Binder1

NSE unveils plans to commence trading naira futures TOLA AKINMUTIMI

N plans

Obi

Vol. 51 N0. 1140 115

igerian Stock Exchange, NSE, yesterday unveiled to start trading

naira futures with a view to helping investors hedge against movements in the local currency.

Futures is a financial contract obligating the buyer to purchase an as-

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

We haven’t amended civil service rules –Govt

set (or the seller to sell an asset), such as physical commodity or a financial instrument, at a predetermined future date and price.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

P.6

Aji

Tuesday, National June 7, 2011 Mirror Online

@NationalMirror

N150

Non-payment of workers salaries shameful –Buhari ...says treasury virtually empty

ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

P To meet governors today over debt burden

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said a situation where federal and state workers were not being paid salaries was a disgrace to the nation.

Speaking at a brief meeting with State House Correspondents, Buhari disclosed that his administration met a treasury that was virtually empty with debts in millions of dollars.

He attributed the inability to pay salaries to bad management.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

President orders nationwide removal of military checkpoints President Muhammadu Buhari assumes duties in his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

ADVERT HOTLINES For advert bookings and information, please contact: LAGOS 01-8446073, 08113947415 08113947419 08113947420 08113947422 ABUJA 08113947421 PORT HARCOURT 08113947418 OGBESE 08113947424

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo going through files as he assumes office at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

Saraki, Lawan end feud over senate presidency

…embrace at Oyegun’s residence, resolve differences

Suicide bombers kill 20 in Maiduguri blast

P.5 P.6

P.4

Afakirya, former Kogi military administrator, dies at 66 P.2

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News

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Army has no business with election, says Williams

R

etired Maj.-Gen. Ishola Williams said yesterday in Abuja that the Nigerian Army had no business with elections in the country.

Williams, who is Executive Secretary of an NGO, PANASTRAG, said this at a one day post-election Security Management Review forum, organised by CLEEN Foundation in collaboration with the Open Society Initiative West Africa, OSIWA. He said in a civilised country, the national security adviser would not have anything to do with elections.

“The military are always neutral when it comes to election matters because they don’t need to show that they support A or B,” he said.

Williams added that the country’s security body outfits lost their reputation in the last regime due to some activities which played out during the elections in some states.

He said that the army could only advise the election stakeholders such as the government and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, but not to get involved in the processes.

He said soldiers had the responsibilities as agents of security to security the territorial integrity of the nation.

“Soldiers have limitations to their rights as soldiers.

“The constitutional responsibility of election security in any country lie in the hands of the police and other para-military such as the civil defence, immigration, prisons and so on.

“If Nigeria was structured properly, there wouldn’t be any problem with holding elections in this country after 50 years of independence.

“The police can only call on army when they have situations that they can no longer handle, only then can the military come in,” he said.

Williams decried the present structure of Nigerian police, saying it was similar to that of the 1940 structure.

Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation, Mrs. Kemi Kenyodo, said the

aim of the forum was to promote coordinated response to identify security threats that could undermine peace and security during elections in the country.

She said reflections from the just concluded general election in Nigeria would allow for a more in-depth discussion of is-

sues.

She added: “At the end of the 2015 general elections, many observers noted that the level of violence recorded was much lower than anticipated.

“The reports on postelection violence experienced in 2015 were not at a high scale and this may lead many to think that

Nigeria has overcome the internal and external factors leading to electoral violence.”

Also speaking at the forum, the Inspector General of Police represented by a Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni said the achievements recorded by INEC and security agencies were truly worthy of

recommendation.

He assured Nigerians that the police force would not rest on its oars as more efforts were being carried out to achieve this target.

Owoseni said a lot more work was in the pipeline in terms of organising and securing the electoral process.

The police commissioner said that it was time to start planning for 2019 and other staggered elections like the governorship elections in Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo, Osun and Kogi states.

“I believe that the outcome of this workshop will be beneficial to us and the country at large,” he said.

Afakirya, former Kogi military administrator, dies at 66

F

ormer Military Administrator of Kogi State, Col. Bzigu Afakirya, is dead, aged 66, a member of his family, Prof. Peter Lassa, con-

firmed.

Lassa made the confirmation in a statement he issued in Lokoja yesterday.

He stated that Afakirya

died yesterday morning at an Abuja hospital.

Born in Lassa village, Askira Uba Local Government of Borno State on July 20, 1949, Afakirya

was the Military Administrator of Kogi from 1996 to 1998.

He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in June 1973 and served in

various posts in Osogbo, Gombe, Nsukka, Abakaliki, Kainji and Mubi.

Before his appointment as Military AdministraCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

L-R: Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr Nebolisa Emordi; former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Col. Hamid Ali (rtd), Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

Non-payment of workers salaries shameful –Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“I hope we are starting and this culture (100 days in office), is bringing so much pressure with treasury virtually empty, with debts in millions of dollars, with state and even federal workers not paid their salaries. It is such a disgrace for Nigeria.

“I think Nigeria should be in a position to even pay its workers. This bad management that we find ourselves in we really need your (journalists) help to protect us from people before they match on us,” Buhari said.

Buhari said he had to pick one of the best Presidents of the Guild of Editors as his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

“It is not by accident that I got the best of you to be the Special Adviser, one of the 15 aides I had to get clearance from the Senate.

“He is one of the best Presidents of the Guild that I can have as Special Adviser, I brought one of the best of you so that he can consistently defend me against you.

“Whether my job is a difficult one or easy is up to him, but I am here to thank you in advance for what good and ill you are going to do to me,” Buhari said.

In order to find lasting solution to the financial crisis, the President is scheduled to meet with the 36 state governors today at the Presidential Villa to discuss possible

ways of sourcing for fund to settle the unpaid salaries and debt burden.

The meeting with the President followed the decision taken by the governors at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, meeting held in Abuja last week.

Civil servants in some of the states as well as federal agencies are yet to receive salaries for the past four months. Some states even owe as much as between six and seven months.

The governors had resolved to approach the Federal Government for intervention as most of them are finding it difficult to pay salaries of workers and meet other financial obligations Zamfara State Governor,

Abdulazeez Yari after the NGF meeting, had disclosed that governors were not satisfied with the present state of the economy.

According to him, resources to meet up financial obligations are dwindling, stressing that both the state and the Federal Government workers were affected by the non-payment of salaries.

“You will agree with me that civil servants in some of the federal agencies have for the past four months not got their salaries. Why? because the Federal Government cannot do it because of the dwindling of the economy.

“As we suffer in the state, the Federal Government is suffering the same thing.

Therefore, instead of us to request for the bailout, you have to make sure that the government has liquidity somewhere, but where? So we cannot ask the federal government to do the bail out for us,” Yari said.

He explained that the governors resolved that instead of asking for bailout, the Federal Government should reimburse states for federal projects executed.

“We suggested that a number of state governors have executed some projects for the Federal Government. So, instead of looking for that (bailout) let’s look for the Federal Government to settle the backlog for us so that we will be able to move forward,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

3

4

Photo News

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Regional Director, South-East/South-South of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Okey Ezeala; one of the FCMB Millionaire Promo winners, Mrs. Nkiru Orji; Chairman on the occasion, Mr. Obinna Nnoli; South-East/South-South Zonal Coordinator, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr. Michael Eke, and Branch Manager, Awka, of the bank, Mr. Bede Alugbue, at the regional draw at Onitsha, Anambra State, recently.

L-R: National Treasurer, National Union of Textile,Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Comrade John Adaji; Deputy President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)/General Secretary NUTGTWN, Comrade Issa Aremu, and Chairman, NLC, Kaduna State branch, Comrade James Ephraim, at a press briefing on the National Assembly Budget Cut Appreciation, in Kaduna, Yesterday.

L-R: Regional Bank Head, Fidelity Bank Plc, Midwest, Ovie Mukoro; Branch Leader, Asaba, Augusta Anyanwu; Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Asaba, yesterday.

L-R: Consulate Hematologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Adewumi Adediran; National Director/CEO, Sickle Cell Foundation, Nigeria, Dr. Annette Akinsete; Chairman Sicle Cell Foundation, Profesor Olu Akinyanju; Air Line Staff, Caverton Airline, Ms. Joy Okebalama; representative of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Director, Diseases Control Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Eniola Erinosho, at the commemoration of World Sickle Cell Day, in Lagos, at the weekend..

National News

Buhari, Osinbajo resume work at Villa

Rotimi Fadeyi ABUJA

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo formally resumed work at the Presidential Villa yesterday.

Buhari had earlier moved into his official residence on Sunday evening after operating for about three weeks at the Defence House to allow renovation work at the Presidential Villa.

Osinbajo resumed in his office about 9 am and joined the President in his office about 10:55am.

Buhari later held a closed-door meeting with Osinbajo and other key principal aides.

The President also held security meeting with Service Chiefs to review security situation in the country.

Present at the meeting

…President orders removal of military checkpoints were Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, LieutenantGeneral Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu.

Workers resumed early for work on the first working day of the president in his office at the Villa.

As early as 7:30am, the workers, who normally resume for work by 8:35am, were already in their offices.

Meanwhile, President Buhari yesterday ordered removal of military checkpoints across the country.

Speaking with State House Correspondents after a meeting with Se-

curity Chiefs, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Ismaila Aliyu, said the President had instructed Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, to get the Chief of Army Staff and Inspector General of Police to remove all military men manning checkpoints across the country.

Soldiers were drafted to man checkpoints following increasing violence and deadly activities of Boko Haram, a situation that caused gridlock on most roads.

While speaking on alternative arrangement, Aliyu said the police are taking over internal security.

“That is why the police are also there, that is where the police are coming in to take over

internal security,” Aliyu said.

He stressed that the meeting did not discuss any issue regarding appointment of new Security Chiefs.

“The Nigerian Armed Forces are very ready; we have briefed him (President). One most interesting thing about it is that we are going out much happier because he has shown us that he is still a soldier, he has updated and enriched our strategic plans.

“Second item that was discussed was the movement of command centre to the North-East. We have briefed him on how far we have reached on that and he has given us some additional assignment, but very soon the centre will be on.

“I also want to assure Nigerians that with what we have come out with from this meeting, we are very enthusiastic that the issue of Boko Haram will soon be over.

He has given us hope that we will see peace and security in the very near future,” Aliyu added.

He explained that with the cooperation of neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger, there is now a united front to defeat Boko Haram.

“Now, we have come as a united front. We have Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger. We have all strategised and we are coming out with one type of strategy that we are going to address the Boko Haram with,

unlike before,” he said.

However, a statement issued by Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Buhari, however, said the military checkpoints could be retained in areas outside north-eastern states where the military considered them absolutely essential for maintenance of national security.

The statement said the president reaffirmed his administration’s total commitment to ending Boko Haram insurgency in the shortest possible time, while also welcoming the progress report he was given on implementation of his order that the Military Command Control Centre be relocated to Maiduguri.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

5

Saraki, Lawan end feud over senate presidency OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

T

he intractable crisis that bedeviled the governing All Progressives Congress,

APC, since the election of principal officers of the National Assembly, may have been resolved as the two contestants for the Senate Presidency seat yesterday reconciled.

The reconciliation was brokered by the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

The two contestants, Dr. Bukola Saraki and

Ahmed Lawan embraced to end the crisis that had threatened to tear the party apart.

The party, yesterday, cancelled a meeting of its National Working Com-

L-R: Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Barde, and Permamnent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Haruna Sanusi, at the National Defence Council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, yesterday.

NSE unveils plans to commence trading naira futures CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Future contracts detail the quality and quantity of the underlying asset; and futures markets are characterised by the ability to use very high leverage relative to stock markets.

Giving the hint in an interview in London, the Exchange’s Chief Executive Officer, Oscar Onyema, said the move would be beneficial to foreign investors and by implication, boost current drives for long term funding in the economy.

Onyema hinted that while NSE might commence the offering of futures by the end of 2017, the immediate plans for the current year included a premium board for largecap securities that meet corporate governance standards as well as a depository receipt programme, which will allow local investors to access foreignlisted companies on the

domestic market.

The investment expert noted that in the past year, traders and bankers had advocated a loosening of controls enforced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to protect the naira which had depreciated by 18 per cent against the dollar during the period.

He said: “It would be awesome if we had a naira-dollar contract that we could trade on the exchange. Futures and options are asset classes that we think would be very beneficial to foreign investors.”

The NSE boss expressed his optimism that there existed a “very rich pipeline” of competing companies that may start trading their shares this year, depending on market conditions, including businesses that could list securities in London and Lagos.

Specifically, he projected that there would be initial public offerings and

secondary listings from oil and gas, fast-moving consumer goods, telecommunication and industrial-goods companies, with dual listing being part of the pitch.

Reacting to the planned move, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr. Adedeji Ajadi, said the proposed introduction of currency derivatives (Naira- Dollars options and/or futures) by NSE was a welcomed development that the stakeholders in the market had anticipated for quite some time.

According to him, both local and foreign investors would naturally be excited about the proposed initiative in view of its implications for deepening the nation’s bourse, risk management efficiency and the long-term funding opportunities in the economy.

He said: “Currency derivatives are very efficient

risk management instruments. They also provide alternative options for hedging, speculation, arbitrage and leverage.

“The activities mentioned above enhance the capacity of market participants to minimise their risk, take advantage of mis-pricing of assets, and potentially make more profits from the capital/ money markets.

“These activities also deepen the market as a whole since the variety of instruments and contracts that can be traded is widened by the introduction of the derivative contracts.

“Therefore, the planned introduction of currency derivatives (Naira- Dollars options and/or futures) by NSE is a welcome development that the market has anticipated for quite some time.

“I believe local and foreign investors alike will be excited about this positive development.”

mittee, NWC, as the reconciliation parley, held at the Asokoro residence of Oyegun lingered till late yesterday.

Though, no official statement was issued after the meeting, a source who witnessed the reconciliation said both Lawan and Saraki embraced each other and agreed to put their differences behind.

Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and Deputy Speaker, Sulieman Yusuf Lasun were also sighted leaving the private residence of the National Chairman.

The source said: “I can tell you that the Senate President has resolved his differences with the party.

The chairman also met with both Speaker and his deputy and all the parties were beaming with smiles while entering their vehicles.”

Earlier in a statement, Oyegun had assured Nigerians that the party was working hard to resolve the crisis, to pave the way for the fulfilment of its campaign promises to Nigerians.

“The party has reached out to all interested parties, and when the National Assembly resumes next week (today) Nigerians will see one harmonious, happy APC family.

“We owe it to our party, our teeming members and supporters and indeed all Nigerians who reposed so much confidence in us by voting us into office to quickly put the unfortunate incidents of the recent past behind us and forge ahead,” Oyegun had said.

The NWC meeting was meant to settle the appointment of other principal officers of the National Assembly before the Progressives Governors Forum’s meeting which held last night.

Chief Oyegun, who returned to his office at about 5p.m after the meeting refused to give insight to the outcome of

the meeting.

He however said that the leadership is doing everything to ensure that peace reins in the party.

Meanwhile, seven members of the party’s NWC are said to be jostling to make the ministerial list being put together by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The national officers were said to have made their intentions known to Chief Odigie-Oyegun, who a source said was not comfortable with it and therefore has refused to endorse the arrangement.

The NWC members, the source said hail from Kwara, Ekiti, Adamawa, Gombe, Kogi and Enugu states.

A highly placed source at the party’s national secretariat told our correspondent that when the NWC, led by the national chairman, earlier met with President Buhari at his temporary Defence House office in Abuja over ministerial list, the matter was not discussed.

The source said: “When the NWC met with Buhari on the issue of ministerial appointment, the national chairman refused to tender the request of some members who want to be ministers to President Buhari. The only thing he (Odigie-Oyegun) told him was for his leadership to be carried along in the process.

“But it seems President Buhari knew what was going on as he told the party leaders right there not to contemplate becoming part of his cabinet; he told them to stay where they are and build a strong party.

However, another source said the President may have yielded to the pressure from some of the party leaders and may have included some of the NWC members in the cabinet currently being screening by security agencies.

Afakirya, former Kogi military administrator, dies at 66 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

tor, he was Commander, 241 Recce Batallion, Nguru and member, Yobe State Executive Council.

He left a wife and children.

Meanwhile, Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State had described Afakirya

death as sad.

Wada in a condolence message to the family of the deceased said he left indelible legacies with his

two years of service as administrator of the state.

He cited the two housing estates and the various water schemes in

many parts of the state which were still in use as example of his legacies.

He said the government and the entire peo-

ple of the state mourned with family members and friends of Afakirya and prayed God to grant his soul a perfect peace.

6

News

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We haven’t amended civil service rules, says FG T

Suicide bombers kill 20 in Maiduguri

Omeiza ajayi ABUJA

F

ederal Government has dismissed a report alleging that it had secretly amended some provisions of the Civil Service Rules bothering on retirement age of its personnel.

Government said it could not have undertaken such action without carrying relevant stakeholders along.

An Abuja-based newspaper had on Sunday alleged that civil servants,

who have spent 30 years in the service, would soon be eased out.

However, Office of the Head of Service, which described the report as "fabricated", said the story was completely false and lacking all the ingredients of factual journalism.

“At no time has the office issued the said memo or gave a directive to that effect. The report is baseless and lacks credibility as it contradicts public service rules of engagement," the government

stated.

According to Director of Communications in the Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Haruna Rasheed Imrana, the rumor ought to have been cleared from a credible source in the office before dishing out falsehood to the public.

He said the public needs to be provided with correct information to avoid sending wrong signals as the said report intended to do.

“Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Feder-

ation is always open to the press at all times for clarification on matters concerning the civil service.

It is therefore, surprising that an unbalanced and ill-informed story will feature from a highly rated paper.

“We appeal to the media to clarify and balance all stories from credible sources and get facts right before publication to avoid sending the wrong information to the public raising unnecessary panic and embarrassment,” he said.

wo suicide bombers yesterday killed, at least, 20 people in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, while many others were injured.

The attacks were carried out by two young women who walked through the city carrying explosives.

One of the women exploded her devices at a bus station near a fish market and a mosque in the city.

The attack left, at least, 20 people dead and an estimated 50 injured. It was the fifth bomb attack on the city in the last one month.

There have been three other suicide bombings and an attack on a cattle market "We heard a loud explosion about 3:50pm while we were preparing for afternoon prayers," Danlami Ajaokuta, a civilian vigilante aiding the military against Boko Haram militant group, said.

"It happened right inside the bus station attached to the fish market where labourers were sorting out rice," he said. One woman

carried a large pan which contained the explosives.

Another young woman was reported to have ran away before her explosives went off. She killed only herself.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the attack is likely to be blamed on Boko Haram.

The group frequently targeted civilians at markets and bus stations over the last six years. The group began to use young women and girls as bomb carriers last year.

With the latest attacks, 180 people have died since the inauguration of new Nigerian government of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29.

A military coalition to take on Boko Haram has been formed between Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon and the alliance had marked a series of successful operations since February, but the latest attacks indicate that Boko Haram still has the capacity to launch operations in the North East.

AI report on Nigerian military vindictive —CCSG

C L-R: Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Al-Makura; Chairman, LOC, International Conference on Disabilities, Ani Charles BasseyEyo; Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nony Ugboma; former Governor, Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and Snr. Pastor, Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, at the opening of a three-day International Conference on Disabilities, co-sponsored by MTN Foundation, in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Nigeria, Mexico trade volume hit $575m

T

rade volume between Nigeria and Mexico grew by 245 per cent from 166.5 million dollars in 2012 to 575 million dollars in 2014.

Ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria, Mr Marco Blanco, told newsmen in Abuja on Monday that Nigeria was Mexico’s largest trade partner in Africa.

Blanco said Nigeria and Mexico signed four trade agreements in December 2014 to strengthen the bilateral trade relationship between the two countries.

“Our bilateral trade went from 166.5 million dollars in 2012 to 575 million dollars in 2014, which is equivalent to a growth of 245.43 per cent.

“This amount is the

largest record historically. By its total trade in 2014, Nigeria was the main trade partner of Mexico in Africa, surpassing South Africa,” he said, adding that as at 2011, Nigeria and Mexico had no bilateral agreements.

He said things had changed as the two countries now have nine bilateral agreements and identified 11 more instruments, which he said were at their final stages of negotiation.

“Once we finish this process, Nigeria and Mexico will have a legal framework to regulate and promote their bilateral relationship,” he said.

To further strengthen the bilateral trade re-

lations, the envoy said the Nigerian-Mexican Chamber of Commerce was launched in December 2014, adding that the chamber organised its first trade mission to Mexico in May 2015 with 35 Nigerian entrepreneurs participating.

According to him, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Nigerian Export Promotion Council and the Nigerian Export-Import Bank also participated in the trade mission.

“These three organisations signed Memoranda of Understanding, MoU, with their counterparts in Mexico to promote bilateral trade, investment, joint ventures and strategic alliances,” he

said.

Blanco said a significant step by Mexico to expand and strengthen the ties between it and Nigeria was the opening of its Honourary Consulate in Lagos.

According to him, the Consulate will allow a wide and better attention to the Nigerians interested in traveling to Mexico for tourism, business, training, cultural, academic or medical purposes.

“Mexico has already started some investments in Nigeria with capital, machinery and Mexican management on two agroindustrial projects, which will generate 7,500 direct jobs once fully implemented,” he said.

oalition of Civil Society Group, CCSG, has described Amnesty International, AI, report indicting Nigerian military as “vindictive, prejudicial and lacking in basic facts.”

President of CCSG, Mr Etuk Bassey-Williams, stated this during a protest by the group to the UN Country Representative office in Abuja on Monday.

The CCSG is an umbrella body of all Civil Society groups in Nigeria registered under the law.

News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, recalls that AI had published a report indicting the Nigerian military of war crimes, calling on the International Criminal Court, ICC, to probe and charge some senior Nigerian military officers before the court.

“After critical study of the recently released report

by AI tagged, “stars on their shoulders, blood on their hands” in which some senior Nigerian military officers, serving and retired, were indicted for war crimes, the coalition of civil society groups unequivocally wish to state without mincing words that the report has been found to

be vindictive and lacking in basic facts.

“This is at variance with our independent assessment and findings conducted on the war against terror in Nigeria,’’ Bassey-Williams said.

He said the report was targeted at some military officers, “for whatever reasons best known to AI,’’ adding that the report was questionable and lacked objectivity.

Bassey-Williams also said that the report was meant to blackmail the Nigerian military and stampede President Muhammadu Buhari to turn against the military in the fight against the insurgency.

He said an independent findings by the group showed that it was difficult for the Nigerian military to identify members of the insurgency groups because they were using women and children for their attacks.

The CCSG president also stated that the operations of the insurgents, forcefully recruiting teenagers and young girls, put the military in line of danger and unavoidable risk during its fight against terror.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

7

FG monitoring MERS spread in Middle East —NCAA boss oluseguN koiki

F

ederal Government says it is observing development in the Middle East as relates to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, MERS, which broke out in South Korea and has officially killed tens of people so far.

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Engr.

Saleh Dunoma, said this on behalf of the Federal Government yesterday at the annex headquarters during the visit of International Civil Aviation Organisa-

tion, ICAO, Collaborative Arrangement for Prevention and Management of Public Health events in Civil Aviation, CAPSCA. This position was further supported by Director, Port Health Services, Ministry of Health, at the airport, Dr. Hassan Garba.

Garba speaking with journalists after the event, said the ministry had put in place interim measures to tackle the disease in case of an outbreak in the country.

He said the ministry has received a letter from the highest level of authority in support of the interim

plan being put in place by it, adding that the interim arrangement has the support of government and it has also started liaising with other stakeholders on the issue.

Meanwhile, ICAO has stated that its CAPSCA programme visit to Nigeria was to see the level of Nigeria’s aviation preparedness against the outbreak of communicable diseases and that it is a voluntary programme.

Speaking at the forum, ICAO CAPSCA Programme Global Coordinator, Michiel Vreedenbugh, explained

that ICAO, through its CAPSCA programme, analysed the preparedness of Nigeria’s air transport industry in the event of an outbreak of communicable diseases and also advised and assisted Nigeria on how to go about putting in place a good public health system in the country’s entry and exit points.

The coordinator stated that the decision to assist Nigeria using air travel was because communicable disease rapidly spreads through this means of transport to a large population within a very short time.

L-R: Representative, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Nigeria, Mrs. Angele Dikongueatangana; DirectorGeneral, National Centre for Women Development, Lady Onyeka Onwenu; and UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr. Grace Ongile, during the Commemoration of World Refugees Day in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Rights advocates responsible for high condemned inmates Chris Njoku OWERRI

N

ewly promoted Controller of Prisons, Zone E, Malachy Ohakosim, has blamed the high rate of condemned inmates in Nigerian prisons on problem of human rights.

Speaking shortly after being decorated with the new rank in Owerri, Imo State, Ohakosim, who was Deputy Controller of Prisons, Zone E Headquarters, Owerri, disclosed to National Mirror that the issue of human rights was creating serious hindrance to execution of condemned inmates.

“If you count condemned inmates in the prisons, you will find it much higher than you can imagine; this is because of human right issues, the human right activists

feel it is not worthwhile killing condemned inmates,” he said.

Ohakosim, who was among 18 controllers promoted, however, advocated skill acquisition for condemned inmates if their execution could not be carried out.

By so doing, he said the inmates could contribute to prisons development and be useful citizens, adding that their lives could also be reformed through acquiring such skills.

He also said there was no point comparing prison development in Nigeria with what obtains in developed nations “because they have more advanced facilities than there are in this country; we are only trying to imitate them.”

He expressed gratitude to God for making his promo-

tion possible.

“Of the 95 people that faced the promotion panel, I was the only person from the South South and South East that was favoured.

“With this promotion, I can now head a state com-

mand. If I am given opportunity to head a state command, I will change the lifestyle in prison service. I intend to raise the standard of prison reformation and operational standards,” he assured.

He said: “The ICAO CAPSCA is a voluntary visit to provide advice and assistance on public health because it has a role to play in aviation.”

He emphasised that Nigeria was not new to CAPSCA programme, recalling that the country was involved in the programme in 2009 and 2011.

Michiel commended the Federal Government for

Doctors’ strike paralyses services at ATBU —CMD

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hief Medical Director, CMD, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, ATBU-TH, Bauchi, Dr. Yusuf Jibrin, said the strike by doctors has adversely affected provision of healthcare services by the institution.

Jibrin made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Bauchi yesterday.

He said the hospital has been forced to render skeletal services since beginning of the two-week-old strike

by Association of Resident Doctors, ARD. The CMD explained that only house officers and consultants in the hospital have been providing medical services to patients on emergency.

“The resident doctors are

A

two male minors.

The act allegedly lasted seven days while both victims were locked in confinement in Okoloji Street, Odoakpu in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Prosecutor, Mr. Clem Nwancho, an assistant superintendent of police, submitted a three-page affidavit opposing plea for bail for the accused persons.

Nwancho maintained that the accused would pose a

in majority; so lots of services have been affected.

“Since the strike started, we have been attending to only emergency cases, as only house officers and consultants were there to provide services to patients,” he said.

Jibrin said dialogue has reached advanced stage between the hospital management and the striking doctors to call off the strike in order to put an end to the suffering of the people.

President of ARD in Bauchi State, Dr. Suleiman Biodun, however, dismissed the claim by the CMD that there was any agreement with the doctors to call off the strike.

Biodun told NAN during an interview that the doctors would not resume work until their demands are met by the hospital management.

Accountant arraigned over alleged stealing of NNPC’s N25m

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n accountant, Sarah Suowari, 39, has been arraigned before a High Court in Yenagoa, charged with stealing N25 million from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. The charge sheet stated

Onitsha homosexual case: Court remands suspects in prison custody

n Onitsha Chief Magistrate’s Court presided over by Mrs. Nkemdilim Ike, has remanded two persons suspected of homosexual activities in prison custody pending determination of their bail applications.

The suspects, Ebuka Anyasi (23) and Michael Ikegbunam (19) are facing a threecount charge of allegedly having carnal knowledge of

successfully combating the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), and that the current visit was a follow up to the two previous visits.

The ICAO official urged Nigeria to use the opportunity to prepare for the audit slated for November later this year and that collaboration, cooperation, coordination and partnership were key to achieving the desired results.

threat to the society if granted bail, as they allegedly had a cartel of homosexuals in the state.

The defence counsel, Mr. John Chukwuma, also submitted a nine-paragraph motion praying the court to grant the two bail since the offence was bailable.

In her ruling, Ike adjourned the matter to July 1 to enable her study the written applications by the parties.

that Suowari committed the offence on January 20, 2015, at the NNPC Mega Filling Station on Sani Abacha Expressway, Yenagoa.

It stated that the accused, an accountant, stole the money belonging to the NNPC Mega Filling Station.

However, when the case was mentioned for hearing, the state’s counsel, Mr. J.O. Nathan, asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to amend the charge and file an application to provide additional evidence.

Justice G.S. Botei, who expressed displeasure over the development, adjourned the case to July 20 and urged the prosecuting counsel to approach his job more diligently before the next hearing date.

8

South West

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Capital projects not responsible for Osun salary crisis —APC BOladale BamigBOla OSOGBO

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hairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State, Prince 'Gboyega Famoodun, yesterday dismissed claims that non-payment of salaries of workers in the state was due to profligacy of Governor Rauf Aregbesola's administration.

The party blamed delay in payment on about 80 per cent drop in monthly federal allocation to the state, alleging mismanagement of the nation’s economic resources by past administrations of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Famoodun, who spoke with newsmen at the party’s state secretariat in Osogbo, said the Osun State government got N5.5 billion in February 2013, which he claimed was the highest the state received, adding that the allocation, however, dropped to N466 million by April 2015.

The Osun APC chairman said emoluments of workers in the state was N1.4 billion in 2010 when Aregbesola assumed leadership of the state, whereas the wage bill of the state at the moment stands at N3.6 billion.

"Between November 2010 and April 2014 the state

spent N120.4 billion on salaries and emoluments out of a total allocation (including all sources) from Abuja of N177.5 billion (68 per cent).

“Within the same period, our IGR efforts raked in N27.8bn, while our recurrent expenditure stood at N96.7 billion. In summary, total money from all sources was N205.3 billion, while salaries plus recurrent gulped N217.1 million.

This gives us a deficit of N11.8billion.

“Therefore, without capital projects, paying salaries plus our recurrent expenditure alone are at a deficit.

This puts a lie to insinuation that it was capital proj-

ects that put the government into trouble,” he said.

The party chairman also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to "consider financial bailout for states affected by delayed payment of salaries. If banks can be bailed with more than N4 trillion, it makes sense to bail the states whose impact are felt by millions of the people out of their present predicament."

He, however, assured that the government will never consider laying off workers, urging them to exercise patient with an assurance that they would be paid before end of June.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Experts seek local solution to Nigeria’s food security saidat alausa

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ice Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Professor Charles Ayo, has called for internal solution to Nigeria’s problems, especially in area of food security.

According to him, if the nation continues to live on aids in solving its problems, that means the country has not fully gained independence.

Ayo said this at the launch of West African Virus Epidemiology, WAVE, for Root and Tuber Crops Project at the university, yesterday.

He said the launch of the project came at a better time because the new government, whose slogan is change, has restated its commitment in developing agriculture in the country.

The vice chancellor said if the virus challenges of cassava and other tuber crops, which are already in Congo, could be effectively tackled before getting to Ni-

geria and other West African countries, it would turn around the fortune of African countries.

Explaining the idea behind the project, the Project Coordinator, Dr. Angela Eni, said the aim of the project is to increase productivity and sustainability of root and tuber crops in six West African countries through coordinated management of virus disease threats.

She also added that there was need to ensure a clear understanding of virus threat of roots and tubers crops by farmers in order to increase productivity.

Eni said that poor understanding of roots and tuber problem had hindered famers from realising their goals.

According to her, equipping farmers with accurate information was vital to achieved food security.

She urged policy makers and stakeholders to be part of the project so as to enhance cassava production in the country as the root crop is a very important stable food in Africa.

Oyo police arrest inter-state robbery gang …recover jeep, arms, ammunition Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

L-R: Director of Finance and Administration, LIRS, Mr Faramade Ogunsanya; Speaker, LSHA, Mudashiru Obasa; LIRS Chairman, Babatunde Fowler, and Lagos Assembly Deputy Speaker, Honourable Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, during courtesy visit of LIRS team to the Speaker in Lagos, yesterday.

Commuter dies in taxi cab in Abeokuta Femi OyewesO ABEOKUTA

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rief and confusion yesterday enveloped Kemta-Idiaba in Abeokuta metropolis, Ogun State capital, over the death of a commuter who died inside a taxi cab while on transit to seek treatment for an ailment.

The deceased, identified as Michael Hogan, was said to have boarded the taxi cab from Odeda in Odeda Local Government Area of the state to Abeokuta, but died on his way before alighting from the cab.

The confusion caused

by Hogan's death was

compounded when police at Kemta Oloko/Idiaba station detained driver of the taxi cab where he had gone to report the incident and also laboured hard to contain the curious crowd that besieged the station in a bid to catch a glimpse of both the driver and the corpse.

National Mirror gathered that the driver of the taxi was unaware of the death of his passenger until he got to the last bust stop at Iyana Mortuary junction, Idi-Aba in Abeokuta metropolis when Hogan would not alight from the cab.

Upon the discovery of the incident, the bewil-

dered cab driver was said to have raised an alarm which attracted fellow drivers and passersby to the scene of the incident.

The fear-stricken cab driver, who momentarily abandoned his taxi, initially took to his heel was however, eventually encouraged by his colleagues to carry the remains of the passenger to the nearest police station at Kemta - Idi Aba Divisional Headquarters where he was detained along with the corpse.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed identity of Hogan, also said the police have traced

family of the deceased, who also claimed that the late Hogan had been ill for a long time.

Adejobi also stated that the family the deceased attested that Hogan left home early in the morning for Abeokuta to collect herbal remedies from a traditional medicine vendor in Abeokuta not knowing that he would die before getting to the point where he would get treated.

He said the Police would soon release the corpse to the family for burial as requested after due process are followed and necessary things carried out by the police.

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hree suspected interstate armed robbers yesterday in Ibadan confessed how they were linked with their target by a car dealer in Ikirun, Osun State, who was anxiously waiting for their arrival to receive their loot.

The trio of Fatai Ademola, a native of Ikirun, but resides in Sagamu, Ogun State; Jimoh Quadri, native of Ede; and Azeez Omotoso, native of Agbeye, Odo-Otin, but reside in Kaara area of Sagamu, trailed their target, a woman, to her Sagamu residence about 8:30 pm on Sunday and forcefully dispossed the nursing mother of her Toyota Highlander jeep marked KJA418AW at gun point, as her gateman was busy opening the gate for her.

The robbery gangsters instantly jumped inside the car, with Azeez mounting the steering wheel, and carried the woman and her child to the expressway where they were dumped by the road-

side before zooming off towards Ibadan.

Nemesis, however, caught up with them as they were arrested at Iwo Road interchange in Ibadan in the early hours of yesterday by the Ambush Squad of Oyo State Police Command during a stop and search operation.

Items recovered from the gang included one English made cut-to-size single barrel gun, one kitchen knife, five cartridges, one Samsung Duos, one Black Berry Touch 2 and some charms.

While parading the suspects and their loots at Eleiyele headquarters of the police command, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammad Musa Katsina, represented by Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the victim had already been contacted following information from the robbers.

He then restated earlier warning by the police command to criminals and other anti-social elements to “leave the state or be entangled in the impenetrable network of our Ambush Squad.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

9

Ekiti PDP, APC bicker over alleged N4bn diversion abiodun nejo ADO EKITI

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eoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State, have engaged in verbal war over allegation that N4.1 billion was diverted during former Governor Kayode Fayemi’s administration.

PDP alleged that a recent workers' verification exercise in the state had revealed how the Fayemi administration diverted over N4 billion

entitlements of workers to APC through various means.

A statement by PDP state publicity secretary, Mr. Jackson Adebayo, alleged that the ghost workers detected during the exercise were among the means used to perpetrate the fraud, adding that some of the civil servants, who collaborated with APC in the shady deal, and who claimed they were short-changed, had exposed it.

Involved in the fraud, according to Adebayo, is N2.1 billion allegedly withdrawn

from the salary accounts of civil servants and moved to APC secretariat to cater for the party's needs in four years of the former administration.

He added that the missing deductions from workers' salaries for the months of April, May, June, July and August, 2014, amounting to about N1.8 billion was also traced to APC secretariat, alleging that information had it that it was packaged for the running of the party after Fayemi had lost re-election

bid in June 2014.

Adebayo also stated that about N220 million set aside for payment of allowances to National Youth Service Corps members was given to APC state executive council members by the former governor as a parting gift.

But APC debunked the alleged N4bn fraud as diversionary, describing it as ‎the governor’s old practice of falsehood and blackmail to divert Ekiti people's attention from proven cases of sharp practices in governance.

Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ade Ajisebutu, parading suspected car snatcher in Ibadan, yesterday

The APC stated that the PDP’s allegation of diversion of N4.1 billion by Fayemi was to take Ekiti people's attention from the N720 million he awarded himself as salary arrears for his unfinished first time, while at the same time owing workers salaries and pensioners entitlements.

The APC, in a statement by the state publicity secretary, Mr. Taiwo Olatubosun, expressed dismay that the governor was just realising that N4 billion was diverted by Fayemi after eight months in office and after the governor was exposed as an enemy of workers, having owed them salaries and pensions at a time he awarded himself N720 million and paid back N650 million to his election contractors.

The party stated: "It is laughable that as much as N4 billion was diverted and or embezzled by the Fayemi administration and the governor has just known that after eight months of assuming office, pretending that a kangaroo verification exercise had revealed this. This is better told to the marines!

“Fayemi had earlier offered his administration for probe when the governor started a similar campaign of calumny to cover his

tracks in financial mismanagement but the governor had no courage for such exercise because there was nothing to probe.

“The governor is at it again in his usual funny game to divert Ekiti people's attention from his sharp practices in governance.

This is an after-thought that exposes his ignorance and confusion. If he is sure of his facts, he should not waste time in taking his case to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. "There is no deduction anywhere. It is not possible.

Even for the two years that federal allocations to the state dwindled by as much as N500m, Fayemi was still paying workers' salaries with overdraft until he, as governor-elect wrote to banks to stop it. So, how was any deduction and diversion possible under that situation?

"The biometric system was so transparent such that it did not allow for ghost workers’ syndrome; but since the PDP is now saying its government has detected 1,000 ghost workers, we are interested in unmasking the ghosts, which we believe is the governor's making and we demand that the names of these ghost workers be published."

CCC leadership tussle: Olatoso becomes 'unification leader' Francis suberu

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here seems an end to the leadership crisis rocking Celestial Church of Christ, CCC worldwide, as Rev. Olatoso Matthew Oshoffa emerges ‘unification leader’ of the church.

The new spiritual head of the church, who addressed a press conference in Lagos yesterday alongside other notable leaders of the church, said his emergence was ordained by God, adding that it had been foretold even before the demise of his father, Samuel Oshoffa.

He said his emergence was sequel to the vacation of the seat by court judgement, of his elder brother, Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa.

Olatoso at the briefing said the main mission given to him after being anointed

by God was to unite the Celestial family, adding that past struggles in the church were the handiwork of Sa-

tan.

According to Olatoso, the 20th child of the late CCC founder, the church in the last 12 years under the leadership of his elder brother, Emmanuel Oshoffa, has failed to make progress.

It would be recalled that an Ilaro High Court, on March 26, 2015, terminated the tenure of Emmanuel, under whom Olatoso served as personal assistance.

Shedding light on the circumstances that led to his emergence as ‘unification leader’ of the church, Olatoso said: "On one of my journeys to France, specifically on May 30, 2015, my father appeared to me and said, 'my son, Olatoso, the church has diverted from my calling and I want you to stand up, take up my abandoned work and lead my children.’

"I have met several spiritual leaders in the church, telling them the revelation I received from my father and God Almighty. Many of them prayed about it and con-

firmed that the revelation was truly from my father and indeed, God. "Hence, my acceptance of the leadership nomination to unite our church, ensure stability and peace in

it and build CCC worldwide as started by my father and founder."

The 45-year-old new leader of the church noted that his appointment and declaration as ‘unification leader’

of CCC was done in Imeko, Ogun State, on June 10, 2015, after series of consultations.

He said the development showed that his siblings were united on his candidacy and ready to support him

in the daunting task ahead.

He recalled that the agelong crisis in the CCC, since the founder died in 1985, had been foreseen by his late father, as "a trying time for the church."

Court frees Atuche in N25.7bn theft case Matthew irinoye

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ustice Lateef LawalAkapo of a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, yesterday, struck out a N25.7 billion case brought against former Managing Director of defunct Bank PHB, Francis Atuche, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Atuche and his wife, Elizabeth, were standing trial alongside former chief financial officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu, and were charged to court by the EFCC for allegedly stealing N25.7 billion from the bank while Atuche

was chief executive officer.

The presiding judge discharged the defendants after finding out that the prosecution's case lacked merit and that the court lacked jurisdiction.

"I find no merit in the prosecution's application; it is hereby dismissed. The defendants’ application dated November 27, 2013, succeeds and I hereby make the following orders: "The criminal charge in this suit is hereby struck out and the accused persons, namely: Francis Atuche, Elizabeth Atuche and Ugo Anyanwu are discharged.

The complainant's notice of plenary objection dated

December 3, 2013, is hereby dismissed."

The defendants' counsel, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) and Sylvia Ogwemoh (SAN), had in the pending application asked the court to quash the charge, citing the Court of Appeal’s judgment of November 21, 2013.

Idigbe, said the appellate court had in a judgment, struck out the theft charges preferred against a former managing director of Finbank Plc, Mr. Okey Nwosu, and others for lack of jurisdiction.

Idigbe, had further argued that Atuche's application is challenging the jurisdiction of the court and that if the

court grants the EFCC’s application it would amount to the court already assuming jurisdiction on the matter.

The lawyer explained that the faith of his clients could not and should not be tied to the Okey Nwosu's judgment appeal at the Supreme Court and urged the court to dismiss the application.

However, the EFCC in another application filed by its counsel, Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN), on March 2, asked the court to adjourn ruling on the application indefinitely.

Adesina said this must be so, pending the outcome of the EFCC's appeal against the judgment at the Supreme Court.

10

South East

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

RAMP kicks off rural roads construction in Enugu Dennis Agbo ENUGU

S

econd phase of Rural Access Mobility Project, RAMP II, has officially commenced development of rural roads in Enugu State.

RAMP is a World Bank Assisted Project in partnership with the federal and state governments, with particular interest in creating accessible rural roads network that would give rural dwellers, especially farmers, access to evacuating their goods.

Inspecting roads project in Enugu State, RAMP's World Bank's Team Leader, Mohammed Dalil Essakali, calls for strengthening of the procurement aspect of the agency.

He also lamented that RAMP staff in Enugu State were not properly motivated by the state government on payment of due entitlements.

Essakali noted that paying staff due entitlements will make workers perform better, adding that the World Bank was ready to assist in

the state's huge agricultural potential as a means of diversifying the economy of Enugu State.

National Coordinator of RAMP, Ularamu Ubandoma, said Enugu State had been trying its best in SPU since 2005 and it has satisfied all necessary requirements.

“Our worry, however, is that other states in RAMP II had taken off and Enugu is behind schedule, maybe because of the learning process.

He noted that even though there were mistakes initially, both the federal and state governments are doing their best to get it right.

“The stage now is that we are waiting for World Bank and I advise that staff of the agency be empowered and motivated by the state government," said Ubandoma.

Earlier in her speech, Enugu State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mrs. Slyver Onwubuemeli, requested that the World Bank position the state as a special project "because we believe that if necessary things are put in place, the state will come top.

Anambra CJ tasks magistrates on hard work ChArles okeke AWKA

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nambra State Chief Judge, Justice Peter Nnanna Chukwudi Umeadi, yesterday charged 20 new magistrates, who were issued with official Ford Focus cars, to work very hard and justify their appointments.

Umeadi, who spoke during formal presentation of 22 new Ford Focus brand of cars to all the new magistrates and Deputy Chief Registrar, as well as retired Director at the Judiciary headquarters in Awka, stated that the new cars were meant to assist judicial officers in performing their work.

The Chief Judge, who directed the magistrates to collect the cars and keep them in proper shape, thanked Governor Willie Obiano for approving financial autonomy for Anambra State Judiciary.

He charged the magistrates, who were sworn-in on April 27, 2015, to brace up for duty and use the cars effectively.

Among the 20 new magistrates who took away their saloon cars yesterday were Arinze, Ijeoma Juliet, Kanu Onyeka Moses, Ezebilo-Nnedu Obiamaka, Ijeoma, Igbokwe, Nwakamma Chika, Chigbo Chizoba Catherine, Maduakor N.G.C, Ani-Nnaka Loveth Nwadi, Ezeudeka Stella, Onyekwuru Gladys O.Moneke, Nduka Victory Chidimma and Eke Peter Nnamdi, among others.

The Chief Registrar of Anambra State High Court, N.D Ezeani, had in her speech, thanked the Chief Judge for his overwhelming interest in staff welfare and in the transformation of Anambra State judiciary and also for providing in record time, the funds for the procurement of the brand new vehicles to the Deputy Chief Registrar, Magistrates and Retired Director.

Pledging their unflinching support for the Governor, Ezeani, promised that they will continue to do their best to serve the people of Anambra State in the areas of dispensation of justice and assisting the governor to move the state forward.

National Emergency Management Agency in collaboration with members of NYSC Emergency Management Vanguard cleaning blocked drainage system in Owerri, Imo State, yesterday.

Umahi sacks 13 council chairmen, 64 coordinators

…presents N75.8bn budget to Assembly AliunA goDwin ABAKALIKI

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bonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, yesterday sacked 13 Caretaker Council Chairmen and 64 Development Centre Co-ordinators in the state, just as he said their sack will not prevent the state’s House of Assembly from probing some of them for alleged involvement in financial scandals.

The governor stated that his purpose for sacking the council chairmen followed their earlier request to allow them to resign; hence they were no longer interested in serving.

Umahi, who made this known in Abakaliki during

his budget estimate presentation at the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, noted that the state was in coma by high debt profile.

He declared his readiness to scrap some ministries as well as merge some parastatals, adding that public office holders, who will be engaged by the state government, must be ready to sacrifice 50 per cent of their salaries before engagement by the present administration.

Meanwhile, Umahi has presented a budget estimate of N75.8 billion to the Assembly, which was 11 per cent lower than the N80.017 billion estimate earlier presented by former governor, Chief Martin Elechi, which the Assembly refused to pass.

Umahi recommended to the state’s legislators the relocation of the House of Assembly to Ocho-Udo city to enable them build a wider chamber that would accommodate a large number of people during any of their activities and programmes.

Recall that the governor had earlier declared his readiness to recover all stolen funds from the sacked council chairmen and coordinators.

“People destroyed the local government system, embezzled all kinds of money and when the House of Assembly asked them to come and account for the money, they said government was chasing them because they were in APC. “I said if they like let

them be in PDP, CPC, or whatever you call it, but if you stole any government money you will bring it out.

“There is nothing to stop you from producing it and am happy that all parties in this country are on the same page because the only way this country can develop is when we fight corruption," he stated.

In a remark, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru, who regretted the burning of the assembly complex by hoodlums during the last administration, called on the governor to assist them rebuild or possibly build a new complex for them. Nwifuru also commended Umahi for his willingness to develop the state.

Obiano assures on flyovers delivery

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overnor Willie Obiano of Anambra State on Monday assured that three flyovers under construction in Awka, Anambra State capital, would be delivered on schedule.

Obiano, who spoke during an unscheduled tour of the flyovers, also assured that the project would not affect payment of workers’ salaries.

“We are not going to owe workers because of any of these projects. We

are going to keep paying salaries.”

He said the prevailing economic downturn would not halt any of the projects going on in different parts of the state.

The governor expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work on the bridges.

“These three bridges we are seeing will be completed according to plan.

“Two will be completed in August this year, while the other will be complet-

ed in April next year.

“So, before May next year, we would have completed all these projects.”

He commended the contractor and Managing Director of IDC, the company handling the project, Mr Shaheed El-Ahel, for personally ensuring that construction work went on as planned.

“It may interest doubting Thomases to know that we pay the bills on these bridges as they are processed and we are not

going to renege on that.

Receiving the governor, El-Ahel assured that the flyovers would be delivered on schedule.

“This particular bridge, the Aroma Bridge, will be completed by the end of August.

Amawbia and Aroma must end in August this year.

“Kwata Bridge will be completed and handed over with the ramps and everything by April next year,” El-Ahel said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

11

NDLEA arrests 70 suspects for drug offences in Bayelsa

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Assistant State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Bayelsa Command, Mr. Segun Adeyeye (left) and State Commander, Josephine Obi, at NDLEA News Conference in Yenagoa, yesterday.

Wike promises to pay salary arrears DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

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ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has promised to offset salary arrears of civil servants owed by former administration in the state.

He equally assured that no civil servant would be victimised on account of his or her political inclinations, but advised them to desist from playing partisan politics.

Addressing civil servants yesterday at the State Secretariat during his maiden meeting with

them, Governor Wike said his administration would be workers-friendly.

He said never in the history of the state had civil servants’ salaries been owed, pointing out that he would take proactive measures to ensure the state never descended to such a shameful level again.

The governor said: “I want to assure you that we will pay your salaries. We cannot embark on projects execution without first paying your salaries.

“The immediate past administration owed salaries because of misplaced

priorities. In this administration, staff welfare will be given top priority.”

He regretted that the civil servants and their unions kept quiet while the former administration relegated staff welfare to the background.

On poor condition of the State Secretariat, Governor Wike assured the workers that his administration would improve the facilities for greater productivity of the workers.

The governor, however, charged the state’s Head of Service, Mr. Samuel

Long-John, to take remedial measures to improve the secretariat pending its full rehabilitation.

He also directed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, to ensure that sportsmen and women playing for Sharks, Dolphin and Rivers Angels Football Clubs get their eight months’salaries before end of yesterday (Monday).

Earlier, Head of Service, Mr. Long-John, had assured the governor that civil servants would support his administration in his quest to transform the state.

Jumbo pay: You’re selfish, wicked, MEND tells NASS DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

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ovement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has threatened to resume hostilities if huge earnings of members of the National Assembly, NASS, were not reversed.

Describing the federal lawmakers as selfish and wicked, the militant group lamented that they appropriate to themselves huge and absurd salaries and allowances at the expense of helpless Nigerians, most of who have not been paid salaries and pensions for months.

In an electronic mail issued yesterday and signed by spokesman of

MEND, Jomo Gbomo, the group urged NASS members to urgently make necessary amends to accommodate the needs of suffering masses.

The statement also said the Niger Delta region, which produces the bulk of the nation’s wealth, is suffering neglect, environmental degradation and lack, made worse by the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

It further said the wasteful lifestyle of the lawmakers whose stockin-trade is to enrich themselves would no longer be tolerated, adding that the eighth NASS should be held responsible if the warning is not

heeded.

The statement reads: “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has observed with disgust the brazing disregard for the feelings of the changeseeking masses by very selfish members of the eighth National Assembly.

“These wicked individuals appropriate to themselves huge and absurd salaries/allowances at the expense of millions of hapless Nigerians, who have not been paid for months, their salaries, pensions and other due benefits they deserve.

“The Niger Delta region where the bulk of revenue that sustains the nation comes from con-

tinues to suffer neglect, environmental degradation and lack, made worse by the very corrupt and visionless past government of President Goodluck Jonathan and his cronies, some of who still shamelessly parade themselves on national television and other media platforms as Niger Delta activists.

“Nigerians refuse to tolerate this ostentatious lifestyle of our lawmakers whose main objectives, it seems, are to enrich themselves and carelessly spend scarce resources.

“The Niger Delta people refuse to pamper and cater for the needs of these thieving Assembly rogues to its detriment.

ayelsa State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday said it has arrested 70 suspects over drug offences since January this year.

News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that 61 of the suspects were males, while nine were females.

Bayelsa Commandant of NDLEA, Mrs. Josephine Obi, made the disclosure at a news conference on activities of the agency in Yenagoa.

Obi said the agency has also seized 97.75 kg of various hard drugs from January to date.

A breakdown of the substances showed that 55.6 grammes of cocaine,

4.3 grammes of heroine, 97.23 kilogrammes of cannabis and 1.46 kilogrammes of psychotropic substances were seized.

According to figures provided by the command, it arrested the highest number of drug suspects - 23 males and one female - in May. It, however, made the least number of arrests in March with three males and one female.

Obi noted that the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking was destroying lives in the society.

She said the agency was able to achieve this record due to its regular surveillance and raids on illegal drug dealers in locations across the state.

JOHESU to resume suspended strike in UCTH RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

H

ealth workers in Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, yesterday called for immediate payment of their 2013 promotion arrears or they would resume their suspended January 2014 strike.

Another issue, which the health workers said they were aggrieved of, is the IPPIS’ unpaid salaries, threatening to down tools unless their demands were met.

The threat came in a letter sent to chief medical director of UCTH, Dr. Thomas Agan, over the weekend from the union, calling for immediate respond from authorities of the hospital.

According to the letter jointly signed by Charles Bassey and Icha Bassey, chairman and secretary of the union, they emphasised that except the outstanding debts are defrayed on or before June 30, the workers would be left with no option than to embark on another round of strike.

Oil theft: NSCDC to deploy drones, aircraft for surveillance

C

ommandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Dr. Ade Abolurin, said the corps has concluded plans to deploy about 500 drones and aircraft for proper surveillance of oil installations in the country.

Abolurin disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at a meeting with senior officers of the corps as part of efforts to strengthen its operational strategy.

He said the move was in line with the new administration’s resolve to tackle the issue of oil theft head-long to boost the economic revenue of the country.

The NSCDC boss, who decried the spate of pipeline

vandalism and oil theft in the country, said the corps was working round the clock to stem the tide.

He said the corps was exploring new ways to monitor and protect the pipelines, especially the use of technology and sophisticated gadgets to track down the vandals.

He said some drones had already been deployed on a test run in some areas in the Niger Delta region such as Bayelsa, to test their efficacy.

Abolurin also said officers of the corps’ anti-vandalism unit have also undergone refresher training in line with international best practice to deal with the menace.

12

North

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Shettima swears in SSG, CoS, special advisers INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

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overnor Kashim Shettima of Borno State on Monday swore in new Secretary to the State Government, SSG, with Chief of Staff, CoS, and two special advisers, charging them to discharge their responsibilities to move the state forward in spite of security challenges that have displaced over 1.5 million people.

The SSG, CoS and special advisers are Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa, Alhaji Modu Alhaji Musa, Isa Umar Gusau and Barrister Hassan Musa Dlakwa, respectively.

Shettima gave the charges to the five appointees at the Council Chambers of Government House, Maiduguri.

“Your appointments and subsequent swearing-in was based on your integrity, transparency and wealth of ex-

periences in governance and public service. You should help move this state forward and overcome the challenges of insecurity to both lives and property, which we have been facing in the last six years in Borno.

“The office of SSG is the clearing house for all government transactions before they are implemented for the betterment of our people, who are affected by insurgency. You should, as

a matter of policy and urgency, cultivate a comprehensive understating of how we can collectively rebuild and rehabilitate all the towns and villages in the 22 council areas of the state Boko Haram destroyed.

“The challenge before all of us today is how to accord top priority attention to agriculture, health, job creation, infrastructural facilities and the housing sector, as well as rebuilding and

L-R: Director, Human Resources Department, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed; Supervisory Councillor for Health, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Mrs. Josephine Nnodim; Head of Community Development Service, FCT NYSC, Hajia Hajara Hussein; Incident Manager, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Kenneth Madiebo and corps member, Miss Jalila Ahmad when the corps member showed the team borehole she rehabilitated at Jikwoyi Primary Health Care Centre in Abuja, yesterday.

WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

I

nspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has restated commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to weed out criminals in the country.

Police Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, who disclosed this while parading 45 suspected criminals arrested by special Anti-Crime Task force of Kogi State Command in Lokoja yesterday, stated that the police were battle ready to make Nigeria a crime-free country.

The suspects were arrested in connection with various crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and cattle rustling in the state and were picked up at different locations in Kogi Central Senatorial district.

Ojukwu explained that operatives of the Special AntiCrime Task Force made the arrest on a tip-off and succeeded in getting startling revelations of those behind dastard acts in the state.

He stated that when the

Police parade 45 suspects in Kogi Inspector General of Police sent over 350 police officers to Kogi as a result of rising criminal activities in the state, he charged them to appreciate the worrisome crime situation in the state and quickly design a template to contain the source.

The Special Task Force was also told to identify all criminal syndicates, their leaders/foot soldiers, sponsors and arrest them with operational precision and that it should carry out sporadic raids of their houses/ hideouts and recover arms, ammunition, weapons, charms and other dangerous items.

Among those arrested are All Progressives Congress, APC House of Assembly candidate for Okehi in the last general elections, Idris Ozi Shuaibu, Alhaji Ahmed Adoke and Major Ali Abdulahi (rtd).

While speaking with journalists, the politicians said the arrest was political-

ly-motivated as they claimed they were framed up by their political opponents.

Other suspects are Eneji Obeito, Bello Aliyu, Lawal Bello, Sule Adamu, Husseni Mai Mai, Ibrahim Suleiman, Abdulmumuni Alhaji Tukur, Sunday Omewa, Imazie Sylanus, Hassan Ismaila, Banarbas Yegba, Ezekiel Yerimon, John Sule, Adoke Jimoh, Suberu Ahmed, Isiyaku Bello, Ekundayo Daniel Ojo, Sunday Raji, Audu George, Sunday Omonuyoaka and Godwin Isah, among others.

Items recovered were Honda Accord marked RV 982’KJA, Mazda 323 saloon car marked YAB 209 DY; KIA Sportage Jeep AE 498 DTM, ML 450 Benz Jeep marked KJA 866AA; Honda Accord with marked CX 316 and Honda Accord marked KAB 316.

Other items include cutto-size locally-made double barrel gun, wooden Buff,

one muzzle pipe, four cartons of 3-phase prepaid metres, nine Hexing Mamas metres, one MOJEC metre box; three single barrel; one double barrel gun;13 live cartridges, cutlasses, knives, 50 rounds of ammunition and torch lights.

rehabilitation of the 22 destroyed communities of Baga, Bama, Gwoza, Monguno, Gamboru, Damasak and several other villages torched by Boko Haram insurgents in the last two or three years.”

The governor therefore, urged the people to cooperate with the new SSG in discharging his duties to improve the living conditions of the people that reelected him into office in April.

Army deserters arrested in Benue over kidnapping HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

T

hree suspected kidnappers are cooling their heels in the custody of security operatives after they were apprehended with a Toyota Sienna bus they allegedly snatched from a victim, who was in the trunk of the vehicle yesterday in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

National Mirror gathered from sources that the victim whose identity was given as Mrs. Susan Audu, lives beside Modern Market and was coming out from her compound when the gang intercepted and dispossessed her of her car, and bundled her into the vehicle.

The source disclosed that as the suspects zoomed off with their victim, the woman started shouting and struggling, an effort that attracted Okada riders, who mobilised and chased them until they were caught at a Nigerian Air Force base security checkpoint in the state.

National Mirror learnt it took several hours for security operatives to come to the rescue of the woman.

Speaking on the incident, Benue State police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Austin Ezeani, confirmed the incident, saying three suspects have been arrested in connection with the matter.

The police spokesman said a team of suspected kidnappers numbering five attempted to kidnap the woman but that luck ran out of three of them while the remaining two fled. He said frantic efforts are being made to bring them to book.

The image maker gave the identity of the suspected kidnappers as Joseph Emeka, whom he noted was a military deserter who fled from the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East; he was apprehended with a revolver pistol and eight rounds of ammunition.

Others include Oscar Ezeala and Sunday Nnemeaka while the other suspect whose names is withheld is an army lance corporal serving at the 82 Division of the Enugu military cantonment.

He however said a report has been lodged with the military in the state and that efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspect.

Commissioner promises media friendly environment ABDULGAFAR OLADIMEJI KANO

K

ano State government would henceforth pursue and encourage the use of modern broadcast gadgets and provision of adequate welfare for media practitioners, Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Garba, has stated.

Garba, who assumed office yesterday as commissioner for Information, Youths and Culture, during an interactive session with media officers in the state, said the state government, through his ministry would frown at

the habit of using obsolete media equipment by public and private broadcast media houses and would therefore work towards the upgrade of broadcast equipment by media practitioners.

He added that making available proper and adequate welfare package for media workers by their employers would be given in-depth attention to ensure media workers get the welfare they deserve.

According to him, training and retraining of media personnel would form part of the policies that would be

pursued to handle Kano journalists.

The outgoing NUJ president, who is now Kano State Commissioner for Information, hinted that his office would revisit the closure of the once renowned Kano State governmentowned Triumph newspaper and would advise the state government accordingly.

He pledged that the ministry would create an environment that would be media friendly to accord journalists the platform to exercise their constitutional role in a democratic setting.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

SUPER TUESDAY

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

13

Politics

Those calling for Ekweremadu’s resignation are anti-people –Timi Frank

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14

or many Nigerians, the crisis threatening the stability of the governing party, All Progressives Congress, APC, is nothing but the scramble for who controls what at the national level of the party. While some believe that the major threat is the ambition of two men, one of the party’s national leaders, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, known as Jagaban and former Kwara State governor and present President of the 8th Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, others feel that the ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Speaker Aminu Tambuwal among others are all threats to the stability of the party.

Despite the fact that the party has decided to bury the hatchet and forge ahead regardless of the insult it suffered by its recalcitrant members who went against its decision on National Assembly, NASS, leaderships, the atmosphere pervading the party shows that all is still not well.

There is still pregnant fear that individual ambitions of strong members of the APC are still threatening to tear the party apart, as bickering and rancour among party members seem to have continued unabated.

Not long ago, APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, called on the party national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to resign from his position, noting that the APC failed because Odigie-Oyegun did not consult widely before embarking on the mock election which he said ridiculed the party.

According to him, the chairman acted under undue pressure to conduct the mock elections as admitted by him and therefore if the APC was to rid itself of the mistakes of the PDP, it needs a chairman that would insulate himself from undue pressures, no matter where such pressures emanate from.

Frank said: “If my party could not keep to the promise of change, then we must correct them to keep to that. I have no fear or favour than to say that the current leadership of the party has practically failed. With this incident alone, the chairman should resign from his position after taking a position against the people and the people’s position has finally come to stay. Not just the national chairman, but the entire leadership that took this decision of conducting mock election against the outcry of the larger members of the party.

“You could see the way the party, including the national chairman was speaking before the NASS leadership elections; it showed clearly that the chairman had totally taken sides, which wasn’t supposed to be. I understand he took some of those decisions based on pressure.”

Frank also took a swipe at his immediate boss, Lai Mohammed, over comments credited to him that President Muhammadu Buhari is not the leader of the party. Recall that Mohammed was quoted to have said that Buhari was a product of the party and not the party’s leader.

Frank, who frowned at the statement, called on Mohammed to desist from such comments, as such were capable of putting the party in bad light, adding: “Let’s go back and ask Mohammed who the leader of the party is?”

All these only suggest that there is serious personal ambitions’ battle in APC over who is who and who controls what. For many political observers, these ambitions, if not suppressed for the good of the party and Nigeria at large, may land the party in a ditch, worse than the one suffered by the party in power before it, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Tinubu and his ambition Many Nigerians believe that it was due to Tinubu’s ambition to decide who becomes what in the party that the APC made a reverse of its initial position on zoning Senate Presidency to North Central and Speaker of House of Representatives to North East.

As was reported, back in April 22, APC hierarchy had met to decide which geo-political zones produce the Senate President and Speaker of the House respectively. Present in that meeting were the President, Buhari, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, and a horde of other national

Personal ambitions threatening APC’s stability EBERE NDUKWU looks at threats individual and personal ambitions of members of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC and the possible consequences on the party, if those involved fail to place the success of the party and the larger interest of country above ambitions.

Buhari

Odigie-Oyegun

leaders of the party.

At the meeting the party was said to have hammered more on Senate President, which it had difficulty deciding on, but finally zoned it to the North Central.

The decision, according to reports, was welcomed by all and Senator Saraki, former governor of Kwara State, his colleague senator, two-term governor of Benue State and Minority Leader of the 7th Senate, George Akume declared their ambitions.

For the position of House of Representatives Speaker, the meeting showed predilection for the North East geo-political zone and Yakubu Dogara, a minority Christian from Bauchi State and Mohammed Monguno from Borno State were massively favoured for the position of the Speaker.

But as believed in many quarters, because Saraki’s and Dogara’s Senate Presidency and Speakership ambition will not favour Tinubu and his cronies, it was gathered that the party’s initial agreement had to be scuttled, as some of the big wigs in APC shifted their searchlight for a Senate President to North East, and Yobe State’s Senator Ahmed Lawan was preferred.

For the speakership, since the North East will not produce Senate President and Speaker, the South West, partic-

ularly Lagos State, through the instrumentality of Tinubu, threw up Femi Gbajabiamila for the office of Speaker.

Like many believe, Tinubu had wanted the position of vice president but for the reason that the party feared the idea of Muslim-Muslim ticket may not take it to power, it dropped the idea but Tinubu allegedly insisted on producing the vice president, which ordinarily should have been the prerogative of the presidential candidate of the party.

And the result of his insistence was the party’s choice of Osinbajo, former Attorney General of Lagos under Tinubu’s administration.

That singular choice is yet to go down well with many members of the party, especially those who felt they were better qualified. The anger resulting from that choice must have given reason to the report that Saraki described the Vice President as “ordinary commissioner” and declined honouring a meeting summoned by the Vice President to address the crises emanating from the tussle of who becomes the Senate President.

Therefore, for political analysts, it was the insatiable quest of an arguably the most achieved South West living politician and legend, Tinubu, to have the control of the party in his hands, that made APC attempt to impose Lawan and Gbajabiamila as Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives respectively.

There were fears that the Lagos politician may not want to lose the right to call the short in the party’s affairs, most especially as the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed, reminded Nigerians that the President is never the leader of the party.

And like Frank asked, if the President is not the leader, who then is or will aspire to be? Threatening ambition one can say.

Saraki and his ambition For many analysts, Saraki, former member of the PDP, began to see himself as the next President of the Senate the moment he saw that his new party, the APC had won CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

There is sTill pregnanT fear ThaT individual ambiTions of sTrong members of The

apC

are sTill ThreaTening

To Tear The parTy aparT,

as biCkering and ranCour among parTy members seem

To have ConTinued unabaTed.

14

Politics

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Those calling for Ekweremadu’s resigna Comrade Timi Frank, is the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in this interview with OBIORA IFOH, captures the genesis of the crisis in the party, particularly, the election of principal officers of the National Assembly and warned that the party’s national chairman should resign for taken sides with a camp during the elections. Excerpts:

A

s a member of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, did the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon Yakubu Dogara, as Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives respectively come to you as a surprise, considering that they were not APC candidates for the offices?

First of all, I want to congratulate Nigerians who made it possible. It has shown, not just to the All Progressives Congress, APC, as a party, but to every leadership in any organisation that anybody who seems to think that he is a godfather may not have his way when the people speak.

In the case of Senator Saraki and Hon. Dogara, it is the same way that Nigerians voted for President Muhammadu Buhari that the lawmakers have elected Hon. Dogara and Senator Saraki. It is not a victory for Saraki or Dogara but a victory for Nigerians, because it has shown that our voices are now counting politically. The APC as a party did not do well by taking sides or coming up with any formation of a kangaroo or socalled mock election. This is the first time. They called it a mock show of an election and practically, it has mocked the party itself.

As an insider, are you giving the impression that the decision to have what you called a ‘kangaroo’ and ‘mock show’ is not by the entire members of the APC NWC? Were you not involved in this decision?

I can tell you clearly that I was not part of that kind of decisions. We are just small boys in the party.

You can see I am just only a Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party. The party has its National Chairman, National Deputy Chairmen, National ViceChairmen, National Secretary and other big wigs of the party. These are the people that take some of these decisions without consulting the larger members of the party. How can a party take decision without consulting widely to also seek the opinion of every person in the NWC so that in case of any mistake, the smaller voices can advise you? This is the mistake that the party has put itself into. So far as I’m concerned, the party should apologise to Senator Saraki and Hon. Dogara for the mistake the party itself made. Clearly, if you ask me, without fear or favour, I disagree with my party. As a young man who is in this party, I can tell you clearly that I don’t want to be in a party and after getting the first victory for the first time in 16 years, then the next upcoming election in 2019, my party will be unable to win the election. If my party could not keep to the promise of change, then we must correct them to keep to that. I have no fear or favour than to say that the current leadership of the party has practically failed. With this incident alone, the chairman should resign from his position; as after taking a position against the people, the people’s position has finally come to stay. In the Western world, by now the party’s National Chairman would have resigned honourably. Not just the National Chairman but the entire leadership that took this decision of conducting mock election against the outcry of the larger members of the party. It is disheartening that a hand-full of the leadership came to take a decision that has ridiculed the party. Clearly, the voice of the people is the voice of God. Your calling for the National Chairman’s resignation as

Deputy National Publicity Secretary indicates that there is a crack in the APC leadership. Is this the case?

When they were taking their decision, they didn’t consult anybody. When they were taking their decision, there was no unity. So if we call for their resignation, I don’t think there should be unity. But I can tell you as a party man that the voice of the people should become the voice of the party. Despite that, we have the National Chairman who should have been able to consult the larger membership of the party. You can see the way the party, including the National Chairman was speaking even before the elections; it shows clearly that the chairman had totally taken sides, which wasn’t supposed to be. I understand that when he took some of those decisions, the National Chairman even told Hon. Dogara and others that they did what they did based on pressure. I beg to say that in this century, APC as a party does not need a chairman that will cave in under pressure.

It has been speculated that Chief John Odigie-Oyegun was under pressure from APC national leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. Did the pressure really come from him?

I can say from the position of the chairman, it seems some certain leaders of the party have cornered him.

From his actions, from what he demonstrated before Nigerians, you should know that there is some handful of people influencing him from somewhere. It is very clear, and then I don’t want to know who is influencing him. Whosoever that is influencing him, that is the business of both of them. But for God’s sake, my chairman is old enough to take decisions that will suit the larger picture of the party and the larger picture of Nigerians. If my chairman today can bow to pressure, then we don’t need a chairman that will bow to pressure. We need a chairman that can be firm on his own position and we as party members will support once that decision is going to be favourable to Nigerians not any individual.

After the election, when I saw my chairman coming to accept defeat by accepting Senator Saraki and Hon. Dogara, I felt that after doing that, he should have resigned, because it came too late. It showed that the same pressure has heated up to him, because Nigerians have embraced what happened on the floors of both chambers of the National Assembly, Nigerians were happy, including the leader of the party, President Buhari, who came up to say he is going to work with leaders of both chambers. That alone is enough. Nobody should question what the President has said because he is not just the leader of our party, but also the leader of the nation.

But APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed was quoted as saying that the President is a product of the party and not necessarily the leader of the party. How do you react to that?

Then let’s go back and ask Lai Mohammed who the leader of the party is. If he does not recognise the President as the leader, in my own view, that is his business.

Whether the President is the leader of the party, the figure whom Nigerians or party members will hold responsible for the failure of our party is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not any individual.

So if Mohammed, who is my direct boss could come up

Timi-Frank

to tell Nigerians that the President is only a product of the party and not the national leader of the party, then he should be able to tell us who the national leader of the party is. We have seen that even in then PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan was the leader of the party. If in our own case the President cannot be the leader of the party, he should tell us who the leader is then.

The outcome of the National Assembly election has shown an appearance of every components of the APC been accommodated in the spoils of office; that is the New Peoples Dempcratic Party, nPDP, the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP and Congress for Progressives Change, CPC. Was this what the squabble was all about?

Let me take you back a bit. When certain persons were bent on preventing Senator Saraki from contesting the Senate Presidency, the question I wanted to ask was whether Saraki did not contribute to our winning the elections and if he did, what was the big deal in him becoming the Senate President?

Clearly you would see that individual and selfish interest was at play and nothing more. Today, the analysis is so clear: the CPC brought the President, the ACN brought the Vice-President, the ANPP also has their own, then the new PDP later

NigeriaNs kNow that i am a co fought corruptioN wherever i ruliNg party today, if my party f criticise my party, i will Not k

speak for the beNefit of the com commoN

NigeriaNs that e

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

15

A PUBLICATION OF NATIONAL MIRROR NEWSPAPERS

Akpabuyo Local Government presents N2bn 2015 Budget RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

A

Burnt building in Woji

How ogogoro claimed 70 lives in Rivers •My husband died before we closed our eyes for prayers –victim’s wife •A young man boasted that it was a lie and died after consuming the drink –official

DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

T

he consumption of local brewed local gin, popularly called Ogogoro or Kaikai is not new to many a Rivers man, especially the indigenous people of the coastal communities of the state, who to a large extent see it as a way of life.

In fact, it is a known fact that consumption of the alcoholic liquor dates back to pre-colonial times when it was used as a ritual to communicate with the gods, by way of libation in a bid to reconcile one thing or the other, a practice which still holds sway in most areas within and outside Rivers; notwithstanding the advent of orthodox religion.

The recent reports of large scale deaths traced to the consumption of Ogogoro in Rivers State, like what happened in Ondo some three months previously is as worrisome as it is shocking that local gin which was consumed and used (still being used) for several purposes in areas like Bonny, Opobo, Okrika, Ogoni in Rivers State and other areas has turned out to be an albatross, a killer of some sort.

Though the first record of deaths due to the consumption of a poisonous dry gin was reported in Mini-Woji community in Obio/Akpor and Bonny Local Government Areas of the state, within days the tragedy spread to two other areas,

Gokana, Abuloma in Port Harcourt anxd Ahoada West ocal governments areas, laiming no fewer than 70 lives including males and females Though there were few survivors, the first case of death was recorded in Mini-Woji community one of the Ikwerre speaking areas of the state where some unspecified number of people had visited their usual spot where the dry gin is sold, along with dog meat, precisely on Sunday, May 31, 2015, but little did most of the unsuspecting consumers know that, that ill-fated visit to the inn would herald their untimely death.

Between Monday, June 1 and Friday, June 5, 2015, at least 18 casualties including a lady, were recorded in Mini-Woji, about 20 in Bonny, 13 in Gokana and five in Ahoada West, as some unsuspecting victims who sipped from the product awaited death by instalment.

Though, there were few survivors, it has been revealed that the

Mrs Pauline Akpan

killer gin manifest several symptoms on its victim within 24-hours or two days after consumption, including weakness, destruction of the intestine, vomiting and in extreme cases blindness and in the end, death.Some persons close to the victims were either evasive or reluctant in volunteering information as if it was the deadly Ebola that has struck their relative. The more obvious reason of being linked with to a relative of those who consume the hot drink, even though some who clearly drink it may not be addicted to the ERW W O H +RZHYHU. DLNDL W KH\ZD\ it is refereed to there) potency in preparing herbs for treating certain ailments like stomach aches, arthritis, fever, swollen body parts, among others cannot be over over emphasized.

In the case of Mini-Woji, it was gathered that some members of a social club had gathered on Sunday, May 31st, 2015 at an inn operated by one Friday Dickson, popularly called Etiaba, where they entertained themselves with dog meat spiced with the dry gin which turned out to be poisonous.

When tragedy struck, Etiaba’s building was razed, while he was reportedly detained after reporting himself to the police.

One version of the incident in Mini-Woji claimed that the killer gin was presented by another person who was not a member of the club, requesting them to celebrate

with him for a chieftaincy title that was about to be given to him.

The other version was that, the tragedy had nothing to do with the alleged drink from the visitor, but natives of the area who spoke to National Mirror said that there was a drunk, who was at the bar, when the visitor came in with a bottle of gin.

According to the sources, the visitor might be known by some of the victims. They said, the drunk refused to drink the Ogogoro insisting that the owner, who was persuading him to join in the merriment, should drink first. The man, they claimed, never tasted the product and reportedly escaped death. Thanks to his instincts.

However, Secretary of Woji Council of Chief, Elders and Owhor Holders, Chief (Dr.) Adele Temple Ejekwu, described the incident in his community as shocking, saying one of the victims resided in his compound.According to Ejekwu, “Actually, what happened in Woji here was very shocking and alarming. On Sunday, May 31, at about 12 noon, a boy who stays in my house started complaining of stomach pains. He stood up and said he could not see again.

I was thinking it was part of the fun and all “shack up”. Barely an hour, he gave up. Three hours later, news came again that another had died.“I nosed out to find out exactly CONTINUED ON PAGE41

kpabuyo Local Government Council of Cross River State on M o n day presented 2015 budget estimate of two billion, six hundred and eighty four million, one hundred and sixty-three thousand, seven hundred and forty-five naira (N2, 684,163, 745. 00) to the council’s legislature for consideration.

Presenting the budget at the Local Government Secretariat in Ikot Nakanda, Chairman for the Council, Dr. Patrick Ene Okon expressed the Council`s preparedness to depend less on the federation monthly allocation.

This comes as Okon urged the legislators to be ready to make sacrifices that would enable the council actualize her dreams.

Okon maintained that the sum of N1, 411,240,565 has been earmarked for capital expenditure, while recurrent expenditure would gulped the sum of N1, 790, 354, 104 in the document christened ‘Budget of Hope’.

While noting that the budget would be revenue driven, the council boss stated that “Our budget estimates in the last couple of years has been dependant on Federal allocation (FAAC), leading to a neglect of the myriad sources of revenue at our disposal and promised to reverse the trend which according to him was ugly.

“We intend to reverse this trend from 2015. The 2015 budget estimate is therefore, revenue driven, which shall position us to reasonably articulate and implement our developmental programmes”.

Okon maintained that he was poised to to broaden the council`s revenue base by redirecting the council`s efforts to all where all likely sources of exploring revenues to the council would be exploited.

“We would equally strive to raise the performance index in the existing sources of revenue through modernization of collections to minimize leakages”.

The council boss further stated that breakkdown of the budget indicates that the economic sector got the highest allocation of eight hundred and seventy-eight million, three hundred and fiftyseven thousand, eight hundred and forty-eight naira (N878, 357, 848) or 62.24%.

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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Eradicating erosion through World Bank assisted CRS-NEWMAP project RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

G

ully erosion are said to one of the major environmental challenges troubling some regions of the Nigerian nation which governmenta t different levels has been struggling to cope with in recent times because of the numerous threat which erosion scorch has pose on the shoulders of the government at various levels to contend with particularly states that fall within the South East and SouthSouth geo-political zone of the country,just like desertification is been posing a threaten to the existence of northern Nigeria.

Gully Erosions is said to be pandemic and prevalent devastating in the 7 states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi,Enugu,Imo, Edo and Cross River ravaging vast hectares of arable farm lands in several communities and many towns where plots of land which ought to be used for errection of even low cost houses is been ravaged by gullies thus causing the price for house rent to skyrocket a sorry situation that breeds or inflict economic hardship and abject poverty to residents who some time may be solely depending on the lost farm lands particularly if they are peasant or subsistent farmers.

Environmentalists paricularly those resident in Cross River said they feel grief that Cross River State is also inflicted with such a problem which might be bigger than the state to handle given the state lean financial muscle knowing too well that the state does not have the capacity and cannot affort to cough out the huge amount of money needed to tackle the problem lament why a state like Cross River State is made to face such a challenge?

This situation attracted the attention of the nation erstwhile president in the person of President Goodluck Jonathan to make pronouncement that he has negotiated a Special fund amounting to several millions of dollars from the World Bank to fight the scorch of gullies ravaging some parts of south south and south eastern Nigeria troubled by gully erosion.

Cross River state`s condition has evolved to epidemic intensity. perhaps this account for the reason why federal government through its counterpart funding decided to liase with the World Bank and the government of Cross River State under the counterpart funding umbrella body of Nigeria Erosion And Watershed Management Project (CRS-NEWMAP) Where N4bn is being spent on 5major devastating and fierce gully erosion site to tackle the prevalence of gully menace troubling residents of five major gully

Gully erosion site

sites of Atakpa,Edimotop,Ikot Ekpo,Ikot Awating and Njanasang gully erosion sites in within the Calabar Metropolis.

Cross River state alone has over 200 gully erosion sites with most of the sites located around the Obudu cattle said Eng.Robert who is Director Cross River state ministry of works.

However,Calabar the capital city of Cross River state was once undersiged by Gully erosions because of the geographical location characterized with torrential rainfalls which generate huge volumes of run off water which flood the city. But ignorantly some residents of the area in the alternative do dump thier refuse into run off waters which flow to block or even dig the drains only to aggravate the problem of erosion menace in the state.

Although I am not an environmentalist but a journalist but for the purpose of this discourse let me reiterate on one of the definitions taught me by my Agricultural Science teachers in My Secondary school days. I was told that Gully erosion is� the removal of top soil along drainage lines by surface run off. Once started gully would continue to move by headward erosion or by slumping of the side walls unless steps are taken to stabilize disturbances.

Again erosion occur when water is channeled across unprotected land and washes away the top soil along the drainage lines. Under natural condition conditions run off is moderated by vegetation which generally holds the soil together protecting it from excessive run offs and direct rainfall.

Gully Erosion can also

be cause by excessive clearing,inappropriate land use and compaction of the soil caused by grazing often makes the soil expose and unable to absorb excessive water.

In Calabar, gully erosions is said to have caused much havoc to residents of the five gully erosion sites mentioned at the inception of this article before the advent of CRS- NEWMAP. At the project site of Ikot Ekpo Gully site Chairman Site committee Offiong Ekpo who spoke simultaneously with one 73 yearold Chief Okon said that before the intervention on the gully site

by NEWMAP,25 houses,several human beings and his poultry with 300 birds which he reared for sale were all swept into the drain by the huge volume of water inflicting poverty on him and several others who had suffered loses in one way or the other At the Edimotop gully sites some residents who got their property like schools churches and some residential buildings abandoned following incessant threat of the viscinity by the gully which hitherto made the value of the abandoned property reduced had returned back to claim their property following remediation work carried out by Civil Engineering construction works by the CRS -NEWMAP. At the Gully sites visited by Director Communications Aries Concept Mr.Sola Akinsikun in company of journalists, Cordinator CRS-NEWMAP Fidelis Anukwa,Engineers for Chezaviz Nigeria Ltd Engr.Chike Oleke,who is handling the civil engineering works for Ikot Ekpo gully site,MD Atakpa Gully ero-

sion project site,Engr. Nicholas Agomno,Engr.Simala Adeyi of AIM Consultant,Engr. Ochi Patrick of AG Vision Engineering Works said NEWMAP a variety of options work are being used by the civil engineering work trying to stabilize the erosion.

The options applied to get water safly from the natural level to the gully floor.

At Ikot Ekpo gully site where Chike said the project is said to had gulped N852m stressing that it is about 42% completion wheras Agomno of Atakpa gully site said Atakpa project which cost N638m is about 56% completion while Engr.Ochi Patrick of Edimotop Gully site said the N540m Gully executed by AG Vision Engineering works which kick-started since June 2014 would be completed in 18months in December this year. “Compensation had been paid to owners of some buildings that were 5metres to the gully site.we had done up to 400metres concreate drain we have done about 90% of the project,torrential rainfalls had no doubt hindered the construction process�Ochi said.

He said they had work day and nigh when the rains had not started raining because the company was aware that certainly when the rains begins hinderance would come and said that activity of collector drain in the project site is to ensure that the erosion seizes to expand.

Again at Ikot Ekpo gully sites there is improvement of grass and rocks chute,pipes structures,with drop structures installed in order to stabilize the situation.

At edimotop site concreate had been raised along gully floor eventhough the grades are sleepy.

This is to allow water to rush down under peak flows to prevent continous ripping away of the soil and vegetation. Down the valley,rocks barrages were made with wire netting log on the gully perhaps to enable sediments hold in water to be deposited along flater grade flow even at slow pace to allow spring up or re-establishment of new vegetation.

With such control and revegetation work on-going, it is hope that the once depleted areas of gully sites are more likely going to return back to its once natural shape.

But Engr.Robert Edu Director Erosion and Flood Control in the Cross River state Ministry of Environment said apart from NEWMAP project federal government is been doing other intervention projects at the Obudu maountain Resort. anotherHe said Obudu Cattle Ranch alone has 15 gully sites with vegies trying to collaps.He said erosion is preventable stressing that if mechanism of erosion prevention are adopted in the form of enlightenment and education government would not spend up to the N4bn which the World Bank,CRS Government and Federal Government is spending to tackle the scorch.He said siad most of the erosion sites were just created by someone going to clear a portion of land just to farm exposing the soil through the method of farming which triggers up the erosion and today billions of naira is going off the drains trying to find a lasting solutio to that problem.

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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

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Legal perspective of 8th NASS inauguration IYKE OZEMENA

T

he legislature, apart from being a creation of the constitution, is as well a legal institution that performs legal functions. A prorogued 7th Assembly has to be subsequently succeeded by an 8th Assembly. And an inauguration is one of the conventions that usher in the 8th Assembly.

The most important of the inauguration, apart from presidential speech, is the election and installation of officers that would lead the assembly. Although the legislature is separate from the executive, but because the former is the foundation of the latter, it is interested in the outcome of leadership elections and installation of service officers. It is for that reason that the President as well as the APC very keenly worked towards the emergence of “preferred candidates”.

More than that, other groups in the pursuit and protection of their interests, promoted them by supporting and lobbying in favour of candidates of their choices. Forces that may influence the outcome of their elections included civic servants, the legislators themselves, civil society organizations that promote good corporate governance as well as corporate bodies. However, at the end of the exercise what the

members decide to do with these pressure groups is entirely their choice; all those influences are merely persuasive and not mandatory. It is also part of democratic culture that these proceedings are done in the full glare of the public. It also attracts wide publicity by members, supporters and parties.

During this inauguration, we observed practical politics of the legislature, including horse trading and camaraderie.

However, all these were narrowed down to the provisions of S. 50(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution which states that there shall be a Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be elected by the members from amongst themselves. Both supporting and opposing members as well as the majority party APC were drowned in this section which above all was endorsed by S. 1(3) of the Constitution that provides for supremacy of the Constitution.

Even if APC was uncomfortable because “preferred candidates” Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan were dropped but in their places Hon. Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi emerged as Speaker House of Representatives, while Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki from Kwara emerged as Senate President. The imposition of leaders is one of our past practices that saw PDP imposing “party candidates”

HEADING TO THE COURT AS THREATENED BY THE

UNITY FORUM IS

LIKE CRYING OVER SPLIT MILK that numbered more than four from 1999 to 2003. Even in 2007 they repeated the folly with the first female Speaker, Hon. Patricia Etteh. When the burden became overbearing her colleagues threw her office overboard!

These cases of party supremacy are instructive enough for anyone to recommend such practices in 2015.

It was tactical opposition in favor of PDP that APC members who were supposed to attend the inaugural session to corroborate their Writs of Return failed to do so or turned up late. This scenario gave the Senate the first opportunity since 1979 to have a Deputy Senate President from the opposition.

Naturally, the APC were rattled to the point of legal battle threatened the Unity Forum.

Heading to the court as threatened by the Unity Forum is like crying over split milk. It is only unfair not to stop a child from crying after a spank. But realistically, a law student without refer-

ence to law books can advise APC that it is an exercise in futility. Leadership of legislators formalizes the legislature; allocating duties and authorities to perform their constitutional function. The legal implication in my opinion is not as profound as to resort to litigation. They further alleged it was treachery by senators to have gone ahead to produce Senator Saraki instead of Senator Lawan. Treachery is like treason, which is about acts tantamount to sabotaging the state, the punishment of which is death! Of course to prosecute any senator who led to the election of Senator Saraki instead of APC’s favoured Lawan, the prosecutor needs the consent of the Attorney-General of the Federation according to S.49 (a)(2) of Criminal Code. So which way senators?

Instead of going to litigate over the appropriateness or otherwise of their leadership election, which would be diversionary, the APC should put its house in order by ensuring discipline in attendance of House businesses on time, not ‘African time’. Since it is APC government on seat, setting proper time-table for bills would be appropriate for efficient management of executive bills before they are prorogued.

Ozemena, a legal practitioner, is of Ikechukwu O. Odoemelam & Co Chambers.

Ike Ekweremadu’s return and Nigerian democracy LAW MEFOR

I

f any country qualifies as the workshop of democracy in Africa, it is Nigeria.

Her democracy has always been unpredictable, robust and, in some cases, defies logic. That is what the return of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President and the election of Bukola Saraki as Senate President have proved once again.

This development connotes critical lessons for democracy in Nigeria as it shows that democratic rule is deepening in the land and giving way to more national and rational politics. Nigerian politics will certainly do with less impunity, less imposition.

To begin with, the buildup to the final election at the Senate on the 9th of June never featured Dr. Ike Ekweremadu as a candidate for any position even though the absence of any senator elected on the platform of the APC from the South East made that somewhat plausible. Yet, Ekweremadu never really featured except perhaps in the behind-the-scene maneuvers. So, when George Thompson Sekibo, Senator who represents PDP in Rivers State nominated him, it took many by surprise.

Pitted against Senator Ali Ndume, Ike Ekweremadu no doubt towered a lot higher, going by the fact that he had held the position twice and left large footprints. But in Nigerian politics, primordial sentiments always have a way of seeping into decisions and making nonsense of everything.

Beyond parochial interests, Ike Ekweremadu belongs to the PDP, a political party, which only days ago was a ruling party and

the largest in Africa, and therefore was not conventionally expected to run and win.

But it is obvious that the PDP exploited the cracks in the APC, where decampee PDP to APC had not received a reciprocal attention. Strategically, the PDP joined into the fray in fury when APC hierarchs attempted to shut out Senator Bukola Saraki in favour of Ahmed Lawan and George Akume as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively.

The move by the APC to take charge of the process and possibly make the final election mere fait accompli fell flat on its face for so many gross errors of judgment. First, both Saraki and Dogara rejected the mock election organized by the National Working Committee of the party, where members were hoodwinked to vote between Saraki and Lawan in open ballot. The lack of secrecy robbed APC the opportunity to really gauge the popularity of the two aspirants before they went away with the false hope that Lawan/Akume ticket was a done deal.

While APC were banking on party loyalty, which is yet to crystallize in the fragile union, they indiscreetly wished away 45 PDP senators and four others from Labour Party and APGA, who have traditional ties with the PDP, making it only 10 senators separating the two dominant parties. Since the APC does not enjoy absolute majority in both chambers of NASS, it was naive to carry on as if the other parties do not count. It is this poor calculation that created the lacuna that was exploited by Saraki et all to the fullest.

Many may not know, but President Muhammadu Buhari, before his trip to the G7

IF ANY COUNTRY QUALIFIES AS THE WORKSHOP OF DEMOCRACY IN

AFRICA, IT IS NIGERIA

Summit at Munich, Germany, transmitted a letter to the Clerk of National Assembly to convoke the new National Assembly at 10 am of June 9. However, the APC wrote the Clerk directing him to shelve the proclamation of the 8th National Assembly ostensibly to enable them put their house in order. The party has no such right. It was the President they should have prevailed on to send another letter rescinding his earlier one.

Rather than admitting their mistakes and accepting their fate and making do, the APC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said on Channels Television on June 10: “We will challenge NASS election results in court, as both Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon Yakubu Dogara are not our candidates for the positions. Consequently, the APC leadership is meeting in a bid to reestablish discipline in the party and to mete out the necessary punishment to all those involved in what is nothing but a monumental act of indiscipline and betrayal to subject the party to ridicule and create obstacles for the new President Buhari’s administration”.

Furthermore, the 1999 Constitution, without any ambiguity, states that “the

Senators shall elect from among themselves…” What this presupposes is that the Constitution envisages the possibility and even desirability of a minority party producing the leadership of any of the two chambers of NASS. This has happened in and outside Nigeria. In the US, for example, the President of their Senate is even the Vice President.

In 1999, Cross River State House of Assembly elected an APP legislator as its speaker whereas the PDP had majority and also produced the state governor.

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal defected to the APC, then a minority party in the House of Representatives and yet kept his seat.

PDP challenged it and lost because the Constitution allows bipartisanship in the legislature and does not bar minority parties from holding any office in the two chambers, including those of presiding officers.

Only days ago, the Benue House of Assembly elected a PDP (minority) legislator as speaker whereas majority of the members of the Benue House are of the APC. Historically too, The return of Ekweremadu is, therefore, a great omen.

Mefor, an Abuja-based forensic psychologist and journalist, wrote lawmefor@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 clearly marked as such.

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Local gin consumption and related deaths

T

he strange deaths associated with the consumption of local gin (ogogoro) in Ode-Irele, Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State last April and a similar incident reported in Rivers State lately, sent jitters down the spine of the Nigerian public.

About 28 lives were lost in Ondo, while the death toll in Rivers State was put at 32, comprising 15 casualties in Bonny Island and Woji in Obio/Akpor LGAs and another 11 in Gokana LGA. Reports said the victims consumed alcoholic liquor and dog meat delicacy that contained poisonous ethanol. In their precipitate response, irate youths from the axis set ablaze the shop from where the suspected toxic gin was bought and consumed, thus making it impossible for officials of the Disease Control Department of the Rivers State Ministry of Health to obtain samples of the poisonous gin for clinical analysis.

Obviously panic-stricken, the state government has placed a ban on the sale of ogogoro across the state, while health ministry officials intensified house-to-house enlightenment campaigns on the dangers inherent in the consumption of highly toxic local gin.

Although widely misconstrued by the public as a strange disease (Ode-Irele community leaders earlier argued that the deaths resulted from the desecration of a traditional shrine by some daring youths), Ondo State health author-

ities, in liaison with the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF, after clinical investigations, came up with the verdict that the deaths in Ondo were associated with the consumption of a large quantity of the same alcohol at a local drinking joint.

There were indications, in addition, that some kind of ethanol poisoning was responsible for the tragic deaths.

As was the case with Ondo victims, those in Rivers State were first struck by headache, then blindness and eventual death within few hours of consuming the drink. Of a truth, countless brands of locally produced alcohol beverages, including local herbs mixed with water or local gin (agbo), a lot of which are not certified by regulatory agencies, now saturate the Nigerian market. There are also various types of energy drinks purportedly meant to boost human strength.

They are mostly consumed in voluble quantity by the poor youths and other dregs of the society, who cannot afford the high cost of alcoholic drinks produced by reputable firms in the country or imported, preferred by the rich and privileged. Indeed, reports last December said a man died in Ebonyi State after gulping eight cans of energy drink.

Some researchers agree that

June 23, 1972 Title IX of the United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 was amended to prohibit sexual discrimination to any educational programme receiving federal funds. Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was written in order to end discrimination in various fields based on religion, race, color, or national origin etc.; the Act also prohibited gender discrimination. Passage of the Act energized women’s rights movement.

EXCESSIVE DRINKING MAY BE ATTRIBUTED LARGELY TO BOTH LIVING CONDITIONS AND A COUNTRY’S

ALCOHOL CONTROL POLICY local alcohol may account for as much as 50 per cent of total alcohol consumption worldwide, whether in advanced or developing countries, though casually treated by the academic community. In their insightful work on ‘Unrecorded Alcohol Beverage Production and Consumption in Brazil, India, Mexico, Russia, Tanzania and Zambia not too long ago, Alan Haworth and Ronald Simpson of the United Kingdombased ‘International Centre for Alcohol Policies’ revealed, for instance, that studying local alcohol gives a rich account of varied customs and rituals surrounding non-commercial alcohol, its history, cultural significance and the legal and socioeconomic framework of its production and consumption. Such drinks have implications for public health policy and the alcohol beverage industry itself.

It was discovered that widespread poisonings from local alcohol may relate to particular

ON THIS DAY June 23, 1985 A terrorist bomb aboard Air India Flight 182 brought the Boeing 747 down off the coast of Ireland, killing all 329 people aboard - 268 Canadian citizens, 27 Britons, and 24 Indians. It was an Air India flight operating on the Montreal, Canada– London, UK –Delhi, India route. It was the first bombing of a 747 jumbo jet. The majority of the victims were Canadian citizens of Indian ancestry.

“bad batches” or unhygienic production processes; and that local alcohol is generally the least expensive type of product.

As a result, its consumers can be found largely among the poorest members of society; a development that rubs off on the complex interplay of culture and social and economic conditions. Therefore, excessive drinking may be attributed largely to both living conditions and a country’s alcohol control policy. When sections of the populace are forgotten and they rot in grinding poverty and destitution, no amount of ban can stop the poor from rushing local alcohol beverages the same way bees are to local palm wine.

This applies also when regulatory agencies lower their guards in controlling alcohol production and consumption.

Instead of settling for panic measures like placing a blanket ban on local gin production and consumption, the government and relevant agencies should do the needful. This will involve digging into the sociological, economic, legal and other intervening society-related conditions that hook otherwise productive Nigerians to local alcohol beverages’ production and consumption, when they ought to be working and contributing to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy and their own well-being.

June 23, 2014 The last of Syria’s declared chemical weapons were shipped out for destruction. Syria’s chemical weapons program began in the 1970s with weapons and training from Egypt and the Soviet Union, with production of chemical weapons in Syria beginning in the mid-1980s. Prior to September 2013, Syria had not publicly admitted to possessing chemical weapons, although Western intelligence services doubted it.

Business Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Climate Change: Again, world leaders express concerns over potential losses

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Airlines’ indebtesdness, technical personnel gap, bane of NAMA

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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NAICOM seals pact with law enforcement agencies

New airlines: Gasping for survival in turbulent operating climes Most of the new airlines issued Air Operator’s Certificate, AOC, by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, over the past two years are yet to make noticeable impacts in the face of tumultuous operating climes in the sub-sector.

OLUSEGUN KOIKI writes.

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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

I

n the past two years, no fewer than five domestic airlines had been issued Air Operator’s Certificates, AOCs, by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to commence scheduled and non-scheduled operations.

But, most of these new carriers, just like their older counterparts in the system, are confronted with several challenges, which have not made them compete competitively since they were issued AOCs. Some that struggled to spread their wings are yet to create major impressions in the minds of air travelers while one of them was forced to suspend flight operations on the grounds of alleged safety violation.

Apart from Air Peace that has consistently grown its fleet of aircraft from five at inception to nine with the acquisition of another two Boeing 737-300 aircraft recently, other carriers issued AOCs in

the past 24 months have not contributed to the growing demands of air passengers.

When the industry regulator commenced the issuance of AOCs to intending airlines immediately the former Director-General of NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren, was removed in 2013, eyebrows were raised by some of the analysts in the sector who alleged that the new carriers did not meet the required safety standards.

In fact, his removal opened the flood gate of AOC issuance to intending operators with three of the carriers issued AOC in two months by the then Ag. DirectorGeneral, NCAA, Mr. Joice Nkemakolam.

For instance, Hak Air owned by a former pilot in the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways, Capt. Harrison Kuti was issued AOC in May 2013, Westlink Airlines equally owned by an aircraft

Captain, Ibrahim Mshelia was issued AOC in June 2013, Azman Air was issued the AOC in May, 2014, Discovery Air issued AOC in July2014 while Air Peace was issued the certificate in October 2014.

Although, the requirements for obtaining an AOC for an intending airline operator vary from one country to the other, but at a time in Nigeria, AOC for intending carriers could be acquired with just an applicant indicating interest to set up an airline business in the sector. With the system then, the intending airline was put under a mild or no scrutiny at all by the industry regulator, NCAA. But all that changed in 2006 when the former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode ordered NCAA to embark on recapitalisation exercise for the airlines; aftermath of the crashes that consumed the sector between

2005 and 2006.

With the new regulations, it was easier for the camel to go through the eye of a needle than for an intending airline operator to get a new AOC. Such a new operator was expected to close different phases set out by the NCAA, which could take it up to two years or more before being issued an AOC. Generally, an intending operator is expected to have sufficient personnel with the required experience for the type of operations requested, airworthy aircraft, suitable for the type of operations requested, acceptable systems for the training of crew and the operation of the aircraft (Operations Manual).

Also, a new intending operator is expected to have a quality system to ensure that all applicable regulations are followed, the apCONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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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Business

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

New airlines: Gasping for survival in turbulent operating climes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 pointment of key accountable staff, who are responsible for specific safety critical functions such as training, maintenance and operations.

Besides, there should be carriers Liability Insurance (for Airlines); operators are to have sufficient insurance to cover the injury or death of any passenger carried, proof that the operator has sufficient finances to fund the operation, operator should also have sufficient ground infrastructure, or arrangements for the supply of sufficient infrastructure, to support its operations into the ports requested.

Although, the process of acquiring a new AOC as mapped out by NCAA received kudos and knocks from stakeholders and professionals alike, but most still believed that it was a way of ensuring safety standards in the sector.

So, when the industry policeman started giving out AOCs to some intending carriers, many wondered if the new airlines went through the rigorous process expected of a new carrier.

But, contrary to the claims of some stakeholders that the some of the new entrant did not meet the required standards and procedures, the immediate past Director-General, NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu dismissed such allegation.

Also, the Director of Airworthiness and Standards, NCAA, Engr. Benedict Adeyileka described the allegation as “very serious,” maintaining that the agency would never compromise its safety standards.

Hak Air The airline, owned by a former pilot and captain in the defunct national airline, Nigeria Airways, Capt. Kuti, was issued AOC as a scheduled operator by NCAA in May 2013. But since the issuance of the AOC, the airline, which had five Boeing aircraft in its fleet as at the time of issuance of the AOC, is yet to commence flight operations.

The five aircraft are still parked at the tarmac of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos as at the time of filing this report.

Just recently, NCAA said that for the airline to commence flight operations, it would have to go through another form of recertification as the AOC issued it had expired due to its non-commencement of operations since it was issued the certificate.

NCAA insisted that the AOC issued it was invalid and accused management of violating the requirements for the issuance of the certificate.

The General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Lagos said that the airline refused to commence flight operations several months after the issuance of AOC, saying that airline’s management had breached the terms of the AOC. He said: “NCAA procedure on issuance of AOC is clear. You must start operations within a minimum of 30 days and maximum of 90 days. But, since we issued it the AOC, it has refused to commence flight operations for the reason best known to it.”

But, the airline dared the regulatory agency to revoke its certificate, insisting that it has not violated any of the agency’s rules on issuance of AOC. A strong source at the airline’s office,

for teeming indigenous professionals and assured that Air Peace was committed to safety operations, even as it would not defer the maintenance of its aircraft.

He said the airline would continue to invest more on Nigerian pilots and aircraft engineers to reduce capital flight.

He spoke of plans to train more professionals, including pilots and aircraft engineers to attain global certification.

Azman Air

Discovery Air Chairman, Engr. Babatunde Babalola

DG NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman

who didn’t want his name in print, confided in our correspondent that its inability to secure an office at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja prevented it from commencing operations as proposed.

glamorous event in Lagos, was forced to close shop six months later by the industry regulator for its non-compliance with operating standards.

For the six months it flew, the airline did not make much impact as few months after its commencement of operations, one of the two Boeing aircraft went on D-Check.

The Deputy General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, in a statement commenting on the suspension of the operating licence of the airline, stated that the authority took the decisive action when it carried out a review of the operations of some domestic airlines in the country after which letters of warning or suspension of AOC were served on defaulters.

He emphasised that the agency had advised the airline to carry out certain corrective actions within one week, January 1, 2015 to January 8th of the same month, but that it failed, despite an earlier letter to the management of the airline.

However, after three months of suspension, NCAA lifted suspension on the airline’s certificate in April, but since the certificate was released two months ago, the airline is yet to resume flight operations.

Westlink Airlines Westlink Airlines, owned by the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Mish Aviation Services, Capt. Ibrahim Mshelia, with offices in Ghana and Nigeria was another carried issued AOC in June 2013 by the regulatory authorities to operate charter operations with a plan for scheduled flight operations in the future.

On the issuance of AOC to the airline, Mshelia promised to commence flight operations almost immediately with the then ongoing Umrah exercise to the holy land of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

As part of its Unique Selling Proportion, USP, he explained that the airline would try to do things differently from the other carriers in the sector while its services would be compared to the established carriers like British Airways and Lufthansa Airlines.

He said: “Our purpose of setting up this airline is to replicate what we see when we travel outside or on BA. The courtesy and attention you receive and the processes that make travelling more pleasant. Local carriers over the years have tried their best, but there is still a room for improvement.

“We want to be that airline that will bring out the difference and we are putting all things in place to make sure that as soon as we start operating, we will be that airline that people will want to see.”

While it commenced flight operations with charter and hajj operations, it is yet to commence scheduled operations 24 months after.

Discovery Air This is one of the most troubled entrants into the airline sub-sector. The airline, which was issued AOC in Lagos in June 2014 with two Boeing 737-300 aircraft at a

Air Peace Air Peace is one of the newest carriers that joined the sub-sector in October 2014.

But, unlike some of the other new carriers, Air Peace has grown its fleet from five on issuance of AOC to nine.

At present, Air Peace flies from Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Owerri and Kebbi airports in the local scene.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, promised that the carrier was set to change the face of air travel, with the seven aircraft, which he said had been acquired ahead of commencement of operations.

Onyema said the airline was not established to make money, but to create jobs

THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO DO THEIR JOBS IN NCAA. I DON’T HAVE ANY CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT ANY AOC SIGNED BEFORE I CAME IN WAS INFERIOR. THE PROCESS IS THE SAME; THE ISSUE OF AOC I THINK HAS BEEN OVER-PUBLICISED

The airline is another carrier that, based industry analysts’ views, has not made much impact since it came on stream in May 2014.

At the commencement of flight operations, its management vowed to help enhance air passengers experience seamless services.

The Chairman of the airline, Dr. Abdulmunaf Yunusa, told aviation correspondents in Lagos that the airline would succeed in the tough terrain of airline business in Nigeria, stressing that he already knew all the challenges in the sector before venturing into it.

He further disclosed that the management of the airline was investing huge amounts of money in the region to expand its operations by developing new routes and services in favour of the average passenger.

But, stakeholders said 13 months after the commencement of flight operations, the airline was yet to make big impression in the dynamic aviation industry. It operates Lagos-Abuja, Abuja-Kano, Kano-Abuja, Maiduguru, Kaduna and Port Harcourt routes.

Those spoken with by our correspondents on the issue attributed the challenging environment, improper feasibility studies and diversion of funds by the new owners to some of the reasons why the new airlines are finding it difficult to remain in the sub-sector.

The President Sabre Network, West Africa, Mr. Gbenga Olowo, advised the new operators to change their strategies if they want to remain in business, warning that if the failed , most of the new airlines may not last the next 10 years in the industry.

Besides, he charged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to enact a regulation that would compel existing airlines to merge, adding that Europe and America that introduced stiff competition in the past had embraced merger, consolidation and code-share.

The Chief Executive Officer of Centurion Securities, Grp. Capt. John Ojikutu, attributed their early collapse to the unfavourable operating environments for the domestic operators, insisting that the multiple landings given to international carriers in the domestic market was a serious setback for domestic operators.

He said, “Government policy in aviation has never favoured growth of domestic airlines. With multiple landings given to foreign airlines; the policy on domestic routes has been skewed to favour them than the domestic airline operators.

Like Olowo, Ojikutu advised the new airlines to merge their operations with the existing ones or raise funds from the capital market, stressing that any of the country’s carriers that couldn’t operate at least five airplanes in its fleet and couldn’t operate in more than three routes should not be given Air Operator’s Certificate, AOC, by NCAA.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Airtel chief urges authorities on broadband market imbalance DAVID AUDU

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hief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher, has called on the Ministry of Communications Technology and the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, to put in place policy and regulatory interventions to address challenges affecting broadband development in Nigeria.

He made the call at a paper presented at the 2015 Commonwealth Broadband Forum in Abuja recently.

Willsher noted that the current situation where most of the telecommunication sector revenues and profits go to one operator while others struggle to survive, was largely responsible for the broadband investment deficit and resultant low broadband penetration in Nigeria.

He stated that the presence of several struggling operators, many of whom are barely active, in an industry the size of Nigeria’s, was indicative of serious underlying issues with value distribution across the industry.

“This is highlighted by the concentration of 70 per cent industry EBITDA and probably all of the industry’s net profit in one operator to the detriment of the rest of the industry. Nigeria’s mobile broadband penetration stands at 10.1 per cent while the average for peer countries in Africa is 30 per cent.

Peer countries have an average Smartphone penetration of 26 per cent while Nigeria’s Smartphone penetration averages 12 per cent”, he said.

He called for tailor-made regulations to enable unprofitable operators compete more favourably in order to attract a greater share of the currently lopsided value in the industry.

According to him ‘it is perfectly normal to have asymmetric regulation in a market where one operator holds the sort of market share and significant market power – and pertinent to ask is whether Nigeria can learn from the success of other markets in restricting dominant players in the interests of the industry and the country at large’.

He opined that if struggling operators can extract a better share of industry value, they are more likely to increase their broadband investment which will drive broadband development in Nigeria’.

Business News

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

21

Passengers’ traffic drops 10.8% in Q1, 2015 –NBS OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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he Nigeria airports and airstrips recorded 10.88 per cent decline in passengers’ traffic in the first quarters of 2015 with 3, 710,618 movements when compared to the last quarter of 2014.

Just like in the past years, the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos recorded the highest number of passengers in the local operations while the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos led others in the movement of international passengers arriving and departing the country.

In the last quarter of 2014, a total of 4,163,762 passengers trav-

elled through the country’s airports, which were up by 227,744 or 5.59 per cent from quarter three of the same year.

A report by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, on air travellers’ traffic in the quarter under review indicated that year-onyear, passengers’ traffic increased by 294,011 or 8.61 per cent greater than the corresponding quarter of 2014 compared to Q4, 2014 with 594,317 passengers or 16.65 per cent greater than the number of travelers airlifted in the last quarter of the preceding year.

The Bureau reported further that of the passengers that travelled in Q1, 2015, a total of 2,261,648 or 60.95 per cent travelled domestically while 71.32 per cent of travels was domestic in the preceding

quarter.

The corresponding quarters recorded 68.84 per cent and 65.90 per cent domestic travel in quarter one of 2015 and quarter four of 2014 respectively.

The NBS attributed the decline in total passengers in the first quarter of this year to lower numbers of domestic travelling passengers, which it put at 708,092 fewer passengers or 23.84 per cent below the volume recorded in Q4, 2014.

However, it reported that international passengers increased by 254,948 passengers or 21.35 per cent.

Similarly, the quarterly rise observed in Q4 last year was driven solely by higher domestic passenger numbers, increasing by

L-R: Registrar, Elizade University, Prof. Omololu Adegbenro ; the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Valentine Aletor; Managing Director, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Mrs. Funke Osibodu; Representative of Chief Legal Officer, BEDC, Ms. Morayo Fadipe; Executive Director, BEDC, Abu Ejoor; and Chief Corporate Services Officer, BEDC, Mrs. Kunbi Labiyi, during the signing of Memorandum of Agreement between Vigeo Power Academy and Elizade University in Benin.

320,544 or 12.10 per cent relative to the preceding quarter while international passengers declined by 92,800 or 7.21 per cent.

In the domestic scene, in Q4, 2014, the airport with the greatest frequency of domestic passenger traffic was MMA, which had 1,088,141 passengers, or 36.64 per cent of the total traffic.

The NBS described the period as the peak of the airport, having increased by 74,225 passengers or 7.32 per cent from the last quarter.

The opening quarter of 2015 however, saw a sharp decline in MMA’s domestic passenger traffic, with 191,617 or 17.61 per cent fewer passengers than the preceding quarter.

Nonetheless, this decline was lower, relative to the other airports, as MMA held a 3 per cent point greater share of the total this quarter, at 39.64 per cent.

The statistics added that yearon-year, quarter one of 2015, recorded a marginally lower volume of domestic passenger traffic, with 2,372 or 0.26 per cent fewer passengers.

Abuja had the second highest number of passengers travelling domestically. Similarly to Lagos, the series peaked in Q4, 2014, at 940,872 passengers, representing 31.68 per cent of the total, adding that Port Harcourt continues to hold the third highest volume of passenger traffic, with 329,499 passengers in Q4, 2014, declining by 64,406 passengers or 19.55 per cent in quarter one of 2015 to 265,093 passengers.

MAN, others bemoan consumers’ attitude to Nigerian products ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

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igerian manufacturers and industry experts have decried the attitudes of Nigerians towards locally produced goods, particularly those labelling Nigerian goods as made-in-Asia or madein-China, amongst other foreign countries, in order to sell.

They said that many locally manufactured products like shoes, bags, packaged food

and clothing were now labelled ‘made in China’ to attract more patronage from Nigerians.

In a chat with National Mirror, the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Frank Jacobs, said that it was an ugly trend that is common among small and medium scale manufacturers entering the nation’s market.

He also pointed out that such a practice was a major challenge that is limiting the competitiveness of Nigerian products and

urged manufacturers to desist from the act.

Jacobs said: “We hear of such things as shoes and bags made in Aba, Nigeria being labelled as made-in-US just to attract the attention of Nigerian buyers.

Somehow, the consumers also share a part of the blame as they carry a poor perception about made-in-Nigeria goods, and simply ignore them “This is very bad for our economy, and it is high time people knew that most of the things

they buy are now produced in the country and not in Asia. We hope that dumping of foreign products is one of the major issues the new government would address, as it is really a contributing factor to this issue,” he added.

The President, Ikorodu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ICCI, Prince Jamiu Adio Saka, also frowned at the trend, saying it was killing the manufacturing sector.

Group to honour women in transport and logistics

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he Women in Logistics and Transport, WILAT, is set to host its third Women in Logistics and Transport Day in Lagos on Thursday, June 26, 2015.

WILAT, which is the women wing of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport CILT, was founded in 2010.

Global Convener of group, Hajiya Aisha Ali-Ibrahim, who disclosed this at the weekend, said that the celebration was orga-

nized in line with WILAT’s aim of sourcing, grooming and sustaining competent female members through career progression “so as to be able to fill up available existing gaps and opportunities in the industry.”

According to Ali-Ibrahim, who is also the President of WILAT Nigeria and the Traffic Manager of Tin Can Island Port Complex TCIPC, the group had taken the initiative to identify and give professional support to

all female professionals working in and retired from all the modes of transport (i.e. road, rail, maritime & air), logistics and related industries.

She said: “It serves as the professional female voice in the industry and recommends gender policies in transport to government, in addition to its community services like the distribution of wheel chairs, baby carriers, and awareness programs of safety precaution

in transport. Though we are discussing issues relating to professional women in our profession, our male counterparts have also been invited as it is not our intention to shut them out.

“The day as designed is a special purpose vehicle that provides an enabling platform for the recognition and appreciation of the achievements and contributions made by professional men and women in the various sectors of the industry.

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Business News

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Labour group tasks FG on crude oil losses

…estimates loss at between 250,000 to 400,000 bpd MESHACK IDEHEN

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he Producers Forum of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called on the government to equip the security forces to fight the crime of crude oil theft that has deprived the nation of huge revenue over the years.

Giving the charge at a media briefing in Lagos,the Chairman of the Forum, Mr Emmanuel Onuorah, said that the nation was losing about 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) and 400,000 bpd of crude oil to theft and pipeline vandalism.

He said if the crude oil pricewas put at an average of $60/barrel that the daily loss would translate to between US$15 million and US$ 25 million in revenue to government, adding that as a major

stakeholder in the industry the forum is concerned Onuorah said huge unbudgeted costs are being incurred to repair or replace pipelines at damaged/ theft points, noting government needs to develop the political will to stop pipeline vandalism and oil theft including sanctioning collaborators in the military and security services.

He explained: “The security forces should be empowered by the government to secure our national assets instead of the use of unconventional methods through award of contract to those without security and intelligence know-how to protect these critical national assets.

“Pipeline sabotage has continually strained Nigeria to resort to importation of petroleum products and waste the limited resources meant for capital and hu-

man development programmes.

Regrettably, sabotaged pipeline is the major reason for spillages and environmental devastation setting the host communities against both the oil operators and the government”.

He called on the government to ensure that pipeline integrity was sound enough to enable safe transportation of crude and refined products all over the country, saying that pipeline installation can now be done using state-of-the-art technology in manner that will be inaccessible to vandals.

Onuorah expressed the producers forum’s position that pipeline managers should imbibe the culture of regular maintenance while government would live up to its responsibility of providing adequate security for the surveillance and protection of pipelines and other oil and gas installations.

L-R: Managing Director, Julius Berger Plc, Engr Detlev Lubasch; Company Secretary, Mrs. Cecilia Madueke, and Chairman, Dr. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA Nurudeen Imam, during the 45th annual general meeting of Julius Berger Plc in Abuja recently.

Arik Air announces new timings on Lagos-Johannesburg route OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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rik Air has introduced new summer timings and baggage allowance for both premier and economy class passengers on the Lagos-Johannesburg route.

With the new timings, which came into effect on June 15, 2015, outbound daily flights now depart the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos at 1:30 pm (local time) and arrive into the OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg at 8:40 pm (local time).

Inbound flights leave Johannesburg at 11:15 pm (local time) and arrive into Lagos at 4:30 am the next day.

The spokesman of the airline, Mr. Ola Adebanji, stated that for the new baggage allowance, Premier and Economy class passengers from Lagos to Johannesburg could carry three pieces of luggage each with Premier passengers allowed a maximum weight of 32kg per piece and Economy passengers 23kg per piece.

He quoted the airline’s Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulue, as saying that “times are changing for passengers flying from West to South Africa. Their request for better connecting times has now been addressed. We are a customer oriented airline and we go the extra mile to ensure that our guests have value for money” Olabanji stated further that the advantage of the new timings was

that it offers better connections from Arik Air’s regional and domestic points to Johannesburg while Abuja and Port Harcourt passengers have multiple daily connection options via Lagos to and from Johannesburg.

Similarly, the new timings offer Dakar, Banjul and Luanda passengers same day connections in both directions while passengers travelling to Cotonou and Douala via Lagos have same day connection off inbound Johannesburg flight.

The domestic and regional South African markets are also benefiting from the new timings as they can now connect same day to the Johannesburg-Lagos service.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

MTN boosts Brand Ambassadors’ fortune with millions

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n line with its commitment to enhancing the lives of Nigerian musicians by providing platforms through which they can get lucrative value for their intellectual properties, leading ICT Company, MTN has concluded plans to boost the financial fortune of is brand ambassadors with several millions of naira in the next one year.

MTN’s GM, Consumer Marketing, Richard Iweanoge, made the announcement on Thursday while also unveiling Cobhams Asuquo, as the latest addition to MTN’s brand ambassadors. He would be joining Davido, Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Dr. Sid, Sound Sultan, Iyanya, Chidinma, Banky W, KCee as well as Saka, Osuofia, Mama Gee and others who all renewed their contracts with MTN. As was originally conceptualized, the ambassadorship will continually evolve to accommo-

date new talents and cater for diverse segments. This year, we are using a segmented approach and there will be ambassadors for each segment of our market. Using this criteria, new artistes like Cobhams Asuquo will be coming on board the MTN Ambassadorial family.

However, for 2015, artistes like Timaya, Wizkid, sean Tizzle and a few others will no longer be ambassadors for the brand even though the relationship continues in other areas in which MTN enables artists to monetise their work.

“Although there is a finite number of brand ambassadors we can have at any point in time, Nigerian Artistes can continue to monetize their intellectual works through our distribution channels such as the Caller Tunez and Music Plus platforms.” he said.

Belgium unblocks seized Russian accounts

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ussian state accounts frozen by Belgium in a move condemned by Moscow have been unblocked, Belgium’s foreign minister says.

The assets were seized in a move triggered by a court ruling over the now-defunct Yukos oil firm.

In July 2014, an international arbitration court said Russian officials had manipulated the legal system to bankrupt Yukos.

Yukos was then taken over by a Russian state firm.

Its former boss, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was also jailed.

Last year a court told Russia to pay Yukos shareholders $50bn (£32bn) in compensation, after Yukos’s break-up.

But Russia does not acknowledge the court’s findings, leading

former Yukos shareholders to get Russian state assets frozen.

Responding to the asset seizure, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said he would “defend our interests by the route of justice”.

Belgium’s ambassador to Moscow was summoned to the Kremlin, and told the asset seizure was “an openly hostile act” that “crudely violates the recognised norms of international law”.

While visiting China, Belgium’s Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said: “A solution has been found to unblock as a priority accounts for the running of the embassies, and the rest will follow.”

France also seized Russian state accounts in about 40 banks, along with several buildings.

It is not known if those assets will also be unblocked.

Bond Investors look to Euro Leaders’ Summit over Greek Deal

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otch up another week of frustrated efforts to end Greece’s impasse with creditors. Investors in euro-region bonds are now focusing on an emergency summit of government leaders to be held in Brussels on June 22.

There are signs of lingering optimism that a deal is still achievable and that contagion risks from Greece can be managed. Those are reflected in Italian 10-year bonds. They increased in all but one day this week, curbing the weekly gain in yield to less than 0.1 percentage point. Germany’s 10-year securities, perceived to be the region’s safest, rose even before data that are forecast to add to evidence of an economic recovery in the region, with the

debt also supported by a lack of new supply.

“We are seeing a bit of a correction of spreads versus bunds but the widening trend that started mid-March is still intact,” said Marius Daheim, a senior rates strategist at SEB AB in Frankfurt. Data releases this week “may impact the market at least temporarily,” he said.

Italy’s 10-year bond yield rose seven basis points, or 0.07 percentage point, to 2.28 percent as of 5 p.m. London time on Friday.

The 1.5 percent security due June 2025 fell 0.55, or 5.50 euros per 1,000-euro ($1,131) face amount, to 93.195. The yield has settled back from the seven-month high of 2.46 percent it touched on June 16.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Jobs & Career

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

23

Green jobs initiative ‘ll tackle unemployment – Opara

The National President of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, Mr. Bede Opara, says in this interview with MESHACK IDEHEN, that Green Jobs Initiative would mobilise governments, employers and workers to engage in dialogue on decent work policies.

Could you explain what the green job initiative is and how job seekers can benefit from the recent call by the International Labour Organisation for its member-states to initiate greener economies?

The Green Jobs Initiative is a partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, the International Labour Organisation, ILO, the International Organisation of Employers, IOE, and the International Trade Union Congress, ITUC. The initiative was launched in order to promote opportunity, equity and just transitions, to mobilise governments, employers and workers to engage in dia¬logue on coherent policies and effective programmes leading to a green economy with green jobs and decent work for all.

Women could be among the main beneficiaries of a greener, more socially inclusive economy, with better access to opportunities, even if those jobs and opportu¬nities will be from the environment will bring about so¬cio-economic challenges that will need to be addressed in a comprehensive and complementary manner.

The report given to the ILO member states by the green jobs initiative, for example, shows that in renewable energy, higher incomes, particularly in agriculture, formalisation of employment, notably among the 15-20 million recycling workers, and many other burdens were reduced, including from access to clean energy, enhanced food security, energy and water, and efficient social housing.

How do you think the environmental and socio-economic challenges associated with creating environment-based jobs can be addressed in a comprehensive and complementary manner?

In addressing environmental and socio-economic challenges, first, it means promoting and implementing sustainable production processes at the level of the business itself, especially among small and medium sized enterprises in the key sectors mentioned above.

It is also an extension of social protection, while income support and skills training measures is key to ensuring that workers are in a position to take advantage of these new opportunities. The international labour standards and workers rights provides a legal and institutional framework, as well as practical guidance for work in a greener and sustainable economy, especially when it comes to job quality and occupational safety and health.

SSAEAC and National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, insist there are still labour-related issues that are yet to be resolved in the power sector. Could you throw more light on the real situation now?

As things stand, there are still outstanding amounts of payment to workers. This is because a review of the facts surrounding the payments shows that the subcommittee in charge of the processing of the benefits to staff said it is a very tortuous process. As unions in the power sector representing the interests and welfare of thousands of workers, we

Opara

The TargeT can be meT, and a lasTing soluTion To The problem in The power secTor can be found Through The review of gas pricing now being implemenTed To furTher reflecT markeT value are worried that the subcommittee had been starved of fund or delayed in its work, thereby slowing the work down and as a result have pre-empted the outcome of the work as well as frustrated its early conclusion.

In its last meeting, the subcommittee reviewed progress of the assignment and confirmed that the projected number of PHCN staff was 47,913; total verified staff of PHCN, 46,308, number of staff paid severance/cash component of benefits 43,342, number of staff with outstanding severance payments 2, 966, outstanding staff awaiting verification 1, 605; the number of staff paid pension component 43,228; number of staff with outstanding pension payment 3, 080.

The summary of the above data is that as at May 6, hitherto, 2,966 staff are yet to be paid the severance/ cash benefits, 3,233 verified retired and relatives of dead staff were yet to receive their benefits. There are still unverified 1,605 staff and 913 retirees / dead staff ’s next of kin, who have waited for upwards of 10 years in some cases.

Greener jobs in the power, oil and gas sector is the vogue in developed nations. With the Federal Govern-

ment setting yet another target for stable power supply that has since passed, how realistic do you think the new deadline is?

Firstly, I will say that the pronouncement by the former Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, that Nigerians may witness another hike in electricity tariffs without any corresponding improvement in power supply to justify another increase, is rather unfortunate. I am of the view that Nigerians need a respite from the unbearable economic hardship in the country.

The submission that inadequate infrastructure for gas supply has been the bane of the sector since it was privatised and that a detailed tariff is being worked out by the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Power, Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Agency, NERC, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, is a welcomed development.

The target can be met, and a lasting solution to the problem in the power sector can be found through the review of gas pricing now being implemented to fur¬ther reflect market value. It is anticipated in the short term that this will quickly boost gas supply and in turn power output. It is a welcome development. I think if properly implemented, the policy would in the medium to long term trigger additional investment in the infrastructure for gas to power.

Does your union and the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, believe that hiking tariff is a justifiable precondition for investor’s participation in the sector?

Hiking tariff is not justifiable because the burden on citizens is enormous, as they also have to battle with scarcity and high cost of kerosene, diesel and cooking gas.

Again, if the hike is aimed at pleasing investors, then it subjects Nigerians to more suffering, indeed double jeopardy. People should not pay for what is non-exis¬tent. The ideal thing is to work towards putting power first. Thereafter, it would be clear to all and sundry that there is a change that could warrant tariff increase.

What do you think is the way forward in the power sector, considering the protracted labour issues, calls for investments in greener jobs producing measures and stability in power provision?

We, as a major stakeholder in the power sector are urging the Federal Government to implement a critical infrastructural and economic project by building a national gas grid that is wholly Nigerian-owned or executed in partnership with credible private sector players in the sector within a public-private partnership.

The grid can be put in place within four years, and should have capacity to handle gas volumes far in excess of the present limited domestic and regional demand. Such gas infrastructure will stimulate further domestic demand for expanding electricity requirements and various industrial purposes as well as facilitate domestic gas competition.

24

Jobs & Career

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Don’t cut workers wages, labour urges FG StorieS: MeShack idehen

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rganised labour under the auspices of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has urged the new administration not to reduce salaries of workers as part of fiscal initiatives that it may embark upon to reduce cost of governance in view of the prevailing socio-economic situation faced by workers in the country.

The National President of the association, Mr Bobboi Kaigama, and Secretary-General, Mr Alade Bashir Lawal, told journalists in Lagos it would be undesirable for the economy if anybody or group of persons contemplate reducing the salaries of civil servants who are already underpaid in a country where the government had reneged in all its responsibilities to the citizenry.

The labour leaders stated that any reduction of workers’ salaries in any guise would be an invitation to industrial crisis, recalling that many states owed civil servants arrears of salaries and other rightful entitlements and yet, these workers are expected to come to work by magic, feed their families, stay healthy, pay children school fees and rent.

“It must be recognised that civil servants pay has lost its value since the last increment was done in 2010. The subsidy removal, devaluation of the naira and the high rate of infrastructural decay has continued to rub innocent civil servants the value of their money

despite being paid peanut,” they lamented.

According to labour, what is being contemplated as pay cut for political office holders cannot be extended to civil servants because you cannot compare the two pay structures.

“While a director in the civil service goes home with less than N353,996.94 monthly, a member of the National Assembly collects close to $181,973.75 or N40 million monthly. This is made up of basic salary, hardship allowance, constituency allowance, newspaper allowance, wardrobe allowance, accommodation allowance, recess allowance, utilities, domestic staff, entertainment, personal assistant, leave allowance, vehicle maintenance allowance, car allowance, and severance package of 300% of basic salary.

“There is therefore no basis to compare the two. While political office holder can make do with 75% reduction in emolument, a 1% cut in the salary of civil servants will just end up sending them to their untimely death through unwarranted hardships and miseries”.

The union added that civil servants expectations from the new government were very high after many years of unfulfilled promises by past administrations which have left them undervalued.

According to the union, if the government wants to truly deliver on its change promise, the fact must be recognised that the existing pay structure of civil servants in Nigeria has failed

Job seekers on queue for interview

to reward them fairly and the new government of President Buhari must acknowledge that genuine engagement with its workforce can only produce a better and more efficient Public Service which will bring about the change we all desire and require.

“This government now has a real opportunity to create a robust relationship with the civil servants and the best way to successfully deliver on his promises to Nigerians is to work with civil servants and not against them via salary cut,” ASCSN emphasised.

NUPENG decries kidnappings, urges TUC tasks lawmakers over jumbo pay security agents on alertness

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rade Union Congress of Nigeria, (TUC) has described the N9 billion being proposed to be disbursed next week to the new National Assembly members as wardrobe, car, and accommodation and furniture allowances at a time when workers in over 23 states are yet to be paid as unjustifiable.

The Congress pointed out that it was also worrisome that most governors who owed workers were either re-elected in the last general elections or are now members of the National Assembly In a statement by its Secretary General, Mr Musa Lawal, the Congress charged politicians not to betray Nigerians again, because of the grave sacrifice the people made to ensure that the much-touted “change” is entrenched in all facets of our national life.

“If the change we expect must come, this administration must review the provisions of the constitution that expressly stipulate such privileges for political office-holders. The cost

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mployment hopefuls must at all times be aware that their quest for getting jobs does not begin or end with applying through conventional methods.

According to human resource experts, recruiters are constantly offering jobs to qualified candidates that are bold enough to walk into companies; make enquiries about available vacancies, and show proof they are willing and capable of being given responsibilities.

In that regards, job seekers are advised to always take the first step by doing the leg work associated with job search, instead of waiting for firms or recruiters to make such vacancies public; a wait that may never end.

On available vacancies this week, the position for Trade Marketing Coordinators (www.findjobafrica.com) who are to be

of governance in our country is outrageously high and unsustainable and we may resort to civil disobedience or other legal measures to compel a reduction of same if nothing is done about it in the nearest future.”

This is even as the organised labour group lamented the display of affluence by politicians even in the social media, explaining that the only difference between the Nigerians who live in the slums and those squandering our commonwealth is misappropriated opportunity.

“Furthermore, considering the nation’s present socio-economic realities, it is totally indefensible for senators and members of the House of Representatives to be paid as much as N2 million and N1.8 million respectively as basic salary every month. Where then lays any justification for their claims to being contributors to the growth of a nation where unemployment and other social vices are the order of the day?”, the Congress queried.

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he Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has expressed its concern about the increasing spate of kidnappings of innocent Nigerians across the country.

The union decried the despicable act, saying it is calling on the appropriate security agencies to be up and doing to stem the tide.

The union listed the recent kidnappings of the Regent of Akungba, a Kogi State High Court Judge, a Kogi state serving commissioner, a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent in Imo State, Ijaw Youth Council President’s junior brother, Mr Eradiri, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s two maternal cousins, a Catholic priest in Ekiti State and a living Faith Pastor in Calabar as one, too many.

NUPENG President, Dr Igwe Achese, said in a statement that NUPENG condemns in its entirety the kidnappings and calls for a more scientific and technological approach

Job vacancies

based in Ibadan, Aba and Makurdi are on offer.

Description for the job includes working very closely with the Operations Director, and will be responsible for all aspects of coordination and collaboration with the distributor on the sales and distribution operation, including on the trade marketing field force deployment and monitoring.

They are also to ensure that distribution and merchandising strategy agreed upon with the distributors are being met, alongside the execution of trade and consumer activation programs as well as monitor implementation and competitive activity.

Other areas of responsibility are to contribute to planning and execution of all marketing related activities in order to achieve sustainable volume growth, working in liaison with

the distributor staff and effectively managing the sales and marketing activities in the region in order to ensure the attainment of set objectives for our brands as set by management.

Qualifications required are a university degree, 5-7 years’ experience in sales and distribution / channel management. Fluency in English, while a master’s degree would be an added advantage.

Also on offer this week from www.findjobafrica.com is a vacancy for a Travel Consultant who is expected to be based in Dubai, United Arab Emirate.

The job description includes dealing directly with clients and potential clients, providing superior and consistent quality of travel services to sell airline tickets, travel related products and leisure travel products, handle

towards arresting the kidnappers.

Achese warned that government must put up strategies to stop the incessant kidnappings, so that it should not be institutionalized, stating that the art of kidnapping is given the nation a bad image in the comity of nations and tends to scare foreign investors that are needed at this point in time to help resuscitate our battered economy.

“The union wants the new Buhari administration to pursue the cancer of unemployment that has eaten deep into our social fabric. It stresses that if able-bodied men are gainfully employed and kept busy, kidnappings will stop.

“The union states that a way is through re-indusrialisation, through reviving moribund industries and establishing new ones to absorb the army of unemployed. The power sector must be made to work 24/7 for these industries to come back on stream.

complex transactions and advise clients on the finer points of difficult itineraries, as well as provide them with efficient travel solutions and up to date information.

Qualifications needed are an A’ level education with a minimum of 2 years front line travel experience as a reservation/Ticketing/ Sales agent. Knowledge and skills of standard fares and ticketing certificate from IATA or experience in an IATA certified environment.

Knowledge of world geography and major carrier networks to facilitate quick itinerary planning, proficiency in MS Office applications i.e. word and excel spoken Arabic or any other foreign language would be an advantage.

Strong verbal and written English skills, Interpersonal ability, telephone and customer service skills are also required.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

25

Real Estate & Environment

Climate Change: Again, world leaders express concerns over potential losses Leaders in all spheres of life, particularly those at the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, have raised new concerns over global climate change implications, saying the world may record substantial socio-economic losses if urgent steps are not taken to arrest the threatening scourge.

SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE reports.

FG to partner NIESV on housing 27

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or the umpteenth times, the impact of climate change on global economy has come to the fore in global public discourse with world leaders heightening the fears that, if urgent steps were not taken to stem the scourge, its magnitude would be alarming.

For instance, the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, has estimated that global losses arising from aquaculture industry alone could reach a whopping $6 billion yearly.

Raising a fresh alarm on the scourge, FAO noted that with the threat of the climate change generating more diseases, stronger bio-security governance mechanisms should be developed to manage the

risks associated with the spread of aquatic animal pathogens.

Not quite long ago, indications were rife that Nigeria may lose $460 billion to Climate Change by the year 2020, if proactive steps were not taken to reduce the impacts.

Former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, who disclosed this, noted that although Africa contributes very little to the green house emissions, the negative impact of climate change on the continent would be enormous.

Nigeria he added might have Gross, Domestic Product (GDP) loss of between two per cent and 11 per cent. “We contribute very little to global green

Atomic energy seeks pact with NESREA on environment sustainability 28

house emissions but Africa will have to bear the brunt of most of the impacts of climate change. If you look at it, in Nigeria, estimate shows that we could have a GDP loss of between two per cent to 11 per cent as a result of climate change and by the year 2020, we could be losing anything between $100 billion to $460 billion on the impact of our economy from climate change,� he said.

He observed that the current agricultural systems in the country, which evolved over the time, were not enough to adapt to this particular circumstance of changes around farmers, calling for an urgent need for Nigeria to develop better agricultural CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Decorating around your flat screen television 29

26

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Climate Change: Again, world leaders express concerns over potential losses CONTINUED FROM 25 systems which would be more resilient and robust to allow farmers adapt to the impact the climate change would have on them.

He therefore noted that the agriculture sector, which account for 40 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and 70 per cent of employment, if allowed to suffer would have big impact on the economy.

“Resilience is the key, first and foremost, we should combine early warning systems with disaster planning, management and recovery plans; we need a lot more agrometeorological stations, predict accurate rainfall patterns. Climate shocks are important, health shocks are also important, it will have impacts not just on mortality but morbidity and the quality of labour will also be affected,” he added.

A few weeks ago, the Chairman of The Elders, a group of independent leaders, who work for peace, justice and human rights worldwide, Mr Kofi Annan, called for a united action on climate change He recalled that in 2007, when late Nelson Mandela formed The Elders Group, he challenged African leaders to promote peace and human rights across the continent, saying no other issue demands their attention more than the collective will to tackle climate change.

Climate change, he said, is the biggest challenge of the world leaders, saying ‘’it threatens the well-being of hundreds of millions of people today and many billions more in the future. It undermines the human rights to food, water, health and shelter and causes for which we, as Elders, have fought all our lives’’ “No one and no country will escape the impact of climate change. But those with no voice because they are already marginalized or are not yet born are at greatest risk. The Elders have an urgent moral duty to speak out on their behalf’’ According to him, given the compelling weight of evidence, it can be hard to understand why anyone is still dragging his or her feet on the coordinated action needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ‘’The latest report from the expert Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states clearly that the “warming of the climate system is unequivocal” and that human behaviour is extremely likely the dominant cause’’, he added.

Also, the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis has thrown his weight behind a new appeal to combat climate change, saying the future of humanity is at stake while dismissing those, who denied that the planet is getting warmer.

He however released the church doctrine that condemned polluters and governments alike for failing to do enough to address the problem.

In the first encyclical written entirely under his papacy, Pope Francis said humans have a moral obligation to protect the environment and that doing so is a key part of the challenge of lifting the world’s least fortunate from poverty.

The Pope’s decree came as new report shows that May was the warmest on record worldwide and the spring from March to May was also the hottest as were the first five months of 2015, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Buhari

Former Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam

NO ONE AND NO COUNTRY WILL ESCAPE THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE. BUT THOSE WITH NO VOICE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY MARGINALIZED OR ARE NOT YET BORN ARE AT GREATEST RISK The Pontiff said the poor stand to suffer the most from extreme weather events that are already regularly wreaking havoc across the planet.

“We need a conversation, which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all,” he said.

“Regrettably, many efforts to seek concrete solutions to the environmental crisis have proved ineffective, not only because of powerful opposition but also because of a more general lack of interest,” he said.

Last week, the World Fish Group submitted its report to the United Nations, UN, where it noted the need to adapt and diversity fish species in order to respond to the increasing temperatures as well as other impacts of climate change.

Disclosing that fish is generally regarded as good alternative source of livelihoods to some developing nations, the World Fish Group said greater investments are needed in the sector, even as it described aquaculture as climate-smart adaptation and mitigation alternative.

Tagged, ‘Climate Change and Aquatic Animal Disease’, the Senior Scientist of the Group, Chadag Mohan said the research highlighted increased fish diseases, caused by climate change, calling for mapping of potential risks as well as identification of suitable adaptation and mitigation intervention strategies.

Director General, World Fish, Stephen Hall said that “4.5 billion people get at least 15 percent of their average per capita intake of animal protein from fish”.

Given that projections, he said that farming of fish would have to double to meet future demands as it is imperative to gain better understanding of how climate change will impact farming of this valuable food crop that has such an important bearing on future global food security. It however

recommended a holistic approach, which considers all forms of agriculture in order to stem its tide.

Some world leaders across the global have also warned against the impacts of climate change, saying such risk cannot be ignored.

Agreeing to work together to bring down emissions, the leaders said 73 countries and 11 states and provinces are responsible for 54 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and 52 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, GDP. According to them, these countries joined 11 cities as well as over 1,000 businesses to drum supports for carbon pricing through series of initiatives, being announced at the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Leadership Summit.

Already, China, South Africa, Russia and Marshall Islands are planning for carbon pricing. The business cuts across industry, energy, transportation and institutional investors with more than $24 trillion in assets.

Vice President of the World Bank Group and Special Envoy for Climate Change, Rachel Kyte said, “The science is clear. The economics are compelling. We are seeing a shift toward the economic architecture that will be necessary to avoid a 2-degree-warmer world, an architecture that supports green growth, jobs and competitiveness’’.

“This is a wake-up moment. Carbon pricing if expanded to this scale and then globally, has the potential to bring down emissions in a way that supports clean energy and low-carbon growth while giving businesses the flexibility to innovate and find the most efficient choices. Carbon pricing brings together two distinct groups that have each spoken in favour of climate action, but rarely worked together to address climate change’’, he stated.

Governments, which have been testing carbon trading systems, carbon taxes and businesses have started setting internal

“shadow” carbon prices to help guide decisions for a cleaner future.

China is the latest to begin testing waters with seven local pilot carbon markets helping government to plan for a national carbon trading system.

In the private sector, there is a wide belief among business leaders that carbon will be priced and preparations are already underway in several companies.

More than 150 large businesses are using internal carbon pricing in their decisionmaking, and more than 600 large companies see regulations creating new business opportunities, according to the latest corporate survey.

Working together, climate-smart policies can help businesses direct their investment decisions to clean solutions and can also provide greater transparency for investors who worry about stranded assets and resilience for the future.

Currently, six world’s large Multilateral Developments Banks, MDBs have doled out $28 billion to assist developing countries to mitigate challenges of climate change last year, bringing to a $100 billion, such financial commitments in the last four years.

In 2014 for instance, the six banks provided over $23 billion dedicated to the mitigation efforts and $5 billion for adaption work.

A joint report on MDB Climate Finance reveals the important part, MDBs play in development finance in global climate change.

Out of the total commitments in 2014, 91 percent came from MDBs’ own resources while 9 percent or $2.6 billion came from external resources, including bilateral or multilateral donors, the Global Environment Facility as well as the Climate Investment Funds.

Among the regions, South Asia received the largest share of the total funding with 21 percent while Latin America and Caribbean; non-EU Europe and Central Asia, SubSaharan Africa; East Asia and the Pacific received 17 percent, 16 percent, 15 percent and 10 percent respectively.

In Africa, climate finance mobilized by the AfDB went up by 60 percent compared to 2013, boosted by increased investments in renewable energy and sustainable transport.

A total of $1.92 billion was mobilized-$1.16 billion for mitigation and $760 million for adaptation, about 50 percent more than in 2013 because the Bank continues to push for increased funding for adaptation projects.

Over the last four years, the Bank has delivered US $7 billion in climate-smart development.

AfDB Director, Energy, Environment and Climate Change Department, Alex Rugamba said, “our aim is to do more and we are committed to scaling up much-needed climate finance for the continent.

According to his statement, “2015 represents one of the last opportunities for the global community to deviate from its current unsustainable growth pathway. This year is critical for solid decisions on sustainable development and on climate change in particular. For African economies, which are considered among the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, the importance cannot be overstated. The AfDB has been at the forefront in supporting sustainable development working closely with African countries to transition towards climate resilient and low carbon growth.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

MORTGAGE NOTES

ABUJA

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Email: malik@gmail.com

Fasanya-Osilaja

Facility Management as tool for Productivity enhancement and Cost reductions

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he importance of facilities management to effective operation of public and private sector is globally accepted, hence the dedication of today as the World Facilities Management day to create awareness of the contribution of the Facilities Management services to national economies.

There is a considerable lack of consensus regarding the origin of Facilities Management.

Some authorities traced the origin of Facilities Management to an era of scientific management and subsequent explosion in office administration in early 1900s.

The main catalyst in the 1960s towards Facilities Management was the introduction of computers in the workplace.

The energy crisis in the 1970s brought home the importance of cost-in-use and the need to better manage costs associated with premises that support the organisation’s business.

Facilities Management as a term may have been coined in 1964 by one of the originators of the concept, Ross Perot.

He used the term ‘computer facilities management’ to describe the maintenance of his client’s computer system.

Herman Miller, an office furniture manufacturer brought together a group of knowledge property users and advisers in about 1979, who understood the importance of space planning and value of space, and who could consequently understand the relevance of the permutations, which could be contrived from his new furniture systems.

Very quickly this group established itself as the Facilities Management Institute (FMI) and it is the Facilities Management Institute that is generally credited with the coming of the term ‘Facilities Management’.

The Facilities Management Institute then was founded in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1979 as an offshoot of parent company Herman Miller Inc. The aim was to establish and advance Facilities Management as a new management science and professional activity. Facilities Management Institute laid the groundwork for organisational recognition of the importance

of facilities in corporate strategic planning.

A year later, in 1980, the National Facilities Management Association (NFMA) came into existence, born of the need to create independence from Herman Miller’s Facilities Management Institute.

National Facilities Management Association very quickly evolved into the International Facility Management Association (IFMA). The author and Mr. Adeoye of Mobil (Nigeria) were among the first Nigerians to be listed in International Facility Management Association directory of 1996 as professional facilities managers.

By 1993, the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) was formed through the merger of the Association of Facilities Managers (AFM) and the Institute of Facilities Management (IFM).Facilities Management later spread to other parts of Europe, the far-East and Nigeria in mid 1990s via International Facility Management Association.

The term ‘Facilities Management’ is often applied to a whole range of activities from janitorial services to equipment maintenance. College of Estate Management defines: ‘Facilities Management as the active management, integration and coordination of an organisation’s business support services, together with associated human resources; and its buildings, including their system plants IT equipment, filing and furniture and to assist the organisation achieve its strategic objectives’.

Facilities Management can encompass operational, tactical and strategic levels. Operational issues concern day to day management of facilities and focus on maintenance and repair, security, building services among others.

Tactical issues concern customisation and planning, and focus on understanding the needs of the organisation in terms of facility support and implementation solutions that add value. It embodies management of processes and coordination of efforts to deliver facilities which reflect

FG to partner NIESV on housing FEMI ADEOSUN

with Malik Egbunike

the organisation’s needs.

The strategic issues attempt to predict organisational direction and provide integrated solutions. Facilities Management is defined here as a high-level management activity, in concert with the strategic planning of the organisation, and with access to or participation in key decision-making processes. By establishing a correlation between key business drivers and space drivers, the facility manager’s function becomes strategic with the ability to provide influential predictions about future costs and their potential impact on profitability.

Facilities Management has an important business support roles which contribute to aspects of business such as risk management, productivity, recruitment and retention, maximising the value of capital investment in assets, managing the cost of facilities and addressing corporate responsibilities issues such as environmental sustainability and climate change. Thus, it is in the best interest of organisations, both public and private, to embrace facilities management as important business support function that provides facilities solutions to satisfy business needs. xxxxx The core competencies of facilities management identified

by British Institute of Facilities Management include the following: • Business Strategy • Risk Management • People Management • Negotiating • Management of FM processes • Financial Management • Support Services Management • Information Technology • Relevant Legislation • Space Management • Environmental Issues • Interfacing with Specialists • Facilities Strategy • Org. Behaviour/Struc-

Continues Next week

ABOUT THE WRITER Malik Egbunike is FNIVS, FIoD, CBIFM Chairman, Total Facilities Management Limited.

For feedback, please send e-mail to malik@gmail.com

27

ederal Government has restated its readiness to partner with the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, for housing provision.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, George Osssi, who made the pledge in Abuja during the NIESV National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving said, NIESV as a professional body responsible for ensuring value for money would be willing to work with the ministry to deliver cost effective housing for the people He commended the institution for its untiring efforts toward producing a crop of competent professionals in the housing sector.

The Permanent Secretary, who was represented at the occasion by a Deputy Director in the Ministry, Mrs. Great-Edereka applauded the professional ways estate surveyors have been handling housing contracts, saying it has helped to check quackery in the housing sector.

He said, “The Ministry notes the commendable roles of the Institution in the professional development of its member as well as deepening and expanding the practice. This has helped to chakemate quackery and establishes high standards among members.

I would like to urge you not to relent on the veritable effort, as its sustenance will ensure continued contribution of your profession to the economic development of the nation.

He however pledged the readiness of the ministry to continue t lends support to the organisation by making good policies that would not only enhance the growth in the real estate and related sectors to ensure effective implementation for better results.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Second Vice President of the Institution, Mr. Rowland Abonta said, the prayer session was organised to put their members on the path of honesty.

According to him, the Institution which is statutorily in charge of land resources in the country need to be true to the professional callings, saying that making God the cornerstone will help members to take appropriate decisions.

Abonta added that just at Ezekiel reaped bountiful at the time of famine, estate surveyors and valuers would find their feet even at the moment of economic downturn.

“We organised the National Day of Prayer for our members to set our feet on the part of integrity and honesty. Our jobs require that we operate in honesty and we realised we cannot achieve this without God’’, he noted.

AfDB launches renewable energy in Africa SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

A

frican Development Bank, AfDB, has launched its renewable energy in Africa, highlighting its opportunities for scaling-up the sector.

It said, it is in partnership with the Climate Investment Funds, CIF, and Government of Tanzania in its effort to strengthen and modernize energy sector.

Tanzania has made series of policy reforms, including the creation of a regulatory entity and formulation of energy policy that encourage private participation through independent power producers, IPPs, and small power producers, SSPs. Its government has also prepared rules, standard agreements and standard tariff methodology for easing private sector participation in developing grid projects, targeting rural electrification.

As a result, IPPs and SSPs have become key contributors to eco-

nomic growth in numerous sectors, with IPPs alone contributing about 40 percent of the national grid’s effective generating capacity.

Further to investment in generation capacity, the government is also implementing projects for increasing transmission capacity for evacuating power to markets.

According to the Minister from Tanzania’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals, “In the next few years, large investments are foreseen both in generation and transmission, and IPPs will privately fund many new power plants. We are therefore continuing to work with our partners to make responsible investments in the power sector more attractive to achieve Tanzania’s Vision 2025 plan of at least 75% electrification by 2035.”

The report presents Tanzania’s untapped potential in renewable, such as biomass, hydro, solar and geothermal, which provide solutions to supply the nine gig watts of additional power required by 2035 to meet forecasted demand.

28

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Deco flat sc

You and your living roo seem to be having a s longer faces the right in is too big. These a on to see how you can addition to the family.

* Plan for space: One vantages vantag to ha television is th televi from many an This same ad advantage w adva placing furn placi The challeng have hav obstacl the line of sion. sio Stand of the room furniture i fu for fo space a trick is to tr vision an v room.

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FG urges Nigerians to imbibe tree planting culture OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

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ederal Government has urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of tree planting while adopting sustainable agriculture practice to protect the soil and explore country’s forest resources.

Speaking at the occasion marking the World Desertification Day, WDD, in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Mede also enjoined Nigerians to be mindful of the consequences of over-exploiting nation’s ground water resources, noting that doing so, would affect the hydrological balance of the affected areas.

The United Nations has set aside every June 17, each year as WDD to enable the world ruminate on the state of the environment with a view to coming up with appropriate actions to preserve it.

According to the UN, “desertification and land degradation affect one third of the earth’s surface, threatening the livelihood,

...harps on sustainable agriculture well being and development of as many as one billion people”.

In Nigeria, he noted, the problem of desertification is threatening the livelihood of over 43 million people.

The theme of this year’s celebration is, “Attainment of Food Security for all through sustainable food system, with the slogan, “No Such Thing as Free Lunch, Invest in Healthy Soil.”

The theme is intended to highlight the roles of soils in promoting environmental sustainability in the dry lands, thereby, enhancing agricultural productivity, employment generation, good environmental governance and socio-economic and political stability. As part of activities to mark the event, the Permanent Secretary led a team of the Ministry’s staff and stakeholders, including NYSC members on a tree planting exercise in Bwari areas council of Abuja.

Mede however noted that the Federal Government would con-

tinue to update relevant sectoral policies and legislations as well as regulations and laws governing environmental management in the country.

She however, maintained that such policies and programmes would only yield desirable results with the cooperation of all stakeholders, including the private sector.

According to her, the WDD agenda is targeted at giving human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues as well as advocate partnership that will ensure that all nations enjoy safer and more prosperous future.

She said over 40 million Nigerians in the eleven frontline states are suffering from the effect of desertification, promising that government would not relent in its efforts to preserve the people and

environment.

“Government has taken cognizance of the multi-sectoral problems of desertification and has developed a number of policies and plans ranging from agricultural to energy among others’’, she stated.

She further said that some of the policies relevant to desertification control are embedded into the National Policy on the Environment.

In addition to these policies, she noted that, some plans and strategies had been put in place to arrest desertification, saying ‘’part of this strategy is what we are doing today, that is, tree planting’’.

Explaining further, she said, “While government is making progress in the area of alternative sources of energy for cooking our meals, it is imperative that for any tree that is cut; at least five trees should be planted as a replacement”.

“The Ministry will continue to deliver on its mandate of protecting the natural environment

against pollution and degradation as well as to ensure the conservation of natural resources for sustainable development in Nigeria”.

In his welcome remarks, Executive Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Dr. Peter Yohanna Ushafa noted that the theme of this year’s celebration aptly underscored government’s effort to boost food security through its various programmes and initiatives in order to ensure sufficiency among its citizenry.

He therefore urged Nigerians to complement government’s efforts at ensuring attainment of food security and embrace the culture of re-grassing.

Complete

Atomic energy see OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

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igeria Atomic Energy Commission, NAEC, has sought the cooperation of the National Environmental Standards, NES, and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, towards effective environmental

prote Nucle try.

Ch Mr Fr made the D Dr La ated t play

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Real Estate &

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

29

rating around your creen television

om are happier because you have just acquired a flat screen television. Although, you small problem, everything around the television seems not to work. The furniture no direction, the wall art is being blocked, and the armoire you’ve placed the television are all common decorating dilemmas when you acquire a flat screen television. Read n keep that television and make the rest of your room look beautiful around your new

of the beautiful adaving a flat screen he ability to view it ngles of the room. dvantage is its diswhen it comes to iture in the room. ge is that you can’t les that are within sight of the televid back in all angles m and assess what is too tall and plan around it. Another o stand at the telend look back at the ou will easily see bstructing the view ce. ghlight the wall: levision can blend n be the focal point. eople want it to be

the focal point as it costs a lot of money, and you want everyone to see it! For you, painting an accent wall that your television is hung or placed in front of will draw emphasis to this wall. If you are one that would like the television to blend, consider housing your television in a piece of furniture that can be closed, such as an armoire or entertainment center. * Viewing height: Depending on the height you choose to view your television will dictate how to add artwork or decorative items around it. For those that want it stand mounted on a low console, you will be able to optimize more of the wall behind it for artwork. While if you decide to mount it on the wall, the television can compete with artwork – which can be distracting. For larger rooms that have a long viewing range, a wall application will work better. While smaller, narrower spaces will benefit from the lower console. * Hanging artwork: If you have high ceilings, artwork placed above the line of television sight viewing is a good idea. Con-

sider making the artwork rtwork simple, and more abstract. stract.

Artwork that has physical ysical content will cause televielevision viewers to concenncentrate on the artwork. For shorter ceilings, but longer walls, consider putting small collections ons of artwork, paintings, gs, photographs etc… to the side(s) of your ur television.

Whichhever you design prefference, try to let the e television compliment the space, or be left on its own.

For visual interest for wall mounted televisions add wainscoting ng or build decorative architectural niches into to the wall.

Source: www.freshome.com

China unveils new approach to flood management SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

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hina has unveiled a new approach to flooding and watershed management, disclosing that often times, flood comes with soil erosion.

It said, 61 percent of its watershed is considered vulnerable to soil erosion, putting people’s lives and livelihoods at greater risk.

It further noted that flood and watershed management project has been assisting some of its municipality to improve capacity in flood protection, wastewater collection, and improve

ed BRT lane in Delta State.

ks pact with NESREA on environment sustainability

ection in the development of a ear Power Plant in the coun-

hief Executive Officer, NAEC, ranklin Era-Pamo Osaisai, who e the plea during a meeting with Director-General of NESREA, awrence Chidi Anukam reiterthe key roles the Agency would in the overall success of the

project, especially in Environmental Safety, Audit and Impact Assessment processes.

Osaisai also stated that the cooperation of NESREA was vital because environmental safety is key to enduring Nuclear Plant.

He however promised that as part of the collaboration between NESREA and NAEC, there would

be support for capacity building programmes in relation to environment and nuclear technology.

Responding, Dr Lawrence Anukam assured the Commission that NESREA was ready to cooperate and collaborate to attain the desired objective and success.

NESREA boss also noted that conducting Environmental Impact

Assessment was key, as this would help to protect human health and the environment.

He pointed out that some extant environmental laws and regulations, including the National Environmental (Energy Sector) Regulations 2011, would assist in ensuring environmental compliance monitoring and enforcement in the sector.

soil as well as water conservation in some watershed areas.

According to sources, flood-protection infrastructure built through such project, like dikes, access roads, wastewater and storm water collection pipeline systems would help the country to withstand a 100-year old flood surge.

A state-of-the-art flood warning centre was also built, setting up a comprehensive system for flood forecasting and warning in the city.

Beyond these improvements, the beautiful landscaping surrounding the riverbanks made it a popular spot for recreation for the 2.2 million residents of the municipal councils.

Manager, Project Management Office, Xining Municipality, Chen Sheng said, “Starting with project design, we adopted an integrated approach to flood management, not simply focusing on building dikes or planting trees as we had in the past’’.

The project, he said, has set a good example by integrating watershed rehabilitation, flood control works, river bank revamping, wastewater collection and environmental improvement.

30

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Maintenance: Research reveals differences between landlords, tenants T

here is significant confusion when it comes to where responsibilities lie in rental properties when it comes to issues relating to property maintenance and care, new research shows.

The biggest discrepancy between what tenants and landlords believe relates to providing meter readings at the beginning and end of the tenancy period.

Some 73% of landlords correctly think it is their tenants’ job to do this, but only 35% of tenants think so.

The research from landlord

and tenant insurance provider Endsleigh also shows that 60% of tenant respondents consider it as the landlord’s responsibility to touch up paintwork, yet 45% of landlords cite it as the tenant’s.

Tenants and landlords are also unclear when it comes to the responsibility for pest control.

Some 32% of landlords believe pest control is the tenant’s responsibility, yet 84% of tenants consider it as the landlord’s.

Endsleigh, together with the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LLAS), has created a responsibilities guide to clear up

the confusion when it comes to rental property maintenance and care.

‘Relationships between landlords and tenants can become strained when rental responsibilities aren’t fulfilled,’ said Marcus Latchford, Endsleigh’s lettings and landlords manager.

However, sometimes it’s just a case of one side being unaware of their responsibilities. Individual contracts will often spell out who should be taking care of what, but the small print is often the last place people look,’ he added.

Jessica Alomankeh, projects coordinator at the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LLAS) said that while most of the responsibilities for landlords and tenants are well understood by both parties but some things are still confusing.

‘Landlords deal with repairs to fixtures and fittings, boiler servicing, as well as arrange buildings insurance if the property is furnished. Tenants look after tasks such as keeping the garden in check and the internet installation. For tasks such as pest control and touching up paintwork,

the landlord is responsible,’ she explained.

‘What’s more, at the beginning of a tenancy, landlords should provide tenants with an inventory pack, containing contact details of the current service providers. It’s then up to the tenant to check metre readings and set up new payments with the suppliers,’ she added.

It’s the UK’s strongest asset class, but is all student accommodation properties good investments? This is the comprehensive list of what to watch out for when buying student property.

UK scheme creates 131 new home owners daily

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K government’s flagship, Help-to-Buy scheme has created 131 new home owners on daily basis since April 2013, according to the latest figures.

Housing Minister, Brandon Lewis said that the data shows that Help-to-Buy is an important part of the government’s efforts to ensure anyone that works hard and aspires to own their own home has the opportunity to do so.

Since the launch of the schemes, over 100,000 people have used the Scheme’s equity loan, mortgage guarantee and NewBuy schemes at a fraction of the deposit they would normally require.

The data also shows that four out of the five of these were first time buyers and 94% of the sales were outside of London, alleviating concerns expressed at the launch of the schemes that they would not reach out to the neediest.

Launched in 2013, the Helpto-Buy: equity loan and Helpto-Buy: mortgage guarantee schemes were set up to support people who could pay a mortgage, but struggle to save the de-

posits required by lenders following the financial crisis.

The Help to Buy: New-Buy scheme offers 95 percent mortgages for those buying new build homes and the number of new home owners has reached 101,972. Overall since 2010, over 225,000 households have been helped to buy and reserve a new home through governmentbacked schemes.

‘The figures clearly show the continuing success of the Helpto-Buy scheme in supporting many credit worthy, hardworking people who want to buy their own home. Our long term economic plan has turned this country around from the one we inherited, now numbers of first time buyers are at their highest since 2007, house building continues to climb and over 225,000 households have been helped to buy or reserve property since 2010 through government backed schemes,’ said Lewis.

According to Stewart Baseley, the Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation, Help to Buy continues to drive demand for new homes, and its extension to 2020 is a huge boost.

Scottish property

House prices drop in Scotland due to new tax

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ouse prices in Scotland fell 1.6% in April, the largest monthly fall since 2009, but sales were up 18% month on month and are 4% higher than a year ago.

It means that prices fell £3,000 in April taking the average house price to £184,970 but prices are still 14.6% higher than in the same month in 2014, according to the latest Your Move/Acadata monthly index.

The index report points out that much of the change could be

due to the introduction of the new Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) in April which saw a lot of sales in the higher price brackets pushed through to avoid paying a higher level of property tax.

Indeed, buyers rushed through 83 sales in the £1 million plus sector in March, compared to an average of 12 in a typical month, to beat higher tax. Some 46 were sold in just three days, but no million pound homes were sold in April.

The most significant monthly

downturn was found in East Lothian, where values dropped 7.2%.

The islands of Orkney, Eilean Siar and the Shetlands saw the highest price increases during the month, of 9.1%, 4.8% and 4.4% respectively.

Property values also reached a new peak in the Scottish Borders, Highland, and West Dunbartonshire in April. While year on year the biggest increase in prices has been in Edinburgh with growth of 25.5%.

Strong currency: British investors buy property abroad

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strong currency in the UK is encouraging property investors to buy real estate abroad, a survey has revealed.

The survey has noted that 23 percent of respondents are considering buying property abroad in the next 12 to 18 months due to the stronger economic climate for business and residential lettings in foreign countries.

The study, commissioned in the aftermath of the Conservatives

securing a majority in the recent general election, shows how a combination of financial factors are persuading property investors that now is the time to seek opportunities abroad for higher returns.

Almost a quarter (23 percent) of respondents is considering buying property abroad in the next 12-18 months due to the stronger economic climate for business and residential lettings in foreign

countries.

The poll commissioned by FXcompared Intelligence, the research division of money transfer comparison site FXcompared, also found that Conservatives winning the general election is also a significant factor with 20% stipulating this as a prime reason for buying abroad.

Other key influences include easier access to mortgage funding, cited by 22 percent, while some 16

percent said changes to UK Stamp Duty and property tax, 14% access to pension funds and 12 percent better mortgage deals abroad.

The poll also asked what type of properties investors were interested in and found that 19 are looking to invest in multiple properties at one location, while the same number think coastal locations offer the best return on investment.

Also 25 percent are now focus-

ing on bigger properties as they seek to capitalise on the current opportunities in the market especially as a stronger pound has made it more affordable.

Better weather is still the main lifestyle factor when considering foreign property ownership, mentioned by 48 percent, but 42 percent said it was how easy the location of the property is to reach while 21 percent mentioned finding an up and coming area.

Aviation

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

31

Airlines’ indebtedness, technical personnel gap, bane of NAMA – Stakeholders Stakeholders and professionals in the aviation sector are of the view that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, needed to upgrade its navigational equipment for a more efficient discharge of its duties. OLUSEGUN KOIKI writes.

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he Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, was established by the Act of parliament No. 48, commencement date of 29th may 1999 to provide air traffic services in Nigeria, including air traffic control, visual and non-visual aids, aeronautical telecommunication services and electricity supplies to enable public transport, private, business and military aircraft fly, as far as practicable and as safely as possible among several other functions.

But, like all the other government agencies in the sector, NAMA, is also confronted with several challenges, which have limited its performances to its clients especially the airline operators.

From high operational costs to running costs, ageing skilled personnel without adequate replacement for them, gradual phasing out navigational equipment to the inability of airlines to pay for services rendered them by the agency, the challenges are countless.

Although, NAMA management in recent years had invested heavily on new technological platforms like communications and navigational services installed in strategic places within the country, which have further enhanced safety and tower-pilot communication in the air, but stakeholders and professionals in the sector claimed a lot still needed to be done to ensure total safety in the system.

Overtime, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, NATCA, the umbrella body of Air Traffic Controllers, ATC, have complained about the performance of radio communication in the country’s airspace.

NATCA on many occasions through its President, Mr. Victor Eyaru, complained that poor radio communications was the bane of the agency, which he said had been on for decades and warned of imminent danger in the airspace if not rectified soon.

He also argued that the ongoing Aeronautic Information Service, AIS, automation project could not solve the poor radio communications in the system, but called for complete overhaul of the facilities for effective performance.

ATC control room of NAMA

The exisTing number of ATC is exTremely inAdequATe And efforTs need To be mAde To inCreAse

The number viA-Avis The immediATe And projeCTed workloAd;

workforCe should be righT-size in

60:40 in fAvour of TeChniCAl sTAff A pilot, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that there are big challenges with communication in the Nigeria’s airspace.

He however pointed out that the situation had improved from when there was what was referred to as “dark spots,” when a pilot could not connect and communicate with the air traffic controller to the present situation when pilots have to work at it to get the radio communication from Calabar and Enugu traffic area at the Lagos centre, which is 127. 3 MHz frequency and Yola and Maiduguri at the Kano communications centre, which is 128.5 MHz. The pilot, who emphasised the importance of communication in the airspace, said that without effective communication safety would be threatened, noting some time ago a project was started by NAMA to connect every part of the airspace with VHF radio coverage, known as the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria, TRACON, project, which was later commissioned

MD NAMA, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam

in 2010.

He attributed part of the communication problems to epileptic supply of public power and observed that to a large extent the nation’s airspace has communication access.

But, NAMA believes the sectorisation of the airspace would go a long way in solving the challenges associated with the airspace, a move severely kicked against by some professional bodies and Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA. It argued that the sectorisation of the airspace would further improve the poor radio communication between ATC and pilots. To make this effective, the agency at present was collaborating with the Agency for the Safety of Aerial Navigation in Africa, ASECNA. Commenting on the challenges and prospects of NAMA, an industry analyst, Mr. Ewos Iroro said that the agency has a great responsibility to ensure safe airspace for aircraft and pilots including over-flyers that don’t even land in the country.

He noted that NAMA had navigational equipment, but some of them are going obsolete at the moment as a result of the continuous

developments and procedures in the system.

Iroro explained further that unlike FAAN or other agencies in the sector that their equipment are stationed in an environment, NAMA’s equipment are scattered all over country’s airports, airstrips and stations, stressing that for the agency to operate safety and acquire modernized equipment, government needed to come to its aid.

He clarified: “Each equipment means more power provision to keep the equipment going.

Each equipment means more engineers to be updated on the equipment, which cut across several levels; we have messaging equipment, aircraft guiding equipment, distance measuring equipment and several other equipment, which are scattered in several locations across the nation.

“NAMA itself is one organisation that needs all the support it can get from the government because many of those equipment can’t be purchased through the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of NAMA. So, NAMA needs much more support. Take for instance, the Aeronautical Information Services, AIS, we have been talking about, we are already behind schedule in the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, drafted schedule for transition from AIS to Aeronautical Information Management, AIM”, Iroro added.

Besides, he identified internal crisis as one of the major challenges confronting the agency.

According to him, some of its technical staff are over-demanding for improved welfares and services from the agency’s management without putting into consideration the massive spending of the agency.

While agreeing that the professionals should be well-paid, but must consider the earnings and spending of the organizations, he identified the unwillingness of airlines to pay for services rendered them by NAMA as another major problem bedeviling the agency.

“Also, NAMA still has the problem of people not paying their navigational charges. They need the equipment for safe operations, but they are not paying for the services. NAMA’ equipment are not being powered by public power supply from the grid. Many of them are running on fuel.

“All the airlines must pay for the service rendered irrespective of the airline because NAMA needs money to keep the system working” Iroro canvassed.

The immediate Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka in his scorecard on the sector, identified lack of multi-year strategic plan in NAMA, indebtedness of the airlines to the agency, inadequate ATCs, lack of long term human resources planning, ageing staff with very little drive and lack of systematic personnel evaluation as some of the challenges militating against the growth of NAMA, which has 2,488 staff on its payroll.

32

Aviation

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Lufthansa airlines makes Lagos Sub-Sahara Africa operations’ hub StorieS: oluSegun KoiKi

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ufthansa airlines at the weekend adopted Lagos as its regional headquarters for sub-Sahara African countries.

This is just as the airline disclosed that in 2014, the group had a turnover of 30 billion euros becoming the biggest alliance in the industry to earn such amount of money within a year.

Vice President, Sales and Services Southeast Europe, Africa & Middle East, Mr. Tamur Goudarzi-Pour, dsiclosed these to journalists in Lagos.

With this adoption, Lagos immediately becomes the centre of sales, station and administration organisation of the airline in the entire continent, thereby becoming the first airline among the foreign carriers operating into the country to take the developmental step.

Goudarzi-Pour declared that Nigeria had always played a key role in Lufthansa’s intercontinental network, which led to its adoption as its African headquarters.

He explained that the airline

decided to create a new organisation that would benefit from the country’s economic size, location and business prospects as a leading regional business hub.

Goudarzi-Pour informed further that the airline was restricting its entire cabins to enhance passengers’ comforts while onboard, stressing that its business class cabin would be expanded by additional 50 percent more room than economy class.

He explained that with this restructuring Lufthansa would be placed as a leader in offering premium service in all four classes of service, emphasizing also that the airline airlifted 750,000 passengers from Africa in 2014, with 230, 000 of the figures from three points in Nigeria.

He said: “Sub-Sahara Africa is one of the Lufthansa Group strongest markets, with around 150 weekly flights by Lufthansa, Swiss/Edelweiss and Brussels Airlines serving 30 destinations in 26 countries and we plan to continue expanding services across the contact.”

Also commenting at the event, Managing Director, Sub-Sahara Africa, Lufthansa, Mr. Claus Becker, noted that as the most

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populated country in the country and also with the highest Gross Domestic Product, GPD, and geographically located within SIX hours from all other Lufthansa Sub-Sahara markets, Lagos was the natural choice for a regional head office in Africa.

He added that with the choosing of Lagos as the headquarters of Lufthansa’s sales organisation, more job opportunities would be created for qualified Nigerians and expressed confidence that the recent terrorism activities in the country would be abated, which would further improve opportunities for the country.

AIB unveils in-house magazine

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ne of the parastatals under the Ministry of Aviation, Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, has launched its maiden edition of the quarterly publication for the month of April to June, 2015.

The Bureau is responsible for air accident prevention and investigation in the industry. Just recently, AIB released four accident reports that occurred in the country between 2006 and 2011.

The four accidents include, the November 10th, 2006 AOS Helicopter’s crash with registration number 5N – BHU, which happened in Ovwian, Aladja, (Near Osubi Airstrip), Warri, Delta State.

The report also covered the accident involving Wings Avia-

tion with registration 5N – JAH, which occurred in Bushi Village, Obalinku (near Bebi Airstrip), Obudu on 15th March, 2008.

The other two crashes were Aero Contractors Boeing 737- 500 with registration number 5NBLE at Runway 28, Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos, Plateau State, on 21st August, 2010 and Bristow Helicopter’s crash with registration number 5NBMM at Port Harcourt International Airport, River State on 14th July, 2011.

The Head, Public Affairs Unit, AIB, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi in an online statement indicated that the magazine christened, ‘The Investigator’ is an in-house publication, which would discuss revolutionary strides of the organisation, enhances its brand

. L-R: Director, Research, Planning & Documentation; Idris Ibrahim, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation; Hajia Binta Adamu Bello, Director of Procurement, Ministry of Aviation, Dr. A. B. Erinle and General Manager, Electrical, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Engr. Salisu Daura, during the inspection of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos facilities by the Permanent Secretary recently.

development and issues in the industry as a whole.

The Magazine cover focuses on an insightful interview with the head of the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Dr. Felix Abali on the achievements, challenges and its prospects under his watch.

The statement added, “The edition also focuses on the values, a newly constructed Wreckage Hanger that was handed over to AIB, brings to its operations.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Airside shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

Is Discovery Air closing shop?

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iscovery Air was one of the new airlines issued the Air Operator’s Certificate, AOC, about a year ago, June 2014 to be precise.

The airline according to its sponsor, Engr. Babatunde Babalola, at the issuance of the AOC in Lagos by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, promised that the airline would create a niche for itself and grow the sector. Sadly, a year after the issuance of the licence, it seems its wings may be too weak for the turbulent air skies.

Information gathered by Airside late last week indicated that the airline, which operated with just two aircraft before its AOC was suspended this January by NCAA for alleged unprofessional practice, had already sold one of the two aircraft to another carrier while the other would soon be moved away from the airside of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos where it is presently parked.

Airside is bothered that an airline that was issued AOC in June, operated for six months, shut down for three months before being released to return to operations this April, could close shop just like that.

From all indications, it showed that its promoters might have carried out enough due diligence before exploring what looked to them huge opportunities in the aviation sub-sector. If the promoters had done their feasibility studies properly, they would have known that the sub—sector is capable of dashing investment dreams, no matter how lofty.

Aviation industry might look glamorous and elitist from the outside, but the players in the system know it is an unstable sector. Airsideadvises prospective investors in the sector in the future to employ the services of aviation consultants and other proven professionals before investing their hard-earned money into the sector.

Rodents, cockroaches take over MMIA terminal

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lot still needed to be done to make our airports operate to international standards. The joy of the airport landlord, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, is to see that one of the major terminals in the country wins a main award like Skytrax, but unfortunately, those awards or high ratings may not come very soon unless there is a change of attitude.

Apart from the structures and infrastructure that are dilapidating and ageing at alarming rates, FAAN has proven to be poor in maintenance of the facilities installed at all the airports especially the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, which is the busiest international terminal in Nigeria today with over five million passengers annually.

Just last Friday, Airside was at the terminal as early as 6am to welcome

a friend that was visiting the country for the first time in 13 years from United Kingdom. The friend arrived the country aboard Virgin Atlantic flight.

On entering the arrival hall, apart from the unkempt environment, which will easily paint a negative picture of the country to a first time visitor, cockroaches and rodents in their tens too were having a field day. In fact, they are now the real landlords at the terminal.

Airside advises FAAN to immediately order its concessionaire on cleaning to embark on fumigation exercise of the entire environment especially the terminal.

The disgraceful act may eventually lead to breakout of diseases in an environment that is internationally regulated like aviation. Time to act is now.

Travel & Business News, Caverton Helicopters partner on youth empowerment

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n line with its philosophy of raising future aviation professionals, Travel & Business News recently partnered with Caverton Helicopters as title sponsors to host the grand finale of its 6th Caverton Helicopters/Travel & Business News National Travel Essay Competition, NTEC 2014/15, and fifth Youth Empowerment Seminar, YES. The organizer of the event, Mr. Ewos Iroro, stated that the annual event was geared towards fulfilling the aspirations of the Nigerian local content Initiative in an effort to bridge the skills gap and manpower shortage in the air transport sector.

He also explained that the initiative was also close to the heart of

Caverton’s vision of building a professionally run Nigerian Company,

by Nigerians and with Nigeria in mind. Hence the theme of the event; ‘Empowering The Next Generation of Aviation Professionals.’

The grand finale of the industry writing contest, which was held at the training centre of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos recently the statement stated brought to a climax a six-month long process of entries being sent in by interested participants from secondary schools and tertiary institutions across the country to compete for laurels in two separate categories.

The topic for the secondary schools category was; ‘Airport Development as a Stimulus for Economic Growth,” while that of the tertiary institutions was; ‘Encouraging More Women into Helicopter Aviation.’

Chairman of the occasion, Elder Gbenga Olowo, opened the forum with passionate remarks by reminiscing on his days as a youngster and telling his story of how he was selected from a vast number of candidates and given an opportunity by Lufthansa German Airlines to follow a career in the travel industry.

He noted that back then he had no idea about the industry until he was picked up and trained by the airline.

Insurance

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

NAICOM seals pact with law enforcement agencies StorieS: MeShack idehen

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he National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has signed a Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with relevant law enforcement agencies to rid the nation of fake insurance operators.

NAICOM’s Director, Supervision, Mr. Nicholas Opara, said the move was part of efforts to ensure the success of the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI), Under the MDRI, the Commission has been striving to ensure enforcement of compulsory insurances, keep fake insurance operators at bay and create jobs for the teeming Nigerian youth.

He dislcosed NAICOM had ensured enforcement of local content development particularly in oil and gas industry through the issuance of guidelines on oil and gas Insurance business in the country.

Speaking on the insurance industry’s performance between 2014 and first quarter 2015, he said that the total asset of the industry stood at N 793.6 billion at the end of first quarter 2015, while total

liabilities was N444.4 billion.

He said that shareholders’ funds for the period stood at N343.4 billion, while net claims for the period stood at N 23.7billion. Management expenses for the period were N18.6 billion, while investment income for the period stood at N9.5 billion, while industry’s net profit for period was N15.43 billion.

During the year 2014, the NAICOM’s director said the industry recorded gross premium income of N302.105 billion, while total asset was at N711.4 billion. He added that the liability of the industry for last year stood at N422.7 billion, while shareholders’ funds stood at N352.5billion.

The industry’s net claims for the period stood at N90.39 billion, while management expenses stood at N61 billion. The industry’s underwriting profit stood at N66.976 billion while net profit for the period stood at N28.430 billion.

He categorised the commission’s regulatory activities under its present administration into three broad areas as: policy holders’ protection,

Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel

financial safety and stability, as well as market development.

Under policy holders’ protection, Opara said the commission did this through activities such as consumers’ education through seminars, workshops, sponsorship of TV/Radio drama, social media and other public enlightenment programmes as well as introduction of insurance into school curricula in secondary and tertiary institutions.

Insurance firm repackages motor, group life insurance

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apic Insurance Plc said it has reintroduced its motor insurance product just as its subsidiary, Wapic Life Assurance Limited, has revamped its group life insurance product.

A statement from the firm on said the motor insurance had been rebranded and now called “Moov” while the group life policy was redesigned to address critical consumer needs, keeping them adequately protected against the impact of life risks while in employment The statement said Moov in its new form had been designed to meet the yearning of customers for budget and life style flexibility.

Part of the features of the product, it added, was the fact that the consumers could create their motor insurance cover.

According to the company, the motor product comes in four vari-

ants namely, the basic Moov to cover third party motor insurance; Moov Plus for third party fire and theft; Moov Prestige to cover basic comprehensive insurance while Moov Luxury is the maximum motor cover.

It explained that within each option, there would be a menu of covers from which customers could make a choice based on their needs and budgets.

The company had also made the product more accessible for the insuring public as there would be various product purchase channels. The group life insurance, it explained, is a compulsory class of cover for all employers with three or more employees.

It stated that Wapic Life had revamped this product to meet the needs of employers through simplified documentation, seamless payment process and

enjoyable claim settlement for the benefit of their employees Speaking on the development, Managing Director of Wapic Life Assurance, Mr Niyi Onifade, said that group life insurance as prescribed by law had now been simplified for the benefit of employers of labour, clubs, associations, unions, religious groups, cooperatives and social organisations who exist as a group such that the purchase of the product is enjoyable and can be done with ease.

In his remarks, Deputy Group Managing Director, Mr. Bode Ojeniyi, said that with the rollout of Moov and group life the company was on course towards meeting its goal of delivering customer-relevant solution in both the life and non-life segments while the insuring public can now enjoy affordable and flexible insurance solutions to cover their vehicles and lives.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

33

Tips for buying auto insurance

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here may be smart ways you can cut your premiums, such as raising your deductibles, dropping collision insurance on an older car, demanding special discounts or consolidating your policies with one insurer. Here are tips by which auto insurance can be maximised.

Raise your deductibles-The easiest way to save is by increasing both the collision and comprehensive (damage due to vandalism, fire, flood) deductibles for damage to your auto.

Get uninsured motorist coverage-- This protects you and family members living with you should you be hit by a negligent driver who is uninsured or “underinsured,” even if you’re walking, bicycling or skateboarding at the time.

The amount of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage you carry should match your auto policy’s primary liability limits–meaning the maximum amount your insurer will pay the other guy if you cause an accident.

Carry a big umbrella-- An umbrella, or “excess,” policy kicks in where your liability coverage for your auto and home ends and is a necessity if you have any assets to protect.

The more assets a person has, the bigger target they are for lawsuits. If you have teenagers driving, consider increasing your umbrella. The second million is cheaper than the first.

You can often save on an umbrella by buying it through the same insurer you get your auto policy from; go to an independent agent and ask for combined quotes from several carriers. Be sure to compare what each umbrella covers.

Hunt out obscure discounts-- Certain discounts– say, for a good driving record–are usually applied automatically. But other cred-

its require action on your part.

For example, as you age, taking a defensive driving course (even one online) could earn you a credit. If you start telecommuting two days a week, call your insurer and ask for a discount. You may also be able to save by buying through a workplace discount program.

If you have a teen driver, ask for the good student discount.

Don’t buy a teen his own car-- It’s usually cheaper not to add a third car when you’re adding a teen driver to a twoparent, two-car family, because insurers rightly assume the kid will drive less without his own car. (Even without a third car the average annual premium goes up 58% with a teen added.

If you and your spouse both drive new luxury cars with collision coverage, then you might reduce both premiums and family conflict by getting your kid a clunker without collision insurance..

Avoid limited tort insurance- Be wary of what you’re giving up. Limited tort means that, even if the other guy is at fault, you generally cannot collect payment for your “pain and suffering”–extra money that may be needed, say to get help around the house if you’re laid up.

Insure for a total wreck-If you’ve got a paid-up car older than five years or so (depending on the model) it may make sense to drop collision and comprehensive. That’s because if you wreck your car or it’s stolen, most insurers will pay out the depreciated value, which could be less than it takes to replace your older car. That’s also true if it would cost more to repair your car than it’s worth. On the other hand, if you have a car loan outstanding or are leasing a car, consider topping up your coverage.

Source:www.insure.net

34

Insurance

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Analysts, policy holders worry over menace of fake insurers Policy holders and industry analysts concerned about the long term sustainability of the nation’s insurance sector have continued to express serious concerns on the menace of fake insurers in view of the negative impact on the nation’s insurance industry. MESHACK IDEHEN reports.

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he predatory activities of fake insurance practitioners have been identified by policy holders and experts as one of the major constraints to sustainable growth of the industry, noting that consolidating the achievements by the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, require all stakeholders’ action.

In recent times, it is commonly assumed by stakeholders that fake insurance practice was more prevalent in the health insurance sector. However, experts said these days that the practice knows no know limit; a development they explained is causing grievous harm to a growing and highly promising sector in the country’s economic space.

According to the Nigerian Insurers Association, (NIA), the insurance sector in Nigeria lost over N150 billion in the past one year to fake vehicle policies racketeers alone, with amounts close to that sum also lost annually to other aspects of insurance, including marine, agriculture and general insurance.

The Director General of the association, Mr. Sunday Thomas, who revealed this said that of the over 12.5 million vehicles on the nation’s roads for instance, that only I.5 million have genuine insurance particulars which are either comprehensive and are sold at 10 percent of the worth of the vehicle, or third party which are sold at N5, 000.

The NIA boss told our correspondent also that about 1.5 million vehicle policies have so far been uploaded on the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database, (NIID), an internet enabled platform which was specially designed to capture the data of all insured vehicles in the country in order to grapple with the challenges posed by insurance touts and fakes.

Considering the dangers and challenges that such unscrupulous practice poses in the immediate and long term to the insurance sector in particular and the country’s economy in general through massive revenue, income and job losses, concerned stakeholders insisted it was high time the government and other relevant agencies come together to tackle the scourge in order to find a lasting and sustainable solutions to the problem.

In that regard, the Group Managing Director of Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi, while lamenting the menace of fake insurers, told journalists recently that achieving the objective of the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative, (MDRI), and increasing insurance contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country will remain very challenging and almost impossible, if critical aspect of insurance businesses that are considered compulsory is in the hands of touts and fakes, since genuine operators and by extention,the

Thomas

Shoderu

Government must insure all its assets, for full value, pay the correct premium, in Good time and make such transactions available for all to see. if Government

does this with all its assets, it would Go a lonG way in educatinG the whole society regulators were losing income on a daily basis.

Citing on his part the over N55bn that insurance experts said has been lost to fake marine insurance alone in the past seven years, and harping on the urgent need to confront the challenge head-on, Insurance Analyst and Executive Director of City Insurance Brokers Limited, Mr. Lucky Igunbor, said the N55 billion lost to fake marine insurance and its practitioners comprises the real premium income to insurance companies put at over N30 billion, and N25billion loss to unpaid claims.

According to him, estimated losses include the more than 200,000 policy holders that have been defrauded within a very short period, considering in particular that marine insurance is a compulsory insurance for export and import items, and which constitutes a potential huge revenue base for the insurance market in the country.

Insurance companies in Nigeria, Igunbor pointed out, have not been able to capture 10% of the marine insurance market due to the activities of fake operators, touts, and unscrupulous elements, most of whom have constituted themselves in formidable groups, and parading themselves as genuine operators.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Linkage Assurance Plc, Mr Gus Wiggle, in the same vein, bemoaned the scourge of fake insurance practitioners in the country to our correspondent, declar-

ing though that it constitutes one key loss item in the insurance industry.

Wiggle said the expectations of N12 trillion premium income for insurance in the Vision 202020 will not be met, pointing out it will requires the combined effort of all agencies of government, particularly the law enforcement agencies and the operators in the different sectors of the economy to fight off the menace posed by fakes and unscrupulous insurers.

Describing them (fake and unscrupulous insurers) as economic saboteurs, the Linkage Assurance managing director noted also that fake insurers employ all kinds of tricks and deception in their activities.

“Fake insurance operators sell policies to unsuspecting members of the public and thus deny insurers legitimate income that would have generated tax revenue to government. They also increase the economic losses arising from unpaid claims”, Wiggle said.

However he blamed the government for not doing enough to enforce the law it has made to safeguard and protect genuine operators in the industry. He also blamed some insurance firms for not efficiently disposing old and discarded headed papers, noting that many insurance firms fail to destroy old headed papers after their change of logo or after rebranding.

He urged members of the public to always buy genuine insurance from li-

cenced underwriters, pointing out when in any doubt, that policy buyers should always call the NIA or the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to verify the genuineness of the premium bought.

Accusing some insurance companies of complicity in the challenges of fake insurance business, insurance stakeholder and Managing Director of Skelas Nigeria Limited, Mr.Olayiwola Shittu, said some operators are guilty of aiding sale of insurance certificates which does not cover anything to unsuspecting clients.

Shittu said the menace of fake insurance practice by unscrupulous individuals and groups would have long been eliminated from the country’s insurance sector, if not for the tacit support and encouragement been given them by some conniving operators.

On his part, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Unity Kapital Assurance Plc, Mr Kins Ekebuike, said the government must take the lead in combating fake insurance practice in the country, since the government remains the biggest contributor to insurance premium and business in Nigeria.

According to him: “Government must insure all its assets, for full value, pay the correct premium, in good time and make such transactions available for all to see.

If government does this with all its assets, it would go a long way in educating the whole society, both public and private on the benefits of doing genuine insurance”, he said.

Citing the case of a fake doctor that was recently arrested for an N89m health insurance scam, Banassurance Expert and Insurance Analyst, Mr. Basil Ngwuta, told our correspondent fake insurers are still very much on the prowl in major cities, towns and villages across the country.

He said present and potential premium buyers must be extra careful when negotiating for or paying for any insurance policy, adding what may look very genuine may indeed turn out to be fake papers or transactions.

National Mirror recalls that a fake medical doctor, Mr. Ibukun Ojo, was arrested recently by the Special Fraud Unit Ikoyi, Lagos, for his role in an attempt to defraud the Canadian Government of N89m health insurance claims.

On the readiness of brokers to stem the tide, the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), said though the challenge persists, that the council will soon completely eliminate the menace.

President of NCRIB, Mr Ayo Shoderu, confirmed to our correspondent that the council is doing everything possible to ensure the challenges posed by the activities of unscrupulous individuals and groups is eliminated from the sector once and for all

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Money

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

35

Customers seek sanctions on banks over COT charges StorieS: Udo onyeka

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ome banks operating in the country may be sanctioned for disobeying the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, directive two years ago banks to gradually phase out Commission on Turnover ,COT, charged on current accounts beginning from 2014 to 2016.

Investigations reveal that the same interest rate charged on current account last year by three commercial banks still apply till May 31, 2015.

The CBN in March 2013 outlined plans to gradually phase out the COT charged current accounts by 2016 by directing all banks to reduce COT from its current rate of N3 to N2 by 2014, N1 by 2015 are expected not to charge COT on current account transactions by 2016.

This formed part of the apex bank’s “Revised Guide to Bank Charges,” dated March 27, 2013, a copy of which was posted on its website.

The apex banking institution explained that COT applied to customerinduced debit transactions on current account, even as it warned banks not to charge COT on “returned outward clearing cheques, reversal on transactions and all bank-induced debits.”

However, there have been complaints by bank customers over excessive charges levied on them by banks.

Many of the customers who spoke with National Mirror on condition of anonymity appealed to relevant authorities to in-

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

vestigate these charges and bring sanity to the system.

They said the charges had continued unmitigated in spite of the apex financial regulator’s directive.

A bank customer said that the rate at which banks charge their customers was become worrisome ad must be discouraged by the CBN. “My bank always debits my account at the end of the month, by between N25 and this amount may seem small but when they charge many customers in a month, it will amount to a huge sum. These charges usually come irrespective of whether you do a transaction in your account or not and I think it is illegal,” he said.

FirstBank trains executives on CSR, sustainability

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irst Bank of Nigeria Limited, through its sustainability programme, FirstBank Sustainability Centre, has hosted a Sustainable Business Executive Programme for corporate executives in charge of social responsibility and sustainability in their organisations.

The programme which spaned both the Lagos Business School, LBS and the University of Edinburgh Business School, Scotland will trained participants on integrating sustainability into their organisations’ operations, supply chain and community.

The first phase of the event, which

held last week at the FirstBank Sustainability Centre, Lagos Business School, discussed Global Sustainability strategy trends, stakeholder engagements in volatile environments, cross sector collaborations and partnerships, sustainability issues in vendor and supply chains.

Other issues discussed are health and safety culture in challenging business contexts, social and environmental risk management, project monitoring and evaluation as well as external stakeholder relations.

A statement by the bank indicated that the two-day sessio,was expected

to have empowered participants to understand global sustainability trends, implement sustainability orientation and system thinking in their organisations, identify, prioritise, and engage with critical stakeholder groups, develop operational plans in line with their organisations’ strategic purpose, mission and vision, lead positive change in their organisations and in society as well as enhance personal effectiveness.

According to the bank’s Group Managing Director, Bisi Onasanya, the bank would always strive to provide a unique value proposition that will drive high-

er levels of sustainability and business continuity.

“We would continue to promote sustainability & corporate responsibility initiatives to reshape global economic landscape and drive citizenship”, he said.

Facilitators at the event include; Director, FirstBank Sustainability Centre and Faculty Member, LBS, Dr. Chris Ogbechie, Dr. Akintola Owolabi, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, and Director of the Sustainable Business Initiative and an Associate Professor in Strategy and International Business at the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Kenneth Amaeshi, amongst others.

UBA GMD/CEO Phillips Oduoza

While giving the directive, CBN pointed out that for loan repayment from current or savings account, COT is free.

Also, it stated that for debit transactions such as transfer to other accounts in the same name, in same branch or at another branch of the same bank, no COT would be charged.

The Guide to Bank charges, first issued in 2004, was meant to provide a standard for the application of charges in the banking industry, and to minimize conflicts between banks and their customers.

Over time, it was observed that the various charges in the guide had become out of tune with current realities in the market, and some provisions/terms in it allowed

room for ambiguity and conflict.

In a related development, another bank customer complained of charges beyond withdrawal limit.

She said she wanted to withdraw N1.5m from her account but was told that she would be charged over N35, 000, saying that she eventually transfers the money into another account to avoid paying the huge charges.

According to her, it was not ideal for banks to charge customers so much for withdrawing money from their own accounts.

Another customer said he could not understand why banks would charge customers for withdrawing money from their accounts.

According to him, customers deposit money in the banks for safe keeping and the banks in turn use the money for their businesses. He said rather than charge customers for transactions, the banks should pay interests for keeping money and using the money for their business.

An official of one of oldest banks in Nigeria who preferred anonymity said though some banks were yet to adjust the rates in their system, the charges on customers were the ways banks generate their money.

“If banks do not generate any money at the end of the day, their staff will go home without salaries. So, for us to be able to generate money and service our businesses, we have to charge customers for services rendered and we are very considerate with the charges,” he said.

Why Nigeria should remain in JPMorgan index —Analysts

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ome financial experts have justified why Nigeria should take appropriate measures to ensure that its bond was not removed from JPMorgan Government Bond IndexEmerging Markets, GBI-EM. The experts are of the view that should Nigeria be removed from the index, it could lead to a lot of foreign investors selling out their bond holdings, potentially resulting in huge capital outflow.

They said demand and supply will run its usual course and bond yields will increase, leading to high borrowing cost and therefore negatively impact the economy that is already under revenue pressure.

Head, Research and Investment Advisory Services, Afrinvest West Africa Limited, Mr Ayodeji Ebo, noted that removing Nigeria from the Index would not be a good development, especially in the new dispensation

of Buhari-led administration.

He expects policy changes and reforms in the oil sector by the new government to enhance economic stability, lead to higher external reserves balance and subsequently liquidity in the currency markets.

He said: “It is a good thing that they have given us more time. We expect better changes in the economy over the next six months. I don’t think Nigeria will be ejected by December. Economic stability should also lead to inflows into Nigeria.”

Similarly, the Head of Emerging Debt at BNP Paribas, a United Kingdom based leader in global banking and financial services, David Spegel, shared the same view with Ebo, that Nigeria will not be removed.

According to him, a complete ejection of the country however seems unlikely.

“I would be very surprised if Nigeria was ejected

from the index entirely given the size of the economy and potential for future capital raising in the debt and equity markets there,” he stated in an emailed note.

It would be recalled that early this month, JPMorgan hinted that it will remove Nigeria from its Government Bond Index, GBI-EM, by the year-end unless the country restores liquidity to currency markets in a way that allows foreign investors tracking the benchmark to transact with minimal hurdles.

The implications of the country’s removal from the GBI-EM for the economy are that it could lead to massive capital outflows, higher borrowing costs and attendant macro economy instability.

The bank told Reuters however that it had extended the deadline to eject the country by another six months to take into account the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari.

36

Global Business

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Chinese firms invest in U.S. R&D in shift to innovation

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urging investment by Chinese companies in U.S. research labs is yielding a fast-growing trove of patents, part of a push to mine America for ideas to help China shift from being the world’s factory floor to a driver of innovation.

Largely absent from American research hubs a decade ago, Chinese firms including Huawei Technologies HWT.UL and ZTE Corp (000063.

SZ) are now using U.S. researchers to create patents ranging from new software to internet infrastructure, according to an analysis of Thomson Reuters’ global intellectual property database.

The rapid growth in China’s U.S. investments will be a key topic at economic and security talks on Tuesday and Wednesday between top U.S. and Chinese officials in Washington.

They are negotiating a bilateral investment treaty that could deepen ties between the world’s two largest economies even amid tensions over China’s military assertiveness.

Even without a treaty, China is pouring capital into U.S. research as well as buying other assets. While its firms are still newcomers to investing in America and few work on the technological frontier, the Thomson Reuters data offers a glimpse of the advanced economy China aspires to build.

Patented inventions by Chinese firms that involved at least one U.S.

researcher roughly doubled worldwide in each of the last three years, reaching 910 in 2014.

“We have established a beachhead,” said Vincent Xiang, who heads international investment at Humanwell Healthcare Group (600079.SS), a Chinese drug company that has put over $50 million into a New Jersey subsidiary that employs dozens of U.S. researchers.

Rather than compete with powerhouses like U.S. drug maker Merck (MRK.N) to invent blockbuster medicines, Humanwell’s U.S. researchers are making smaller refinements such as figuring out how to administer some drugs as pills rather than injections.

Humanwell’s New Jersey researchers have won approval on four patents so far in the United States and European Union, Xiang said. There are advantages to setting up labs in the U.S., where there are over 800,000 people with research doctoral degrees in science, engineering, and health.

“Without access to innovation, it is hard to win in the domestic market,” said Xiang.And yet, direct investment between the United States and China is remarkably low considering the size of their economies, and the

China President Xi Jinping

fruits of China’s U.S. R&D are similarly modest compared with the vast quantities of patents that emerge from America every year.

The cumulative stock of foreign direct investment in China from the United States makes up just over 1 percent of the FDI sunk into Chinese businesses by all nations, according to U.S. government data. Most FDI in China comes from other Asian countries.

China’s share of America’s FDI stock is even smaller, but it has been growing rapidly in recent years as Beijing has eased restrictions on outward investment.

Anthem offers $47bn for Cigna

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.S. health insurer Anthem Inc (ANTM.N) said on Saturday it had offered $47 billion in cash and stock for smaller rival Cigna Corp (CI.N), signaling a pick-up in the industry’s long-awaited consolidation.

The biggest U.S. health insurers are seeking acquisitions to boost membership in government-paid healthcare plans and the employer-based insurance that is Cigna’s specialty. Being bigger can help them negotiate better prices and improved networks of doctors, they said.

Anthem’s offer comes as Cigna, as well as insurer Aetna Inc

Swedish

(AET.N), are participating in an auction to acquire another rival, Humana Inc (HUM.N), according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the sale process is confidential. Humana was first reported to be considering a sale in May. Humana declined to comment.

Aetna was not immediately available for comment. Cigna declined to comment on the Humana auction or the Anthem offer.

Anthem, the second largest U.S. health insurer, said in a statement it had made four offers for Cigna in June, but that the deal was stalled over Cigna Chief Executive David Cordani’s role in the merged company. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the rejected offers last week.

In a letter published as part of the company’s statement on Saturday, Anthem detailed its weekslong attempts to reach a deal with Cigna, including the steps by which it raised its offer to $184 per share. Based on that price and 257,370,000 shares outstanding, the deal is worth about $47 billion.

Cigna shares closed on Friday at $155.26, down $1.15 or 0.7 per cent, making the $184 offer a pre-

mium of about 18 per cent. The offer consists of 68.6 percent cash and 31.4 per cent stock.

CEO Joseph Swedish wrote that the company did not think investors supported Cigna’s rejection of the deal because of Anthem’s refusal to guarantee that the CEO role would eventually go to Cordani. The letter also said Cigna had refused to sign a twoweek standstill agreement with Anthem that would prevent both sides from having other deal talks.

A combined Cigna and Anthem would have 53 million customers in commercial, government, consumer and other kinds of health insurance plans. Anthem, which offers Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in 14 states, said the purchase would boost earnings more than 10 percent in the first year and double that in the second year.

The deal making comes as insurance companies have adjusted to the major changes introduced

by President Barack Obama’s national healthcare reform law, which has created new kinds of insurance, cut government payments for medical services and introduced new healthcare taxes.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Belgium unblocks seized Russian accounts

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ussian state accounts frozen

by Belgium in a move condemned by Moscow have been unblocked, Belgium’s foreign minister says.

The assets were seized in a move triggered by a court ruling over the now-defunct Yukos oil firm.

In July 2014, an international arbitration court said Russian officials had manipulated the legal system to bankrupt Yukos.

Yukos was then taken over by a Russian state firm.

Its former boss, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was also jailed.

Last year a court told Russia to pay Yukos shareholders $50bn (£32bn) in compensation, after Yukos’s break-up.

But Russia does not acknowledge the court’s findings, leading former Yukos shareholders to get Russian state assets frozen.

Responding to the asset seizure, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said he would “defend our interests by the route of justice”.

Belgium’s ambassador to Mos-

cow was summoned to the Kremlin, and told the asset seizure was “an openly hostile act” that “crudely violates the recognised norms of international law”.

While visiting China, Belgium’s Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said: “A solution has been found to unblock as a priority accounts for the running of the embassies, and the rest will follow.”

Putin

Honda confirms eighth death linked to Takata airbags

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onda Motor Co’s (7267.T) U.S. unit said on Friday it has linked the September 2014 death of a woman in Los Angeles, California, to the rupture of a Takata airbag inflator, bringing to eight the number of fatalities related to defective Takata airbags.

U.S. highway safety regulators also confirmed that the death of Jewel Brangman in a 2001 Honda Civic is the seventh U.S. death, and the eighth fatality worldwide related to Takata airbag inflators that can explode, sending shards of metal through the passenger compartments of cars.

U.S. regulators have ordered the recall of vehicles equipped with about 34 million Takata airbag inflators. The exact number of vehicles affected by the recall is unclear, although data from manufacturers indicates the number is more than 16 million vehicles in the U.S. Honda, in a statement, said the 2001 car had been issued a

Honda

salvage title in October 2011, and then purchased by a rental car agency in San Diego, California.

The car was rented to Ms. Brangman in August 2014. Honda did not elaborate on the statement, or identify the rental car company.

Honda said its records showed that the driver’s side airbag inflator in the car was subject to recalls since July 2009, and that four recall notices had been sent to registered owners of the vehicle starting in August 2009.

The fatal crash occurred before notifications of the most recent recall actions for the vehicle’s airbags were sent out in September 2014.

Honda said it is urging owners of recalled vehicles to get airbag inflators repaired “as soon as possible.”

U.S. vehicle safety regulators said in a statement the case illustrates “why we are seeking authority to prohibit sale or rental of any vehicle with an open safety recall.”

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

37

NSE to foster relations with stakeholders Udeme AkpAn

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he Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE has expressed commitment to improving relationship with major stakeholders as well as respecting regulations in 2015.

It maintained, in its just published 2014 Annual Report, that the plan would enhance the performance of the capital market operations and by extension, the nation’s economy this year.

The Exchange stated: “In 2015, we plan to focus on strengthening our relationship with key stakeholders and ensuring effective compliance with relevant laws, SEC regulations, and safeguarding the Exchange’s reputation and strategic objectives.

“We recently implemented a Compliance Framework which outlines the regulatory environment within which The Exchange operates and manages its compliance policies. Additionally, the framework sets out expectations of each employee with regards to complying with set policies, procedures and code of ethics of the Exchange, both in an individual capacity and at the corporate level.

“In 2014, we recorded impressive growth along key financial indices – total

Aig-Imoukhuede

Onyema

assets grew by over 30 per cent, while net assets grew by 29 per cent, year on- year.

The growth in net assets was driven by a consistent rise in trading revenue and other income. The results were achieved in spite of thinning operating margins and a fourth quarter slowdown in market activity,” the bourse added.

The President of NSE, Aigboje AigImoukhuede, at the Annual General Meeting, AGM, commended the manage-

ment team for maintaining an efficient cost-to-income ratio during the period under review, and urge that this trend is sustained.

He explained that during the year, the NSE focused on strengthening its technical and market development functions as well as concentrated efforts on listings and increasing access to and participation on in the market and the Exchange is poised to become a veritable platform

Activist hedge fund profits in private …as Japan Tobacco says no

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or four years a hedge fund urged one of Japan’s oldest companies to raise its dividend, and each time the answer in public was no.

Behind the scenes, something else was happening. Though it lost every proxy fight, the Children’s Investment Fund claims a list of wins. Japan Tobacco Inc. boosted its payout ratio and said it would exit its beverage businesses. The state sold some of its stake. Since May 2011, the month the fund says it first met with management, the shares surged more than 180 percent.

The Children’s Investment Fund versus Japan Tobacco shows activism can pay in a country where many scoffed at the suggestion. It’s a case study that matters as Japan Inc. prepares for more barbarians at its gate.

“We asked for, let’s call it 100, and they gave us 50,” said Oscar Veldhuijzen, the 46-year-old Dutchman responsible for the investment at the fund known as TCI, who says they’ve sold some of the stake. “Our game was not necessarily to win the AGM proposals, but to move them, put pressure on them. This has been a

great success for us.”

This is a country where silent shareholders are no longer tolerated, with the once-reviled activist playbook finding new friends in the nation’s establishment. In just two years, the government started rules for investors and companies, built on the idea stock owners should push management to boost returns.

“The system is more open to it,” Veldhuijzen said. “We helped push the door a little bit further open.”

For Japan Tobacco the former government monopoly set up in 1898 for the sale of domestic leaf, it would be wrong to overstate TCI’s role. The company followed its principles and made decisions itself, spokesman Dmitry Krivtsov said by e-mail.

“Of course, they say in public that it was all their initiatives,” said Veldhuijzen. “I don’t mind so much, because for us it’s about results.”

Whoever came up with the changes, the facts are harder to dispute.

Japan Tobacco lifted its dividend payout ratio to 50.1 percent in the year ended March from 29.7

percent three years earlier. TCI urged it to repurchase 150 billion yen ($1.2 billion) of shares in January. A month later, Japan Tobacco said it would buy back 100 billion yen.

Pressure from TCI didn’t influence the decision, Japan Tobacco’s Krivtsov said.

After the March 2011 earthquake, the Ministry of Finance decided to sell some of its stake to fund reconstruction in the devastated regions. It cut holdings to about 33 percent in 2013 from 50 percent, with the cigarette company pledging to buy back as much as 250 billion yen in shares.

In February, Japan Tobacco surprised investors by saying it would sell its drinks operations. Since 2011, TCI had been criticizing the company’s strategy of running businesses other than tobacco.

While the fund drew on the standard weapons in an activist’s arsenal, from proxy fights and open letters to a website to drum up support from other investors, Veldhuijzen is adamant about two things.

First, there’s no value in activism if the investment itself doesn’t make sense. Second, while aggressive public pressure is fine, it needs to be accompanied by dialogue behind the scenes or it won’t work in Japan.

for financing the real economy.

“We deployed our enhanced risk management framework to safeguard the business environment, and our corporate governance framework to enhance investor confidence. Our co-hosting services performed credibly, and our drive to build the capacity of market operators kicked off with the unveiling of a new set of minimum operating standards for dealing members.”

The Chief Executive Officer of NSE, Oscar Onyema, expressed delight at the performance of the Exchange, adding that “we closed the year with our strongest growth in six years, with total income at N8.1 billion, 47 per cent up from N5.4 billion in 2013, and an operating profit margin of 50 per cent.”

“Transaction fees were our largest revenue item, growing 32 per cent yearon-year, and accounting for 52 per cent of total revenues.

Our listings program also performed well, soaring 228% as a result of 5 new equity listings. At the same revenues from strategic investments jumped 75%, comprised primarily of interest and dividend income. Perhaps what is most gratifying is that our 2014 success is despite the challenging market conditions that prevailed throughout the year,” Onyema added.

Investors eye improvements in data for housing stocks

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ousing stocks rallied on Friday and the industry group should get more good news next week, though sustained and robust future gains may depend on wage growth and other signs of improving home affordability.

On Monday, the National Association of Realtors is expected to report strong growth in existing home sales for May. On Wednesday, Lennar (LEN.N), the No. 2 U.S. homebuilder is expected to report that it had a strong second quarter.

The housing recovery has been uneven. U.S. permits for future home construction surged to a near eight-year high in May, a sign of a buildup of momentum, but housing starts fell.

Permits were driven by multifamily construction plans, which jumped 24.9 per cent, while singlefamily permits, the largest share of the market, increased only 2.6 per cent.

Broadly, shares of housing stocks have reflected this. Building materials companies have fared better than single-family home builders as materials companies have benefited from multi-family housing construction aimed at renters.

Construction materials supplier Vulcan Materials (VMC.N) has

risen 35.8 pe cent so far this year and home improvement and building products firm Masco (MAS.N) is up almost 10 per cent.

Even with a 2.3 per cent gain on Friday, the S&P 500 homebuilding index .SPLRCHOME is up just 3.7 per cent for the year. The broader PHLX housing index. HGX, including builders, building products and mortgage companies, is up 7.8 per cent for 2015 but down 2.7 per cent from its 2015 high hit in early April.

Wage growth may be key to better performance in future, as affordability remains an issue.

The median home became less affordable for the median family between April 2014 and April 2015 as prices rose with demand but new home construction did not, according to the latest data from The National Association of Realtors.

Furthermore, average new home prices seem out of reach of first-time buyers. Millennials, those born after 1981, are entering the market more slowly than their predecessors. Only 34.6 percent of millennials now own homes.

This is the lowest percentage for U.S. residents under 35 since the Census bureau started releasing age-related ownership statistics in 1982.

38

Features

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Recounting agony of incessant tanker explosions

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tanker explosion

Francis suberu

A

ccording to experts and researchers on road safety, there are four common causes of road accidents. These are mechanical faults, bad roads or road conditions, human errors and weather or atmospheric conditions. They however emphasised that human errors appeared to be the cause of over 75 percent of road crashes.

These come in various ways such as over speeding, negligence or reckless driving, lack of or poor driving expertise, alcoholic influence and so on. It then implies that if human errors are out of place, road crashes could be reduced by 75 percent.

The above fact underlines the necessity of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s meeting with tanker drivers and the leaders of their various associations in Lagos after an unprecedented spate of petrol tankers accidents in the city.

Recently within just 78 hours, more than five fully loaded petrol tankers fell at different spots in Lagos metropolis, destroying properties worth billions of naira and causing terrifying anguish for thousands of people. It was a litany of woes in several areas where those tankers crashed.

In Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos where the first devastating incident was recorded, the crashed petrol tanker, conveying about 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), spilled all its contents into the streets at an ungodly hour when hundreds of the residents had already gone to bed; even as the resultant fire outbreak destroyed 44 shops, three houses, 22 vehicles and six tricycles.

Another one occurred days later at Idimu area in Lagos where a tanker explosion also caused wanton damage and serious destruction of properties. The crash which had since been blamed on over speeding led to the destruction of 34 houses, 70 shops and a tricycle.

There were similar incidents in Badagry and Ojo, same day the Iyana Ipaja explosion was reported and for Governor

Ambode, that was enough to call the tanker drivers to order.

The Badagry incident, according to the Lagos Fire Service was the fault of the driver of the truck who was contesting the road with another articulated vehicle before it went tumbling.

These bizarrely incidents were what some people chose to welcome the new Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akniwunmi Ambode to office. He had to pay an unscheduled visit to the scenes of these incidents as they occurred one after the other.

In the spirit of true commitment and resolve to serve residents of the state, Governor Ambode rose to the occasion and took up the challenge.

After cutting his trip to Abuja short in order to commiserate with the people whose properties were destroyed in the inferno, Governor Ambode said; “It would also mean that our tanker drivers have to start to do something about their operations. We cannot continue to record loss of lives and properties because our tanker drivers’ ‎are not disciplined.”

But he did not just commiserate with the traders and residents on their losses, he left them with a promise that the state government would ensure that those who had lost properties and their shops, would get succour to enable them get back to their normal business lives.

“I would receive the report of the fire incident in the next 48 hours and we would ensure we do something positively to ensure that live can return to normal,” the Governor said, prompting loud applauds from residents.

When another catastrophe struck at

Idimu, the governor knew he must take a concrete step to stem the spate of the crashes. He quickly summoned the tanker drivers into a meeting.

Hence, Governor Ambode on Monday June 8, held a meeting with tanker drivers and other stakeholders in the transportation sector with a mandate to forestall further tankers accidents in the state.

To show he meant business, the governor immediately set up a committee to examine the immediate and remote causes of the incidences witnessed in a space of one week.

At the meeting which was held at the Conference Room of the Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Ambode said the committee which would be chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, would also prepare guidelines for ethical conduct for tanker drivers over the next two weeks.

Other members of the Committee include the Permanent Secretaries Ministry of Transport, Special Duties, Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, Sector Commander of the Federal Roads Safety Commission, Director Fire Service, representative of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners, National Union of Petroleum Engineering Natural Gas, National Association of Road Transport Owners, Petroleum Tankers Drivers and Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA).

The Governor also charged the Committee to urgently engage the insurance sector to meet and work out appropriate policies that would protect ordinary Lagosians from havoc in future tanker incidences in the state.

I know that It Is In the Interest of every LagosIan that we extend the enforcement of traffIc Laws to aLL drIvers In Lagos state. It Is not onLy tanker drIvers that offend us. we wouLd not waIt untIL another IncIdent occurs before we take actIon.

“I belief we have created the platform to bring immediate relief to those who have been affected. We are also waiting for the two final reports on the two incidences in Ipaja and Idimu in which we will take appropriate actions to bring further relief for our people”.

“I know that it is in the interest of every Lagosian that we extend the enforcement of traffic laws to all drivers in Lagos State.

It is not only tanker drivers that offend us.

We would not wait until another incident occurs before we take action. We know that all drivers must come under the enforcement of our traffic laws,” the governor said.

He maintained that the purpose of his administration is to make life simpler for people and for them to be able to live their life comfortably wherever they are.

According to him, preliminary investigation into the incidences had shown that they were primarily caused by human errors that were traceable to the drivers, stressing that there is need for them to have a rethink.

He said there is the need for all stakeholders to avert the present situation and take a critical look at insurance because according to him, the government must protect the citizens from undue loss of properties, assets and lives.

“We believed that you should be involved because we promised to run an all inclusive government. It is not in our interest to force down directives on the people without getting them involves.”

He also commended all the agencies like the Fire Service, LASEMA, FRSC, and the Police for the efforts they put up in the course of managing the tanker road crashes saying they have all shown the spirit of selflessness.

Earlier at the meeting, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello while reeling out some of the submissions of stakeholders as reasons for the frequent road crashes by

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Features

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

39

The threat of Sickle Cell Disorder

Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) is a heavy burden on Nigeria, even though real attention is not being paid to it in the country. And as World Sickle Cell Day was observed last Friday, June 19th, OSEYIZA OOGBODO writes about the condition, which is a ticking time bomb threatening the nation.

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ickle cell disorder (SCD) is a lifelong hereditary affliction that is one of Nigeria’s contentious issues.

But even as it’s not at the front burner of national issues, as it deserves and should be, anyone who has come across it firsthand, either by having or knowing someone who has sickle cell anaemia, one of the many types of SCD, understands that SCD in its entirety is not to be taken lightly.

Sickle cell anaemia is the commonest type of SCD in Nigeria. Though it is not as feared as HIV/AIDS, malaria and some other health conditions, it nonetheless continues to wreak a lot of havoc, aided immensely by its seemly insignificant status.

“I have come across people who have sickle cell anaemia and I am always full of pity for them,” says Damilola Phillips, a student.

“When they are sick, even if you have a heart of steel, you will be moved. In their sick period, you would be willing to do anything for them because they would be in so much terrible pain.”

That is Damilola’s simple but concise assessment. Yet 150,000 Nigerian children are born with it every year. Professor Femi Akinyanju, founder of the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN), Nigeria’s foremost sickle cell intervention facility, explains how sickle cell anaemia afflicts some and spares others.

“People have HbSS (medical term for sickle cell anaemia) when each of their parents are carriers of the sickle cell gene, HbAS, and they each pass on the S, which is an unusual variant, to one, some or all of their children.

The A is the normal gene. Genotype are basically categorised into AA, AS and SS. When an AA marries an AA or an AS, they won’t have SS children. But when an AS marries an AS, there’s the probability that all their children might be SS or that they might not even have any SS child. The normal probability, though, is that one in four of their children will have SS.” Akinyanju has been involved in sickle cell affairs since the 80s so he’s an expert. “40 million Nigerians have the sickle cell gene,” he disclosed. “This is extremely alarming.”

He isn’t just crying wolf where there is none. “When we did a survey recently in Kano in a community known for high prevalence of HbSS, the children who had it who were less than five years of age were all dead when we went back five years later.

“Survival, beyond childhood, of the huge number of children born with HbSS annually, is largely dependent on their access to appropriate care. As most of them are born into poor underprivileged families, very few of them survive childhood.”

Unfortunately, there isn’t any proper statistics of deaths by SCD. “We don’t have the real figures,” he confirmed. “Deaths are not reported so everything is just hazy. But the deaths are definitely there.”

SCFN’s laboratory.

Talking about SCD is Akinyanju’s passion.

“Most parents are not even aware their child has SCD until the child is about three, four years of age,” he revealed. “Sad, but it’s the truth. It doesn’t manifest in the carrier for the first six months of life. After that, it begins to exhibit itself in the skin or eyes which become pale. The carrier also begins to experience bone or abdominal pains or swelling, fever, chest infections and rapid breathing.”

Speaking on, Akinyanju said, “Nigeria’s commonest type of SCD is sickle cell anaemia.

HbSC is rare. Much rarer is thalassaemia. Persons with HbSC and other types have, on average, similar, but often milder clinical syndromes with HbSS. These syndromes are characterised by variability of, frequency of and severity of symptoms and without timely and appropriate intervention, they lead to premature mortality.”

Concerned about SCD and its overall effects on Nigeria and the world, Akinyanju took action. “ established SCFN because there was a real need for it to address Nigeria’s SCD problems in a systematic, scientific and sustainable manner. Its real purpose is to develop a core of genetic counsellors who can then go to their communities and start sickle cell clubs, promote the establishment of sickle cell clinics and thereby save lives by making people understand that having sickle cell is not witchcraft or the handiwork of the second wife and all that stuff.

Genetic counsellors will explain the condition to people, tell them the simple measures they can take to control it, and how mothers can recognise it and go immediately to the hospital for counselling and treatment.”

According to him, SCFN has “achieved its first goal of developing, in accordance with the World Health Organisation’s recommendations, a comprehensive National Sickle Cell Centre (NSCC) in Lagos, and it’s the first of its kind in Africa.”

NSCC is indeed a large, sophisticated complex dedicated wholly to SCD. It has ultramodern laboratories, a specialist library, and an emergency care unit among other sickle cell intervention initiatives.

One of the laboratories is a DNA lab that can predetermine the genotype of a child before birth. “The test done is called pre-natal diagnosis (PND). When an expectant mother takes it, if her child is going to have HbSS genotype, at least she will be forewarned.”

Akinyanju however stresses that “finding out a child’s SCD status before birth is not that so it can be aborted but so the parents will know what to expect in advance and prepare for it.”

Another of the laboratories is the Reference Haemoglobin Laboratory which Akinyanju says “offers accurate and reliable world standard haematological and HB genotype diagnosis, including percentages of haemoglobin frac-

According to him, ScFn hAS “Achieved itS FirSt goAl oF developing, in AccordAnce with the world heAlth orgAniSAtion’S recommendAtionS, A comprehenSive nAtionAl Sickle cell centre (nScc) in lAgoS, And it’S the FirSt oF itS kind in AFricA

tions such as HbA, HbS and HbF.” Elaborating further on how SCFN and NSCC are intervening in SCD, he said, “We are dedicated wholly to making life better for people who have SCDs. One of the ways we do this is through genetic counselling which we offer Mondays to Fridays.

“Genetic counselling has been widely identified as the most cost effective intervention for initiating sickle cell programming, particularly in resource poor countries including Nigeria which has a very high ratio of people with sickle cell disorder.

“With the assistance of MTN Foundation, we organise two genetic counselling training courses every year to train genetic counsellors from all over the country. The importance of the training cannot be overemphasized as it helps genetic counsellors provide people with sickle cell disorder with all the necessary information to assist them understand and cope with sickle cell disorder and thereby make informed decisions.

“Trained counsellors also help to form and run support and advocacy associations such as sickle cell clubs and promote the development of sickle cell clinics and other appropriate facilities in their communities.

“We also aim to prevent strokes in children who have sickle cell anaemia. About 1 in 14 such children have a high risk of developing strokes, overt or silent. This debilitating condition can impede their mobility and/or impair their intellectual ability. Happily, stroke can be prevented, if children at risk of developing it can be identified.

“With modern transcranial doppler (TCD) ultrasound, we can identify children at risk and hence prevent strokes. Children aged 2-16 years are most vulnerable and are hence invited to benefit from this procedure on Mondays to Fridays at NSCC.”

Recounting agony of incessant tanker explosions Continue from page 38

tanker drivers, said the present administration has resolved to do the needful to prevent a re- occurrence.

The Chairman of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners Association, Chief Remi Ogungbemi who also spoke,

admitted that the operators are not doing enough because there are lapses which are traceable to them, stating that safety should however be everybody’s business.

On his part, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mr. Babatunde Kokumo said there was need to revisit the issue of drivers in terms of their conduct and morale, stating that there should be

minimum standard for drivers which could be enforced through the unions which have a lot of influence on them.

The Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr Hyginus Omeje also made case for a security profiling of some of the drivers of the tankers as the tendency for the crashes occurring in densely populated areas needs a

revisitation, just as he did not rule out the possibility of being a deliberate act.

The Chairman of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Sikiru Kaka gave a commitment that the tanker owners would go back home and meet with tanker drivers on the way forward to ensure safer driving by the tanker drivers.

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Global Business

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

apologises after Japan Exclusive: Advanced Micro Devices Toyota arrests top US executive mulling breakup, spinoff – Sources

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hipmaker Advanced Micro Devices Inc is at the initial stage of reviewing whether to split itself in two or spin off a business, seeking to reverse its fortunes and take on rival Intel Corp, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The deliberations are preliminary and no decision has been made, the people said. The review highlights Chief Executive Lisa Su’s determination to consider every possible option to turn the company around.

AMD, based in Sunnyvale, California, has asked a consulting firm to help it review its options and draw up scenarios on how a break-up or spin-off would work, the people said this week, asking not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential.

One option under consideration is separating AMD’s graphics and licensing business from its server business, which sells processors that power data centers, one of the people said.

AMD had explored such a move in the past and decided against it, the people said. Su, however, who took over as CEO last October, judged that there is merit for

the company to at least consider such a possibility again, the people added. There is no certainty that a split or spinoff will occur, the people cautioned.

An AMD spokeswoman said no such project was in the works at this time and reiterated the company’s commitment to the long-term strategy it laid out in May at its analyst meeting.

AMD, which has a market capitalization of around $2 billion, has competed with much larger Intel since the 1980s, and at times has made inroads with its PC and server chips.

AMD has an extensive crosslicensing agreement with Intel, an issue AMD would have to study carefully in the case of a break-up.

In the last few years, AMD has been caught somewhat flat-footed by new competitors designing low-cost and powerefficient chips. AMD shares have fallen 40 per cent over the last 12 months.

The company, which said in October it would cut seven per cent of its workforce, is now

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AMD CEO, Su

shifting its focus to gaming consoles and low-power servers to combat falling laptop sales.

While large rivals such as Intel have deeper pockets to fund research on new products, AMD faces declining cash flows and has a more modest balance sheet.

AMD’s net loss widened to $180 million, or 23 cents per share, in the quarter that ended March 28, from $20 million, or three cents per share, a year earlier. It also missed on revenue expectations. It is forecasting a return to profitability in the second half of the year.

ar maker Toyota has apologised after one of its top executives was arrested on suspicion of illegally importing painkillers into Japan.

Company president Akio Toyoda said at a news conference that US national Julie Hamp had not intended to break the law.

Ms Hamp serves as Toyota’s head of public relations and is its first senior woman executive.

She is accused of sending herself 57 tablets of the painkiller oxycodone in a package marked “necklaces”.

Mr Toyoda said the company should have done more to help Ms Hamp, who was in the process of relocating to Japan.

He described her as “a dear colleague whom I trust” and added: “We believe it will become clear that Ms Hamp did not intend to break

the law.”

The company has said it will fully co-operate with the investigation.

Ms Hamp told police she did not think she had imported an illegal substance, according to a spokesman for Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department.

Oxycodone is a legal substance in the US and Japan, but it can only be imported into Japan if it is carried by a person who has a legitimate prescription.

Ms Hamp, 55, was appointed communications chief in April as part of a drive to diversify Toyota’s male-dominated, mostly Japanese executive line-up.

She joined Toyota’s North American unit in 2012 having previously been an executive at General Motors and PepsiCo.

Billionaire investor Icahn says ‘no’ to Bank of China fraud: Italy seeks trial for 300 people trump’s treasury offer Toyota Camry

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illionaire investor Carl Icahn said thanks but no thanks when real estate mogul turned Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump floated his name for U.S. Treasury secretary.

“I am flattered but do not get up early enough in the morning to accept this opportunity,” Icahn, 79, said in a public statement one day after Trump, 69, told cable station MSNBC that Icahn could be a dream Treasury pick if he wins the White House in the 2016 presidential election.

US Fed Reserve, Janet Yellen

Trump joined a large Republican field by announcing his candidacy earlier this week with a promise to make the United States great again and warning of an impending economic and financial bubble.

This may be music to Icahn’s ears after the man who commands the attention of financial markets and has long tangled with corporate chief executives himself predicted an eventual stock market sell off after years of gains fueled by low interest rates.

“I personally believe we are sailing in dangerous unchartered waters,” Icahn said on Friday. He praised Trump for warning new audiences about a “big fat bubble coming up” and said more people should be discussing this matter.

Also this week Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced his plans to seek the Republican nomination joining U.S. senator from Kentucky Rand Paul and U.S. senator from Florida Marco Rubio and others battling for the nomination.

Trump complained on MSNBC that America does not have the “best or brightest” negotiators working on trade deals and said he would turn to Wall Street for extra help. Trump also named former General Electric CEO Jack Welch and investor Henry Kravis as other advisors if he were to win an election.

Icahn who has been able to vote for president since the Dwight D. Eisenhower era, said he was “extremely surprised to learn that Donald” is running for president and even more surprised “that he stated he would make me Secretary of Treasury.” Most analysts have said that Trump, who has never held elective office, is unlikely to win the Republican nomination.

Also this week Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced his plans to seek the Republican nomination joining Rand Paul, U.S. senator from Kentucky, and Marco Rubio, U.S. senator from Florida and others battling for the nomination.

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rosecutors in Florence allege 4.5billion euro ($5.1bn, £3.2bn) was transferred from Italy to China.

It was earned through prostitution, counterfeiting, tax evasion and labour exploitation, they say.

The Ansa agency said (in Italian) that four senior managers with the Bank of China could be indicted.

Close to half the 4.5billion euro, transferred between 2007 and 2010, went through the bank’s branch in Milan, investigators

China’s Central Bank Gov., Zhou Xiaochuan

say.

The Bank of China received 758,000 euro in commission for the transfers, it is claimed.

There were millions of transactions, Ansa said, that were below the 2,000 euro threshold that would have triggered money-laundering checks.

That threshold has since dropped to 1,000 euro.

A judge will now decide whether the Bank of China and 297 individuals will face trial.

Neither the bank nor the Chinese government has yet responded.

“The maxi-laundering strengthened the economic capacity of the Chinese mafia organisations devoted to illegal immigration from their country,” said Ansa.

In December 2013, a spotlight was thrown on working conditions for Chinese migrants in Italy when seven workers died in a fire at a garment shop in Prato, near Florence.

Some factories were linked to Chinese organised crime, Tuscany’s regional governor said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Ex-militants plan protest over non-payment of amnesty money OSAHON JULIUS, YENAGOA

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undreds of Students under the Amnesty Training and Scholarship scheme in foreign universities and Higher Institutions of learning have threatened a mass protest in the various countries they are currently undergoing train-

ing over the non-payment of their scholarship allowances by the federal government.

To this end, they have written to the Nigerian High Commissions and Embassies in the United Kingdom, United States, South Africa and Russia and other countries of their intention to stage a mass protest against the Federal Government’s refusal to

pay their school fees and accommodation allowances.

According to the aggrieved students, the refusal of the Federal Government to fulfill their side of the Amnesty bargain and pay up the accommodation and school fees of students has led to untold hardship and students living along the streets of Europe and Africa.

Youths from Kalaba community conveying refuse from an oil spill site after a pilot clean up exercise at the oil fields in Kalaba, Yenagoa LGA by Bayelsa Ministry of Environment and One Earth One Ocean, a German environmental group in Yenagoa, reecently.

PHOTO: NAN

It will recalled that that exmilitant leaders from the Nine States of the Niger Delta had earlier sent a Save-Our- Soul message to President Muhammad Buhari over the deteriorating condition of living and increasing displacements of over 500 foreign scholarship beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programmes by the Federal Government.

According to the Ex-militant leaders, though the disposition of the present administration to the continued implementation of the Amnesty Programme is being monitored by the people of the region, the absence of a substantial Special Adviser and the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme has thrown the programme into crises and provoke sufferings among the beneficiaries of the programme.

The Ex-Militant leaders under the aegis of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiatives (LPCDI),said the preliminary complaints received from the beneficiaries of the Amnesty programme showed a deplorable living conditions due to the lack of funding and nonpayment of the May stipends by the Federal Government.

According to the statement is-

How ogogoro claimed 70 lives in rivers CONTINUED FROM PAGE15 what happened, and I discovered that if was kaikai all of them took, when I inquire further, they said that they were about 25 of them.

On further investigation, I discovered that they used that kaikai to cook the dog meat itself. The symptoms are stomach upset and blindness,” he said.

Continung, the chief said, “On Monday, the death toll increased, as at Tuesday, we have recorded about 15 deaths; on Wednesday, we have a total of 18 deaths. It is unfortunate that on Monday night, some arsonist went there and set the whole place (Etiba’s building) ablaze.

“My main concern is that, if it is established that it is the Ogogoro, there is likelihood that more people are going to die because some people might have bought some bottles and taken home. Government should come in and volunteer help.

“I call on the government to do something about this, that approach they used in arresting Ebola virus should also be used, that synergy should be adapted to make sure that they identify the source of this drink (gin).

“We have sent people to visit where they sell this drink (kaikai) to tell them to stop selling and ad-

vised people not to drink for now.

We have also gone to air to advise Woji community to avoid drinking Ogogoro,” he said.

Meanwhile, the owner of the building (not restaurant) identified as Michael told newsmen that he was woken up by neighbours at about 1am that his place was on fire. He described the incident as shocking, wondering what or who must have been responsible for the dastardly act. He lamented at the setback it has caused him and sympathized with families of the victims.

In Bonny, headquarter of Bonny local government area of the state, about 20 persons, including a couple reportedly died after consuming the killer drink; though a youth leader there, Simeon Wilcox, gave the figure of casualties as 17.It was gathered that the victims in Bonny developed symptoms such as vomiting and weakness before they gave up the ghost, with the incidents occurring at three different locations, Cocoanut Estate, Epelema and behind Police station, a source said.The source revealed that among the victims at Epelema was a couple who died in their sleep.

One of the survivors, who identified himself as Chima, said he was not a regular at the inn where the local gin was served to a group

of people.Chima explained that he had stomach ache and decided to take a small quantity of medicinal leaves called utazi prepared with local gin while waiting to get his change after he purchasing recharge card.While narrating his ordeal, the survivor said he was unaware that the owner of the inn (Friday Dickson) had unsuspectingly taken delivery of a poisonous product on Friday ahead of business (sale) the following week.Explaining how he survived the poisonous drink, Chima said, “I don’t take local gin. I was only having a slight stomach ache and as I went to buy recharge card, I stopped by and took a little quantity of the drink while waiting to collect my change.“Throughout that day, I did not feel any pain. Later, I started feeling hotness in my stomach. When I heard that some people were dying after taking the gin, I shouted and I was rushed to the hospital where I was treated.

Though I am okay now, but I still feel slight pain in my stomach. ”However, Mr. Joseph Akpan was not as luck as Chima, as the former died barely 24 hours after he drank the dry gin. Akpan, an engineer was in church on Sunday when a phone call was put across to him to be at the joint where dog meat and Ogogoro are sold.

His wife told national Mirror that

his late husband insisted that he would leave the church to answer the person, who called me earlier, even when he was advised against it; he still went to the joint.

According to Mrs. Akpan, “After the church service, I called him to know if he was at home, but he told me he was not at home. I then told him to come, but, I waited and he did not come back home. After some time, one of the chiefs called me to come and examine one of his tenants, who was down, I am a nurse by profession. When I got there, one of the chief’s tenants was crawling on the ground. They call him Mr. Fabian; he lost his wife last year.“When I look at the man’s face, it was dark and I advise them to take him to the hospital. While I was talking to them, my husband came with one other chief in this community. They came with one other Ogoni boy suspected to have drank the gin. They say he is late now. My mind did not even think that it was poison. They said for the past two days, the man did not eat. So, I concluded that that might have made the drink to affect his (Ogini man’s) stomach.

“When my husband came back, he did not complain of anything.

The following morning being Monday, I went to the church and on way back, my neighbour told me that four persons had died. I went

sued by Ex-militant leader, Pastor Reuben Wilson, stated that “we called on the President, Muhammed Buhari to immediately appoint a special adviser to the President on Niger Delta. This call is sequel to the approval of the number of special advisers by the National Assembly requested by Mr. President and the impending crisis as a result of the vacancy.”

“We therefore, write to implore Mr. President to quickly appoint a credible person as a special adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme which Hon. Kingsley Kuku just vacated. This request is coming on the ground that the absence of the SA/Chairman has hindered the payment of the monthly stipends to the beneficiaries both home and abroad.”

“Our brothers and sisters currently schooling abroad on the platform of the Presidential Amnesty programme are suffering due to lack of funds as they are yet to receive their monthly allowances.There is presently a palpable tension in the Niger Delta region as a result of the non-payment of the monthly stipends for May to the Amnesty beneficiaries.”

immediately and asked my husband whether he took from the local gin; he said no. When we came back, I still asked him repeatedly whether he went to the joint so that I would know what I can do for him now that it was not late. He only said he was going to confirmed if people actually died.

“He came back and said it was true that some people died. I then told him that they drank poisonous gin. I appealed to him to tell me if he also took the drink, but he said no, he was not at the joint.

In the money time, he told me that he was having headache. I asked him if his was having stomach pain, he said no. Before I could say anything while we were talking, he said he could not see any longer,” the diseased wife said.

Mrs. Akpan explained that her suspicion was confirmed when her husband vomited on his way to the toilet (convenience), saying she immediately perceived the smell of alcohol from the vomit.While praying for the preservation of her husband’s life, the nurse said she called a pastor from her church to pray for his husband.

“He (her husband) vomited and as he did that, I perceived the smell of alcohol. I began to ask him why he had continued to say he did not CONTINUED ON PAGE42

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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Zone 6 AIG seeks inter-agency collaboration to fight militancy RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

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one 6 Assistant Inspector General of police Calabar, AIG Tunde Ogunsakin, at the weekend advocated for inter-agency collaboration

in order to strengthen the fight against militancy insurgency and activities of hoodlum troubling the Nigeria nation.

The AIG made the charge while hosting the Commander, NNS Victory, Calabar, Commodore M.C.L Bobia, in his of-

fice in Calabar, capital of Cross River.

The police boss call came a week after the police foiled an attack by yet to be identified gunmen on the marine police post in Calabar where it was alledged that the hoodlums cart-

ed away arms and ammunitions from marine police armoury.

The AIG who specifically demanded the immediate formation of a joint task force among security agencies, especially in the south south zone, believes such measure will also help to

Officials of Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, Nigerian Agip Oil Company and host communities during their visit to a site of an oil spillage on Agip’s Ossiama-Ogboinbiri Ppipeline in Okpotuwari community, Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa, on Sunday.

forestall attacks on security facilities and stressed that investigation was currently ongoing to unravel perpetrators of the recent attack, he expressed optimism that the command’s renewed collaboration with the navy will enhance security on the waterways.

The joint task force, according to the Police boss would periodically comb the creeks with the view to fish out the unscruplous elements threatening the peace in Calabar.

Also speaking at the ceremony the naval officer, Commander Bobia said the visit was intended to reinforce the cordial working relationship between the police and navy in Cross River State and assured the police of Nigerian navy’s cooperation to ensure that perpetrators of the attack on its marine post are brought to book.

The AIG later proceeded to the marine police division, where it was gathered the gunmen appeared with hand propelled grenade launchers, rocket launchers and multipurpose guns in the prolonged attack.

During his stint as commissioner of police, Rivers State command, Ogunsakin superintended the formation of a similar inter-agency task force which helped to checkmate crime in the State.

How ogogoro claimed 70 lives in rivers CONTINUED FROM PAGE41 enter the joint. After the vomiting, I cleaned him up. I called the pastor of our church to pray for him.

After the prayer, my husband said he had regained his sight. I called his relatives and one of them advised that I should buy bitter kola.

But as we took him to the church, even the pastor asked him whether he took the gin, he said he did not take anything.

“But I told him that he vomited alcohol. While the pastor was trying to pray for him, he passed on even before we closed our eyes for prayer. Before that time, he was complaining that everywhere was dark and he could not see anything. He asked me to give him iced water to drink because his tummy and other parts of his body were hit.

It was not up to between wife and 10 minute before my husband died on the 2nd of June,” she said in an emotion laden and sorrowful voice.Commenting on the strange deaths, Secretary, Woji Council of Chiefs, Dr. Adele Ejekwu, said Mr Friday Dickson (seller of the gin) was not aware that the product was poisonous before selling it to customers.

Ejekwu, while speaking with our reporter insisted that Dick-

son, who had been doing business in the community for many years did not brew the gin, but was unlucky to have bought the product that was allegedly contaminated.

He expressed sadness that the building housing Dickson’s inn was razed by angry youths, even as he recalled how he saved a bus belonging to the gin and dog meat seller from being set ablaze by the youths.

He however described the brewers of the deadly gin as wicked and called on government to find out the point where the deadly local came from. According to him, more enlightenment campaign should be carried out to ensure that kaikai consumers stayed away from the drink.Speaking on adverse effect of the killer gin in the state and the ban placed on sell of the prduct, the Director of Public Health, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Nnana Onyekwere said with the rising death toll, local gin drinkers had begun to comply with the directive on the ban of consumption of ogogoro.

Onyekwere advised those addicted to the local gin to either stop taking it or go for branded quality gin if they must drink.He pointed out that apart from Woji in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area,

Gokana, Abuloma in Port Harcourt, Bonnyand Ahoada West were other areas where drinkers of the gin were reported to have died.On the exact death toll and the cause of the tragedy, the Director, Disease Control Services, Rivers State Health Care Management Board, Dr. Rowland Obed Whyte confirmed to newsmen in Port Harcourt that no fewer than 70 persons have died from five local government areas as a result of intake of the killer gin.

Whyte explained that 11 survivors are in poor health condition, pointing out that the liquor was being brewed with methanol which is poisonous to the body, adding that the rise in the number of deaths were in Ahoada West and Gokana local government areas.He said,” So far, there has been increase coming from Gokana and Ahoada West Local Government Areas. Total today, we have 81 cases with 70 deaths.”In fact the last case came from Ahoada West where a young man who saw others drinking and was told they died of alcohol, and he said it is a lie, they should bring the alcohol for him to drink.

He drank, after 30 minutes he went home he started complaining, by this morning he is dead,” Obed Whyte said. Corroborating

the death toll and cause of death arising from the consumption of the local gin, the National Agency Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC said contrary to reports that excessive ethanol was responsible for the deaths caused by local gin consumption in Rivers, that it was methanol that caused the deaths.Chairman on the ad hoc committee of the Rivers State House of Assembly, on the cause of deaths arising from intake of local gin, Hon Okechukwu Chinda, made this known while presenting the committee report on the floor of the House on Tuesday, June 16, 2015.Chinda, told the House that it was revealed in course of the committee investigation that greedy dealers decided to use methanol to produce the local gin due to shortage in supply of ethanol.

According to him, the state has 80 reported cases, with 70 deaths in five communities and local governments, including, Ahoada West, Woji in Obio/Akpor, Abuloma in PHALGA, Gokana and Bonny respectively.

According to him,” The actors of the State ministry of health acted promptly by taking those affected to the Bori general hospital, Woji health centre and Bonny general hospital and a private hospital

in Abuloma. Unfortunately, all the victims in Ahoada West died before they could get help.

“That officers of the ministry of health took samples of the killer gin from the affected locations and sent to NAFDAC. The laboratory result of the investigation revealed excess presence of methanol in varying quantities.

“Due to shortage of supply of ethanol used for the production of local gins, unscrupulous elements resorted to the use of methanol to breach the supply gap,” he stated.

An interesting scenario was the disclosure by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Somiari Harry, who said in one particular case in Ahoada west, a young man had boasted that the killer gin would have no effect on him.Harry said the young man took the drink after his boasts and retired to his home, only to be found dead the following morning.”

Presently, while officials of the State Ministry of Health are still harping on the need for those who consume the product to desist from doing so in their own interest, in the face of the ban placed on the sale of the local gin, our investigations have shown that sellers and consumers of the product are hiding and doing their thinh in secret.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

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ation are anti-people –Timi Frank ever I am. Despite that I am in the ruling party today, if my party fails to do what is right, I will criticise my party, I will not keep quite. I will continue to speak for the benefit of the common Nigerian, because it is the common Nigerians that elected this government. So the first people to benefit from this government must be the common people because the President believes in the common people. So we must encourage him on that, and keep him on track so that he is not misled by any cabal.

Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso warned the APC that if it failed to zone the leadership of the National Assembly, it was likely to be embarrassed. Why was it difficult for the APC to embark on zoning?

That again boils down to the reason why I still insist that the leadership of the APC should resign if we have an organised party leadership. We lost the position of the Deputy Senate President, as a person, I am happy about that because it has balanced the political equation and it shows that we have come back to the days when politics was not ‘do-or-die’ within political parties. But again, the kind of leadership we have caused it, because we did not control the Senate in totality by having the Senate President and the deputy. It was basically due to lack of indecision and lack of capac-

ity. From the day the President emerged, these things should have been spelt out. We caused it because of indecision from the National Chairman. The National Chairman caused it because times without number, he was advised to come up with a zoning formula from the beginning so that we all will follow suit but he didn’t do that. They were playing with the situation until the very last minute when they saw the danger and they wanted to play hanky-panky, resulting in the loss of the Deputy Senate President seat at the Senate. But that again is good for democracy. The people clamouring that the Deputy Senate President should resign because he is from the PDP are wasting their time, as the same way the Senate President was elected, same way his deputy was elected. Our party should not cry foul because we are the cause of our mistakes. If possible, we should go back and hold our leadership responsible for not doing what it was meant to do. Those that are calling for the Deputy Senate President to resign, for me are anti-people, and I will campaign against it. I will continue to support Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu. I think every progressive Nigerian should support them also, because it is a democratic mission that will take Nigeria to the next phase. Failure to do this will disrupt democracy.

Oyo tribunal begins pre-hearing in National Assembly election today Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

joined them. These other parties have been on their own before the new PDP joined them and the opposition has never won an election not until the new PDP joined them with their good luck and their strategies. Look, as at then, members of the new PDP I know even wished we negotiated for the VicePresidency because we came in with five governors, the former Vice President, and large number of National Assembly members and other big wigs. We brought more to the table than the ACN, as far as I’m concerned. The ACN brought four governors and so forth. How I wished we did our homework before we moved, we should have negotiated getting the VicePresident. Despite all these we are not complaining. But the one that wanted to come from the angle for the new PDP that should have balanced the equation, members of the ACN were kicking against it. The big question that Nigerians should be asking them at this time is why they said they want the Speaker and the Senate President. There must be ulterior motives to all of these things.

The President of this country told us in his inaugural speech that he is not for any cabal but for Nigeria and we are holding him by his speech. The President should continue to be on the side of Nigerians and not for anybody. Nigerians know that I am a comrade and know how I have fought corruption wher-

omrade aNd kNow how

i have

i am. despite that i am iN the fails to do what is right, i will keep quite. i will coNtiNue to mmoN NigeriaN, because it is the elected this goverNmeNt.

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re- hearing conference on the petition filed by the Accord Party senatorial candidate in the last March 28, National Assembly elections in Oyo state, Chief Bisi Ilaka, challenging the result of the election, will begin today at the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Ibadan, the state capital.

Chairman of the

three-man tribunal, Justice J.G Abundaga, gave the order yesterday after he had declared that the Electoral Act encouraged the tribunal not to shut its doors at parties before the tribunal.

The tribunal is expected to give its ruling on a motion by the declared winner of the election, Hajiya Monsurat Sunmonu, seeking to dismiss another motion by Ilaka who wanted the tribunal to upturn her victory as the senator representing Oyo Central

senatorial district.

Sunmonu, through her counsel, Tola Oshoobi, said she filed the motion to dismiss Ilaka’s case on the ground that it did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act regarding the time of submission and issues raised therein.

Justice Abundaga while reviewing the submission of Sunmonu’s counsel and that of Ilaka, on the petition, implored all the parties to allow fair hearing, stating that

some of the issues raised by the counsel are pure technicalities and administrative matters.

He then enjoined parties to be wary of the fact that the 180 days allocated to the tribunal to dispense with the election petition is fixed, calling for cooperation from the counsel.

Justice Abundaga then consequently directed that the pre-hearing conference on the petition should commence today.

Dino Melaye sets to join Kogi guber race Olajide OmOjOlOmOju

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he senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Dino Melaye, has perfected plans to join the Kogi State gubernatorial race.

The newly inaugurated All Progressives Congress, APC, senator was a staunch supporter of the state’s APC leader and former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, who is also vying for the party’s gubernatorial ticket.

Although the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is yet

to fix a date for the gubernatorial election, the APC has about 20 aspirants gunning for the party’s ticket.

Sources said Senator Melaye has begun consultations with stakeholders from Okun region of the state on plans for the Yorubas in the state to produce the next governor.

During the Ogidimela new yam festival at the weekend in Ogidi-Ijumu, Kogi State, Senator Melaye informed of Yorubas’ preparedness to take over power in the state, stressing that the wind of change would not spare anyone in the state.

The senator pointed out that the Okun (Yoruba) people are the most deprived of all the ethnic groups that make up Kogi State, saying, however, that the time for change is around the corner, when his people would hit the political map of the state.

He said: “The Okun people will soon take over at the Lugard House. It is a project God has done.”

Sources close to Senator Melaye informed National Mirror of moves by traditional rulers in the state to produce a consensus candidate from the region.

One of the sources,

who craved anonymity said: “Senator Melaye may have indicated interest in the governorship race, and he has started talking to leaders and politicians from the West senatorial district on the need to have a united candidate for the APC primary, I think he’s perfecting his strategies before officially declaring his interest for the governorship.”

Among those that attended the festival was the state Deputy Governor, Chief Sunday Awoniyi and traditional rulers from Okun land.

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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Personal ambitions threatening APC’s stability CONTINUED FROM PAGE13 more senatorial position than the PDP at the March 28 elections.

Having attempted becoming Senate President as a debutant senator in 2011, the loss of majority of senatorial seats by PDP, which means there would not be David Mark to stand on his arching ambition, Saraki was prepared to use any mechanism humanly possible to accomplish his age-long aspiration.

Recall that in the Second republic, his late father, the strong man of Kwara politics, Olusola Saraki, aspired for the Senate presidency under the defunct National Party of Nigeria in 1979, before he was compensated with the Senate Leader position.

Not even a Tinubu, an Odigie-Oyegun or any position, agreement or threat by his party leadership will deter him this time. For Saraki, it was a must win battle, to the extent that entering into unhealthy alliance with one’s sworn enemy was a welcome strategy.

As reported, Saraki along with his loyalist APC Like Minds Senators, like the Biblical Judas, disregarding the party’s agreement of Lawan as its consensus candidate for the position of the Senate President, entered into unholy agreement with the opposition PDP, resulting in Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP grabbing the Deputy Senate President slot.

To achieve his Senate President ambition, Saraki and his supporters had to boycott the straw poll that was conducted to that effect by his party.

The APC, left with 58 senators after the death of Senator Ahmed Zannah, had 32 of them voting for Lawan in its mock election, to decide its candidate for Senate President, leaving 26 senators who were believed to be in the camp of Bukola Saraki.

Going by that vote, it means the majority of APC senators did not want Saraki, but rather than give up, Saraki went the Judas way, entered what many of his party men now see as unholy alliance with PDP’s 49 senators, which was above all he needs to satisfy his ambitious quest for power.

And with that act, Saraki gave away to the opposition a position ideally meant for his party, all in the quest to actualise his individual ambition, thereby creating in the hearts of his party men, a wound that any healing balm of time will find hard to heal.

A chieftain of the party who spoke to National Mirror on condition of anonymity said Saraki’s strategy at achieving his ambition this time, may only tell a little of what he is capable of doing in making sure that neither his party nor any party member stands on his ambitious way in the future. For him, Saraki’s ambition is a threat.

Abubakar and his ambition Former Vice President Abubakar is one man many analysts describe his ambition as unquenchable fire. His first giant stride into politics was on September 1, 1990, when he announced his gubernatorial ambition for the then old Gongola State. A year later Gongola State was broken up into two; Adamawa and Taraba states by the Federal Government. Abubakar fell into the new Adamawa State where he contested and won the Social Democratic Party, SDP, primaries in November 1991, but was disqualified by the government from contesting the elections.

In 1992, he aspired for the Presidency under the defunct SDP and later stepped down for late business mogul, MKO Abiola, asking his supporters to cast their votes

Tinubu

Saraki

Dogara

for him, with an unwritten agreement that Abiola would announce him as his running mate. Abiola won the SDP ticket, and announced Babagana Kingibe, the runner-up, as his running mate.

In 1998 Abubakar launched a bid for the governorship of Adamawa State on the platform of the PDP. He won the December 1998 elections, but before he could be sworn in, he was picked by the PDP’s presidential candidate, Olusegun Obasanjo, as his vicepresidential candidate. They won that election and he was Obasanjo’s vice till 2007 He made a second attempt for the Presidency in 2007 under the defunct Action Congress, AC, and came third in the 2007 presidential election.

Again, in January 2011 Atiku gave his presidential ambition a third attempt, contesting for the presidential ticket of the PDP, where he defected to after his ill-fated journey in the defunct AC, alongside President Jonathan and Sarah Jubril.

Not ready to allow the fire of his ambition quenched, Atiku on February 2, 2014 left the PDP to join the APC with one same ambition, to become the President of Nigeria, a bid he lost for the fourth time.

With no one sure of Buhari going for second tenure, most especially as the President himself has recognised that there are things he might not be able to achieve at 72, one will not be surprised that Atiku may take another shot at the position he has so much desired.

Certainly, his approval and support of a recalcitrant and stubborn party man, who disregarded the arrangement of the party to emerge as Senate President, means Atiku would not mind towing the same path should he be in the same shoes tomorrow.

At least one can understand that any imposition by any party man which will not favour Atiku’s aspirations will meet strong opposition from his camp. His ambition and how he may want to actualise it, many observers believe, is a threat to APC stability.

not jettison his ambition to become the President of Nigeria, an ambition which formed the basis for dumping the PDP. And to keep his hopes and aspiration alive, there is need at least to have some control in the House, he once led. It was for this reason many believe, Tambuwal pitched tent with Dogara, who like him was disobedient to the party’s internal arrangement.

In June 2011, Tambuwal and Emeka Ihedioha relied on the support of different opposition parties to defeat Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, who was the PDP leadership’s choice for the speakership, due to its zoning arrangement.

That victory ignited PDP’s series of crises that eventually led to an implosion, causing the party five governors, Speaker of the House and a former President elected on its platform.

Tambuwal’s approval of Dogara and his action, to so many analysts, show that the former Speaker has nothing to regret about his own action and its consequences on PDP. The implication is very simple: APC should learn its lesson from what he did to PDP as nothing can stop his pursuit of individual ambition.

stated his ambition, he advised him not to go too far with it because as far as they were concerned, PDP was dead, and now he has given them hope. For some analysts, the advice was embedded with fear of a threat.

It is obvious that Kwankwaso may be eying the Presidency in the event that Buhari, on age reasons, decides not to run for second term and the position of the Senate President places an ambitious Saraki in a better position to scheme his way to the Presidency should Buhari decides not to run.

This many political observers believe, is the reason a Kwankwaso would not be happy with Saraki and may decide to be among those who will continue to strategise on how to clip the wings of the Kwara-born Senate President at any slightest opportunity that may present itself in the future.

Tambuwal and his ambition There is the understanding among political observers that Sokoto State governor and immediate past speaker of the 7th House of Representatives, Tambuwal will

Kwankwaso and his ambition Not hiding his ambition, former Kano State governor, Senator Kwankwaso declared himself the most qualified to have gone for the position of Senate President, warning Saraki not to destroy the party.

For many analysts, while that statement signifies the former Kano State incubated ambition, it also tells those on Saraki’s side of one who sees Saraki’s ambition as a threat to his and not happy with his emergence.

Declaring that he (Kwankwanso) was very qualified to contest the Senate Presidency because he was the only governor that gave President Buhari 1.9 million votes, which is 100 per cent in Kano State and the only senator that gave the party 750,000 from his senatorial district, he noted that since the President came from his zone, they agreed to give the seat to another zone which was middle belt, but Saraki’s ambition disrupted the process.

Senator Kwankwaso said when Saraki

At leAst the APC should know thAt it is wiser And better to leArn from the mistAkes of others thAn beCome A Problem others will leArn from.

Overcoming the threats As an age-long adage goes: one will always remember the person responsible for the scar in one’s palm, each time one opens one’s palm, APC members will, at least not in the mean time, forget who has done what in the crisis rocking the party.

Consequently, their actions and inactions will go a long way to decide its stability.

To survive the threats posed by individual ambitions of members of the party, some analysts opined that APC members must jettison internal partisanship, subtle discrimination, individual superiority, skewed political idiosyncrasies and place the success of the party and the interest of Nigeria above individual ambition.

For analysts, the idea of someone so high in the party having a tenacious interest in particular offices should not mean that everyone else’s interest should not be given consideration. They argue that while there is nothing wrong for someone so mighty in the party having interest in one or two positions, achieving those interests without the consideration of the feelings of others is very wrong.

At least the APC should know that it is wiser and better to learn from the mistakes of others than become a problem others will learn from. More so, that in democracy, one or group of persons do not foist or impose their unilateral decisions on others and damn them. It is better to seek opinions as politics is about give and take and compromises. A good party man sometimes can even forgo his or her ambition especially, when they run at variance with popular views.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

45

Kogi guber: Why they are after Audu –Adaji AdeolA Tukuru ABUJA

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oordinator of Kogi Peoples Assembly, KPA, Engr. Solomon Adaji, has berated some self-styled politicians, who are complaining over the position of former Governor Abubakar Audu, as leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

Engr. Adaji, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja over the unfolding political scenario ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state, described

critics of Audu’s leadership status in the party as political neophytes.

Adaji condemned the recent utterances credited to some faceless persons operating under groups orchestrating outburst targeting Prince Audu, whom he said “are jittery over the unwavering and high status of Prince Audu in APC.” He accused them of expressing disjointed and shallow views on Audu, a situation he said exposed them as crop of politicians who literarily betrayed themselves as having no knowledge about the un-

folding political events in Nigeria, particularly, Kogi State.

Adaji, who was visibly angry with the organised attacks from mostly these quarters, reminded the accusers of the virtue of long acceptance of Audu by Kogites who revered him as an institution.

According to him, “Audu represents the agent of change and a gift to any nation like ours which is in desperate need to attain democratic advancement.”

He added: “They had tried in vain to ridicule a man of integrity, honour

and prudence; a principled and transparent individual; a revered political colossus, a quintessential achiever.”

Adaji described as arrant nonsense suggestions from some quarters that Audu was more interested in building structures for his gubernatorial ambition than working for the collective good of APC. Describing Audu as shrewd politician, Adaji explained that the politician does not need to build new political structures to actualise his gubernatorial ambition in the next dispensation, adding: “Audu had in

place magnificent structure in Kogi State, dating back to 1991, when he ran for the governor of Kogi State under the defunct National Republican Convention, NRC.” Adaji recalled that, “It was the same 1991 structure that Audu, used in 1999 to emerge victorious as governor of Kogi State under the platform of the defunct All Peoples Party, APP. “To put in perspective, Audu’s political structure and followership transcends the landscape of Kogi State.

As an internationally recognised politician cum business mogul, Audu is not an

individual in the political scene of the nation as erroneously expressed by these critics.

“Audu being a household name in Kogi State, with unprecedented political followers, admirers and supporters across the nooks and crannies in the state, will not capitalise on any new structures to win the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

“He has built structures within and around notable political parties across the country, and one of which transmogrified into the political tsunami, called the APC today.”

Lagos West: Adewale asks tribunal to nullify Adeola’s election MATThew IrInoye

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Pastors at the Church of Christ in all Nations, COCIN, Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi, praying for Speaker House of Representatives Hon. Yakubu Dogara, during his appreciation visit to Bauchi recently.

NNSG condemns Amnesty International’s report on Nigeria military

Ayo esAn

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igerian National Summit Group, NNSG, has condemned the recent Amnesty International, AI, report on the Nigeria military, saying the report was biased and slanted to fulfill a dubious agenda.

Addressing the media at the weekend, NNSG Executive Secretary, Mr. Tony I. Uranta, accused AI of attempting to deploy cheap and not-so-subtle blackmail to stampede President Muhammadu Buhari into turning against his own military, so as to stir discontent within the ranks of the Nigerian military, and thus fast-track the long-obvious agenda of certain Western powers to jeopardise the war against Boko Haram as prelude to expediting nationwide system collapse.

He said the Amnesty International’s report is a false reflection of the Ni-

gerian military’s valiant resistance to the murderous terrorist onslaughts of the Boko Haram fundamental extremists that have slaughtered tens of thousands of innocent Nigerians, and displaced hundreds of thousands more Nigerians internally, and into neighbouring countries, as wretched refugees.

Uranta said: “The Amnesty International report is mainly a compilation of unsubstantiated allegations, accentuated by dubious visuals of highly-suspect activities that most Nigerians had long written off as likely ‘false flag’ operations.

He urged Nigerians to remember how Adolf Hitler faked an attack

by criminals dressed in German Army uniforms to justify the Blitzkrieg into Poland that triggered World War II. He said the report is designed to portray the Nigeria fighting forces in bad light, and strewn with a hodge-podge of putative ‘inside stories’ which are unlikely to stand any standard verification tests!

eople Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the Lagos-West senatorial district in the last March 28 election, Mr Segun Adewale, yesterday asked the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal to nullify the declaration of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as winner of the election.

It would be recalled that Adewale had petitioned the tribunal presided over

by Justice Sylvanus Oriji, alleging irregularities in the conduct of the election, adding that the results submitted by wards did not correspond with the card readers.

He also alleged that election did not hold in some wards among other irregularities.

However, a preliminary objection filed by the APC counsel, Dr Muiz Banire, contended that the petitioner does not have the locus standi to institute the action.

Blame Jonathan for non-payment of salary by states –Al-Makura Adeleke AdesAnyA

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asarawa State governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, has blamed the ongoing problem of non-payment of salaries in some states in the country on the poor administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Al-Makura, speaking with journalist in Lagos yesterday at an International Conference on Disabilities, maintained that most of the states that are faced with challenge of

salary payment inherited the hardship from the poor economic condition left behind by the recent past administration.

He added that the manner the Jonathan administration was run went a long way to contribute to the misfortune that is currently greeting the affected states.

He said: “I think the challenges dated back to the kind of attitude put up and ways the previous administration ruled the economy of the country which culminated to all

this. We all saw different games that played themselves about six months to the end of the administration, thereby leading to series of problems inherited by those states.

Al-Makura, while speaking on another factor which he believed might have ignited the situation for the affected states, said: “There is also a problem about planning. You see, payment of salaries is not only major aspect of the issue here, when a government fails in the area of planning, it will find it dif-

ficult to survive.

“For instance, I have some planning with which I run my governance that if we are talking about salaries, no civil servant that work with the state government hasn’t been paid in my state. I take planning very important in all I do.”

He however, appealed to the Federal Government to come to the rescue of the affected states with bailout as soon as possible, while also appealing to workers in the affected states to exercise patience with their governments.

Banire argued that the petitioner did not specify the law under which he brought the petition and also failed to state the scores of the candidates.

He said: “By provision of Electoral Act, the petitioner is expected to specify the scores of all the candidates in the election. He only specified his own score and that of the APC candidate, who is the respondent.”

Banire cited the case of Ikeh vs Njoke 9 NWLR Pt 59A at page 263 and emphasised that Adewale’s failure to do that eroded the validity of the process, adding that where such happen, the petition becomes incompetent and urged the court to discountenance it.

Moving a similar preliminary objection, Olalekan, through his counsel urged the court to dismiss the petition on the ground that it lacked merit.

He contended that there was a material contradiction with the petitioner’s prayer asking the court to declare him as winner whereas he claimed that the election was marred with irregularities.

He further contended that it was wrong for Adewale to ask the court to declare him in an election he claimed was marred with irregularities.

On his eligibility to contest the election, Olalekan argued the eligibility to contest an election is a pre-election matter and does not fall within the jurisdiction of the tribunal.

Counsel to INEC, Kunle Abass also aligned himself with the argument of APC and Olalekan, stating that the petition is fundamentally defective as the list of witnesses and other accompanying document were not properly signed.

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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

PDP agent denies anomalies in March 28 polls in FCT DeborAh DiDi

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eoples Democratic Party, PDP, agent, Mr Alexandra Otono, yesterday denied that there were anomalies in the March 28 senatorial election held in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. Otono made the denial in his testimony at the FCT Election Petition Tribunal, in the petition challenging the victory of Senator Philip Aduda in the last FCT senatorial election.

He told the tribunal that he did not find anomalies in any of the written results by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Aduda of the PDP was returned elected after the March 28 National Assembly polls in the FCT. Mr Karina Tunyan, SAN, the counsel to Aduda examined his witness Otono, based on his witness’s statement on oath and presented a document to the tribunal.

Otono told the tribunal that with the document, one could ascertain the polling units that were in existence in FCT, adding that any polling unit’s name that was not found in the document was not in existence.

But the counsel to the petitioner, Mr Adekola Mustapha, cross-examining Otono, requested for the Manual for Election Officials 2015.

Otono agreed with Mustapha that where the total number of votes cast was more than the accredited voters, the results of such polling units were declared null and void.

Aduda’s counsel also agreed that not all the card readers used for the election on the day in question were functional.

Otono said that INEC resorted to manual accreditation when the card reader failed.

Earlier, Mutapha raised objection as to whether Otono should be the one to testify on behalf of PDP or not.

He told the tribunal that Otono had always been in the court since the proceedings began in May. Tribunal chairman, Justice Elvis Ngene, said that he had not been notified earlier and overruled the objection to continue with the witness.

Mustapha told the tribunal that the names of witnesses were represented with PDP 1, 2 and 3 so he could not figure who they were.

The counsel to INEC, Mr Abdulrahaman Madaki did not object to the witness giving evidence in court.

He did not examine the witness, stating that he did not wish to call any witness.

Ngene gave Aduda and INEC 10 days to file their final written addresses.

He also gave counsel to Sidi-Ali seven days within which to file his final written address.

The chairman further gave three days for reply on point of law, if any, as served by Sidi-Ali on Aduda and INEC. Ngene adjourned the case till July 22 for hearing.

Mr Mustapha Abubakar, the Chief Legal Offi-

Theophilus onojeghen WARRI

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South-South group, Committee of Nigeria Patriots, CNP, has described recent calls for the resignation of the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun as not only wicked and malicious but “evil by every imagination”.

In a statement issued in Warri by CNP’s Secretary General, Alhaji MumakaiUnagha, yesterday, it posited that such calls were the handwork of enemies of democracy.

He said APC’s National Chairman deserves applause for leading a merger party to defeat a sitting government, insisting that such calls must be jettisoned by members of the public.

It reads: “CNP has viewed the recent calls by

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

S’South group frowns at call for Oyegun’s sack •Says call is mischievous, wicked some groups and individuals asking APC National Chairman Chief OdigieOyegun to resign.

“There is no reason whatsoever for anyone to think or feel that the party chairman who has pioneered the first ever mega party merger and also the first opposition national chairman to win overwhelmingly against an incumbent in a presidential election cannot be wished away but deserves commendation and honour.”

Unagha said CNP shall resist any attempt by anyone to ridicule, embarrass or deny the APC National Chairman the respect and honour he deserved for ensuring the success of

the party in the just concluded general elections where the party recorded resounding victory across the country.

He said: “Chief OdigieOyegun, a former governor of Edo State is a highly experienced public servant, whose stint at the Edo Government House brought about astronomical infrastructural development in the state and ensured a workable civil service administration in the state.

“His stewardship as Edo State governor can be remembered for the peace and development the state experienced. It is our belief therefore that a man of Chief Odigie-Oyegun stature should not be used

Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello (left), with the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, during a visit by the governor to the InspectorGeneral of Police at Force Headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.

I can’t trade my people’s mandate for ministerial appointment –Sani A zA Msue KADUNA

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he senator representing Kaduna State Central senatorial district in the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly, Comrade Shehu Sani, yesterday said he will not accept ministerial or any other political appointment as being speculated.

Speaking during his visit to the Correspondents Chapel in Kaduna, Sani said he cannot trade

his people’s mandate adding that he will give the people of the zone quality representation at the National Assembly.

Sani, who is also the president, Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria, CRCN, while commending Nigerian media for their role from 1983 to 1999 in dislodging the military junta said some of them that were jailed in prison will not abandon the masses and would continue to champion the

cause for a better Nigeria.

He maintained that the Nigerian media mobilised and sentisised Nigerians on the truth which led to the eviction of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general elections, adding: “The eviction of former President Jonathan was possible when the media stood for the truth.”

Sani commended former President Olusegun Obasanjo for the reconciliation moves between

Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Senator Ahmed Lawan camps to sheath the swords, saying that the National Assembly crisis, if not checked, poses a threat to President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

Sani however announced his disengagement from the two camps at the Senate, stressing that the National Assembly crisis is geared towards far away 2019 elections interest.

by faceless individuals to settle political scores.”

Saying that it was not unmindful of the fact that the recent attack smacks of political undertones, as prior to before the outcome of the National Assembly elections which saw Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon Yakubu Dogara emerged as Senate President and Speaker of the House respectively, “nobody has found OdigieOyegun wanting, neither was his integrity questionable,” CNP said: “It is our belief that certain persons are trying to be mischievious by wanting to create distrust among the leadership of the party and further bring the party to public ridicule and odium.

“Chief Odigue-Oyegun has remained the symbols of unity, progress and victory of the APC and any attempt by political jobbers to explore the already bad situation to put the party in jeopardy will not be in the best interest of the party.”

CNP said it was ready to mobilize its membership across the country to resist what it termed the plot to embarrass a patriotic Nigerian and father of change in Nigeria, adding that Nigerians have found Chief Odigie-Oyegun worthy in character and vision to lead the APC to greater heights.

It called on the APC National Chairman to remain focused in his averred pursuit of genuine change, as change is difficult to accomplish as many would want the status quo-ante to remain.

It also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to remain focused and steadfast in his vision to bring about positive change in Nigeria’s political climate, “as we call on him to work closely with Chief Odigie-Oyegun to bring the real change Nigerian wanted as encapsulated in the ‘change’ mantra.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Market Index up 0.4%, capitalisation N43.2bn

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igerian All Share Index inched up 0.4% to 33,384.59 points, while market capitalisation also rose N43.2 billion to close at N11.4trillion at the close of market.

The positive trend in the market was largely attributed to price appreciation in key equites, including the Nigerian Breweries which gained 1.7%, Dangote cement (+0.3%) and Union Bank

of Nigeria Plc (+2.7%).

However, market activity softened as volume and value eased 28.8% and 21.0% to close at 278.1m units and N3.8 billion respectively.

A further analysis of the trading indicated that sell offs in stocks such as Mobil (-2.0%) and Forte Oil (-0.1%) dragged the Oil & Gas index down by (-0.2%).

However, the Consumer Goods index

trended upbeat with an increase of 0.7% as Nigerian Breweries gained (+1.7%), compared with Int Breweries’ (+5.0%) and Unilever’s (+1.1%).

Similarly, the Industrial Goods index also improved 0.7% as investors demand for sector’s giant- Dangote Cement pushed the stock (+0.3%) strengthened just as the Banking and Insurance indices both rebounded 0.6% and 0.3% respec-

tively compared to their performance in the previous session.

“Market breadth closed positive (1.3x) as 27 stocks advanced while 21 stocks declined. The top gainers were Diamond Bank stock gained (+5.5%), Presco (+5.0%) and IntBrew (+5.0%) while the top losers were Redstarex (-5.0%), Okomu Oil (-5.0%) and Vono (-4.8%).

Optimism over Greek deal boosts stocks, euro

A

new offer by Greece on a reform package to avoid default on its debts raised hopes that a tangible deal with international creditors was still possible, lifting global stock indices and the euro on Monday.

Gold prices fell more than one per cent as the

U.S. dollar gained.

Euro zone finance ministers left a meeting with Greek officials in Brussels voicing optimism at Greece’s offer, with talk of more work ahead to achieve a potential deal this week.

The ministers agreed to reconvene before the week is over, after Greece

thrashed out details with its international creditors the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

“The general theme is obviously more optimistic that Greece will be able to get a near-term deal,” said Edward Acton, Treasury strategist at

U

rallying as much as 0.9 percent to within one point of its closing high set a month ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 97.52 points, or 0.5 percent, to 18,113.47. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 0.6 percent to an all-time high.

“We got better news from the Fed because of the lower dots and now we’re hearing positive developments from Greece and that sideline cash is being put to work,” said Paul Zemsky, the head of multi-asset strategies at Voya Investment Management LLC, which oversees $218 billion. “I’m pretty optimistic about this week with the recent developments in Greece.”

European policy makers expressed confidence that a deal with Greece

was within reach after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s government submitted a last-minute set of proposals. Attention now shifts to an emergency summit of leaders from the 19 euro countries later today, when Tsipras will have a chance to put his case to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.

The S&P 500 Friday posted its best weekly gain since April, after signals from the Federal Reserve that the central bank won’t be raising rates quickly as officials hold out for more decisive evidence of an economic rebound.

The equity benchmark fell as much as 2.4 percent from its May record as the threat of tighter mon-

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

$1

N197.00 Market indicators All-Share Index 33,384.59 points Market capitalisation 11.40trn

Stock Updates GAINERS

RBS Securities in Stamford, Connecticut.

The euro traded at $1.13930, up 0.38 percent on the EBS trading platform, closing in on the Asian trading session high of $1.14040. EUR=EBS MSCI’s all-country stock index .MIWD00000PUS climbed 1.2 pe cent.

U.S. equities advance amid merger news, Greece talks optimism .S. stocks advanced, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rising near a record, as Cigna Corp. and Williams Cos. jumped on merger news amid optimism over Greece debt talks.

Cigna climbed 5.8 percent after rejecting a $47 billion takeover bid from Anthem Inc. Williams surged 24 percent after turning down a $48 billion buyout offer. Bank of America Corp. and Citigroup Inc. increased more than 1.2 percent as banks rebounded. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. slumped 12 percent after Sequential Brands Group Inc.’s takeover bid was below investors’ expectations.

The S&P 500 rose 0.6 percent to 2,122.37 at 1:19 p.m. in New York, after

47

etary policy spooked investors amid data showing the U.S. economy contracted in the first quarter. Three rounds of Fed bond purchases and borrowing costs near zero have propelled the gauge up by more than 200 percent during the six-year bull market.

Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

13

Crude oil price

$58.96

COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

DIAMONDBNK

4.21

4.44

0.23

5.46

PRESCO

32.00

33.60

1.60

5.00

INTBREW

18.52

19.44

0.92

4.97

AIICO

0.92

0.96

0.04

4.35

TRANSEXPR

1.22

1.27

0.05

4.10

DANGFLOUR

3.87

3.99

0.12

3.10

CCNN

11.68

12.00

0.32

2.74

UBN

9.65

9.91

0.26

2.69

AFRIPRUD

2.74

2.79

0.05

1.82

NB

148.02

150.57

2.55

1.72

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

REDSTAREX

5.00

4.75

-0.25

-5.00

OKOMUOIL

31.55

29.98

-1.57

-4.98

VONO

1.45

1.38

-0.07

-4.83

RTBRISCOE

0.84

0.80

-0.04

-4.76

NASCON

8.50

8.12

-0.38

-4.47

CILEASING

0.56

0.54

-0.02

-3.57

ETERNA

2.60

2.53

-0.07

-2.69

NEM

0.76

0.74

-0.02

-2.63

FCMB

3.08

3.00

-0.08

-2.60

SKYEBANK

2.50

2.44

-0.06

-2.40

FGN Bonds

Bid

Description

Offer

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

1.15

99.45

13.54

99.60

13.39

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.85

102.19

13.69

102.34

13.59

16.00 29-JUN-2019

4.02

106.18

13.94

106.48

13.84

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.65

104.14

14.27

104.44

14.18

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.60

110.70

13.85

111.00

13.79

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.73

102.27

13.73

102.57

13.67

Closing Market Prices of June 22, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

24-Sep-15

11.54

11.89

WAUA

270

17-Dec-15

12.36

13.15

USD

197

02-Jun-16

12.35

13.98

EURO

214

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

SWISS FRANC

NIBOR Tenor

Rate (%)

202

O/N

17.8750

1M

15.8010

POUNDS STERLING

293

3M

16.9438

SDR

273

6M

17.7752 The Fixings of June 22, 2015

Capital Market

48

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Stock exchange daily equities summary Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015

Equities as at June 22, 2015

Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025

Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

1st Tier Securities

Daily Summary (Equities)

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

Symbol LIVESTOCK

AGRICULTURE Totals

No. of Deals 38 23 61

Current Price 29.98 33.60

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 2.21

72

Quantity Traded 410,848 209,287 620,135

Value Traded 12,333,172.98 6,948,319.60 19,281,492.58

Quantity Traded 5,472,700 5,472,700

Value Traded 12,044,903.85 12,044,903.85

6,092,835

31,326,396.43

Quantity Traded 5,187 2,000 7,117,289 388,697 7,513,173

Value Traded 7,261.80 1,800.00 19,819,200.71 16,335,908.32 36,164,170.83

7,513,173

36,164,170.83

Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 CONGLOMERATES

Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 Diversified Industries

A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

Symbol AGLEVENT JOHNHOLT TRANSCORP Daily Summary UACN

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

No. of Deals 3 2 138 (Equities) 57 200

Current Price 1.47 0.94 2.80 42.00

200 Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.92

Quantity Traded 46,419 Page 46,419

Value Traded 40,848.72 1 of 12 40,848.72

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 52.39

Quantity Traded 48,063 48,063

Value Traded 2,392,576.14 2,392,576.14

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 10.50

Quantity Traded 144,304 144,304

Value Traded 1,542,103.80 1,542,103.80

238,786

3,975,528.66

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Activity Summary on COMP. Board EQTY 7-UP BOTTLING PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals CONSUMER GOODS Food Products Published by DANGOTE The Nigerian Stock Exchange FLOUR MILLS PLC© DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. UNION DICON SALT PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals

32

Symbol CHAMPION GOLDBREW GUINNESS INTBREW NB

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 31 31

Current Price 177.20

Quantity Traded 154,698 154,698

Value Traded 27,473,432.40 27,473,432.40

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UNIONDICON UTC

No. of Deals 37 54 65 14 46 2 2 1 221

Current Price 3.99 7.00 34.20 3.80 8.12 18.05 11.84 0.50

Quantity Traded Page 158,436 3,000,261 543,973 67,000 802,184 1,500 12,100 199 4,585,653

Value Traded 2 624,864.85 of 12 21,055,631.45 18,603,168.73 244,602.06 6,536,449.59 27,060.00 136,125.00 99.50 47,228,001.18

Current Price 37.00 850.01

Quantity Traded 146,670 101,612 248,282

Value Traded 5,410,548.89 86,341,537.53 91,752,086.42

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC.

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 56 5 61

Current Price 5.50 1.38

Quantity Traded 3,189,731 89,151 3,278,882

Value Traded 17,077,321.38 123,028.38 17,200,349.76

No. of Deals 38 (Equities) 41 79

Current Price 31.80 45.50

Quantity Traded 387,562 5,462,295 5,849,857

Value Traded 12,279,931.72 248,543,443.44 260,823,375.16

Daily Summary of 22/06/2015 VONOas PRODUCTS PLC.

Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 Household Durables Totals

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

Symbol PZ Daily Summary UNILEVER

Page

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 DIAMOND BANK PLC Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC ActivityUNION Summary Board EQTY BANKon NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. INSURANCE PLC © Published by MANSARD The Nigerian Stock Exchange MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. Daily Summary as ofINSURANCE 22/06/2015 CO. PLC. NIGER Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

653

Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 100 DIAMONDBNK 48 ETI 60 FIDELITYBK 67 GUARANTY 184 SKYEBANK 71 Daily Summary (Equities) STERLNBANK 56 UBA 154 UBN 45 UNITYBNK 16

HEALTHCARE Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

15,202,911

588,300,665.65

Current Price 6.18 4.44 22.05 1.76 27.02 2.44 2.02 5.20 9.91 2.55

Quantity Traded 12,434,358 2,587,055 496,398 4,056,676 3,890,450 3,092,290 8,073,299 20,680,231 329,131 285,482

Value Traded 76,015,725.16 11,101,160.06 11,049,393.95 7,235,348.02 104,935,014.69 7,644,071.74 16,595,139.15 107,201,403.30 3,250,581.00 729,624.78

Value Traded 1,377,054.23 1,897,566,282.00 2,244,700,798.08

Current Price 1.00 19.50

Quantity Traded 1,368,201 97,637,118 154,930,689

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR GNI LASACO MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS PRESTIGE SOVRENINS STDINSURE WAPIC

No. of Deals 35 10 1 1 2 1 23 2 15 3 1 1 2 40 (Equities) 137

Current Price 0.96 1.00 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 3.00 0.50 0.74 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 5,122,312 170,425 100 100 85,750 144,550 Page 2,448,050 200,150 865,384 59,000 100 500 5,000 870,127 9,971,548

100,075.00 649,683.46 29,500.00 50.00 250.00 2,500.00 435,943.50 13,535,983.33

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.14

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 1,090.00 1,090.00

Symbol UNHOMES

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 5.78

Quantity Traded 15 Page 15

Value Traded 82.50 12 5 of 82.50

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 89 8 414 46 39 72 668

Current Price 2.79 4.00 8.21 3.00 28.00 1.40

1,952

Value Traded 4,735,984.67 170,677.20 50.00 50.00 42,890.00 72,275.00 12 4 7,296,054.50 of

Quantity Traded 3,668,154 438,401 11,309,894 2,606,787 1,266,902 6,860,358 26,150,496

Value Traded 10,344,829.04 1,753,609.00 93,506,548.34 7,818,674.18 35,460,975.26 9,669,809.16 158,554,444.98

191,053,748

2,416,792,398.89

Quantity Traded 200 27,283,995 215,821 636,562 345,606 40,000 28,522,184

Value Traded 304.00 94,139,945.50 9,496,733.25 935,885.70 453,856.59 89,222.42 105,115,947.46

28,522,184

105,115,947.46

Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. NATURAL RESOURCES

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Quantity Traded

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 3.98

1

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 16 16

Current Price 37.32

Quantity Traded 13,088 13,088

Value Traded 479,980.47 479,980.47

5,683,092

357,683,324.65

Daily Summary (Equities)

195

Symbol BOCGAS

No. of Deals 2

Current Price 5.11

Quantity Traded 10,234

Value Traded 49,737.24

Symbol

No. of Deals 2

Current Price

Quantity Traded 10,234 Page

7

Daily Summary (Equities)

2

10,234

49,737.24

No. of Deals 6 No. of Deals 6

Current Price 0.50 Current Price

Quantity Traded 77,605 Quantity Traded 77,605

Value Traded 38,802.50 Value Traded 38,802.50

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 207 207

Current Price 15.90

Quantity Traded 10,162,003 10,162,003

Value Traded 162,147,203.77 162,147,203.77

No. of Deals 1 17 16 91 51 1 (Equities) 24 201

Current Price 0.50 42.00 2.53 179.75 146.01 50.54 159.10

Quantity Traded 6,519,830 24,385 218,436 304,943 298,505 3,000 58,127 7,427,226

Value Traded 3,259,915.00 1,011,135.60 555,612.58 54,191,333.18 43,918,857.93 144,060.00 9,041,305.44 112,122,219.73

Quantity Traded 3,706 Quantity Traded 3,706 77,605 17,670,540 77,605 Page Quantity Traded 10,162,003 10,162,003

Value Traded 1,219,979.60 Value Traded 1,219,979.60 38,802.50 275,528,205.60 38,802.50 12 8 of Value Traded 162,147,203.77 162,147,203.77

Page Quantity Traded 6,519,830 24,385 218,436 304,943 298,505 3,000 58,127 7,427,226

12 9 of Value Traded 3,259,915.00 1,011,135.60 555,612.58 54,191,333.18 43,918,857.93 144,060.00 9,041,305.44 112,122,219.73

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 207 207

Current Price 15.90

Published byPetroleum The Nigerian Exchange © andStock Petroleum Products Distributors

Symbol BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 1 17 16 91 51 1 24 201

Current Price 0.50 42.00 2.53 179.75 146.01 50.54 159.10

Symbol

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 315.80

Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Printing/Publishing Totals SERVICES Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Road Transportation Totals Specialty INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC Specialty Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 Transport-Related Services Totals Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Value Traded 49,737.24 12 of

Symbol JAPAULOIL Symbol

No. of Deals Current Price 10 315.80 No. of Deals 10 Current Price 6 0.50 4246

DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals

303.20

Value Traded 4,365,681.97 230,154.00 1,026,994.65 37,305,909.41 188,258,748.49 12,502.76 126,003,352.90 357,203,344.18

Symbol SEPLAT Symbol JAPAULOIL

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 Media/Entertainment

80

Quantity Traded 203,052 21,550 26,367 3,070,640 1,071,816 16,451 1,260,128 5,670,004

Exploration and Production OIL AND GASPETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD SEPLAT Energy Equipment and Services Exploration and Production Totals JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC OIL Energy AND GAS Totals Equipment and Services Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Value Traded 303.20 303.20

Current Price 21.50 11.24 41.00 12.00 175.50 0.76 100.00

Symbol BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS Daily Summary TOTAL

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Quantity Traded 80 80

No. of Deals 24 7 8 37 48 4 51 179

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 CONOIL PLC Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. Daily Summary as OIL of 22/06/2015 MRS NIGERIA PLC. Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Value of Shares(N)

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER WAPCO

Daily Summary (Equities) SEPLAT

OIL AND GAS Totals

No. of Deals 36 308 1,145

Daily Summary

Quotation(N)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

12

of

BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

Symbol WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

3

Symbol CWG

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONSUMER GOODS Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSUMER GOODS Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Daily Summary as of 22/06/2015 Printed 22/06/2015 15:15:25.025 Packaging/Containers

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Value Traded 14,565.25 1,026.00 19,005,223.98 3,110,383.52 121,692,221.98 143,823,420.73

No. of Deals 31 56 87

No Of Deals

ICT Totals

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals OIL AND GAS Equipment and Services OILEnergy AND GAS JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Quantity Traded 2,009 1,080 115,187 160,458 806,805 1,085,539

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Current Price 7.00 0.93 164.15 19.44 150.57

Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

ICT IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC IT Services Totals

Chemicals Chemicals Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

No. of Deals 2 1 56 15 100 174 (Equities)

Daily Summary

Sector

ActivityCompany Summary on Board EQTY name

424 Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 0.80

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 9 11 20

Current Price 4.75 1.27

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 11 11

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

Symbol DAARCOMM

Quantity Traded 3,706 3,706

Value Traded 1,219,979.60 1,219,979.60

17,670,540

275,528,205.60

Quantity Traded 115,764 115,764 Page Quantity Traded 144,670 197,020 341,690

Value Traded 93,758.92 93,758.92 12 9 of Value Traded 691,050.10 236,334.20 927,384.30

Current Price 0.54

Quantity Traded 1,032,090 1,032,090

Value Traded 563,440.60 563,440.60

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 3.75

Quantity Traded 3,747,589 3,747,589

Value Traded 13,945,413.81 13,945,413.81

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,005 1,005

Value Traded 502.50 502.50

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price

Quantity Traded 103,205 389,927 493,132

Value Traded 125,214.10 2,291,451.37 2,416,665.47

LEARNAFRCA UPL

6 16 22

1.21 6.05

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.53

Quantity Traded 122,082 Page 122,082

Symbol INTERLINK

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 4.43

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 421.00 421.00

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 8 30 38

Current Price 2.08 5.03

Quantity Traded 56,611 182,455 239,066

Value Traded 114,476.25 941,141.62 1,055,617.87

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 3.60

Quantity Traded 30,000 30,000

Value Traded 102,600.00 102,600.00

6,122,518

19,170,842.97

Daily Summary (Equities)

SERVICES Totals

139

Value Traded 65,038.50 of 12 65,038.50

10

Activity Summary on Board ASeM EQTY Board Totals

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Property Management SMART PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Property Management Totals

278,110,101

3,834,107,521.58

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 1,160.00 1,160.00

1,000

1,160.00

3,765 Symbol SMURFIT

No. of Deals 2 2

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

Current Price 1.11

2

ASeM Board Totals Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

1,000 Page

2

Equity Activity Totals

3,767

278,111,101

11

1,160.00 of 12

3,834,108,681.58

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals 1 22 22 24 24 2 95 95

Current Price 1.59 3.40 44.00 1.50 1.28 2.23

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of

Exchange Traded Fund Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 3 4

Current Price 2,280.00 15.42

Quantity Traded 4 1,058 1,062

Value Traded 9,120.00 16,244.08 25,364.08

ETF Board Totals

4

1,062

25,364.08

ETP Activity Totals

4

1,062

25,364.08

12

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

Community Mirror I advise concerned parties and individuals to desist from killings and destruction of properties in times of disagreement, but should rather seek dialogue and constitutional means of resolving differences.

Governor of Nasarawa State – Umaru Al-Makura

NAFDAC restates commitment to regulate products DARE AKOGUN

... Nabs fake wine dealers

N

ational Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has restated its commitment to ensure that Nigerians have a right to good quality, safe, effective and wholesome regulated products and enjoy this right unhindered.

Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, stated this while parading some arrested fake wine dealers and other regulated products in Lagos.

Orhii disclosed that the suspects were nabbed for allegedly revalidating the expiry date of Dunone Ultra Mel Yogurt supplied to MSV–Borealis Camp Boss, a shipping Line.

According to him “UNITOP Catering Services based in Warri was awarded a contract

by MSV – Borealis Camp Boss shipping Line to supply some consumables among which was 1, 600 units of yoghurt, which Minthel-Ouriel International (Nigeria) Limited, Lagos was contacted to supply.

“On the 29th May, 2015, Miss Martina Iwuchukwu of MinthelOuriel purchased 55 cartons x 6 x 4 x 125g of Dunone Ultra Mel Yoghurt with an expiry date of March 2016 from the suspect and delivered to UNITOP Catering Services Limited.

DARE AKOGUN

S

A mud house built over 50 years ago collapsed after a heavy downpour in Agege, Lagos, on Sunday. PHOTO: DARE AKOGUN

“However, the Chief Steward of the ship discovered that the Best Before Date of March 2016 had been tampered with by concealing and carefully marking the number 5 such that it appeared to read 6. The captain of the ship alerted UNITOP catering services limited on the 8th of June, 2015 that the yoghurt they received was found to past their Best Before date,” he narrated.

Orhii further disclosed that the agency also intercepted a truckload of assorted NAFDAC regulated products, On Sunday,

the 14th June, 2015 adding that on examination, the truck was found to contain the following suspected counterfeit and unregistered wines and spirits.

“The owner has been arrested and interrogated while investigation is on to unravel the source of his supply.

“It might interest the public to note that the importer used official Government plate number OGFZA (Regd. No: RV885FZE) assigned to Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority to deceive security operatives, however the in-

terception was made possible by our vigilant officers”, he noted.

He reiterated that the agency will represent its Executive Bill on counterfeit NAFDAC Regulated Products to the new Administration, which the speedy enactment enable it curtail the excesses and impunity of counterfeiters.

Orhii stated that the suspects are assisting investigators with information on the source of the product and efforts are on to bring the perpetrators of this evil act to book.

Physically challenged to have special BRT in Lagos ADELEKE ADESANYA

L

agos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has promised physically challenged citizens of the state a better life, with the introduction of special Bus Rapid Transit for them.

The governor, who reiterated this commitment to the disable in the state, while speaking through Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, at the First International Conference on Disabilities, Lagos, said Lagos State having showed special interest in the special people with enactment of the Special Peoples Law of 2011 and also establishing Lagos State Office for Disability Affair, will ensure they are not marginalized.

Governor Ambode, who also

Ramadan: Obasa urges Muslims to be steadfast

expressed dissatisfaction on series of challenges facing people with disabilities in urban settlement, however, promised disability-friendly buses on Lagos roads.

“One of the main challenges facing with disabilities in an urban setting like ours and which we shall give due attention is the lack of facilities in our public

transport system.

“I want to assure you that in no distant future, disability friendly buses will be on Lagos roads,” he said.

He also appealed for compliance with the provision of the special People Law particularly with regard to making every public building, place and other structures

accessible and usable by people with disabilities by 2016.

He added that the state government has demonstrated commitment in this direction, urging the corporate organization to fulfill their part of the obligation in order to make life comfortable for people living with disabilities.

peaker Lagos State House of Assembly Hon. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, has urged Muslims to be steadfast and carrying out what is just in the holy month of Ramadan.

The speaker who spoke at the weekend at the annual NTA Channel 10 Lagos annual MKO Abiola Ramadan lecture added that the month of Ramadan signifies a period for giving alms to the needy and abstinence from evil deeds.

The speaker who represented by Hon. Olayiwola Olawale ‘Omititi’ enjoined Muslims to strictly adhere to the dictates of Islam and embrace peaceful co-existence for a better society.

Speaking earlier in his sermon founder Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation Sheik Abdullahi Shuaib enumerated the good characters of Prophet Muhammed which all muslims should emulate by all.

“As Muslims we must seek and aspire for good things, but in accordance with Allah’s regulations.

“The Month of Ramadan should be observed with charitable cause and share whatever we have as little as it is according to the teachings of the prophet,” he said.

He pointed that for a society to be peaceful the leader must ensure social justice and equal distribution of wealth among the populace, saying that without that there will be chaos in the society.

He noted that it is only in a peaceful atmosphere that plans programmes of the government can be well executed.

100 prison inmates graduate in skills acquisition KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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igerian Prisons Service, NPS, Agodi, Ibadan, has trained and graduated over 100 inmates in its custody in the field of Information Communication Technology, ICT, and skills acquisition.

The inmates, majority of who are males, were trained by the NPS through the assistance of Yommyfad Limited in partnership with Annabelle Iremide Foundation.

According to the trainer, Mr. Yomi Fadare, the initiative was launched in 2013 to avail the prisoners the opportunity of learning one skill or the other in a way that their experience in confinement

would worth be the while after regaining independence.

He said they were kept busy throughout the duration of their training whilst also preparing them for life after incarceration adding that, "Operation Empower The Inmates" would soon be extended to others two prisons in the state where inmates would be trained in the area of computer ap-

preciation, computer engineering, tailoring, bead making and shoe making.

The founder of Annabelle Iremide Foundation, Mr. Ayotunde Fatokun, said with the support of individuals, they are keeping the vision alive, saying, "prison Inmates are one set of abandoned people in the society and least considered in any case.

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Features

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Borno and challenges of managing IDPS Inusa ndahI MAIDUGURI

F

ollowing the devastating attacks and sacking of unspecified numbers of communities by insurgents in the north east region with most hit state of Borno which is the epicentre of Boko Haram, governor Kashim Shettima has tried all effort to take care of the over 100,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) taking refuge at various camps in Maiduguri metropolis.

Unfortunately, it appears that the burden of feeding, health care delivery on the increasing influx of the IDPs by Borno State Government is taking a toll and sucking the scarce resources at the state’s disposal, even with little or substantial assistance from National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which is the federal government’s agency charged with responsibility of keeping IDPs. As a result of the economic crunch, Borno State Government may have a raw deal from Federal Government, as the Executive Chairman of the newly established Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mallam Grema Terab in an interview with our Correspondent revealed that the agency had to cut on the expenditure of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) to manage the crisis or unless help comes from across the globe.

His words; “Our major challenge is the high influx of IDPs into Maiduguri, when I came on board as the chairman/ chief executive officer of Borno State Emergency Management Agency we were managing few camps, there were about 13 or 14 local governments displaced by insurgents and we had camps for each of the local governments but now it runs to about 22 different camps.

“Surprisingly where we thought things are getting better, we are getting more people displaced and many more people are trooping into our camps.

When you found out what is responsible for this increase, you get to know that the displaced persons who were taking refuge in the host communities are now coming into the IDPs camps, some of them have exhausted their rent and some of the people hosting them in some of these communities are tired of taking care of them, and the IDPs have nowhere to turn but the camps, this has come to continuously increase the numbers in our camps”. Grema lamented.

SurpriSingly, where we thought thingS are getting

Helpless refugees in one of the IDPs camps

Grema stressed that just last week, the state agency received about 400 IDPs into the Mafa camp, about 300 into Kukawa camp, about 400 into Monguno camp and also a large number of people into Bama camp.

He noted that those that were formerly living with relatives in the host communities are now trooping into the camps for they can no longer be accommodated as their host could not afford the cost of keeping them.

Most of those that were accommodating them thought it was a temporary measure but they later come to find out that days are turning into months and months perhaps turning into a year and the burden just have to be taking off them.

Grema disclosed that those from Bama have stayed for over 10 months and those from Gwoza for about a year. So it is quite challenging to take care of these IDPs, even as he pointed out that, despite these challenges, government is doing well in providing three square meals, but also insisted that live is not all about feeding. The sanitation is also a priority in the camps, the health care facilities and the basic needs of IDPs, for instance the soap and detergent to bath and wash their clothes respectively, they need the body oil and for the women they need the sanitary pads; all IDPs need clothing, baby foods among others.

On how he is managing the situation, Grema said, they are

doing their best but now with the federal allocation not forthcoming or no more regular and with the state government having a lot of responsibilities of not just taking care of the IDPs alone which constitute a larger part of expenditure in the state, but will also cherish and welcome any assistance from international donor agencies or philantrophic organizations/ individuals to meet IDPs demands for better living.

Although, Grema Terab acknowledged the National Emergency Management Agency which is now picking more interest in the case of IDPs in Borno state as NEMA according to him has started listening to their cries.

“For the first time NEMA are asking us on what do we do and how much do we spend, which food do the IDPs consume and what are the problems in the camps. It is a step forward, for the past four years this is the first time NEMA has shown keen interest to really know our problems and they want to share the problems with us and we have received a high powered delegation from NEMA, we have sat down and we gave them the template of how much we spend and consume in the camps in terms of feeding and other upkeeps, and they said they are going to partake in it.

We hope with the change of government things are going to be better in the near future”. The SEMA Boss hopefully stated.

better, we are getting more people diSplaced and many more people are trooping into our campS On how much SEMA spend in maintaining the camps on daily basis, he said the State Government through SEMA spend about N3.5 million on maintenance and condiments apart from the food items on a daily basis for all the camps.

“What we mean by the condiments is onions, fish, beans, tomatoes, hot and sweet pepper, seasonings, palm oil, groundnut oil, firewood, water and other essential needs of the kitchen. We spend N3.5 million on daily basis on these apart from the food items, the N3.5 million is also use for logistics like transporting the food items to the various camps and our ambulances, trucks, labourers. Butnwith dwindling economy, the state government is trying to reduce it to a minimum of about N1.5 or N1.6 million. Hence the need to solicit support from donor agencies”. Grema explained.

He futher disclosed that in the past four years, SEMA have not gotten a good deal with the federal government because of what it receive in the last four years was just N200 million while their counterpart from Adamawa that was not hit as Borno state with about six local governments affected received about N4.5 billion.

“We had 20 out of 27 local

governments captured and we are the worst hit. If you go to Bama, you will see how it was destroyed, even N10 billion cannot rebuild Bama. The activities of NEMA and other federal government agencies like the Presidential Initiatives on the Northeast and many others were brought to participate very well in Adamawa, a state that is not the worst hit.

“With the coming of a new president I believe we should have a better deal and since the problem started here and much destruction was here we are expecting a better deal”. Grema posit.

On how SEMA intend balancing this shortfall, he said, SEMA through his leadership will invite all the key stakeholders/actors in humanitarian services and those that are willing to partner with the state government to take care of IDPs. “As I said earlier we are partnering with International Committee on Red Cross (ICRC), UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, we intend to receive more international donor agencies.

We have met with NEMA and have shown them how much we have spent on a daily basis and what is our requirement in the camps are. We are also trying as much as possible to bring down CONTINUED ON PAGE 51

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Features

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

IDPs children feedings

Borno and challenges of managing IDPS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 50 the cost of running the camps on the bill of the state government to the minimal level so that government can concentrate on other developmental aspects.

“We are not unmindful of the fact that we have the issue of relocating, rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs to their various locality. We are made to understand that Monguno is now peaceful and accessible and that people can now begin to go back to Monguno, maybe Gubio and Guzamala, we have access there but Bama that constitutes the largest number of IDPs is still not cleared by the Nigeria Army, the government is doing its best to reduce the cost of running the camps and as a transparent government we must be prudent in the management of our resources”. He revealed.

In the same vien, Borno State Government has said, over 20 million dollars is needed in order to resettle about 22 local government areas that were destroyed by Boko haram sect in the last one year.

Governor Kashim Shettima disclosed this yesterday at the Government House when members of Red Cross Society led by its President, Mr. Peter Maurer paid him a courtesy call.

The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha, said, since the displacement of many communities by Boko haram in-

surgents, the state government has been shouldering the responsibility of feeding the IDPs through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), even as he commended the effort of the Red Cross for its humanitarian assistance to the victims of the insurgency.

He noted that, although, military troops have liberated most of the communities under the control of Boko Haram in the state, government and the IDPs found it difficult to go back to their homes and pick up their pieces due to security reports that most of the roads and streets leading to the affected communities and their farmlands were not safe as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and landmines were planted by the terrorists to cause more havoc.

“We, the government and good people of Borno state want to use this opportunity to thank you (Red Cross), NEMA and other donor agencies for supporting us in this out trying moment. 22 out of the 27 local government areas were destroyed, over 1million IDPs are living in Maiduguri, the state capital alone.

“Just yesterday, we received another batches of 4,500 IDPs from Gaidam who were sent away by government of Niger Republic and more are still on their way to Maiduguri.

“Borno state need over 20 million dollars to resettle it’s people that were displaced as most houses, business centres

and places of worship were all destroyed by the insurgents.

“Though, the military has liberated 97% of the communities taken over by insurgents in Borno, it will take time for the government to fumigate and diffuse the landmines before they are relocated to their various communities”. Zannah stated.

Earlier in his address, the President of the Red Cross Society, Mr. Maurer told the Deputy Governor that they were in the state to personally see the IDPs and hear from them, particularly their conditions, so as to enable the organization to Considerably increase its humanitarian gestures as a result of the renewed attacks and killings by the sect.

The President while sympathizing with government and people of the state and the north- east subregion over the activities of insurgents, also urged other donor agencies to assist in cushioning the hardship faced by the victims of Boko Haram terrorists.

He assured the people of the state, particularly the victims of Boko Haram that Red Cross as a Non- Governmental Organization (NGO) will continue to support IDPs with food and non food items as well as ensure that they have a healthy living while in camps.

With most of these challenges however, the federal government has agreed to partake more in the management of the internally displaced persons

(IDPs) camps in Maiduguri in order to improve on their welfare.

Our Correspondent learnt last Saturday 6th June, 2015, that an agreement was reached between the Borno state government and the federal government, which was represented by it’s agency, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

At the meeting which was held at the Borno State Government House were the representatives from NEMA led by the agency’s Director, Search and Rescue, Air Commodore

Some women in the camp

51

Charles Otegbade, the Borno state team was led by the deputy governor, Alhaji Zannah Mustapha and had in attendance the chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mallam Grema Terab.

Before the meeting went into a close door session, the leader of the NEMA team said they were in the state to work out modalities which will better the lots of the displaced persons at the camps.

He noted that the federal government was concerned about the wellbeing of the people at the camps and would want to be more involved than in the past.

Reacting the deputy governor said it was a sign of good things to come and traced the latest action to the recent change in government at the federal level.

He said should: “NEMA has shown this kind of interest two or three years ago the situation would have been different and our people at the camps would have been better for it.”

Briefing our Reporter after the close door meeting, Otegbade disclosed that NEMA representing the federal government has worked out modalities with the Borno state government towards improving lives of the internally displaced persons at the camp scattered across the state capital Maiduguri.

He disclosed that the area of involvement of both tiers of government have been identified and NEMA will be more involved than before.

He said for “the next two months we are going to be more involved in the management of the camps, we are going to contribute more than before.

“We anticipate that by the end of the two months we should be talking of getting the IDPs settled in their communities”.

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North

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insurgency: 1,000 NYSC members redeployed A BDULGAFAR O LADIMEJI KANO

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L-R; Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad; Deputy Governor, Elder Peter Kisra; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; MD/CEO, Harmony Holdings Ltd. Tope Daramola; Chairman, Prof. Yahaya Halidu, and Chief of Staff, Government House, Babatunde Yusuf Abdulwahab during flag-off of 42 Operational Vehicles of Harmony Transport Services at Government House, Ilorin, yesterday.

NULGE tasks Kaduna govt on N3bn leave allowance K

aduna State branch of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, has appealed to the state government to settle over N3 billion outstanding workers’ leave grant.

Mr Jabiru Danlami, state president of NULGE, made the appeal

in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Monday in Kaduna.

Danlami said local government workers in the state had not received their leave grant for the past six years.

According to him, officials of the state government and leadership of

the union met in March 2015 and agreed that the outstanding amount be settled.

“The state government has asked the union to submit all our bills for leave grant and transport allowance to be computarised for payment.

“Though some of the local governments are

managing to pay from their internally generated revenue, most are still owing between three and six years,” Danlami said.

The NULGE boss advised the state government to pay the money by installments in view of the huge amount involved.

Leaked answers: NECO cautions candidates against on-line scammers

N

ational Examination Council, NECO, has warned candidates sitting for its examinations against patronising people who post requests on-line, asking them to pay and get leaked answers.

NECO’s Abuja Liaison Officer, Mr Abdul Mustapha, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Monday in Abuja, said such on-line postings were from scammers.

NAN reports that NECO organises Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE, Basic Education Certification Examination, BECE, and National Common Entrance Examination, NCEE. According to Mustapha, such fraudsters cheat unsuspecting candidates, adding that whoever patronises them was doing so at his or her peril.

“They have no access

to our answers; they cannot get our answers; they will pretend as if they have seen the answers, but it is all lies.

“Our questions appear in four types - types A to D; but what they present to unsuspecting candidates is just manufactured answers without the type specifications.

“Again, our questions stop at 50, but theirs continue from 51 to 100; that is another proof that they have not seen our answers.

“On one occasion, in our biology exam, the specimen was an ear, but they drew flower in their own fake answers,” he said adding that candidates had always shied away from reporting to NECO when they fell prey to scammers, “knowing they tried to cheat, but ended up being cheated.”

The 2015 NECO, SSCE, internal examination, which commenced on May 21, will end on July 10.

ver 1,000 youth corps members out of a total of 2,430 assigned to observe their mandatory National Youth Service Corps programme in Yobe State, were redeployed owing to fear of activities of insurgents in the area, state Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Mr. Ibrahim Lass, has disclosed.

He further said due to security challenges arising from actions associated with activities of insurgents, corps members would be deployed in the scheme in 11 of 17 local government areas of the state.

Lass stated this yesterday at Kano NYSC Orientation Camp in Karaye town, where

NSCDC arrests 350 vandals, prosecutes 35 OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

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igerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, yesterday carried out an operational self-audit, announcing that it has in the past six months arrested no fewer than 350 suspected vandals directly and indirectly.

Of this figure, 35 have been successfully prosecuted and are currently serving various jail terms.

Commandant General of the Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, however, lamented the growing menace of vandals in the country, adding that the elements have now formed a strong cartel.

He said as part of activi-

Group wants dissolution of Nasarawa APGA exco IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

S

ome aggrieved members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Nasarawa State, yesterday called for immediate dissolution of the party’s state executive, which was recently elected to steer

affairs of the party in the state.

Spokesman of the aggrieved members, who is also state zonal chairman of the party for southern senatorial zone, Dr. Joseph Adagadzu, made the call at a press conference in Lafia, the state capital.

Adagadzu said their call for immediate dis-

solution of the state executive of the party was borne out of the fact that members, who joined APGA from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, when former Information Minister, Labaran Maku, defected to the party to contest for governorship in the state didn’t follow due process of decamping before joining APGA.

He said: “You know, if you are a public figure in a party like PDP, especially someone holding a position in PDP for about 12 years as chairman of a local government area, you must follow due process by going to the ward council level to decamp so that everybody would see you, then APGA would accept such a person.

Batch ‘A’ corps members originally posted to Yobe State were relocated to undergo the three weeks orientation service. He assured that adequate security arrangement had been put in place to secure the lives and properties of corps members deployed in the state.

According to him, large chunk of corp members posted to Yobe State have been redeployed in other states due to security concerns.

“At any point in time in Yobe State, no fewer than 500 corps members undergo their service in Damaturu, the state capital.

“We have 17 local government councils in Yobe State, however, out of these number corps members would be posted to 11 local government council areas,” he stated.

But to our surprise, all those recently elected as officials of the party in the state, were masterminded by immediate past chairman of the party in the state, Mr. John Amakor, by denying other members of the party from obtaining forms to vie for elective posts.”

ties to step up strategies against vandalism and other duties, the corps was working hard to ensure the use of technology in protecting pipelines.

“Every government has its own programme, this new government is also concerned and worried about vandalism, so there is need for us to call ourselves and re-strategise especially now that vandals have become a cartel,” he told officers.

He said he was addressing the corps for the first time after some staff were promoted, adding that as the 2013 promotion exercise is over, the 2014 edition is about to begin for any serious staff.

He revealed that in the cause of the job, some personnel were kidnapped but later released, saying those ones should be accorded more attention in the next promotion exercise.

While making reference to NSCDC officers in the North-East of the country, who sacrificed their lives in intelligence gathering toward defeating insurgency, Abolurin charged the corps to ensure they see themselves as civilised officers, who must not promote acrimony in the society.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

We are building a team steadily.

Maybe they will thrive now. Maybe later. But I think only time will tell –Former South Africa international, Doctor Khumalo

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

53

Sport

Mikel combo excites Gyan

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Leon Balogun

Leon Balogun

joins Mainz 05 S

uper Eagles defender, Leon Balogun, has joined Bundesliga side, Mainz, in a three-year deal after a successful spell with Darmstadt where he starred in a fairytale run that culminated in promotion to the Bundesliga.

“I think it’s a good move to a team that has established itself over the last few years in the Bundesliga,” Balogun told supersport.com.

“I’m very excited to reach my goals with the new club and I am looking forward to a new start,” he added.

The 26-year-old moves to Mainz as a free agent after ending his contract with Darmstadt 98 but he remains grateful for the opportunity they gave him to pick up his career after injuring his leg while making his international debut for Nigeria against Mexico in Atlanta in March 2014 and not having his contract renewed by Fortuna Dusseldorf as a

result.

“I’m very grateful for everything SV Darmstadt 98 has done for me. It was them who gave me the opportunity to step on the stage again after my injury.

“What we made out of it was sensational...almost a miracle. Without them, none of this would have happened. So I give thanks to everybody at the club, because it was them who believed in me and my abilities,” an excited Balogun said to supersport. com.

Mainz’s sporting Director said they were made aware of Balogun during his time at Fortuna Düsseldorf, but then he suffered an injury which threw him off course.

“A strong season with Darmstadt 98 put him back on our radar. He is a physically strong, dynamic right back who can also play in the centre of defence. We are looking forward to having such a highly motivated and

ambitious player, who is really passionate about playing in the Bundesliga.”

Balogun has previously played for Hannover 96 (2008-2010), Werder Bremen (2010-2012) and Fortuna Düsseldorf (2012- 2014), accumulating 23 appearances in the Bundesliga, as well as 32 in the 2. Bundesliga and 49 in the third division.

After breaking his foot during his international debut in March 2014, he signed last year for Darmstadt 98.

“In Leon Balogun we have found an aggressive, strong-tackling fullback, who is also flexible across the back-four. He is a nice, intelligent guy who will not just enhance our team on the pitch, but also in the changing room,” Coach Martin Schmidt said to mainz05.de.

Balogun has made four appearances for the Super Eagles - against Mexico, Uganda, South Africa and Chad.

AAG: Weightlifters gear up for open trials

T

he Nigeria We i g h t l i f t i n g Federation (NWF) is expected to begin open trials in July ahead of the 2015 All Africa Games (AAG).

Technical Director of the NWF, Mr. Lawrence Iquaibom, who disclosed this to the

in Abuja, added that the trials scheduled for Ibadan would help identify good players to represent the country at the AAG. “Since the National Sports Commission (NSC) was yet to call for camping ahead of the AAG, we (Federation) decided

to hold the trials.

“The essence of the trials is for us to get the best weightlifters ahead of the AAG,” Iquaibom said.

The NWF added, “So, by the time we begin the camping proper, we would have had players who will be going into camp.”

He also said the Federation had started sending letters to states to invite their players for the trials, adding that the NWF was yet to conclude preparations for the trials.

The 2015 AAG is scheduled for September 4 to September 19 in Brazzaville, Congo.

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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mercy Jacob

Rio 2016 qualifier:

Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala

Mali refs for Falcons, E/Guinea clash

S

uper Falcons have been handed Malian officials for the 2016 Olympics qualifying first leg fixture against Equatorial Guinea in Abuja.

For the first leg taking place at the National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, July 18, Kankou Coulibaly will be in the centre to be assisted by compatriots Djeneba Dembele, Mariam Coulibaly and Fatou Sacko as Assistant Referee 1, Assistant Referee 2 and Fourth Official respectively.

Halimatou Hamidou

from Niger Republic will be the Referee Assessor while Arret Nje Jah from The Gambia will be the Match Commissioner.

The Falcons had returned to Nigeria on Saturday from Canada where they failed to scale the group stage of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup. Winner of the fixture with Equatorial Guinea will meet the winner of the fixture between South Africa and Kenya for a spot at the Women’s Football Tournament of next year’s Olympics, taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Mikel combo excites Gyan

A

l Ain striker, Asamoah Gyan, is relishing playing alongside Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi at the United Arab Emirates club this season.

Obi, who endured bit part roles at the London club last season, is reported to have agreed personal terms with UAE champion but the deal is yet to be confirmed by both sides.

“I have just heard that Mikel has agreed terms with Al Ain and will most definitely be playing for us next

season,” Gyan said in Accra, Ghana yesterday.

“It’s great news for us because Mikel Obi is a very good player and very experienced.

“It will be exciting playing with him in the same team, because I believe both of us, with the help of our other colleagues, can do more for the club.”

Gyan has been at Al Ain since July 2012 and has been a star performer having won the highest scorer award on three occasions.

Salah

Transfer:

Blues set for Salah sale

Gyan

R

eports yesterday said Chelsea will be ready to sell winger Mohamed Salah for £17.5million.

The reports said Chelsea would be open to letting the Egypt international leave the club permanently, if the right offer is made.

Italian Serie A side Fiorentina has ex-

pressed its desire to keep hold of the 23-yearold for another season, but Salah has yet to decide whether he will return to the club.

The former Basel player spent the secondhalf of the 2014/2015 season on-loan at Fiorentina, scoring eight goals in 18 league and Italian cup appearances

for Viola.

If Salah decides against returning to Florence, Chelsea would be eager to sell the attacker, according to the reports.

Several clubs, including Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Roma have been tipped as possible suitors for the Pharaohs star.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Nigeria triumphs at FIBA Championship Paul erewuba

F

IBA Zone 3 3x3 Tour Most Valuable Player (MVP), Stanley Gumut, powered Nigeria to victory in the final of the inaugural FIBA Africa Zone 3 3x3 Championship at the National Stadium in Lagos with 9 points and 6 rebounds as Nigeria beat a stiff opposition from Cote d’Ivoire to win 17-13 late on Sunday night.

Yahaya Abdul also came up big in the final minutes scor-

ing 3 of his 5 points hild with Azuoma Dike adding 3 points to outwit the Ivorian team who lead 9-7 and tied the game 13-13 with less than 2 minutes left.

Adje Anouh scored 5 points while Codlibal Abdoul added 4 points in the loss for the Ivoriens.

In the U-18 category, Liberia emerged champion having conquered Nigeria in the semi finals before edging past Cote d’Ivoire 14-12. The Nigerian Boys failed to shake off the semi final disappointment

as they once again fell to Togo 8-11 in the 3rd place playoffs.

In the women’s category, Chioma Udeaja added FIBA Africa Zone 3 3x3 Tour’s Most Valuable Player award to her trophy cabinet as she powered 7 points to lead Nigeria to victory with 21-9 points win over Togo.

Team Nigeria took home $2, 000 with medals and trophies for victory in the final game while Cote d’Ivoire went home with $1, 000 and medals as Ghana who beat Togo in the 3rd

place game 18-14 got $500 for its effort.

Captain of Team Nigeria, Atosu Upe, praised the organizers for what he called memorable event. “We are happy to win the inaugural FIBA Africa Zone 3 Championship and hope tournaments like this continue to help development of basketball in Nigeria,” Upe said, adding, “I really appreciate FIBA Africa Zone 3 President, Col. Sam Ahmedu (rtd), for bringing this event home to Nigeria.”

AAG: Beach volleyball upgrades preps he Nigerian Beach Volleyball has intensified effort in preparing its athletes ahead of the All Africa Games in September.

Chairman of Beach Volleyball and Board member Nigerian Volleyball Federation, Musa Nimrod, told National Mirror yesterday in Abuja that players were

already in camp preparing to participate in some tournaments that include the Beach World Volleyball Championship in Holland later this month.

“We are making effort to qualify to be in Brazil for 2016 Olympic. The last time we missed it but this time we are putting more effort to get our gold medal back in Congo,” Nimrod said.

On the recent pronounce-

ment by the National Sports Commission (NSC) that athletes preparing for AAG and 2016 Olympics would not embark on foreign training tours, Nimrod said: “It is a good idea by the commission and I totally agree with the Director General Alhassan Yakmut. I will only appeal to the new government to aid the NSC because there are not enough funds at the moment.”

About 2, 000 people that include the Indians participated in the event tagged, ‘Yoga for Happiness,’ organised by the Art of Living Foundation, National Olympic Committee and Sewa International.

Notable sports personalities that include the President of Sports for All, Henry Amike, Secretary General of Nigeria

Olympic Committee (NOC), Tunde Popoola, and some Indian experts also participated in rigorous yoga exercises and mental aerobics aimed at bringing body and soul together.

CEO of Sumeru Nigeria Ltd, Akshay Jain, said the exercise was vital for the young and old.

“Yoga improves the quality of life, which is so much need-

ed today. It can wipe the tears and bring smiles on every face and can bring celebration and skill in everyone’s life,” Jain said.

“So let’s celebrate this world Yoga day with zeal and enthusiasm and reach out this precious ancient knowledge to every human being on this planet,” he added.

Joel aJayi ABUJA

T Yakmut

Lagos hosts yoga sports Paul erewuba

E

nthusiasts in Lagos trooped to the National Stadium over the weekend to join in the celebration of the first International Day of Yoga, a United Nations day for exercises that enhance healthy living.

55

Nigerian players at the trophy presentation on Sunday

Kaduna Golden League: Federation charges athletes Mercy Jacob

A

thletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) President, Solomon Ogba, has enjoined athletes based in the country to work hard to make the team that will represent Nigeria at the Beijing 2015 IAAF World Championships in Athletics.

Ogba said only athletes at their best would be selected.

“The Beijing World Championships will not be a jamboree,” Ogba warned.

“We will go with a very slim team and only the capable athletes will be included,” he said, stressing his delight with the athletes who excelled at the Anambra Golden League while urging them to improve on the performance in the upcoming League in Kaduna.

“We took many coaches who did not produce athletes to games and championships.

“But we have changed the policy this time as there will be no place for coaches that have not produced athletes.”

Meanwhile, the AFN has promised that the federation will ensure that the Kaduna Golden League is a huge success.

Secretary of the federation, Olumide Bamiduro, disclosed that the National Sports Commission (NSC) had afored the AFN the use of Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna for the meet billed for Saturday.

“Many athletic clubs and states’ athletic associations are expected to participate,” Bamiduro said. fixture between South Africa and Kenya for a spot at the Women’s Football Tournament of next year’s Olympics, taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

WORLD RECORD

Fastest sandwich madetwo using feet Fastest marathon dribbling basketballs

N150

Vol. 05 No. 1140 Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Using just his feet, Rob Williams of Austin, Texas, USA, made a Bologna, cheese and lettuce sandwich, complete with olives on cocktail sticks, in 1 min 57 sec

Redefining Nigeria’s national interest for development

A

nation’s national interest is the aggregate of interest of individuals and groups within its confine. It is all that a nation considers vital for its survival and prosperity. Proximate to this is protecting and preserving the interest of citizens within the country and abroad. National capability on the other hand is described as the ability of a nation to protect its national integrity, which is premised on national interest. The question to ask is what are Nigeria’s national interest and what national integrity Is she protecting?

Section 19 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives, includes promotion and protection of national interest, though it failed to define what it is. The challenge here is that national

Guest Columnist

Olusola

Akinyemi

interest has no Nigerian definition; it is, therefore, left to whatever or however a head of state chooses to describe it.

The meaning is, therefore, left to what any leader who has interest in such definition gives it. For example, General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1976 espoused the four components of Nigeria’s national interest as creation of suitable political and economic environment in Africa and the world at large; promotion of equality and self-reliance in Africa and the world; defence of social justice and human dignity of the Black man; and defence and promotion of world peace. Military President Ibrahim Babangida, at the All-Nigeria People’s Conference on Foreign Policy in April 1986, equated national interest to national security interest.

Nigeria’s national interest, obviously evolve around the survival and prosperity of Nigerians, home and abroad. In fact, the deeds of Nigeria in local dealings and foreign relations should strategically centre on Nigerians’ interest. Therefore, Nigeria’s national interest should include Nigeria’s economic prosperity, social welfare, and promotion and protection of national security.

Fundamental to this discourse is how best Nigeria’s national interest can be made a panacea for national development. National development in the Nigerian context may include first, economic growth with a GDP and GDP Per Capita statistics that are tangible to over 70 percent Nigerian people being able to feed their families, afford basic education and basic health care for family members. This will be identified by the revival of agriculture; functional real/manufacturing sector with uninterrupted power supply; revival of

DISREGARD TO NATIONAL INTEREST IS PART OF WHAT HAS KEPT

NIGERIA

AS A DEVELOPING NATION...

the mining sector; provision of public infrastructures with enabling environment for the SMEs to thrive, and Nigerians being able to provide up to 70 percent of products and services consumed in the country.

Second is total overhaul of education sector with enough facilities and equipment adequate to make it functional. There is also exalted national ethics with emphasis on selflessness, discipline, integrity, dignity of labour, ethnic and religious tolerance, self-reliance and patriotism - Section 23 of the 1999 Constitution Fourth is security of the national territory for the safety of Nigerians and residents; and fifth are adequate and well equipped health care facilities with skilled staff. It is expected this will lead to reduction of child mortality, maternal mortality, containment of malaria and proximate illnesses, control of the spread of HIV/AIDS, reduction of death from curable diseases and maintenance of sustainable environment; Sixth is regional harmonization and security with interest in matters of global importance; safe recreational and tourist attraction around the country; and lastly, the practice of

constructive politics that is built around national growth and international reputation as opposed to political party’s interest or leaders’ gain that contravenes public interest.

Now, let us relate national interest to the components of national development described above. It is in the national interest for Nigeria to pursue and ensure the accomplishment of national development. The benefit of this extends beyond social welfare of every Nigerian to promoting an image of dignity, trust and opportunity for the citizens and the country as a whole with extension to the international community.

Disregard to national interest is part of what has kept Nigeria as a developing nation after over 50 years of independence even in the midst of abundance of natural and human resources. President Barack Obama one said Nigeria was the major hope for real growth in Africa. But how are we trying to live up to this expectation?

Just as we know of the US that national interest is a fundamental guide to its domestic policy and foreign relations, it is the major prerequisite for national development in Nigeria. Every citizen in whose benefit national interest is must rise to take responsibility for national development.

From my reading a book titled ‘Presidential Leadership’, a survey of the White House Presidents from George Washington to Bill Clinton, I observed that the US has attained the height of economic vibrancy and global political influence through continuous contribution of every generation of the country till date, holding firmly to the watchword ‘national interest’.

In conclusion, national interest should not be an abstraction but real to be held as a watchword for every citizen and leaders for the purpose of realizing national development. This is because national development is in the interest of every Nigerian.

Akinyemi, President, Joseph Initiative Ltd/Gte, Lagos, wrote via olusola.akins@ gmail.com

Sport Extra

J

uventus midfielder, Andrea Pirlo, has dismissed an Instagram post bidding his farewell to the Turin club, insisting that he doesn’t have an account.

Pirlo has been linked with a move to New York

Transfer: I’m still with Juventus –Pirlo City, having been snapped watching a baseball game in the USA over the weekend.

“I would like to point out again that I have no profile on Instagram,” the

2015 Champions League finalist said yesterday.

“If I open one, it will be written in proper Italian and not as poor as the one in circulation was written,” the 36-year-old added.

Pirlo’s former Juventus teammate, Sebastian Giovinco, now at Toronto FC in the MLS, revealed however that the Italian had asked him about football in North America.

“I spoke to Andrea, he asked and I told him what I think,” Giovinco said, adding, “I do not know his decision but I know that this is an experience worth having.”

Pirlo

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