ment of Nigeria’s oil, gas and mining revenues to ensure that the country’s extractive resources aid sustainable development.

But, fielding questions from journalists on the sideline of Lawan stated that the failure of other stakeholders to implement the report of NEITI has made it almost impossible for the impact of NEITI to be felt in the oil, gas and mining industry.

“I will rate NEITI as having done so well. This is because they have all they are suppose to do as an organisation established by government and mandated by law to promote transparency and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s oil, gas and mining revenues. It is the failure of other stakeholders to implement the report of NEITI that has made it almost impossible for the impact of NEITI to be felt in the oil, gas and mining industry” he said.

Senator Lawan also expressed optimism that NEITI would perform better if the lapses found in its Act of 2007, are amended.

He reiterated that the damage done by corruption in the oil and gas industry particularly,

to Nigeria’s economy, is so massive urging everyone to support NEITI in its fight to enthrone transparency and accountability in the industry.

“And there is need for all of us both the stakeholders of NEITI and the larger Nigerian society to continue to support NEITI because the damage done by corruption in the oil and gas industry particularly, to our economy, to our people is so massive that we have all manners that could easily be associated with deprivation. And this is the season of fighting against what is not right. This is season because we have a government that believes in fighting corruption” he stated.

Lawan assured that the National Assembly will support NEITI in the amendment that it is seeking in the Act, and also in the implementation of its reports.

According to the Senator, in the last Senate, the Public Account Committee then felt that the report of NEITI should be considered just like we consider the report of the Auditor General for the federation.

“Billions of dollars and bil-

lions of naira are either not remitted by the oil companies to the national treasury or understating of taxes. We cannot go on like this. And I am happy that now we have a President that is committed to see that corruption is shown out of the way. I want to assure you that we will give NEITI the support they require to draft an amendment to the Act” he added.

It is recalled that The NEITI Audit Reports be¬tween 1999 and 2011 had revealed a total revenue loss of $9.8billion to the Federation. The loss was as a result of underpay-ments, under-assessment of taxes, rents, royalties and other process lapses.

NEITI working with other agencies have recovered $2.4 Billion from the total estimate.

The break¬down of the recoveries shows that $1 billion was recovered from 1999 to 2004 Audit Reports and $550million was recov¬ered from the NEITI Au¬dit Reports of 2005.

The 2006 to 2008 Audit Re¬port led to a recovery of $447 million while NEITI Reports of 2009 to 2011 led to the a recovery of $416 million.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Industry & SMEs

39

LCCI tasks FG on policy inconsistency in agric sector T he Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Agro and Non Oil Sector, Mr. Wale Oyekoya, on Monday urged the Federal Government to reverse the policy inconsistency trend in the nation’s agricultural sector as a strategic option to improving the sector’s contribution to socio-economic development of the country.

Oyekoya, who spoke on the likelihood of reversal of the recent Central Bank of Nigeria’s monetary policy regime banning select commodities, said there was the increasing need for government to involve stakeholders in the introduction of key policies in order to ensure that the objectives are achieved.

According to him, the restriction on the 41 items mainly food items is already causing price hike on the affected food items, saying that the measure

is one of those introduced that might not be sustainable in the long run.

He said: “Government formulate a policy and barely one year it is already

ABUCCI trains members on credit access for SMEs

T

he Abuja Chamber of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited (ABUCCI) on Monday organised one- day colloquium on SME financing for its members as part of its efforts to empower them on access to financing, Speaking at the forum, the Vice-President of Chamber, Finance, Mr Osi Imomoh, said the colloquium was organised to empower members on strategies that could be adopted to secure funds for their businesses.

Describing lack of funds as one of the major challenges undermining the development of SMEs in the country, Imomoh said that this year marked the first time ABUCCI was introducing a colloquium in the trade fair.

LCCI DG, Muda-Yusuf

Buhari

According to him, one of our major roles as a chamber of commerce is mentoring and that the seminar would enable some members who do not know what it means and what it takes to access facilities to learn about the processes and formalities.

Noting that the colloquium will run for the first week of the trade fair, the industrialist said that the N100,000 for registration for the fair was not much compared to the benefits that will accrue to members.

Some bankers were present at the venue to teach SME operators on the rudiments of micro financing and what they required in order to access credit from banks and other financial institutions.

contemplating to change it. I believe that government should carry stakeholders along when formulating agri-

culture and other policies that affect everybody, especially food security in the country.

“The right thing is for government to have given importers up to three years to bring in some critical food items and at the same time encourage the local production of such items,’’ Oyekoya advised.

The industrialist clarified that it had been difficult for investors to set up full agro processing factories because of government’s inconsistent policies while also discouraging foreign investors to stake their investments in the agricultural and other related sectors.

He expressed the hope that the appointment of a new minister would further help in focusing the sector through policy direction on the path of sustainable growth.

Group empowers 70 youths through vocational skills ABOLAJI ADEBAYO A humanitarian group, the International Inner Wheel Club, District 910 has started training to empower over 70 Nigerian youths on different vocational skills.

Speaking at the training center in Lagos, the District Chairman, Mrs. Olayinka Ayanwale, declared that the organisation’s goal was to reduce the rate of unemployment among the youths hence, the need for the training.

She noted with nostalgia the high level of unemployment in the coun-

try, which she said was causing social menace in the society.

The District Chairman stressed that the training was the first of its kind since her assumption of office in July and promised that it would be a continuous exercise for the development of human capacity.

She said the trainees after graduation would be empowered with the provision of their various vocation needs to help them start up a business of their own.

“This is the first training and empowerment programme and here we

have about 70 of them taking part in the six different vocations we have for them such as bead making, catering and event management, crafting, make up, and web designing.

“We will empower them fully after the training by providing for them their basic tools for the practice of what they have learnt here,” she said.

Appreciating the organisers of the programme for their insightfulness and humanitarian act, one of the beneficiaries, who was in the catering and

event management section, Franca Ezenwa, said the training would afford her the opportunity to start her own business on a big scale.

“I want to thank the Inner Wheel for a special programme like this; they have made us improve on the catering aspect. Before now, I was just on the low scale services I didn’t know much of the catering services but now I can tell you that I have learnt everything.

And with what I have learnt, I am prepared to open a big shop where I can start my business on high scale,” she said.

Eurozone manufacturing outlook weakest for 16 months

A

new survey of manufacturing and service companies across the

eurozone shows the area is now a step away from recession, as key economies France and Germany remain weak.

The speed of growth in the eurozone slowed down in November, according to the preliminary Markit Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).

The eurozone’s composite PMI came in at 51.4, the

lowest in 16 months. Analysts had expected the figure to come in at 52.3 overall, an improvement from October’s 52.1. The figure is still above the neutral 50 mark, anything below that signals recession.

France and Germany remain the main drags on the European economy.

The report said France remained a “key area of

weakness,” suffering a drop in business activity for a seventh consecutive month and a further month of job cuts. The country’s PMI index has remained below 50.0 since May. Germany’s manufacturing PMI dropped to 50.0 in November, down from 51.4 in October and the weakest since July 2013.

Apple releases watch software update

A Cocoa processing machine

pple Inc. said a software update for Apple Watch is now available after last week’s release was delayed because a problem in the operating system

couldn’t be fixed in time.

Owners of Apple Watch can download the software update, called watchOS 2, which includes features such as new faces and the availability of na-

tive applications from outside developers that use the device’s heart-rate sensor and other tools. Apple didn’t disclose the nature of the bug that caused the delay.

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Cocktail

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

1,524-pound cheese sculpture named world’s largest

A

San Francisco-based eatery chain is headed for the record books after shaping 1,524 pounds of cheddar into the world’s largest cheese sculpture.

The sculpture of a cheeseburger, created by eatery chain The Melt in partnership with cheese sculptor Troy Landwehr, was unveiled Friday in Los Ange-

les and was confirmed as a Guinness World Record holder for the largest cheese sculpture.

The Wisconsin cheddar sculpture, created to celebrate Friday’s National Cheeseburger Day, measures 45 inches tall, 38 inches wide and weighs in at 1,524 pounds -- 599 pounds more than the previous record holder.

Bear destroys interior of car after closing self inside

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Colorado couple said a bear burglar searching their car for food accidentally locked himself inside and ripped apart the vehicle’s interior.

Karl Anderson of Jefferson County said he was investigating a strange noise outside his house about 3:30 a.m. Sunday when the bear inside his car managed to switch on the headlights and identify itself as the culprit.

Anderson said the bear appeared to have somehow opened the driver side door and climbed inside before the door slammed shut behind it and trapped the ani-

mal inside.

Anderson said he called 911 and the Division of Wildlife, but he was told it would be at least an hour and a half before a wildlife officer could make it to their home.

Anderson said authorities recommended he open a car door and run.

The homeowner said he waited until the bear’s back was turned and ran out to the open the door. He said the bear climbed out of the car a few minutes later and wandered away.

Anderson and his wife, Kristin, said they are now in the market for a new car.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Man returns $1,300 hidden inside Domino’s delivery

D

omino’s Pizza has offered a customer free pies for a year after he returned $1,300 cash that was mistakenly delivered to his house along with his food.

Mike Vegas of Berkeley ordered pizza and wings from a Domino’s eatery Friday and he ate just one slice of pizza before putting the rest of his food in the fridge.

Vegas said his phone started ringing a few hours later.

“My phone started blowing up and I wasn’t looking at the random messages. I was at work so I wasn’t answering,” Vegas told KGO-TV. Vegas said the caller turned out to be his Domino’s delivery driver, who had hidden money for a deposit in a wings box and delivered the wrong package to Vegas’ home.

“About 5 a.m., I got home from work and went to my refrigerator and pulled out what I thought was wings.

It turned out to be 1,300 bucks,” Vegas said.

“I wrote a Facebook post and of course there’s a long list of people arguing you should keep it, you shouldn’t keep it,you should keep it, you shouldn’t keep it” he said. “I wanted to keep it, believe me. But I can’t, I

The returned money

can’t do that.”

Vegas branded the incident a “karma test” in his Facebook post.

Domino’s Pizza General Manager Zia Mumtaz thanked Vegas and offered him a reward.

“Thank you so much for this, honest people are

hard to find these days,” Mumtaz said. “Just to thank you, we’re going to offer you free pizza for a whole year.”

Vegas said he plans to accept the offer.

“I’m going to have to start working out more, obviously,” he joked.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Gimba Ya’u Kumo

T

o understand the phenomenon of the relationship between housing and the general economy is not far-fetched. Housing development and its associated activities generate a ripple effect of other productive activities in the real sector through a network of backward and forward linkages; housing generates employment both during and after development construction; housing typifies periods of economic boom while providing some form of stability for the economy during economic busts; provides a new class of investments by way of investment opportunities in asset-backed securities; to mention a few.

Housing is said to be the second most important element in the hierarchy of human basic needs. Therefore, the need to examine the property and security rights vis-à-vis the Nigerian Housing sector cannot be overemphasised.

According to studies carried out by the National Bureau of Statistics and United Nations some years ago, the national housing deficit was then estimated at between 12 - 16 million housing units. The recommendation by the UN then was that 720,000 housing units are required to be constructed on an annual basis.

Based on the annual population growth of 2.5% per annum, 49% urbanisation growing at 5% per annum - all some of the highest rates globally, it is not difficult to imagine the deficit increasing significantly to 23 million by the year 2020.

To have a better understanding of the desired changes in the policies required to drive the Nigerian housing sector forward, it is imperative to first understand the contemporary land administration policy in the country and the impact on the housing sector. The ideal starting point for this discourse in the Nigerian context is the Land Use Act. Promulgated in March 1978, the Land Use Act is the principal legislation on the Nigerian land policy. A major feature of this Act is the vesting of the ownership of land in Nigeria to the Nigerian public, held

Civil Service 41

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Housing: Charting new directions in property, security rights

President Muhammadu Buhari

in trust by Governors of the federating units of the country and the Minister for the FCT for land in the Federal Capital Territory.

The Act was set up to facilitate land acquisition and reduce issues of ownership, curtail land speculation, facilitate the transfer of land and help manage urban growth.

Embedded in the Act, is the provision that any property right to be enjoyed by an individual is expressly stated provided in the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) issued to the individual by the State through the mechanism of a land allocation committee/authority.

However, the Act has not failed to achieve its main objectives primarily due to delays and high cost of property transactions.

The levy on housing development and provision, in the form of taxes and approval fees constitute considerable additional expenses for real property transactions. For instance, Value Added Tax (VAT) is deducted at various stages of processing building approvals to add-on as much as 30% to the cost price exclusive of title fees, stamp duties and other sundry expenses. Multiple taxations on property transactions at Federal and State levels are a case in point.

The Land Use Act vests

powers in a Local Government to dispense land within its territory and issue title documents to allotees.

A major issue is the poor nature of record keeping at most local governments around the country.

It is difficult to obtain accurate and reliable information regarding these properties. Local inhabitants and their village chiefs wield strong control over the land thus making it near impossible for any person seeking to acquire/develop the property to peacefully enjoy his or her rights on the property.

The difficulty of enforcing any right over properties discourages financial institutions to accept these properties as security or to create mortgages.

The dearth of long-term funds for housing finance has always been a challenge despite legislations put in place. For instance, apart from contributions deductable from workers’ monthly and contributions of the Federal Government, Sections 5(1) and 5(2) of the NHF Act respectively mandates commercial banks to invest 10% of their loans and advances in the NHF while registered insurance companies invest a minimum of 20% of non-life funds and 40% of life funds in real property development of which not less than 50% shall be paid to the Fund through the

Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

However, these provisions are not being enforced appropriately while necessary support for tapping into the capital market particularly for social housing is not adequate.

The current policy framework for the Nigerian Housing Sector is the National Housing Policy (2002) which is the first of such to be approved after some 20-odd years. In summary, the National Housing Policy (NHP) seeks to revitalise the housing sector to enable it serve as a catalyst for rapid and effective socio-economic development of Nigeria, with particular attention to the reduction of poverty and creation of job opportunities.

Some key priorities of the NHP relevant to our subject matter are: To make housing finance available to all segments of the Nigerian population particularly the medium, low and the ‘no’ income earners; To provide the legal and regulatory framework to attract private sector investors to develop affordable housing products for the target group mentioned above; To develop an effective land administration system to make land ownership available, secure, accessible and easily transferrable at affordable rate; To establish and develop

title and mortgage insurance systems and institutions.

Land is central to property and security rights.

As mentioned earlier, the Lands Use Act is widely acknowledged by stakeholders as perhaps the single biggest constrain to unlocking the Nigerian Housing Sector. Little wonder the NHP makes a clarion call for the amendment of the Land Use Act while stating its goal in Section 4.2 as “to make serviced land with secure tenure easily available, accessible, transferable and at affordable price for housing development”.

Further to that, the NHP identifies strategies for attaining this goal to include the excise of the Land Use Act from the Nigerian Constitution and amending it to: Establish land registries at Local Government Areas to facilitate the registration of Customary Rights of Occupancy; Issuance of Rights of Occupancy and consent for mortgages to be completed in not more than 30 days from application; Regulate charges as well as time limit for grant of Consents on mortgages and assignments on land transactions; Review of the composition of the Local Government Land Advisory Committees to include relevant professionals and other stakeholders; Simplification and quickening of the process of payment of compensation not later than six (6) months from the day of acquisition; Provision of guidelines for fixing ground rents and other land transaction charges by registered land professionals for compensation payments to reflect present day economic value of land; and Provision of a review mechanism of the circumstances under which a certificate of occupancy can be revoked to reduce temptation to arbitrariness.

There is a need to review the Land Use Act, to make it pro-active in the provision of land for housing development. One critical recommendation to easing and speeding up the grant of consent is for Governors

to delegate the power to appropriate officials (commissioners for Lands and Housing readily comes to mind) to reduce bureaucracy. The processes also need to be reviewed to align with international best practice with regards to cost of transactions, required number of processes and more effective timelines for process completion.

Taxes payable on property transactions must be harmonised with the reduction of the cost of title registration and stamp duty charges for affordability to investors and individuals acquiring a home.

To generate local employment and improve local content in housing delivery, it is critical to review current policies and practices against the importation of building materials.

Reduction of restrictions caused by traditional ownership which inhibit housing development and the upgrading of the status of Rights of Occupancy issued by local governments and improving their land registry systems for proper documentation and record keeping for properties located in rural areas. This will add to the land bank available for commercial activities when land in rural areas are recognised as viable and given the same economic status as those in urban areas.

It is pertinent to recommend that in the event that settlers are to be relocated or demolitions are to be carried out, viable alternatives must be necessarily provided for displaced persons.

The encouragement and increased advocacy for the recognition of property and security rights by non-governmental organisations, community-based groups and civil societies.

•Kumo, Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) made this presentation at the Roundtable on Asset Registry and Housing Finance in Nigeria organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.

42

Civil Service

ICT, tool against discrimination for women –Perm Sec Adeola Tukuru, Abuja

T

he Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Ezekiel Oyemomi, has said ICT provides the main tool to reduce discrimination and empower women for all types of activities.

Oyemomi noted this at the just concluded 5-day training of women entrepreneurs on Access to ICTS and Internet organised by the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD).

He added too that access to ICT increased learning processes of primary and secondary education for girls.

According to him, it ensures access to reproductive health services and provide employment in ICT and related sectors.

The United Nations (UN) Women representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr Grace Ongile, revealed that the data published by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) estimated women Internet users at 1.3billion, accounting for 37 per cent of all women worldwide.

Ongile said the digital gender gap was found to be even more pronounced in the developing world, where an estimated 16 per cent fewer women than men used the Internet compared to only 2 per cent fewer women than men in the developed world.

She assured that the UN women would leverage it’s global presence, networks and operations towards the longer term agenda of the programme.

“UN Women look forward to seeing young women whose capacities have been built to access ICTs and to avail themselves with opportunities available within the public and private sectors for increased business and sustainable development in Nigeria,” she said.

Earlier, the Director General of the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Lady Onyeka Onwenu, said that the training was about skills and empowering the woman to make her more economically independent in a world of huge opportunities and challenges where the fast moving ICT sector is the backbone of every business.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Corruption in Civil Service not caused by poverty –Kifasi •Urges civil servants to be ambassadors of ‘change’

Omeiza Ajayi

H

ead of the Civil Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi, has warned civil servants against any form of malfeasance, saying their current salary scale was no excuse for corruption.

He said if poverty were the cause of corruption, those who had stolen millions of naira would have since repented and continued to enjoy their ill-gotten wealth rather than keep on stealing.

He added that exces-

sive greed was the major cause of corruption.

Kifasi stated this in Abuja in his closing remarks at the pilot Structured Mandatory Assessment-Based Training Programme (SMAT-P) for public servants.

While he said the capacity-building programme was designed to enhance service delivery to Nigerians, he charged civil servants to be ambassadors of change and point of reference in terms of good service delivery.

Although he conceded that there were few bad eggs in the service, Kifa-

si said the situation was not as bad as being portrayed in the public.

The programme, launched on September 7, is an initiative of the Office Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and is designed to be continuous.

He expressed optimism that the training would assist and guide the participants in the execution of their official responsibilities and congratulated them for partaking in it.

In his opening remarks, Director-General, Administrative Staff Collage of Nigeria (AS-

CON), Peter Ajibade, one of the training facilitators, noted that the present administration placed high premium on effective service delivery.

According to him, the SMAT-P was expected to continually and consistently address the training gaps in the public service to ensure that public servants acquired relevant knowledge for achieving organisational growth.

No fewer than 70 participants in three different categories were given certificates of participation at the end of the training.

Niger: More civil servants to go –HOS Priscilla dennis, Minna

I

n an effort to cut down the cost of governance, review the structure and size of the state civil service, it appears more civil servants on the pay roll of the Niger State government may soon be shown the way out.

This is also against the backdrop of the 29 Permanent Secretaries who lost their status following the adoption of Report of the Committee on Rationalisation of State Ministries, Departments, and Agencies set up by the state.

Indication to this came to the fore at a press briefing by the state’s Head of Service, Alhaji Mohammed Maude Lapai, in Minna, saying, for the avoidance of doubt, the exercise was not taken to witch-hunt any individual or short-change any local government area.

“It was a thorough exercise devoid of ethnic, religious or political sentiments and it is still ongoing,” he stated.

On the 29 Permanent Secretaries who lost their status, Lapai said ten out of the total lot were advised to go on retirement, 12 were returned to the positions they were before they were made permanent secretaries.

He added that the remaining seven would be drafted to head certain parastatals as they had more years in service.

The HoS explained that the state government was determined to cut off all areas of leakages and excesses in the civil service as indolence at work, late coming and engagement in fraudulent act would not be condoned by the current administration.

Speaking on allegations that some LGAs had no Permanent Secretaries to represent in the current arrangement, Lapai assured that the issue of local government balance would receive due consideration as the government was striving to achieve one Permanent Secretary per local government area.

Members of the Governing Board of Tertiary Institutions taking oath of office at their swearing-in yesterday, in Lagos.

FG to introduce new grading system for varsities Chidi Ugwu, Abuja

T

he federal government is set to abolish the current two systems of grading the nation’s universities and introduce a new one, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof.

Julius Okojie said.

Okojie stated this in Abuja on Monday at a oneday workshop on review of grading system in Nigerian universities.

He said the existing Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard, BMAS, was allowing individual institutions and disciplines to implement the benchmark

policy directive discretionarily.

He informed that “While some disciplines used the 6 grade points of 5,4,3,2,1,0 for letter grades of A,B,C,D,E, and F respectively, other disciplines removed the E grade altogether thereby having a grading system with grade points of 5,4,3,2,1, 0 for letter grades of A,B,C,D, and F respectively.

“These systems have incontrovertibly introduced two systems of grading within the Nigerian University System that have some technical implications on the grading of students,” he said.

According to the NUC

boss, the workshop became necessary to provide an avenue for the NUC and all the universities to review the existing grading system with a view to arriving at a generally acceptable and uniform method of computing students grade.

“At the end of the workshop, it is expected that stakeholders will find a common grading system that would facilitate interuniversity credit transfer and student mobility, both within and outside the country,” Okojie added.

In a remark, NUC Director of Academic Standards, Dr. Gidado Bello Kumo, said the outcome of the workshop will posi-

tion Nigerian graduates to compete favourably in any part of the word.

He said: “It will serve as a springboard for the NUC’s catalytic role for the production of globally competitive and nationally relevant graduates and its resolve at improving the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS).

“Secondly, in order to ensure that the BMAS is richer and all encompassing, NUC utilises the opportunity to engage senior university officials on dialogue with a view to arriving at a generally satisfactory university education policy,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Wednesday September 23, 2015

43

Saraki’s integrity and the nation’s burden of corruption

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s the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki fight tough in a corruption battle to see if he retains his integrity and position in Nigeria political scene, many Nigerians now find it difficult to stomach the putrid essence of corruption in Nigeria.

What is most painful is, it now appears that one is only corrupt in Nigeria, the moment he steps on toes of the powers that be. For many Nigerians, it ridicules the intelligence of a nation that one who was alleged to have been involved in corruption practices since 2003 was only to face the dance 12 years later because he offended the powers that be in pursuit of his political ambition.

And for this, regardless of whatever logical reasons the All Progressives Congress, APC, will give to distance and wash its hands off the Senate President’s travails, good number of Nigerians believe that no one but the APC can give answers to why the past sins of Saraki will have to caught up with him now that he became the Senate President against the party’s directives.

For some political observers, what is happening now is never different from what has always been in Nigerian politics. Some even cited some of the corruption cases involving some politicians and Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC at the return of this present democracy, when the commission was even tagged ‘dog’ that was only unleashed to hunt offenders of the then government in power.

So, whether Saraki survives or loses in this battle , it will make no news to Nigerians, as before him had been some Senate Presidents who relinquished their positions on reasons many Nigerians understood to be because of their independent mind. The only difference here is the toga of corruption that follows this case, which has the tendencies of landing him in jail.

If Saraki is indeed culpable of the offences he is accused of, that for sure will signal the seriousness of the much talk about fight against corruption which the present government led by President Muhammadu Buhari has so much promised to fight. But, though it will signal its readiness to fight corruption, it will also no doubt, cast a question of witch-hunting on the party when people think of how Saraki emerged as Senate President and how he was thrown out.

The issue is what some Nigerians perceived as using different means to kill a stubborn rat. Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, slammed a 13-count corruption charge on Senate President, Saraki. In charge number ABT/01/15, dated September 11 and filed before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

In the charge, Mr. Saraki is accused of offences ranging from anticipatory declaration of assets to making false declaration of assets in forms he filed before the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, while he was governor of Kwara State.

Other offences were that he allegedly acquiring assets beyond his legitimate earnings, operating foreign accounts while being a public officer - governor and senator, offences, the charge said, violated sections of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

Senator Saraki is also said to have breached Section 2 of the CCB and Tribunal Act and punishable under paragraph 9 of the said Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.

The charges were prepared by M.S. Hassan, a deputy director in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

Saraki’s reaction In his reaction, President of the Senate, Saraki, issued a statement describing the 13-count charge slammed on him by the CCB as false and frivolous.

In a statement via his media office, Mr. Saraki, said the charges were calculated to rubbish him and that he was

The embattled Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, has been in the eye of the storm in recent times. In this analysis, EBERE NDUKWU looks at the travails of the nation’s number 3 citizen.

Buhari

Saraki

For many Nigerians, it ridicules the intelligence of a nation that one who was alleged to have been involved in corruption

practices since 2003 was only to face the dance

12 years later because he offended the powers that be in pursuit of his political ambition ready to meet the CCB in court to assert his innocence.

“We therefore conclude that this is not an anti- corruption driven case and cannot be part of the moves aimed at fighting corruption. It is simply a pure malicious and politically motivated prosecution aimed at undermining the person and office of the Senate President.

“Those behind this plot will definitely meet Dr. Saraki in court as this case, which is based on outright fabrication and mischief, will not and cannot stand the test of justice.

“We therefore state as follows: That all the claims contained in the charge sheet are false, incorrect and untrue.

That Dr. Saraki has consistently declared his assets as required by law at every point before resuming any political office and that of 2015 is not an exception. It is surprising that the alleged charges is now referring his asset 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.

“That we believe that the CCB following their processes in which after a declaration is submitted to the bureau they carried out verification of the assets and ascertained the claims made, should not wait till 12 years later to be pointing out an alleged inconsistencies in a document submitted to it in 2003. This same Dr. Saraki submitted asset declaration form in 2007, 2011 and 2015. It is unexplainable that the case in question is now based on the 2003 declaration. “This is why we are of the opinion that present effort is a desperate move initiated due to external influence and interference. It should also be noted that contrary to the procedure indicated in the law setting up the CCB, the bureau never wrote to Dr. Saraki to complain of any inconsistency in his asset declaration forms.

“It should also be noted that Dr. Saraki as governor of Kwara State never operated a foreign account. That some of the issues contained in the charge sheet are subjects of earlier decided and on-going court cases. We therefore believe those behind filing of these charges are engaging in forum-shopping.”

At the moment Last Monday, CCT chairman, Danladi Yakubu Umar, issued fresh arrest warrant on Saraki after a short adjournment at the resumed hearing over his false declaration of assets, ordering the Inspector General of Police, IGP, and other security agents to bring Saraki before his court unfailingly by 10 am on Tuesday September 22.

And in a press statement signed by the embattled Senate President himself, he assured of making himself available before CCT on September 22, giving reasons for his absence as a result of legal advice he received from his counsels.

The statement reads: “The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki will appear before the CCT tomorrow Tuesday 22nd of September 2015.

While the Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had stated and maintained that he is ready to submit himself to due process of the law on any issue concerning him, he also believes that he has an inalienable right to CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

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Wednesday September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Saraki’s integrity and the nation’s burden of corruption CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43 resort to the same judiciary for protection when he feels his fundamental rights are about to be infringed upon.

“The Senate President is a law abiding citizen and his absence from tribunal was based on legal advice he received from his counsel that it is not necessary for him to appear before the tribunal at this stage since the jurisdiction of the tribunal and the process of initiating the matter are being challenged before the federal High Court Abuja.

“Following the adjournment for the determination of the motion on notice and the substantive suit before the Federal High Court to September 30 and the appeal pending before the Court of Appeal adjourned to September 29, 2015, the Senate President has decided, as a law abiding citizen, to appear before the tribunal in the interim”.

Appearing before CCT yesterday, Saraki was compelled to mount the dock to answer to corruption charges preferred against him by the federal government.

Saraki, initially refused to enter inside the accused box to enter his plea to the 13-count criminal charge against him, but at last succumbed to the powers of the tribunal and entered the dock at exactly 11:24am.

Meantime Saraki has already pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, even though he took time to lecture the tribunal on the appropriate course of action it ought to have taken before docking him over alleged false declaration of assets.

The former governor complained that he was never afforded the opportunity by the CCB to clarify whatever disparity it observed in the assets he declared while in office as the governor of Kwara State.

Addressing the court from dock, he said: “I am a firm believer of the rule of law. I have come here to subject myself before this tribunal.

I strongly believe that I am here because I am the Senate President. “I felt that the CCB should have called me. We have been hearing about new Nigeria but this is the first time this kind of thing is being done without following the due process. Nigerians are watching and the world is also watching. I will confirm myself to the due process. So as I stated, I want to say that I am not guilty.”

The trial which started at 10:32am, commenced on a dramatic note with the accused person, refusing to mount the dock and following his refusal to stand up as his case was mentioned, the tribunal chairman, Justice Umar, demanded that he should leave his seat and enter inside the dock.

The Senate President who is currently sandwiched by his colleagues and friends inside the court, called the bluff of the tribunal by retaining his seat.

“Where is the prosecution, is the accused person here?” Justice Umar who was looking directly at Saraki from his vantage post, queried.

“My Lord I cannot see him. I think the first thing is for him to enter the dock first, then we will announce our appearances.

After which the charge will be read to him”, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs submitted.

“With profound respect to the chairman and member of this tribunal, I agree with my learned brother that we should

Umar

John Odigie-Oyegun

enter appearances first. The order of this tribunal was that the accused should be produced today. It was not for him to enter his plea. The case was earlier adjourned for mention”, counsel to Saraki, Mr. J.B. Daudu, insisted.

Daudu vehemently opposed the idea of Saraki entering the dock, relying on an Appeal Court decided case law in Igbeke vs FRN, 2015, 3 NWLR.

Shame of a nation Accepted or not, the scenario does not paint good image of the nation.

For many outside the country, it is shameful that the number three citizen of the country is enmeshed in corruption charges.

For them, this scenario can only tell much on why it will take the President of the country more than 100 days to find about 46 honest men to serve as ministers in a country of over 170 million people.

It points to the reason why the national chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, and founder, of the Pan-Yoruba

CJN, Mahmud Mohammed

As it stands, only time will tell what will become of

Saraki, whether he will survive the corruption charges and maintain his integrity Group, Oodua People’s Congress, OPC , Dr Frederick Fasehun, recently described Nigeria as a confused state at 55.

Arguing that there is no angel, not even one in the country, he said: “We have been waiting for probe; the probe will not come, go and mark it. This

is because he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

Are we going to probe the APC now? Or is APC made of angels and the other groups Satan? As far as I know, there are no angels in Nigeria, we may have Satan, but there are no angels. So, you either sweep the whole thing under the carpet and go on with governance or probe across the board so that the whole world will say this man lives according to what we think of him. Like I said earlier, is there an angel in Nigeria, there is not one angel in Nigeria.”

As it stands, only time will tell what will become of Saraki, whether he will survive the corruption charges and maintain his integrity or bow to perceived weapons of powers that be and enter the wrong book of history.

Why Nigerians wait for the outcome of what they see more as power tussle and witch-hunting than real fight against corruption, nobody knows for sure, the next politician whose decade past sins will be brought to the open and persecuted in a country laden with burden of corruption.

Ortom’s aide applauds tribunal judgment

S

pecial Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state on special duties, Arc. Joe Kyaagba has applauded the Benue State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for upholding the election of Governor Samuel Ortom and consequently squashing the petition of the defeated People’s Democratic Party, PDP gubernatorial candidatein the April 11, 2015 polls, Mr. Terhemen Tarzoor.

Arc. Kyaagba while speaking with National Mirror yesterday in Makurdi expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the case saying that. the jurists have lived up to their billing and stood by the decision of the entire populace by dismissing the petition due to lack of concrete evidence .

The Special Adviser further said that it was simply an unnecessary distraction for Tarzoor who is not a mem-

ber of the APC to question the eligibility of Governor Ortom when they both belong to different political platforms.

He therefore gave a pass mark to the judicial panel led

by Justice Elizabeth Karatu for dismissing the petition for want of evidence.

Hon. Kyaagba stated that with the petition out of the way, the government will now begin to focus on provision of dividends of true democracy.

He also used the occasion to disabuse the minds of the citizens against unfounded rumors that the party leader and Senator representing Benue North west Senatorial district, Senator George Akume has caged Governor Samuel Ortom.

Also , former governorship aspirant on the ticket of the People’s Democratic Party in the state, Mr. Peter Chieshe has congratulated Ortom on his victory at the tribunal.

Attack on George unwarranted –Lagos Collectives

A

political group, Lagos Collectives has described the recent outburst of a People’s Democratic Party, PDP member in the state, Mr. Kamal Olorunoje against the former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George as unwarranted and condemnable.

In a release issued by the

Chairman of the group, Professor Tejumade AkitoyeRhodes, he said the latest outburst of Kamal Olorunoje “who is still deluding himself with the self appointed title of PDP acting chairman of Lagos state is rather pathetic, desperate and outlandish”.

Olorunoje had in a news re-

port accused George of trying to personalize the party by backing the state chairman of the party, Capt Tunji Shelle .

It would be recalled that Olorunoje and some members of the PDP Lagos State executive had claimed to have removed Shelle as Lagos PDP chairman but their decision was reversed by the National

Working Committee, NWC of the party which said they lacked the power to remove Shelle.

Lagos Collective said:” Olorunoje should be educated properly that his failed power grab has become a tragicomedy; a sad, sickening joke and a perverted item in a garish political theater.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

45

Equities exhibit slight rebound, gain 0.53% Johnson Okanlawon

T

rading in equities halted two days bearish trends in the equities segment of the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as some investors took position on stocks with good earnings.

Specifically, the All Share Index appreciated 0.53 per cent to close at 30,426.10 points, as against the decline of 0.22 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 30,265.90 points.

Market capitalization rose N55 billion to close at N10.45 trillion, in contrast to the dip of N23 billion recorded the preceding day to close at N10.40 trillion.

Market activities also reflected the revamped mood in the bourse as volume and value of transactions increased by 18.24 per cent and 101.51 per cent respectively.

Market breadth tilted slightly in favour of advancers as 21 stocks appreciated in value against 20 decliners.

The sector indices also reflected the positive mood in the market; as all the indices advanced save for the banking index, which declined by 0.34 per cent prior to the favorable decision by the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, to reduce Cash Reserve Ratio, CRR, from 31 per cent to 25 per cent.

Investment analysts at

Meristem Securities Limited said,” We expect the decision of the MPC to maintain MPR at 13 per cent to boost trading activities on the equities bourse given that the committee’s resolve was in line with general expectations.

Mansard Insurance Plc led the gainers’ table with 13 kobo or five per cent to close at N2.73 per share, followed

by Seplat Plc with N12.00 or 4.94 per cent to close at N255.00 per share.

Livestock Plc added eight kobo or 4.65 per cent to close at N1.80 per share, while Skye Bank Plc gained 10 koboor4.63 per cent to close at N2.26 per share.

Evans Medicals Plc appre-

ciated three kobo or 4.05 per cent to close at 77 kobo per share.

Conversely, Eterna Oil Plc depreciated nine kobo or 4.64per cent to close at N1.85 per share, while Diamond Bank Plc shed 16 kobo or 4.57 per cent to close at N3.34 per share.

UB Capital Plc lost six kobo or 4.08 per cent to close at N1.41 per share, while Wema Bank Plc dropped four kobo or four per cent to close at 96 kobo per share.

Stambic IBTC Plc declined 59 kobo or 2.72 per cent to close at N21.07 per share.

A total of 195.6 million shares valued at N3.13 billion were traded in 3,262 deals.

SEC commences e-dividend mandate implementation Johnson Okanlawon

S

ecurities and Exchange Commission, SEC, yesterday said enrolment for e-dividend payments can now be efficiently conducted at bank and registrar branches nationwide through the online platform launched on July 29, 2015.

The commencement follows the release of a circular on the implementation of -Dividend Mandate Management System, e DMMS, portal by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to all deposit money banks on September 14, 2015.

The e-dividend scheme has been a priority initiative for the entire capital market in a bid to curb the growth of unclaimed dividends and im-

prove the overall efficiency of Nigeria’s equities markets.

A statement from the commission explained that the e-DMMS portal utilizes Nigerian Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS’ robust document management system to which completed e-dividend mandate forms filled by the investor could be uploaded.

“Where an investor opts to fill this form at a registrar’s office, the registrar shall verify details such as the investor’s name, account number and Clearing House Number, CHN. The completed form shall then be uploaded to the e-DMMS portal for immediate access by the investor’s chosen bank. The bank is required to validate the investor’s Bank Verification Number, BVN and other account

details.

“Should an investor choose to complete the edividend mandate form at his bank branch, the bank shall validate his/her BVN and account details before uploading a scanned copy of the form to the e-DMMS portal. This uploaded form would immediately be accessible to the investor’s chosen Registrar who is required to validate the investor’s name, shareholder account number and CHN,” the statement added.

The SEC’s Director-General, Mr Mounir Gwarzo, had during the launch in Lagos, said that the platform was initiated in collaboration with the CBN and the NIBSS. He said that the e-dividend payment platform would

address the lingering unclaimed dividend issue as the market had been awaiting the dividend payment platform in the past 20 years.

“The era of stale dividend and huge unclaimed dividend in the market will be a thing of the past with the launch of e-dividend payment platform, and we are determined to see the full implementation of the e-dividend payment system.

Gwarzo said.

The director-general said that the commission would embark on massive public enlightenment on how investors would utilise the portal saying that the commission would also conduct intensive training for bankers and registrars on the usage of the new portal.

Stocks slide on commodities prices’ slump, dollar gains

F

alling commodities prices and worries about China’s economy pulled stocks sharply lower yesterday, while bond yields declined and the dollar rose to a near two-week high on bets that US officials will soon hike interest rates.

Wall Street losses neared two per cent on selling driven by falls in oil and copper, which also helped knock down shares in Europe and left the pan-European FTSEuro first 300 stocks index off 3.2 per cent.

Wall Street’s Dow Jones industrial average fell 268.45 points, or 1.63 per cent, to 16,241.74, the S&P 500 lost 32.76 points, or 1.67 per cent, to 1,934.21 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 91.49 points, or 1.89 per cent, to 4,737.46.

Copper prices were down 3.9 per cent at two-week lows, while oil was off two per cent.

The Chinese government’s efforts to stimulate growth by easing fiscal and monetary policy have failed to calm nerves in global markets.

“The market is fragile as it is,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at Wunderlich Securities in New York. “The volatility will continue until we get some clarity from the Fed and China.”

The US Federal Reserve last week kept rates near zero, citing turbulence in a tightly-linked global economy, including slowing growth in China. Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart said on Monday a rate hike later this year was still possible.

The selloffs in stocks and commodities boosted US

Treasuries prices and other lower-risk government debt, such as German 10-year Bunds. Benchmark 10-year Treasuries notes were up 18/32 in price, yielding 2.148 per cent, down seven basis points from Monday’s close.

Weakness in stock markets also helped lift the yen against the dollar, though the divergence between the Fed on the one hand and the European Central Bank and Bank of Japan on the other helped push the dollar to its highest since Sept. 10 against a basket of currencies.

Though the Fed held policy steady last week, ECB officials have been stressing that monetary policy in the euro zone will remain loose for some time.

The euro was down 0.4

percent at $1.1140, having hit a high of $1.1459 on Friday.

The dollar eased 0.5 percent to 119.96 yen per dollar but was still above Fridaylows.

Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

13

Crude oil price

$58.96

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

$1

N196.95 Market indicators All-Share Index 30,426.10points Market capitalisation 10.51trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

MANSARD

2.60

2.73

0.13

5.00

SEPLAT

243.00

255.00

12.00

4.94

LIVESTOCK

1.72

1.80

0.08

4.65

SKYEBANK

2.16

2.26

0.10

4.63

EVANSMED

0.74

0.77

0.03

4.05

STERLNBANK

2.06

2.14

0.08

3.88

UBN

5.97

6.20

0.23

3.85

COSTAIN

0.56

0.58

0.02

3.57

IKEJAHOTEL

3.49

3.60

0.11

3.15

ETRANZACT

2.67

2.75

0.08

3.00

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

ETERNA

1.94

1.85

-0.09

-4.64

DIAMONDBNK

3.50

3.34

-0.16

-4.57

UBCAP

1.47

1.41

-0.06

-4.08

WEMABANK

1.00

0.96

-0.04

-4.00

STANBIC

21.66

21.07

-0.59

-2.72

TRANSCORP

2.36

2.30

-0.06

-2.54

FLOURMILL

22.54

22.00

-0.54

-2.40

NEM

0.68

0.67

-0.01

-1.47

GUARANTY

24.50

24.15

-0.35

-1.43

FIDELITYBK

1.52

1.50

-0.02

-1.32

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.60

99.93

15.12

100.08

15.01

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.77

102.43

15.10

102.73

15.00

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.40

100.91

15.23

101.21

15.14

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.35

104.95

15.13

105.25

15.06

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.48

95.60

15.14

95.90

15.07

10.00 23-JUL-2030

14.84 68.00

15.58

68.30

15.51

Closing Market Prices of September 21, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

24-Dec-15

11.01

11.34

WAUA

270

24-Mar-16

13.10

14.03

USD

196.96

EURO

214

01-Sep-16

13.18

15.07

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

25.1250

1M

16.0619

POUNDS STERLING

293

3M

17.0759

SDR

273

6M

18.3199

NIBOR

The Fixings of September 21, 2015

Capital Market

46

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Stock exchange daily equities summary Daily Summary as of 22/09/2015

Equities as at September 22, 2015

Printed 22/09/2015 14:32:37.037

Daily Summary as of 22/09/2015 Printed 22/09/2015 14:32:37.037

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

Daily Summary (Equities)

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 9 6 15

Current Price 28.95 30.55

Quantity Traded 28,402 15,000 43,402

Value Traded 781,430.10 458,366.46 1,239,796.56

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 1.80

Quantity Traded 138,710 138,710

Value Traded 246,148.10 246,148.10

182,112

1,485,944.66

Quantity Traded 22,370 13,863,604 320,618 14,206,592

Value Traded 22,064.71 32,675,498.57 9,798,165.14 42,495,728.42

14,206,592 Quantity Traded 393,072 393,072

42,495,728.42 Value Traded 221,230.92 221,230.92

Daily Summary as of 22/09/2015

AGRICULTURE Totals Printed 22/09/2015 14:32:37.037

CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Diversified Industries Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE CONGLOMERATES Totals Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

28

Symbol

No. of Deals 12 119 36 167

AGLEVENT Daily Summary (Equities) TRANSCORP UACN

167 No. of Deals 9 9

Symbol COSTAIN

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Activity Summary on Board EQTY

7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC Published

by TheSummary Nigerian Stock Exchange © Activity on Board EQTY DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR GOODS MILLS NIG. PLC. CONSUMER HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Food Products MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC Food Products FLOUR MILLSTotals NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Food Products--Diversified MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified Totals Food Products--Diversified Household Durables CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. VITAFOAM NIG PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables Totals Household Daily Summary as Durables of 22/09/2015 Personal/Household Products VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Printed 22/09/2015 14:32:37.037 P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products Totals Personal/Household Products CONSUMER GOODS Totals P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Personal/Household Products Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FINANCIAL SERVICES CONSUMER GOODS Totals Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©INCORPORATED ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC Daily Summary as of 22/09/2015 STERLING BANK PLC. Printed 22/09/2015 14:32:37.037 UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Activity Summary on Board EQTY

AIICO INSURANCE PLC. FINANCIAL SERVICESREINSURANCE PLC CONTINENTAL Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Daily Summary as of 22/09/2015 UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Printed 22/09/2015 14:32:37.037 Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTYFUND NIGERIA ENERYGY SECTOR ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. FINANCIAL SERVICES STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC Other Financial Institutions CAPITALStock PLC Exchange © Published by UBA The Nigerian Other Financial Institutions Totals

Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Current Price 44.08

Page Quantity Traded 41,491 41,491

13 1Value Traded of 1,742,738.00 1,742,738.00

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 7.42

Quantity Traded 8,787 8,787

Value Traded 68,450.73 68,450.73

443,350

2,032,419.65

27

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW JOSBREW NB

No. of Deals 27 83 9 1 153 (Equities) 273

Current Price 4.40 154.45 17.85 1.58 140.02

Quantity Traded 1,399,174 311,855 31,100 2,500 4,893,679 6,638,308

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 21 21 (Equities) No. of Deals 29 42 120 25 No. of Deals 1 29 28 42 245 120

Current Price 190.40

Quantity Traded 249,277 249,277 Quantity Traded 343,252 Page 3,025,652 2,150,302 585,810 Quantity Traded 1,000 343,252 436,570 3,025,652 6,542,586 2,150,302

Daily Summary

Daily Summary Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR Symbol MULTITREX DANGFLOUR NASCON DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR Symbol MULTITREX CADBURY NASCON NESTLE

25 No. of Deals 1 42 28 36 245 78

Current Price 2.84 6.90 22.00 2.43 Current Price 0.50 2.84 6.70 6.90 22.00 2.43 Current Price 0.50 24.00 6.70 820.00

Value Traded 5,880,439.32 48,281,804.93 534,846.00 3,775.00 685,163,945.83 739,864,811.08 Value Traded 47,477,723.37 47,477,723.37 Value Traded 972,186.91 13 2 of 20,945,989.53 48,015,257.28 1,430,610.82 Value Traded 500.00 972,186.91 2,914,307.56 20,945,989.53 74,278,852.10 48,015,257.28

585,810 Quantity Traded 1,000 234,924 436,570 270,180 6,542,586 505,104

1,430,610.82 Value Traded 500.00 5,635,808.49 2,914,307.56 221,546,935.08 74,278,852.10 227,182,743.57

Symbol Symbol CADBURY VITAFOAM NESTLE VONO

No. of Deals No. of Deals 42 7 36 17 78 24

Current Price Current Price 24.00 5.84 820.00 0.81

Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 234,924 68,480 270,180 3,886,033 505,104 3,954,513

Value Traded Value Traded 5,635,808.49 384,685.05 221,546,935.08 2,928,206.73 227,182,743.57 3,312,891.78

Symbol Symbol VITAFOAM PZ VONO UNILEVER

No. of Deals No. of Deals 7 30 17 42 24 72

Current Price Current Price 5.84 26.00 0.81 45.70

Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 68,480 395,125 3,886,033 518,686 3,954,513 913,811

Value Traded Value Traded 384,685.05 10,271,209.46 2,928,206.73 23,531,310.97 3,312,891.78 33,802,520.43

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities) 713

26.00 45.70

Quantity Traded 18,803,599 395,125 518,686 913,811 Page

Value Traded 1,125,919,542.33 10,271,209.46 23,531,310.97 33,802,520.43 13 3 of

Current Price 5.23 3.34 18.61 1.50 24.15 2.26 2.14 4.24 6.20 1.35 0.96

18,803,599 Quantity Traded 4,119,372 1,633,468 Page 4,646,384 3,356,804 32,151,849 2,563,202 616,248 41,729,461 681,527 3,435,282 361,768 95,295,365

1,125,919,542.33 Value Traded 21,369,328.78 5,501,757.92 13 3 of 86,410,466.37 5,074,248.40 786,293,505.51 5,782,344.68 1,302,175.30 176,514,012.57 4,152,621.39 4,629,056.67 347,731.78 1,097,377,249.37

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE Symbol CORNERST LINKASSURE MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM PRESTIGE SOVRENINS WAPIC

No. of Deals Current Price 15 0.90 7 0.94 No. of Deals Current Price 2 0.50 3 0.50 3 2.73 2 0.50 11 0.67 3 0.50 1 0.50 8 0.50 55

Quantity Traded 653,577 98,885 Quantity Traded 20,050 610,000 87,100 80,500 6,809,880 550 50 737,091 9,097,683 Page

Value Traded 591,067.30 90,766.50 Value Traded 10,025.00 305,005.00 237,783.00 40,250.00 4,747,536.00 275.00 25.00 368,545.50 6,391,278.30 13 4 of

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.03

Quantity Traded 25,890 25,890

Value Traded 26,486.70 26,486.70

Symbol UNHOMES

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 5.23

Quantity Traded 340 340

Value Traded 1,689.80 1,689.80

Symbol AFRIPRUD

No. of Deals Current Price 45 2.74 6 4.25 53 2.35 1 552.20 1 0.50 26 21.07 No. of Deals Current Price 60 1.41 192

PZ UNILEVER

Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK

Daily Summary

30 42 72

713 No. of Deals 116 53 28 66 221 52 27 267 51 32 23 (Equities) 936

Daily Summary (Equities) CUSTODYINS FCMB NESF ROYALEX STANBIC Symbol UBCAP

1,186

Quantity Traded 397,618 47,552 2,785,164 1,000 400 1,050,623 Quantity Traded 2,388,926 Page 6,671,283 111,090,561

Value Traded 1,080,959.98 195,905.52 6,555,353.39 524,590.00 200.00 22,601,202.78 Value Traded 13 53,468,532.66 of 34,426,744.33 1,138,223,448.50

Symbol MORISON

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.82

Quantity Traded 50 50

Value Traded 86.50 86.50

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH NIG-GERMAN PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals 11 4 21 8 6 3 2 55

Current Price 0.77 3.19 35.20 1.32 1.02 5.16 2.14

Quantity Traded 711,050 32,000 400,072 122,452 3,313 3,274 10,581 1,282,742

Value Traded 538,345.74 104,920.00 13,875,870.87 161,958.80 3,243.61 15,571.34 22,749.15 14,722,659.51

1,282,792

14,722,746.01

Quantity Traded 500

Value Traded 805.00

HEALTHCARE Totals ICT IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC.

Current Price 0.58

No. of Deals 12 12

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Medical Supplies Totals

Current Price 0.99 2.30 30.66

Symbol JBERGER

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Daily Summary as ofBREW. 22/09/2015 CHAMPION PLC. Printed 22/09/2015 14:32:37.037 GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN PLC. Daily Summary as ofBREW. 22/09/2015 Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Printed 22/09/2015 14:32:37.037

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Sector

Company name

56

Symbol TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 1.69

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC Processing Systems Totals

Page

6

of

Quantity Traded 500

Value Traded 805.00

Symbol CHAMS ETRANZACT

No. of Deals 1 16 17

Current Price 0.50 2.75

Quantity Traded 400,000 332,501 732,501

Value Traded 200,000.00 892,183.29 1,092,183.29

733,001

1,092,988.29

No. of Deals 16 20 8 14 1 1 22 82

Current Price 22.50 9.93 37.05 8.73 0.50 4.31 97.46

Quantity Traded 99,348 240,781 23,767 41,777 300 5,736 1,228,584 1,640,293

Value Traded 2,202,619.16 2,273,269.64 900,889.28 350,350.86 150.00 23,517.60 118,951,703.08 124,702,499.62

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 1.60

Quantity Traded 7,000 7,000

Value Traded 11,204.16 11,204.16

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 42.70

Quantity Traded 10,000 10,000 Page

Value Traded 405,700.00 7 405,700.00 of 13

Symbol NIGROPES

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 7.46

Quantity Traded 50 50

Value Traded 354.50 354.50

1,657,343

125,119,758.28

Quantity Traded 15 15

Value Traded 110.55 110.55

0.64

Quantity Traded 50 50

Value Traded 30.50 30.50

Daily Summary (Equities)

Electronic and Electrical Products Electronic and Electrical Products Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals © Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC Tools and Machinery Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

88

Daily Summary asRESOURCES of 22/09/2015 NATURAL Printed 22/09/2015 Metals 14:32:37.037

Symbol ALUMACO

ALUMINIUM MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Metals Totals

THOMASWY

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services OIL AND GAS JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Current Price 7.75

1 1 2

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Published by The Nigerian Exchange © Petroleum andStock Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Daily Summary as of 22/09/2015 Printed 22/09/2015 14:32:37.037 Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

SERVICES Activity Summary on Board EQTY Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC SERVICES

No. of Deals 1 1

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price

Paper/Forest Products THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. Paper/Forest Products Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Value of Shares(N)

Current Price

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN FIRSTALUM PORTPAINT WAPCO

CUTIX PLC. on Board EQTY Activity Summary

OIL AND GAS Totals

Quantity Traded

No. of Deals 1

18

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC Daily Summary as of 22/09/2015 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC Printed 22/09/2015 FIRST14:32:37.037 ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

65

141.05

Symbol JAPAULOIL Symbol

No. of Deals 2 No. of Deals 2

Current Price 0.50 Current Price

Quantity Traded 3,766 Quantity Traded 3,766

Value Traded 1,883.00 Value Traded 1,883.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 160 160

Current Price 10.65

Quantity Traded 2,836,104 2,836,104

Value Traded 30,526,927.60 30,526,927.60

Symbol BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL TOTAL

No. of Deals 1 29 14 57 10 16 127

Current Price 0.50 28.41 1.85 231.09 145.00 150.80

Page Quantity Traded 500 107,766 446,170 140,622 103,227 18,100 816,385

8Value Traded of 13 250.00 2,967,837.06 828,563.00 32,173,246.74 14,967,660.77 2,695,422.11 53,632,979.68

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 255.00

Quantity Traded 25,843 25,843

Value Traded 6,572,457.40 6,572,457.40

3,682,098

90,734,247.68

Daily Summary (Equities)

304

Symbol AFROMEDIA

No. of Deals 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 850

Value Traded 425.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 3

Current Price

Quantity Traded 850 Page

Value Traded 425.00 9 of 13

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.54

Quantity Traded 3,001 3,001

Value Traded 1,617.08 1,617.08

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 2 4 6

Current Price 4.23 1.26

Quantity Traded 600 105,000 105,600

Value Traded 2,664.00 126,000.00 128,664.00

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 101,150 101,150

Value Traded 50,575.00 50,575.00

Hotels/Lodging

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 3.60

Quantity Traded 320,300 320,300

Value Traded 1,145,430.00 1,145,430.00

No. of Deals 2 3 (Equities) 5

Current Price 0.95 5.20

Quantity Traded 21,000 16,134 37,134

Value Traded 20,370.00 79,701.96 100,071.96

Quantity Traded 12,000

Value Traded 6,600.00

Advertising Advertising Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

IKEJA HOTEL PLC Daily Summary as of 22/09/2015 Hotels/Lodging Totals Printed 22/09/2015 14:32:37.037 Daily Summary as of 22/09/2015 Printing/Publishing Printed 22/09/2015 14:32:37.037 LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals Daily Summary of 22/09/2015 Activity Summary on Board EQTY Roadas Transportation Printed 22/09/2015 14:32:37.037 ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC SERVICES Activity Summary on Board EQTY Road Published by The Transportation Nigerian Stock Exchange © SERVICES Road Transportation Totals Road Transportation Specialty Road Transportation Totals INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC Activity Summary on Board TECHNOLOGY EQTY Daily Summary as of 22/09/2015 SECURE ELECTRONIC PLC Specialty Printed 22/09/2015 14:32:37.037 INTERLINKED Specialty TotalsTECHNOLOGIES PLC SERVICES SECURE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY PLC Road Transportation Transport-Related Services Specialty Totals Road Transportation Totals AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Daily SummaryNIGERIAN as of 22/09/2015 Transport-Related Transport-Related Services Totals Printed 22/09/2015 14:32:37.037Services Specialty NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC INTERLINKED PLC SERVICES Totals TECHNOLOGIES Transport-Related Totals Activity Summary onServices BoardTECHNOLOGY PREMIUM SECURE ELECTRONIC PLC Specialty Totals SERVICES Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES EQTY Board Totals Other Financial Institutions Transport-Related Services HOLDINGS PLC HANDLING COMPANY PLC EQTY FBN Board Totals NIGERIAN AVIATION Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM Other Financial Institutions Transport-Related Services Totals Totals

Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM

FINANCIAL SERVICES FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals SERVICES Totals Other Financial Institutions FINANCIAL SERVICES Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM FBN HOLDINGS PLC INDUSTRIAL Banking GOODS Other Financial Institutions Totals EQTY Board Totals Building Materials FINANCIAL SERVICES ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Banking Banking Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals Building Totals BANK PLC ZENITHMaterials INTERNATIONAL Banking Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Activity Summary onTotals Board PREMIUM INDUSTRIAL GOODS

Building Materials CEMENT PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Published byDANGOTE The Nigerian Stock Exchange © PREMIUM Board Totals Building Materials Totals Banking ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © PLC INDUSTRIAL GOODS Equity ActivityTotals Totals Totals Banking

PREMIUM Board Totals Equity Totals Exchange Traded Published byActivity The Nigerian StockFund Exchange © Daily Summary Nameas of 22/09/2015 Printed 22/09/2015 LOTUS 14:32:37.037 HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN ETF Exchange Traded30Fund Exchange Name Traded Fund Totals LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) Published by The Nigerian ETF Board TotalsStock Exchange © VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

ETP Activity Totals

13

Quotation(N)

Symbol

ICT Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

No Of Deals

ICT IT Services IT Services Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

1st Tier Securities

Symbol LEARNAFRCA UPL Daily Summary

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 2

Current Price 0.55

Symbol

No. of Deals 2

Current Price

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol INTERLINK NSLTECH Symbol INTERLINK NSLTECH Symbol Symbol NAHCO Daily Summary Symbol Symbol NAHCO INTERLINK NSLTECH

No. of Deals Current Price 2 1 4.21 0.50 No. of Deals1 Current Price 12 4.21 1 0.50 No. Current No.of ofDeals Deals CurrentPrice Price 2 2 16 4.74 (Equities) No. of Deals 16 Current Price No. of Deals Current Price 16 4.74 1 4.21 54 16 1 0.50 2 54

Daily Summary (Equities)

2,643

Symbol No. Symbol No. of of Deals Deals Current Current Price Price Daily Summary (Equities) FBNH NAHCO

Daily Summary (Equities)

321 16 2,643

6.30 4.74

321 16

573 54 Current Price No. of Deals 321 6.30 No. of Deals Current Price 321 2,643 No. of Deals 252 Current Price 18.10 46 Current168.00 No. of Deals Price 252 (Equities) 573 46 252 18.10 252 46 Symbol No. of Deals Current Price DANGCEM 46 168.00 619 46 Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ZENITHBANK 252 18.10 46 3,262 252

Symbol FBNH Symbol Symbol ZENITHBANK DANGCEM Symbol Daily Summary ZENITHBANK

Daily Summary (ETP)

Quantity Traded Page 12,000 Quantity Traded Quantity 12,000 Traded 50 10,000 Quantity Traded 50 10,050 10,000 Quantity QuantityTraded Traded 10,050 12,000 42,606 Quantity Traded 42,606 Quantity Traded 42,606 50 632,691 42,606 10,000 10,050 632,691

152,714,204

Value Traded 10 of 13 6,600.00 Value Traded Value Traded 6,600.00 205.00 Value 5,000.00 Traded 205.00 5,205.00 5,000.00 Value Traded Value Traded 5,205.00 6,600.00 201,412.08 Value Traded 201,412.08 Value Traded 201,412.08 205.00 1,640,000.12 201,412.08 5,000.00 5,205.00 1,640,000.12

2,543,466,964.99

Quantity Quantity Traded Traded 19,989,253 152,714,204 42,606 19,989,253 42,606

125,997,412.58 201,412.08 2,543,466,964.99

Value Value Traded Traded

42,565,584 632,691 Quantity Traded 19,989,253 Quantity Traded 19,989,253 152,714,204 Quantity Traded 22,576,331 311,207 Quantity Traded 22,576,331 42,565,584 311,207 22,576,331

534,529,162.00 1,640,000.12 Value Traded 125,997,412.58 Value Traded 125,997,412.58 2,543,466,964.99 Value Traded 408,531,749.42 52,188,105.25 Value Traded 408,531,749.42 534,529,162.00 52,188,105.25 408,531,749.42

125,997,412.58 201,412.08

22,576,331 408,531,749.42 311,207 52,188,105.25 Quantity Traded Value Traded 13 11 of 311,207Page 52,188,105.25 42,876,791 586,717,267.25 311,207 52,188,105.25 Quantity Traded Value Traded 13 Page 11 of 22,576,331 408,531,749.42 311,207 52,188,105.25 195,590,995 3,130,184,232.24 22,576,331 408,531,749.42

42,876,791

619 3,262

586,717,267.25

195,590,995Page3,130,184,232.24 13 11 of

Symbol LOTUSHAL15

No. of Deals Current Price 1 9.74 1 2,179.00 VETGRIF30 1 14.03 3 Symbol Daily Summary (ETP) No. of Deals Current Price LOTUSHAL15 1 9.74 NEWGOLD 1 2,179.00 3 VETGRIF30 1 14.03 3

DailyNEWGOLD Summary (ETP)

3

Quantity Traded 10 50 10 70 Quantity Traded 10 Page 50 70 10 70

70

Page

Value Traded 97.40 108,950.00 140.30 109,187.70 Value Traded 97.40 13 12 108,950.00 of 109,187.70 140.30 109,187.70

109,187.70

12

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13

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

47

Community Mirror Let me again repeat what I have been saying that Goodluck Jonathan has no We are pushing Nigeriain toconvening do a concrete It is cheaper to do personalforagenda thisroad. national conference. a concrete road that would last 50 years than to do a bitumen road.

49

–Chairman Dangote AlikoJonathan Dangote PresidentGroup, Goodluck

NOPRIN urges FG to revisit reports on police reform Dare Akogun

N

etwork on Police Reform in Nigeria, NOPRIN, has urged the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption to advise President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to dust up the shelved reports of both Civil Society and successive Presidential Committees on Police Reform and harmonise them for implementation of far-reaching recommendations contained therein.

National coordinator of the group, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, said what had been lacking are not solutions to the problems plaguing the Nigeria Police, but the political will

to implement far-reaching reforms.

According to him, “successive administrations since 1999 have set up Presidential Committees on Police Reform without implementing recommended reforms.

“Reports are shelved soon after they are submitted to the President, and another committee is set up by the next administration in response to a new incident or development.

“Setting up police reform committees seemed to have become a means by which successive administrations distribute patronage, amounting to a waste of time and public resources.

He urged the panel to take

into consideration the Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Committee on Reform of the Nigeria Police Force chaired

by Mr. Parry Osayande, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police.

He pointed that the report contained recommendations on how best to restructure and reorganise the Nigeria Police to make it more professional, efficient and accountable; how to check abuse and corruption, and how to address operational

muster the will to implement the far-reaching recommendations contained in the reports of various Presidential Committees as well as the CSO Panel on Police Reform in Nigeria.

“We cannot think of any issue more critical to the survival of our nation at this juncture in our history, than repositioning the Nigeria Police Force to effectively and efficiently discharge its functions in partnership with the communities it serve,” he added.

and welfare needs of members of the Nigeria Police.

“It was our hope that the recommendations of the panel, which drew heavily from major voices in civil society, will complement those of Mr. Osayande’s Committee in guiding government in its efforts to reposition and transform the Nigeria Police into an effective and accountable public service institution,” he stated.

“We believe President Buhari will make the difference and

Oando boosts trader’s fortunes with LPG gas stove

O

ando Marketing Plc, a leading oil marketer in the country, recorded yet another feat as it initiated a new social benefit scheme aimed at alleviating the suffering of Nigerian women in food business by making available Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to them at affordable prices.

The company distributed the stoves to women in the famous business of frying bean cakes (Akara Osu) at Ibadan-Ife Expressway in Ipetumodu area of Osun State led by its Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Olaposi Williams, in a well-attended ceremony.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Olaposi Williams, said Oando was motivated to embark on this initiative to alleviate the suffering of women who are exposed to health problems arising from the use of firewood in frying “akara” as well as ensuring a switch from the use of firewood to a cleaner and safer fuel, which is LPG. “We at Oando have looked at the health issues associated with the use of fire woods and the suffering of these enterprising women and have decided to give back to this community by initiating this social benefit scheme as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility,” she said.

Williams disclosed that the

company was also poised to ensure that Nigerians switch from using firewood to LPG, which is cleaner and safer.

Disclosing that Nigeria, being the fifth largest country producing LPG should not be the least to imbibe the culture of using LPG, he added that this was one of the reasons Oando Marketing, a leading oil marketer in the country, was spearheading the switch, starting from the bottom of the pyramid by going to the low income earners who form the bulk of people that use firewood.

Responding on behalf of the traders, Iyaloja/Founder of Ipetumodu Market Women Association, Chief Mrs. Grace Kayode Oyatomi, expressed gratitude to Oando, adding that the initiative would certainly herald a new dawn in the business of her members.

“We are grateful to Oando for this giant stride. Today marks the beginning of a new life in the business of our members.

Similarly, representative of the traditional ruler of Ipetumodu, Agbaakin of Ipetumodu, Chief Akinloye Olarewaju commended Oando for the gesture and assured that the traditional ruler of the area was prepared to give the company a parcel of land to set up their operations if need be.

A vehicle conveying load of animal skin in Ojaba, Ogbomosho.

PHOTO: ABIOLA ABDULHAMMED

Police arraign housemaid for pouring hot water on employer Olanrewaju Olatunbosun

A

17-year-old housemaid, Esther Abiodun, who was alleged to have poured hot water on her employer, Alhaja Dupe IbaAgba, while she was asleep, was yesterday re-arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court.

The defendant, who is standing trial on a two-count charge of pouring hot water on her employer and causing her grievous bodily harm, was first arraigned on September 18.

She had pleaded guilty to the charges and Magistrate W. Balogun adjourned the matter to September21.

During court proceedings yesterday, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Balogun, however, granted her bail in the sum of N100,000, with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the matter till October 6 for mention.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Philip Osijale, had informed the court that the defendant committed the offence on 14 September, 2015, at her employer’s residence, No. 20/21, Osho Street, Lagos Island, a day after she secured the job as a housemaid.

Osijale said the defendant boiled hot water and monitored her boss until she had slept and then poured it on her body while she was fast asleep. Her employer sustained serious burns all over her body including her chest, right and left hands.

He said the victim was rushed to intensive care unit in

a Lagos hospital where doctors are still battling to save her life.

Osijale further stated that during investigation, the defendant admitted to committing the crime and said she intentionally boiled the hot water and poured it on her employer’s body to teach her a lesson for unjustifiable reasons.

According to him, the offences committed are punishable under sections 171 and 243 of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2011. The defendant, who was represented by a lawyer, Helen Ibeji, had pleaded guilty to the charges in the open court.

Consequently Magistrate Balogun ordered that she be remanded at the Lagos State correctional centre, Idi-Araba, Mushin, Lagos, while he adjourned till 21 September, 2015.

48

K

Community Mirror

altungo has one of the highest incidences of snake bites in the northeast sub-region area after it has been infested with dangerous and poisonous snakes such as the vipers and cobras several years ago. The development, it is gathered has made several people in the community to fall victims of snake bites which strikes anytime of the day and could attack anywhere in the community.

Several lives has been lost as a result of snake bites while it has rendered several victims paralysed for the rest of their lives having been affected with poison from the snakes.

The development necessitated the designation of the Kaltungo General Hospital as one of the National Snakebite Research and Treatment Centres by the Federal Ministry of Health in 1988. Since then the hospital has continued to offer treatment to snake bite victims from the northeast and even beyond.

However, in 1994 the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health set up a committee under the leadership of Nasidi Habib, who pioneered the project to find a lasting solution to snake bite in the area. The project was later abandoned, but was revived in 1998 through the then Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).

The facility received no less than twelve snake bite patients on daily basis but unfortunately in 2011, the Federal Government stopped the supply of anti-venom drugs which cost N25, 000 per dose to the hospital. Unfortunately, it gradually began to suffer equipment deficit as the affected community once again continue to suffer from the snake bites.

However, respite came the snake kingdom’s way recently as Dr. Mike Omotosho a gubernatorial aspirant in the last general election in Kwara State through his foundation; Mike Omotosho Foundation came to the town rescue by constructing a snake bite hospital for the community and equipped with N10million worth of equipment. Similarly, he also provides equipment and consumables to the abandon government facility to enable the residents have access to qualitative and sound healthcare delivery service.

Some of the equipment are solar refrigerators, examination beds, beddings, clutches, wheelchairs, several packs of plasters and bandages, antiseptic, disinfectants, several pack of cotton wools gauzes and examination gloves among others.

The foundation had equally encouraged multilateral partners to visit the facility and attract donor funding of N50 million to supply various equipment for the use of the people.

Before the intervention it was

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Respite for Gombe ‘snake community’ as Omotosho Foundation offers antidote Kaltungo, an agrarian community in Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State, undoubtedly is a popular community in the country due to the large concentration of poisonous snakes in the area. Recently, the community benefitted from a foundation that donated a hospital to cater for victims of snake bite, DARE AKOGUN writes.

Patients receiving treatment at the Snake-bite Hospital

reliably gathered that the facility no longer have the requisite drugs and lacked necessary tools to enable it attends to snake bite victims, which usually led to several lost of precious lives.

Speaking on his foundation’s interest in the community, Omotosho said the foundation deem it fit to construct snake bites hospital for the community and provide other support because of his resolve to contribute meaningfully to the people’s lives.

With the support, Omotosho who is also the Governor, Rotary International, District 9125 in Nigeria said the foundation has contributed its quotas to complement government efforts at providing

qualitative healthcare delivery services to the people.

“The newly constructed hospital would provide comprehensive treatment for snake bite victims as well as research into snakes, snake bites and would address the issue of snake bites in the state.

“Snake bites are very prominent in the area, records have shown that the community is the most affected not only in Gombe State but in the country,” he noted.

He therefore challenged every stakeholder in the state and Nigeria as a whole to rally round the community in order to save them from being wiped out as a result of snake bites.

Omotosho rue several people

who could have contributed positively to the community have been lost to snake bites in Kaltungo over the years, saying that supposing they were attended to on time and provided with necessary drugs their lives could have been saved.

He enjoined the Federal Government to explore the possibility of collaborating with investors to produce locally made venom especially in Kaltungo as the production of the anti-snake venom in Nigeria would bring down the cost.

He noted that his foundation is poised to make lives comfortable for the citizenry regardless of which part of Nigeria is affected.

Dr. Omotosho (middle) flanked by Emir of Kaltungo and well-wishers after conferment of chieftaincy title on him by the community.

Calling on other spirited individuals, Non-Governmental Organisations, foundations as well as corporate organisations to come to the affected community’s aid through several means they could assist the people to live healthy.

According to him, our resolve to construct the hospital for the community’s use was borne out of the foundation’s commitment and dedication to people’s lives, especially at the grassroots level where the people have been relegated to the background.

“Deadly and poisonous snakes such as vipers and cobras have over the years been confirmed in Kaltungo in large concentration, several lives have been lost to the snake attacks in the community.

“So we found it worthy to contribute our quotas to the development of Kaltungo through construction of another state of the art facility where the victims can be treated after the attack,” he said.

To show the community’s gratitude and appreciation for Omotosho’s gesture, he was honoured with the traditional title of Marmarin Kaltungo which means “Someone so loved by the community”. The Maigarin Kaltungo, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Sule Muhammad Umar thanked Omotosho for the donation of the hospital and equipment, noting that Kaltungo community would forever be indebted to the donor and his foundation.

The monarch also confirmed that several lives have been lost to snake bites in Kaltungo, describing the community’s experience over the years as horrible.

He lamented that there is no time the snakes could not attack in the community, especially at nights when there is darkness and people are more vulnerable to being attacked.

He called on other philanthropists to emulate Omotosho’s gesture by coming to the community’s aid and further safe the affected town from being wiped out due to snake bites.

It is believed that other NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs), philanthropists and spirited individuals would emulate the donor by coming to Snake Kingdom’s aid as they battle snake bites in the community.

In as much as it has been very difficult to wipe Kaltungo of deadly snakes, it is incumbent on both state and federal government to further provide the community with equipment and required drugs which could be used in treating snake bites victims in Kaltungo.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

World News It is unfair that spouses should be long oppressed by darkness of doubt over whether their marriages could be annulled.

–Pope Francis

B

urkina Faso’s coup leader says he will abide by a deal reached with top African mediators, but warned his men would defend themselves if attacked after the army entered the capital.

General Gilbert Diendere on Tuesday called for troops who entered Ouagadougou overnight seeking a surrender by his elite army unit to leave the city, the AFP news agency reported.

“We do not want to fight but ultimately we will defend ourselves,” Diendere warned, nearly a week after his men detained the interim leaders who had been running the country since a popular uprising deposed ironfisted president Blaise Compaore last October.

Earlier in the day, troops loyal to Burkina Faso’s deposed government said they were preparing to attack the Camp Naaba military base near the capital’s presidential palace, which is held by troops who staged a coup last week.

Loyalist troops have been massing in the capital on Tuesday and have told those behind the coup, which derailed a democratic transition process, to disarm and surrender by 10am (10am GMT) or face attack.

As the deadline expired, the ex-spy chief Diendere held a press conference, saying he was still in charge and that he was awaiting the outcome of a ECOWAS summit in Abuja, Nigeria, where African leaders were discussing developments in Burkina Faso.

“I’m not stalling for time. I’m within the time alotted to me,” he told a news conference, reiterating that he was still president of the National Democratic Council, as his group is known.

Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque, reporting from Ouagadougou,

Burkina Faso coup leader vows to abide by truce

T

France’s La Pen to be tried over anti-Muslim incitement Far-right leader faces charges of provoking racial hatred after comparing Muslim street prayers to Nazi occupation. Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right National Front, has been ordered to stand trial in October on charges of inciting racial hatred after comparing Muslim street prayers to the Nazi occupation, legal sources have said.

Le Pen told the AFP news agency on Tuesday that she would attend the trial. “Yes, of course. I wouldn’t miss such an occasion,” she said.

She was charged in July 2014 after her immunity as a member of the European Parliament was lifted following a vote over her controversial statements.

Mecca’s $7,000-per-night makeshift room

Army from around Burkina Faso have converged on the capital, Ouagadougou.

said the situation in the capital was tense even as the country’s state TV channel was showing a wildlife documentary.

“Minutes before the deadline expired, General Diendere called a press conference and released a statement saying he wants to stand by the frame-

work agreement that was negotiated with ECOWAS,” Haque reported.

“The civil society and most of the people here don’t agree with this agreement. On the street right now people are following the orders of the military. The military has asked the people to

retreat back home.

“The presidential guard has locked down the presidential palace. They are out in full force. They have also positioned themselves around Burkina Faso’s public television and radio station which is currently running [an] animal documentary.”

two gun shops in Bloemfontein, is facing charges including sexual assault, intimidation and domestic violence.

The 58-year-old allegedly sedated his victims before operating on them, the police said.

Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, from South Africa’s special Hawks police investigation unit, said that the suspect would remain in custody until he was able to apply for bail next Monday.

Police believe most of his alleged victims may have come from neighbouring Lesotho.

The BBC’s Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg says Mr Fredekrisen was arrested last week following a tip-off.

The suspected genital parts were found in his freezer, all neatly labelled in plastic bags with a date, the name of a woman and where she was from, he says.

Anaesthetic drugs and a surgical doctor’s operating equipment were also found at his house, police say.

Brigadier Mulaudzi said police wanted alleged victims to come forward to help with investigations.

Officers want to establish how the women were lured to South Africa, as well as the man’s motives, he said.

South Africa appeal after ‘genitals found in Danish man’s freezer’

S

outh Africa’s police are appealing for information after arresting a Danish man alleged to have had suspected genitals from 21 women in his freezer.

Peter Fredekrisen, who owns

EU chooses quota system to address migrant crihe European Union voted in favor of implementing a quota system to relocate 120,000 asylum-seekers in Europe, an EU source told CNN’s Nic Robertson. Four countries opposed quotas -- Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary -- but they will be obligated to take in asylum-seekers, the source said.

The Balkan nation of Croatia grappled with an increasing wave of migrants on Tuesday, as EU interior ministers prepared to meet in Brussels, Belgium, to seek a solution to Europe’s worst migration crisis since World War II.

WORLD BULLETIN

Croatian officials said that 2,400 migrants had entered the country in just the past 12 hours.

Nearly 35,000 people have already arrived in the country, which has a population of only 4.4 million.

Europe as a whole has struggled in recent weeks to fashion a coherent response to a historic wave of people fleeing conflict and destruction in the Middle East and North Africa -- primarily from Syria, where a civil war has raged for more than four years, leaving cities in ruins.

The EU interior ministers will try to agree on a coordinated plan to deal with the wave of migrants that they can then sub-

mit to EU presidents and prime ministers, who are scheduled to meet in Brussels on Wednesday.

So far, 34,900 migrants have been allowed into Croatia, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement. But the migrants are moving through the country to other destinations fairly efficiently, Croatia said, with 5,100 transported out of the country on Monday and a further 1,160

by Tuesday morning.

Currently 1,630 people are at a camp in Opatovac, in eastern Croatia near the border with Serbia, where video feeds showed them waiting for transportation and lined up for aid.

Saudi authorities ban VIP camps in Mina, the world’s largest tent city, because they ‘defy the spirit of Hajj. It is a plain, two-bytwo-metre room in a portacabin dug into the sand and fitted with two beds and a small cabinet with a price tag of $3,500 for each person a night.

The room is in the barren Mecca neighbourhood of Mina, an area central to the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. On Tuesday, the first day of Hajj, hundreds of thousands of people started flooding the largest tent city in the world. Mina is completely deserted all year round, except for the Hajj period, when more than a million people spend a few nights there - a required part of the pilgrimage.

Everyone in Mina becomes a wayfarer. Pilgrims from all over the world leave behind the comforts of civilisation and dissolve class and cultural distinctions.

Pope urges ‘revolution of tenderness’ for Cubans Pope Francis has called on Cubans to live a “revolution of tenderness”. He was celebrating mass at Cuba’s holiest shrine, the sanctuary of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre.

Later on Tuesday he will depart to the United States, where he will address both houses of Congress.

The BBC’s Will Grant in Cuba says the Pope has avoided any overt political statements during his visit there but commentators say he is expected to be more outspoken while in the US. Pope Francis asked Cubans to follow the example set by the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre “to build bridges, to break down walls, to sow seeds of reconciliation”

50

North

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Taraba loses millions to moribund agencies Justin Tyopuusu, Jalingo

T

araba State government loses millions of naira monthly over its moribund agencies, National Mirror has learnt.

Taraba Motels Limited and Taraba State Transport Corporation, TSTC, are some major agencies that have gone moribund, causing the state to lose millions of internally generated revenue, IGR, monthly.

The state transport company, which prided itself on its fleet of luxury buses, trailers, trucks and other commercial vehicles, is now a shadow of itself as the company cannot boast of a single functional vehicle anymore.

General Manager of the state’s transport company, Engr. Ahmed Nyagdi, who declined comment on the state of the company, however, said he was daily pained over huge sums of money handed to individuals who register their vehicles with the company.

He, however, expressed

optimism that Governor Darius Ishaku would look into the problems of the company, having paid a visit to the company on assumption of office.

The transport company with a workshop at Yola road capable of generating N500 million yearly, according to Musa Yakubu, a retired civil servant in the state, is lying waste and the premises taken over by buses.

When our correspondent visited the motel in Jalingo, the story was the same as the motel was said to be generating nothing, given the poor state of facilities, said an official of the hospitality company who preferred anonymity.

It was also gathered that staff of the motel had not been paid for months, with the premises already taken over by weed and cockroaches.

Guests of the state government are no longer hosted in the motel because of its dilapidated nature, causing the state government to lose millions in revenue monthly.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kogi police arrest two kidnappers, 72 others Wale Ibrahim, Lokoja

I

n its bid to rid Kogi State of criminal elements, the police command has arrested 72 suspected criminals from different locations in the state.

Police Commissioner, Emmanuel Ojukwu, who disclosed this while parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters in Lokoja yesterday, stated that Kogi will not be a haven for evil perpetrators.

Ojukwu assured Kogi residents that the police

would provide adequate security of lives and property warning, however, that all criminal elements should leave the state immediately or face the law.

He explained that following the gruesome killing of Inspector Suleiman Onotu and two other police officers attached to the area at Angwa Tiv area of Obajana, operatives of the command had arrested 56 suspects in respect of the murders.

While stating that the police know some of the attackers’ hide-out at Obajana and elsewhere, the of-

ficial noted that the police during a raid made arrests at another hide-out called Boko Haram Junction.

Among those paraded was Abdul Kudus Nasiru, 26, who was said to have robbed one Balogun Rasak of his Toyota RAV4 jeep marked LKJ 314MX at gunpoint in Obajana.

The police also paraded one of the kidnappers whose accomplice was arrested last week, noting that Bala Umaru masterminded the kidnap of Mrs Mary Ocheje at her residence in Ankpa, then took her to Igalamela/Odolu

Local Government Area of the state.

In related development, a man, Suraju Jibrin, was apprehended for alleged plot to kidnap one Mrs Zainab Farouk who received a call from unknown caller.

Others were arrested for various offences ranging from rape, cattle rustling, armed robbery, possession of Indian hemp and dangerous weapons.

The police boss noted that all suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Sallah: IDPs in festive mood as Borno govt, NEMA donate cows

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here was wild celebration at Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camps in Adamawa State yesterday following the donation of cows by Borno government and National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, for celebration of Eid-el Kabir.

Announcing the donations at Fufore and Damare camps near Yola, chairman of Kala-Balge Local Government of Borno, Babagana Malarima, and his GamboruNgala counterpart, Abdulrahman Abdulkarim, said the gesture was to give the IDPs a sense of inclusion during the festival.

“The gesture was directed by Governor Shettima of Borno and it is to make you feel at home,’’ Malarima told the IDPs. He also told the IDPs at Fufore Camp that Shettima had directed chairmen of local governments in Borno, whose areas had been affected by the insurgency and

whose people were in the Yola camps, to celebrate with them.

“We are here to see and assess your condition and prepare on how you will all be evacuated to Maiduguri after the festive period,’’ Malarima said.

Abdulkarim, on his part, lauded the military for recapturing Gamboru and urged the people to continue to keep hope alive for possible return to their homes “within the shortest possible time.’’

On preparations for Sallah, the NEMA Coordinator of the camps, Saad Bello, said the agency had made preparations to ensure IDPs mark the festival in a fitting manner.

Bello said the agency had provided cows to be slaughtered for the celebration.

He said there were at least 6,000 IDPs in the camps, with most of them from Borno, expecting to be evacuated to Maiduguri after the Sallah celebrations.

L-R: Vice President, Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Osi Imomoh; President, Mr. Tony Ejinkeonye; Acting Director, FCT Economic Department, Mr. Abubakar Sani; National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Chief Bassey Edem; Group Managing Director, Nigerian Army Welfare Holdings, Austine Okoh, and representative of the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, during opening of the 10th Abuja International Trade Fair in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Why N3.3bn Adamawa fertiliser supply was delayed –Commissioner Livinus Menedi, Yola

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damawa State government has explained the delayed arrival of the 25,000 tonnes of fertiliser it ordered at the cost of N3.5bn.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Haruna Waziri, while apologising for the delay, urged farmers to utilise the item, which he assured would be distributed after the Sallah holiday, for dry season farming

since the rainy season was already close.

Waziri disclosed this yesterday to journalists in Yola, coming at the backdrop of agitations surrounding government’s pledge to procure 30,000 tonnes of fertiliser to support farmers in the state.

He revealed that his ministry had already taken delivery of over 300 tonnes of the commodity, adding that instead of procuring 30,000 tonnes the government opted for 25,000 tonnes.

He stated further that

the remaining supply of fertiliser by the contractor to the state would pick up in the coming days.

He said already five distribution points have been earmarked for the sale of the commodity, within the next 10 days, with one point each in Mubi, Mayo-Belwa, Ganye, Numan and Yola South where farmers can get the fertiliser at subsidised rate.

Waziri however cautioned farmers to use the fertiliser being procured for dry season farming,

saying it was the government’s intention to make the commodity available much earlier than previously done. According to him, the decision to procure the fertiliser, made shortly after May 29, was already late, “because by this time, the season was well advanced.”

He equally noted that his ministry which was mandated with identifying and selecting a suitable contractor to supply the fertiliser, observed due process, which process took a long time.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Police nab 56 Boko Haram suspects in Kogi P olice in Lokoja, Kogi State, have arrested 56 persons suspected to be members of Boko Haram.

Police Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, made this known to newsmen in Lokoja yesterday.

Ojukwu said the suspects were arrested at the popular Boko Haram Junction at Angwa Tiv in Obajana village, a suburb of Lokoja.

He said the suspects were picked up from their various hideouts on September 19.

Ojukwu said the police action was triggered by a gun attack on a police patrol vehicle in Obajana area by some of the suspects on September 4, saying a police inspector was killed during the attack.

He said the junction CHANGE OF NAME PIUS:I, formerly known and addressed as PIUS JESSICA GIFT, now wish to be known and addressed as MADU ONYINYECHI JESSICA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS Emuan Ebele Ezewele, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. Emuan Okolie. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS Akande Aminat Omowunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. Bello Aminat Omowunmi. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Oluranti Beatrice Adebanjo now wish to be known and addressed as chief Mrs Oluranti Beatrice Oduwole all former documents remain valid and general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss SAMUEL OLUWATOSIN ALABA, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. ODU OLUWATOSIN ALABA. All former documents remain vali. General public take note.

had served as haven for criminal elements that had been killing and maiming innocent people for years, disclosing that dangerous weapons and drugs were found in their possession.

The commissioner said the suspects would

N

ational Planning Commission, NPC, yesterday said the policy thrust and identified priority programmes for the 2016-2020 Medium Term Successor Strategic Plan would focus on six pillars.

Secretary to the commission, Mr. Bassey Akpanyung, said this at the Validation Session on the Identified Priority ProCHANGE OF NAME

Formerly Ayoola Adenike Muinat, now Rasheed Ayoola Adenike Muinat.

CHANGE OF NAME ONAH: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ONAH HOPE NKEMDILIM, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EKWOM HOPE NKEMDILIM. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC, and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NKEOKELONYE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. TESSY OLUCHI NKEOKELONYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. VICTORIA-ELLEN OLUCHI GRANT ORJI. All former documents remain valid. Madonna University Okija Anambra State and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss odujoko Saidat Bolanle now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Kamiyo Saidat Bolanle all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Rita Oreoluwa Oluseyi Popoola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Rita Ganiyat Elias all former documents remain valid OOU, NYSC and general public take note.

PLATEAU INDIGENEOUS MINERS ASSOCIATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE: Senator Davou D.B. Zang Musah Paul Gindiri James Davou Dung Bupwatda Hassan John Pam Tengwong Dayang Balang Henry Chuwang Gwom Joshua Sani Charles Chelle Yakubu Emmanuel Mali Goma Wokji Paul

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.

2.

sented to newsmen alongside other robbery suspects recently arrested at different locations in state.

The commissioner said his men were trailing other suspects that participated in the Odu village robbery operation.

IGP, Arase

2016-2020 MTSS plan focuses on 6 pillars –NPC

PUBLIC NOTICE

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

be charged to court very soon.

Ojukwu also showed the corpse of a robbery suspect who was fell by police bullet at Odu village in Dekina Local Government during a shootout.

The corpse was pre-

51

To carter for the welfare of members To promote peace and unity in a business enabling environment

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

SIGNED: Balang Henry Chuwang Secretary

grammes Aligned to the policy thrust of the plan in Abuja.

Akpanyung, who was represented by Mr Tunde Lawal, Director, Macroeconomic Analysis in the commission, said the plan was aimed at achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development.

He listed the six pillars as economic, social development, infrastructure, governance and environment as well as state and regional development.

“Under each pillar, broad policy objectives have been identified along

CHANGE OF NAME OBI: I formerly known and addressed as MISS. OBI HELEN OBIAGELI, now wish to known and addressed as MRS. OKAFOR HELEN OBIAGELI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NWATOLUBA: I formerly known and addressed as MISS NWATOLUBA RITA CHIDIMMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OHALEBO RITA CHIDIMMA. CHANGE OF NAME TONY: I, formerly known and addressed as TONY KENNETH WILLIAM, now wish to be known and addressed as OKOYE CHIJIOKE KENNETH. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME MBAH: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS MARYANN UKAMAKA MBAH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. MARYANN UKAMAKA AGU. All former documents remain valid.

NSITF, and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME UGWU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. UGWU TOCHUKWU BLESSING, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. KENNETH TOCHUKWU BLESSING. All former documents remain valid.

GTB, NYSC and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Yisau Oludayo Oloyede now wish to be known and addressed as Timothy Oludayo Fayemi all former documents remain valid Corporate Affairs Commission and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Gloria Chinenyenwa Okike, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Gloria Chinenyenwa Kanu. All former documents remain valid.

All organizations, institutions and the General public take note.

with the Key Performance Indicators, KPIs, targets and the programmes.

“Your task is to review the matrix of policy objectives, KPIS, baseline data, targets and programmes.

“This is consistent with the zero-based budgeting system to be adopted by government with effect from 2016,” the commission secretary said.

Akpanyung, however, said Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, were expected to provide well-costed programmes and projects for enhanced delivery of the

plan.

He said that there was also a need to justify the programmes and projects and the associated cost based on the KPIs. The official told the stakeholders that comprehensive project selection criteria would be adopted for admitting projects into the plan.

“The principles that would guide project selection include impact on employment and welfare, inter-linkages with other sectors and projects.

“The representatives of MDAs are, therefore,

CHANGE OF NAME VIVIAN AMUCHE. All former documents remain valid.

Local Government Service Commission and general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Peters Grace Efeoselobua Precious, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Grace Efeoselobua Precious AkachiMichael. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ONYEBARACHI ONUMAEGBU: I formerly known and addressesd as MISS. ONYEBARACHI ONUMAEGBU LUCY UJUNWA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ONYEANUSI LUCY UJUNWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ONAH: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. ONAH CHIMAOBI PERPETUA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ARUMA CHIMAOBI PERPETUA. All former documents remain valid. UNN, NYSC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EGBUABA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EGBUABA MATILDA NNENNA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. UZOR MATILDA NNENNA. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC, and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ARINZE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. ARINZE CHINYERE OLUCHUKWU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ANAJEMBA CHINYERE OLUCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. UNN and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Awobajo Oluwakemi silifat now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ajayi Oluwakemi Silifat all former documents remain valid Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic Ijebu Igbo and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ONUKWIRI: formerly known and addressed as Onukwiri chinedu Nnaemeka prosper, now wishes to be known and addressed as Onuh chinedu prosper. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as W/cpl Blessing Ekere now wish to be known and addressed as W/cpl Blessing Asogo. All for documents remain valid general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME UGWU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UGWU CHRISTIANA OZOEMENA , now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CHRISTIANA UGWOKE OZOEMENA. All former documents remain valid. Enugu State Local Govt. Service Commission and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EZE: I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS EZE CHRISTIANA NGOZI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CHUKWU JACINTA .C.All former documents remain valid.

Nkanu East Local Govt. and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OKOLO: I, formerly known and addressed as MR. OKOLO ALFRED SOLOMON, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. ANENECHUKWU SOLOMON ALFRED. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Bakare Wuraola Esther now wish to be known and addressed as Omoyele Wuraola Esther all former documents remain valid Schools and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Anthonia Olayinka Adelusi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Gbenga Ajayi Olayinka Anthonia.

All former documents remain valid,Ekiti state Government and general public take note.

urged to be guided by these principles in identifying their projects and programmes.

“The envelope system will no longer be used in the annual budgeting process of the country,” Akpanyung said.

According to him, the project selection for plan and budget implementation will no longer be business as usual, especially given the dwindling nature of oil revenues.

He said the budgets for 2016 and beyond would now be programmed and result-based.

CHANGE OF NAME

NJOKU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. NJOKU VIVIAN AMUCHE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OKENWA-ANI CORRECTION OF NAME

I, METELEWAWON DELE is the same person as METELEWAWON. All former documents remain valid.

IBTC and General pubaalic should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ODEY: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. ODEY MARY OGEYI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. DOMINIC MARY ODEY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AKUJOBI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. AKUJOBI LOIS CHINONYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. NZEWUNWA LOIS CHINONYE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF SCHOOL NAME

This is to inform the general public that COMMUNITY SECONDARY SCHOOL AGBANI ENUGU STATE has now been changed to GOVERNMENT COLLEGE AGBANI, ENUGU STATE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ekundayo Aina Irene now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Irene Teniola-Babalola.

All former documents remain valid,general public note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Omosekejimi Kikelomo Stella now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olunlade Kikelomo Stella. All former documents remain valid,N Y S C and general public take note.

52

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwosu Ruth Nkechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nmezi Ruth Nkechi. All former documents remain valid. IMPOLY, NYSC and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known as MISS AJAO OLUWAFUNMILAYO RUTH, now wish to be known and addressed AS MRS. ADEPOJU OLUWAFUNMILAYO RUTH. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that Fatunbi Obedat Oluwatoyin is the same one person as Saliu Obedat Oluwatoyin, that henceforth wishes to be called and known as SALIU Obedat Oluwatoyin.

All former documents remain valid, First Bank Plc, INEC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Fashakin Atinuke Adejolie, now wish to be known and addressed as Oguntoyinbo Atinuke Adejolie.

All former documents remain valid.

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and general public note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss AKINLOLU RASHIDAT OMOTAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. YOUNG RASHIDAT OMOTAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Miss Akawu Betty Inioluwa Modupe, now wishes to be known and addressed as Mrs.Olatunbosun Betty Inioluwa Modupe. Nysc, Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that I, Akinyemi Olanike Olusola is one and the same person bearing Oretuga Olanike Olusola. That on my marriage certificate, my name appears as Akinyemi Olanike Olusola, while on my international passport, it appears as Oretuga Olanike Olusola. All documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Mrs. Victoria Olushola Adesanya, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Victoria Olushola Akinto.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ikediasor Racheal Nkechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okeke Racheal Nkechinyere. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ikediasor Racheal Nkechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okeke Racheal Nkechinyere. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as OKONKWO CHRISTIAN CHUKWUKA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as UDALA CHRISTIAN CHUKWUKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS SAMUEL OLUWATOSIN ALABA, now wish to be known as and addressed as MRS ODU OLUWATOSIN ALABA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Omole Omolola Victoria, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olagoke Omolola Victoria. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Jane Onyekachi Chukwuma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Igwilo Jane Onyekachi. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Balogun Kehinde Aderonke now wish to be known and addressed as Julius Kehinde Aderonke.

All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Ogunsola Micheal Ajibola, now wish to be known and addressed as Olusola Micheal Ajibola. All Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, Formerly known and addressed as Ogundare Temitope, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Johnson Temitope. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Patience Nicholas Osarenwinhia, now wish to be known and addressed as Patience Goodness Nicholas AMAYANEVBO. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME SAMIRA: Formerly known and addressed as MISS SAMIRA ADAMU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SAMIRA ABDULFATAI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as Avoaja Michael Chinwendu, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Ajuzie Akachi Michael Chinwendu. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE ORIENT LEATHER ARTISANS & MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION. This is to inform the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C”of Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) Cap C20, LFN 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1-AJAH SIMON IVOKE - chairman.

2- MGBEMCHERTARA MARCEL - vice chairman 3- OKORO FRANKLIN ONWUDIWE- Secretary.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES AREToad organize and unite all qualified and practising leather artisans and merchants of leather and leather products in Abia state into one professional body.

Any opposition to the registration should be directed to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, PMB 198 Garki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of publication.

SIGNED BY – SECRETARY

CONFIRMATION OF NAME That on my BIRTH CERTIFICATE, my name appears as UGONNA GUY MBAM, on my BAPTISMAL CARD, it appears as SOLOMON UGONNA GUY MBAM, on my INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT, it appears as MBAM SOLOMON UGONNA and appeared as SOLOMON UGONNA MBAM on my OTHER DOCUMENTS. That i am the same person bearing all the above mentioned names. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Miss.

Magaji Adeola Hannah, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Itamakinde Adeola Hannah.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Obadina Ayodele Mubo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Akisanmi Ayodele Mubo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Stella Nkechinyere Orji, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Stella Nkechinyere Mgbeokwere. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Okoya Rukayat Ololade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Atolagbe..

Olaoye Rukayat Ololade. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AGBO : Formerly known as Miss Agbo Modester Dorathy, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Obiudu Modester Dorathy.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as Paul Abayomi Oluwasegun Jimoh, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Paul Abayomi Oluwasegun Jeremiah. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Ajayi Adetola Oluwatosin, now wish to be known and addressed as Salawu Adetola Oluwatosin.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME SAMAILA : Formerly known and addressed as GAGAH REUBEN now wish to be known and addressed as GAGAH REUBEN SAMAILA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME YERIMA : Formerly known and addressed as MISS GRACE YERIMA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS GRACE MUSA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Miss. Ajayi Taiwo Alice. now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Adeyeye Taiwo Alice. All former documents remain valid. Hospital Management Board, General Hospital Ifaki, Ifaki Ekiti, Ekiti State and general public take note.

MURITALA: I, formerly known and addressed as MURITALA ADENIKE BILIKISU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OGUNSHOLA ADENIKE BILIKISU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Kelechi Ugochinyere Ekeoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Kelechi Ugochinyere Orji David. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly known and addresed as AFOLABI YEMISI TESSY, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ENIOLA AFOLABI YEMISI TESSY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Olalusi Nkemakonam Rubby, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olalusi Kemisola Abiola. All former documents remain valid and general public take note.

ETESAM: I, formerly known and addressed as ETESAM UDOUDOH NKANTAH, now wish to be known, called and addressed as EMMANUEL UDOUDOH NKANTAH. All former documents remain valid. British High Commission, Abuja, Government of Akwa-Ibom State and the general public should please take note.

This is to confirm that I, Saliu Lasisi Akanbi is the same person as Saliu Lasisi Akanbi Ipaye Joseph. All former documents bearing these two names remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MRS. MICHAEL-NWONU ROSELINE TOYIN. NOW wish to be addressed as MRS. AYODELE ROSELINE TOYIN. All former documents remain valid. Teaching Service Commission, ADO and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I Formerlly called and addressed as AISHATU SANI BUBUCE. Now wish to be Known and addressed as MRS AISHATU YUSHA’U NUHU GWANDU. All former Documents remain valid.

UDUS,NYSC and general public should take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Formerly known and address as NEW STATE HIGH SCHOOL, now wish to be known and addressed as NEW STATE COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE. All former documents remain.

FCMB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Doris Ineh Edinard, now wish to known and addressed as Mrs. Doris Collins Etifit. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ISAAC : Formerly known and addressed as MISS DUPE AROWOLO now wish to be known and addressed as MRS DUPE AROWOLO ISAAC. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS FLORENCE OTUU INYA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS FLORENCE ENYOKA UKACHI. due to marital status. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF SCHOOL NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME AJAYI: Formerly known and addressed as AJAYI LIATU SOLOMON now wish to be known and addressed as LIATU REUBEN GAGAH All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AKINOLA OLAYINKA CHRISTIANAH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. FADAIRO OLAYINKA CHRISTIANAH. All former documents remain valid,General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly know and addressed as Miss Egbewole Opeyemi Olufunke, now to be addressed as Mrs Deji-Oloruntoba Opeyemi Olufunke. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ozioma Onyinyechi Omerenyiya, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ozioma Onyinyechi Ndubuisi.

All former documents remain valid general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME ADEMOYE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEMOYE OLABISI HAJARAT, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS LAMEED OLABISI HAJARAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public and the Authorities Concerned should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Victoria Chinaza Mbakwe now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Victoria Chinaza Mbakwe Uttomi. All former documents remains valid general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Regina Chinecherem Njoku, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Regina Chinecherem Uzoma. All former documents remain valid general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyedepo Lateefat Okikiade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oladeji Lateefat Okikiade. All formet documents remain valid. NYSC and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that Kennedy Mary Princess,Chibiko Ahudiya and Chibiko Mary refer as one person but now Mrs. Princess Mary Kennedy Ogba. All former documents remain valid. Abia Poly and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Gbokoyi Olabisi Olubukola, now wish to be known and addressed as Ligali Olabisi Olubukola. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Okeke Ginika Vivian, now wish to be known and called as Mrs Okoye Ginika Vivian. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note .

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as miss Adeleke Abosede Victoria, now wish to be known and addressed Adv Mrs AdelekeBara Abosede Victoria.All former documents remain valid. Ogun state Teaching Service Commission and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as MISS OKEWANDE BLESSING GRACE, now wish to be known and address as MRS. OLADEJI BLESSING GRACE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly addressed and known as Miss Abdul Raimi Mujidat, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Oladele Mujidat Opeyemi.

All former documents remain valid, N.U.D School Ikirun Osun State, and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Samuel Mary Oniyioza, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Sunday Mary Oniyioza.All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME That i, Olubunmi Ekundare is the MD/ CEO of CHAZMAL ASSOCIATES with RC No: LAZ064980 and registered with CAC with Form No:7.6 on the 11th day of February, 1998. That on the above mentioned certificate, my name was wrongly written as Bunmi Ekundaire instead of Olubunmi Ekundare. That my correct name is OLUBUNMI EKUNDARE. General public and Authorities concerned take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

I formerly known and addressed as KEVIN OGBOMOEBE now wish to be known and addressed as KEVIN OVIE EKAMAH. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

OPTIMAL HEALTH FOUNDATION

HUR CENTRE OF DELIVERANCE MINISTRY

This is to inform the general public that the trustees of the above named association with headquarters in Lagos wish to apply to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration as a corporate body under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

The Trustees are:

1. Aina Olusola Adio - Chairman 2. Asimolowo Olufunke Stella - Secretary 3. Ladipo Olugbenga - Member

1 2.

3.

4.

5.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) To provide intervention for individuals with alcohol and substance abuse.

2) To fully engage the individuals with alcohol and substance abuse and work on their recovery.

3) To campaign against HIV/AIDS transmissions.

Any objection to the registration should be addressed to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.MB. 198 Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: Julius Adeosun Olaosebikan Adeosun & Co. Barristers, Solicitors and Notary Public, 229, Ikotun Road, Idimu, Lagos. 08023176362

CLIFFORD OBIANUJU EUGENIA (PASTOR) THOMAS EZEOKOLI - SECRETARY DR. CHRISTOPHER NKOO EZENWENYI CLIFFORD CHIDI AGU OFODILE MODESTA CHINYERE

The aims and objectives include: • To preach the gospel • To set the captives free.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: THE TRUSTEES

Wednesday September 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

53

Sport

I can say for a fact that the World Cup nightmare for Brazil is in the past. We are now in a new era

Chelsea doctor quits as Blues begin League Cup defence

54

–PSG defender, Thiago Silva

Iheanacho

waits on City for new contract B

arclays English Premier League leaders, Manchester City, are in no hurry to hand Nigerian starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho, a new contract.

Report yesterday, said The Citizens are of the view that the 18-year-old has plenty of time on his current deal.

Iheanacho has forced his way into Pellegrini’s first-team squad and has made a stunning impact to his first team career; scoring the winner for Manuel Pellegrini’s side against Crystal Palace

in the last minute of this month’s Premier League clash at Selhurst Park, just moments after going on from the bench.

The Manchester Evening News reported that City are urgently seeking to tie the young prospect down with an improved deal at the Etihad, as there are suggestions that Premier League rivals, Tottenham, are lurking with intent, keen to steal Iheanacho away with the offer of greater first-team opportunities.

But that is a prospect that does not

Iheanacho

worry City chiefs. And there is no panic to reward the youngster with an improved contract.

His current deal does not expire until 2019 and the terms of it are believed to be in keeping with the 18-year-old’s status.

Iheanacho has become a trusted part of Pellegrini’s first-team squad this season after first catching the eye in Nigeria’s Under-17 World Cup-winning side in 2013 when he won the golden ball as the tournament’s best player.

FIFA Presidency: Pinnick updates Hayatou on Kalu, Odegbami dreams Everest Onyewuchi

P

resident of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Issa Hayatou, has emphasised that Nigeria is a very important nation in African, nay world football, and would always play an influential role at every turn.

In a statement yesterday, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said Hayatou made the declaration at a private meeting with its President, Amaju Pinnick, in Yaounde, Cameroun on Monday.

The CAF boss lauded the measures that the present NFF has been taking to rebuild Nigeria football and restore the nation’s glory in the international game.

National Mirror learnt that Pinnick briefed Hayatou on Chief Uzor OrjiKalu and Chief Segun Odegbami’s FIFA presidential aspirations and the various development programmes of the NFF, which the Camerounian said he was very much aware of.

The statement added that Hayatou, who is FIFA’s only Senior Vice President, spoke at length on the unity in CAF,

which infers that the continental body would only support a candidate which has Africa’s interests at heart, for the forthcoming FIFA presidential elections.

The NFF boss then thanked the CAF President and assured him of Nigeria’s steadfastness in support of CAF programmes.

“As a responsible affiliate body, the NFF will continue to follow CAF’s lead in global football politics and policies. We have a lot of development programmes that we are about to unveil, and we will always require CAF’s support,” said Pinnick.

Pinnick

54

Sports

Wednesday September 23, 2015

Aubameyang sets 20-goal target at

Chelsea doctor quits as Blues begin League Cup defence C helsea team doctor, Eva Carneiro, has resigned her appointment, six weeks after she was criticised by manager Jose Mourinho.

Carneiro, 42, had her role downgraded following a row during the 2-2 draw against Swansea on August 8.

According to BBC Sport, Chelsea asked her to return to work, but she has decided not to and is now considering her legal position.

The Football Association is looking into a complaint that Mourinho used abusive or sexist language towards her.

Meanwhile, Mourinho has warned his players not to let their standards drop as they prepare to begin their League Cup defence away to third-tier Walsall today.

Chelsea belatedly kickstarted their

defence of the Premier League title with a 2-0 win over Arsenal last Saturday, with Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat at home to West Ham United allowing the Blues to close to within eight points of the summit.

It came after a breezy 4-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Champions League, but Mourinho knows that his side cannot afford to take risks against Walsall, who are flying high in League One. “I want to go match after match,” said the Portuguese, whose side beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in last season’s final.

“Walsall is a cup game, a cup that we won and a cup that we don’t want to throw away. We want to try to win. Wednesday is one more difficult match.”

Mourinho will shuffle his pack for the

Dortmund

G Eva Carneiro

trip to the Bescot Stadium, with captain John Terry expected to return at centreback after being left on the bench in the stormy win over Arsenal.

Arsenal: Gabriel wins red card appeal

A Gabriel

rsenal’s appeal against defender Gabriel’s red card during last Saturday’s defeat by Chelsea has been successful.

Gabriel, 24, was sent off by referee Mike Dean for violent conduct after a clash with Diego Costa during the Blues’ 2-0 vic-

tory at Stamford Bridge.

According to BBC Sport, the successful appeal means he will now not serve a three-match suspension.

The Brazilian is subject to a separate Football Association charge of improper conduct to which he has until 18:00 BST on

Thursday to respond.

That relates to him failing to leave the pitch immediately after being sent off.

Chelsea striker Costa, meanwhile, was charged with violent conduct following a clash with Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny.

Revealed! Fergie wanted Pep as successor

S

ir Alex Ferguson has revealed that David Moyes, the man chosen as his managerial successor at Manchester United, was sixth on a list of ideal replacements headed by Pep Guardiola and four others, who were all “unavailable” at the time.

In his new book “Leading”, United’s longest-serving manager outlines the se-

Sir Ferguson

lection process behind Moyes’ ill-fated appointment at Old Trafford, which lasted less than a year after he replaced the retired Ferguson in 2013.

“I asked Pep to phone me before he accepted an offer from another club but he didn’t and wound up joining Bayern Munich in July 2013,” Ferguson wrote.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

“When we started the process of looking for my replacement, we established that several very desirable candidates were unavailable.

“It became apparent that Jose Mourinho had given his word to Roman Abramovich that he would return to Chelsea, and that Carlo Ancelotti would succeed him at Real Madrid.

“We also knew that Jurgen Klopp was happy at Borussia Dortmund and would be signing a new contract. Meantime, Louis van Gaal had undertaken to lead the Dutch attempt to win the 2014 World Cup,” he added.

Sir Alex also reveals that he demanded that his salary was doubled in the aftermath of Wayne Rooney’s big pay increase in 2010.

Rooney was set to leave United before signing a deal worth £250,000 a week.

“I told them I did not think it fair that Rooney should earn twice what I made,” Ferguson says in the new book. “(United co-chairman) Joel Glazer said, ‘I totally agree but what should we do?’ It was simple. We just agreed no player should be paid more than me.”

ermany-based Gabonese striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, has five goals from five matches this season. And suddenly, he sees a target of 20 this season as very realistic.

Aubameyang has been key to Borussia Dortmund’s quest to unseat Bayern Munich as champions of Germany, with the team having a perfect unbeaten record.

“We have started the season well, although everybody thinks that Bayern are favourites, I am probably the only one thinking they are not,” Aubameyang says.

The 26-year-old Gabonese has grown in stature as, after five weeks of Bundesliga football, Dortmund are top of the league. The latest was a win against Bayer Leverkusen last Sunday.

“I don’t think that Bayern will win the league this season. At least, this is what I think.”

The Bavarians have also won all five of their opening games, but are behind Dortmund on goal difference. Aubameyang leads BVB’s attack in the setup of new coach, Thomas Tuchel. In fact, the former Saint-Etienne and AC Milan striker apparently has a bet with his boss.

“I want to score 20 goals in the Bundesliga this season,” Aubameyang reveals. “That’s a target I want to achieve. I have a bet with the coach so I will give it my all in order to achieve this goal because I want to improve.”

Dortmund and Bayern will clash in their first game of the season on October 4 at the home of the champions.

Aubameyang

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Wednesday September 23, 2015

55

Midweek League with PAUL EREWUBA 08032138738

Table

Opara Chukwu of ElKanemi dribbles Dayo Ojo of Sunshine during a Week 30 match at the Akure Township Stadium

Unruly supporters

LMC warns Rangers, Sunshine, FC IfeanyiUbah

T

he League Management Company (LMC) has issued warning to Sunshine, Rangers and FC Ifeanyiubah and their Supporters to refrain from further disruptive behaviour during the remaining fixtures of the Glo Premier League 2014/15 season.

The recent case in Kano was cited as a reminder that such disruptions and or attempted disruption will be treated as a criminal offense and a general warning to other clubs

that “the LMC will not hesitate to allow the same treatment meted to any individual who engages in similar disruptive behaviour at match venues anywhere in the country.”

Underscoring the weight of LMC’s hammer on clubs’ Supporters unruly behaviour, Chairman of the Company, Shehu Dikko wrote to the clubs, warning that any further breach of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) framework and rules

by their Supporters will attract varying but stringent sanctions that may include prosecution in a competent court of Law. In the letter, Dikko said “you will recall that under the framework and rules governing the League, disturbances at match venues are prohibited and clubs are held responsible for the behaviour of their Supporters before, during and after a match. Therefore, should you fail to address the situa-

tion forthwith, the LMC would be left with no option than to either close your stadium to Supporters or implement a stadium ban and move your game to a neutral venue in another city as provided in the rules”.

The three clubs and, indeed, all the other clubs in the NPFL were also reminded that the LMC has a pact with security agencies to treat match day disturbances as a criminal breach of the peace for which offenders will face prosecution.

“Sharks are in a bad position now and do not need to drop points at home. We need the three points badly to escape relegation and I am sure we will win on Sunday against Dolphins,” Telema George said.

Agwu Augustus, a member of the Dolphins Supporters club, shared his optimism that Sharks will lose on Sunday.

“We are going to beat Sharks. It’s a local derby and it is unpredictable but with the caliber of players we have I am optimistic we will defeat Sharks,” Augustus said.

Looking at the recent exchanges between both sides, Telema George admits that Sharks fear Dolphins but says

he will pray to God so his side can win.

“We look on God and we are praying. We always have the fear of Dolphins because when you compare both of them, Dolphins have a better head to head record compared to Sharks,” Telema George said.

Agwu Augustus on his part admits it will be a tough game, but Dolphins will win and escape relegation at the end of the season.

“It will be a tight match, but we will win. With the caliber of players we have I don’t see why we won’t win,” he said.

When both sides played at the Liberation Stadium in the first round of the league, it ended 1-1, Yusuf Jaiyeola

opening scores for Sharks and Godbless Asamoah getting the equaliser with three minutes left to play.

Teams

P

Pt

1

Enyimba

30

55

2

Wolves

30

51

3

Wikki

30

51

4

Sunshine

30

50

5

Giwa

30

49

6

Nasarawa

30

46

7

Abia

30

46

8

Pillars

30

44

9

Heartland

30

44

10

3SC

30

44

11

IfeanyiUbah

30

42

12

Rangers

30

40

13

El-Kanemi

30

39

14

Lobi

30

36

15

Dolphins

30

34

16

Akwa

30

34

17

Sharks

30

33

18

Kwara

30

32

19

Taraba

30

29

20

Bayelsa

30

26

IfeanyiUbah demand for Kaita Ahead Port Harcourt derby: Sharks, Dolphins trade words N3migeria premier league club FC

T

he war of words has begun in Port Harcourt between fans of Dolphins and Sharks as the derby day approaches.

Both teams go head to head on Sunday at the Sharks FC Stadium in a game that will have a role to play in deciding if both sides will remain in the Nigeria Professional Football League next season.

Both sides need to win the game, but a draw will favour Dolphins more since they are the away side and currently are above Sharks on the log.

Telema George says he has been a fan of Sharks all his life and that only one result is possible on Sunday and it will be a win for his side.

Godbless Asamoah

I want to be first to win Yekini’s award –Igbinoba

L

eading goal scorer in the Nigeria Premier League, Esosa Igbinoba of Nasarawa United has said his target is to be the first player to clinch the NPFL Highest Goalscorer Award named after the legendary Rashidi Yekini.

In attempt to immortalise Nigeria’s king of goals, the Nigeria League Management Company introduced Rashidi Yekini Golden Boot Award.

At the moment, Igbinoba is leading the pack with 14 goals after he scored Nasara-

wa United’s lone goal against visiting Rangers on Sunday.

He is being followed closely by Sunshine Stars Tunji Adeniji who has 13 goals and Heartland’s Bright Ejike on 12 goals.

Speaking yesterday, Igbinoba said he was enjoying

the best form of his life and he will stop at nothing to win the prestigious award.

He said even as he plays in the midfield, he has a knack for scoring goals from dead ball situations so he is hoping to increase his tally before the end of the season.

N

IfeanyiUbah have demanded three million Naira as transfer fee from Kano Pillars for ex-Nigeria star Sani Kaita.

It was reported yesterday that Kaita is set for a sensational return to hometown club Pillars after he dumped IfeanyiUbah over an alleged breach of contract.

And now the Nnewi club have agreed to let go the former international defensive midfielder, but at a princely price of three million Naira.

It was further gathered that Pillars are willing to pay this amount but would want to do so in installments.

Kaita has featured for clubs in Holland, France and Russia, but lately he has returned to the domestic league to first play for Enyimba before he eventually joined up with IfeanyiUbah.

Sani Kaita

WORLD RECORD

Largest cooking vessel Vol. 05 No. 1205

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

N150

The largest cooking vessel has a volume of 23,616 litres (5,194.79 UK g al; 6,238.69 US g al) and was constr ucted by Union Energ y Corporation Pte. Ltd. (Sing apore), in Sing apore, on 1 August 2015.

Ojuelegba as metaphor for institutionalised nonchalance

T

he late Afro beat maestro, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, means different things to diverse people. While some people see him as a gifted musician, others see him as a social nuisance who lured many unsuspecting people to embrace anti-social ways of life. Many others see Fela as a revolutionary who had a liberating message for his largely naïve and oppressed people. Despite this varied perceptions of Fela, one thing that is, however, incontrovertible is that he provided a voice for the voiceless people in his country and, indeed, in the African continent. He dared the government with the intent of liberating the oppressed. He was incarcerated several times for this, but he was never cowed. Fela was an enigma of a sort.

Being a rather very skinny personality,

Guest Columnist Fela never engaged his foes in either boxing or wrestling bouts. No! His strength and power lied in his music. With it, he fought many military and civilian administrations to a standstill. When Fela sang, powerful men in the society simply ran for cover. One of his ever green songs, ‘Confusion Break Bone’, aptly interprets the confused state of post-colonial Lagos and its dearth of basic infrastructure, and the visionless leadership in the days of military dictatorship. In the song, Fela illustrates the hard situations of post colonial Lagos. This was artistically epitomized by his reference to the chaos at Ojuelegba, a complex Lagos neighbourhood with awful social and spiritual existence almost akin to that of biblical Sodom and Gomorrah.

During this period, Ojuelegba metaphorically captured the imagery of pandemonium, where right in the scorching Lagos sun, lots of vehicles trying to connect various parts of the metropolis would be stranded for hours in the typically irritating Lagos traffic jam, popularly referred to as ‘go slow’ in local parlance. It was always a gory sight with many motorists blaring horns at the same time; cursing and hissing at the sight of the utterly bewildering Ojuelegba confusion. It was this chaotic situation that Fela, perhaps Africa’s most revolutionary singer, attempted to exploit as a metaphor for confusion in Nigeria.

Years after Fela symbolically drew attention to Ojuelegba as a satire for confusion in the country; the once highly notorious

Watson suffers early Korea Open exit

B

ritish number one Heather Watson lost to Russia’s Elizaveta Kulichkova in the opening round of the Korea Open in Seoul.

Watson, 23, who last month lost in the US Open

Tayo Ogunbiyi

first round for the fifth year running, was defeated 6-4 3-6 6-3 after struggling with her serve.

She is 59th in the world rankings, now only four places above British number two Johanna Konta, 24.

IN OUR CLIME, PEOPLE DIE NEEDLESSLY ON A DAILY BASIS AND IN CLEARLY AVOIDABLE CIRCUMSTANCES and riotous neighborhood was in the news again, unsurprisingly, for the wrong reason.

A few days ago, Lagosians were stunned by the news that a heavy duty lorry carrying a huge container fell off the Ojuelegba Bridge landing on a Nissan saloon car and another Sports Utility Vehicle, sentencing three people in the process to inopportune demise. The event, which occurred in the afternoon, allegedly created serious pandemonium typical of Fela’s Ojuelegba as motorists along the route reportedly ditched their vehicles and took to their heels.

Understandably, this state of affairs gave rise to more confusion that subsequently resulted into several accidents, with fleeing motorists and commuters sustaining varying degrees of injuries in the process.

Characteristically, there are conflicting versions of casualty figures and the reasons for the gory event. According to eye witness accounts, the container might have fallen off because it was not latched. But, the Federal Road Safety Corps Lagos State Sector Commander, Mr. Hyginus Omeje, insisted that the container was latched because it fell alongside the flat belt on which it was

hooked.

Whichever way, the Ojuelegba event is sadly a reflection of the careless disposition of Nigerians to the issue of safety and sanctity of human life. The concept of the sanctity of life is anchored on the sacredness of life. Unfortunately, we have gotten to a level in our nation where the human life actually means so little to us as a people. We have little or no regard for universally accepted safety procedures and measures. In our clime, people die needlessly on a daily basis and in clearly avoidable circumstances.

All we care about is how to amass more and more wealth. Our predisposition to amassing wealth, even at the cost of human life, is quit legendary.

The cost of the Ojuelegba incident is obviously enormous. It resulted in pains and preventable deaths, wasted time, money and other valuables, while it also led to the damage of public infrastructure. It is, therefore, for these reasons that it is disheartening to know that most of such incidents are not acts of God, as some would ignorantly want to affirm, but rather the products of human errors, carelessness and institutional failure. Indeed, most of such incidents could have been avoided if those that involved had been more safety conscious. It has been discovered, for instance, that a considerable number fuel truck accidents that had resulted into fire outbreaks causing monumental losses in Lagos State especially were actually caused by the carelessness and recklessness of fuel truck drivers as well as failure of respective officials to rise up to their responsibilities.

Typically, in the next few days, several traffic and safety enforcement officials would be unusually active on our roads, trying to ‘enforce’ safety and traffic regulations. That is often the trend in our nation as we act like a naïve silly child who wanted to hide the knife after the havoc has been done.

Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

Sport Extra

Konta’s rise from 97th came after she reached the US Open fifth round.

In another development, British number two Aljaz Bedene was knocked out of the Moselle Open after a first-round loss to Gilles

Muller.

Bedene, 26, was beaten in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 after Luxembourger opponent Muller made 20 aces in the match.

Muller, 32, also converted three breaks points to progress at the indoor

hard court event in Metz, France.

Slovenia-born Bedene, ranked number 55 in the world, switched allegiances to Britain in March this year after being granted a UK passport.

Watson

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