Binder1

N213bn NEMSF fund will change power sector –CBN

C Emefiele

Vol. 5 N0. 1200

entral Bank of Nigeria, CBN, said its N213bn Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility, NEMSF, would improve genera-

tion, distribution and transmission of power in the country.

Special Assistant to CBN Governor on Energy Sector, Mr. Yinka Balo-

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Boko Haram’s days numbered –DHQ

gun, said this in Abuja on Monday at a roundtable on “Releasing Private Sector Capital for Investment in the Power SecCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

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...urges unrepentant terrorists to P.2 surrender

Olonisakin

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Economy falling rapidly under Buhari –PDP P OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

...urges President to pay attention to global indices Opposition’s strategy mischievous –APC

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, has advised the All Progressives Congress, APC, administration to pay urgent attention to management of the economy.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Sultan declares Sept 24 Eid-el-kabir day P.7

Police read riot act to okada riders P.9 President Muhammadu Buhari (left) being welcomed by President Francoise Hollande at the Elysee Palace in Paris, yesterday.

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Giesi family to produce next Ooni –Kingmakers ...new king to emerge in 40 days

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Rep confirms 13 deaths in fresh Plateau attack P.12

APC candidate wants Ekweremadu’s election nullified

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

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Boko Haram’s days numbered –DHQ UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

D

efence Headquarters, DHQ, yesterday, declared that the end was now imminent for Boko Haram insurgency in the country.

Director of Defence Information, DDI, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, conveyed the declaration while speaking with newsmen in Abuja.

Colonel Abubakar said the renewed commitment of military leadership and the determination of the troops in the mission areas were all pointers to the end of the insurgency.

He eulogised the heartwarming successes of the brilliant coordination between the air element of the Nigerian Air Force and the ground troops of the Nigerian Army that had uprooted the Boko Haram insurgency from their strongholds, including their several camps in Sambisa forest. Colonel Abubakar described as unpatriotic acts by any citizen, no matter under whatsoever guise, to carry arms against his/her own people and the country.

He called on the unre-

pentant members of the terrorist group to have a rethink, lay down their arms and abandon their strange and uncivilised ideology for the betterment of mankind.

The Defence spokesman commended the troops for their ever-ready posture to tackle head-on all forms of criminality by the terrorists.

He attributed the feat recorded so far to motivation and injection of right arsenal in the prosecution of the battle against insurgency.

Meanwhile, National Orientation Agency, NOA, has called for increased vigilance by the citizenry to safeguard critical national infrastructure and common facilities.

A statement issued by Mr. Mike Omeri, the Director General of NOA on Monday, said that this was necessary as the fight against insurgency had reached its peak with victory in sight.

“Boko Haram as at today has suffered drastic reduction in capacity to manufacture Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) due to the inaccessibility

of production materials.

“We must therefore put in check their desperation to continue inflicting pains on the citizenry by maintaining high level of alertness, individually and collectively.

“There is need at this time more than ever to protect critical national infrastructure and common facilities, including

sources and channels of food and water supplies,’’ the statement quoted him as saying.

He called for support to the military as well as complementing their ``heroic efforts’’ with useful information on every suspicious characters, items and movements.

Omeri also called for support for strategic pub-

lic agencies, including federal and state water boards, as well as management of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps across the country.

He said there was need to take extra precautionary measures to protect the environment and citizenry by ensuring that farmlands, farm produces, water bodies and pub-

lic water sources were not compromised.

He recalled that the terror group had in the past threatened to compromise integrity of water bodies, food and public water sources in the country.

He said that the deployment of similar tactics by other terror groups in the world recently had also CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

L –R: Former Minister of foreign affairs, Amb. Aminu Wali; former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Prof.

Ibrahim Gambari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during Peace and Security of African Union Retreat on Enhancement of Cooperation between the AU Peace and Security Council and Regional Communities in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

Economy falling rapidly under Buhari –PDP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The call is contained in a statement issued by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in Abuja, on Monday.

It claimed that its worry stemmed from the fact that the economy had remained on rapid fall since the last four months.

According to the statement, the fall is “apparently due to the absence of clear-cut fiscal policy direction and an economic team to deal with the domestic and global challenges associated with a developing economy.’’

It said PDP was in full support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts in tackling corruption and insurgency but was concerned about the economic situation of Nigeria.

The party said it was worried that the government had not paid attention to indices from

global economic watchers in spite of its predictable negative impact.

The statement said as a responsible party, PDP was duty-bound, beyond politics, to draw the president’s attention to the fact that under the prevailing circumstances, the economy was threatened.

It stated that the situation had become more worrisome following the ``failure of APC administration to articulate any interventionist policy at this critical moment,’’ especially against predictions that oil might sell for 20 dollars.

“We caution strongly that this approach to governance is not healthy for our nation,’’ the party said.

It said time had come for the president to take urgent steps to set up a crack economic team of experts to immediately swing into action and sal-

vage the economy.

“In managing this economy at this time, we urge the president, as the father of the nation, to look beyond partisan politics.

“He should ensure that the policy frameworks and populist economic projects laid by the PDP administration, especially in the non-oil sectors are not allowed to rot but adequately utilised for the good of all.’’

It advises the APC administration to pay attention to various agricultural projects and programmes established in Nigeria by the PDP administrations, especially in the northern part.

The projects include various dams and irrigation projects, the e-wallet financial empowerment system to farmers, associated to the over two million direct farm jobs.

Others are the Green Belt project under Presi-

dential Initiative on Afforestation in Kano and 10 other northern states, all in line with PDP’s agenda to return the region as the food basket of the nation.

“The PDP believes that in the interest of millions of Nigerians citizens who look up to the political class for direction, it is now imperative on the APC-led federal government to pay deserving attention to the economy.

“The administration should continue the policy of the past administration of opening the space for harnessing indigenous potentials,’ it said.

But APC, in its reaction, described the PDP’s statement on the nation’s economy as part of the opposition’s ploy to distract the Buhari administration from its onerous task of putting the nation on a sound footing.

In a statement issued in Lagos by its National

Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the PDP’s statement was a litany of delusional self praise, rather than a genuine concern about the nation’s well being. ‘’The question the PDP should ask itself is that if it had laid a solid foundation for the economy in its 16 years in charge, could such a foundation have given way in just three months of a new administration? ‘’If the PDP had been as fantastic as its statement had portrayed, it would still be the ruling, rather than the opposition party that it is now. ‘’It is therefore important for the PDP to concentrate its attention on remaking its tattered image rather than continuing to act as a desperate attention-seeking opposition,’’ it said Meanwhile, economic activities resumed throughout the country

on Monday on a brighter note following the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, reassurance on the nation’s economic strong fundamentals.

The CBN assurance followed recent claims and counter claims over the nation’s foreign exchange liquidity profile, even as JPMorgan removed the country from its emerging market bonds index.

Mr. Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor, while reaction to the concerns raised by the foreign rating agency, reassured Nigerians and foreign investors on the nation’s strong economic fundamentals.

He described the rating agency’s concerns and decision as baseless.

According to him, the nation’s ability to operate within 350 million dollars and 400 million dollars daily range of liquidity was a challenge.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

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Photo News

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: President, Ibadan Business School, Mr. Yinka Fasuyi; Procurement Specialist, Fadama III, Mr. Kwaji Duguri and Lead Specialist, Social Protection Unit, World Bank, Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa, during the World Bank/Ibadan Business School Executive Certificate Programme in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

L-R: Divisional Manager, North, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr Rotimi Afolaogun; ME/CEO Tony Pharmacy, Kano, Mr Anthony Osimire and Field Sales Manager, North 2, Fidson, Mr Lucky Oriabure during Fidson’s Retail Reward in Kano, yesterday.

Acting Chairman of INEC, Hajia Amina Zakari (4th right); leader of delegation of Defence Intelligence, Col. Ifeanyi Okoro, and other members of defence intelligences from Nigeria, France, Cameroon and other countries, during their visit to INEC headquarters in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

L-R: Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Enforcement and Operations, Yahaya Usman; Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Amade Abdul and Deputy Comptroller of Administration, Dangana Lot, during an inaugural conference by the Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit, in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday.

National News

Power, key to prosperity in Nigeria –IFC Sahara Power Group plans to hit 10,000mw by 2025

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orld Bank has said that constant power supply will ensure overall prosperity and development for Nigeria.

Speaking at a roundtable in Abuja yesterday, Head, Africa Special Initiatives of the International Finance Corporation, IFC, Mr Richard Arkutu, said electrification would benefit Nigerians immensely.

“Electrification will make an important contribution to sharing the benefits of growth broadly among all Nigerians.

“Nigeria’s progress in reducing extreme poverty is an important contributor to the three per cent global target for extreme poverty,” he said.

According to him, increasing power production to the level of South Africa can boost Gross Development Product, GDP, growth by 1.5 per cent.

Arkutu said Nigeria’s current power consumption was a quarter of South Africa’s consumption and about 50 per cent of consumption levels of comparable middle income countries.

He said 30 to 40 per cent of manufacturers’ costs were power-related; therefore, an increase in power generation and distribution was important.

“There is a huge potential impact that an increase in regional gas supply could have on other regional economies, including Ghana,” he noted.

Other speakers at the roundtable, however, said World Bank had a role to play in ensuring that power supply in Nigeria was increased and sustained.

Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Azura Power West Africa Limited, Mr. David Ladipo, said World Bank’s role in the power sector

reforms in Nigeria was beyond providing the leverage and liquidity support for Independent Power Producers, IPPs. “The World Bank is key in leveraging investment in the transmission company and providing support in the gas sector.

“Right now, it is quite critical for the World Bank to provide additional liquidity support for the government as it tries to deal with how to solve the liquidity gap at the distribution level,” he said.

He also said the capacity of World Bank was currently greatly under utilised.

This, he said, was because the government itself was not yet in the position to draw on the World Bank’s help.

“It is trying to get there but it is not there yet. So there needs to be a lot of dialogue between the key policy makers in the govern-

ment and the World Bank to tap all these un-utilised facilities that World Bank currently has,” he added Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company PLC, Mr. Rumundaka Wonodi, commended the World Bank for the impact it made in the privatisation of the power sector.

He, however, said there was a lot of bureaucracy in the process of accessing the World Bank’s facilities.

“The fact that the World Bank blessed the transaction opened a lot of doors that saw genuine investors coming into the country.

“In the power sector, we have enjoyed a lot of technical and advisory support from the World Bank. However, to be honest, accessing some of their facilities could be quite tasking.

“Some of these instruments do take time to access because there is a lot

of bureaucracy. So if they are much easier so people can get into them, it will be better,” he said.

Wonodi also appealed for capacity building for stakeholders in the sector to enable them to know how to draw from the instruments.

Meanwhile, Chairman, Sahara Group, owners of Egbin Power Station, Mr Kola Adesina, yesterday said the company was working towards attaining 10,000 megawatts in 10 years time.

Adeshina disclosed this at the 4th graduation ceremony of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, NAPTIN, Graduate Skill Development Programme, NGSDP, in Lagos.

He said the company was currently working relentlessly to inject massive investment into transmission and gas supply, to create a smooth value chain for it to operate.

The chairman said currently, Egbin power station installed capacity stood at over 2,200 megawatts, while generation had moved from 220 megawatts to over 1,300 megawatts.

He, however, advised the newly graduated engineers to be more focused and efficient in all their dealings if finally engaged in the system.

“Egbin is working closely with KEPCO to embark on achieving its vision of attaining 2,670mw by 2017 and total capacity of over 10,000mw in the next decade, if demand permits.

“To ensure that this is achieved, plans have been put in place for continuing capital investments as well as robust human capital development initiatives that will involve exchange programmes and training courses for all cadres of staff in Egbin,” he said.

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

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N213bn NEMSF fund will change power sector –CBN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tor”.

He said the intervention fund would ensure that the power sector delivered tangible improvement in power supply for the benefit of all Nigerians.

“CBN will disburse these funds in partnership with “deposit money banks” to address the shortfalls in revenue for operators to boost power supply and settle legacy gas debt.

“We believe that once the power sector issues are fixed, Nigeria will return to the path of sustainability at other sectors,” he said.

Balogun said that the

funds was mainly for distribution companies and would be monitored to ensure that they were used to purchase specific equipment such as meters and transformers.

He said that the apex bank had started disbursement to power companies that met the conditions of the funds and urged other interested parties to take part in the intervention fund.

Also, Mr. Obinna Ihedioha, the Vice President, Infrastructure Investment, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, said that NSIA planned to invest in the power sector.

“The power sector is

very important and that is why we are looking at creating a credit investment facility for investors to boost the sector.

“We want to facilitate infrastructure development in the country, so we have also contributed 400 million dollars to the Nigerian infrastructure fund.

“We are looking at allocating those funds into different sectors and power of course is one of the major areas we are looking at.

“For gas, as a key fuel source for power generation in Nigeria, we are looking at finding the right gas deal to invest in,” he said.

Ihedioha said NSIA was careful about the investments they were making and since it was investing in the future generation of Nigeria, it would make investments with manageable and safe returns.

The Vice President, Debt Solutions, FBN Capital, Mrs. Baruw Abiola, said the major factor investors were looking at before investing in the power sector was cost reflection of tariffs and stable regulation.

She said that until the factors were properly addressed, investors would continue to be skeptical about putting more money into the sector.

She urged the govern-

ment to unlock the pension fund which held a

lot of huge investment potential for the sector.

Economy falling rapidly under Buhari –PDP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

He said that contrary to other opinions, the CBN had addressed the issue of transparency while meeting the dollar demand of the economy.

Nigerians were also emboldened further in the out gone week, as President Muhammadu Buhari announced Sept. 15, as deadline for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to comply with treasury Single Account (TSA) directive.

The directive is aimed at consolidating federal government’s accounts, especially revenue, engendering transparency and accountability.

The new government policy also reverberated negatively in commercial banks, in the week under review, as some economic experts expressed fears of possible retrenchment.

Although no commercial bank has so far re-

trenched any worker, the Nigeria Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS) says over 20 million customers have so far been enrolled by banks under the ongoing Bank Verification Number (BVN) programme.

The milestone, NIBSS said, was part of the achievements towards creating a national data base.

NIBSS said it was collaborating with Etisalat to produce a BVN Query Service, designed to help the banking Nigerian public query their BVN on-the-go through mobile phones.

Overall, most stakeholders commended CBN for providing soft landing for the Nigerian economy, in the period under review.

They said the CBN’s proactive response on the concerns raised by JPMorgan on foreign exchange liquidity and transparency assisted tremendously in stabilising the economy.

Boko Haram’s days numbered –DHQ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Chairman, Joint Tax Board (JTB), Mr. Tunde Fowler (left), and Secretary of the board, Mr. Muhammad Abubakar, during a meeting of JTB on improving revenue collection through enhanced collaboration of tax authorities, in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

raised indications that the local terror group might attempt to make good on the threat.

Omeri, however, assured the public that security forces remained resolute to protect the lives and property of citi-

zens from all forms of attacks.

He advised those who frequently deployed explosives to destroy lives and property as a means of communicating their grievances to desist and embrace the path of peace.

Buhari urges AU, regional communities’ collaboration in tackling insecurity in Africa

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja urged the Peace and Security Council, PAC, of the African Union, AU, and regional economic communities to ensure proper coordination and harmonise their efforts at tackling insecurity in the continent.

He said this while declaring open a retreat on the enhancement of cooperation between the AU Peace and Security Council and Regional Economic Communities in the promotion of peace, security and stability in Africa.

Represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Buhari said it was embarrassing that on a regular basis there were fresh conflicts in the continent or a relapse of post-conflict situation, including terrorism and violent extremism, resulting in large refugee situations and displacement of many across borders.

He said: “In wishing you every success in these collective efforts for peace and security in Africa, I would like to remind that attention should be focused on how the

Peace and Security Council and the regional economic communities can enhance effectiveness and efficiency using their comparative advantages and various capacities within the context of subsidiarity and complementarity in the areas of early warning and early action, conflict prevention, peacemaking, post-conflict peace building, reconstruction and development, strengthening of democratic practices and good governance as well as in combating terrorism and violent extremism.”

According to the President, it is if, and when all of these are comprehensively addressed that all the weak linkages and gaps that often pose the risk of parallel initiatives will be eliminated, thereby achieving the limited objectives under African Peace and Security Architecture, APSA. He said Nigeria had always advocated for the proper conception and implementation of closer cooperation and collaboration between AU and the regional economic communities, giving the successes recorded

by ECOWAS. “We have always believed that the position of the regional economic communities as the basis of our future development is long assured and no chance should be missed to further strengthen it,” he said.

Buhari described the Abuja retreat as timely as it came during a season of conflicts in the continent, adding that the PAC had been the continent’s lead response agency in tackling numerous challenges from political conflicts to humanitarian

crisis such as the Ebola virus disease outbreak.

He said the envisaged relationship between the AU and the regional blocs covered all aspects of the continent’s developmental needs.

“While the Peace and Security Council as an organ of the Union exercises continental oversight on all issues of peace and security in respective member states, it is the regional economic communities that often exercise initial management responsibilities on all crises whenever they occur,” the president said.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

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INEC is working with NASS to review necessary clauses of Electoral Act –Zakari

I

ndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it is working with the National Assembly to review the country’s Electoral Act for improved electoral processes.

Acting Chairman of INEC, Hajia Amina Zakari, made the statement yesterday, when she received some Foreign Defence Attaches with the Defence Intelligence Agency at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Zakari said that in the cause of carrying out its assignment, INEC had noticed some lapses in the electoral act which needed to be reviewed.

She said while INEC had recommended certain reviews to the National Assembly, it had also reminded the current lawmakers on the need to review those clauses to improve the electoral processes.

“We will continuously try to improve the electoral process through legal reviews.

“Election laws are not static, they are dynamic.

You have to keep on improving on them especially when something comes up,

like the issue of Diaspora voting, the issue of electronic voting.

“These are issues that require review and we will keep on recommending to the National Assembly for these reviews,” Zakari said.

She listed other challenges confronting the commission in carrying out its functions to include election violence, lack of internal democracy among political parties and difficulties in monitoring their election finances.

The acting chairman said INEC was already working on necessary measures to mitigate the challenges by introducing modern technologies, including the Permanent Voters Cards into the electoral process.

“We have already achieved some success in those regards but we are looking forward for more.

“On electoral violence, we have been able to mitigate that with the deployment of our Election Risk Management Tool and with our collaboration with the Inter-Agency Committee on Election Security, IACES,” Zakari said.

Aisha Buhari wants law on rape, children’s right enforced

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ife of the President, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu, has urged government at all levels to enforce the law on rape, to protect women and children in the country.

Aisha stated this when she received some staff of the Ministry of Women Affairs, UNICEF and National Population Commission, led by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Ezekiel Oyemomi.

The staff came to brief her on the plan to launch an action to end violence against children, slated for today.

“We are aware of the national law on rape passed this year on May 25 (Prohibition Act 2015) which states imprisonment ranging from 12 to 20 years.

“I advocate for the enforcement of this law at all levels. Unfortunately, children are the most vulnerable, being exploited at different stages of their lives,” she stressed.

Aisha said it had become necessary for government and international organisations to pursue policies and laws to protect women and children against the act.

She said the issue of violence against children was dear to her heart and would do every possible to salvage the disadvantage situation of children and other vulnerable groups in the society.

She wanted the domestication of the law to end the act in Nigeria and Africa in general.

Briefing the president’s wife on the plan, Oyemomi said Nigeria had conducted the survey in collaboration with UNICEF, National Population Commission and Centre for Development of Disease Control and Prevention through the National Planning Commission.

He said so far only eight countries had conducted survey on violence against women in the world, including five countries in Africa and Nigeria was first to have done survey in West Africa.

He said that 60 per cent of children was usually exposed to one form of violence or the other before the age of 18 years.

He said the violence included physical, sexual and emotional violence.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, Septe

Again, NAHCO set to sack more workers

Students of Girls Senior High School on their first day of resumption for 2015/2016 Academic Session in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Abioye described the action of NAHCO as “most provocative, unwholesome and outrageous disposition of your management towards staff welfare and their prosperity in the workplace.”

The union regretted that it was currently in the concluding phase of the review of condition of service for workers in the organisation and wondered why management planned to take such retroactive step at this period.

The petition emphasised that the current situation in NAHCO called for a speedy readjustment to reality as workers had been subjected to harrowing and agonising hardship arising from management’s failure to promote staff as at when due.

It also accused the ground handling company of not giving appropriate training and retraining to staff as expected given technological advances, stressing that flagrant breach and violation of the rights of

Olusegun KOiKi

N

igerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO, Plc is again set to retrench another batch of workers in what it terms “rightsizing of the workforce.”

This was disclosed yesterday by the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE. The union also warned the management of the company to desist from the planned sack.

NUATE, in a petition to the Managing Director, NAHCO, which was copied other organisations like the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Director of Directorate of State Service, DSS, and State Controller of Labour among others, threatened that any form of retrenchment at this period would be met with stiff opposition.

Acting General Secretary, NUATE, Olayinka CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

ARO : Formerly known and addressed as Miss Aro Lizzy Olubunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwajana Lizzy Olubunmi. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Formerly known and addressed as Adeleke Seun, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Ajoseh Shadrach Abayomi. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

workers to decent work and fair remuneration and benefits had taken the centre stage in the company.

“The body language of the management and the unseen masquerade speaks volume and the workers have heard very loud and clear that there is a plan in the offing towards the retrenchment of staff, when the unions and management move closer to the conclusion of a review of the conditions of service.

“While we note the shenanigan being displayed by the management as it daily dismantles its own administrative and management structure, in order to suit the purpose of certain persons, we hasten to put your management on notice by this letter that any attempt to retrench and or terminate the employment of any NAHCO staff as it currently plans, shall be met with stiff opposition,” the union said.

The petition further demanded for the conclusion of ongoing review of the financial areas of the conditions of service on or before Wednesday, threatening to ask its members to withdraw their services im-

mediately without further notice.

It would be recalled that NAHCO, in December last year, sacked 15 top management staff over what it termed “restructuring exercise”, while several others were also retrenched few months later.

Some of the positions affected in the recent purge in the company included Assistant General Managers, General Managers and others while the affected departments included Human Resources, Corporate Communications, Risks Management and the office of the Managing Director.

The sacking spree had started in late October with the dismissal of the Managing Director, Mr. Kayode Oluwasegun-Ojo by the Board of Directors and the immediate announcement of a replacement for him.

Also in 2013, the ground handling company sacked about 30 workers over the same restructuring exercise claim.

The sack then angered the leading industry unions; Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, and NUATE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

SOARING EAGLE GENERATION DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

LEVI SPRING TRANSFORMATION FOUNDATION

This is to inform the general public that the above named Organisation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C”of Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) Cap C20, LFN 2004.

This is to inform the general public that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part “C”of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

MEMBERS: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

The Trustees of the Foundation are: 1. Rev. Sunday Madudu 2. Sister Joy Adebayo3. Sister Rita Omosanya4. Mr. Olusola Segun5. Mr. Hilary Ejikeme6. Rev. Dr. Adegboyega Oloriade

Ms. Ruth Omolola Abraham Mr. Ayoola Abraham Mrs. Obiageli Osasona Hon. Remmy Hazzan Pst. Soji Olayinka Mrs. Mopelola Olotu Mrs. Bukola Sarah Adesuyi -

-

-Trustee Trustee -Trustee -Trustee Trustee -Trustee Trustee

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To work towards the development of the human person for the fulfilment of destiny that glorifies God and blesses humanity.

2. To add value to humanity by engaging in capacity building and human development initiatives.

3. To carry out activities that enliven the depressed and oppressed in the society for a better world.

4. To work and liaise with governmental and non-governmental organization for the purpose of improving the well being of the society.

5. To promote youth empowerment programs such as skill acquisition scheme, talent shows, leadership training and education for all.

6. To organize workshops and programs aimed at developing the consciousness of the average Nigerian on nation building not guided by primordial narratives.

Any opposition to the registration should be directed to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, PMB 198 Garki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of publication.

SIGNED: Barr. Olarewaju Ademola (08056679200)

- President Vice President Secretary Member Membe - Member

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FOUNDATION ARE: a. To nurture, groom, mentor and inculcate moral values into children and young adult whose moral value are endangered due to their environment using biblical standards. b. To organise Trainings, Seminars, Exhibitions, Competitions, Workshops and Conferences for promotion of the spiritual, personal and vocational growth and entrepreneurial development, skill acquisition and general empowerment of Children and Youths. c. To facilitate accessibility to educational and vocational development of children youth and young people generally, by the award of scholarships, grants, financial aid and/or other assistance as may be required. d. To do all such things as are incidental to the attainment of the above objects or any of them.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Wuse, Zone 5, Abuja 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: D. A. AGBOIRE & CO (LEGAL PRACTITIONERS)

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

LP backs labour’s support for Buhari

L

abour Party, LP yesterday in Lagos expressed support for the just concluded organised Labour march against corruption, saying it was appropriate and timely.

National Secretary of LP, Mr Kayode Ajulo, said in a statement that the march by the organised labour indicated that there was hope for Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC, on September 10 held a peaceful walk in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption drive.

“The Labour unions March against corruption is a welcome development.

It is an indication that there is hope for Nigeria and her future.

“I am proud of Nigerian workers from across all sectors of the economy who were led by the organised labour in a national mass protest against corrupt practices in the country,” he said.

Ajulo expressed optimism that Nigerian workers would play significant role in implementing the policies the government intended to deploy to fight

corruption in its businesses and the nation’s national life.

He said the labour union was a critical part of the war against corruption, adding that Nigerian workers were the foot soldiers in implementing policies made by government The LP scribe urged Nigerians to continue to take their destinies in their hands, saying they could no longer afford to fold its arms while situation continues to degenerate.

According to him, the era of lamentation is over.

He said: “Our political leaders must always represent our interest, not the interest of a few along party lines, religion or ethnicity.”

Ajulo, therefore, said the Nigerian system must be able to put food on the table of ordinary Nigerians and youths must be employed after graduation.

He said that labour stood for social justice, equity, prosperity and gender equality.

Ajulo also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and other anti-graft agencies to ensure the prosecution of whomever misappropriates the common wealth of the people.

Customs impounds goods worth N56.4m

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ederal Operations Unit, Zone `A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ikeja, said it intercepted goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N56.4 million from August 27 to September 11.

This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Lagos by the Head of the Unit, Mr Amade Abdul, who is a Comptroller of Customs.

The statement reported Abdul as saying that eight suspects were caught in connection with the seizures.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the seizures included 1,887 bags of rice; 4.854 cartons of smuggled poultry products and four vehicles.

Other seizures were general goods like new and used tyres, textile materials, vegetable oil, used shoes and fruit juice.

The statement said the unit would do everything possible, with the support of the media and other stakeholders, to improve on the record.

The comptroller said this was against the background of the new order which called for due diligence and renewed commitment.

“My pre-occupation remains to degrade the activities of smugglers through aggressive patrol of all flanks and flash points.

“We will be very ruthless with these economic saboteurs because we have a responsibility to protect the nation’s economy in line with the expectations of the Federal Government,’’ the comptroller said.

Abdul also said smugglers should be prepared for the battle ahead, adding that he would take measures to stop smuggling by unscrupulous elements.

He said that part of the unit’s strategy was intelligence and information gathering, collaboration and synergy with the critical stakeholders, maritime operators, security agencies and even the communities where the service operated.

The comptroller sought the cooperation of the media in the anti-smuggling task, which he described as enormous.

He said on assumption of office on August 26, he held a meeting with team leaders and sectional heads on how to enhance operational capacity of the unit.

Vice-President, Association of Air Transport Senior Staff, Ahamadu Ilitrus (right), addressing Nigeria Aviation Handling Company employees, during the general congress protest over new condition of service and ‘no promotion’ for seven years, in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Sultan declares Sept 24 Eid-el-Kabir Day S ultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar II, yesterday declared Tuesday as the first day of Zulhijja, 1436 AH. Consequently, Eid-elKabir is to be celebrated in Nigeria on Thursday, September 24, equivalent to 10th Zulhijja, 1436 AH, a statement said.

The statement was

signed by Sa’idu Maccido on behalf of the chairman, Sultanate Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto, Prof. Sambo Junaid.

It added that the National Moon Sighting Committee did not receive any report from across the country confirming the sighting of the new Moon

of Zulhijja, 1436 AH, on Sunday, September 13, which was the 29th day of Zulki’ida 1436 AH. “His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, has accepted the report and accordingly declared Tuesday, September 15 as the

first day of Zulhijja,1436 AH,” the document explained.

Saudi Arabian authorities had on Sunday declared that the Arafat, which precedes Eid-elKabir celebrated by Muslims across the world on 10th Zulhijja, would be marked on Wednesday, September 23.

German firm to site N14bn factory in Lagos

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he investment drive of the Lagos State government received a major boost on yesterday when the representative of Knauf Group International, Mrs Isabel Knauf, expressed her company’s readiness to commence work on a N14 billion manufacturing firm in the state.

This was as the German Ambassador, Michael Zenner, led a group of German diplomats and investors on a courtesy visit to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at Lagos House, Alausa in Ikeja.

Zenner, while canvassing an increased presence of German businesses in Lagos, also sought improved bilateral trade relations with the state government.

“We are here to introduce and express our interest in business and economic cooperation,

especially on food processing and building materials. A lot of allied companies in Germany also wish to join hands in the investment drive of the governor,” the ambassador said.

In his remarks, Governor Ambode who expressed his administration’s readiness to receive German investors, described Lagos as the economic hub of Nigeria and fifth largest economy in Africa, thereby making it investors’ first choice of destination in Nigeria.

“As the economic hub of the country, we pride ourselves as the largest of the nation’s economy with the GDP of $131 billion. For any German company that wants to do business in Nigeria, Lagos is your best bet.

We are committed to the rule of law and we assure you of a safer and secured environment,” he said.

The governor, who described the visit by the German envoy as the first by an ambassador to actually visit and commit to commence immediate foreign direct investment, lauded their confidence in the Lagos economy.

He assured the delegation of his administration’s commitment to do everything possible to ensure smooth take off of the project and sought to activate a state sister relationship with the city of Hamburg to further boost cooperation.

“I also want to let you know that you are the first ambassador to come out openly that you want to come and start business immediately. With your coming, investors are beginning to have confidence in our quest to build an investorfriendly environment. I want to say openly that we are committed to give everything required by

this group to start work immediately,” Ambode enthused.

Earlier, Mrs Isabel Knauf of the Knauf Group International had solicited the support of the governor towards locating a $70 million (N14billion) building/ construction tools manufacturing company in Lagos.

She solicited the support of the governor saying the preference for Lagos was informed by its proximity to ports, availability of gas pipeline and a ready market.

“We are looking to invest and build a factory here. We are looking for your support. We have been to Lekki Sea Port and want to proceed on investing straight off. I wish to express our interest in investing about 70million US dollars in construction tools factory in Lagos for the first stage,” Knauf said.

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South West

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Giesi Ruling House to present new Ooni —Kingmakers BOladale BamigBOla OsOgbO

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he process of choosing a new Ooni of Ife yesterday gathered momentum, just as one of the two highest ranked kingmakers, Obalufe of Ife, Oba Folorunsho Omisakin, said the new monarch may emerge within 40 days.

Reading the position of 16 Ife kingmakers in Ile Oodua, the Ooni's palace, at a press conference, the Obalufe, who was flanked

by Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola, and other kingmakers, explained that 1980 Ife Chieftaincy Declaration will be relied on in choosing

a new monarch.

He said only Giesi Ruling House will be allowed to contest the throne, explaining that the concerned ruling house will be expected to present candidates upon receipt of a letter from Ife East Local Government Area.

Obalufe added: "When the candidates are presented to us kingmakers, we will sit upon the names and within 14 days, we must come out with our findings.

After that, in another 14 days, new monarch must emerge.

"Section 19 subsection a(3) says it is the turn of Giesi Ruling House to pres-

ent a candidate(s) for the vacant stool of Ooni of Ife Chieftaincy. Other three ruling houses, that is Osinkola, Ogboru and Lafogido, should wait for their turns.

"No ruling house should restrict to a particular quarter or area of the town because members of the ruling house live in different parts of the town.

"Finally, we hereby enjoin members of the ruling houses, the town's people, all religious bodies, men and women in Ife environs, to please maintain absolute peace. By doing this, the kingmakers would be able to select the best candidate for the vacant stool of Ooni

of Ife." Also, executive secretary of Ife East and Ife Central local government areas, Messrs Tajudeen Lawal and Taiwo Olaiya, said it would not be the first time 1980 Chieftaincy Declaration would be used to select Ooni.

Lawal said 1980 Chieftaincy Declaration was relied upon to pick immediate past Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade.

He further stated that part of the requirements of law for whoever will become Ooni of Ife is that he must have relative ability, character and the support of the people of Ife land.

L-R: Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Lagos, Mr. Ingo Herbert; Ambassador of Republic of Germany to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Zenner; Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Permanent Secretary, Office of Overseas Affairs/ Investment (Lagos Global), Mrs. Arinola Olufunmilayo Odulana, during the Ambassador’s courtesy visit to the governor, at Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

'Bailout funds will be used for workers' BOladale BamigBOla OsOgbO

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sun State government yesterday restated its readiness to use the N34.988 billion bailout funds received from the Federal Government to pay workers.

Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, in a statement by its Director, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, however, explained that the first batch of payment this week will be effected through allocations received for the month of July.

It added that this is pending the conclusion of verification exercise to determine the actual workforce of the state.

According to the statement, it became necessary given the various insinuations and manipulations of the minds of the people, giving the impressions that the funds will be diverted to other purposes.

“We are using the opportunity to assure the entire workers in the state that all arrears of salary and pensions will be paid from the bailout funds as the reason for which it was received.

And this is why the government has ensured that the verification exercise is concluded and the actual figure of workers determined for the purpose of payment,” the Bureau stated.

It added that the bail-

out by the Federal Government will not be a continuous thing and stressed that the current bailout scheme was necessitated by the economic doldrums the ousted PDP-led Federal Government plunged the country into.

The statement said the government must protect fully the interests of its real workers who toil day and night to ensure the growth and development of the state.

“It is therefore pertinent for workers themselves to ensure effective conclusion of this process in order to ensure they reap the fruits of their labour and prevent the criminal and dubious activities of those who reap where they do not sow.

“Therefore, we must agree that civil service reforms are absolutely critical at this stage in the life of our dear state.

There is a need for the engagement of all critical segments of leadership of government and labour for the necessary actions that will make the service effective, efficient and economic.

“If our state, and by all means, the entire SouthWest region will become financially and materially viable, a wholesome review of what works and what does not must be carried out and implemented with considerable alacrity and efficiency,” the statement added.

PDP flays Boroffice’s comment on Ondo govt OjO Oyewamide Akure

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ndo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has faulted a statement credited to Senator representing Ondo North in the National Assembly, Robert Ajayi Boroffice.

Boroffice was reported to have berated Governor Olusegun Mimiko for criticising President Muhammadu Buhari's economic policies.

The senator, who described Mimiko as "an accidental critic", also ‎alleged that the Ondo government

lacked any serious policies and had succeeded in doing nothing for the people of the state in the past six years.

But PDP Publicity Secretary, Banji Okunomo, yesterday described Boroffice's statement as "another one in the series of malicious publications emanating from the camp of the All Progressives Congress, APC." Okunomo said it was on record that PDP administration in the state had embarked on a number of transformational programmes in past years.

According to him, the programmes cut across every part of the state and

every aspect of the economy, including education, agriculture, health, urban renewal and community development.

He said: "The numerous policies in the education and health sector have turned Ondo State to a benchmark in the comity of states in the country. How then can a distinguished Senator describe the Caring Heart Programme of the state government as ‘Ruining Heart’?

"If a state government provides cheap and affordable education for its citizens, do we call that ruining heart? As at present, it is on

record that students in the state's university in Akungba Akoko pay the cheapest tuition fee in the entire country."

Okunomo noted that it was wrong for Boroffice to have demanded that the state government should appreciate Buhari for the bail-out funds to states, saying the president had not done anything special for the state because it was not the only beneficiary of the funds.

The PDP spokesman warned Boroffice not to think he could win next year’s gubernatorial election in the state through

propaganda, saying the people of Ondo State could no longer be fooled.

"The fact that the senator was lucky to have been elected for a second term to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not confer any measure of popularity on him. He won the March 28 election because of the change mantra that infested public domain shortly before the election.

"And one can be sure that people voted for APC in the state without even being able to distinguish between the ballot box for the presidential poll or the national Assembly election.

"Senator Boroffice should not forget that he rode on the popularity of Governor Labour Party to the Senate in the first place before he crossed carpet. He has not done anything to touch the lives of the people of the state.

"And even for the past almost five years that he has been in the Senate, he has not sponsored a single bill that would be of benefit to the entire nation or the people of Ondo State. It should be stated unequivocally that Ondo State is a no go area for the APC in the forthcoming 2016 gubernatorial election," he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

9

Ex-bank boss challenges probe of marriage certificate WAle igbintAde

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President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Waheed Odusile (right) presenting a portrait frame of Med-View, MD to Engr., Lukman Animashaun, during the closing ceremony of Med-View/NUJ Games in Lagos, at the weekend.

Police read riot act to okada riders L agos State Police Command has warned commercial motorcyclists, otherwise known as Okada riders, not to take laws into their hands whenever there is a dispute with motorists.

This is contained in a statement by the command’s spokesman, DSP Joseph Offor, yesterday, in Lagos.

The statement said the attitude of commercial motorcyclists was becoming worrisome, adding that the command would no longer tolerate such.

It noted that the warning became imperative because of the brazen impunity they usually displayed whenever there was misunderstanding between them and motorists or security agents.

“It has been observed that commercial motorcycle operators have become law unto themselves and act in a manner detrimental to law and order and in total disregard to the rights of other

citizens.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, wishes to use this medium to warn okada operators in the state to desist from these acts of lawlessness and wanton destruction of lives and property.

“Any repeat of the above mentioned unruly behaviour will be visited with the full weight of the law,” it said.

The statement, however, said the command pledged total cooperation with motorcyclists as long as they conduct themselves properly and operate within the law.

The command further warned the public against activities of an “illegal organisation called the Nigeria Merchant Navy Seafarers, Maritime Petroleum Security and Safety Corps.”

The statement noted that the self-styled organisation ascribed to itself the fourth arm of the Nige-

rian Armed Forces.

It added that its leader, simply identified as Agaba, parades himself as a Commodore and Chief of Nigeria Merchant Naval Staff.

“The group has been illegally conducting training of unsuspecting young Nigerians in naval related duties in several private camps in at least 11 states of the federation, including Lagos and Abuja.

“The command advises the public to avoid any dealing with the illegal organisation as it does not enjoy Federal Government’s recognition,’’ the statement said.

“The general public is also warned against the illegal activities of a faceless group called ‘Indigenous People of Biafra’ under the leadership of Mr Nnamdi Kanu and Mr Ikenna Nwanoneyi.”

The statement said the clandestine group with base in Abia State had the primary objective of agitat-

ing for an independent State of Biafra through secession from Nigeria.

“To actualise this objective, they founded an illegal radio station known as Radio Biafra and effectively deployed it to brainwash uninformed members of the public to lure them into violence.

“Parents/guardians and religious leaders are urged to rightly advise and prevail on their children/ wards and followers to avoid common enemies.

“The residents of Lagos are advised to go about their normal business without any fear as adequate security has been provided,’’ it said.

It would be recalled that on August 14, some commercial motorcyclists allegedly killed a police corporal attached to Festac Town Division and made away with his rifle.

Two of the okada riders were arrested and the rifle recovered.

ormer chairman of defunct Citizens International Bank Limited, Lady Joyce Udensi-Ifegwu, has asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to determine whether the police can investigate an allegation of forgery of marriage certificate against her for a second time.

The applicant in her originating summons marked as FHC/L/ CS/1319/15, prayed the court to determine whether the police is still permitted to investigate her, after men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force in zone 2 command headquarters, Onikan, had concluded investigation of the allegations previously.

Listed as respondents in the suit filed by Bayo Osipitan’s law firm on her behalf, were Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, and one Inspector Justus Ogar.

Daughter of the applicant, Mrs Nnenna Enweliku, had written a petition against her mother to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone Two, on January 27, 2014, alleging that her mother was not legally married to her father and that the marriage certificate she presented for the purpose of getting letter of administration for the estate of their late father, Lord Dike Udensi Ifegwu, was forged.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of that investigation by Zone Two Police Command, she wrote a

Ekiti workers assured on salaries, benefits Abiodun nejo Ado Ekiti

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ivil servants in Ekiti State have been assured that all their outstanding salaries, allowances and benefits will be paid soon.

Head of Service, HoS, Dr Olugbenga Faseluka, expressed the government's determination, stressing also that the governor would pay outstanding salary arrears,

pension and leave bonuses owed workers.

This, he said, would be as soon as the government accessed the N9.6 billion bailout loan from the Federal Government.

The HoS spoke yesterday at a press conference in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, to herald the 2015 Civil Service week with theme: 'Repositioning the Civil Service for Effective Service Delivery.'

He listed outstanding

promotion, outstanding August and September salaries, leave bonuses, pension and gratuities as some of the challenges confronting the civil service in the state, adding that "all these have been packaged for resolution in the bailout loan."

While praising the governor on prompt payment of salaries and pensions since assumption of office, the HoS, however, lamented the accu-

mulated gratuity, having last been paid in September 2012.

Faseluka urged civil servants eyeing political offices to resign and join active politicking so that there could be concentration on how to reinvigorate the service for a better result.

He said: "It is my belief that the concern of civil servants should not be what they can gain from the system alone,

they should also be concerned about their contributions to the growth and development of the state.

“The much desired restoration can only be achieved if there are commitments and concerted efforts by civil servants, who are saddled with the responsibility of translating government policies and initiatives into realities," he said.

second petition to Deputy Inspector General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, detailing the manner and nature of the forgery.

Consequently, a fresh investigation into the allegation was launched by the police, following which the applicant filed the suit seeking to halt a possible arraignment by the police on the same matter.

The applicant in her suit prayed the court to declare that the police lacked the power to reinvestigate allegation of forgery of marriage certificate against her, saying that a suit is pending in the High Court of Abia State on the issue.

She maintained that she was lawfully married under the Marriage Act, Native Law and Customs to the late Udensi Ifegwu until his death on July 18, 2012.

She averred that she had eight children for the man, including the petitioner, who is her first child.

She also stated that they could not get a certified true copy of their marriage certificate in 1992 because a registrar whose name she cannot remember informed them that the register containing their marriage certificate was lost in the process of moving documents from the marriage registry from Aba Local Government to Aba South Local Government.

“On account of loss of the registry copy of our 1978 marriage certificate, the then registrar counselled my husband and I to register our marriage through the issuance of another marriage certificate duly signed by both of us in 1992 and also signed by the then marriage registrar.

Arase, Police boss

10

News

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

APC candidate wants Ekweremadu’s election nullified

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ll Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in the March 28 National Assembly election, Mr Philip Eze, has called for nullification of the result of Enugu West Senatorial election because his name was excluded.

Eze is challenging the declaration of Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as winner of the senatorial seat by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Eze, through his counsel, Mr Charles Edosomwan,

SAN, argued at the tribunal that upon exclusion of a candidate’s name in an election, the law mandates the tribunal to nullify the election and conduct a fresh one.

Edosomwan, while crossexamining the PDP witness, Mr. Bethel Onyenyiri, in Enugu yesterday, said APC had scores for the election but was no recorded against any candidate’s name.

The counsel submitted that his client never participated in the election.

“That the APC as a party participated in an election

does not mean my client was listed for the election,” he said.

In his submission, Ekweremadu’s counsel, Mr. Tochukwu Odoh, tendered the wards and local government area election results for Udi, Ezeagu, Oji-River, Aninri and Awgu as proof that the APC candidate participated in the election and obtained scores.

Odoh argued that since votes were allocated to APC, it was automatically credited to its candidate and urged the tribunal to discountenance claims by the

petitioner’s counsel.

Onyeyiri testified that the petitioner never campaigned for the election, but Mrs. Louisa Achieze did and declared the Federal High Court decision as flawed.

According to him, INEC provides guideline for nomination of candidates by political parties and forward the names of such candidates to INEC through its primary election.

“It is not possible for a party to run an election without a candidate.

“I know Philip Eze as a

L-R: Chairman, Christian Forum for Governance in Righteousness (CFGR), Rev. Chucks Alozie; Zonal Director, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Enugu Station, Mr Emeka Odikpo and a CFGR delegate, Mr David Ugwu, during an advocacy visit to FRCN in Enugu, yesterday.

PHOTO:NAN

Ambode to render quarterly account of stewardship

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overnor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday unveiled plans to hold quarterly town hall meeting to render account of his stewardship to people of the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Habib Aruna, and made available to newsmen in Lagos.

The statement said the exercise was to also inform the people of the journey so far and with a view to taking the state to the next level.

It said the meeting would take the government to all the nooks and crannies of the state to present account of the governor’s stewardship.

According to the statement, the meeting will go a long way to feel the pulse of the people and get firsthand

knowledge of their needs and concerns.

“The maiden edition of our quarterly report will be rendered in the first week of October and will continue in that tradition every three months.

“At the end of each quarter, our government will report to the people of the state on the journey so far and the task ahead,” it said.

The statement said the efforts of the administration in the last three months had been geared toward making sure public institutions work in the interest of the people.

“We are committed to making the various public institutions work for the benefit of the people of the state.

That in my view is why we were elected.

“Our government will use the town hall meetings to get feelers from the populace, on how government affects them and what they want from government.

“The populace will also have the opportunity to know what we have been doing and what we intend to do to make the state safer, cleaner and prosperous,’’ the statement added.

customer to the Election Petitions Tribunal; I got to know his victory at the Federal High Court through rumour.

“I do not know his business with INEC and why he

Anambra govt sinks 500 boreholes —SSG

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nambra State government said it had sunk more than 500 boreholes in 18 months of Governor Willie Obiano’s administration.

Secretary to State Government, SSG, Mr. Solo Chukwulobelu, disclosed this at the inauguration of the Borehole Drillers Association of Nigeria, Anambra chapter, in Awka yesterday.

Chukwulobelu, who was represented by Permanent Secretary, Mr. Daniel Ezenwa, noted that government had recorded 200 per cent success in borehole drilling.

He also expressed happiness over effort of the association in partnering with government in the area of providing potable water for the people.

He said government,

W

ife of Mr. Steve Nwosu, Deputy Managing Director of The Sun Publishing Limited, Toyin, was yesterday kidnapped in Lagos.

Toyin was allegedly kidnapped about 2:30am at their residence in Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos.

The abductors, who were

said to have escaped through a canal in the area, are yet to make any contact with family of the victim.

Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday expressed shock over the abduction.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement described the abduction as a

devilish and barbaric act.

The PDP said it was deeply worried by the recent spate of abductions in the country, adding that the perpetrators cannot justify their actions under any guise whatsoever.

The party said its thoughts and prayers go for the safe return of Mrs. Nwosu and for other vic-

on its part, would play a pivotal role in that regard.

In his address, state Chairman of the association, Mr. Chindo Umejiaku, noted that the inauguration was a major thrust toward optimising the output of drillers in water supply industry.

Umejiaku explained that the prevailing water supply situation in the state was far from conducive.

Earlier, Vice-President of the association, Dr Lizzy Okoye, presented a paper titled: “Towards Sustainable Water Management in Anambra,” on the occasion.

She called for application of global best practices and the most advanced technology for water management plans in the state to succeed.

Kerosene scarcity traceable to pipelines vandalism —DPR

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epartment of Petroleum Resources, DPR, in Plateau State yesterday blamed scarcity of Dual Purpose Kerosene, DPK, in the state on pipelines vandalism.

Head Operations, DPR Fidel Office, Jos, Mr. Jeremiah Manshat, said pipelines conveying the product to the state had been severely vandalised.

He said besides the fact that refineries were not working at full capacity,

Steve Nwosu, Sun’s Deputy MD’s wife kidnapped in Lagos

• PDP condemns abduction

was excluded as APC candidate. The only APC candidate I know was Mrs. Louisa Achieze,” he said.

The matter was adjourned till today for continued hearing.

tims of this social vice. It also expressed confidence that security forces would track down the abductors and expose those behind the crime.

“Finally, the PDP declares its support for each and every policy undertaken by the present Federal Government to limit to scourge kidnapping and other criminal activities.

vandalism of pipelines had also made it impossible for the product to be pumped to the NNPC/ PPMC Depot in the state.

He said supplying kerosene by trucks has not been consistent as it takes an interval of two weeks.

“Supply of DPK to Plateau State has not been regular because the refineries have not been running at full capacity.

“The scarcity is also traceable to vandalism, but there is hope as illegal refineries are being discovered and destroyed by agents of the Federal Government,” he said.

Manshat advised users of kerosene to switch to the use of cooking gas which was cleaner and more cost effective.

He said the more than 50 million Nigerian households currently using kerosene to cook had put pressure on the product.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

11

Nigerians top CNN African Journalists award nominations rian nominees in the 20th edition of the prestigious awards, John Ugbe, Managigerians top the ing Director of MultiChoice list of nominees Nigeria, urged Nigerian for the 2015 CNN journalists to be objective in MultiChoice African Jour- their reporting, stating that objectivity promotes excelnalists Awards.

A list released by the in- lence in journalism.

Ugbe, who disclosed that dependent judging panel rethe competition received vealed there were five Nigeentries from 39 countries rians among the nominees across the continent, infor this year’s awards. cluding French and PortuThe nominees from Niguese-speaking Africa, had geria are, Femi Asu, Punch 31 finalists from 15 counNewspaper; Adewale Olugbenga Emosu, Tribuneon- tries, said: "MultiChoice is lineng.com; Ibanga Isine, delighted to once again be Premium Times Newspa- associated with these presper; Kolá Túbosún, Blog- tigious awards that give ger at ktravula.com and respect to the work done Arukaino Umukoro, Punch by journalists across the African continent. We conNewspaper.

Extending hearty con- gratulate our finalists on gratulations to the Nige- their achievements and look

IsaIah ErhIawarIEn

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forward to celebrating with the winners in Nairobi in October.”

He also explained that the finalists will enjoy an all-expense paid four-day programme of workshops, media forums and networking in Nairobi, Kenya, culminating in a Gala Award Ceremony in October. In addition, winners from previous years will join this year’s finalists for a special evening to celebrate 20 years of the awards.

The independent judging panel, chaired by Fe-

rial Haffajee, Editor-inChief, City Press, South Africa, include Debo Adesina, Editor-in-Chief, The Guardian Newspapers, Nigeria; Nima Elbagir, Senior International Correspondent, CNN; Jean-Paul Gérouard, Editor-in-Chief, France Télévisions; Fernando Gonçalves, Editor, Savana, Mozambique; Anton Harber, Caxton Professor of Journalism, University of Witwatersrand; Joel Kibazo, Director of Communications and External Relations, African

Development Bank Group; Amadou Mahtar Ba, CoFounder and Executive Chairman, All Africa Global Media; Wanja Njuguna, Senior Lecturer, Polytechnic of Namibia & CNN Journalist of the Year 2000; José Sebastião Paulo, Professor of Journalism, University Agostinho Neto, Angola; and, David Ohito, Digital Editor, The Standard Media Group, Kenya.

Tony Maddox, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of CNN International said: “The quality

and breadth of entries in its 20th year is testament to the CNN MultiChoice African Journalists Awards’ position as the most prestigious recognition for journalism across the continent. CNN is privileged to be involved in this important initiative to honour the outstanding work across multiple platforms, topics and journalistic disciplines. I salute the finalists for the great work they have done and look forward to seeing their future achievements.”

Glo lights up Ikorodu with music concert

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korodu in Lagos came alive on Saturday night when Nigeria's fully integrated telecoms operator, Globacom, took its well-received music concert, Slide 'n' Bounce, to the ancient city.

The Ikorodu edition was one in a series of Glo Slide 'n' Bounce concerts billed to take place all over the country to entertain and excite Globacom subscribers.

The concert turned Ikorodu to a beehive of activities as some of Nigeria's best known musicians and actors converged on Ikorodu Musical Village, venue of the concert, to thrill over 2,000 Globacom subscribers who showed up on the occasion.

The show kicked off with female and male dancers from Ikorodu garnishing the event with local flavour. Next was the sensational female lyricist, Di'Ja, who thrilled the overflowing crowd with her hottest songs, including "Awww".

Her performance was followed by one of Nigeria's best known gospel artiste, Sammy Okposo. The "WeluWelu" exponent urged the crowd to surge forward so he could feel their energy.

They reciprocated Okposo's gesture by joining him in singing his popular praise worship songs.

Next to perform was Wande Coal, who opened his performance with his evergreen track, "You Bad".

The mammoth crowd went on their feet, dancing and rocking as the star rolled out songs after song, mostly from his albums with the defunct Mo Hits Records.

He also treated the audience to his latest song 'A Sima Peyin' that kept hitting them nonstop.

The appearance of Odunlade Adekola, a Globacom brand ambassador, on stage took the event to another level as the audience exploded in loud ovation.

The last artiste to perform at the show was Taraba State-born rapper, MI, who with his female DJ Lambo, delighted the audience endlessly. The musician confessed that the Ikorodu crowd shocked him as they sang along with him all the tracks in virtually all his albums.

The Season 2 of the Glo Slide 'n' Bounce concert started in Ibadan three weeks ago, before moving to Port Harcourt last week.

Ikorodu is the third stop in an 11-week concert put together by Globacom to delight its teeming subscribers in 11 cities across the country.

The show will move to Benin City, Edo State, this Saturday at the Best Western Hotel, Etete, G.R.A. Subscribers wishing to attend the show are expected to use up to N2,000 in the last one month and to send "YES BENIN" to the short code 30188.

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike (right) presenting souvenir to leader of Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Prof. Afolabi Popoola, during the commission's visit to Port Harcourt, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

S

uleja Emirate Council in Niger State yesterday said investigation has been launched into the arrest and detention of three corps members by police in the state over alleged armed robbery.

Emir of Zazzau in Suleja, Muhammad Awwal Ibrahim, said this when Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, visited him at his palace.

News Agency of Nigeria recalls that management of the scheme on September 11 issued a statement confirming the release of two corps members arrested by the police over alleged armed robbery.

The statement said the action taken by the management came after its attention was drawn to several media reports on the matter.

The emir expressed regrets over the incident, adding that media reports on the incident was damaging and had been “blown out of

Suleja Emirate Council probes arrest of corps members proportion.”

Ibrahim attributed the turn of events to poor communication between NYSC and the emirate council, urging management to improve on its communication channels to forestall any future incidence.

Ibrahim assured the director-general and corps members serving in the state that an investigation had been launched to ascertain the cause and subsequently resolve all misunderstandings.

The traditional ruler said no corps member had been subjected to such maltreatment in the past by the local vigilante or the state police.

Earlier, the directorgeneral had appealed to the Emir to educate his subjects in order to forestall the likelihood of future occurrence.

Olawumi, who was represented by Mr Mike Ikhide, the Director of Corps Welfare and Inspectorate of the corps, described the incident as unfortunate as corps members nationwide were working to contribute their quota to socio-economic development.

He assured corps members in the state that the incident was an isolated case as there had never been a report of maltreatment against any corps member by the local vigilante or police.

The director-general said the accused corps members were arrested by the local vigilante in Suleja, adding that two were released while the third was still in police custody as they were still investigating.

He assured all corps

members that the scheme would continue to make efforts towards ensuring they were not subjected to such treatment while in their host community.

He said the scheme had engaged the police, army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and the Directorate of State Security Service.

Olawumi said community and opinion leaders as well as corps employers had also been engaged by the scheme to ensure the safety of all corps members.

He assured that the welfare of all corps members was central to the administration of the scheme, urging corps members who were sick to seek medical assistance at any government hospital.

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North

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Osinbajo to commission 74 solar-powered traffic lights

F

Rep confirms 13 deaths in fresh Plateau attack

ederal Capital Territory, FCT, Transport Secretariat says it has concluded plans for the inauguration of 74 solar-powered traffic lights in the territory on September 18.

Head of Public Relations of the secretariat, Mr Ifeanyi Ughamadu, disclosed this yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

Ughamadu said the traffic lights to be inaugurated by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were donated by the Chinese government.

“Sometime in 2012, the Federal Government had this offer of assistance from the Chinese government to construct and install 74 solar-powered traffic lights.

“The traffic lights were to be installed in parts of Abuja as bilateral assistance at the cost of N830 million as part of their corporate social responsibility.

“The contract, which began in March 2015, was executed by Messrs Poly Solar Technologies Beijing Limited, and was completed in July 2015,” he said.

Ughamadu said the FCT Administration provided supervision ser-

vices in the contract to ensure the job was effectively executed.

“Though the FCTA did not bear any part of the contract cost, our engineers were on ground to supervise the job and ensure effective execution.’’

He said the assistance came following a conference that took place in Beijing in 2012, where the Federal Government made official request for the assistance.

“The assistance came on the heels of an AfroChinese Conference in Beijing 2012, where the Federal Government, through the National Planning Commission, requested for the assistance.

“FCTA still requires similar support to upgrade 90 more traffic lights into solar-power for efficiency; because there will be no interruption due to disruption in public power supply.

“Fifty-five of the traffic intersections are in the city centre, 11 in Kubwa and nine in Gwarinpa,’’ he said.

He said complaints by motorists that the traffic lights were too many and too clustered had been addressed by synchronising their timing to meet with the rhythm of traffic flow.

James abraham,

10 persons killed in Jos building collapse

Jos

D

eath toll from collapsed building in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday night rose to 10 yesterday.

National Mirror gathered from a Plateau Hospital source that two children, who were rushed there died early yesterday, while three other persons died at a hospital in Bukuru, where some children were rushed, too.

The tragedy, it would be recalled, occurred at AbuNaib Islamic School near Gero road in Bukuru while the children were receiving Islamic lectures Sunday evening.

Though a secondary school, the centre was used on weekends to tutor children on Islamic studies.

North Central Zonal coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Muhammad Abdulsalam, had on

James abraham, Jos

O

ngoing peace efforts

by Governor Simon Lalong between the Beroms and Fulani herdsmen in Plateau State has suffered a setback with the killing of 13 people in an attack on seven villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.

National Mirror gathered that the attack occurred on Sunday night.

Media aide to Hon. I.

D. Gyang, member representing Barkin-Ladi/ Riyom Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Chuwang Dung, confirmed the killings in an email sent to our correspondent in Jos yesterday.

The emailed message reads: “We received with shock the killing of 13 persons on the night of Sunday 13/9/2015, through violent attacks on seven villages of Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area.

The renewed attacks

were least expected, particularly at a time when concerted peace efforts and dialogue meetings are ongoing between Berom and Fulani stakeholders.”

Gyang, while condemning the attacks, appealed to Berom and Fulani stakeholders not to allow the unfortunate incidences defeat the peace efforts.

“To do so will be victory for those who do not want peace and have made blood-letting their vocation and daily delight,” he

warned.

The lawmaker said despite the setback he remains committed to ensuring that Barkin-Ladi/ Riyom Federal Constituency is rebranded from an axis of violence and bloodshed to one of peace and prosperity.

He also restated the call on Special Task Force to live up to its upgraded status of providing a haven for all communities in his constituency and the state at large.

Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Sani Sidi (left), consoling one of the victims of Malkohi IDP camp bomb blast, during his visit to Federal Medical Centre, Yola, yesterday.

PHoTo: NAN

…survivors narrate ordeal Sunday night told newsmen that four persons were killed, clarifying afterwards that one of the survivors died, totalling five deaths.

He said when the incident happened “four children were confirmed dead while 25 others sustained injuries and were taken to specialist hospital, but one other person died making it five.”

Chief Medical Director of Plateau Specialist Hospital, Philemon Golwa, also confirmed to our correspondent that two survivors died at the hospital.

Survivors of the storey building that collapsed in Jos South Local Government Area narrated their ordeal to our correspondent.

A survivor, Mamunat Mohammed, 10, told our correspondent on her hospital bed at the hospital

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

that: “We were in class on Sunday evening receiving Quranic lessons when we heard a loud noise and then I found myself on this hospital bed. My waist is broken, my legs ache.”

Mrs Zuwabia Ibrahim, the mother of a victim, said her 10-year-old daughter Amina Ibrahim left home at about 5pm to attend Quranic lessons not too far from her house in Bukuru.”

According to her, “About 1.30 minutes later we got a call from our friend that the school my daughter attends Quranic lessons had collapsed. I immediately called my husband and we rushed to the scene and was told that our daughter was alive and had been rushed to the hospital I thank Allah for saving my daughter’s life.”

In his reaction, the state governor, Simon Lalong,

condoled with the families of the victims.

He said relevant government agencies, particularly those responsible for safety of all public buildings including schools, were up and doing over the matter.

A teacher, Useni Ibrahim, who survived the incident, said the building was an uncompleted one.

He also confirmed that some teachers were among the dead.

Meanwhile, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, yesterday said its Engineering Regulation and Monitoring, ERM team, has commenced assessment of the collapsed building.

President of COREN, Mr Kashim Ali, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

Ali said that COREN would only take action after the ERM office in Jos, presents the report of its assessment to the Council.

“We are yet to get a report on the circumstances surrounding the collapse.

Our ERM team will go there and look at the situation, then report to the Council.

“Until the report reaches us, we cannot say exactly what happened or the immediate causes of the collapse.

“As it is, it is the builder that is likely to be responsible. We learnt that the building had challenge and the pupils had complained about the condition of the structure.

“We can only blame the government authorities if they were aware but failed to take action,’’ he said.

Ali explained that architects provide the de-

signs for the entire building while the engineer is responsible for the structural, mechanical and electrical aspects of structures that are higher than bungalows.

“Architects do the building designs, but it is the engineer who is responsible for the design and construction of the beams, columns and slabs that would bear the weight of multi-storied structure.

“Most building collapse involves structures that have many stories. Bungalows don’t really need extensive mechanical and electrical engineering input,’’ he added.

Also, an architect, Yohanna Bawa, said architects could only be held responsible for building collapse if the individual was the builder or project supervisor for a failed structure.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

SUPER TUESDAY Buhari, not upholding federal character in appointiments –Uwazurike

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

13

Politics

14, 43

Ortom’s 100 days: Challenges and efforts towards rebuilding Benue HENRY IYORKASE, looks at Ortom’s first 100 days in office as governor of Benue State, detailing how the All Progressives Congress, APC, governor has fared in his change mantra.

B

enue Stat, since its creation from BenuePlateau in 1976, has always remained in the mainstream politics, aligning with the domineering political party in power with its attendant dividends afterwards.

But for the first time in the history of its existence, the state changed gear little to the left by embracing the change mantra of the All Progressives Congress, APC, divorcing the erstwhile ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which had ruled the state in the last 16 years.

The move, which should have placed her in the opposition, rather hit the bull’s eye by springing the state back into the ruling party under the platform of the APC which has clinched the number one spot in the presidency as well as the state’s number one position.

Governor Samuel Ortom, the fifth democratically elected governor of Benue State was some few years ago an arrow head of the PDP and held sway in many portfolios including National Auditor of the Party, Minister of State for Trade and Investment and later Supervising Minister of Aviation.

He however left and pitched tent with the APC after being denied the PDP’s governorship ticket, a move that will change his political profile and history as he was overwhelmingly welcomed into the new fold, grabbing the opportunity to clinch the exalted plum job of governor of the on state APC platform.

At his inaugural speech on May 29 at the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida Square in Makurdi, Governor Ortom unequivocally spelt out his mission in governance which includes restoring peace in the land and correcting the wrongs committed by immediate past administration.

By the time the government came into power, academic activities in tertiary institutions were disrupted due to nonpayment of workers wages occasioned by refusal on the part of the former administration to cater after their welfare.

Consequently, Ortom, on assumption in office, promptly assessed loans of N10 billion internally, to offset some of the salary arrears in the state, bringing smiles on the faces of civil servants, who before his coming had stayed months without salary. And with the Federal Government approval of a bailout sum of N28 billion for release by the CBN, the state is now flourishing with the hope that soon, all the outstanding salary arrears will be a thing of the past.

To ensure peace is brought back in the state, Governor Ortom reiterated that without peace, development is always an uphill task, urging all

Ortom

those who were in position of illegal arms and ammunition to embrace his amnesty programme and submit them for cash rewards, all to get rid of firearms. This move resulted to over 200 weapons being recovered from suspected political thugs in the state.

The benevolence of the change mantra appears to have received the desired result due to perseverance and negotiation which the leadership of Ortom has implored in resolving differences. The

At his inAugurAl speech on MAy 29 At the ibrAhiM bAdAMosi bAbAngidA squAre in MAkurdi, governor ortoM unequivocAlly spelt out his Mission in governAnce

subtle approach towards resolving issues also yielded result in the calling off of the strike embarked upon by tertiary institutions in the state.

Efforts in boosting health delivery to the citizens has also recorded steadfast progress as Governor Ortom waded into the accreditation of School of Medicine Benue State University, which its students have spent 12 years in limbo without being graduated, likewise the school of nursing, which suffered the same fate, all this is now history as appropriate fees have been remitted to the two regulatory bodies of both institutions and the impediment will soon be a thing of the past.

Governor Ortom while addressing journalists at the Benue People’s House to herald his 100 days in office stated that his mission was principally to correct the wrongs by the former administration and also ensure the continuation of inherited projects where necessary, adding that he had awarded the contract of road construction from the state capital to Gbajimba at Guma Local Government at the cost of N500 million.

In his electioneering campaign, Ortom had outlined some three key point agenda which includes industrialisation of the state by setting up manufacturing and processing factories to assist the agrarian state. This has already been initiated by wooing investors from china and other countries who have already visited the state twice in his first 100 days to assess things for themselves.

In the area of poverty eradication and wealth creation which is one of his cardinal agenda, the state number one citizen has urge the citizens to restrain patience as efforts are being geared towards provision of entrepreneurial opportunities for the youths and others in the state.

Meanwhile, the state chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Baba Agan has applauded the efforts of the administration so far especially in the area of amnesty which he said had recorded huge success and also the restoration of dignity of mankind in the state.

Agan said hitherto political thugs had rendered the state lawless as militias were the alpha and omega but “alas today, we are sleeping with two eyes closed with the advent of the new regime which I urged them to keep it up”.

A chieftain of PDP, John Ayila, in his view stated that there is nothing in sight to give kudos to the administration adding that during the era of Gabriel Suswam’s 100 days in office over 10 roads across the three senatorial districts were kicked off whereas there is none of such applicable to the APC administration.

In all, while good number of the people say that the change mantra of the APC is not a sham, that it had performed above average despite huge deficit the party inherited at the state treasury and regardless of lean resources at its disposal, there are some who think that the party had not done much deserving of accolades in their first 100 days in office.

14

Politics

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Buhari, not upholding federal charact Chief Goddy Uwazurike, lawyer and president Aka Ikenga, the think-tank section of the pan-Igbo cultural organisation, Ohaneze Nd’Igbo, in this interview with EBERE NDUKWU, talks about President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments, 100 days in office, sundry national issues.

President Buhari appointments Well, I’m not a politician so I’ll speak on the non political issues and as a lawyer I cannot avoid talking about the constitution. You know when a person selects a president or governor, the person has almost three months to prepare.

Buhari was elected early March and from that time to May 29, he had all the time to prepare, draw up all the list of appointees, get ready to send names to the Senate and so forth. And of course he had promised to hit the ground running. So, I was gladdened when he was sworn in and he swore the Koran to uphold the constitution and the constitution is very clear about certain things most especially section 14 (3), which states that appointments in the state and Federal Government shall reflect a federal character, in the case of the state, shall reflect state wide character.

And the present constitution went far to indicate that military officers, directors, permanent secretaries, public officers, members and management of government operation, that they shall reflect federal character. Now the question is, has Mr. President who sworn to the constitution to reflect federal character been fair to the Igbo speaking people of Nigeria?

When the first sets of people were appointed, we shouted and people said no, just wait. We heard a reply also that they were basing all appointments on merit, and we ask ourselves so on merit Igbo do not qualify? As president of Aka Ikenga I can speak for the Igbos. Now, this latest list of appointees, we got the answer recently at Hausa service with the President saying he appointed only those he trusts. So there are no Igbo people among those he trusts.

We heard the message and we cannot keep our hands folded and wait, we must speak out because we rely on the same constitution that Mr. President swore to with the Koran to uphold.

In this country, at the independence the regions were there, when you move down to tribe we talk of the Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, then the Ibibio, Anang and so on and so forth. But the constitution is very simple and direct, federal character. It does not envisage a situation where tomorrow I’m made president, I go and get only those I know who are probably from my village. That is one thing the constitution was guiding against when section 14(3) made it very clear.

Somebody will even say it is supper fraud because common sense should tell you that when you are a president of Nigeria, you are the president of all Nigeria and not some parts of Nigeria and that the moments the elections are over, you become the property of people of Nigeria, which was why as soon as Buhari became President-elect, the then President Goodluck Jonathan quickly gave him Defense House, at that moment he has become the property of Nigeria and when he swore on the Koran he took over on the Koran, so anything he does we judge him by that oat he took on the Koran.

Achievement in 100 days?

On whether he has achieved much, well I know that 100 days mantra kicked off by President Theodore Roosevelt, one time American President. For him, the 100 days mantra was to let the Americans know that they should not feel so hopeless after the market crash that America will survive again. So, every president since then try to use the 100 days in office to direct the people on the way they are going, otherwise they want you to know where they are going.

Now, start from manufacturing, what is the President’s

policy on manufacturing? We don’t know. Import and export business, the decision on foreign exchange has even dealt a serious blow on that one and how traders will survive I don’t know, because the goods we have now, when we exhaust them we cannot import. If you notice how traders import, they import when they have reached a certain level, so as at today, importation of essential goods will be a thing of the past soon unless government changes its method of allocating foreign exchange.

The question whether President Muhammadu Buhari has done much in 100 days, well, Bola Tinubu said is honey moon that the real work will start now. But most people forget that from March to September you are talking of six months. In other words six months after the election the President has not appointed his ministers, that is what he should have concluded three months before he was sworn in. When the cabinet is constituted, that is where people will know in which direction Mr. President is going. So, in the first 100 days, we don’t know where he is going.

Igbos missing the position of SSG? I was greatly disappointed because from the description Mr. President gave in Hausa service the other day, those who have been in the party from inception, those he knows very well and those who were not motivated by positions or money, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu fitted into those description. He has always been with All Peoples Party, APP, to All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, by whatever name and he has never left no matter the temptation. As a matter of fact, he was the only leader from the original party APP, who did not jump ship, the only one left. Two, I know his relationship with President Buhari, and three, those who know Dr. Onu, is it education, PhD? Is background, former governor? And yet, the man remained where he was. Nobody knew him for extravagance and he has never pretended to be rich. So, when it comes to who Mr. President in real sense should trust I think Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu should be one. And some relationship existed between them which are not for the press and that relationship goes back a long way, long before any of them even talk of presidency.

I was also greatly disappointed that an Igbo man was not appointed because we have expected that to be the only real position in the executive for an Igbo person. Granted we supported PDP, that is not a crime. After all, in 1999 Obasanjo was not supported by the Yorubas, they voted for Olu Falae, yet Obasanjo still appointed Yorubas. In 2011, the far North, the core Hausa Fulani did not vote for Jonathan yet he appointed them in various offices including National Security Adviser, NSA. He never failed to appoint people based on federal character.

So, when somebody begin to tell us only people he can trust, I begin to ask does it mean we the Igbos do not have trustworthy people? In other words, All Progressives Congress, APC, members who are from Igbo speaking area should ask that question to themselves, Mr. President said he appointed those he trusts and we were all there, so Mr. President doesn’t trust us?

being moved from Exxon Mobil straight to NNPC was the way America demonstrated the control of our economic resources, make no mistake about it. He is not there because he is an Igbo man, he is there because he was the Chief Executive of Exxon Mobil, so make no mistake.

Appointment meant to spite the Igbos?

It is still early in the day to say if it was deliberate or a mistake, but what I cannot understand is the defense of the indefensible. In other words, what he has done is contrary to the constitution, why defend it.

When we raised this issue the answer we got was, don’t worry there will be other appointments and we ask ourselves, so the other appointments will be for the Igbos only?

What about those who already have these appointments, will they also not get? Ministers will be done into zones; will South-East and South-South get more than North West and East? We can’t.

Yorubas and Presidential appointment?

Well, I believe that former Governor Tinubu who went with former Governor Akande, of course a day before we had Obasanjo, I’m sure they raised it in the right quarters because I know the expectations of the Yorubas, they are not there to play second fiddle and if today they can’t even play second fiddle then, they must reassess their position.

Granted the mutterings are still subdued, soon they will become loud groans. I think what is fair is fair, as the Rotarians will say, “Is it fair to all concerned”? So in all the appointments, Mr. President should be asked, is he fair to all concerned?

Festus Keyamo’s position that Igbos already have best appointment?

I think he is not well informed because Dr. Ibe Kachukwu came on board because America has the need to control our oil resources. Kachukwu was the man in charge of American most important investment in Nigeria, so he’s

The Danger?

The danger there is that trust, you know nobody has following in Nigeria like Muhammadu Buhari, he has the largest following, as a matter of fact during the election all that people needed to say is that Buhari will fix it. And now the trouble has started, first they deny the issue of meal

Uwazurike

In 2011, the far north, the core Jonathan yet he appoInted the natIonal securIty advIser, nsa.

based on feder

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

15

A PUBLICATION OF NATIONAL MIRROR NEWSPAPERS

Group condemns arrest, detention of journalists Amour udemude ASABA

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Members of the Edo State Cultural Troup at a Dinner in honor of Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase in Benin City, at the weekend

Delta council bans night clubs activities at Poly Theophilus onojeghen WARRI

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s part of measures toward arresting the worsening security situation in Delta State Polytechnic community of Ozoro, Isoko North Council Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Egbabor, has placed a ban on night club activities.

Criminal activities have been on the rise at Ozoro, administrative headquarters of Isoko North, coupled with cult activities in recent times.

Egbabor, in a letter conveying the decision to the Divisional Police Officer, Divisional headquarters, Ozoro, and signed by the Secretary to the Local Government, Barr. Vote A. Umukoro, said the ban was aimed at arresting the situation.

A copy of the letter made available to National Mirror in Warri, reads: “I am directed by the Executive Chairman of Isoko North Local Government Area, Hon. Emmanuel Egbabor, that a ban has been placed on all night clubs in Ozoro

metropolis with immediate effect.

“By this order from the Executive Chairman who is statutorily the Chief Security Officer of the local government, you are hereby authorised to seal all night clubs without further delay.”

It is explained in the letter that the ban had become necessary and inevitable as the night clubs had become the take-off point for criminals thereby constituting threat to life and property in the community.

Speaking further, Hon. Egbabor said the criminals hid under the guise of night-clubbing to commit

atrocities and in order to checkmate the rising rate of crime in the headquarters, the ban has become very expedient.

He warned night club operators in the area to comply with the directive as anyone found to have defaulted would be prosecuted for aiding and abetting crime accordingly.

The council boss said a similar letter had been sent to the Rector of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro to inform him of the ban and to solicit his assistance in communicating to the students of the polytechnic.

While reacting to the

ban, the Rector of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Dr. J.S. Oboreh, lauded the steps so far taken by the council boss in curbing the rising crime rate in the polytechnic town.

“We have issued a bulletin to that effect informing students on the development.

We are in support of the ban, after all, students were sent to school to study and not to patronise night clubs.

“We have heard several reports of how some deviant students and criminals use the guise of coming from night clubs to perpetrate evil in the town,” he added.

Ex-lawmaker garners support for Okowa Amour udemude ASABA

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he people of Ughelli South local government area of Delta State have been called upon to give their maximum support to the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

The call was made at the weekend in Asaba by

a former member representing Ughelli South constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Olorogun Taleb Tebite, while reacting to the nomination and confirmation of a member of his constituency, Mr. Peter Mrakpor, as a commissioner.

According to the former lawmaker, the choice

of Mrakpo was the best thing that had happened to the people of Ughelli South even as he commended Governor Okowa for his choice of political appointees.

He added that the decision Governor Okowa had taken was in the best interest of the state.

“We are appreciative CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

n anti-corruption group known as “Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy (VATLAD)” has condemned the recent arrest and detention of Comrades Chris Kehinde Nwandu and Seun Oloketuyi over purported defamation story.

Making the condemnation in Asaba while reacting to what he described as unlawful and unconstitutional arrest and detention of the journalists, national president and secretary general of VATLAD, Comrade Odafe Emmanuel aolori and Ifeoma Kelechi, at the weekend noted that while they would continue to advocate for professional and ethical conduct by all Nigerian journalists in their reportage, they would strongly condemn any act by anyone or any institution to arrest and detain any journalist alleged to have published any story that is perceived to be untrue and defamatory by some person or institutions.

According to them, it is the sole responsibility of a lawful court to determine if a story or reportage is defamatory after hearing and considering the facts laid before it by parties involved.

They said further: “We hasten to remind all Nigerians that defamation is purely a civil case to be determined only by a court of law and the fact that defendants in civil cases are never arrested or detained in police cells, prisons or anywhere for whatever reason.

To detain Chris Kehinde Nwandu and Seun Oloketuyi for even one minute is totally unconstitutional and a gross violation of fundamental rights to Freedom of Expression of the Press as stipulated in Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999, as amended.”

According to the former labour leader, “Defamation can only be criminalised if there is prove and verified evidence of blackmail and financial extortion. In this instant there is no allega-

tion or evidence of financial extortion by Mr. Chris Kehinde Nwandu. The act of arresting and detaining any Nigerian or journalists on allegation of defamation is the worst form of dictatorship and a deliberate attempt to scuttle the enthronement of democratic government which is hinged on respect for Freedom of the Press and the Rule of Law. “Arrest and detention of journalists or Nigerians on alleged defamation and libel has long died with the dark and retrogressive era of military dictatorships in our nation’s history. Those who are involved in arresting and detaining journalists for mere allegation of defamation and libel are and should be seen as the agents of threat to Nigeria’s aspiration and determination to enthroning democracy as the only form of governance in Nigeria,” Igbini noted.

Igbini, however, noted that alleged falsehoods were published during the recent General Elections against General Muhammadu Buhari, President Goodluck Jonathan and other politicians but none of them ordered the arrest and detention of anyone or journalist involved; instead civil suits were filed in Court of Laws.

“This is the lawful and right way to go. President Buhari must therefore take urgent action to warn Nigerian security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Police Force, to desist from criminalising purely civil cases, defamation and libel being one of such. This new trend of arresting and detaining journalists on allegation of defamation and libel is also a calculated attempt by some Nigerians and institutions to instill fear in the media and Nigerians in order to frustrate the current war on corruption being championed by President Buhari-led government. It is also a deliberate attempt to tarnish the public image of President Buhari and portray him as reintroducing an anti-Press Freedom of 1983.

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Youths allege plot by FG to frustrate maritime varsity in Delta Theophilus oNojegheN WARRI

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L-R: Rev. Peter Obadan, Edo State Deputy Governor Pius Odubu and Chief Tom Ikimi, at a Dinner in honor of Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase in Benin City, recently.

Youths demand sack of Ayade’s aide over alleged fraud RichaRd Ndoma CALABAR

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he Coalition of Students and Youths Groups in Cross River State on Monday accused the Personal Adviser (PA) on Students’ Affairs and Youths Mobilisation to the governor of Cross River State, Abuo Michael, of defrauding them.

The aggrieved youths called for outright sack of the Abuo, stressing that the actions of the PA, since his appointment as Ayade`s aide had been a huge disappointment and embarrassment to the youths fold and therefore should be removed before matters got worse.

Part of the youths grievances was that the governor`s PA shortchanged them of the N300,000.00 which Ayade released to his him to give to the students to transport themselves back home after a protracted meeting with the students at Perigrinoh Hall, Calabar, a week ago.

A source told National Mirror that the governor approved N300,000.00 for disbursement to the different youth groups who attended the meeting but to their surprise, the governor’s PA only disbursed N10,000.00 to each of the groups.

Speaking to journalists in Calabar, the chief judge of NACRISS world

•Their claim is wrong –PA

wide, Comrade Ukam Nkwu, averred that what transpired, if not properly managed, would leave the public with a question mark over the credibility of the aide to deliver responsible leadership to the youths who form majority of the state’s population.

The aggrieved youths stressed that the manner the PA had carried out the disbursement of the money approved for them during their recent interactive session with the governor showed his desperation to amass wealth for himself to the detriment of youths.

A leader of one of the groups who craved anonymity lamented that rather than using his office to promote the image of the governor among the youths, Abuo’s actions had brought untold hardship to youths thereby creating a wrong impression about the quality of people the governor had chosen to work with.

He stressed that Ayade was a man of integrity who would not have gone back on his initial promise.

“But unfortunately, after the governor publicly announced that each group represented in the meeting was going to be given three hundred thousand naira for transport fare and dinner with a strict instrument that his PA should treat ev-

ery group equally, when I heard he was disbursing the cash I went to Axari hotel to meet him but shamefully, the people he employed for the job told me that my group was not captured and that they were giving ten thousand against the three hundred thousand approved by the governor”.

The source further added that, “Prof. Ayade should know that he has a duty to protect his image and the integrity of the state and this cannot be achieved with a person like Abuo; in fact, he has no business in the governor’s office, he needs to be sacked before it is too late”.

He stressed that although he was part of the arrangement and mobilisation of youths for the meeting, the action of the PA had created doubt about what the true situation was.

“What has happened is a very unfortunate situation and a bad omen for our democracy. I was actively involved in the plans for the meeting but now completely oblivious of the disbursement formula.

“My president just told me twenty thousand naira was given to NACRISS worldwide against three hundred thousand promised. Students and youths travelled all the way from the northern and central part of the

state for the meeting; in fact some are stranded because they don’t have where to stay and no transport fare to go back.

I don’t know the reason behind the change in the amount but this is a bad signal from the aide.

Responding in a telephone call, the PA denied defrauding the youths saying that, the governor only approved 1.2 million for all the groups that can only accommodate five groups by the governor’s pronouncement.

He argued that rather than vilify him, the various organisations should applaud him for instituting means that could ensure all the groups which attended the meeting went home with some amount.

His words: “It is true that the governor promised three hundred thousand for each group but the people misinterpreted what he meant because he was only talking of major groups.

“1.2 million was approved and my records shows that we have over 70 groups; multiply three hundred by 70, you would understand why I said they didn’t really understand him. I am trying to see how everybody would be carried along and we are disbursing the money in order of location, some groups are getting ten thousand while others get thirty thousand.”

jaw Youth Council, IYC, the umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide, has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government of plot to frustrate the take-off of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Science and Technical College, Okoloba, both in Delta State.

The move, according to them, was a political vendetta against the people of the Niger Delta region who contributed the largest nation’s revenue.

In a statement issued by the IYC’s spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare in Warri, the group said all steps taken

by President Buhari and his kinsmen with respect to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were all geared towards the frustration of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko and NIMASA Science and Technical College.

According to them, “President Buhari’s administration has ordered all ongoing projects, programmes and the take-off of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, to be stopped, whereas other tertiary institutions in other part of the country where maritime programmes are being sponsored by NIMASA are allowed to continue.”

The statement reads in part: “The deliberate efforts by the administration of President Buhari to frustrate the take-off of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State and the continuation of the NIMASA Science and Technical College, Okoloba is political victimisation taken too far.

“Since assumption of office, all steps taken by President Buhari and his kinsmen with respect to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) are all geared towards the frustration of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, NIMASA Science and Technical College, Okoloba, Delta State and any project or programme perceived to be of benefit to the Niger Delta

region.”

It noted that while FG has ordered stoppage of work in the two institutions in Delta State, similar projects being undertaken by NIMASA in the northern and other parts of the country were presently ongoing.

“These institutions are Ibrahim Babangida University, Minna, Niger State; University of Lagos; Federal University of Technology, Gombe, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the approval for the maritime programmes in these institutions were given at same time with the Maritime University, Okerenkoko.

“The IYC is convinced that this it is a continuation of President Buhari’s victimisation of the Niger Delta region, especially the Ijaw people as a fall out of the last presidential election. This is totally unexpected of a statesman which President Buhari ought to be.

“It would interest Nigerians and the world to know that these institutions and a few others are the only federal presence in the Ijaw areas of the Niger Delta region apart from the oil and gas facilities littered everywhere and acting as a curse and sorrow to our people”, the statement explained.

IYC said further that, “it cannot fathom any reason why President Buhari administration cannot allow institutions that would address some of the educational challenges facing our people in the Niger Delta region but is only interested in the free flow of the crude oil resources in the region.

“The IYC calls on President Buhari to act like the President of Nigeria by embracing all sections of the country rather than his very sectional approach to governance and political victimisation of sections that did not support his presidential ambition in the last elections. The Niger Delta people would not accept a situation where the federal government is only interested in the free flow of crude oil and not in the human and infrastructural development of the region.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

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Combating Nigeria’s growing illiteracy TAYO OGUNBIYI

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nited States former President, Bill Clinton, said in 1994 during the celebration of International Literacy Day that “literacy is not a luxury; it is a right and a responsibility. If our world is to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century we must harness the energy and creativity of all our citizens.”

Annually, September 8 is globally celebrated as International Literacy Day. It is a day set aside to draw attention to the importance and impact of literacy skills on individuals, communities, and societies. Since the day was first celebrated in 1966, on every 8 September, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) requests governments, employers, trades unions and other key global organizations to get involved and appreciate the importance of being able to read and write.

Available data show that there are now about four billion literate people in the world. In as much as this represents a positive stride, literacy for all is still a yet to be accomplished objective. A recent UNESCO statistics indicate that 774 million adults globally still cannot read or write and two-thirds of them are women. Among youths, 123 million are illiterate of which 76 million are female.

In Nigeria, in spite of efforts by all tiers of governments to address rising illiteracy level, there has not been a progressive increase in the literary level,

especially among adults. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, adult illiteracy rate in Nigeria stands at 56.9 percent. The implication of this is that about 70 percent of Nigerians are illiterates. Considering the fact that globally the illiteracy rate is approximately 20 percent, the Nigerian situation is rather disturbing. Expectedly, the states mostly affected by the Boko Haram insurgents in the northern part of the country recorded the lowest literacy rate in the country.

The Country Comparison Index of Literacy Level by country in 2012 further testifies to the worrisome literacy situation in the country as Nigeria was ranked 161 out of 184 countries with 66 per cent illiteracy rate. This implies that we belong to the mainstream of the world’s most illiterate countries. A recent USAID study also indicates that an estimated 10 million Nigerian children are not registered in school. A disclosure by a former Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, equally indicates that the number of adults who cannot read and write in the country is estimated at 60 million, which is about 38 percent of the country’s estimated population of 170 million. The revelation was made by Wike at the flagging off of the 2014 International Literacy Day. At the 2013 edition of same event it was disclosed that adult illiterates rate in the country increased from 25 million in 1997 to 35 million in 2013. The declining fortune of literacy ratio among Nigerian children is, indeed an embarrass-

WE BELONG TO THE MAINSTREAM OF THE WORLD’S

MOST ILLITERATE COUNTRIES ment to the nation as we currently have over 10.5 million children out of school.

The current Education for All (EFA), a global monitoring report, affirms that the number of illiterate adults in Nigeria has increased by 10 million over the past two decades, to reach 35 million.

The current literacy trend in Nigeria, if not speedily halted, could obstruct the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s). As it has been earlier asserted, literacy is vital o the achievement of every growth index. The way things stand, the objective of meeting the national mark of reducing illiteracy by 50 percent in 2015 seems largely unattainable.

One of the most compelling ways to tackle the myriad of challenges confronting us as a nation is to urgently attend to the declining literacy position in the country. To successfully confront poverty, disease, religious fanaticism, political chaos, ethnic bigotry, gender discrimination, economic depression among others, efforts must be made by all to enhance the literary level in the country.

Importantly, governments at all levels need to make pragmatic legislations as well as improved funding for the rel-

evant agencies of government saddled with the execution of the mass literacy programme. Equally, literacy inclined groups and other related NGOs ought to step up activities and campaigns to increase awareness towards the importance of literacy. The various States Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) need to intensify efforts to ensure that no child is left out in the mass literacy drive. To this end, all the states need to strictly adhere to the spirit and principle of the Child Rights Law which criminalizes denial of access to any child to school.

According to former United Nations Secretary General, Dr Kofi Anan, “Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope.

It is a basic tool for daily life in modern society. It is a wall against poverty, and a building block of development. Literacy is a vehicle for the promotion of cultural and national identity”. The implication of this is that for individuals, families, and societies alike, literacy is an instrument of empowerment. For a society to attain sustainable development and environmental integration, literacy is one of the required key elements.

The 2015 International Literacy Day is, therefore, offers another golden chance for all stakeholders to reflect on Nigeria’s literacy state and make appropriate concerted efforts that could ensure the realization of the national mass literacy project.

Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

A nation stepping on revolving cycle of bailout OGWAZU NNAMDI

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s a child, I came in contact with bail out when a relative was held behind bars and my Dad making efforts to secure his release. In that case, it turned a point of reference as every demand on my dad met the response of having used what is left in the house to secure the release and so, we became used to same. It was later as we moved through the academic ladder that one realized that bailout differs, and the sphere continues to widening by the day.

So, when President Mohammud Buhari harkened to the voice of Nigerian Governors’ Forum for a bailout, I imagined what a one-chance bus looks like, especially in a time of anguish. Indeed, opening our national vault for these few Nigerians, who by their schemes found themselves at the top was a story that would be narrated someday to our children. Yes! Pregnancy that was safeguarded from the prying eyes of the few who still ask questions has come in the open as salaries payment became a herculean task.

Consciously, our nation is one that is run on emotions. Thus President Muhammadu Buhari might have been swayed by emotion to order the release of bailout funds, whether appropriated or not. I would not fight against the release on the podium of insensi-

tivity having the numerous home-faced hunger and deprivations occasioned by mounting salary arrears; neither would I take to a combat as our financial experts and management gurus are torn in for or against. The supporters of bailout hinged their arguments on lubricating the economy rather than get into some macroeconomic issues that would spell doom for Nigeria However, I have come to realization that a man who never bothers to know when the sun rises may wait until setting of the sun to spread his washed clothes and then contend with odour. Interestingly, I have never heard of any month without Federation Accounts and Allocation (FAAC) meeting and the admonition to sharers to invest same wisely.

This may mean taking from savings of the past to meeting the demands of running government while hoping to use the savings later. What do we actually observe in the system if not rushing to Abuja for the monthly allocation and dispensing same. So, why should there exist unpaid salaries let alone twin issues of arrears of unpaid salaries?

Mr President, it would have done us good taking the longer route in enquiring to know when our common calabash changed colours, especially now the national elections are over. The situation is suspect as it may mean that we are not ready for good governance.

On another hand, some public officials

THIS NATION CAN BE SALVAGED IF WE THINK CRITICALLY AND ENTHRONE POSITIVE VALUES seems to have found dwindling revenue as excuse, but one still notices numerous waste from the very system. Have these lords reduced excessive convoys and spending on trivialities, unwanted baggage as aides and support staff ? What about social parties and celebrations serviced with public resources? I have be waiting for some ex-governors’ birthday celebrations without success, remembrance of their late parents and grandparents as done while in office.

Mr President, the question before you is, despite the reported N660 billion states’ commercial debts outside numerous deceitful, contractual obligations, have the states stopped seeking for loans? It is reported that Rivers and Abia State each within the first month of new administration got approvals for N30 billion, while Benue, Kwara , Ebonyi and few others picked between N5 billion and N10 billion to pay salaries.

Why would the approval of Edo State bumper loan scale through the fence of your office and legislature easily, and Lagos State on the verge of taking more billions?

Yet, the new bailout as sought would see these debts pushed up to 2034 at above 14 percent. While applauding the interest, I may want to know why one man’s profligacy would be tied to my children as 2034 is 19 years ahead, enough to see a new born graduate from the university.

The bible informs us on the fate that befell the unproductive slave when the productive ones were commended and rewarded with greater task. So, I feel that we may have rushed to reward poor judgment as these loans that brought states down to their knees remain non productive. Though, some persons in their inner Court whisper that these monies served unquenchable greed of a few.

Indeed, we would soon get into another round of bailout since we choose to gloss over threats to our existence as a nation.

Why have we jettisoned putting in place effective governance structure that curbs waste and unsustainable projects?

Mr. President, this nation can be salvaged if we think critically and enthrone positive values.

Ogwazu, an Owerri-based journalist wrote via ndogwazu@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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SUNDAY OLAJIDE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO BEN MEMULETIWON ACTING DAILY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI SATURDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN SUNDAY EDITOR DOZIE OKEBALAMA COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD CALLISTUS OKE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR OBIORAH IFO ACTING ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF AUGUSTUS IMEKAN ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS

Professionals in rape charges N o longer striking or stranger-than-fiction are reports on the extreme extent of immorality and depravity in the country.

Partly buttressing this point have been incessant cases of sex-related offences ex-rayed by the media almost on daily basis. Young men now rape women far older than their mothers. In 2013, for instance, news headlines were agog with how young men aged between 18 and 22-years-old made the raping of old women their pastime in Opi, an otherwise serene community near Nsukka, a popular university town in Enugu State. When one of the deviants, Nnanna Osondu (19), was arrested by the police while armed with sharp knives with which he cowed his victims to submission, the serial rapist confessed to indulging in the crime for pleasure. Female children that can at best be regarded as babies are not spared, as some unfortunate ones have been defiled by men far older than them.

Some deviant fathers also enter into incestuous relationships with their under-aged daughters that result to pregnancies; and so forth. No less disgraceful, however, are situations when professionals that ought to serve as models and symbols of authority to upcom-

ing generations are fingered in such cases. About late 2012, for example, was the report that a serving Army officer with the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) was to appear before a Kaduna Magistrate’s Court sitting in Barnawa to answer charges of alleged sexual assault on a 16-year-old girl whose first name was given as Muimuna.

The complainant accused the officer, a Lieutenant Colonel, of luring her into his house and forcibly having canal knowledge of her against her wish and leaving her traumatised. The case listed as KMD/19DC/2012, alleged criminal intimidation, rape, acts of gross indecency, abductions and threat to life against the soldier, which infract sections 397, 282, 285, 272 and 327 of the penal code. The alleged offences were committed on October 22, 2012. The NDA Public Relations Officer (PRO) at the time, Lt. Col. Abubakar Edun, reportedly confirmed the incident, but denied knowledge of the court summons.

Early this month, it was also widely reported that the police in Lagos arraigned a 40-year-old lawyer before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, “on fresh four charges bordering on unlawful penetration into the private parts of a

September 15, 1983 Israeli Premier, Menachem Begin, resigned. Begin (August 16, 1913 – March 9, 1992) was an Israeli politician, founder of Likud party and the sixth Prime Minister of the State of Israel. Before the creation of the State of Israel, he was the leader of the Zionist militant group popularly known as ‘Irgun’, the Revisionist breakaway from the larger Jewish paramilitary organization, ‘Haganah’.

PROFESSIONS THAT

PLACE HIGH PREMIUM ON THEIR INTEGRITY

AND DIGNITY SHOULD INSIST ON STIFF PENALTIES AGAINST ERRING MEMBERS nine-year-old girl”. The victim was said to have followed her grandma, a claimant in a civil matter before the court, to the court premises on August 11 when the incident happened.

The lawyer, who the victim’s grandma wanted to handle her civil matter, was initially playing with the little girl before he (lawyer) lured her into a vacant courtroom, where he sexually assaulted her.

We once drew attention to the fact that the punishment for sexual offences in the country seems to encourage rather than rein in the crimes, despite the fact that rape erodes the dignity and pride of victims, exposes them to trauma as well as the dangers of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS. A case experienced in Edo State not too long ago amplifies the unfortunate situation. According to reports, one Michael Aimufua, a middleaged man, waylaid a housewife

ON THIS DAY September 15, 1990 France announced it would send 4,000 troops to the Persian Gulf. The Persian Gulf is located in Western Asia between Iran to the northeast and the Arabian Peninsula to the southwest. The Persian Gulf is an extension of the Indian Ocean. The Gulf was a battlefield of the 1980 – 1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other’s oil tankers. It is the namesake of the 1991 Gulf War.

on school run, dragged her into the bush and raped her. In his hurry to escape, Aimufua was knocked down in an accident by a vehicle driven by the unsuspecting husband of the raped woman. In the process of taking the run-away rapist to the hospital, the raped woman emerged and the crime was exposed. One thing led to another and the rapist bagged a two-year jail term last year. We, however, doubt the possibility of a two-year jail term serving a good enough punishment to deter serial rapists.

Arresting the increasing wave of rape and other sexrelated offences demands diligent investigation, prosecution; as well as punishment that is harsher than two years in jail.

The Senate, since 2013, has been advocating stiffer penalties for sex offenders; and later raised a bill which prescribed a minimum of 14-year imprisonment term for a convicted rapist, among others. The 8th Senate should revisit the proposed piece of legislation since it is obvious that the 7th National Assembly did not complete the work. In addition, all professions that place high premium on their integrity and dignity should insist on stiff penalties against erring members, which should not be compromised whenever the need arises.

September 15, 2008 Lehman Brothers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the largest bankruptcy filing in United States’ history. Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. was a global financial services firm. Before declaring bankruptcy in 2008, Lehman was the fourth-largest investment bank in the US (behind Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Merrill Lynch), doing business in investment banking, equity and fixed-income sales and trading.

Business

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Property industry sustains low growth, plummeting yields 25

International Ozone Day holds tomorrow 28

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NCAA may review age restriction on aircraft

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AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES Med-View Airline

Solid mineral

Tapping solid minerals sector’s revenue potential for budget efficiency In this analysis, CHIDI UGWU, takes a critical look at the current fiscal situation of the country and how to manage it in such a way that basic socio-economic services could still be provided by the tiers of government for millions of vulnerable Nigerians. He, based on analysts’ submissions, see the leeway out of budgetary crisis in the exploration of the abundant solid minerals sector for national benefits:

I

t is doubtful if managers of the nation’s economy could have imagined four to five years ago that Nigeria would be plunged into another round of fiscal straits as it is being witnessed currently.

Those were the years when crude oil prices soared and the country experienced, as was in the decades past, surplus revenue accruals from crude oil and its derivatives’ exports on monthly basis.

But then, the penchant for profligacy and unbridled fiscal entrenchment

by the government despite warnings by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and other international institutions for prudence, pushed down the country once again down fiscal doldrums as crude oil prices crash in the international oil market continues to take huge toll on revenue accruals to government’s coffers, making governance at all levels increasingly difficult today.

As the pains of financial crisis weigh down governments at national and sub-national levels as was wit-

The naTional budgeT, which was earlier passed by The

house of represenTaTives, was n51bn higher Than The n4.425Tr submiTTed To boTh chambers of The naTional assembly by The federal governmenT

nessed in the pre- 1999 years, analysts have again renewed the call for diversification of the nation’s economy, with most of them seeing the solid minerals sector as holding the ace in the economic bailout options open to the country.

Experts say that apart from the Boko Haram insurgency, how to finance the 2015 budget in the wake of low oil prices and the attendant threats associated with declining revenue to the nation’s macroeconomy, remainsone of the major tasks the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will have to contend with, at least in the next two years.

This becomes very critical when viewed against the backdrop of the tough economic conditions witnessed over the last couple of months in the country, especially in the area of declining crude oil and gas receipts and Federal and state

governments’ inability to meet some of its financial obligations.

The Senate passed N4.493tr budget for the 2015 fiscal year, about five months after it was presented by the immediate past Minister of Finance/ Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala.

The national budget, which was earlier passed by the House of Representatives, was N51bn higher than the N4.425tr submitted to both chambers of the National Assembly by the federal government.

The senate approval of the budget however confirmed the non inclusion of fuel subsidy provision in the document but contained N21bn for the funding of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme.

The senate, in passing the budget, slightly reduced the CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Lagos- Abuja (Mon-Fri): 07.00, 08.50, 12.00, 16.30. Abuja- Lagos (Mon-Fri): 09.00, 14.00, 15.00, 18.30. Lagos-Yola (Mon-Fri): 8.50am. Yola-Lagos (Mon-Fri): 13.00. Lagos- PHC (Mon-Fri): 17.00. PHC-Lagos: 19.00. Abuja-Yola: 11.00. Yola-Abuja: 13.00.

Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50.

Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00.

Lagos-PHC (Sat): 17.00. PHC-Lagos (Sat): 19.00. Lagos-Yola (Sat): 08.50. Yola-Lagos (Sat): 13.00

Dana Air Abuja-Lagos 9am, 1pm, 5.28pm daily Lagos-Abuja 7am, 11am, 1.23pm,3.30pm daily Lagos-PH: 7.20AM, Ph-Abuja9.54am, Abuja-ph: 3.30pm and Ph-Lagos: 5.28pm daily Lagos-Uyo: 9.20am, Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am, Abuja-Uyo 1.05pm, Uyo-Lagos: 3pm daily Weekends Lagos-Abuja: 7.02am, 9am, 3.30pm Abuja-Lagos: 9am, 2.20pm and 5.28pm Lagos -Phc: 11.07am Phc-Lagos: 1.05pm Phc-Abuja: 12.51pm Abuja-Phc: 10.50am Lagos-Uyo: 9.18am Uyo-LOS -3.03pm Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am Abuja-Uyo: 1.05pm

Aero Contractors Lag-Abj: 06.50, 13.30, 16.30, 19.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun), 12.30 (Sun) 16.45 (Sat) Abj-Los: 07.30, 13.00, 19.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat, 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 (Sun, 18.30 Sat) Lag-Benin: 07.45, 11.00, 15.30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 12.30 (Sun 15.30 (Sat) Ben-Lag: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 17.00 (Sat) 14.00 (Sun)Lag-Owe: 7.45am, 2pm daily

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Business News

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tapping solid minerals sector’s revenue potential for budget efficiency CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 N2.607 601, 000, 300 proposed by the executive to N2.607 132,491,708 as recurrent expenditure and simultaneously scaled down the capital expenditure from N642 848 999 699 estimated in the proposal to N556 995 465 449.

The then Chairman, Joint Senate Committee on Appropriation and Finance, Mohammed Maccido, explained that the details of the figure approved by senate in the document were not different from the version passed by the House of Representatives the previous week.

The significant drop in crude oil revenue negatively impacted Nigeria’s economy and the external reserves, which crashed from about $38 billion in September to less than $30 billion by the end of March.

The fluctuation in the exchange rate of the naira, from N168 to the dollar in August and N230 to the dollar prior to the March 28, 2015 general elections also affected the process to pass the budget, as the benchmarks had to be reviewed by the lawmakers.

However, in passing the appropriation bill, the Senate said the crude oil benchmark was projected at $53 per barrel, and the exchange rate of N190 to the dollar.

Based on certain parameters in the proposals, it was evident that the 2015 budget was designed to enhance the drive for diversification in the Nigerian economy to reduce dependency on oil and increase focus on internally generated revenue through developmental expenditure on other projects and tax policies. There is a clear focus on increasing tax revenue by widening the tax base. It would appear that projected revenues from import surcharges can be improved with increased surcharge on some consumption goods and services.

However, the price of oil as is currently set by the budget remains key as price fluctuations would impact the realization of the budget. In effect, going by the current price of crude oil which currently fluctuates below $50 per barrel in the international market, it is imperative that the Government reviews its $53 benchmark if it is to adequately fund the budget.

More so, analysts have opined that consideration the prevailing volatility in crude oil prices, President Buhari’s administration must initiate a number of strategies to cushion against the effect of the low oil price among which is the solid minerals sector.

According to Federal Government proposals, Solid Minerals sector is expected to take off and begin substantial contributions to the Federation Account starting with N14 billion incorporated as non-oil revenues in the 2015 budget.

In a bid to encourage deep pockets investments in the solid minerals sector, former President Goodluck Jonathan had said stated that machinery and equipment imported for use in the solid minerals sector will attract zero per cent import duty and zero per cent VAT. Also, President Muhammadu Buhari pledged priority attention to solid minerals development in his economic blueprint, bolstering the general believe in the need to reform solid minerals development in the period of economic adversity imposed by lower oil prices, as it is currently the case.

Indeed, the low activity in the solid miner-

Musa

Shehu

if the government is committed to economic diversification, surely

solid minerals sector provides a good opportunity for investment inflows into the country al sector is not yielding the desired financial benefit as there are no records of payment of taxes and royalty to the government. Nigeria is losing lots of resources from untapped mineral deposit as well as from the little that is being mined mostly by illegal miners who smuggle the products out of the country.

Nigeria is endowed with large deposits of barites, bitumen, limestone, coal, tin, columbite, gold, silver, lead-zinc, gypsum, glasssand, clays, asbestos, graphite and iron ore among others.

According to NEITI audit report on solid mineral operation in Nigeria, there are six buying center, nine dredging companies, eleven exporters of solid minerals, fourteen medium scale mining companies, thirty-five commercial quarry, fifty-four construction quarry, eight quarry for manufacturing giving a total of one hundred and thirty-seven activities in the solid mineral sector of the Nigerian economy.

Report on the Physical and Process Flows in Nigeria Solid Minerals Industry 2011 prepared by Haruna Yahaya & CO (Chartered Accountants) indicated that there were no adequate records of operations in the sector.

The report said “A review of Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigeria Customs Service records on exported minerals showed that there were discrepancies in the value of exported minerals as well as the associated company.

Available records of Central Bank of Nigeria’s report indicated that 15 companies exported 9,068.70 metric tonnes of minerals valued at N577, 768,456 while Nigeria Customs Service records showed that 30 companies exported 7,107,099.80 metric tonnes of minerals valued at N11,496,070,691.

“Despite the fact that Gold and Barites were being mined across the nation, there is no record to show that these minerals are among the mined or exported minerals. Further finding shows that barites are mined in Benue and Nasarawa states, they are also

purchased by multinational oil companies as drill fluids, despite high activities of miners there are no record of royalty payments.

“From the available records of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, there were no evidence of royalty payment on these exported minerals. The Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act 2007 requires that any exporter of solid minerals must request for permit to export minerals. But in defiance to the Act, there was no available evidence of request for permit or approval to export minerals by the companies,” the report stated.

Solid minerals industry stakeholders have urged President Buhari to take up the challenge of developing the mining sector if it must succeed in tackling many challenges undermining national development, especially unemployment and capacity building in critical sectors of the economy.

The President, Miners Association of Nigeria, MAN, Alhaji Sanni Shehu maintained that all relevant policies are already in place to move the sector to the desired growth level, urging the incoming administration to ensure strict implementation of the policies.

He said that the sector needed proper funding to enable operators acquire modern mechanised machinery for safer and environmental-friendly mining operations, stressing that today’s mining is highly mechanised.

Shehu indicated that if the sector is to grow and realise its full potentials, government must assist in building the capacity of operators, especially, the small scale and artisanal miners.

Appraising the prospects of the sector for national development, the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, Comrade Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), explained that given the current administration’s determination and desire to diversify the Nigerian economy, the solid minerals sector was well placed to compliment incomes significantly.

He recalled that it was a known fact that diversed solid mineral deposits are widespread

across Nigeria but that due to poor utilization of these resources Nigeria has been unable to harness the sector’s contribution to compliment revenue that would support financing for development.

According to him, if the government is committed to economic diversification, surely solid minerals sector provides a good opportunity for investment inflows into the country.

Musa, who is also the Head of Transparency International (Nigeria) pointed out that every state in the country had enormous potential in solid minerals but failed to focus on it its development knowing full well that a functioning mining economy would surely generate tax income for both all tiers of government and by implication, shield the economy from the whirlwinds of the recurring volatility in the global oil market.

He noted: “The laziness and over reliance on oil & gas which is concentrated in one geopolitical zone of the country has been the main source of revenue for the government consequently it has also been the source of great fiscal and political tension.

“Therefore to get out of this current fiscal and economic over dependence resulting in the crises facing our revenue sector today ,there is need to develop this unutilized solid minerals sector to encourage investors, but we must have the right policy frame work that would grantee investors to invest their resources through open, transparent bidding and importantly ensuring that implementation of the reforms of the sector under which the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007; establishes the Mining Cadastre responsible for the administration of all mineral titles are adhered to”, the transparency advocate added.

He explained further that if we avoid the same mistake of environmental abuses and ensure community protection, with timely diversification of the nation’s economy through the utilization of solid minerals, the nation’s economy would no longer depend only on one source of revenue for sustainable growth.

Musa posited that the fiscal crisis can be overcome if solid minerals and other revenue sectors were developed and the planners of the economy avoided over dependence on oil which is not taking the nation’s economy to anywhere, based on recent developments in the international oil market.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

21

Statistical Association seeks Customs Service roles in oil import, export ...as Gov Aregbesola tasks association on roles in national devt

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he Nigerian Statistical Association, NSA, has called on the Federal Government to involve the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, in the monitoring of crude oil export and refined petroleum products importation with a view to ensuring reliable statistical data on the nation’s merchandise trade, This is even as it also advocated urgent review of the existing policies guiding the economic activities in the Export Processing Zones, EPZs, such that the export-import trade business in the zones could be accessible to agencies involved in data collation and production for national planning and development. Setting this agenda for government at the just ended 39th Annual Conference of the Association in Oshogbo, Osun State, the National President of the association, Dr Mohammed Tumala, pointed out these policy measures were required to get accurate data on Nigeria’s merchandise trade trends on a broader scale and by implication, support statistics-based planning for development. Tumala, who described the exclusion of statistics as a core subject in secondary school curriculum as undesirable for the country, explained that the involvement of the Customs Service in crude oil lifting and fuel import regime,

given the agency’s capacity to do so, would go a long way in minimising the abuses that had characterised the oil and gas industry operations over the years. On the current moves to build a credible identity database for Nigerians as well as the anti-corruption crusade in the country, Tumala said that such agenda would only succeed if the relevant agencies had the right data to work with and also involve professional statisticians in the collation, analyzing, production, and application of such statistical data on their investigations.

He therefore advised the security agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to see how they could begin to rely on and adopt proactive data mining approaches to fight financial and other crimes in the country. While expressing the readiness of the Association to partner with the various agencies including the EFCC, ICPC, DSS and the NIMC, Tumala disclosed that the NSA was prepared to help State Governments establish their Bureaux of Statistics to support their drive towards effective policy implementation.

In his opening speech at the Conference, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, appealed to the association to rise to the challenge of helping the country develop a credible statistical database on key areas

NCAA may review age restriction on aircraft OluSEguN KOIKI

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f the recommendation sails through, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, may have in its new regulation policy that bar airplane of 22 years.

Presenting the position of Air Operators Association of Nigeria, AOAN, for amendment to the new Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, NIG.CARs, the Chairman of the body, Capt. Mohammed Joji said the age of aircraft does not matter, arguing that the same aircraft types that were banned aftermath of air crashes shows that the country is only reactionary to issue and not proactive.

It would be recalled that former Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Kema Chikwe started the ban policy after the crash of EAS Airline in Gwamaja, near Kano in 2002.

The Government policy then barred BAC1-11 and B727 aircraft

for what it considered old age. Many of the airlines like Chanchangi, Bellview, Savannah Air, Fresh Air, Okada Air, Al Barka and many others closed shops because many of them had the airplane types in their fleet.

The government thereby pegged the age limit of planes coming to the country at 22 years old.

Joji explained that airplanes of over 20 years are still used in Europe, United States and other countries.

He argued that airliners and business jets were built with a certain number of cycles in mind, adding that a cycle was usually defined as a pressurisation and depressurisation of the cabin. There is no doubt that pumping up the cabin puts more stress on an airframe than does unpressurised flying.

It was the catastrophic failure of the cabin roof of an elderly Boeing 737 that alerted the airline maintenance community to this problem.

He added that the DC-3 had flown for more than 60 years, and many light aircraft soldier on after age 40.

of education, health and the economy, among others, with a view to supporting the tiers of government in basing their developmental agenda on statistics-based planning.

Aregbesola, who particularly asked the group to always voice their professional views whenever interpretation of

statistical data becomes contentious in national debates among groups with divergent socio-cultural and political leanings, said that it was only by doing so that it can guide such discourses and decisions that would be taken on them after all.

The Governor pointed out that

while the NSA saw statistics as essential to good governance based on the theme of the Conference ‘Statistics for Good Governance’, he believed that “on a broader scale, statistics go beyond governance, it encompasses life itself, mostly in an informal way”

L-R: Host/ Musician/Entertainer, Falz, TheBahdGuy; Chief Editor, TW Magazine, Adesuwa Onyenokwe; Chief Executive Officer, WAKANOW, Obinna Okezie; Chief Executive Officer, Blue Camel Energy Limited, Suleiman Yusuf and Group Head, Strategy and Communications, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Shina Atilola, at the bank’s ‘Get Ready For Work’ programme in Lagos…weekend

Truckers decry poor loading facilities at terminal operators’ base FRANCIS EZEM

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aritime truck operators under the aegis of Joint Council of Seaport Truckers JCOST, at the weekend took a swipe at port concessionaires in the country, alleging that some of them lack the required equipment to properly position containers on trucks before leaving the ports.

The group made the allegation against the backdrop of incessant cases of the containers falling off moving trucks, including the recent one at Ojuelegba that claimed over three lives, saying that terminal operators should also take part of the blames for avoidable accidents of trucks.

Spokesperson of the JCOST, which is an ad-hoc merger between the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners NARTO, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria RTEAN, Truck Terminal Users Association, Truck Drivers Unit TDU of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria MWUN, and Association of Maritime Truck Owners AMATO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi,

claimed that terminal operators were not fulfilling their obligations in terms of provision of quality loading equipment at the ports.

The group, which also took a swipe at government at all levels, linked the deplorable state of the nation’s highways to the incessant cases of accidents on these roads.

Ogungbemi said: “The terminal operators too have not been doing enough in the area of providing necessary equipment to make sure that the trucks are well positioned on the trucks and to even ascertain that the trucks are suitable for carrying certain weight of goods “Over the years, governments at all levels have failed in their statutory responsibility in providing the basic infrastructure that enhance trade and other economic activities such as providing suitable roads for the movement of the trucks and have ironically laid the entire blames on truck operators alone”, he added It was gathered that the truck operators decided to withdraw their vehicles off the roads partly due to the recent decision of the

Lagos State Government to strictly enforce the night movement legislation on trucks and other heavy duty vehicles in the state.

Under the policy, which became more effective following the public outcry that trained the recent fall of a container from a moving truck, killing three people, the truck are only allowed to move on Lagos roads between the hours of 9pm-6am daily.

“We have decided to withdraw our trucks from the roads to protest this decision of Lagos State Government to enforce this restriction on the movement of trucks in the state pending when the government is able to bring about a ‘conducive environment’ for our business to thrive”, he said.

Investigations also showed that the truckers were before their joint meeting contemplating to rescind their decision to withdraw their trucks but had to change their mind following the emergence of the new taskforce created by the state government to strictly enforce the movement restriction on the truck owners.

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Business News

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

World Bank decries women exclusion from jobs DaviD auDu

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World Bank Group report has decried the exclusion of women from jobs in some countries of the world raising the alarm that such continued exclusion of half of the world’s work force poses grave danger to economic emancipation of many countries, and indeed the global economy.

The World Bank Group’s ‘Women, Business and the Law 2016’ report, notes that legal barriers to the economic advancement of women are widespread, shutting them out of certain jobs, limiting their access to credit, and leaving them unprotected against violence in many economies around the world.

This is against the backdrop that women constitute half of the world population but ironically most of them have been

excluded from mainstream economic activities in many countries, the report noted.

The report, which examines laws that impede women’s employment and entrepreneurship, finds that women face job restrictions in 100 of the 173 economies monitored.

“For example, women are barred from working in certain factory jobs in 41 economies; in 29 economies they are prohibited from working at night; and in 18 economies they cannot get a job without permission from their husband. Only half of the economies covered have paternity leave, and less than a third have parental leave, limiting men’s ability to share childcare responsibilities. In 30 economies, married women cannot choose where to live and in 19 they are legally obligated to obey their husbands”, the report noted.

These and a range of other

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he Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa has said that for the nation to adequately harness its abundance natural resources for industrialization, there must be synergy between the private sector and research centers. Olaoluwa, who spoke as a guest at the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) Council meeting in Abuja, noted that while some of the nation’s research institutes had developed a number of new technologies, it was worrisome that they had not been connected to the markets where they were

Olusegun KOiKi

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addressing open-items identified following the Airport Council International (ACI) APEX evaluation conducted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja, and Murtala Mohammed International airport, Lagos. According to him, this will further boost our adherence to safety and security baseline, inline with ICAO guidelines. He therefore charged them to work meticulously to meet up with set goals, stressing that the monitoring and evaluation mechanism will be activated for greater productivity. It would be recalled that the Lagos and Abuja airports were recently evaluated at the instance of the FAAN management

NIBSS, Etisalat to conduct BVN query service

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BoI seeks private sector, research centres partnership mostly needed. He stated that as part of the moves to encourage the linkage, BoI had struck a deal with the Federal a institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO) to fund any Small and Medium Scale operator willing to leverage on its innovatons for business concern. According to him, in order to facilitate the conversion of some of these new technologies into bankable projects, research centres such as FIIRO and NASENI, must package products in a language that would be understood by the private sector operators. He said,”I visited FIIRO and was positively surprised that they have developed over 50 technologies that this government can leverage on to advance

Dunoma tasks staff on airports safety, security

disparities monitored by the report have far-reaching contaff of the Federal Airports sequences, negatively affecting Authority of Nigeria have not only women themselves, but been asked to develop a stratheir children, their communitegic action plan for the closure of ties, and their countries’ econoopen-items identified during the mies. The report counts nearly recent audit carried out by the Ni950 instances of gender inequalgerian Civil Aviation Authority ity, under seven indicators.

(NCAA). The Managing Director World Bank Group Presiof FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma, dent, Jim Yong Kim said, “It is stated this at the weekend dura grave injustice when societing a meeting with the Technical ies place legal restrictions on Committee drawn from the Dewomen’s ability to get a job, or partments of Operations, Engiparticipate in economic life. neering, Safety and Security. DuWomen, like men, deserve evnoma urged the committee to ery opportunity to fulfill their provide guidance and support the potential, no matter where they facilities improvements aimed at live. These restrictions are also bad economics.

“Women represent over half the world’s population. We can’t afford to leave their potential untapped, whether because laws isaiah erhiawarien fail to protect women against violence, or exclude them from fielecommunications opnancial opportunities, property erator, Etisalat and the ownership or professions.

Nigeria Inter Bank Settle-

L-R: Mr. Rogers Nwoke, MD/CEO HASAL Microfinance Bank Ltd and Mrs. Itedjere Blessing Eze, a customer of the bank who won two Sewing Machines & a Toaster during the first raffle draw of HASAL 1 Year Reward Promo recently in Abuja

Olufemi aDeOsun, abuja

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

our agro-processing sector.What we have agreed with the agency is that we will support SMEs that want to use FIIRO technology. And we have entered into partnership that is working. “I think what FIRO and NASENI need to do is to articulate the prototype of the various researches and package them in a recognizable language that can be understood by industry operators. They need to be told how the technologies can be process into bankable projects to generate revenue. “There should really be partnership between the private sector and the nation’s research institutes so that they can leverage on what has been developed by research institutes.”

ment System Plc., NIBSS, are to handle the query service for the Bank Verification Number, BVN, exercise, of which about 20 million bank customers are believed to have been captured.

The service query, which was unveiled at the NIBSS headquarters in Lagos, is designed to help the banking public query their BVN on-the-go via their mobile phones, using the Etisalat network.

This is development is taking as the October 31 deadline set for the Bank Verification Number registration draws near, with just about a month to go.

Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Francesco Angelone said during the signing of the

partnership with NIBSS on USSD BVN Notification Service that the agreement was in line with the telco’s commitment to continue to create value for the consumers across all sectors including the banking and telecoms industries.

He said that Etisalat was happy to be the first to offer this product among the operators because it believed that innovation remained the way the telecoms industry must lead.

Angelone said: “We also think going in this direction of offering value to the banking public is another way Etisalat can show the telecoms industry the way to go.

The integration with the banking industry is a pillar for development.”

The telecom expert explained that Etisalat subscribers can check their BVN registration status and number by dialing a short code for an instant response at a cost of N10 per query.

FCMB wins ‘Most Customer Friendly Bank’ Award

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irst City Monument Bank (FCMB) has emerged the “Most Customer Friendly Bank” in the country, at the Annual BusinessDay Bankers Awards held on Friday in Lagos.

The Bank, which recently refreshed its brand with unique and differentiating identity, was voted after a rigorous process where several parameters were considered by the Award Team.

During the citation, the bank was said to have also resolved the highest number of customers’ complaints, relative to total complaints recorded in 2014 financial year.

In a release by the BusinessDay group, the Award was introduced in 2013, by the nation’s premier financial newspaper to reward excellence, achievements and recognise contributions made in the

banking industry, and ultimately the nation’s economy.

The publication further opined that “since its introduction, it has engendered a healthy competition among deposit money banks in Nigeria, with a view to promoting the development of the banking sector in Africa’s largest economy”.

Speaking on the awards, the representative of the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of First City Monument Bank Limited, Mr. Ladi Balogun, Adam Nuru, who is the Bank’s Executive Director, Business Development said that the Board, management and staff of the Banke were “happy to have come tops in the Most Customer Friendly Bank Category of the Awards by the BusinessDay Group which is a very credible and highly respected professional organisation.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Jobs & Career

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

23

Dwindling revenue: States mull workers sack, commence staff audits The inability of some states to pay workers’ salary has heightened fears over possible retrenchment of workers across the country. SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE reports

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here are strong indications that some state governments may retrench workers due to the growing fiscal challenges they are going through which have made capital and recurrent budgets implementation difficult in most of the states.

While some are contemplating the reduction of their workforce as a survival options, others are looking at the option of slashing workers’ salary to weather the increasing turbulent fiscal storm sweeping through their domains.

The Joint Negotiating Council in Ondo State recently rejected competency test by the government on the ground that it was a ploy to downsize the workforce.

JNC officers led by its Chairman, Mr Sunday Adeleye and Secretary, Mr Wole Akinlolu, in a letter to the Chairman of Board of Internal Revenue in the state, Mr Akin Akinterinwa, rejected competency test being proposed by government.

The Council stated: “We are of the candid opinion that the idea of competency test is being proposed for workers in Board of Internal Revenue to achieve ulterior motive by the protagonists perhaps to redeploy their favourites to some choice departments or to lay-off our innocent workers under the guise of incompetence.”

The Council stated that apart from the fact that the test was unnecessary, the workers were not happy due to non- payment of salaries and other emoluments.

Similarly, the Council of Academic Staff Union of Osun State Owned Tertiary Institutions has appealed to stakeholders in the state to prevail on Governor Rauf Aregbesola not to cut down their salaries as planned.

The Chairman, Lasisi Jimoh and Secretary, Olusegun Lana, in statement pointed out that rather than seeking an end to the ongoing industrial crisis in the

Ajimobi

NLC President, Ayuba-Wabba1

While some are contemplating the reduction of their Workforce as a

survival options, others are looking at

the option of slashing Workers’ salary to Weather the increasing turbulent fiscal storm sWeeping through their domains institutions, the state government complicated the situation by cutting lecturers’ salaries.

They recalled that lecturers’ salaries were first cut in January 2015 and the trend continued in February, accusing the state government of unilaterally pruning off the financial effects of initial promotions.

Already, Governor Abiola Ajimobi had attributed the non-constitution of his cabinet to the prevailing economic situation, adding that he had decided to settle down for three months before appointing his cabinet. `We will appoint 10 Special Advis-

ers and Commissioners this month, by God’s grace. We have reduced our ministries to 13,” he disclosed.

“The money we are getting is strictly to pay salaries. It is illegal to use it for any other thing. Even with that, about N17 billion is to be paid to the state government workers. We are supposed to pay local government workers N9 billion.

“As at today, we owe workers N21.3 billion. This means that after using the bailout fund to pay salaries, we will still owe and we will continue to owe until our allocation or internal generated revenue increases”, he added.

He said that the financial situation of the state was the reason he met with representatives of workers to consider the next line of action.

According to him, the next line of action of the state government will be to reduce workers’ salaries, retrench or restructure.

Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has vowed to embark on indefinite strike, if government goes ahead with its planned table payment of workers The Chairman, Mr Abdullahi Adeka, who dropped the hint, said that if the government refused to adhere to the terms of agreement reached with the union to pay workers through their respective banks, we would go on strike’’ “This is what we can do in order to prevent the stress and the undue delays in the payments of our salaries”, he added.

According to him, there was need for government to respect the agreement reached on the mode of payment of salaries, saying that the step becomes necessary in order to sustain the existing industrial harmony in the state.

“We have already agreed that salaries would be paid through the banks and anything short of what we agreed on, the union would not take it lightly”, he noted, advising workers not to turnout for any scheduled table payments.

Earlier, the state’s Head of Civil Service, Dr Dominic Bako, had directed all the workers in the state to collect their salaries through table payments.

On what appeared the feasible step to governments for improved revenue, an economic expert, Mr Funso Adeyemi, advised the governments to go back to agriculture or solid minerals to shore up their revenue profile.

He stressed that the diversification would increase the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.

Stakeholders intervene to resolve NLC crisis Sylva EmEka-OkErEkE

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eace may soon return to the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, as a 7-man committee has been set up to broker peace between the two warring groups, headed by comrades Ayuba Wabba and Joe Ajaero.

Headed by the pioneer President of NLC, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu with 3 members each drawn from the two parties, the Committee is expected to promote shared responsibilities and inclusiveness.

It is also expected to carry out a comprehensive review of the NLC and its policies since 2011 and make

all-inclusive recommendations to the joint Central Working Committee, CWC, of both divides on agreed and well-known tenets.

This committee, which does have time limit, is yet to start its work as planned due to some unidentified reasons.

Consequently, a joint Central Working Committee, CWC, meeting of the NLC, is also expected to hold soon to chart the way forward National Mirror gathered that the two groups had partially agreed to work for a united NLC as they noted that ‘’the crisis is not over until all issues at stake are comradely resolved in the spirit of reconciliation’’

Critical to the Abuja peace accord was that they must emphasize collective leadership that goes with collective responsibilities.

Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade P. Orere in a press statement said, ‘’We want to reiterate our commitment to the reconciliation effort as a divided movement undermines cohesion and solidarity, which remains our bedrock and driving force and; jeopardises workers’ interests. ‘’We remain determined in our pursuit of ensuring that the Congress comes out of this crisis purged of its old imperfections and better strengthened to serve Nigerian workers and the downtrodden masses of our beloved nation’’, he added.

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Jobs & Career

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Civil Servants support FG’s anti-corruption campaign

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ssociation of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, has thrown its weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s anticorruption war.

ASCSN National President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and the Secretary-General, Comrade Alade

Bashir Lawal in their statements decried alleged looting of nation’s treasury by previous administration.

“This is not only outrageous but scandalous,” the union stated.

It however reiterated the need to reduce corruption to the barest minimum if not completely eradicated in

Workers in office

SA’s miners reject wage hike

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outh African Chamber of Mines has directed all unions representing gold miners to reject latest wage increase from gold producers, thus setting the stage for protracted negotiations.

Spokesperson for the Chamber, Charmaine Russell said, “None of the unions accepted the offer.

We will be meeting this week with all the unions to continue talks’’.

The Chamber, which negotiated on-behalf of gold producers, has offered a 17 percent wage hike while the two biggest unions are demanding hike of be-

tween 80 percent and more than 100 percent.

Also, the wage negotiations between the Chamber of Mines and the National Union of Mineworkers, NUM, will continue.

Last week AngloGold Ashanti, Evander Gold Mines, Harmony, Sibanye Gold and Village Main Reef met with Solidarity and the United Association of SA on their specific demands.

Chamber negotiator, Elize Strydom said they welcome the constructive feedback from all the unions and looking forward to engaging with the NUM. Strydom said the offers

made to unions three weeks ago were determined by the companies’ economic models at a time when the gold price was $1 200 per ounce.

The gold price has subsequently declined by nearly $100 per ounce to about $1 100, the lowest in more than five years.

NUM had tabled an opening wage demand of R10 500 for entry level workers.

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction, AMCU, demand R12 500, Solidarity demanded 12 percent and wanted a review on the retirement age.

the country.

“We believe that if corruption is wiped out in Nigeria, trillions of naira of public funds that are diverted into private pockets will be deployed for national development.

“It is our view, therefore, that not only should stolen money be retrieved, but those who looted the collective wealth of all Nigerians should be made to face the full wrath of the law,” the union added.

The association also enjoined President Buhari to ensure that the antigraft war is total and not selective while all recovered funds should be pooled together in a special account and used for identifiable projects such as electricity supply, good road network, potable water, improved health care delivery, affordable decent housing, functional refineries, free and qualitative education, light rail system among others.

It therefore advised the Government not to allow the retrieved fund to enter into “voicemail” as was the case in the past “More importantly, the Federal Government should close all avenues of leakages through which trillions of naira of public funds are stolen by crooks who masquerade as politicians

in Nigeria.

Secretary General of the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, Comrade Segun Esan, in a statement said this was part of the union’s decision at its Special Central Working Committee, CWC, summoned to discuss the state of the nation.

“The leadership of our great Union summoned a special CWC meeting where we considered various issues and challenges confronting our dear nation. There, we agreed most unanimously that corruption has been the major problem that has made true development elusive and largely impossible in Nigeria’’, he stated.

He regretted that those involved in high-scale corruption that has crippled the economy are politicians and public servants, who are trusted with our collective patrimony.”

“All suspected politicians and public servants who are proved beyond all doubt to be thieves of our national wealth should forfeit all assets and proceeds proved to have been earned through corruption to the federal government and beyond that, such politicians and public servants should be banned for life from holding public offices.

People queuing for job

ILO 2016 forum to focus on social justice, fairness

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eclaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization will form major evaluations at the forthcoming International Labour Conference, scheduled for June next year.

International Labour Organisations, ILO, will also look at the key roles in achieving progress and social justice in the context of globalization.

It also promotes decent work through a coordinated approach to achieving four strategic

objectives, namely employment, social protection, social dialogue, and fundamental principles and rights at work. ‘’The impact of the Declaration, in particular the extent to which it has contributed to promoting the aims and purposes of the Organization through the integrated pursuit of the strategic objectives, is the subject of a Conference review in 2016’’, ILO stated.

The report to be submitted for the Confer-

ence’s evaluation of the Declaration’s impact will contain information on– actions or steps taken as a result of the Declaration, which may be provided by tripartite constituents through the services of the ILO, notably in the regions, and by any other reliable source.

Others include, steps taken by the Governing Body and the Office to follow-up on relevant governance, capacity and knowledge-based issues relating to the pursuit of

the strategic objectives, including programmes and activities of the ILO and their impact and the possible contributions of other interested international and regional organizations to the integrated approach to decent work.

The information for the report will be gathered from ILO member States, international organizations and ILO offices worldwide as well as external sources.

The 2016 Conference

evaluation, undertaken eight years after the adoption of the Declaration, offers a strategic opportunity for the Organization to consider the coordinated approach to the decent work objectives in a global context that has changed, particularly following the financial and economic crisis, which arose after its adoption.

It will be important to consider the relevance of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the

changing environment of international development cooperation in assessing further action that may be appropriate.

The Conference evaluation is intended to address the main objectives of the Social Justice Declaration in the context of more recent developments to reinforce the ILO’s key role in helping to achieve progress and social justice in a constantly changing environment.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

25

Real Estate & Environment

Property industry sustains low growth, plummeting yields Despite predictions by experts that property business would pick-up, after the general elections in the country, investigations showed that the sector was still grappling with a combination of extenuating factors with the result that investors are now experiencing lower returns.

SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE reports.

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arly this year, some property experts had predicted high returns on investments. Basing such predictions on possible property boom, after the general elections in the country, the experts assured of high yields, after the elections.

However, the industry prospects appear not too promising as the sector continues to record low yields, five months after the general elections and three months to end this fiscal year.

Some industry analysts had predicted that many investors would rush to create cash through their properties, thus causing lull in the sector.

But beyond this, they also noted that, the sector may witness proliferation of

WAPIC Insurance settles N822m claims 33

markets, as several properties will be up for grab, thereby crashing the property prices, as much cash would be available for few properties.

A property expert, Mr Femi Adeyemi, told National Mirror that 2015 would be a year of great opportunity for investors to acquire property at low prices, assuring that operators in the sector would witness large volume of activities with low cash flow.

According to him, except for those who want to acquire and take possession of properties for the future, 2015 is not likely to be a better year, as cash flow will create great impediments.

He however noted that those, who would make tomorrow’s money, may in-

vest in property today as the gains would be immense from 2016, adding that, one area of interest in 2015 would be renovation of properties, which would be up and running.

He said: “Most investors, who would offer their property for sale this year without success will begin to renovate them, as the year will end with improved cash flow from other businesses. Even those, who did not offer their property for sale in the year, will consider investments in form of renovation for enhanced value in the last quarter of this year” Some experts have said that the sector would be unpredictable, due to the prevailing economic and political indicators and they may be right, adding that at best

Banks lose N199bn to e-frauds in 15 yrs –Study 35

it may record 30 per cent growth, considering the fact that private operators would embark on more real estate investments, aimed at filling the yawning housing gaps.

Citing devaluation of naira and crash in oil prices as cases in point, the experts said all these signposts the fact, that the nation’s economy looks bleak in 2015, which would directly or indirectly affect other sectors of the nation’s economy, including the real estate.

Based on their projection, the real sector would feel the backlash of these signs, coupled with the possibility of less money being in circulation, leading to low-buying and less-building with less-construction works.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Airlines’ operations at risk as terrorists take insurgency to airports

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Tuesday, September 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Property industry sustains low growth, plummeting yields CONTINUED FROM 25 Already, several local and foreign firms had long before now and even presently, showed interest in the nation’s real estate market by promising to build several housing units to shore-up the present housing stocks in the country.

Many of them had disclosed that they might kick-off the housing projects before end of this year and if done, the projected 17 million housing deficit in the country, would be reduced to the barest minimum.

For instance, Pinnacle Point Limited, a South African estate firm had last year, promised to inject over N30 billion into the nation’s real estate sector to provide a world-class golf estate in Badagry, Lagos state.

The firm, which had built golf estates in 9 African countries, had projected revenue of over $6.6 billion annually, from the projects.

Another foreign firm, EREI Africa said it would also build over 18,000 housing units for women journalists in the country on mortgage basis.

The property development group based in Democratic Republic of Congo, also said, it would build 500 housing units in each of the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, bringing the total number to 18,000.

These are among other firms that have signalled their intentions to increase the nation’s housing stocks through mortgage financing.

These are in addition to the federal government’s assurance of housing reforms to make the sector effective to be able to provide affordable houses to the teeming Nigerians.

Some analysts have also predicted that property prices will drop in some states, which would make it more exciting year for speculators as well as investors.

They however noted that the change of government might offer savvy investors opportunity to buy properties at affordable prices, resulting to more gains at the

Housing estaste

Ambode

Bello

To give flip To These models, There will be need To recapiTalize The naTion’s morTgage banks, which is noT only necessary, buT very urgenT To aTTracT capiTal funding To supporT The real esTaTe developmenT expense of the masses.

It was also forecasted that housing issues might top the agenda of this present administration, as promises of affordable and decent houses for citizens would once again, feature on their political campaigns and promises.

Presently, there appears to be a slower pace than we had in 2014, though; there are considerable variations in some states, based on land mass and locations.

The United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, had noted that Nigeria has about 17 million housing deficits, which heightened speculations that Nigeria needs over 1,500 housing units annually in the next 12 years to be able to fill the yawning gap.

It would be recalled that the housing deficit rose from 7 million in 1991 to 12-15 million in 2008 and 17-18 million in 2012.

Experts have noted that, unless federal and state governments intervene, the situation might be worse.

To stem the tide, the UNDP had suggested multi-dimensional approaches, involving governments from central to regional and down to local governments in housing projects.

Such collaborations, it also noted would involve private sector, non-governmental agencies, community associations as well as developing a viable mortgage finance sector to assist the private sector.

Also, the World Bank had warned that

the rising population could hit more than 200 million by 2050, which would increase rural and urban drifts with the rising building costs, exerting serious pressure on shelter.

With the growing population over 160 million, experts say, Nigeria needs more than 17 million new housing units to withstand the test of time, with an estimated costs of over N50 trillion to reverse the trends.

In some Nigerian cities, residential accommodations have disappeared while commercial properties like eateries, banks and telecom offices have taken over the apartments.

Other stakeholders are seeing 2015 as a year of contrasting halves; even as they noted that there might be a huge rise in property prices. The year 2015 will be a year of rapid development of properties, especially estates and blocks of apartments, however, experts say all these promises are hollow.

They therefore advocated for the housing models of some countries like Singapore, South Africa and United States of America, where private operators were encouraged to build more housing units, using modular technology to achieve it.

To give flip to these models, there will be need to recapitalize the nation’s mortgage banks, which is not only necessary, but very urgent to attract capital funding to support the real estate development.

In all, more homes need to be built to meet demands and in 2015, there would be tremendous steps to access loans by developers and the deals offered could be the key to more successful housing units in the coming year and beyond.

Government should revive its reforms of the mortgage sector to reverse a situation, where over 70 per cent of all housing projects is undertaken by private individuals and informal sector, where mortgage loans account for only 0.5 per cent of all lending, compared to 30-40 per cent in other emerging economies and 60-80 per cent in developed economies.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

PENCOM harps on acquisition of primary homes

MORTGAGE NOTES

SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

with Adenike Fasanya-Osilaja

P

Fasanya-Osilaja

Email: Nike@MVPSolutionsinc.com https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=35277333

Standardization-Property Valuation Considerations

T

oday, I will be deviating from my usual conversation topics, and responding to a few of the questions/ issues raised on my column topics. I have responded to all your questions privately and thank you for reading and following my pieces.

Issue: A reader believed it was important for me to note that property valuation in Nigeria is usually based on a price per square footage of the property, and pricing, as a result, is quite transparent.

My answer: Does the square footage pricing of the subject property relate to comparisons with similar properties? As I said in a previous column, I analyzed an appraisal for a Lagos property and was very troubled by the information it contained. The comps section was my biggest issue, because they were so dissimilar that they were actually “incomparable”, rather than comparables.

A truly comparable property will be in the same, or economically similar location (you cannot compare a detached property in Isolo with a detached property in Ajah, even if it has the same exact design); they will be of the same or similar use (you cannot compare a private property with a commercial property, or a detached property with a high rise apartment); they will be of similar finish (you cannot compare a detached property that has marble floors with a detached property that has vinyl tiles, even if it has the same exact design). I could go on and on. I am still awaiting his answer.

Question: As a loan officer, what are the most important things I should be analyzing in an appraisal?

My answer: There are several critical elements to a good appraisal evaluate, but the singular most important element, is the quality of the appraisal itself. If you have a poor appraisal report, you have a non-starter. Please refer to my column of last week, and start

vetting your appraisers before you assign jobs to them. Certain data in the report should point you to the quality of the appraiser’s report. You should be looking for two main figures– the Fair Market Value (sales approach valuation) of the property, and the Replacement Value (cost of replacement approach), of the property. The first figure gives an indication of how much you could conceivably sell the property for in the current market, while the second figure tells you what it would cost to rebuild the property, if it suffered a loss (and therefore, what value the property should be insured for). They should never be the same figure, and if the appraisal shows the same, that is the biggest red flag of a shoddy appraisal job.

Comps, comps, comp! The comps are your biggest indicator of value. Solid comps will tell you how much similar properties are being sold for and how long they are staying on the market before they sell.

Since one of the main goals of investment is to take advantage of the time value of money, the financial projections prior to disbursement of funds for a project must include a realistic assessment of foreclosure processes and their time value implications.

As a loan officer, you must evaluate every client for their ability to repay, and every property for its distress sale capabilities. In a system where there is no concrete data reporting system, the challenges are myriad. Also, the legal system is abysmal when it comes to property and land law, and property matters are typically in court for decades. It is your duty as a loan officer to ensure a mitigation of any anticipated problems, prior to even submitting the loan file to underwriting so your Bank’s financial turnover

27

It is your duty as a loan officer to ensure a mitigation of any anticipated problems, prior to even submitting the loan file to underwriting so your Bank’s financial turnover is not affected by funds being tied down in slow moving physical assets of the size and price of Nigerian property

is not affected by funds being tied down in slow moving physical assets of the size and price of Nigerian property. I know my answer to your question is rather long, but I really wanted to emphasize to you the importance of the loan officer as the “sentry at the gate”.

Question: With the current situation in the counxxxxx try, how feasible is such a drastic proposal for the appraisal industry to revamp itself ?

Answer: The issue for me is not so much the feasibility of the plan, but the fact that it is needed. For me, once something is needed there is no reason to expend energy on the problems that may arise. We have to start from somewhere and improve on the plan as it goes forward. Doing nothing is not an option. The feasibility of the proposal will depend entirely on the will of the implementers to do the right thing.

I do know this, once we have a functional system in place, it can only get better…or so we hope.

ABOUT THE WRITER Fasanya-Osilaja a lawyer and mortgage expert has owned and operated Marvel Ventures Mortgage, Inc. (www.marvelmortgage.com), a Chicagobased Mortgage Brokerage Company since 2000 and has worked in the US Mortgage industry since 1996. She also consults and facilitates industryrequired activities, from set up of mortgage organisations to documentation, training and compliance.

encom has released guidelines for the withdrawal of pension funds in line with the provisions of the Pension Act of 2014.

This will allow Retirement Services Account, RSA, holders to make use of their pension fund balances to make acquisitions of primary homes.

According to the Director General of National Pension Commission, Chinel AnohuAmazu, the change was made to allow for “funds to be accessed in a manner that is safe”.

Currently, Nigeria’s contributory pension system is a function of the employee’s salary- 10 per cent paid by the employer and eight per cent paid by the employee.

In a recent meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, Anohu-Amazu said he “briefed him on the pension industry as a whole and highlighting the achievements as well as bringing to the fore, the challenges.”

One of the burning issues surrounding pensions in Nigeria is the payment of the accrued rights, which are pensioners, who have already retired with a hybrid of this contributory pension system and accrued rights from their previous careers and the federal government, she

said.

“As is typical of Mr President, as soon as the challenges were explained to him, he directed both the Minister of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria to prioritise the off-setting of the pension liabilities under the CPS [contributory pension scheme] so that retirees don’t have to wait forever for their pension.”

Further, the Ministry sought the President’s participation in the World Pension Summit, specifically with the World Pension’s Reward, which will look into African countries’ innovation, corporate governance and their administering of African benefits.

When it comes to the compliance of pension pay-outs, Anohu-Amazu said, “That’s the beauty of the contributory pension system, you don’t have to run after anyone to pay your dues, you receive quarterly statements as soon as you retire, your money is paid immediately.”

She noted the difference in the old system of accrued rights because those contributions are “safe and intact” and they are just waiting for the accrued rights to come in, so that the computation can be done on a global basis. “Those who have retired on the contributory system don’t have that problem.”

FERMA flags-off intervention measures on northern roads OLufEMi AdEOSun, AbujA

P

ermanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Dauda Kigbu, has announced the flag-off special intervention programmes, aimed at giving face-lift to five north-eastern states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, and Yobe states.

The project, being handled by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, has Bauchi state as operational headquarters of the taskforce.

According to FERMA, the intervention programme, which was launched in Bauchi over the weekend by the Permanent Secretary, would among other things, address dilapidating state of road infrastructure in the region, caused by insecurity challenges.

On the significance of the road rehabilitation project, Kigbu said “This gesture presents our modest contribution for the ravaged area and the people will be happy. The North-east in particular, is facing serious security

challenges and these challenges have impacted a lot on the infrastructure, therefore, we need to compliment government’s work by bringing in our team to fix the road infrastructure to improve free movement of people, goods and services.

“The effort of the Agency is to bring succour to the people of the region. The activities of the insurgence have created hitches in maintenance repairs operation.

Hence, road network characterised with blown up bridges, washouts and multiple potholes.”

Managing Director of FERMA, Engr. Gabriel Amuchi, said the agency is undertaking the rehabilitation work to minimise total collapse of the road network in the zone.

“We have inaugurated a taskforce to concentrate on recovering roads in the North-eastern areas that are safe to ensure that we do not get to a level of total breakdown of communication, movement of goods and services, “he added.

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Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cool ceil

GO DARK Walls in the master bed room are covered in Donghia’s Sil k Texture II, and the ceiling is painte d in Benjamin Moore Regal Select in Night Horizon to dramatize the soa ring space in a Long Island Shingl e-style beach house decorated by Rob Southern.

Source: www.housebeautiful.com

EPA suspends new work at 10 mine sites across US

S

ite investigations and some cleanup work at 10 polluted mining complexes in four states were suspended because of conditions similar to those that led to a massive wastewater blowout from an inactive Colorado gold mine, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials said.

The sites include three in California, four in Colorado, two in Montana and one in Missouri, according to details obtained by The Associated Press following repeated requests for the information.

They have the potential for contaminated water to build up inside mine workings, EPA Assistant Administrator Mathy Stanislaus

said. That would set the stage for a possible spill such as last month’s near Silverton, Colorado, where an EPA team triggered a 3 million gallon blowout of toxic sludge while doing excavation work on the inactive Gold King Mine.

The accident fouled rivers in three states and attracted harsh criticism of the EPA for not being prepared despite prior warnings that such a spill could happen.

“We want to take extra caution before we initiate any work,” Stanislaus said of the work suspensions. Some the mines were abandoned decades ago and have grown more unstable over time, raising the risk of an accident.

Climate change deal may suffer setback, says Group Olufemi AdeOsun, AbujA

A

faith-based organisation, ACT Alliance, has said that the just-concluded United Nation climate negotiations in Bonn, Germany, may not make significant progress towards anticipated climate change agreement in Paris this December.

The international humanitarian and development network predicted that while negotiators from many countries participate with exchange of ideas in different elements

of the draft under negotiation, the general slow pace shows very little advancement into substantive negotiation.

ACT Alliance is a network of over 140 church and faith-based organisations working in 140 countries to achieve sustainable change in the lives of people affected by disasters, poverty and injustice.

According to the Chair of the ACT Alliance Advisory group on climate change, Mattias Soderberg, the sense of urgency required in view of the few months remaining before December was simply not there.

Soderberg who led a delegation of the faith-based organisation to the Bonn meeting, said, “We cannot afford to delay the process because the consequences would be unbearable for the efforts towards climate action. Therefore, we keep calling on governments to step-up and use the next and final session of negotiations in October meaningfully.”

According to a statement by the group, Soderberg however, highlighted that some progress had been achieved in the negotiations relating to loss and damage, stating:

“We hope the governments will find a way to include it as part of the Paris agreement.”

However, he added: “We expected more progress in this session, considering that parties had a text, which had been prepared by the co-chairs in good time. Having followed these meetings, we see no credible justification for the delays and lack of meaningful steps forward. Now, we can only hope that previous failures in the UN talks, similar to what we saw in Copenhagen 2009, will not be repeated.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

ling ideas

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LACQUER

In the kitch en of a New York apartment designed by Philip Gorrivan, iridescent mosaic tiles and a ceiling lacq uered in Benjamin Moore’s Oce anic Teal pick u p a color fr om the wallpaper in the hallway . Thonet barstoo ls by York Street Studio. Rom an shades in Homer wool in Verdigris by Gorrivan by High land Court.

GOLD LEAF

To make the Tony Duquette chandelier feel more at home, Ruthie Sommers had decorative painter Peter Bolton create an elaborate tree design in gold leaf on the dining room ceiling. Jacaranda and plum trees inspired the vibrant pink Penny Morrison fabric on the front of the chairs and the Claremont floral on the back. Rug from Melrose Carpet.

...as IUSS forum on soil functions, climate change holds Sept 23 T

he three-day International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) conference, which is organized under the auspices of the International Year of Soils 2015 and the 350th Anniversary of the Christian Albrechts University, will kick off next week Wednesday at Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

International Ozone Day holds tomorrow T he International Ozone Day will hold tomorrow globally.

International Ozone Day is the annual event that commemorates the date of the 1987 signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

This year’s theme, “30 Years of Healing Ozone Together,” is a special commemoration of the 1985 signing of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, the framework agreement which the Montreal Protocol complements.

The Ozone Secretariat will conduct a “Precious Ozone” digital campaign emphasizing the successes achieved under the ozone protection regime and highlighting the importance of protecting life on Earth from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation.

Campaign tools will include special posters, logos and banners, animations and internet tools designed to help everyone, from children to policymakers, understand the issues related to protection of the ozone layer.

The conference will address the broad question: ‘Do we underestimate the consequences of new disequilibria in soil properties?’.

Titled SUSTAIN, the conference aims to increase understanding of how interactions among physical, chemical and biological soil processes under different land-use systems and climate conditions will alter soil properties.

One of the goals of the conference is to define “the boundary conditions for reliable predictions in a changing environment,” by exploring prediction model input parameters that can enable a reliable analysis of soil and environmental properties and functions.

Specific topics to be covered include: soil structure and pore rigidity effects as prerequisites for quantification of physico-chemical processes; effects of pore rigidity and soil resilience on physical, chemical and biological soil properties and functions; feedback mechanisms between soil structure formation and plant growth, groundwater

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Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Property prices continue downward trend in Dubai

R

esidential property prices in Dubai continued to fall in the third quarter of 2015 continue to decline and sales are also falling, the latest published data shows.

The Phidar Dubai Real Estate International Demand Index (REIDI) fell significantly in the first half of the year, which, according to the firm is driven primarily by currency fluctuations.

According to Jesse Downs, managing director of Phidar

Advisory, there is a lower level of international buyers coming to the market and this is related to currency exchange.

She pointed out that in the first half of 2015 the midpoint exchange rates for all currencies included in the REIDI are down against the dollar compared to 2014, except the Chinese Yuan and Hong Kong Dollar.

‘This is not a measure of actual capital flows, but a real time indicator intended to as-

sess the propensity for attracting capital inflows into Dubai real estate,’ she added.

Sales volumes for apartments and single family homes were down in July compared to the previous month, but up compared to July 2014. However, Downs said that this is likely due to seasonal travel patterns shifting around the holy month of Ramadan.

Overall in the first half of 2015 apartment transaction volumes were up 3% compared

to the same period in 2014, but transactions for single family homes, also referred to as villas, were down 3.2% compared to the first half of 2014.

Apartment lease rates decreased a nominal 0.4%, while sale prices decreased 2.7%, pushing yields up to 7.4%. Lease rates for single family homes decreased 1.3% and sale prices decreased 2.6%, which pushed yields up to 4.8%.

‘The increase in yield is a positive and necessary trend

in Dubai real estate. Especially in the context of global volatility, this is part of a healthy and necessary, market correction,’ Downs said.

But she believes that the most significant finding was in a statistical analysis of the relationship between currencies and Dubai real estate prices.

‘Analysis reveals a significant relationship between three key foreign currencies and Dubai real estate prices. Unsurprisingly, the key currencies are the In-

dian Rupee, the British Pound and Pakistani Rupee. Changes in Dubai property prices appear linked to fluctuation of

these currencies. So, currency trends may help us to understand and forecast local property prices,’ she concluded.

Mortgage access for home buyers tightens in US

A

Property units in Dubai

Global house prices dip 0.1% G lobal house prices shifted marginally in the year to June 2015 rising by only 0.1 percent, according to the latest index to be published.

Lingering concerns over the Eurozone economy, jitters in global stock markets and discussions of when, not if, a US rate rise occurs is impinging on growth, says the report from international real estate firm Knight Frank.

Annual growth of 0.1 percent is the index’s weakest rate of growth since the final quarter of 2011 and of the 56 housing markets tracked some 27% recorded an annual decline in prices.

Despite stringent cooling measures, Hong Kong saw house price growth of 20.7 percent but in China growth was down 5.7 percent.

Increasing liquidity and the flow of wealthy mainland Chinese investors into Hong Kong’s residential sector meant the number of new homes sold in the first half of 2015 exceeded 8,700.

‘The recent volatility in the Chinese stock market has underlined the fragility of the Eurozone’s recov-

ery and has pushed the likelihood of a rate rise by the US Federal Reserve further back which is good news for home owners in the US and beyond but bad news for corporate balance sheets,’ said Kate Everett-Allen, head of international residential research at Knight Frank.

The report points out how housing markets in China and the US, two countries which together account for around 33% of global GDP, are following divergent paths. Since the start of 2014 mainstream prices in China have fallen on average by 6.2% while the average price of a residential property in the US is up 7.6 percent over the same period.

In Dubai, mainstream residential prices fell by 2.8 percent quarter on quarter and declined by 12.2% in the year to June.

‘Weaker demand, a strong US dollar and ongoing cooling measures have dampened sales volumes in the mainstream sector,’ said Everett-Allen.

She also pointed out that Europe is no longer the weakest

performing world region, a title it has held for 15 consecutive quarters. On average prices across Europe increased by 2.8 percent year on year with Turkey, Estonia, Luxembourg and Ireland all achieving double digit annual price growth.

ccess to mortgage credit in the United States tightened in the first quarter of 2015, marking a pause in easy accessibility for buyers.

It had been getting progressively easier to obtain a mortgage since 2012, but the first several months of this year marked a change, according to according to the latest Zillow Mortgage Access Index (ZMAI).

Mortgage credit availability is almost unchanged from a year ago, meaning despite fluctuations from quarter to quarter, there has been little progress toward making mortgages easier to obtain over the last year. In the long term, experts expect mortgage access to continue improving.

In a survey earlier this summer of more than 100 economists and housing experts, more than 60% said they expect mortgage regulations to loosen further, with many expressing concern the market will become too lax over the next year.

A high number in the Zillow Mortgage Access Index means

credit is easier to obtain, while a lower number means credit is tighter.

Mortgage credit was easiest to obtain in July 2004, when the ZMAI reached 136.4. But availability tightened over the next few years. In May 2007, both the housing and mortgage availability began a multiyear plunge, leaving home values down more than 22% and credit the tightest in recent history. Mortgages were the toughest to obtain in September 2010, when the ZMAI was at 11.8.

Today, access to mortgage credit has improved significantly, and is at 65, more than two thirds of the way back to 2002 pre-crisis levels.

‘Recent market volatility is causing some lenders to be more cautious in their underwriting.

Tighter mortgage access will make it harder for people with low credit scores to get a home loan, and even people who can get approved for a mortgage will have fewer options in terms of available mortgage products,’ said Zillow chief economist Svenja Gudell.

Lack of emerging species causing extinction of animals –Report

T

he death of individual species is not the only concern for biologists worried about animals going extinct, as researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have found that lack of new emerging species also contributes to extinction.

“Virtually no biologist thinks about the failure to originate as being a major factor in the long term causes of extinction,” Charles Marshall, director of the UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology and professor of integrative biology, said.

“But we found that a decrease in the origin of new species is just as important as increased extinction rate in driving mammals to extinction,” he said.

The results apply to slow change over millions of years, not rapid global change like Earth is now experiencing from human activities, he said.

Yet the findings should help biologists understand the pressures on today`s flora and fauna and what drove evolution and extinction in the past, he added.

The results come from a study of 19 groups of mammals either extinct or, in the case of horses, elephants, rhinos, and others, are in decline from a past peak in diversity.

All are richly represented in the fossil record and had their origins sometime in the last 66 million years, during the Cenozoic Era.

Aviation

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

31

Airlines’ operations at risk as terrorists take insurgency to airports Nigerian airlines are already groaning operationally with just a few trying to keep their wings stretched in the face of disenabling factors. With the arrest of a terrorist suspect by security operatives at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency’s, NAMA’s, annex in Lagos, a few weeks ago, aviation industry analysts say any attack against the sector by terrorist groups will signal a death knell for most of the airlines. OLUSEGUN KOIKI writes.

D

espite the strenuous efforts by governments around the world to strengthen the rules of commercial aviation in the post-September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States of America, USA, the number of plots illustrates terrorist groups and selfradicalised individuals high level of interest in targeting the aviation sector for their heinous crimes, Nigeria’s inclusive.

In spite of the organisational disruptions caused by the deaths of numerous leading Boko Haram members in recent time, this ongoing interest in attacking aviation is unlikely to dissipate in the long-term and unfortunately, their activities is affecting the performance of the country’s airlines as potential passengers abdicate the sector for alternative means of transportation due to fear of attack.

On August 18, 2014, a 22-year old physically challenged man was arrested by security operatives at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, annex in Lagos with canisters secured around his body and neck.

He reportedly confessed that he was sent along with other Boko Haram members to bomb various parts of the city. A security source told our correspondent that the suspect would have succeeded in the planned attack, but for the inability of the explosives to detonate when they were supposed to.

Barely a year after the arrest of the Boko Haram suspect in Lagos, another spy cell run by the militant Islamist group was uncovered at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja.

Security operatives said that the spy cell apparently was aimed at selecting targets for attack. The Department of State Services, DSS, said it is currently working with aviation authorities to pre-empt any attack.

A 14-year-old boy who said he had been instructed to spy on the airport’s security procedures, including passenger screening and boarding processes, and report what he had learned was arrested in connection with the spy

Ojikutu

Aero Contractors aircraft

How many people Have tHe security agencies put on tHe watcH list? How many of tHem are being put on tHe full fligHt list?

are tHey sHaring sucH names witH tHe operators and tHe nigerian civil aviation agency, ncaa?

cell.

The risk of security threat to airlines economics, aviation stakeholders and professionals said cannot be over-emphasised.

The massive and continuous attacks in the North East has made some of the nation’s airlines seized flight operations to the region, thereby losing billions of naira in the process while aviation agencies too are unable to earn revenues from danger zones.

For instance, Maiduguri International Airport in Borno State was shut for 18 months by the Federal Government due to erratic attacks in the state. The airport was in July re-opened for flight operations and Med-View Airline remains the only carrier operating into the state.

Analysts said that the current risk would further compound the challenges in the sector especially if the terrorists succeeded in their inordinate ambition to cause havoc in any of the major airports in the country as the struggling airlines would eventually go under.

In order to stem the tide aviation security expert and the Managing Director of Centurion Security Services, Grp. Capt. John Ojikutu called for review of the security programme for the nation’s airports and airlines operating within and into the country.

Ojikutu in an interview with our correspondent in Lagos insisted that with the security arrangement currently on ground, it would be extremely difficult for the government to combat terrorism attack in the sector.

He further raised the alarm of insider threat in the sector, which he said doesn’t emanate from air passengers, but through the workers within the sector, stressing that such threat

comes through familiarity with security agents.

He also wanted the government and operators in the system to review and embark on background security checks of their employees, stressing that some unscrupulous elements might have been absorbed into the system due to various reasons.

He added, “The chances are there that you might have probably recruited people you do not know their backgrounds. You need to do background checks. If you have done background checks on them you need to review the check. That is the areas you need to start from.

Some of their information might have changed.

“Some of the information they gave you initially must have been false. So, you must look at those information. You are not looking at the passengers alone, you must look at your own staff too, particularly the staff that are working in the security restricted areas like apron where the aircraft are parked, the cargo warehouse where the exports are kept. Those are the areas that are very vulnerable.

He emphasised that such security check became imperative NOW as some Nigerians had joined terrorist group like Islamic State of Syria and Iraq, ISIS, and others and queried the compilation of these sets of Nigerians by security agencies.

“How many people have the security agencies put on the watch list? How many of them are being put on the full flight list? Are they sharing such names with the operators and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency, NCAA?” he queried.

“These are the challenges. Our security fences are still very porous and we know the

areas unwanted elements can take to access the restricted areas of the airport. Those are the challenges.”

Besides, Director of Research, Zenith Travels, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo urged the various security outfits at the airports to beef-up security within the sector especially those that gain access to equipment.

He also called for information sharing among the various agencies in the sector, averring that this would go a long way in curbing a recurrence in the sector.

Ohunayo canvassed for installation of Closed Circuit Television, CCTV, cameras at strategic locations within airports and effective coordination among security operatives.

He emphasised further that apart from manning the terminals, security operatives should also focus their attention on the routes where aircraft land or take off in order to prevent the Ukraine recurrence where a Malaysian Airways aircraft with over 200 souls onboard was brought down by terrorists in 2014.

He said, “The lessons that can be learnt is that while we are trying to combat bio-terrorism, the other terrorism is here and is not far away. There is a new thing now; that is shooting the aircraft close to the airport vicinity. That is an area I want us to take a look at now and not just the terminal because we are concentrating much efforts on the terminals. We need to look at the routes where these aircraft land or take off so that we don’t have a repeat of the Tel Aviv and Ukraine issue in our hands here.

“About three other airports have since being under threat; Korea, Pakistan, Iraq and others.

These terrorists, if they cannot get to the terminal, they look for other means to take their shots.

I think, if this affects international flights, then we will be in the news again for the bad reason.

Now that we have secured the terminals, the airways where these aircraft pass through, should be given a second look and beefed up.”

Also, a security expert in the U.S., Mr. Adrian Baker in an email response to our correspondent said that if airplanes and passengers, as well as property and people on the ground were to be protected, potential perpetrators of aviation terrorism must be prevented from breaching security checkpoints and gaining access to “secure” airport areas and to aircraft.

Baker maintained that given the interconnectedness of the air transportation system, a sufficiently high level of security must be provided throughout the entire system.

Baker explained that there were eight reasons aviation industry held attraction for terrorists. According to him, the reasons, “It is a powerful symbolic target; it provides an international stage; it provides extensive media exposure; it is relatively simple; the consequences are enormous for both the airline and the country; it can be politically embarrassing; it is a useful tool for revenge; and it is effective.”

32

Aviation

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Stakeholders mull three national carriers for Nigeria StorieS: oluSegun KoiKi

L-R: Head Customer Relationship Management, Ajala.ng, Mrs. Bukola IsaacOluwasanmi, Head of Brand Marketing & Projects, Ms. Omolua Oyakhire, Marketing Executive, Mr. Olawale Akinleye, Travel Finance Scheme Manager, Ms. Obianuju Mofunanya and Call Centre Supervisor, Ms. Tobiloba Onigbogi at the launch of the online travel portal in Lagos recently.

nated to the Bilateral Air Service Agreement, BASA, routes, backed by the Federal Government for negotiations. All the woes Arik Air is currently facing on BASA, others too faced it and died.”

The communiqué further implored the government not to own any airline, but may midwife a carrier while ensuring it support, back and protect all flag carriers, adding that the government should also provide a level playing field for all carriers.

The communiqué added, “Government should create an enabling environment for airline industry to thrive. Government should stop Value Added Tax, VAT, on airline tickets as is the case in all forms of transportation. Government

should have a measurable short, medium and long term policy that will advance and guide the sector.

“We must strive to improve the aviation contribution to the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, through improved and revised policies that will inculcate tourism. Government should consider the consolidation of the airlines through regulations.

Government should set in motion the process of reviewing the bilateral air services agreements in place, which is lopsided and detrimental to Nigerian carriers.”

Besides, agitated for establishment of a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, MRO, facilities in the country, noting that this would reduce maintenance cost airlines expend checks of aircraft.

CAS-R lauds FG on national carrier, seeks maintenance hangar committee

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he Centre for Aviation Safety and Research, CAS-R, has commended the Federal Government for setting up a committee on the reestablishment of a national carrier for the country.

The Executive Director of the Centre, Engr. Sheri Kyari in an interview with aviation journalists in Lagos said that formation of a national carrier for Nigeria would provide the country with a platform for diplomatic negotiation from a position of strength.

Kyari explained further that this would also support current domestic airlines with opportunities to stabilise their operations and would help in reducing the current high capital flight, provide employment for many young people in aviation and start a developmental revolution in the industry.

A typical MRO facility for airlines

Airside shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

Need for 2nd runway at Abuja Airport

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rofessionals and stakeholders in the Nigerian aviation industry have canvassed for establishment of about two or three national airlines for the country in order for the sub-sector to compete and be more viable in their operations.

This position was contained in a communiqué reached at the end of one-day seminar held by the leading pressure group in the nation’s aviation industry, Aviation Round Table, ART, in Lagos.

Participants opined that two of the carriers should revolve around the existing carriers in the sector while the third one should be the proposed national carrier by the Federal Government.

The industry regulator, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, was called upon to midwife the regulation of the three carriers.

Participants said, “We need three national airlines for our country and not the arrays of airlines that we presently have in the system now. One of them can be called Nigeria Express where all the present registered carriers would operate from while others can be given different names.

“All the airlines must be desig-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

He argued that this would also help Nigeria to catch up with other nations in aviation sector and appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for his focus on further repositioning of the aviation industry to create growth and development.

Kyari however called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency constitute another committee to look into the establishment of an independent Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, MRO, centre for the country.

He suggested that the MRO should be conceptualised to service all or most of the aircraft currently operating and those that would, in future, operate in Nigeria, especially commercial airplanes in the country and beyond.

He added, “While we laud the new airline being proposed, we believe an MRO project should receive a similar or even more important attention than the airline. The reason for greater attention, is that, a well-established MRO, beyond meeting the needs of the industry, will provide aviation the needed foundation for aviation manufacturing, with the ultimate aim of producing our own brand of airplanes.

part from the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos, which annually records more passenger traffic than any other airports in Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, NAI, Abuja records is the airport with the most passengers traffic in the country.

But, Lagos Airport has two runways while the Abuja Airport since inception is with a single runway for flight operations. The construction of a second runway for Abuja Airport has been in the pipeline for almost a decade, but without action from successive Nigerian governments.

Several stakeholders and professionals in the sector

had appealled to the government to ensure that the proposal comes to fruition over the years, but all to no avail.

Airside urges the current government of President Muhammadu Buhari to actualise the construction of a second runway for the airport as this would reduce the holding time of aircraft in the air, save fuel for the operators and accelerate passengers’ turnaround time.

If smaller airports with reduced traffic can have two runways, Airside insists the second busiest airport in Nigeria deserves a second runway for improved flight operations and profitability for airlines.

This scourge of airport rats as clearing agents at NAHCO area

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o doubt, access gain to airports all over the world may not be totally restricted, but are controlled. Tourists and businesspersons have free access to airport environments, but not to restricted areas.

However, the reverse is obviously the case with the Nigerian airports as touts and nomads who have nothing to do at the airport claim to be Customs agents and most times gain access to the restricted areas of the airport.

They also help in clearing cargo even in warehouses especially at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO, Plc, which has inadequate hands to ensure hitch-free cargo clearance at its warehouse.

In fact, these touts are in their thousands within the

airport complex despite the fact that the recognised cargo agents have openly repudiated them and their activities. But, they are so powerful that even security agents attached to the airport now collaborate with them for ‘returns.’

Airside will in the next weeks keep the public abreast of many ugly activities of these touts, most especially at the NAHCO warehouse. Airside like any other genuine stakeholder is bothered about the porosity of our airports especially at a time when terrorism has taken the centre stage in the country.

Airside uses this medium to challenge relevant authorities to ensure these miscreants are sent packing from the country’s airports as their continual stay at the complex is an eyesore.

Etihad Airways introduces new baggage policy

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H Middle East national carrier, Etihad Airways, has announced new baggage policy in all its routes, including Nigeria.

The airline also launched its new Fare Choices tariff structure, which further provides more choice and clarity to its guests.

As part of the policy change, the cost of excess baggage the airline said would be dramatically cut on the majority of fares.

On some routes the cost of buying an additional 23kg piece of baggage would be reduced by up to 90 per cent, with a further reduction of up to 30 per cent if pre-purchased directly

with Etihad Airways up to 24 hours before travel.

The airline in a media statement by its media consultant in Nigeria stated that the new policy commenced yesterday, adding that it was a response to individual customer needs with greater flexibility and to more closely align Etihad Airways with other Etihad Airways Partner airlines.

It insisted that the changes would provide greater benefits to guests, with increased rewards for its Guest loyalty program members.

Commenting on the new development, Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Peter Baumgartner

emphasized that the airline was moving to a fair and transport baggage concept in line with industry best practice.

He added, “Our new Fare Choices are an easier way for guests to understand what they are paying for, offering clearer pricing, and the flexibility which best suits their travel plans.

This also applies to their baggage requirements.”

With the new changes, most routes would now operate on a piece concept basis, stressing that customers are now entitled to one, two, or three bags, depending on their Fare Choice, route, and Etihad Guest membership status.

Insurance

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

33

WAPIC Insurance settles N822m claims

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APIC Insurance has disclosed that it settled all outstanding claims of N822 million while also giving hint that claims for the first half of the current year has also been paid.

In the statement issued last week, the company attributed the promptness that characterized the payment to the reorganization of its claim process aimed at ensuring prompt payment of claims to its clients.

It also noted that an internal mecha-

nism had been put in place primarily for the monitoring of claims resolution towards the satisfaction of the company’s clients, adding that consequently, dedicated and highly experienced team of professionals who are well equipped to provide high quality service delivery have been assigned to administer the mechanism put in place for prompt and effective settlement of claims.

A breakdown of claims paid so far showed that the sum of N750 million

was settled as claims on Motor insurance during the period under review, while N150 million was settled as claims during the first half of 2015.

Regarding life insurance, the company disclosed that over N100 million had been settled compared with the N900 million claims settled on general accident businesses.

Similarly, it stated that over one billion naira had been set aside for the settlement of claims in the oil and gas, aviation, marine and engineering businesses.

WAPIC Ghana Managing Director

Tourism rise gives boost to insurance specialists

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ravel insurance is set to fly high on the wings of the travel industry, as the latest forecast indicates that it will grow faster than the global economy this year.

The travel industry is expected to grow by 3.7 percent worldwide this year against a global economic growth forecast of 2.9 percent, says the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Business travel is also booming in Asia, and, according to a joint report by technology firm Amadeus and consultancy group Oxford Economics, Asia will ac-

NAICOM house

count for just over half of the growth in global business travel in the next 10 years.

China and other emerging markets like India and Indonesia will drive the travel industry.

The forecast is “good news” for the insurance industry, as “the surge in travel and tourism will boost demand for travel insurance as well”, says Simon Donowho, partner and head of insurance at KPMG China.

Insurance firms offering travel products in the region are bullish.

For instance, AIG Indonesia, with 60 percent market share in the country’s travel insurance sector and 5 million customers, expects 30 percent growth in the company’s travel insurance business this year.

Last year, the company’s flagship travel insurance product, Travel Guard, contributed 30 percent to the total premium revenues.

“We always set a target of around 20 percent to 30 percent annually, and we have achieved that range of growth in the past three and five years in terms of

premium revenue and number of customers,” AIG Indonesia’s head of travel insurance Lia Karmilawati was quoted as saying by The Jakarta Post.

To tap the growing market, the company has added several features in its travel insurance services, including 24-hour emergency assistance in 40 languages worldwide.

The Asia-Pacific region will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.81 percent over the period 2014 to 2018, says market research company TechNavio.

The firm adds that one of the major drivers in this market is the strong economic growth in the region, with a growing middle class. By 2030, Asia will represent 66 percent of the global middleclass population and 59 percent of middle-class consumption.

The Asian Development Bank’s Asian Development Outlook 2015 forecasts developing Asia will achieve GDP growth of 6.3 percent in both 2015 and 2016.

Developing economies have enhanced middle-class purchasing power to spend on travel and tourism, says Francesco Paolucci, associate professor at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia.

“This surge will result in the increasing rate of adoption for travel insurance,” he tells China Daily Asia Weekly.

People who buy travel insurance tend to be well-educated, travel more frequently and have higher household incomes than those who do not, according to a consumer study by the US Travel Insurance Association.

The poll, which covered 600 of its travel insurance customers over a course of two weeks, found that more than 65 percent of the customers noted “feeling protected” and “having peace of mind” as the top two reasons for buying travel insurance.

Each year, AIG Malaysia expects its travel insurance business segment to expand at least 20 percent.

With the increase in international travel, governments in many countries are also mulling new regulations making travel insurance mandatory for all international travelers. In the region, for instance, Malaysia and Thailand have begun making travel insurance mandatory.

Travelers sometimes assume that the probability of any lossbearing unforeseen event is negligible and any premium paid toward this product is unproductive.

“This sometimes discourages the uptake of the product to an extent, so it is pertinent to make travel insurance mandatory,” says Sunder of PwC India.

(Source - chinadailyasia.com)

34

Insurance

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NIA takes motor vehicle insurance campaign to grassroots StorieS by iSaac aSabor

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n its determination to ensure that the menace of fake insurance policy is frontally tackled in the insurance market, the Nigerian Insurance Association, NIA, has intensified its awareness efforts by taking the genuine motor insurance policy campaigns to the grassroots.

In its current campaign which is supported by its 41 member- companies that are involved in motor insurance business underwriting, policy holders are being sensitized to confirm the authenticity of their motor insurance policies t.

In doing this, policy holders are ad-

vised to send their policy number and vehicle plate number through an SMS to OIN/098/201401*AB567CD to 33125.

After carrying out the foregoing instruction, a response indicating whether the policy is genuine or fake would be received by the policy holder.

The innovation is driven by an electronic platform called Nigerian Insurance Industry Database. NIID is an electronic platform designed by the NIA to store data of insured vehicles, aid verification of genuine policies and curb the menace of fake insurance certificates.

A campaign flier currently designed

by NIA addresses some frequently asked questions on how the SMS verification process works.

In response to the question, “If my policy is not on NIID, what can I do?”

NIA through the flier says “Contact your insurer or call NIA on 08030400804 or 07011784884. Similarly responses that come with any of the following messages, “policy expired” or “policy not found” can be followed up by calling the foregoing telephone numbers.

On how long it takes a new policy to reflect on NIID, the insurance association says a policy reflects within the period of 24 hours.

Similarly, regarding where a genuine cover can be purchased for a motor vehicle, NIA says it can purchased from any NIA member companies that is into the underwriting of motor insurance business.

NIA Chairman, Godwin Wiggle

STI Board assures investors on improved performance, dividend

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he Board of Sovereign Trust Insurance (STI) Plc on Friday assured shareholders of the company of improved business and positive financial returns on their investments in the years ahead, including the promise of dividend payment next year.

Giving the assurance at the company’s 20th Annual General meeting held in Lagos, the Chair-

Onaolapo

man, Dr. Ephraim Faloughi, said that with the level of businesses it undertook in the current year, including the recently concluded recapitalization by rights issue, the future looked promising for all shareholders.

He pointed out that in addition to the successfully concluded rights issue, the Board and management would continuously explore opportunities in the insurance market in order to improve the company’s share of the market and by implication position it on the track of sustainable growth.

He assured: “We believe that the future of the company is really bright particularly with the implementation of our new business model and deployment of competitive strategies to control better market share and improve our profit level. We will not our oars towards realisation of our industry leadership ambition while keeping the company very profitable.”

An assessment of the company’s performance showed that it recorded 16 per cent drop in the Gross premium written for the year ended 31st December, 2014 or N7.2 billion down from the N8.6 billion recorded in the previous financial year.

In addition, Profit Before Tax (PBT) also declined 62 per cent from N857.8 million recorded at the end of the 2013 financial year to N326 million for the year ended 31st December, 2014. Profit After Tax (PAT) decreased by 68 per cent to close the year at N294 million from N929 million reported in 2013.

According to the Annual Report and Accounts, the significant decrease in PAT year-on-year was as a result of N582.99 million prior year adjustments on claims reserve passed on the 2013 accounts. The adjustment reduced the value of claims charged against the profit for the year and consequently increased the PBT for 2013 from N274.85 million to N857.85 million.

However, the adjustment was de-

China’s Fosun plans more insurance acquisitions

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hinese conglomerate, Fosun International Ltd. said it planned to raise up to 11.69 billion Hong Kong dollars ($1.5 billion) in a rights issue to fund mergers and acquisitions in the banking and insurance industry.

The move follows Fosun International’s confirmation earlier this week that it had started exclusive negotiations with the Bank of Portugal to buy Novo Banco.

In May Fosun agreed to buy the 80% of Bermuda-based insurer Ironshore Inc. that it did not already own for $1.8

billion and in December 2014 it agreed to buy Southfield, Michigan-based insurer Meadowbrook Group Inc. for $433 million.

“In order to be able to grasp business opportunities as they arise and actively develop its insurance-oriented comprehensive financial capability, the company wishes to optimize its capital structure,” Chairman Guo Guangchang said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange late on Thursday.

Fosun will issue up to 871.3 million rights shares, at 56 rights shares for

ducted from the retained earnings and did not affect total equity as detailed in the statement of changes in equity.

Shedding light on the low performance of the company during the year under review, the Managing Director, Wale Onaolapo, attributed this to the harsh operating terrain experienced in the course of the year and the company’s response to several regulatory interventions.

“At the back of the several strategic measures adopted by the company to withstand challenges and realities of the operating environment, the company headline performance was somehow affected by the combination of the harsh operating terrain experienced in the course of the year and our response to several regulatory interventions,” he stressed.

It would be recalled that following the shareholders’ approval at the last AGM, the management opened and closed the issuance of shares to existing shareholders at a ratio of 1 for 3 ordinary shares already held at 50kobo per share.

The offer recorded a gross proceed of N734, 532,951.00 representing 64.1 per cent success rate.

every 500 ordinary shares held, for HK$13.42 ($1.73) per share, the Hong Kong-listed company said. Some of the proceeds would be used to repay loans, it added.

It gave no further details on acquisitions.

Sources told Reuters last week that Portugal’s central bank would turn to Fosun to negotiate the sale of Novo Banco after talks with China’s Anbang Insurance Group Co. failed.

In July, the Chinese conglomerate said it had purchased a landmark build-

ing in the centre of Milan, as increasingly bold Chinese firms flex their financial muscles overseas. (Source – Reuters)

China President Xi Jinping

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Money

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

35

Banks lose N199bn to e-frauds in 15 years –Study Udo onyeka

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igerian banks have lost over N199bn to e-fraud between 2000 and 2014, mostly due to inappropriate and reckless management of customers’ data.

A security assessment of Nigerian banks’ websites in the last month by Easy Solutions Ltd, a global e-fraud protection firm, indicated that electronic fraudsters had invaded Nigerian banking environment, deploying over 185 fake mobile applications on the websites of 15 out of 17 deposit money banks with which they are extracting customers’ personal and financial information with intent to steal billions of naira from bank accounts.

The latest study showed that Nigerian banks recently faced defacement attacks on their websites.

Other attacks include email spamming targeting both banks’ websites and customers’ emails with intent to slow the websites and steal customer financial data.

Easy Solutions, which presented these findings at a one-day e-payment anti-fraud forum organised by Winigroup Ltd in Lagos recently for Chief Information Officers ,CIOs, of banks and CBN officials, also showed that the banks were under constant cyber defacement attacks.

Director, Banking and Payments System, CBN, Mr Dipo Fatokun, noted that the new development was a threat to the stability of the banking industry and said that to battle the upsurge of efraud, CBN would work with relevant stakeholders to establish an industry security operations centre and a risk information centre in order to reduce

CBN Gov, Godwin Emefiele

e-payments frauds and enhance trust in the payments system.

In February this year, Deloitte said phishing and insider threats will continue to be biggest cyber threat sources in Nigeria, especially as crude oil prices continue to fall.

In May, the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS, e-Payment Fraud Landscape Report stated that there was 85 per cent success in fraud attempts.

It also noted that automated teller machines, ATMs, had most fraudulent transactions while Internet banking fraud loss was put at N3.2 billion within the last one year.

International Director, Easy Solutions, Mr Jeremy Boorer, said: “We looked at 17 Nigerian banks 10 days ago for signs of fake mobile apps. In 15 of them, we found the following: The first to 10th banks checked were found with 13, 10, 17, eight, 11, eight, nine, 13, seven and

Big banks in $1.865bn swaps price-fixing settlement

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welve major banks have reached a $1.865 billion settlement to resolve investor claims that they conspired to fix prices and limit competition in the market for credit default swaps, a lawyer for the investors said on Friday.

The settlement in principle was disclosed at a hearing before U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan.

“We think it’s historic,” Daniel Brockett, the investors’ lawyer, said in an interview. “It’s one of the largest antitrust class-action settlements, and an extraordinary result for the class.”

The defendants include Bank of America, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Credit Suisse Group, Deutsche

Bank, Goldman Sachs Group, HSBC Holdings,JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Royal Bank of Scotland Group and UBS. Other defendants are the International Swaps and Derivatives Association and Markit, which provides credit derivative pricing services.

Credit default swaps are contracts that let investors buy protection to hedge against the risk that corporate or sovereign debt issuers will not meet their payment obligations.

The market peaked at $58 trillion in 2007, according to the Bank for International Settlements, but shrank to $16 trillion seven years later as investors better understood its risks.

American International Group’s CDS exposure was a major factor behind the 2008 federal bailout of that insurer.

In the lawsuit, investors led by the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association and Salix Capital US claimed that the defendants’ activity caused them to pay unfair prices on CDS trades from late 2008 through the end of 2013, even though improved liquidity should have driven costs down.

They also said the banks tried in late 2008 to thwart the launch of a credit derivatives exchange being developed by CME Group by agreeing not to use new CDS platforms and pushing ISDA and Markit not to provide licenses to the exchange. (Source – CNBC)

GTBank MD, Segun-Agbaje

20 fake mo-bile apps respectively. The 11th to 15th banks were also found with 11, 14, 13, 16 and 15 fake mobile apps.’

He warned bank customers that app stores were full of fake apps claiming to come from banks, saying once a customer downloads and enters finan-cial information, including credit/debit cards details and personal identity numbers (PIN), his/her money is gone as the fraudster will clone the cards or transfer the money through online banking immediately.

“In the last four weeks, we discovered that hundreds of defacement at-tacks are going on Nigerian banks by hackers.

It highlights the fact that the websites are not totally secure. Email is still the primary attack channel. They pretend to be customers of the banks to contact the bank. E-fraud is initiated through account takeover, new account and true per-son/mule.”

Boorer said all channel fraud happens in one of the above fraud types through malware, phishing, social engineering, account opening process gaps (KYC/CIP).

In his words, “Social media seems to be a concern as banks create social media accounts and ask prospective customers to open bank ac-counts on social media.

“Fake banks are springing up on the social media and the data that are used to open such accounts; you don’t know where it ends. There are financial motivations to trick people to create social media accounts to steal financial/credit information which are sold in the dark internet market for as low as $10 by competing dark internet hacker sites.”

Fatokun, who was represented by Mrs Margaret Ogundana, Head, Banking and Payment System, CBN, said the apex bank was not just advocating epayments but doing all it could to ensure that users’ funds are well protected as they embrace e-payment.

Meanwhile Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, said that bank examination reports had indicated that the high incidents of fraud and forgeries in the banking system had been linked to outsourced or contract staff.

Umaru also said that in as much as regulators appreciated the necessity for banks to cut costs, it was incumbent on all stakeholders to fashion out capacity building and other strategies to motivate all employees to contribute positively rather than engaging in criminal acts that impact adversely on the entire banking system.

BVN: Bank customers’ enrolment hits 20m, says NIBSS

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igeria Inter Bank Settlement System Plc, NIBSS, has disclosed that over 20 million customers had been enrolled by the various banks in the ongoing Bank Verification Number, BVN, exercise.

This is coming even as NIBSS, in its quest to ensuring the success of the exercise has begun collaboration with telecoms companies to create a platform through which bank customers can confirm their registration status.

Already, NIBSS is collaborating with one of the country’s telecoms service providers, Etisalat to roll out the BVN Query Service.

The service, which was unveiled at the NIBSS headquarters recently, is designed

to help the banking Nigerian public Query their BVN on-the-go via their mobile zz phones.

According to a statement yesterday, the initiative is coming on the heels of the extended deadline for the BVN registration which ends on October 31nationwide.

The BVN registration was a directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to all Deposit Money Banks, commercial banks, in the country to register all their customers biometrically in furtherance of the Know Your Customer, KYC, policy.

Managing Director of NIBSS, Ade Shonubi, said the initiative was in response to growing public demand for confirmation of BVN status

by those, who have enrolled on the platform.

He added that the BVN Query Service will boost such efforts like KYC for banks.

Speaking about the service, Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Francesco Angelone, said the partnership with NIBSS on USSD BVN Notification Service was in line with the telco’s commitment to continue to create value for the consumers across all sectors including the banking and telecoms industries.

“We are happy to be the first to offer this product among the operators because we believe that innovation is the way the telecoms industry must lead,” Angelone said.

36

Global Business

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

China unveils details of state-firm reforms as growth sputters

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hina unveiled details on Sunday of how it would restructure its stateowned enterprises (SOEs), including partial privatization, as data pointed to a cooling in the world’s second-largest economy.

The guidelines, jointly issued by the Communist Party’s Central Committee and the State Council, China’s cabinet, included plans to clean up and integrate some state firms, the official Xinhua news agency said.

It did not elaborate.

Reform of underperforming state-owned enterprises is one of China’s most pressing needs. But if not handled well, the restructuring could lead to hundreds of thousands of people being laid off and social instability.

Xinhua said the plans included introducing “mixed ownership” by bringing in private investment, and “decisive results” were expected by 2020.

The government will not force “mixed ownership”, nor will it set a timetable, giving each firm the go-ahead only when conditions are mature, it said.

“This reform will be positive for improving the impetus of the economy and making growth more sustainable,” said Xu Hongcai, director of the economic research department at the China Centre for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE), a Beijing-based think-think.

Partial privatization, he add-

ed, would help establish “checkand-balance and incentive systems” at state firms.

China’s government manages 111 companies centrally under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, or SASAC. Local governments own and manage around 25,000 state-owned companies and the sector employs nearly 7.5 million people.

State firms will be allowed to bring in “various investors” to help diversify share ownership, and more state firms will be encouraged to restructure to pave the way for stock listings, Xinhua said.

Private investors will be encouraged to buy stakes in state firms, buy convertible bonds issued by state firms, or swap shares with state firms, it said, adding steps will be taken to curb corruption during reforms.

SOEs will be divided into commercial and public welfare-related businesses during the reform process. Oil and gas, electricity, railways and telecommunications were identified as sectors that could be suitable for limited non-state investment.

However, Beijing will have to persuade entrenched interests at local, provincial and national governments to relinquish some control over state enterprises and attract investors to buy shares after one of the worst stock market crashes in China’s

China’s Central Bank Governor Zhou Xiaochuan

history.

And Xinhua indicated fullscale privatization was not on the cards, saying the government was aiming to “cultivate a large number of state-owned backbone enterprises with innovation capability and international competitiveness”.

The guidelines called for a flexible and market-based compensation system at state firms by linking pay with company performance.

The details were issued after the government said growth in China’s investment and factory output missed forecasts in August. The data followed weak trade and inflation readings, raising the chances that economic growth may dip below 7 percent in the third quarter for the first time since the global financial crisis.

Jeremy Corbyn sees mixed reaction from business lobby groups

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eremy Corbyn’s election victory has received a mixed reaction from business, including a cautious welcome for his plans on infrastructure.

His plan to boost infrastructure investment was welcomed by the British Chambers of Commerce and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Meanwhile, the Institute of Di-

Walker

rectors said his intention to renationalise the railways and to raise business taxes would undermine the UK economy.

It said business would “make its case”.

The most positive response came from RICS. Jeremy Blackburn, the organisation’s head of policy said: “He has raised some challenging but principled issues around the expansion of Right to Buy to private landlords; as well as providing a voice for the widely-felt dissatisfaction of privatisation in our rail sector. There is undoubtedly opportunity in his agenda around infrastructure and public spending to get Britain building, and we look forward to sitting round the table and discussing this further. “ John Longworth, director general of the BCC, also highlighted Mr Corbyn’s infrastructure plans: “Firms will be encouraged by recent statements favouring muchneeded investment in the UK’s

inadequate infrastructure and skills.

“We will be looking for the opposition to take a pragmatic and practical approach to business recognising that wealth creation is the necessary prerequisite for the delivery of any political objectives.”

But there was a warning from Simon Walker, director general at the IoD: “From renationalising the railways, to raising taxes on businesses and increasing government spending, Corbyn has proposed some policies in the leadership campaign that we believe would undermine our open and competitive economy.”

Mr Walker added that business leaders were never in “perfect agreement” with politicians of whichever party, but that the IoD would give its views “sincerely” in discussions on matters such as state investment in infrastructure and excessive pay at big companies.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ABB chairman opposes breaking up two businesses

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he idea of breaking up the engineering group’s two main businesses and was not facing pressure from its big shareholders for change.

His comments, published by SonntagsZeitung newspaper on Sunday, came amid media reports that activist group Cevian, one of ABB’s main shareholders, was pushing for reforms that could include breaking up the company.

“I am strictly against separating energy and automation because you cannot separate them,” Voser was quoted as saying.

Customers, he added, wanted integrated applications from one supplier.

ABB last week announced a strategic review of its lowmargin power projects business and said it would likely decide next year what to do with the new division.

But Voser said the step had not resulted from any external pressure.

“The board and management were at no point under pressure because of external

expressions of opinion. The strategy was developed over the long term and is conceived for the long-term future,” he was quoted as saying.

Voser said Chief Executive Ulrich Spiesshofer would get the time he needs to implement strategic steps the group has already announced. Asked how long this was, he said: “The timetable is clear. The 1,000-day program to cut costs should be completed by the end of 2017. And we have growth forecasts to 2020, so the time frame is somewhere in between.”

Spiesshofer

RBS appoints BoAML for 2016 listing of Williams & Glyn

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oyal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) has hired Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAC.N) to prepare a spin-off of its Williams & Glyn-branded retail branches in the second half of 2016, a spokeswoman said on Sunday.

The Sunday Telegraph reported, without citing sources, that RBS hoped to value the bank at 1.5 billion pounds ($2.31 billion) and that investment bankers would

start meeting investors later this year to discuss the planned float.

RBS was ordered to sell Williams & Glyn, which comprises 314 branches and is focused on lending to small businesses, by European regulators as a condition of its 46 billion pound government bailout during the 2007-09 financial crisis.

It will be a separately licensed bank with about 1.4 million retail customers and more than 200,000 SME customers.

German finance minister Schaeuble warns of market bubble

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he global economy faces a financial bubble from central banks pumping cash into economies, Germany’s finance minister has warned.

“We should take on board the lessons of the last crisis,” said Wolfgang Schaeuble in his Budget speech.

He added that economic reforms should not be neglected in favour of

Draghi

action from central banks.

The comments come after the European Central Bank (ECB) said it would extend its stimulus programme if needed.

The ECB launched its 1.1 trillion euro bond-buying scheme - a form of monetary policy or quantitative easing - in January to support the eurozone economic recovery, which the bank’s president, Mario Draghi, said could be extended beyond 2016 if needed.

Mr Schaeuble has repeatedly warned against an over-reliance on central bank stimulus to prop up economies.

He stressed the need for structural reforms stating: “When we call for structural reforms in return for financial assistance, this isn’t some narrow-minded mantra being repeated by people who have lost sight of the big strategic questions of the future.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

37

Analysts link Dangote Cement’s price slash to market share drive Johnson okanlawon

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nvestment analysts have described the recent price cut of Dangote Cement as an alternative way of increasing market share, sales volumes and profitability.

The Chief Executive Officer of the cement company, Mr. Onne van der Weijde said in a statement last week that the price cuts to its 3X cement brand by N6,000 per metric ton would still allow it to achieve strong returns, and increase export sales to neighboring nations.

The Acting President of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr. Oluwaseyi Abe, noted that as Dangote Cement as the market leader, the cut in price will drive sales volume and increase profitability.

According to him, investors should be happy because volume of sales will increase return to shareholders.

Also, the Managing Director of Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri, pointed out that going by the increasing competition in the industry, increase in sales will definitely affect share price positively.

The Head of Research at Vetiva Capital Management Limited, an investment firm said in a note to investors that competition has no choice but to bring down the price because Dangote is the market leader.

“The last time they reduced the price it was not sustained because they had logistics problems with their distribution,” the firm added.

About 42 per cent of Dangote’s cement sales by volume were sold outside of Nigeria in July, the company said in the statement, compared with 22 per cent in the first six months of the year, and just eight per cent in 2014.

Before the price increase in December, Dangote had reduced the cost of cement in November, causing a more than 20 per cent slump in the market.

SEC DG, Gwarzo

The company’s share dropped N6.94 or 4.08 per cent on Wednesday, September 9, 2015 to close at N163.08 per share and a decline of 18 per cent year –todate. The share price stood at N200.00 per share as at December 31, 2014.

The company’s market capitalisation stood at N2.78 trillion as at September 9, 2015.

Half year performance Dangote Cement declared a profit after tax of N121.8 billion for the half year ended June 30, 2015, an increase of 21.7 per cent when compared to N95.4 billion recorded in the same period of 2014.

This followed a 15.94 per cent rise in revenue, with the company realising N242.215billion revenue as against N208.909billion in the first half of 2014.

The growth in profit was achieved despite increases in administrative expenses, selling and distribution expenses and finance costs.

The results showed that administrative expenses rose to N13.618billion in the six months to June 30, 2015 from N7.295billion in the corresponding pe-

SEC lifts suspension on Standard Alliance Capital, Strand Capital Partners Johnson okanlawon

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he Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, has restored the licence of Standard Alliance Capital and Asset Management Limited as Issuing House and Fund Manager with effect from August 10, 2015.

The Commission, in a circular posted on its website, also hinted of the registra-

Weijde

tion of Standard Alliance Capital & Asset Management Limited, as Issuing House and Fund Manager, while also lifting the suspension it placed on Strand Capital Partners Limited and its sponsored individuals.

The circular indicated that the lifting of the suspension was sequel to the satisfactory resolution of all complaints and issues with the commission by the Operator.

riod a year ago, while selling and distribution expenses jumped to N23.385billion f r o m N18.030billion.

Finance costs soared from N8.146billion to N24.381billion, while cost of sales rose to N84.501billion f r o m N73.537billion.

Expansion

The company last month announced plans for a total capacity expansion across Africa worth approxi-

mately US$4.34 billion.

The statement noted that Dangote Cement Plc through its subsidiaries would sign several contracts with Chinese construction company, Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd for construction of cement facilities in 13 African countries with a total capacity of 25.00 Metric Tonnes per annum (MTPA).

The statement gave a breakdown of the expected capacity as; Nigeria (Itori) -1 and 2 plant to produce a total of 6.00 Metric Tonnes per Annum (3.00 each), while Nepal would produce 3.00 Metric Tonnes per Annum.

Ethiopia to generate 2.50 Metric Tonnes per Annum, while Kenya (1 and 2) would produce 1.50 Metric Tonnes per Annum each.

Zambia, Senegal, Niger, Mali Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana would also yield 1.50 Metric Tonnes per Annum each.

U.S. Fed Reserve issue to dominate central bank meetings

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he U.S. Federal Reserve takes center stage in the coming week, eclipsing industry data from China, another grim inflation reading from the euro zone and rate decisions in Japan and Switzerland.

Guessing whether the Fed hikes rates on Thursday or opts for a later date, perhaps December, is something of a futile exercise because even the rate setters appear to be wavering and the decision will probably come down to the wire.

An unexpected drop in the jobless rate to 5.1 percent and an upward revision in second quarter growth to 3.7 percent support calls for a hike as the labor market tightens and utilization is at its best level since the global financial crisis.

Yet, futures only price a 24 percent chance of a hike as emerging markets, particularly China, struggle, inflation remains benign and some notable Fed watchers, like former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, argue against a hike.

“My best guess is that the committee is also confused about what the right decision is, and as a result they are waiting to the last minute with making a decision,” Torsten Sloek, the chief international economist at Deutsche Bank said.

“The cost of this approach is that market expectations become unanchored but they may view this as a small cost relative to sending strong signals ahead of a meeting where there seems to be limited consensus among (rate setting) members,” Sloek said.

China’s slowdown is likely to be a key worry for the Fed and a 14 percent drop

in Chinese imports over the past year, the 10th straight monthly drop, along with an annual factory gate price deflation of almost 6 percent, does not help rate hike arguments.

Data on Sunday showed growth in China’s investment and factory output missed forecasts in August, raising the chances that third-quarter economic growth will dip below 7 percent for the first time since the global crisis.

Factory output rose 6.1 percent last month from a year earlier, less than the 6.4 percent expected but up from July’s 6.0 percent.

Fears of a hard landing, the prospect of deflation and billions of dollars spent on keeping the yuan steady raise the prospect of more rate cuts and currency devaluation by Beijing, setting markets up for more volatility.

In Europe, the key item will be final August euro zone inflation data due on Wednesday, likely supplying another arguments for the European Central Bank to beef up quantitative easing.

Price growth is seen holding steady at 0.2 percent, far off the ECB’s target of just under 2 percent and ECB President Mario Draghi has already warned that the euro zone could dip back into deflation on lower commodity prices and weaker growth from emerging markets.

The big inflation miss and a modification of quantitative easing are just the latest in a long list of troubles for central banks around the globe as developed nations struggle with weak growth and anemic inflation. (Source – Reuters)

38

Features

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Onyenwe’s sight: Going… going…

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he meeting with Onyenwe left a lasting impression, thanks to his wit and intelligence which gave him away as an educationally advantaged but opportunistically disadvantaged individual. Interestingly, he had several years ago found learning extremely challenging and dropped out of the Army Day Secondary School, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt. Trading appealed to him and he promptly entered into apprenticeship in the shoe-selling business. In no time, he had discovered what he had to do to cut a niche for himself in the small scale sector at the popular Mile 1 Market in the Rivers State capital.

The native of Mbaise Local Government hoped to reach the skies in his chosen endeavour, as he quickly warmed himself to his colleagues in the sector with his industry, stoic resolve and customer relations.

Sometime in June 2012, however, he woke up with a somewhat itchy feeling in his eyes. But he took it as just the price for a short night rest after another hard day’s job at the market.

“I cannot recall the exact date of the month,” Onyenwe said with smile playing on his handsome face as if to downplay his predicament.

“For me it looked like normal occurrence so I gave it little attention. I didn’t even consider discussing it with any one, although the itching would not abate,” he added.

Few days after, Onyenwe could no longer look at things as “normal”. In his reckoning, there was more to the ceaseless discomfort.

“I noticed that my eyes had turned reddish through regular rubbing with my forefinger and I became a bit worried. Indeed the whitish puss oozing from the eyes especially every morning made me believe I needed to do something fast,” he also said.

To pharmacies around his residence at Ogbunabali, Garrison area of Port Harcourt he headed in search of treatment that he believed could quell

Onyenwe

Fate conspired with ignorance to put the eye sight of 27-year-old trader, Chijioke Anthony Onyenwe, in acute jeopardy, as AFOLABI GAMBARI reports.

Onyenwe

the itching in order that he would concentrate on his business.

“Together with my brother, I went from one pharmacy to another buying different eye drops. But the more I felt the itching the more my sight became poorer.

“My parents became worried and recommended that we consult a doctor in the hospital for proper check. We ended up at the BMH Hospital around Moscow Road, Port Harcourt and hoped for the best.”

But the worst was confirmed at the hospital: the variety of eye drops had done incalculable damage to Onyenwe’s eyes without him knowing it.

“The doctor who examined me recommended that I visited the Eye Foundation located at the GRA, Ikeja, Lagos for a thorough examination.

“It turned out to be the most humbling experience in my life when I was told at the Eye Foundation that my left eye was completely damaged but the right eye could still be rescued through what they called corneal transplant surgery.”

More challenge awaited Onyenwe on how to finance the surgery. An operation was scheduled for April this year but inadequate finance scuttled the date. Now he has three more months to undergo the surgery at a recommend-

It turned out to be the most humblIng experIence In my lIfe when I was told at the eye foundatIon that my left eye was completely damaged but the rIght eye could stIll be rescued through what they called corneal transplant surgery

ed hospital in India or forfeit what is left of his sight.

“A total of N2 million is required for the operation and I have been able to gather about N900, 000 through an appeal launched by a television station to public spirited individuals,” he further said.

Reminded that he could cover the shortfall of N1.1million through the kind-hearted Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Onyenwe revealed: “My family members have made countless efforts to reach Gover nor Okorocha to no avail. They got just promises from his officials, but nothing concrete came out of it.”

Faced with a Hobson’s choice, Onyenwe took his case to National Mirror last week, whereupon he pleaded with

good-spirited Nigerians to help restore his sight so that, “I can achieve my dreams of leaving my society better than I met it.”

In an emotion-laden submission, even with smile still playing on his lips, he pleaded: “I was not born like this and I don’t want to remain like this.”

The foregoing would be a lesson to individuals who indulge in self-medication. But the grounded shoe-seller is the least amused of serving as useful lesson to others in this manner. He would stop at nothing to regain his sight.

This man in dire need can be reached through: chijokeonyenwe@ gmail.com or Chijioke Anthony Onyenwe-Diamond Bank-0051243707 or on the telephone 08148318987.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Features

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

39

Between helping the needy and enslaving them Nigerian novelist and writer, Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, asks if using poorer relatives as domestic workers is helping them or exploiting them.

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s African societies walk the tightrope between tradition and international law, some cultural practices which might be considered philanthropic at home can take on a very different complexion if transferred to the West. They can even violate anti-slavery and human-trafficking laws.

Like many African countries, Nigeria does not have a developed welfare state to look after its most deprived citizens.

An estimated 67% of the country’s 170 million people live in poverty and they often rely on the generosity of relatives and philanthropists to provide their basic needs.

As a result, families with reasonable incomes immediately take on extra financial responsibilities to help out members of their extended family.

They will pay school fees for their grandmother’s cousin’s younger sister’s nieces, medical bills for the stepsons of their uncle’s wife’s younger sister, and send money back to their home villages to fund classrooms, healthcare centres, or communal boreholes drilled to access drinking water.

Also, many poor families in the villages send their children to live with more comfortable families in the cities - usually as a “house help”, who will clean, do laundry, cook, babysit and whatever else brawn can accomplish.

In exchange, the helps are fed, housed, clothed and if they’re lucky, educated, with their parents sometimes receiving a fee.

But it is this ad-hoc welfare system that has been behind numerous allegations of human trafficking in Nigeria.

During my childhood, my mother depended on the recommendations of people she knew in villages for those willing to become house helps - often they were teenagers sent by the their parents to earn extra money whilst attending school in the city.

Today, there are “agents” who supply boys, girls, men and women, sometimes from poorer countries beyond Nigeria’s borders, such as Benin and Togo.

Agents usually demand between six months’ to two years’ worth of the worker’s salary in advance, a percentage of which is sent to their families.

The typical wage is between N5,000 ($25, £16) and N15,000 per month. At those rates, the average middle-class Nigerian could afford to hire as many as they wanted.

But in the UK and US, where many Nigerians have made their homes, domestic

Victims of the child-trafficking

During my chilDhooD, my mother DepenDeD on the recommenDations of people she knew in villages for those willing to become house helps

- often

they were teenagers sent by the their parents to earn extra money whilst attenDing school in the city staff have to be paid a minimum wage and all sorts of benefits.

As a result, some Nigerians abroad resort to importing domestic staff from “back home”, sometimes with disastrous consequences.

In June 2011, Nigerian-American lawyer, Bidemi Bello, was convicted of human trafficking for bringing two Nigerian women to the US and “forcing them to work in her lavish home like slaves”.

The court heard that Bello beat the women and failed to pay their wages.

She was sentenced by the Georgia court to 11 years in prison.

At the time the story broke, I was in charge of the opinion desk at a local newspaper, and keen to raise awareness of the issue back in Nigeria.

I approached a number of potential contributors whom I felt could tackle the topic insightfully.

None was willing to write.

But some people were prepared to comment in private. They disapproved of Bello’s conviction.

How, they asked, could these girls turn on Bello so viciously, after she had extended them such a huge favour of not just taking them in as her staff, but bringing them to the US? How could they repay her generosity

by plotting her ruin?

A number of people shared experiences of those they knew in the UK or US, whose imported “help” had either got them in trouble with the law or almost done so.

They informed me that it was common for such workers to take advantage of the system in developed countries when their eyes opened to the laws of the new land, and of a way to free themselves from the snare of charity.

It was, their critics told me, their clever plan to exchange servitude for asylum, by becoming legitimate migrants who could then provide directly for their families. In Nigeria, with no local laws to govern the house-help industry, domestic staff can work from dawn till dusk, Monday to Sunday.

Many suffer abuse, of varying intensity, depending on their employer’s temper.

Local newspapers have published stories of domestic workers who were drenched with boiling water or struck with a pestle.

There have also been allegations of sexual abuse of both male and female workers.

Nevertheless, it remains difficult for many Nigerians to agree that the arrangements they have with their domes-

Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, Director-General, National Agency For The Prohibition Of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP)

an estimateD 67% of the country’s 170 million people live in poverty anD they often rely on the generosity of relatives anD philanthropists to proviDe their basic neeDs tic helps could be considered a crime.

They believe that the disadvantaged ones would have little hope without them, that the so-called slavery these people endure is simply a small price to pay for a chance at survival.

40

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Global Business

Renault CEO Ghosn not worried by China slowdown

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rench carmaker Renault (RENA.PA) is unconcerned with a slowdown in the Chinese economy hitting sales there, Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said in an interview published on Sunday.

Ghosn said Renault is selling 30,000 cars a year in China ahead of the launch of factory there next year.

Recent data from China has raised the chances that thirdquarter economic growth may dip below 7 percent for the first time since the global crisis.

“If there is one carmaker that is not worried about the situation in China then it’s us,” Ghosn told the Journal du Dimanche ahead of the opening of the Frankfurt car show on Sept 15.

“There’s one advantage with China. When the government

Renault

decides to do something, it does it. When it decides to relaunch the economy, you know that it’s going to go all out to do it.”

Ghosn also said that economic slumps in Brazil and China did not call into question the group’s strategy of building up big presences in emerging markets.

“It’s precisely because

these markets are volatile that you’ve got to be everywhere.

If there’s a few clouds in one place, you see an upturn somewhere else,” he said.

Ghosn added that the company was taking action to improve productivity until weak markets bounced back, which he said he had no doubt would happen in Brazil and Russia.

Airbus revs up challenge to Boeing

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irbus Group NV, challenging Boeing Co. for supremacy in the $80 billion market for large commercial airliners, is opening its first jet production site on the U.S. competitor’s home turf.

The French-based planemaker on Monday is slated to officially unveil a $600 million plant in Mobile, Alabama, although the first of the A320 jetliners to be built there have been taking shape since July. The plant is expected to spur job growth and attract aerospace suppliers to the Southeastern U.S., where Boeing and Brazil’s Embraer SA also have footholds.

It’s the second single-aisle aircraft factory Airbus has opened outside Europe as the aerospace manufacturer seeks to lower costs and raise its visibility with potential airline clients in a market historically tilted to Boeing.

“It brings them closer to one of the world’s greatest commercial markets,” said Kevin Michaels, vice president with the aerospace prac-

Boeing aircraft

tice of consultant ICF International.

Airbus still lags behind Boeing in the U.S., the world’s biggest market for airliner sales. Its 960 single-aisle planes in U.S. airline fleets represent only 20 percent of the total, although orders in its backlog would boost the share to 40 percent.

Most of the planes built in Mobile will be delivered to North American customers, Airbus said. Deliveries are due to start early next year out of the 53-acre (215,000-square meter) facility, with the production tempo increasing to four aircraft a month by early 2018. Airbus also produces four A320s a month in Tianjin, China, which is poised to eclipse North America as the largest aviation market.

“It’s all about location,” said Michel Merluzeau, vice president for aerospace strategy and business development with consultant Frost & Sullivan. “It’s about where you do business, and how that property is going to grow over time.”

Jet production costs and factory

capacity are vital as Boeing and Airbus plot to boost output of singleaisle jets that serve as workhorses for the global airline fleet to upwards of 60 aircraft a month. Airbus currently builds the A320 at a 44-jet tempo compared to the 42-jet tempo for Boeing’s 737.

Large Backlog The planemakers are racing to reap profits from a near-record backlog of narrowbody jet orders: 5,181 for Airbus to 4,253 for Boeing, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence.

Boeing makes its 737 jets at a single factory in Renton, Washington, although the company is considering adding a plant in China where planes would be finished and delivered.

Airbus spreads the work across three factories spread around the globe.

Adding a fourth plant in Alabama will give Airbus greater flexibility to ratchet output up, or down, while saving on land, energy and labor, Michaels said. Final assembly line labor costs represent about 10 percent of the total expense of building a jetliner, he said.

Its Alabama workforce is not unionized and state laws discourage organized labor. The threat of shifting work to the U.S., over time, may also serve as a counterweight to Airbus’s European assembly lines in Toulouse and Hamburg, where unionized work forces and heavy government regulations charges weigh on the bottom line, Michaels said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Credit Suisse plans to sell U.S. private bank - Report

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redit Suisse Group (CSGN. VX) intends to sell its U.S. private bank and slash its prime brokerage business under a strategy being developed by new Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam, Swiss newspaper Schweiz am Sonntag reported on Sunday.

Results will be presented to the bank’s board in early October of a strategic review announced in July, earlier than first envisaged to give markets time to absorb news of a planned capital increase, the newspaper said, citing anonymous sources.

A spokesman for Switzerland’s second-biggest bank declined comment on the report.

The newspaper cited “insiders” as saying the bank’s U.S. private banking business had around 100 billion Swiss francs ($103 billion) under management but was not making progress there, unlike rival UBS. The prime brokerage business, which provides services for big clients like hedge funds, and its fixed-income investment business, would be scaled back to free up capital that can be used for other businesses, it said.

Thiam signaled a strategy shakeup when he joined this year from British insurer Prudential Plc. The revamp aims to focus on banking for the world’s wealthy, particularly in Asia, while moving away from riskier securities activities.

Investors have been watching for any clues as to his plans, as well as for any hints of a widely expected move to tap shareholders for additional capital.

The newspaper said Thiam planned changes in senior management that could affect allies of former CEO Brady Dougan, including private banking co-head Robert Shafir and Chief Financial Officer David Mathers.

Shafir was set to leave, while Mathers may be downgraded to his secondary role heading IT and operations, it reported.

Schweiz am Sonntag said Gael de Boissard, head of investment banking - fixed income, was in line to get the finance chief job.

It said Credit Suisse’s board, which needs to approve the revamp, could have reservations, especially about the personnel changes.

Dougan

Worries over emerging markets deepening – BIS

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oncerns over the world’s major emerging economies, and in particular China, are growing as financial investors reassess the outlook for global growth, the Bank of International Settlements said on Sunday.

After a month of turmoil for stocks and commodities, the quarterly update from the Switzerlandbased forum for major central banks avoided making predictions about whether the turbulence was likely to deepen.

Introducing the report in a briefing for journalists, Claudio Borio,

Borio

head of the BIS’ monetary and economic department, said that the falls in China’s stock market should be seen as part of a broader response to increasingly stark financial imbalances.

“We are not seeing isolated tremors, but the release of pressure that has gradually accumulated over the years along major fault lines,” he said.

The report pointed to risks stemming from the build-up of trillions in dollar-denominated debt in the corporate sector across the developing world and to related booms in asset prices.

The BIS also laid out data which showed Chinese banks saw net capital outflows of $109 billion in the first quarter of 2015, adding that capital may continue to trickle out.

“Investors increasingly focused on growing vulnerabilities in emerging market economies (EMEs), particularly China, as they reassessed the global growth outlook,” the bank said in the summary of its main report.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

41

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Bayelsa APC: Sylva, others under pressure to step down for Alaibe

obioRa ifoh ABUJA

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday summoned to a meeting in Abuja all its governorship aspirants in Bayelsa State ahead of the primary election, even as the leadership of the party is plotting to ensure the emergence of former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe, as its candidate in the December 5th governorship election.

The meeting which was held behind closed door had in attendance the national chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun, deputy national chairman (South), Olusegun Oni and

national organising secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, among other national executives of the party.

Sources close to the meeting told newsmen at the party house that the party leaders would prefer former NDDC boss, who they believed have ‘solid’ structure in Bayelsa since 1999 till date.

The leaders, according to the sources, were said to be looking for a strong candidate who could easily defeat the incumbent governor in the state who have secured the backings of former President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife and some former governors of the state.

“Apart from the fact that they feel he cannot win the state, the leaders also

think the former governor is yet to settle with the antigraft agencies over alleged misappropriation of fund when he was the governor of Bayelsa State,” one of the sources said.

It was gathered further that the meeting was called following complaints by some of the aspirants that one of them, who is a former governor in the state had assembled all the delegates in one of the hotels in Omokwu area of Rivers State, out of their reach ahead of the primaries.

Investigations revealed that a large number of the 19 aspirants attended Monday meeting at the party office except the former governor, Timipre Sylva.

In an interview, one of the aspirants, a pastor, Mrs. Tonye Apraela, told newsmen that the party had not endorsed any aspirant contrary to speculations in some quarters.

She was reacting to reports that Timipre Sylva had got the backing of some of the party leaders.

She said: “Nobody has endorsed anybody. It is his followers that endorsed him. I wanted to make that correction but thank God I have the privilege now, the APC has not endorsed anybody, so, nobody should be afraid in Bayelsa State. We are all going out for the primaries.”

A founding member of the party in Bayelsa State, Perekeme Kpodo, had earlier cautioned the par-

ty’s national leadership against presenting former governor, Timipre Sylva, as flag-bearer of the party.

Kpodo told newsmen in an interview that the idea of arm-twisting delegates to vote for a particular aspirant had affected the party’s chances of a credible primary election in the state.

He said: “If Sylva is given the ticket of the APC, the APC will scatter and it will lose woefully. That is exactly what the opposition is praying for.

“But if we bring any other credible candidate in the APC, you will see a serious fight. It is a battle.

To win an incumbent, you know what it means and not with a person like Sylva.”

L-R: Celebrant/Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; his wife Lady Cherry and Chief Lucky Igbinedion, at Chief Gabriel Igbinedion 81 birthday thanksgiving service, Benin City.

Ex-PFN chair tutors youths, parents on moral values RichaRd Ndoma CALABAR

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he immediate past chairman of Pentecoastal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Cross River State branch, Bishop Emmah Isong at the weekend charged parents in the country to instill good moral values in their children to ensure a good, strong and virile nation.

The cleric urged youths to imbibe good moral values so that they could become useful to themselves, their families and the nation at last.

Isong who is the cleric in

charge of Faith Mansion World Centre, City of Testimonies, Calabar, urged parents to do everything within their reach to ensure that children were raised up with the fear of God in their heart so that they would not derail in life.

Isong who was also a former Chairman for Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Cross River State branch, urged parents to do everything that was necessary to ensure that children were raised according to the tenets of God if they wanted their wards to grow up and become good ambassadors

of Nigeria.

The cleric gave the charge while fielding questions from journalists shortly after he finished preaching to a five thousand congregation who participated in the conference tagged “Peace be Still” for ardent christians from the South-South geopolitical zone.

The cleric who is also a former chairman of Pentecoastal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, identified bad parentage and poor upbringing of children as being responsible for the high rate of crimes like kidnapping, cultism, armed rob-

bery, drug addiction and several deviant behaviours that had bedeviled Nigeria in recent times.

The former PFN boss blamed high rate of criminality in the country to nonchalant attitudes of Christians who, he said, had failed woefully in inculcating good moral values in the lives of their wards thereby compounding the woes of the nation.

Earlier Rev.Uma Ukpai who also ministered at the conference said, “I want every member of this congregation to see this conference as an opportunity given to families to begin

to tutor their wards on the things that would foster peace, good moral values for the building of an egalitarian society.”

“We need to appreciate God for the life he has given us and his blessings upon our children and families. My greatest hope is that the knowledge gained from the conference should be applied into building families and thee society at large so that at the end God will continue to raise worthy children who will eventually grow to become good leaders of our nation,” Ukpai added .

Buhari to flags off super highway construction in C’River RichaRd Ndoma CALABAR

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resident Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday, September 21, perform the ceremony for the construction of a 260km super highway in Cross River State.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/ Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ben Ayade, Mr. Christian Ita, said the highway was one of two signature projects of the current administration in the state.

Major geo-technical studies have been carried out on the other signature project, the Bakassi Deep Seaport.

Upon completion, the super highway will serve as the evacuation route for the seaport.

The statement quoted the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, as conveying the president’s acceptance to perform the ceremony in a letter to the governor.

“I write to inform you that President Muhammadu Buhari, has acceded to your request. Mr. President, will perform the Ground Breaking of the 240kmSuper Highway Dual Carriage Road from Calabar to Northern Nigeria,” the statement quoted Mr. Kyari’s letter.

When completed, the road will reduce travel time from six hours to two hours from Calabar to Obudu Ranch Resort.

Ex-lawmaker garners support for Okowa CONTINUED ON PAGE15

of all the political appointments in Delta Central, especially in Ughelli South Local Government.

Mr. Peter Mrakpor is a worthy son of the local government area.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leadership in the area is supportive of all the appointments in the local government. I am very hopeful that the prosperity agenda of the state government will be delivered to all Deltans,” he said.

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Bayelsa: Dickson emerges sole candidate, as PDP disqualifies Paulker, Diongoli OsahOn Julius YENAGOA

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he wishes of Governor Seriake Dickson and his supporters may have been granted if feelers from the People Democratic Party, PDP, zonal screening committee in Port Harcourt is true.

Feelers from Port Har-

court indicate that Governor Seriake Dickson may have emerge as the sole governorship aspirant of the party ahead of the party’s primaries in the state following the disqualification of two key aspirants of the party.

It was gathered that Dickson’s close rivals, the Senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Senator Emman-

Three killed in Delta cult clash TheOphilus OnOJeghen WARRI

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t least, three persons suspected to be cult members have been reported killed during a cult clash between rival groups in Ekiugbo community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident which happened on Sunday night however threw the community into panic due to sporadic shooting which lasted for some hours.

National Mirror gathered that the two rival cult groups clashed after disagreement had ensued between the suspected cultists at the popular Tozak Hotel in the area which led to the death of members of both groups .

Findings by our correspondent revealed that the victims died on the spot while others who suffered

severe casualties fled the scene with bullet wounds.

Community sources told National Mirror that it took the efforts of local vigilance group popularly referred to as Bakassi and men of the Nigeria Police Force to bring the situation under control.

At 10 pm, the remains of one of the victims suspected to be in his late 20s was seen lying in the middle of the road.

According to a member of the vigilance group at the scene of the incident, the victim died on the spot after he was shot at close range at the back of his head.

He said: “This guy has been on our wanted list for awhile now. He is a hit man who has been the brain behind most of the cult related killings in Ughelli of recent.”

Ughelli in recent past have recorded high level cult activities leading to the dead of several persons.

A’Ibom guber: Tribunal orders INEC to open defence

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he Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal for Akwa Ibom has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to open its defence in the petition challenging the election of Governor Emmanuel Udom.

The APC governorship candidate, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, had dragged Udom of the PDP to the tribunal challenging his declaration as winner of the April 11 governorship election.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Sadiq Umar, gave the directive at Monday’s resumed

hearing as Governor Udom and PDP closed their case.

Counsel to PDP Mr. Taiyo Oyetibo, told newsmen that the party was satisfied with the quality of witnesses.

Oyetibo said that the merit of a suit depends on the quality of witnesses the parties presented. ``Actually, it is not the number of witnesses you called, but the quality of the evidence. `` And having assessed the quality of the evidence we have laid so far, we are satisfied that we are on a solid ground to close our case,” he said.

uel Paulker and the Former Local Government Chairman of the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Council Area, Chief Ebikintin Diongoli, were both disqualified from the race for the governorship ticket of the party at the weekend during the screening exercise at the zonal office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Confirming the successful screening of the state governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, the Public-

ity Secetary of the PDP, Barr. Osom Macbere, said though he was not aware of the status of the duo of Senator Emmanuel Paulker and Ebinkintin Diongoli, the governor emerged successful.”

It was, however, gathered that the duo of Paulker and Diongoli has filed an appeal before the appeal panel of the party.

A source close to Paulker and Diongoli said though the reasons for their disqualification

were not known, “we gathered that the instruction for our principals to be disqualified came from Otuoke community.”

Otuoke community is the home of the former president, Dr.Goodluck Jonathan.

A senior member of the PDP in the state, who pleaded anonymity, claimed that the instruction from the former president, Dr.Goodluck Jonathan, was not for their disqualification ,”but he

instructed the party does not need a rancorous governorship primaries. His position was based on the fact that the party had gone through trying period including crises and defection.

“He wanted a united party behind the state governor against possible candidate produced by the All Progressive Congress.

His only concern is for us to be stronger and win the December 5 election with landslide victory.”

A cross section of the women supporters of Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson during his declaration for second term in office in Yenagoa.

OsahOn Julius YENAGOA

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head of the September 19th governorship primaries of the Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), the national leadership of the party has confirmed that it is investigating the involvement of some members of the State Working Committee, SWC, of the party in the state over alleged involvement in cases of threat against delegates expected to vote during the primaries.

It was gathered at the weekend that the fold of the APC in the state was allegedly gripped with fear over the reported threats issued by some executives of the party in the state against delegates in the forthcoming governorship primaries of the party.

While some factions of the party led by Chief Richard Kpodo claimed the alleged threat was issued by the Chief Tiwei Orunimigha-

APC investigates alleged threat over Bayelsa guber primaries led executive to favour the former governor, , some pro-APC groups claimed the threat was issued to frustrate new comers and other governorship aspirants from interacting and convincing delegates to vote for them during the primaries.

The state chairman of the party, Chief Tiwei Orunimigha, has however debunked the allegation, saying he was not privy to who would be delegates and that only the national leadership of the APC knew the required guidelines to adopt for the forth-coming governorship primary.

“All I know is that only the national leadership knows what to do about the primary, I don’t know the delegates and people are bound to say whatever they want; we know those doing it. I am for all aspirants and cannot

be biased as people are alleging; this is a party we built with our sweat and blood, so we will not allow outsiders to hijack it.”

A member of the National Working Committee of the party, who confided in our correspondent on telephone, claimed that the allegations of intimidation and threats against delegates were upsetting the party leadership.

“The development is really upsetting and it sets a dangerous direction because we need to win the Bayelsa governorship election. It is unheard of that the state chairman of the party has been threatening delegates,” he said.

He stated further: “We have received the reports and the party has already commenced coded investigations into the matter; we can’t allow this in our party

because we need people and people make parties. The NWC will meet with all the aspirants tomorrow (today) and this matter will be discussed and warning issued to all affected because we will not allow that to fester and destroy our chances in the election.

“Among all the aspirants, we know those who cannot even fly beyond their communities; we know those who, upon taking the ticket, the PDP will be celebrating because of their records; we equally know those that will give the PDP sleepless nights if they are given the ticket. So, in this matter, there will not be imposition, there will be a game of sentiments that this is a later joiner or old player; all are equal and until the Bayelsa PDP knows this the better for them.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Politics

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ter in appointiments –Uwazurike address the press and describe what they have achieved and how they will deal with people, but when they get into court, it turns out they have no evidence. In other words, the grandstanding of the agencies will always be there undoing. So, Mr. President can look into that.

But, governance is Mr. President’s job. Fighting corruption cannot be the policy of the government and this is where the Americans, the West in particular misleads Africans. If you are an African leader when you say I’m fighting corruption they will say, yeah you are our man, you spent your four years fighting corruption without making any move towards economic resuscitation. In Nigeria today, how will you create employment if you don’t pay attention to manufacturers, if you don’t make easy for them to have access to loan, access to foreign exchange to buy the things they need?

e hausa fulanI dId not vote for

em In varIous offIces IncludIng

he never faIled to appoInt people

ral character

a day for school children, money for downtrodden and so on and so forth. There are so many things that were said, yes I know many of them were done without Buhari’s consent, I remember one particular APC leader from Enugu State, he will hold a rally and he will “I’m reading a letter from Buhari, my dear people of Enugu”, after listening I knew that Buhari did not even know about the letter worth more writing it. So, there were so many such promises in Buhari’s name.

Now that Buhari is here, the ball is in his court. When we begin to see policy summersault and then promise denials, believe you me, even his hardest followers will begin to think twice. The issue of appointments has robbed on so many people, there are so many people saying ah-ah what is going on? There are others who say well he’ll perform.

People have waited for 100 days they didn’t see anything they can hold on to.

He has not started the war on corruption; he is still posturing if you remember. This is not a military government, it is a civilian government, those agencies that are constituted to fight corruption will always be there. So, it is not for Mr. President to say I’m here to fight corruption but to say I’m here to support the agencies, what do you need, it’s provided and they carry on.

The biggest problem the agency has to fight corruption we have here in Nigeria is evidence. Most of the times they

Position on probe?

Mr. President is not probing anything yet, he can do administrative inquiry, and under our constitution you don’t just get up and start probing, no. There is a constitutional procedure, when he gets to Attorney General, I’m sure they will put him through. Anything he says will pass through the Attorney General to vet. The President can only work according to the constitution. I know of an APC member who was a formal minister who said that Mr. President should jettison the constitution and rule directly. That means they didn’t even do history, philosophy or psychology at all. The rule of law and the rule of man, if you go by the rule of law you survive, you go by the rule of man you perish. Mr. President yes is said to be angry with corruption good, but that is not the function of day to day of government. Government creates the economic mood that will create employment and lead to the growth of the nation. You project Nigeria in the next one year what will be the needs which area do I focus?

I’m happy the Lagos State Chamber of Manufacturers is crying that many of the factories are moving from Nigeria.

How do you stop it? There are some young men here who want to put up factory here, how do you encourage them?

We have Bank of Industry, they are there how well are they doing? Now you ask yourself in the past 14 weeks has Federal Government released any capital budget, no? What of those industries like road construction and people who are still expecting that this contact giving to us by government, we expect the money every quarter and the money is not forth coming what happens? They must stop and start counting their loses. So, government first, is a continuum and secondly, fighting corruption is not the policy of government but it is a process of government.

National Conference recommendations?

If you look behind me here, you’ll see the reports of the National Conference, they are all here. And one good thing is that all the reports of past conferences in Nigeria we received all of them. One of the things we recommended was equity that power must rotate among all the zones in the country and among the three senatorial zones in every state. And those who were at that conference came from virtually every tribe. There are many tribes you haven’t even heard of. It was at the conference I heard that the areas occupied by Boko Haram in the North East were all Christian areas and all those people they arrested and captured were Christians but forcibly converted to Islam. One particular woman, a school principal came from Chibok and I still remember what she said, when we had executive session we asked the press to excuse us, we were there with state security people, I still remember her shrill voice that Boko Haram were then recruiting women and training them as suicide bombers and that we must watch out.

She gave graphic details of what was going on, even the nature of that Sambisa forest she explained it. Of course we passed on the message. By the time Boko Haram women were bombing everywhere, we already knew, state security has been told but nothing was done.

So, Mr. President having come in, it will be the greatest disservice for him to jettison this report. I know that there are two campaigns, those who are saying implement the

report and those who are saying throw away the report. At the conference, those who are saying throw away the report came there to say we are not here to restructure anything in Nigeria, as it is we want it to continue, when we get to power we know what to do, they said so. Unfortunately for them majority at the confab said Nigeria must be restructured and worked on it. Including finances, for instance why are banks not lending to manufacturers? They broke it down there. Former accountant generals were there and they gave the reasons and suggestions, I can even tell you one of their suggestions, that Federal Government allocation of money should be done every two weeks. That if you give a governor allocation for a month within two weeks the governor has spent it, they gave an example that the foreign exchange will shoot up within that two weeks because most of the money has been turned into dollars. Now after two weeks of receiving that money, state governors will go to the bank to demand advance loans, repayable when state allocation comes. The bank manager will be very happy because it is going to earn interest and he is sure of the money. That because the bank is there waiting for the governors whose money is sure banker; they are not interested in manufacturers who are coming for long term loans.

Look at customs, how can you go and get somebody from outside to head the custom? What happened to all those who has been inside? This is a civilian government and not a military government. The custom act is there; who can rise to the post of comptroller is there. Just like you have the police you don’t just go and bring somebody from outside and say you are now the oga. We urge Mr. President to take another look at that report, yes he will not implement 100 per cent of the report but he has to look into it. His predecessor sent it to the National Assembly, though towards the end of his tenure and he has sent it earlier on believe you me the then House of Reps led by Tambuwal would have killed it on arrival. So we urge the present NASS to look into it, the members do not have to wait for Mr. President. We even drafted bills for any active member to just lift it, put it under his name and present it. So, we expect a lot but if this government says it will not work, the record, history and the report are there, so that by the time you look at it you know what to do.

We talked about part of the constitution that are not justice able, we said why. For instance that section that talks about free education, health and so on but you can’t go to court to enforce it, we said why. Why can’t we have free education, free healthcare in this country? These are the things we talked of. We talked of youth corps members, motivation for the soldiers and all those in uniform. We discussed with all of them. No country grows without business, how can Nigerian business grow? We just didn’t rely on our own wisdom, we invited the operators to come and tell us what the problem was. These are part of the things we discussed and are asking Mr. President to please implement them.

Nigeria at 55 ?

To God be the glory, Nigeria is still in existence, that is a major achievement and we have to move on as a country.

Also, no person is as optimistic as a Nigerian in the world.

A Nigerian knows how to get what he wants, so if you go to any airport and see a black man struggling and arguing he is a Nigerian. We are not docile we are active. So, the spirit that is in us is still there. More so, the average Nigerian believes that no condition is permanent, they have believe that if you hold me down today tomorrow you will not hold me down. So the spirit of progress is still here. I can only say congratulations to Nigeria for surviving all these years in spite of all the difficulties. Other countries have seen less problems and they did not survive.

Second Niger-Bridge?

I smell conspiracy. First and foremost one anonymous person released that information and was emphatic that government has ordered work to stop wondered what he meant, remember this was the same bridge Obasanjo went to with some governors to go and commission the comCONTINUED ON PAGE 45

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Politics

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Criticism over Ijaw sentiments by PDP leaders ‘misplaced’ –Diri OsahOn Julius YENAGOA

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member of the House of Representative representing the Yenagoa/ Kolokuma/ Opokuma federal constituency, Douye Diri weekend described as “misplaced” and “ show of ignorance” the criticism that trailed the position of political leaders from Bayelsa under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on the Ijaw ethnic coloration to the forthcoming governorship election in the state, According to Diri, though the ethnic bias and coloration cannot be wished away from political struggles, the declaration that the party is predominantly an Ijaw party was due to the benefits the PDP has accorded the Ijaw people with the emergence of Goodluck Jonathan as president.

He also mentioned the political history from the union of the PDP and the defunct National Solidarity Movement, NSM, led by late first executive governor of old Rivers State, Melford Okilo as another reason.

Diri, who spoke during an interactive session at the weekend with newsmen in Yenagoa, said the destiny of the PDP and Bayelsa State were interwoven years ago and has provided a veritable platform and rewards for the political advancement of

the state.

He said, “I disagree that the PDP is being drawn to be a region party. We have governors in the North and the South-West region.

But the PDP is stronger in the South-South and the South-East. It is a national party.”

Diri, who served as the principal executive secretary to Governor Seriake Dickson, dismissed the claim that the PDP in Bayelsa State is jittery over the gale of defection from the party and insisted that the party will record a landslide victory during the December 5 governorship election, adding “people defecting today are former commissioners and political appointees in the state.

They were collecting our allowances and speeding it in Abuja and because it is no longer business as usual, they are angry.”

On why Timi Alaibe and nine of his kinsmen from Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Council of the state are vying for governorship position of the state, Diri described such ambition as inordinate, saying “it is not true that perceived political exclusion will make you become angry and rushed into the governorship race. Democracy is about numbers and numerical strength. It is about negotiation with other parts of the state.”

Bayelsa Gubernatorial Election

L-R: Senator Dino Malaye; General Overseer, World of Prayer International Bible Church, Prophet Victor Oziegbe and member, Lagos State House of PHOTO: ABIOLA ABDULHAMMED Assembly, Hon. Tunde Braimo, during the 2015 Classic Africa Merit Award, in Lagos, yesterday.

Niger Delta coalition backs Dickson adeOla Tukuru ABUJA

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iger Delta Patriotic Coalition, NDPC, has called on Bayelsans to endorse Seriake Dickson for his second term bid without minding political affiliation.

The leader of the group, Pastor Godknows Okauru, in a press statement

ABUJA

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ational chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John OdigieOyegun on Monday affirmed the Bayelsa State delegates list to be used for the governorship primaries is intact and in his custody at headquarters.

The statement states that the rumours that the delegates list is being tampered with has no foundation.

Odigie-Oyegun in a

statement signed by the deputy National secretary of the APC, Comrade Timi Frank in Abuja, also lifted suspension purportedly placed on some members of the party to facilitate a conducive atmosphere for the primaries.

Oyegun said: “Following reports of threat and intimidation of members of our great party in Bayelsa State in view of the party governorship primaries scheduled for September 19, 2015 and a meeting by the national leadership of the party

described Dickson as “the most performing governor since the advent of democracy in the entire Niger Delta and region and the result of his performance is already speaking for him”.

The coalition called on the people of Bayelsa to shun party affiliation and vote for a candidate who has a clear understanding of what governance entails, adding that having

been a grassroots politician who had transverse both the legislature and the executive in his political sojourn, Dickson is best fit for the job.

NDPC, saying that their resolve to support the present governor is borne out of the fact that he is more at home with the yearning and aspirations of the people, advised that, not minding ethnic or political affiliation, the

people should vote for a community leader whose life has been anchored on aggregation of views for public good.

Speaking further, Pastor Godknows said it was right to allow Dickson continue with the good work he has been able to achieve in the state, as any attempt to replace him may truncate the projects which have made Bayelsa the talk of the Niger Delta.

PDP not scared of Alaibe, Sylva –Senator Omeiza aJayi

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s December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State

APC annuls suspension of members by party chairman ObiOra ifOh

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

with the 19 aspirants under the platform of the party in Abuja today, after carefully listening to their complaints against the state executive, the National Working Committee, NWC, has decided to “affirm the existing delegates list to be used for the primaries, Annul any suspension whatsoever placed on any member of the party in the state. And also direct the APC party executive at all levels to maintain strict neutrality before and during the primaries process.”

draws near, Senator representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, Foster Ogola, has declared readiness for the polls, saying the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state has done well to be returned, assuring that incumbent Governor Seriake Dickson, will be returned on the platform of the PDP, describing other contenders as expired politicians.

He said that neither the former managing director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Timi Alaibe, nor a former governor of the state, Timipre Sylva, who are aspiring to be governor under the platform of the All Progressives Congress constitute any threat.

Speaking with journalists yesterday in Abuja, Ogola urged Bayelsans and Nigerians to “ignore the antics of expired poli-

ticians” who have been going about misinforming the public on the true state of affairs in Bayelsa State.

Ogola said that contrary to the falsehood being promoted, Governor Dickson has transformed Bayelsa state into a modern city, adding that the next four years will be used to consolidate on his achievement.

He said: “The PDP cannot be scared or afraid of Alaibe’s entrance into the governorship race.

Dickson is not scared of Sylva. President Muhammadu Buhari was elected because of his anti-corruption stance right from when he was head of state.

Why should APC be presenting characters having one case or the other?

Alaibe is not on ground in Bayelsa, he has not won any election.

“Governor Dickson

runs an all-inclusive government. He pays the aged in the state and has saved so much money for the people because of his financial prudence. Dickson has brought transparency into governance.

Now, local governments give account and that is because Dickson ensured it. There is safety of lives and properties. Night life is back. Nobody thought that flyovers were needed in Bayelsa until Dickson brought it”, he stated.

Alaibe

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Borno Central by-election: Aspirant promises purposeful representation Inusa ndahI MAIDUGURI

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enatorial aspirant for Borno Central by-elections under the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC and the immediate past Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai, has promised to, if elected, address the lingering problem of poverty, unemployment and educational backwardness of the people of his consituency which according to him were some of the factors that contributed to the emergence of Boko Haram sect.

Garbai, who stated this yesterday during his declaration at the APC state

secretariat in Maiduguri amidst supporters said his decision to contest as senator for Borno Central was as a result of the sudden death of Senator Ahmed Zanna.

He said that he was the right person to lead Borno Central into the promise land as he would bring to bear exemplary leadership and ensure that democratic governance prevails, expressing outright displeasure over the state of poverty, unemployment, educational backwardness and total neglect which he claimed was the handiwork of lack of purposeful leadership that needed to be corrected.

He said that as the best man for the job, he would

offer strategic leadership which would set his senatorial district back on track and also lift it to a higher level of advancement and development, promising to specifically make youth empowerment and general well-being of the people his priority, if elected.

He said: “Our quest is for a greater Borno and it is our hope that there will be transparency and the will of the people will always be allowed to prevail. But I advise other contenders, particularly those from the opposition parties to desist from Do- or- Die politics; rather, they must respect the collective will of the masses.

“The days when elective positions were meant for personal gains is over, election is now based

largely on who the people want and who can render service and stewardship.

It is no longer about parties, but personalities involved, and if elected I will ensure that the high poverty index, youth unemployment and other social ills in the society become a thing of the past.

“I will operate an open door policy where all, regardless of party affiliations will have access to the senator unlike what is being experienced now”.

Garbai was accompanied to the venue by many APC stalwarts including a member of the federal House of Representatives, representing Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Kadiri Rahis among others.

Former governor of Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, being registered for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, biometric data collection in BeninPHOTO:NAN City yesterday.

Oshodi council polls: PDP carpets APC on Ariyo ngozI EmEdolIbE

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he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Oshodi-Isolo Council chapter has condemned the recent action of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for imposing Muse Ariyo, the immediate past chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government as the caretaker executive secretary.

Ariyo, whose tenure as chairman ended recently, has been endorsed by the

APC to run for the post of chairman in the forthcoming local government election in Oshodi-Isolo.

Lekan Lawal, a PDP representative in OshodiIsolo said that over the years, the grassroots government under the APC, has refused to pay attention to the needs of the people by starving them of infrastructure and economic developments, despite being one of the local government in Lagos State that receive the largest federal allocation aside

the huge revenues generated internally.

He cited poor state of infrastructure amongst others in his assertion that Ariyo’s tenure as chairman of Oshodi-Isolo could not even boast of a single achievement in terms of development.

Some of the residents reacting on the on-going rehabilitation of Brown Street by the state government, lamented that after several years of neglect, the local government sud-

denly deemed it proper to rehabilitate the road on the popular street, condemning the act of erecting a signpost to draw attention to the only development the party is about to achieve in its several years of governance.

PDP then asked the people to be cautious of the “deceptive acts” by the local government who is only recently doing their duty because election time is drawing close, urging residents not to fall for empty promises again.

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Buhari, not upholding federal character in appointiments –Uwazurike CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43

mencement of the contract in 2007, live TVs everywhere, everybody in jubilation. As soon as he left President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua came, when we got there was no file. He said no contract was awarded by President Olusegun Obasanjo, it turned out it was a deceit and you know that President Yar’Adua for obvious reasons didn’t do much do to ill health.

When President Goodluck came the same thing was also presented to him and he made a famous comment that one Azikiwe commissioned the first Niger-Bridge this Azikiwe we commission the second one and he did with fanfare. I praise the then Minister of Finance for even taken practical steps to get government 28 per cent contribution set aside and it was done so that government won’t talk of money or no money. The conspiracy that has come in now is that today you hear one person talking the other person talking and Governor Adams Oshiohmole who now talks a lot since his marriage, I don’t know whether his marriage has an effect on him, giving us fantastic figures. I can say as President of Aka-Ikenga, please Mr. President do not tamper with that contract, that is a public-private-private sector contract, you should remember that anything he does there has international implication. The Julius Berger is there to work the subsidiary of sovereign wealth fund is there to provide their fund and the government has paid part of its 28 per cent why do you want to stop it?

Asset declaration?

I know that the constitution talks of assets and liabilities, what we have seen so far are assets we have not seen the liabilities. Secondly, Mr. President they said has less than 30 million and I remember they described him as a poor man and I wondered if anybody who has less than N30 million is a poor man. Who knows what a rich man will have. Mr. President’s house in Abuja definitely cannot be anything less than N500, million, he has a property, in other words, both the President and his vice and are not men of Straw they are very wealthy people. Thirdly he talked of 270 herds of cattle value or not. Vice President talked of house in Victoria Garden City, VGC, flat in Ikoyi, if you know how much a flat in Ikoyi goes for now, you know they have this luxury flat or how much a property goes for in VGC then you’ll know that yes, we have people who are very wealthy in charge. Make no mistakes the declaration falls short, they are not complete yet but we commend him for that.

He wasn’t the first person to declare publicly President Yar’Adua did that followed suit by his then vice president. So we prefer that declaration as envisaged by the constitution, of course it includes his wife and his children, the constitution is very clear. Open the Code of Conduct Tribunal it is always there and our code of conduct tribunal has not really been active, today you can only think of the attempted prosecution of Bola Tinubu till date what else they do I do not know.

Just like the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, today INEC is comatose because as far as I know there is only one legitimate member of INEC, the acting chairman is not a member anymore; her tenure expired and has not been renewed. It is only National Assembly that confirms you a member of the board and it is only when you are a member of the board that you can be chairman of the board. So, if your membership of the board has expired you are an outsider. But she is the one in charge of the INEC and constitutional issues are likely to arise after the election.

Should INEC conducts elections without the relevant people?

Since they don’t have the relevant people they can’t even form a quorum and can’t hold a meeting so, who takes the decision. If somebody say INEC did not take any decision what will INEC say? Will they say we took a decision, we have an acting chairman, we have only one member of the board? Yes I know there’s always a 7th clause in every law, notwithstanding any vacancy but that does not extend to the fundamental vacancy, so it is an issue for the court to determine. If somebody loses election, he can go to court on that ground, that there was no election known to law.

46

Politics

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Ekiti APC: We don’t recognise elders forum –Ex govs OgbOnna Michael

T

he three ex-governors of Ekiti State, who are members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, met with the Ekiti State Elders Forum of the party in Igbara Odo recently.

The ex-governors are Otunba Niyi Adebayo, the first executive governor of the state between 1999 and 2003, Segun Oni, who became governor under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but later decamped to APC and Kayode Fayemi, immediate past governor.

The three ex-governors came with the constitution of the party and said the party does not recognise Elders Forum, saying they were only at the meeting because of the respect they had for the elders.

The elders however told them that to resolve the crisis in the Ekiti State chapter of the party there will be a need to reconcile the governors with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who they referred to as the national leader of the party.

Adebayo was said to have got up angrily at this point and denounced Tinubu, saying he would neither reconcile with Ti-

nubu nor recognise him as leader because they were both governors same time.

The issue was dropped and five names were suggested by Oni to the elders as those who would form a committee to reconcile members of the party, with Segun Oni as the committee chairman with others as Jide Awe, Mrs Okusanya, Ganiyu Owolabi.

Sources however said Owolabi and Mrs Okusanya said they would not serve on such a committee as long as the three governors insist on not recognising Tinubu as their leader.

“If they don’t recognise Tinubu as their leader, what moral right do they have to expect me to recognise them as my leader too?” one of them was quoted as having said.

Our source revealed that outside the venue of the meeting, thugs who accompanied Fayemi almost beat up Chief Akilaya, who they insisted could not attend the meeting because, according to them, he had decamped to the Labour Party. They booed, jeered and almost pounced on him resulting in his fleeing the venue of the meeting.

APC will win Kogi guber, Baba-Ali boasts

ebere ndukwu

A

head of Kogi State gubernatorial election slated for November 21, the campaign organisation of one of the All Progressives Congress, APC, aspirants at the August 29 APC gubernatorial primaries in Kogi State, Suleiman Baba-Ali Campaign Organisation, has resolved to support and work for Prince Abubakar Audu,

who emerged the party’s candidate at the primaries, to ensure that APC is victorious at the polls.

This was the main resolution at a meeting of the organisation on Sunday in Lokoja to x-ray the just concluded primaries.

The group, in its press statement resulting from the outcome of the meeting and was made available to National Mirror by the media director of the organisation, Malam Bashir

E

kiti All Progressives Congress, APC, has described the last week education summit conveyed by Governor Ayodele Fayose, which was aimed to develop a blueprint for primary and secondary school education as fraud.

In a statement made available to newsmen,

the state APC publicity secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun said that the summit was a ploy to rubber stamp the governor’s premeditated imposition of school fees and taxes on the people of the state.

Olatunbosun noted that the summit which lasted for three hours and had in attendance many of the residents was schemed to achieve a deceitful purpose.

He said: “The summit, which lasted just three hours of media hype and deceit, achieved three things, including the imposition of school fees in primary and secondary schools, imposition of unreasonable taxes on the people and taxes on the landlords.

“We wonder what quality of discussion could be achieved in three hours as timed by Fayose only for the pur-

pose of media coverage to deceive the unsuspecting public.

“We note that the three decisions boil down to a further impoverishment of the already over-stretched poor parents, who were deceived by Fayose during campaigns that he would provide all good things of life and empowerment schemes, including economic incentives to enable parents

Bauchi APC suspends deputy chairman ezekiel TiTus BAUCHI

B

auchi State deputy chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has been suspended by the party leadership, with the letter conveying the suspension, which was issued by

the state headquarters of the party, Hon. Shu’aibu Isma’il Rahama and made available to newsmen, saying that he was suspended over his alleged involvement in anti party activities.

The letter reads in parts: “This is to communicate the decision of

Abdullahi said: “As a loyal party man, our principal, Suleiman Baba Ali, pledges his unflinching support to the cause of the party. Everything must be done to see that we root out the rudderless and focus-less government of Idris Wada and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Lugard House”.

The group then congratulated the party both at the national and state levels as well as Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna State governor

and the chairman of the party electoral committee, for free, fair, credible and transparent primaries, expressing its gratitude to all the delegates for their support for Baba Ali. Bashir said: “Even though SBA, as Ali is popularly called, did not win, however the bond he now shares with all those who voted for him and even those who did not vote for him, is highly appreciated.”

L-R: Secretary to Kaduna State government, Malam Abbas Balarebe; Deputy Governor, Mr. Barnabas Bantex, and Governor Nasir El-Rufai, during a PHOTO: NAN state cabinet’s retreat in Kaduna, yesterday.

APC flays Fayose over summit rOberT awOkuse

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

the State Extended Exco, SEE, of the APC held at its secretariat on Sunday September 13. The said resolution is to the fact that the gravity of the allegations made against you resulting in forming a committee to investigate it at the last meeting was resolved that the fact-

finding committee will not have a free hand to investigate you while you are in the offi Urging the deputy chairman to cooperate with the committee to discharge its duties, the letter said that the deputy chairman was therefore suspended from his of-

to take care of their wards.”

Describing Fayose’s attitude as the height of insensitivity and wickedness, the party’s spokesman noted that the governor instead of employing the shady means to exploit the parents should look other revenue generating assets of the state to boost the economy of the state by revamping the resources which are

in comatose.

“The multi-billion naira Ikogosi Warm Springs and Resort Centre, which is supposed to be generating revenue for the state, has been abandoned to rot away

by Fayose while the Ire Burnt Bricks Company recently resuscitated by the last administration has been abandoned as well as the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, which has been left unutilised.”

fice until the report of the committee is received by the party discussed and decided.

It could be recalled that the deputy chairman alongside one Harsanu Guyaba, the state APC treasurer were suspended from the party recently.

Gov Abubakar

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

47

Equities up 2.3% as Guinness lead gainers’ chart Johnson okanlawon

B

enchmark of equities rose further on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as more investors took position on stocks.

The All Share Index appreciated 2.29 per cent to close at 30,369.97 points, compared to the increase of 0.97 per cent recorded on Friday to close at 29,689.08 points.

Market capitalisation appreciated N234billion to close at N10.4 trillion, higher than the rise of N92 billion recorded on Friday to close at N10.2 trillion.

The appreciation recorded in the Index today could be attributed to the gains recorded in the share prices

of some highly capitalised stocks such as Guinness, United Bank for Africa, Nigerian Breweries, Guaranty Trust Bank and FBN Holdings, amongst others.

The total value of the stocks traded was N3.84billion, up 62.4 per cent from N2.37billion traded on Friday. The total volume of stocks traded was 254.70 million in 3,798 deals.

Analysts at Meristem Securities Limited, an investment firm, posited the likelihood of a repeat of the positive run in the market today.

“However, we advise value seeking investors to balance their optimism with caution, as profit taking may ensue on stocks that have recorded

substantial price appreciation.

“On the back of this, we expect the market to close the week down,” the firm added.

Another analyst from DLM Securities Limited noted that the positive gain recorded in the equity market was sustained, as the market has fully adjusted to the news of Nigeria’s imminent removal from the JPMorgan Emerging Market Index.

Guinness Nigeria Plc led the gainers’ table with N15.58 or 10.24 per cent to close at N167.77 per share, followed

by Conoil Plc with N2.63 or 10.20 per cent to close at N28.41 per share.

Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc appreciated 82 kobo or 9.84 per cent

to close at N9.15 per share, while Transcorp Plc rose 16 kobo or 9.96 per cent to close at N2.46 per share.

Evans Medicals Plc gained four kobo or 5.56 per cent to close at 76 kobo per share.

Conversely, Vanleer Plc dropped 51 kobo or 4.92 per cent to close at N9.86 per share, while Mansard Insurance Plc lost 12 kobo or 4.86 per cent to close at N2.35 per share.

Ikeja Hotel Plc depreciated 18 kobo or 4.75 per cent to close at N3.61 per share, while Cadbury Plc shed N1.09 or 4.74 per cent to close at N3.61 per share.

E-Tranzact Plc was dwon 10 kobo or 4.74 per cent to close at N2.01 per share.

Johnson okanlawon

C

owry Asset Management Limited has fully paid three billion naira in fulfilment of its underwriting commitment under the N7 billion Zamfara State Government Bond.

The amount paid by the company represents 42.86 per cent of the total value of the bond issue, the highest by any of the three underwriters to the bond issue.

The N7 billion Zamfara State Government 7-Year Fixed Rate Development Bond was the first tranche under the N30 billion Zamfara State bond issuance programme.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at the weekend confirmed that

Commenting on the completion of the underwriting, the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, said the N3 billion underwriting underlined the financial capacity of Cowry Asset at a time that several financial institutions are struggling to meet regulatory capital.

He noted that the participation of the compnay as a major underwriter in the state bond was another illustration of the commitment of the firm as an indigenous partner in the quest for development

by Nigerian capital market.

“Cowry Asset has been involved as financial advisers, issuing house and underwriter in several fund raising exercise in the capital market for both public and private companies and governments

E

showed a small majority of forecasters still expect a Fed hike on Thursday, though markets-based models suggest policy tightening will be delayed.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index , which earlier gained almost 1 percent, was last down 0.2 per cent for the day.

Earlier, data showed growth in Chinese investment and factory output in August lagged forecasts. After weak trade and inflation data last week, this made it more likely that thirdquarter economic growth may dip below seven per cent for the first time since the financial crisis. Only retail sales beat forecasts.

Shares fell in China and Japan, although MSCI’s main index of Asia-Pacific stocks excluding Japan rose 0.6 per cent.

China’s Shanghai Composite index dropped 2.8 per cent and the CSI 300 index of the biggest listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen lost two per cent. Tokyo’s Nikkei closed down 1.6 per cent.

The dollar hit an almost three-week low against a basket of currencies but the index was last up almost 0.1 per cent.

The greenback dipped 0.2 per cent against the yen, which last traded at 120.32 to the dollar. The euro was down 0.2 per cent at $1.1322.

“Until Thursday I think the dollar will be moved by strategic positioning (and) risk sentiment...rather than fundamental input,” said Commerzbank FX strategist Esther Reichelt in Frankfurt. “We have all the information we require so far to have a view on the U.S. dollar

US Dollar

$1

N196.95 Market indicators All-Share Index 30,369.97 points Market capitalisation 10.44trn

GAINERS

through public offers, rights issue, private placements, corporate and government bonds. The company provides advisory services and funding to support the growth of Nigerian companies and development of the economy,” Chukwu said.

He added that the firm has demonstrated competence in marketing capital issues with her extensive distribution network and team of experts who provide solutions to both issuers and the investing public.

Some of the recent capital offers undertaken by the firm include the N30 billion Fidelity Bank subordinated unsecured fixed rate bond issuance 2022 and the N8 billion first tranche Cross River State Government fixed-rate seven-year bond issue 2022 among several others.

Stocks slump as Fed Reserve meeting concerns mount

uropean shares gave up the day’s gains yesterday, the dollar stalled and oil prices fell as investors positioned for a US Federal Reserve meeting later this week that could see interest rates rise for the first time since 2006.

Tepid Chinese economic data was largely shrugged off and stocks rose as much as 1 percent in early European trade, but the momentum gradually faded.

The combination of worries about slowing Chinese and global growth and higher US borrowing costs have weighed on markets for weeks, although concern about the potential impact on economic health means many economists see no liftoff in US interest rates until next year.

A Reuters poll on Friday

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

Stock Updates

Cowry Asset completes N3bn Zamfara bond underwriting Cowry Asset has satisfactorily fulfilled its underwriting commitment in accordance with the provisions of the Investment and Securities Act 2007 as well as the Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Cowry Asset, a full-service investment banking firm licensed by SEC as an issuing house, financial adviser, underwriter and venture capital manager, has been a major player in the Nigerian capital market for nearly a decade. It also has subsidiaries in consulting, securities trading and real estate.

The net proceeds of the bond issue would enable the state to reposition its finances towards delivering further dividends of democracy to its citizens.

Source: NSE

COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

GUINNESS

152.19

167.77

15.58

10.24

CONOIL

25.78

28.41

2.63

10.20

CCNN

8.33

9.15

0.82

9.84

TRANSCORP

2.30

2.46

0.16

6.96

EVANSMED

0.72

0.76

0.04

5.56

NB

127.77

134.55

6.78

5.31

INTBREW

17.00

17.85

0.85

5.00

ACCESS

4.82

5.06

0.24

4.98

AIICO

0.81

0.85

0.04

4.94

UBA

3.85

4.04

0.19

4.94

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

VANLEER

10.37

9.86

-0.51

-4.92

MANSARD

2.47

2.35

-0.12

-4.86

IKEJAHOTEL

3.79

3.61

-0.18

-4.75

CADBURY

23.00

21.91

-1.09

-4.74

ETRANZACT

2.11

2.01

-0.10

-4.74

CUTIX

1.70

1.62

-0.08

-4.71

ACADEMY

0.67

0.64

-0.03

-4.48

CHAMPION

4.60

4.49

-0.11

-2.39

DIAMONDBNK

3.60

3.53

-0.07

-1.94

UAC-PROP

7.46

7.42

-0.04

-0.54

FGN Bonds

Bid

Description

and nothing before Thursday is going to change any of that.”

In emerging markets, Turkey’s lira fell to a record low of 3.069 to the dollar.

Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

13

Crude oil price

$58.96

Exchange

Rates (N)

WAUA

270

USD

196.95

EURO

214

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

SWISS FRANC

202

POUNDS STERLING

293

SDR

273

CLOSING

Offer

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.62

98.72

15.99

98.87

15.89

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.79

100.28

15.87

100.58

15.76

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.42

98.57

15.99

98.87

15.89

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.37

101.69

15.94

101.99

15.87

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.50

91.95

15.96

92.25

15.89

10.00 23-JUL-2030

14.86 68.00

15.58

68.30

15.51

Closing Market Prices of August 10, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

10-Dec-15

11.89

12.26

17-Mar-16

14.12

15.21

01-Sep-16

13.81

15.93

NIBOR Tenor

Rate (%)

O/N

6.7083

1M

15.2144

3M

16.1734

6M

17.5308 The Fixings of August 10, 2015

Capital Market

48

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Daily Summary as of 14/09/2015

Equities as at September 14, 2015

Printed 14/09/2015 14:49:31.031

Daily Summary as of 14/09/2015 Printed 14/09/2015 14:49:31.031

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UA C N PLC.on Board EQTY Activity Summary Diversified Industries Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE CONGLOMERATES Totals Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Symbol OMATEK

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 30,000 30,000

Value Traded 15,000.00 15,000.00

Value Traded 219,224.04 219,224.04

IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

Symbol TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.69

Quantity Traded 2,659 2,659

Value Traded 4,280.99 4,280.99

428,293

5,650,808.59

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC Processing Systems Totals Daily Summary as of 14/09/2015 Printed 14/09/2015 14:49:31.031 Services Telecommunications

Symbol CHAMS ETRANZACT

No. of Deals 3 14 17

Current Price 0.50 2.01

Quantity Traded 178,331 712,007 890,338

Value Traded 89,165.50 1,433,593.07 1,522,758.57

Symbol MTI

No. of Deals 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,510,700

Value Traded 1,255,350.00

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 1.70

Quantity Traded 131,282 131,282

No. of Deals 1 125 44 170

Current Price 4.37 2.46 32.00

Quantity Traded 100 10,045,212 1,001,553 11,046,865

Value Traded 416.00 24,375,711.33 32,033,613.17 56,409,740.50

Symbol COSTAIN

170 No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.64

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 42.00

11,046,865 Quantity Traded 52,331 52,331 Page Quantity Traded 8,488 8,488

56,409,740.50 Value Traded 31,921.91 31,921.91 15 1 of Value Traded 355,962.62 355,962.62

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 21 21

Current Price 7.42

Quantity Traded 329,684 329,684

Value Traded 2,469,091.73 2,469,091.73

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 10.00

Quantity Traded 50 50

Value Traded 500.00 500.00

390,553

2,857,476.26

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Real Estate Trusts (REITs) Totals Daily Summary as Investment of 14/09/2015 Printed 14/09/2015 14:49:31.031 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTYPLC. INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE PLC. Daily Summary asNIGERIA of 14/09/2015 Food Products--Diversified Totals Printed 14/09/2015 14:49:31.031 Household Durables NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

33

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities) CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB Symbol 7UP

Micro-Finance Banks NPF BANK PLC Daily Summary asMICROFINANCE of 14/09/2015 Micro-Finance Banks Totals Printed 14/09/2015 14:49:31.031 Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Current Price 2.85 6.73 22.00 2.60 6.40 0.50

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 42 64 106

Current Price 21.91 820.01

Quantity Traded 293,281 563,240 856,521

Value Traded 6,470,989.21 461,889,933.40 468,360,922.61

Symbol ENAMELWA

No. of Deals 1 26 2 29

Current Price 29.78 5.85 0.90

Quantity Traded 50 516,672 923 517,645

Value Traded 1,415.00 2,887,207.16 793.78 2,889,415.94

No. of Deals 43 No. of Deals 35 78

Current Price 27.99 Current Price 44.00

Quantity Traded 166,667 Quantity Traded 416,794 Page 583,461

Value Traded 4,494,069.09 Value Traded 18,447,161.36 15 3 of 22,941,230.45

VITAFOAM Daily Summary (Equities) VONO

Symbol PZ Symbol UNILEVER

709

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

Symbol ASOSAVINGS RESORTSAL Daily Summary UNHOMES

Symbol AFRIPRUD Symbol CUSTODYINS DEAPCAP FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Healthcare Providers Totals Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals HEALTHCARE Totals

7,961,080

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ACCESS 124 5.06 DIAMONDBNK 37 3.53 ETI 32 19.00 FIDELITYBK 74 1.54 GUARANTY 279 24.10 SKYEBANK 47 2.35 STERLNBANK 19 2.12 Daily Summary (Equities) UBA 221 4.04 UBN 78 6.08 UNITYBNK 45 1.37 WEMABANK 37 0.99 993 Symbol No. of Deals Current Price AIICO 14 Current Price 0.85 Symbol No. of Deals CONTINSURE 6 0.86 CORNERST 2 0.50 LAWUNION 1 0.50 LINKASSURE 7 0.50 MANSARD 15 2.35 NEM 13 0.67 SOVRENINS 1 0.50 STDINSURE 1 0.50 UNIVINSURE 1 0.50 WAPIC 5 0.50 66

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Other Financial Institutions FINANCIAL SERVICES AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC Other Financial Institutions AND ALLIED PLC Published by CUSTODIAN The Nigerian Stock Exchange © DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Current Price 190.40

Value Traded 2,513,427.25 112,629,555.81 5,579,032.70 80,075,512.32 200,797,528.08 Value Traded 2,702,132.63 2,702,132.63 15 2 of Value Traded 108,875.53 2,045,574.38 49,768,223.04 1,214,475.23 2,450,738.90 190,000.00 55,777,887.08

No. of Deals 11 26 106 29 25 1 198

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC Daily Summary as of 14/09/2015 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Printed 14/09/2015 14:49:31.031 FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. ActivityUNITY Summary Board EQTY BANK on PLC WEMA BANK PLC. FINANCIAL BankingSERVICES Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. and Services Insurance Carriers, Brokers CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC Published byN.E.M The Nigerian Stock Exchange INSURANCE CO (NIG) © PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

4.49 167.77 17.85 134.55

Quantity Traded 559,328 672,627 313,000 609,125 2,154,080 Quantity Traded 14,187 14,187 Page Quantity Traded 39,215 302,253 2,261,852 466,503 385,363 380,000 3,835,186

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON UTC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Personal/Household Products CONSUMER GOODS P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Personal/Household Products © Totals

15 150 18 106 289 No. of Deals 9 9

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH NIG-GERMAN

Value Traded 35,560,482.71 23,392,138.94 67,958,863.68 18,197,685.82 847,420,484.69 7,265,600.35 2,721,032.70 62,566,619.79 18,060,674.49 12,261,421.07 2,133,596.28 1,097,538,600.52 Value Traded 447,021.81 Value Traded 359,190.08 4,353.50 7,500.00 611,052.50 3,646,185.84 15 4 890,582.69 of

1,000 400 20,168 18,488 5,087,892

500.00 200.00 10,084.00 9,244.00 5,985,914.42

Current Price 1.04

Quantity Traded 93,494 93,494

Value Traded 95,869.95 95,869.95

No. of Deals 1 1 (Equities) 1 3

Current Price 0.50 0.50 5.50

Quantity Traded 100 90,000 752 90,852

Value Traded 50.00 45,000.00 3,932.96 48,982.96

1,306

Symbol UNIONDAC

Quantity Traded 7,093,934 6,517,498 3,627,537 12,038,363 35,251,003 3,132,070 1,282,251 15,561,884 2,970,595 8,964,803 2,201,790 98,641,728 Quantity Traded Quantity528,101 Traded 410,128 8,707 15,000 1,222,093 1,529,500 Page 1,334,307

753,469,116.79

No. of Deals 7 7

No. of Deals Current Price 42 2.70 No. of Deals Current Price 6 4.00 1 0.61 72 2.50 1 0.50 51 22.90 64 1.45 237

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

No. of Deals 24 8 4 11 9 1 57

Current Price 0.76 3.35 35.11 1.30 1.02 5.16

59

Quantity Traded 1,293,003 Quantity Traded 565,946Page 100 13,010,544 5,555 3,548,093 3,554,708 21,977,949

Value Traded 3,500,670.51 Value Traded 15 52,263,884.00 of 58.00 32,293,174.28 2,777.50 78,526,099.40 5,058,203.19 121,644,866.88

MASS TELECOMMUNICATION INNOVATIONS NIGERIA PLC Telecommunications Services Totals Daily Summary as of 14/09/2015 Printed 14/09/2015 ICT Totals 14:49:31.031

Building Materials INDUSTRIAL GOODS ASHAKA CEM PLC Building Materials BERGER PAINTS PLC Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Activity Summary on Board EQTY CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC INDUSTRIAL GOODS FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC Building Materials PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC PREMIER PAINTS PLC. LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Daily Summary as of 14/09/2015 GREIF NIGERIA PLC Printed 14/09/2015 14:49:31.031 Packaging/Containers Totals

NATURAL RESOURCES Mining Services MULTIVERSE PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY Mining Services Totals OIL AND GAS Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © NATURAL RESOURCES Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Daily Summary as of 14/09/2015 Printed 14/09/2015 14:49:31.031 Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC SERVICES Advertising TotalsPart Retailers Automobile/Auto

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC Daily Summary as of 14/09/2015 Hospitality Totals Printed 14/09/2015 14:49:31.031 Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Media/Entertainment SERVICES DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Printing/Publishing Totals Media/Entertainment ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARNofAFRICA PLC Daily Summary 14/09/2015 Published

by Theas Nigerian Stock Exchange © UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printed 14/09/2015 14:49:31.031 Printing/Publishing Totals Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Daily Summary as of 14/09/2015 Road Transportation Printed 14/09/2015 14:49:31.031 Totals

Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM Specialty SECURE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY PLC FINANCIAL Specialty SERVICES Totals Other Financial Institutions Transport-Related Services Totals Other Financial Institutions Activity Summary on Board AIRLINE SERVICES ANDPREMIUM LOGISTICS PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Transport-Related Services Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Other Financial Institutions Building Materials Other Financial Institutions Totals Support and Logistics DANGOTE CEMENT PLCSUPPORT GRP PLC CAVERTON OFFSHORE FINANCIAL Totals BuildingSERVICES Materials Totals Support and Logistics Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals SERVICES Totals Building Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC PREMIUM Board Totals EQTY Board Totals Building Materials Totals

1,225,314,234.73

Quantity Traded 127,562 127,562

Value Traded 63,781.00 63,781.00

Equity ActivityGOODS Totals Totals INDUSTRIAL Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Quantity Traded 1,352,050 60,583 28,678 228,751 26,557 1,000 1,697,619

Value Traded 1,023,984.00 201,241.43 985,015.00 296,431.46 26,893.14 5,400.00 2,538,965.03

Daily Summary as of Traded 14/09/2015 Exchange Fund Equity Activity Totals Printed 14/09/2015 14:49:31.031 Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Exchange Traded Fund Totals Name ETFLOTUS BoardHALAL TotalsEQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF

Page

PREMIUM Board Totals

2,602,746.03 6

of

15

3

2,510,700

1,255,350.00

23

3,441,474

2,801,278.06

Symbol

No. of Deals Current Price 10 22.10 No. of Deals Current Price 5 9.50 9 37.05 21 9.15 2 0.50 No. of Deals Current Price 2 1.24 1 3.74 1 10.93 56 98.00 107

Quantity Traded 26,946 Quantity Traded 42,000 Page 22,502 501,635 14,050 Quantity Traded 50,900 50,000 200 1,127,210 1,835,443

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 1.62

Quantity Traded 105,952 105,952

Value Traded 171,642.24 171,642.24

Symbol BETAGLAS VANLEER

No. of Deals 5 4 9

Current Price 40.85 9.86

Quantity Traded 25,140 101,000 126,140

Value Traded 975,683.40 995,860.00 1,971,543.40

2,067,535

118,033,827.29

Quantity Traded 30,000 30,000

Value Traded 15,000.00 15,000.00

Daily Summary (Equities) ASHAKACEM Symbol BERGER CAP CCNN FIRSTALUM Symbol PAINTCOM PORTPAINT PREMPAINTS WAPCO

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

125,891,915

1,825,181

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY INDUSTRIAL GOODS

ETP Activity Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Value of Shares(N)

Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC Computers and Peripherals Totals

Symbol LIVESTOCK

TRANSCORP UACN

Quantity Traded

Value Traded 3,888.50 3,888.50

Value Traded 45,750.00 5,274,810.21 111,024.34 5,431,584.55

Symbol

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded 7,777 7,777

Quantity Traded 91,500 202,024 3,487 297,011

Daily Summary (Equities) SCOA

No Of Deals

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

Current Price 0.50

Current Price 0.50 27.12 31.00

42

name ActivityCompany Summary on Board EQTY

No. of Deals 1 1

No. of Deals 1 24 2 27

Daily Summary as of 14/09/2015

Sector

Symbol COURTVILLE

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

Printed 14/09/2015 14:49:31.031 AGRICULTURE Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

1st Tier Securities

Daily Summary (Equities)

Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

123

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol MULTIVERSE

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Value Traded 596,940.35 Value Traded 396,870.00 15 7 of 844,941.45 4,404,749.00 7,025.00 Value Traded 63,116.00 187,000.00 2,078.00 109,387,921.85 115,890,641.65

1 No. of Deals Current Price 203 11.45 203

Page 30,000 Quantity Traded 2,881,849 2,881,849

8 15,000.00 of 15 Value Traded 33,847,579.00 33,847,579.00

Symbol BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 1 14 2 123 12 2 17 171

Current Price 0.50 28.41 1.75 228.90 142.50 49.66 143.62

Quantity Traded Page 200,000 163,403 13,763 379,954 13,980 271 20,502 791,873

Value Traded 15 9 of 100,000.00 4,639,579.23 23,319.47 82,149,235.33 2,034,215.46 12,785.78 3,010,816.03 91,969,951.30

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 21 21

Current Price 230.00

Quantity Traded 383,001 383,001

Value Traded 88,167,903.40 88,167,903.40

4,056,723

213,985,433.70

Quantity Traded 118,000 Quantity118,000 Traded

Value Traded 59,000.00 59,000.00 Value Traded

57,124 57,124

30,940.21 30,940.21

Symbol OANDO

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol AFROMEDIA Symbol RTBRISCOE

395

No. of Deals 1 1 No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.50 Current Price 0.54

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 14 76 90

Current Price 4.03 1.38

Quantity Traded Page 80,364 4,319,410 4,399,774

Value Traded 15 10 of 327,079.12 5,724,949.68 6,052,028.80

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 11,111 11,111

Value Traded 5,555.50 5,555.50

Symbol TANTALIZER

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 35,000 35,000

Value Traded 17,500.00 17,500.00

Symbol No. of Deals IKEJAHOTEL 11 TOURIST 1 Daily Summary (Equities) TRANSCOHOT 2 14

Current Price 3.61 3.51 7.10

Quantity Traded 428,410 100 12,000 440,510

Value Traded 1,546,615.10 334.00 80,340.00 1,627,289.10

Symbol DAARCOMM Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 1 No. of Deals1 6 2 7 15

Current Price 0.50 Current Price 0.64 0.88 5.20

Quantity Traded 100,000 Quantity 100,000 Traded 90,529 8,656 Page 44,596 143,781

Symbol

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.57

Quantity Traded 146,510 146,510

Value Traded 83,355.80 83,355.80

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 1 0.50 2,000 1 2,000 No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded No. of Deals Traded 397 Current Price Quantity 17,563,135 5 1.81 57,000 718 90,935,115 22 4.52 329,864 27 386,864 No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded No. of of Deals Deals Current Price Price Quantity Quantity Traded 397 Current 17,563,135 No. Traded 52 170.10 570,604 4 3.08 198,500 718 90,935,115 52 570,604 4 198,500

Value Traded 1,000.00 1,000.00 Value Traded Value Traded 110,859,566.02 102,570.00 1,354,734,163.29 1,491,388.48 1,593,958.48 Value Traded Value Traded Traded 110,859,566.02 Value 97,558,505.14 600,700.00 1,354,734,163.29 97,558,505.14 600,700.00

ABCTRANS Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol NSLTECH

Value Traded 50,000.00 Value Traded 50,000.00 59,075.98 7,963.52 11 of 15 220,825.20 287,864.70

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

Symbol Symbol Symbol DANGCEM CAVERTON

Symbol DANGCEM

52 165 No. of Deals Current Price 52 170.10 770 3,026 52

Daily Summary (ETP)

570,604 6,039,174 Quantity Traded 570,604 91,505,719 163,178,793 570,604

97,558,505.14 10,409,192.59 Value Traded 97,558,505.14 1,452,292,668.43 2,391,548,854.54 97,558,505.14

3,798 52

254,700,012 570,604

3,843,849,672.97 97,558,505.14

770

91,505,719

1,452,292,668.43

3,798

254,700,012

3,843,849,672.97

Page

12

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded LOTUSHAL15 2 9.72 280 2 2,128.00 182 DailyNEWGOLD Summary (ETP) VETGRIF30 2 14.01 210 Daily Summary (ETP) 6 672 Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded LOTUSHAL15 26 9.72 280 672 NEWGOLD 2 2,128.00 182 Page VETGRIF30 2 14.01 210 6 672 6 672

Page

of

15

Value Traded 2,662.20 386,870.00 2,866.10 392,398.30 Value Traded 2,662.20 392,398.30 386,870.00 15 14 of 2,866.10

392,398.30 392,398.30

14

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15

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

49

My convoy didn’t assault anyone, says Al-Makura IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

G

overnor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State yesterday denied allegation that his convoy assaulted a family while on his way to Abuja last week.

An online publication had on Sunday published an article titled: “Go To Hell! Governor Al-Makura tells family on highway as his goons beat them to pulp.”

Al-Makura, reacting to the allegation in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Ahmed Tukur, said what was contained in the online publication was a misrepresentation of facts calculated at tarnishing his image.

The governor said: “For the avoidance of doubt and to set the records straight, on Thursday, September 10, 2015, at about 3pm when my convoy was approaching Nasarawa Eggon Lo-

cal Government Area, a vehicle was right in the middle of the road and in spite of several efforts by the police outrider and the pilot to slow the car down, the vehicle remained adamant, which nearly caused an accident.

“The action of the vehicle driver gave room for suspicion, considering the fact that it was at the same area in 2003 that the convoy of former Governor of Benue State, George Akume, now a Senator of the Federal

Republic of Nigeria, was attacked.”

He said after a close look at the vehicle, the escort commander noticed a woman driving with a minor in the front seat and directed the convoy to track her with caution not to push her car by the shoulder.

“It took up to 3-5 minutes before the escort commander managed to halt her. She stopped abruptly on the road, forcing the convoy to also stop and other road users, causing

heavy traffic on the highway.

“As she came out, she began to rain abuses on the police, boasting that she was a lawyer and the daughter of a police commissioner and has the right to drive the way she wants,” he added.

Noticing her unruly behaviour, the governor said he directed the escort commander to invite police from the nearest police station to handle

APC governors, speakers meet in Katsina today JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

G

overnors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as well as Speakers of Houses of Assembly from APC states would be converging on Katsina State today for a meeting.

It was learnt that governors and speakers were scheduled to arrive in Katsina yesterday with departure date for tomorrow morning.

Bauchi State Governor Muhammed Abubakar (left) being welcomed by Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ilelah, at Bauchi International Airport, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

EZEKIEL TITUS BAUCHI

B

auchi State Head of Civil Service, HOS, Mr. Abdon Dalla Gin, has warned the state’s civil servants to desist from any gross misconduct such as leaking government secrets.

The HoS issued the warning yesterday, while addressing members of the state’s Servicom steering committee at the State Secretariat, Bauchi, where he said recent happenings in the service had created lots of concern to the government.

He said: “Recent hap-

Bauchi HoS reads riot act to workers penings in the service have created lots of concern to us where cases of gross misconduct and misbehaviours abound, like leaking of government secrets, indolence and negligence of duty.

“These are punishable offences and we will not hesitate to take drastic punitive action against any erring officer found wanting.”

He said Servicom was established in 2007 being one of the instruments used to monitor civil servants on their

compliance to laid down rules and regulations of the service aimed at enhancing effective service delivery.

Mr. Dalla Gin explained that the Servicom steering committee and other sub committees were formed in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, vested with responsibility to ensure effective and efficient service delivery by ensuring that there should be attitudinal change towards punctuality to work, exhibi-

tion of professionalism and quality work.

Responding, chairman of the committee, Alhaji Bala Ahmed expressed gratitude to Governor Muhammad Abubakar and the HOS, for reviving the committee, promising not to disappoint the government in their assignment.

He said the committee is not out to which-hunt anybody but to ensure services are done accordingly and therefore solicited the support of Head of Service, staff as well as retired civil servants in the state.

Kaduna to spend N9bn on free primary education –El-Rufai A ZA MSUE KADUNA

K

aduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday revealed that his administration would spend N9bn annually on free feeding of over one million primary school pupils.

The programme is to commence this academic session, which began yesterday.

Addressing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting and retreat, el-Rufai said free education at junior secondary school level would gulp N600 million yearly, nothing that

the programme will save parents N3.7bn for them to channel to other demands.

He said 5,000 tailors would be engaged to sew free uniforms, which will be distributed to in across the state.

The governor said the free education programme, introduced by

the former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, administration in the state was a fraud aimed at milking parents, as it did not work.

El-Rufai said the 2016 budget estimate would be presented to the public for input first before taking it to the House of Assembly for legislation.

the matter to avoid further congestion and obstruction of traffic on the highway, while the convoy continued on its journey to Abuja.

“Anybody that knows me will attest to the fact that it is not in my character to use derogatory words on people, let alone a woman. The fact remains that I did not engaged in any exchange of words with the woman,” he insisted.

On arrival, the governors and speakers will be hosted to a dinner party at the banquet hall of the state’s new Government House.

The meeting sessions is scheduled to hold today, with national and party issues expected to top the agenda.

It was also gathered that the governors would meet with stakeholders for a parley before departing for their various states.

UNILORIN can only take 7,800 Post-UTME candidates –VC WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

U

niversity of Ilorin can only take 7,800 out of 65,000 candidates that sat for Post UTME test last month.

This was disclosed yesterday by the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, while speaking with journalists at the commencement of its 40th anniversary.

He said: “In view of this development, management of the university had written a letter to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, through the National Universities Commission, NUC, so as to look into the situation for the university.

“The university has more facilities, more academic programmes, more good lecturers, more patronage in terms of candidates, and other needed infrastructures that can accommodate more students.”

Speaking on reasons for conducting Post-UTME test for 65,000 candidates,

knowing that the university could only admit 7,800, Ambali said the reason was borne out of the quest for the best students.

The VC, who said academic stability is the highest selling point of the university, added that the institution had been able to set sustainable standard that has become the envy of other universities in the country.

He said UNILORIN was lucky to have the academic staff with constructive unionism, adding that the management had also complemented that factor with openness and transparency.

“Usually, the issue between the academic staff and management bothers on salary, allowance, unconducive environment, lack of infrastructure like water, light and other amenities, grading of lecturers and others.

“And as chairman of all chairmen in the university, everyone’s welfare is my priority. When there’s money, we share and if there’s none, we share the moment together,” he said.

National Mirror National Mirror

50

15, 2015 47 Tuesday, Tuesday, FebruarySeptember 4, 2014 www.nationalmirroronline.net www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror I will not appear before the panel because Wike failed to comply with the laws setting up an administrative panel.

–Former governor oF rIvers state, ChIbuIke amaeChI

Dare akogun

I

n response to a clarion call on men and officers of Lagos State Police Command by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to be alive to the responsibility of ridding the state of crime and criminality, the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of the command recently clamped down on suspected members of the Eiye confraternity, arresting one Oworoba Kareem said to have been terrorizing Akala in Mushin area of Lagos.

It was gathered that the police team responded to distress calls over the weekend from petrified members of the public observing the usual rivalry that is now common among cult members, which had often resulted in the loss of innocent lives and properties.

The suspect, 20, was nabbed while others who

RRS in Lagos nabs suspected cult member

Road Safety Commission official conveying remains of an electrocuted man at Jakande Gate, Isolo, Lagos, recently.

PHOTO: ABIOLA ABDULHAMMED

were engaged in the free for all escaped as the advancing policemen made inroads into the boisterous

community.

The suspect during investigations revealed that he was a member of Eiye

Confraternity, one of the cult groups making life difficult for residents of Mushin, Akala, Idioro and

environs.

While regretting the development, Commander of RRS, ACP Olatunji Disu, advised parents and guardians to be mindful of their wards and children as charity begins at home.

He stressed that residents should be courageous enough to report any suspicious movement and criminalities in their neighbourhood to the police, promising that police will act accordingly and timely.

The commander reechoed the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni’s pledge to rid the state of all forms of criminal and cult activities.

Disu revealed that the suspect has been transferred to Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, for further investigation.

Pensioners slam factional leader Dare akogun

T

he war on who leads the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Lagos State chapter, appears to be gathering momentum as factional leaders are laying claim to the leadership of the union.

The duo of Comrade Dele Joseph and Comrade Sanni are in the midst of the storm as each is crying wolf over alleged irregularities.

In a letter dated September 2, 2013, the Dele Josephled faction had communicated to Head of Service of the Federation the names of executives elected at the delegates conference of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Federal Civil Service Pensioners Sector, Lagos State branch, held on August 16, 2013.

Apparently not satisfied with the election, some

members of the union led

by Sanni had gone to conduct another election with Comrade Sanni emerging as factional leader, a situation

that brought an executive parallel to the one in place, recognised and approved by the National headquarters of the union.

Not done yet, the Sanni-led faction in what appears to be a face-saving act, informed the National Headquarters of a threat by Dele Joseph to

oshodi Council polls: PDP tasks ariyo on development ngozi emeDolibe

P

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, in OshodiIsolo Local council has condemned recent action of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for imposing Hon. Muse Ariyo, who is the immediate past chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, as caretaker executive secretary.

Ariyo, whose tenure as chairman ended recently, has been endorsed by the APC to run for the post of chairman in the forth-coming local government election in Oshodi-Isolo.

Lekan Lawal, a PDP rep-

resentative in Oshodi-Isolo, said over the years the grassroots government under APC has refused to pay attention to the needs of the people by starving them of infrastructure and economic development, despite being one of the local governments in Lagos State that receives the largest federal allocation aside huge revenues generated internally.

He cited poor state of infrastructure, among others, in his assertion that Ariyo’s tenure as chairman in Oshodi-Isolo could not even boast of a single achievement in terms of development.

Some of the residents, who witnessed the ongo-

ing rehabilitation of Brown Street by the state government, lamented that after several years of neglect, the council suddenly deemed it proper to rehabilitate the road on the popular street, yet it erected a signpost to draw attention to the only development it’s about to achieve in its several years of governance.

The PDP has asked the people of Oshodi-Isolo to be cautious of the ‘deceptive acts’ of the local government that is only recently doing their duty because election time has drawn close.

He urged residents not to fall for empty promises again.

invade the Federal Civil Service Club, Lagos FCS, pensioners meeting to damage properties.

But the national headquarters in a memo ref NUP/NHQ/O9A/Vol.1 rather came hard on them, reminding them that it had made several overtures to make them toe the line of constitutionality, legality, peace and to make them pay due respect to constituted authority, wondering why they still derive pleasure in anti-union and unconstitutional activities.

It further reminded them that they were once seriously warned against holding any election that may bring an executive parallel to the one put in place, recognised and approved by the national headquarters of the union, stressing that in spite of the warnings, they defiantly went on to hold the elections.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

51

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

World News

Migrant crisis update: Austria deploys troops, as EU ministers meet

52

AfolAbi GAmbAri

With Agency report

R

eports yesterday said Egyptian security forces have killed twelve people and injured ten more after firing upon a tourist group they had mistaken for militants, the country’s Interior Ministry said.

Members of Egypt’s military and police were chasing terrorist elements in the country’s vast Western Desert when they came upon the tourists, among who were people from Mexico and Egypt, the ministry also said.

The attack happened Saturday within a so-called restricted area.

The tourist group was in cars that were not authorized for tours, and they did not have permits for the trip, Egypt’s state news agency MENA reported.

Two of those killed and at least five of those injured were Mexican nationals, Mexico’s foreign ministry said, stressing that the government was still in the process of identifying all of the victims.

The country’s ambassador to Egypt, Jorge Alvarez Fuentes, spoke to five of the Mexicans who were hospitalized, according to a statement.

Meanwhile, Mexican President, Enrique Pena Nieto, has mourned the loss of his country’s citizens in posts to Twitter.

“Mexico condemns these acts against our citizens and has demanded that the Egyptian

I think the great bulk of these refugees are people genuinely fleeing conflict in search of a better life for themselves and their families.

–Former spy chIeF, John sawers

Mistaken identity: Egyptian forces kill Mexican tourists

M

UAE businesswoman sues Kenya A United Arab emirates (UAe) woman, Kamilya Mohammedi tuweni, is suing the Kenyan authorities for financial compensation and is demanding a formal apology for her treatment, saying she was kidnapped by police, taken to Somalia and ethiopia, and tortured. tuweni said she was seized by Kenyan special police and accused of being an al-Qaeda agent while on trip to Kenya in 2007.

She was released without charge after being detained for 72 days, and was given no reason for her detention, even as the head of Kenya’s Anti-terrorism police Unit denies the allegations.

After yesterday’s proceedings, the presiding Judge, isaac Lenaola, set the next hearing for october 29.

Kids die in school collapse

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

government conduct an exhaustive investigation of what happened,” Nieto said.

The Mexican ambassador to Egypt is aiding the country’s injured citizens who are hospitalized, Nieto said. He has called for the embassy to increase staff to help victims and their families.

Egypt’s Western Desert draws tourists with spectacular

landscapes such as the Great Sand Sea, which Egypt’s tourism board advertises as “the world’s third largest dune field But the area, which is next to Libya, has also become attractive to insurgents since the fall of the government of former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

After Egypt’s military deposed former Egyptian Presi-

dent Mohamed Morsy of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013, Islamist militants stepped up attacks against military targets in the Western Desert.

A deadly attack on an Egyptian guard post at the oasis town of Farafra in July last year prompted the Egyptian military to launch a campaign against insurgents operating near Libya.

Zimbabwe bail-out: Dangote’s money too little–Tsvangirai ain Zimbabwean opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has said that the expected $400million investment from Nigerian billionaire, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, will not rescue the country’s ailing economy as it will require about $15billion to implement what he calls a serious economic recovery programme.

Dangote visited Zimbabwe recently and pledged to inject close to $400 million into the ailing economy through investments in various sectors such as energy, construction and water, a rescue Tsvangirai described as a drop on the ocean.

“Our country needs $15billion to implement an actual economic turnaround,” he told his MDC-T party supporters at

AFRICAN BULLETIN

a rally to celebrate the party’s 16th anniversary in Chivhu, Mashonaland East Province over the weekend.

“If Dangote wants to bring his little monies to invest, let him come but the truth of the matter is that the country’s

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai

economy cannot be rescued as long as President Robert Mugabe maintains his grip on power,” the former Zimbabwe Labour Union leader added.

“We decry the hasty euphoria within the ruling ZANU PF about the issue of Dangote investment. They almost gave him many wives,” said Tsvangirai.

“The truth is that Mugabe is a major stumbling block to the transformation of the economy of our country and this is what investors should take note of before dropping their money.

“We had long seen it that the governance style and culture of Mugabe and his ZANU PF was going to destroy this country and no investors can change this fact.”

At least four children have died after a primary school building collapsed near the central Jos, capital of plateau State in nigeria, according to officials. twenty-four pupils were injured in the incident at the Abu naima islamic School on Sunday, Mohammed Abdulsalam, from the national emergency Management Agency said yesterday. “it is unclear whether more students may be trapped under the rubble,” he added.

Building collapses often occur during the rainy season in nigeria. the cause of the collapse is not clear, but investigators are trying to determine whether it may have been due to extra floors being added to the one-storey building.

A multi-storey church hostel run by popular nigerian evangelist tB Joshua collapsed last September in Lagos, killing 116 people.

Chimpanzees’ welfare no longer cetain the fate of dozens of chimpanzees used in American biomedical experiments is up in the air after resources for their care and feeding were withdrawn this year. the new york Blood center, in partnership with the Liberian government, funded hepatitis research and other medical studies at the Liberian institute for Biomedical research beginning in 1974.

When the blood center decided 10 years ago to discontinue chimp research at the Vilab ii facilities near Monrovia, it continued to pay for upkeep of the primates, which were set free to roam on several nearby islands. “it is appalling that the new york Blood center is trying to wipe its hands of any responsibility for this colony of chimpanzees that they created and used for their own profit,” Vice president of animal research issues at the humane Society of the United States, Kathleen conlee, said in a statement.

52

World News

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Migrant crisis update: Austria deploys troops, as EU ministers meet T he government of Austria yesterday said it will deploy troops to help deal with a migrant influx, as well as tighten controls on its border with Hungary.

The move came after Germany imposed controls on its border with Austria.

Slovakia and the Netherlands are the latest countries to announce such controls, which challenge the EU’s Schengen agreement on free movement, even as European interior ministers began talks yesterday in Brussels on the migrant crisis to vote on a plan from May to redistribute an initial 40, 000 asylum seekers from Syria and Eritrea through mandatory quotas, although Central and East European states have opposed this.

Also on the meeting agenda is a plan to agree a common list of countries considered safe for migrants to be

Migrants at a Hungarian camp yesterday

sent back to, a measure that could speed up deportations.

Slovak Interior Minister, Robert Kalinak, said on arrival in Brussels that he was against the quota plan.

“It’s not possible to hold the migrants in the countries by force,” Kalinak said, stressing, “Our new control is just a higher presence to find smugglers and not a

Abbott loses PM seat to rival, Turnbull

A

ustralia is to have a new prime minister after incumbent Tony Abbott was ousted as leader of the centre-right Liberal Party by Malcolm Turnbull.

In the hastily arranged party leadership ballot late yesterday, Abbott, who had been plagued by poor opinion polls, received 44 votes to Turnbull’s 54.

Turnbull, who will be Australia’s fourth prime minister since 2013, said he assumed that parliament would serve its full term,

Former Australian PM, Tony Abbott

implying no snap general election.

The prime minister-elect is expected to be sworn in after Abbott writes to Australia’s Governor General and resigns.

The vote took place at a meeting of Liberal MPs who also voted for Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to remain deputy leader of the party.

In a post-victory speech, Turnbull praised his predecessor for what he called the latter’s formidable achievements.

“Australia needs to have

economic vision and a leadership that explains the great challenges and opportunities we face,” Turnbull said, adding, “I will lead a thoroughly Liberal government, committed to freedom, the individual and the market.”

Interestingly, Turnbull had said earlier in the day that the coalition government would lose the next election if Abbott remained as leader.

classic control”.

The Schengen agreement does allow for temporary border controls in emergencies, up to a maximum of two months.

“It was clear enough that the government is not successful in providing the economic leadership that we need,” he also said.

The last Australian prime minister to serve a full term was John Howard, who left power in 2007.

Turnbull, however, holds views that are at odds with his coalition colleagues, in particular, on climate change, gay marriage and making Australia a republic.

Talibans storm prison, free inmates

T

aliban militants have stormed a jail outside the central Afghan city of Ghazni, killing at least four policemen and freeing more than 350 prisoners.

Deputy Governor of Ghazni Province, Mohammad Ali Ahmadi, said one militant blew himself up at the prison gates, allowing others to force open cells.

“The attackers were wellorganised and wearing uniforms,” Ahmadi said.

It is the third time since 2008 that hundreds of Taliban inmates have escaped from an Afghan prison.

Both Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid and Ahmadi confirmed that three of the attackers had been killed.

The deputy governor said seven police officers were injured and only 80 prisoners were left inside the prison.

Ahmadi and the Taliban said the escapees included a number of local Taliban commanders, as well as many other fighters.

Of those freed, the interior ministry said 148 had been jailed for attacks on security forces, while 207 had been convicted for other crimes. Only three prisoners had been recaptured so far.

WORLD BULLETIN

Jailed Venezuelan leader defiant A day after being sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison, Venezuelan opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, took to social media to say he has no regrets.

“Great causes merit great sacrifices,” he wrote yesterday on his verified Twitter account. “This sentence is not only against me, but it attempts to bring down the spirits of everyone who is fighting to have a better country.”

In a four-page letter, Lopez said he was writing from the military jail of Ramo Verde while urging all Venezuelans to instigate a democratic rebirth by making their voices heard in the country’s next parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, Human Rights activists and the U.S. government have expressed dismay over Lopez’s sentence.

The court said Lopez committed serious crimes, according to Venezuelan state news agency AVN-public instigation, vandalism, arson and criminal conspiracy.

“We insist that the legal proceedings were a sham,” the Human Rights Watch said.

Flood victims asked to evacuate Japan has advised almost 3 million people to evacuate after heavy flooding killed seven people and left at least 15 missing in the eastern region of the country.

At least 27 people have been injured across 10 prefectures since floods inundated parts of eastern Japan after a tropical storm, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said yesterday.

Rescue operations have continued in the city of Joso, one of the worst-hit areas, although floodwaters are receding.

“A total of 2.8 million have been advised to evacuate,” the agency said.

Rescue teams in the Miyagi city of Osaki battled to save residents Friday after a section of a levee containing the Shibui River broke.

In some areas during the past two days, residents were forced to their rooftops, desperately awaiting rescue by military helicopters.

The raging brown floodwaters spawned from Tropical Storm Etau, which has dumped more than 60 centimeters (2 feet) of rain over some areas since yesterday.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

US Open 2015: I deserve respect, says 54

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

53

Sport

There is no such thing as ‘crisis talks’ at our club. I do not know if our critics see what we don’t see or know what we don’t know –Chelsea Coach, Jose Mourinho

Africa U-23 tourney: Our group is tough, says Siasia

C

Aguero

Rooney

Today’s fixtures

UEFA Champions League…

R’Madrid

vs

Shakt Donsk

PSV

vs

Man Utd

Man City

vs

Juventus

PSG

vs

Malmo FF

Wolfsburg

vs

CSKA

Benfica

vs

Astana

Rooney, Aguero out!

M

anchester United striker, Wayne Rooney, and his counterpart at Manchester City, Sergio Aguero , have been left out of their squads for tonight’s Champions League game at PSV Eindhoven and at home to Juventus because of injuries.

Rooney, 29, did not play in Saturday’s 3-1 win against Liverpool after straining his hamstring in training.

Coach Louis van Gaal had said after the game that Rooney would be a doubt for

the trip to the Netherlands, and has decided not to risk him.

Striker James Wilson and midfielder Andreas Pereira are in the squad. Neither player has made an appearance this season, with Wilson recently linked with a loan move to a Championship side.

At same city side, Aguero will miss Manchester City’s UCL opener at home to Juventus, also due to a knee injury, manager Manuel Pellegrini revealed yesterday.

The Argentina striker, 27,

Galatasaray vs

A’Madrid

Sevilla

Borussia M.

sat out training yesterday after sustaining a kick to the knee from Scott Dann during City’s 1-0 win at Crystal Palace last Saturday that forced him to come off in the 24th minute.

“Sergio is not fit for tomorrow,” Pellegrini told his prematch press conference at the City Football Academy.

“He got a big kick on his knee. We will wait on him. We will see this afternoon how long it will be.”

David Silva and Raheem Sterling missed the Palace

Vs

game with ankle and hamstring problems respectively, but Pellegrini said that both players were fit to face Juventus.

He also expects Fernandinho and Samir Nasri to be available despite the midfielders did not train with the rest of the squad yesterday.

Kelechi Iheanacho, who scored a 90th-minute winner at Palace, is not available to face Juventus as the 18-yearold Nigerian forward was not included in City’s Champions League squad.

oach of the national U-23 football team, Samson Siasia, has described the draws of the U-23 African Nations Cup which pits the Dream Team alongside Egypt, Mali and Algeria in Group B as tough.

Speaking from Congo where his team is getting set to take on Burkina Faso in today’s semifinals of the ongoing All Africa Games, Coach Siasia said all teams in the group have earned their qualification for the event and as such none of them is a push over.

“For now my concentration is on my semi-final game, but I must confess that this group is tough, all the teams in my group have a pedigree that cannot be overlooked, but I can assure Nigerians that we will pick one of the tickets for the football event of the Rio Olympic Games,” Siasia said.

From the draw conducted

by CAF yesterday, hosts Senegal will face South Africa in the opening match on Saturday, November 28 2015 at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium, Dakar.

The two teams will open the curtains for the eight-team tourney which serves as ultimate lap for the continental qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic Games. The final tournament will run from November 28 to December 12, with the top three teams qualifying to represent Africa at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Group A: Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, Tunisia Group B: Egypt, Algeria, Mali, Nigeria

Siasia

Sports

54

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

US Open 2015:

I deserve respect, says champion Djokovic W

Nigeria men’s table tennis team

AAG: Nigeria, Egypt share table tennis medals

N

igeria shared medals with its arch-rival, Egypt, in the table tennis team events for men and women at the ongoing 11th All Africa Games (AAG) in Brazzaville.

Nigeria defeated Egypt 3-2 in the men’s category, but lost the women’s team events’ title to

...as doubles begin today

Egypt by the same margin.

Team Nigeria led by ageless Segun Toriola, put up brilliant performance to take the lead. He defeated Africa’s number one, Omar Assar, and El-Beiali to ensure 3-2 victory for Nigeria.

Female table tennis team that won silver melal

Toriola, who was indeed unbeaten in all the matches played in the team events, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), “I am proud that we won the title this year because looking at the roll of honours, Nigeria has won the African Games title more than any other country in Africa.

“So I am very happy that we were able to retain the title we won four years ago in Mozambique. This goes to show that Egypt is improving and our generation has really worked hard for this success.”

Toriola said the victory would spur the team for more gold at the Games. “I think the competition has just started with this victory, because we still have five medals to fight for.

“But prior to the match I told my teammates that we should have confidence, even when we

were 1-2 down in the majors.

“I knew that if I had to beat Omar Assar I would need to be confident and to play without being too cautious so as not to make mistakes. I think it was the confidence in the team that gave us the victory.”

Africa’s number two, Aruna Quadri, said the defeat of Egypt was a sweet one. “In our last meeting he defeated me but I could remember that I had also beaten him twice.”

In the female category, tactical discipline gave victory to the Egyptians, as wins by Dina Meshref and Nadeen El-Dawlatly gave victory to the Pharaohs.

The North Africans had trailed Nigeria 1-2 but eventually ended 3-2 in an epic final.

Meanwhile, the table tennis doubles events bebe gin today.

thing short of that might be a disappointment. But, I am sure that we are capable of achieving that aim. It is a big task, however, we are ready to accomplish it.”

Meanwhile, the national female team, D’Tigress, are poised to top their group after winning their first two matches.

They defeated Mali 70-69 in their opening game, and beat Mozambique, 78-62 in their second match.

D’Tigress Coach, Scott Nnaji, assisted by Adewunmi Aderemi, told NAN that the team’s aim is

to win the gold medal.

Nnaji, howevhowev er, said the players must improve on their offensive and defend well in their subsequent games.

“It is getting toughtough er now and I have spospo ken to the players to improve their game by playing to instructions.

They have all done well, but we need to play as a unit to be sure of winning gold,” he said.

D’Tigers ready for tomorrow’s semi-finals

N

igeria’s men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, are ready for tomorrow’s semi-fi-

nals.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the D’Tigers qualified for the second to the gold game after beating Cote d’Ivoire 60-51 in their group game to book a place against Egypt in the semi-finals.

D’Tigers won all their group matches to top the group. The team won the gold medal in the 10th edition of the Games in 2011 in Maputo, Mozambique.

Nigeria coach, Ahmed San-

ni, told NAN after their match that winning the gold was the ultimate, while the team captain, Olumide Oyedeji, said the players were conscious of what was at stake before the match.

“We know what is at stake, Nigeria is a team all teams want to beat in the competition to create upset, being the current African champions. We are mindful of that and are cautious in our approach to the game against the Ivorians,” Oyedeji said.

The D’Tigers added, “We are all here to win the title. Any-

orld number one, Novak Djokovic, says he must earn the support and respect of tennis fans after facing crowd hostility in his US Open final victory over Roger Federer.

The Serb beat Federer 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 at Flushing Meadows in New York last Sunday to win his 10th Grand Slam.

But BBC Sport reported that as Djokovic battled to win his third tennis major of 2015, he was booed and jeered by Federer supporters.

“I’m there to earn the support and hopefully in the future I can be in that position,” Djokovic said.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed the most successful year of his career on the Grand Slam circuit, adding victory at Flushing Meadows to his Australian Open and Wimbledon titles, while also reaching the French Open final.

He did win three Grand Slam titles in 2011, but only reached the semi-final in Paris that year.

Djokovic acknowledged the boos he received from the New York crowd was a distraction and over the course of three hours and 20 minutes.

“You do have some ups and downs in concentration. It’s important to go back to basics and remember why you are there and what you need to do. Everybody has a choice to support a player that they want to support,” he added.

Djokovic’s emotions were running high as he tried to deal with the crowd’s rere actions - and he ripped off a button on his shirt after a particularly passionate cel-

Djokovic

ebration.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

55

Mercyjacob_26@yahoo.com Tel: 08063056537

AAG: Three Nigerians in athletics final

T

eam Nigeria’s hope of increasing its medals haul was boosted yesterday when three of its physically challenged athletes got to the final of T11 events.

Leading the pack in the women’s category is Lovina Onyegbule, who dusted her

challengers, Beauty Fiator of Ghana and Ladja Ishitile of Namibia in the semi-finals decided on the tracks of Kintele Stadium. She came first in a time of 6.11 secs.

Also, Taiwo Suleiman who ran on lane six like Onyegbule crossed the line in a time of 13.47 secs to finish

first ahead of her Cameroun and Angola opponents to seal her place in the final.

In the men’s 100m T11 event, Olusegun Rotawo came first in his heat with a time of 11.62 secs.

The finals are scheduled to come up later today at the venue.

Ajunwa makes case for Okagbare

A

tlanta 1996 Olympics gold medalist, Chioma Ajunwa-Opara, has disagreed with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and National Sports Commission (NSC) in taking “injured” Blessing Okagbare to the ongoing All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo.

According to Ajunwa, if it is true that Blessing is injured

Ajunwa

as she claims, it is better not to stretch her at the African Games, not to aggravate the injury since next year’s Olympics is by the corner.

“Nobody with injury can run in exclusive events like 100metres and long jump where Okagbare finds herself and succeed. That is why I will advise that she should be allowed to be. She can be at the Games

probably to encourage the athletes, but not to participate in any event,” Ajunwa said.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) added, “We can’t kill Okagbare because we don’t have good replacement for her.

If she said she is injured it should be respected and given some time to recuperate. Apart from the African Games we still have Olympics at the corner; there is no need for us to kill her at the games.”

Okagbare is with Team Nigeria in Brazzaville, but is not participating in her favourite 100m, 200m and long jump events. She may anchor the women’s 4x100m relay.

Ajunwa added, “I don’t want to believe she is faking injury in order not to compete the Games. Even though nothing is impossible, it is better for us to think more of the future than the present. I still believe with or without her the athletes will still win medals. All they need do is to be focused and determined to succeed.”

Star Quote…

To be number one, you have to train like you’re number two.

Maurice Greene

Blessing

World bits…

Kipsang to defend New York Marathon title in Nov

D

efending champion, Wilson Kipsang, will join Meb Keflezighi to headline a world-class men’s field at the TCS New York City Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on November 1.

Latest information say joining them will be 2014 runner-up, Lelisa Desisa, winner of this year’s Boston Marathon, and 2014 third-place finisher, Gebre Gebremariam,

both of Ethiopia, as well as world cross-country and halfmarathon champion, Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya.

“We’re thrilled to welcome back our defending champion, Wilson Kipsang, along with Meb Keflezighi, America’s top marathoner, and this year’s Boston Marathon champion, Lelisa Desisa, for the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon,” said race director, Peter Ciaccia.

Niyonsaba at her best in Rieti

B

urundian 800m runner, Francine Niyonsaba, produced the highlight of the 45th edition of the Rieti Meeting, the last leg of the IAAF World Challenge last Sunday.

Competitions were partly affected by rain at the start of the programme, but the weather improved towards the end of the meeting.

The 2012 African champion and Olympic finalist, has made a

steady comeback this year, having been out of action in 2014. In Rieti Niyonsaba won over two laps in 1:57.62, holding off world 1500m silver medallist, Faith Kipyegon, who followed her recent African mile record in Brussels with a PB of 1:58.02.

Ukraine’s Olga Lyakhova set a PB of 1:58.64 in third place, beating world champion Marina Arzamasova, who ran 1:58.93.

Coe resumes at IAAF Monaco HQ

N

ew President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President, Sebastian Coe, yesterday met the entire IAAF Headquarter staff in Monaco, France.

The gathering took place at the association’s new offices which are situated on Quai Antoine, Port Hercules, Monaco.

“Not only am I happy to be here, I’m relieved,” said Coe, who

took office as IAAF President on August 31.

“The last year has been a great test of character for all candidates for IAAF positions, whether president, council, committees and commissions. Today is one of the proudest days of my life.

“I have only had five predecessors as president, each one making an indelible mark on our sport,” he added.

WORLD RECORD

First canine filmtwo starbasketballs Fastest marathon dribbling

N150

Vol. 05 No. 1199 Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Rollie Rover was the undisputed star of the film Rescued by Rover released in 1907. It was produced by Cecil Hepworth and cost £7 13s 9d to make.

Buhari and Ndigbo’s unwarranted lamentation T

he Igbos have not hidden their contempt for the All Progressives Congress (APC) since its formation in 2013.

The party’s image has not been redeemed among Igbos with President Muhammadu Buhari yet to appoint anyone from the South East into his government. It doesn’t appear pleasing to the Igbo ears that Mr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu from Delta State was appointed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) boss. This is perhaps why the Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Council recently accused the President of “hatred for the Igbo nation”. In the past few days, words like “federal character”, “marginalisation”, “Biafra” and the likes have been used frequently in public discourse, especially among many

Guest Columnist

Olalekan Waheed Adigun

“Igbo” writers who have suddenly found their lost voices!

While no responsible person should support the marginalisation of any ethnic, religious or national group in Nigeria, we must consider jettisoning our support of the socalled federal character. Igbos, in particular, have a lot to learn from other Nigerians and must be ready to do away with the civil war mentality to really prosper in a united Nigeria.

On the federal character, we need to know if it has added any value(s) to our lives as a nation.

After Chief Obafemi Awolowo lost the 1979 presidential election, Yoruba who voted massively for him played the role of opposition in the Alhaji Shehu Shagari administration. The Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives all were non-Yorubas and the heavens did not fall. No one mentioned federal character or “marginalisation of Yorubas”. Much ado about federal character!

If Yorubas did not go into extinction outside mainstream politics for about 40 years under different platforms - AG, UPN, AD, AC, ACN - I submit the Igbos must learn like Yorubas did, to develop unique political character outside political power!

From a little observation, it appears some Igbos are yet to jettison their civil war experiences when others have moved on. It is no longer a secret that Igbos made their choice clear during the presidential election and that was not General Muhammadu Buhari; but whether they stand with him through thick and thin is yet to be seen. One of the

IGBOS MUST LEARN LIKE YORUBAS DID, TO DEVELOP UNIQUE POLITICAL CHARACTER OUTSIDE POLITICAL POWER!

questions that came up during the campaigns was General Buhari’s role during the Nigerian Civil War. This question was raised by no less a person than the PDP presidential campaign spokesman, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK). Needless to say that Fani-Kayode himself would have committed “genocide” considering his earlier views on Ndigbo while he was in the APC. How he suddenly become a “beloved Igbo” when he joined the PDP remains strange to me. This only convinces me that anyone can be a “friend of Ndigbo” if he can just oppose Buhari or the APC! In parenthesis, what role does a soldier play during war? Does FFK expect Buhari to come out and say he did not fight according to command? At the risk of sounding immodest, though I was born over two decades after the end of the war, I have read several civil war books from both sides; I didn’t come close to any specific command led by General Buhari. I am yet to find any civil war document on Buhari’s specific role(s) leading during the war!

This leads me to my next point: Igbos do not appear to know their real “enemies”.

They supported former President Goodluck Jonathan, himself an Ijaw man from Bayelsa State even adding “Azikwe” to his name just to make him “our son”. Jonathan himself did not disappoint, he rewarded the Igbo nation with “juicy appointments” in his government. But as at the last time I checked, Ijaws fought alongside the federal army during the civil war. People like Isaac Boro and immortal Ken Saro-Wiwa both from “minority areas”, fought the Biafrans to a standstill during the war. I am not sure if Ijaws will proudly call themselves Biafrans any time soon!

An advertorial titled “APC is Dead on Arrival in the South East” sponsored by an unknown group in the eve of the launch of the party in Anambra sometimes in 2014, cited the “deportation” of 14 destitute of Igbo origin to Anambra and Imo states as a case for Igbos not to support the APC. I wish to say that while I condemn this act by the Lagos State government in its totality, I am not losing sight of the present security challenges in the country necessitating such actions by the government. Lagos is not one of those states that harbour destitute (Almajiris).

Apart from this, before this action by Lagos State, the PDP government of Abia State had adopted the Indigenization Policy, which led to thousands non-Abians (mainly Igbos) losing their jobs in the state’s public service.

Nothing was wrong with relieving Nigerians of their jobs, but everything was incorrect with clearing the streets of destitute!

Igbos must accept their presently reality and fast. Buhari is the President of Nigeria at least for the next four years. There are, for me, few options left for Igbos in the Buhari administration considering the fact that they boxed themselves into a tight corner. They can either play the role of a responsible opposition standing with the PDP or join the APC-led Federal Government.

Adigun, a Lagos-based political risk analyst and strategist, wrote via olalekan@olalekanadigun.com and can be followed on twitter @adgorwell

Sport Extra

C

oach Pep Guardiola has warned Bayern Munich players to raise their game at Olympiakos tomorrow, or risk slipping on a Champions League banana skin in their opening group game.

Bayern have won all four

UCL: Guardiola wants goals at Olympiakos of their opening German league matches this season, but had to come from behind to force a 2-1 win at home to Bavarian rivals Augsburg last Saturday with two late goals.

Now the 2013 Champions League winners switch their focus to Europe at Olympiakos when they kick off their Group F campaign, but Guardiola is warning they can ill afford another below-

par display with Arsenal also in their pool.

“Everyone has to give their all there and put in 100 percent on the pitch, or things can go astray,” warned Bayern’s head coach.

“Our body language in the first half wasn’t good (against Augsburg) and our play was much, much too slow. I hope we can improve in the future. We have to play for 90 minutes, not just 45.”

Guardiola

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