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FG earmarks N50bn to fund agric mechanisation scheme TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

Jonathan

Vol. 41 N0. 925 115

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday directed the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to

Boko Haram:

create a N50bn mechanisation intervention support fund that would allow and speed up the establishment of the 1,200 private sectordriven Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises,

AEHE, in the states.

This is in addition to the N4.5bn government had already provided through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural DevelopCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Court restrains FG from sacking resident doctors P.4

Chukwu

Tuesday, Tuesday,June August 7, 2011 26, 2014

N150 INUSA NDAHI AND UBONG UKPONG

Nigerian soldiers flee into Cameroun

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ome 480 Nigerian soldiers in Gamboru Ngala and Banki towns have fled their duty post into Cameroun following fierce fighting with Boko Haram insurgents who invaded the two communities.

Leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, on Sunday released a video declaring an Islamic Caliphate’ in the region.

...no, troops on tactical manoeuver, says DHQ

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Enugu deputy Gov may be impeached today P.5

L-R: Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Asmau Asabe Ahmed and Minister, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina at the commissioning of the new 100,000MT silo complex and inauguration of the Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises Scheme in Kwali, FCT, yesterday.

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We won’t extend deadline for voter registration –INEC Alloted time too short, NGO insists

Nigeria loses 44,880bpd as flow station shuts down

Anxiety grips aviation sector workers over staff audit P.9

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FG earmarks N50bn to fund agric mechanisation scheme CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ment, FMARD, to support the provision of a low cost refinancing facility to enable private sector acquisition of these tractors and other agricultural machinery, through the Bank of Agriculture.

Jonathan announced these initiatives at the commissioning of a 100,000 metric tonnes capacity silo and formal launching of the AEHE in Kwali, the Federal Capital Territory.

He said the funding and other policy and institutional supports provided by the government would increase farmers’ productivity, improve the nation’s food security and drive the national agenda of making Nigeria a leading player in the global food and agricultural markets within the next few years.

Represented by VicePresident Namadi Sambo, the President described the AEHE initiative as one of the innovative capacity building programmes which would involve the private sector, equipment manufacturers, service providers, the banks in a Public Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement intended to end years of inefficient and corrupt mechanisation programmes in the nation’s agricultural sector.

According to him, the PPP financing arrangement requires the government to provide 35 per cent of the loans, Bank of Agriculture to finance 35 per cent, the agro-machinery vendors provide 10 per cent and service provider operators will provide 20 per cent equity to off-take the Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises.

Already, the banks have committed the sum of N19.5bn towards boosting this public-private partnership for mechanisation.

President Jonathan disclosed that Federal Government will, through the N50bn intervention fund and the N4.5bn to be accessed through the Bank of Agriculture, begin the provision of mechanisation support grants to farmers to allow them to hire agricultural mechanisation services.

This is even as he unveiled plans to expand the Growth Enhancement Scheme, GES, and the e-wallet scheme to provide subsidised electronic mechanisa-

tion support vouchers to farmers, which they will use to pay the Agricultural Hiring Enterprise Enterprises to provide mechanisation services for their farms.

“I am very pleased that Nigeria is the first in Africa to develop the electronic wallet scheme for reaching farmers with subsidised farm inputs via mobile phones. Nigeria is also now leading the way again in Africa, in providing mechanised services support from the private sector to farmers using mobile phones. Today, seeds, fertilisers, tractors and agricultural equipment service provision to farmers are all linked to mobile phones.

“Today, I am delighted that we are witnessing such a rapid progress in our agriculture sector, powered by new innovations that are allowing us to reach farmers and serve their needs better.

The growth of our economy will be more robust and inclusive as we make agriculture to work as a business to lift millions of people out of poverty.

“The operation of the network of silos in the country and the Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises will go a long way in further modernising the agricultural sector”, President Jonathan added.

While commending the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, for the remarkable achievements recorded so far under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, ATA, he urged the minister and his team to continue to innovate and drive transformative change, with the sense of urgency needed, until the ultimate goal of making Nigeria a global powerhouse in food and agriculture is achieved.

Earlier, the minister described the commissioning of the 100,000MT silo and the AEHE launching as another milestone in the nation’s drive to modernise its agricultural sector.

While noting that private sector investments in agriculture are expanding with improved productivity by smallholder farmers and Nigeria’s food import bill declining from N 1.1trn ($ 6.9bn) in 2009 to N684.7bn ($4.35bn) by December 2013, a trend which, he said had been sustained this year, Adesina explained that the

AEHE was one of the major steps taken to overcome the challenges of low level of mechanisation of the agriculture sector.

He expressed the hope that the launching of the AEHE would go a long way in boosting Nigeria’s food production capacity, improve efficiency in the value chains of crops production processing and market access with the attendant positive implications for the country’s socio-economic transformation on a massive scale

Adesina said: “While our farmers toil, day and night, working their fields, they do so with rudimentary implements. The high cost of land clearing is a major disincentive for the expansion of cultivated area, especially in the southern parts of the country due to the dense vegetation; while the high cost of mechanisation, from plowing to harvesting, pose great challenges to farmers across the country.

“Our farmers are pro-

ducing a lot of food today.

Now we are rapidly building up our storage capacity, both silos and warehouses, to store food and reduce food losses. When we started in 2011, only 35 per cent of the silos in the country were completed. I am pleased to inform you that today all will be fully completed by December 2014.

We now have a total of 1.3 million MT silos capacity, and you are commissioning one of them today.

“This particular giant silos you are commission-

ing today, with 100,000 MT capacity, is the largest silo in West Africa.

“One can only imagine, if our farmers could produce an additional 21 million MT of food between 2012 and 2014, without tractors or mechanised equipment, they will definitely feed the world if they have a fully mechanised agricultural system. Together with our network of silos we will secure our food supply and those of other African countries”, the minister projected.

President Goodluck Jonathan arriving at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja after a visit to Germany yesterday.

PHOTO:

Nigerian soldiers flee into Cameroun CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The Camerounian army spokesman, Lt.-Col. Didier Badjek, confirmed the development.

He said that the soldiers had been disarmed and were now being accommodated in schools\ The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, in a statement on its official blog yesterday, however, insisted that the soldiers being in the neighbouring country was a tactical manoeuver following a sustained battle and not a defection.

Both Gamboru Ngala and Banki towns shared international boundaries with Cameroun and had witnessed deadly attacks in recent times, including the massacre of over 300 traders in Gamboru main market in May this year.

Our correspondents gathered that many of the terrorists were killed in Gamboru-Ngala before the Nigerian troops ran out of ammunition and had to

cross over the border into Cameroun.

It was learnt that the insurgents invaded Banki town on Sunday, while they stormed Gamboru-Ngala at about 5am yesterday.

Our correspondent gathered that the insurgents while in Banki overpowered the troops on ground by using Rocket Propelled Launchers, Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs. The soldiers, it was learnt managed to escape and flee towards nearby villages before they crosses over to Cameroun.

It was also revealed that, some of the troops in Banki fled to Marwa through Gazawa, a village community bordering Borno and Cameroun, but it was not clear whether there were casualties on both sides.

However, sources said, many people were killed including the terrorists, security operatives and civilians caught up in the crossfire.

Also in Gamboru Ngala,

it was revealed that more than 400 troops managed to escape during the attack on their facilities/base and reunited with their Camerounian counterparts who were now making frantic efforts to repel the attackers, as residents said, the exchange of gunfire was ongoing between the terrorists and the military around the border communities of Cameroun and Nigeria.

“The insurgents were not after civilians as they occupied the area telling residents not to flee as they were not in the town to attack civilians but they were after military operatives.

“Some of us who could not withstand the sounds of gunshots and explosions between the insurgents and the military had to flee for safety, while others managed to stay based on the terrorists’ assurance that they are not after residents.

“Unfortunately, as I am

speaking to you, I have seen corpses of civilians and that of the terrorists lying the streets of Gamboru- Ngala suspected to have been caught up in the crossfire or stray bullets,” a resident of Gamboru who fled to Maiduguri yesterday, told our correspondent.

According to Lt Col Badjek, the Nigerian soldiers are currently in the Cameroonian town of Maroua, about 80km (50 miles) from the Nigerian border.

Thousands of civilians are also said to have fled across the border.

Meanwhile, the DHQ, in a statement insisted that the soldiers did not flee into Cameroun.

“Nigerian troops that were found in Cameroun was as a result of a sustained battle between the troops and the terrorists around the borders with Cameroun which saw the Nigerian troops charging CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

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Former Chairman, UBA Plc, Amb. Joe Keshi (left) and new Chairman, Mr. Tony Elumelu at the formal handover ceremony held at the bank’s Head Office in Lagos yesterday.

L-R: Deputy Baba Aladura, Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, His Eminence (Dr) D.L Bob-Manuel, and Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, during a visit of top hierarchy of the Church to the Governor in Benin City, yesterday.

L-R: Plateau ALGON Chairman, Dr Emmanuel Loman; National President, Northern Youth Assembly of Nigeria, Mr Obande Gideon and Chairman, Shendam local government area of Plateau State, Dr Kem Nshe, at a news conference on endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for 2015 election in Jos, yesterday.

L-R: MD. Galaxy Backbone, Mr. Jerald Ilukwe; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Pius Anyim; founder, Body Enhancement Foundation, Ms. Modupe Ozolua; Director General, National Identity Management Commission, Mr. Chris Onyemenam and Mr. Ayo Sebiotimo, during a visit to Sen. Anyim in Abuja, recently.

National News

Court restrains FG from sacking resident doctors WALE IGBINTADE, TORDUE SALEM, KEMI OLAITAN AND WALE IBRAHIM

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he National Industrial Court, NIC, Lagos division yesterday restrained the Federal Government and the Chief Medical Directors, CMDs, of 37 medical institutions across the country from terminating the appointments of resident doctors.

The President of the court, Justice Babatunde Adejumon, gave the order while ruling on a Motion on Notice filed by the Registered Trustee of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, against the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Health and 37 CMDs of University Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres across the country.

The resident doctors were on August 14, 2014 relieved of their jobs after the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu,

…Apologise to Nigerians, Reps tell NMA issued a directive terminating the residency training programme for doctors in the country until further notice.

Justice Adejumon in his ruling also ordered that the status quo ante be maintained, pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed by the resident doctors.

On the issue of suspension of training programmes, the court directed the claimant (NMA) to put all the respondents on notice, adding that the issue would be better addressed when parties joined issues before the court.

The resident doctors had in a Motion on Notice dated August 18, 2014 filed by their lawyer, Mr. Alex Akoja from the law firm of Yusuf Ali, SAN, brought pursuant to Order 14 Rule 1(1, 2&3) of the National Industrial Court Civil Procedure Rule, 2007 sought for an order restraining the respondents or their privies from executing

or giving effect to the directive contained in the letter of August 13, 2014 suspending the Residency Training Programme for doctors pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

Besides, the resident doctors prayed the court for an interim injunction restraining the respondents, especially the CMDs from issuing letters of termination of Residency Training Appointment to them.

However, despite the suspension of the almost two-month old strike by the NMA, resident doctors were yesterday not at their duty post.

Our correspondent, who visited the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, observed that although other doctors were back at their duty posts, the resident doctors, whose sack was yet to be reversed stayed away.

The Chairman, Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, UCH chapter, Dr.

Franklin Anoor, admitted that although, the strike had been suspended, the sack of his members could not make them go back to their duty posts.

However, the Oyo State Chairman of NMA, Dr. Muyideen Olatunji in his reaction said all doctors, including resident doctors were expected to resume following the suspension of the strike.

“There is nothing wrong with the resident doctors as all doctors were expected back at their duty posts,” he said.

But when reminded of the circular through which the resident doctors were sacked, he maintained that nobody collected any letter, adding that the so-called circular had become a subject of litigation with injunction that nobody should work on it.

In Kogi State, many patients who thronged some hospitals were disappointed as there were no doctors to attend to them

This follows the failure of resident doctors to report for duty as expected following the suspension of the strike.

Our correspondent, who went round the Federal Medical Centre and the State Specialist Hospital in Lokoja, gathered that resident doctors did not resume as expected as a result of the sack.

After waiting for several hours, some of the patients were told to go back home as the doctors were attending a crucial meeting.

The Chief Medical Director of the FMC, Dr. Debo Elesin, however, said that doctors had actually resumed.

He explained that the doctors were holding series of meetings with stakeholders Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Health yesterday urged the NMA to apologise to Nigerians for deaths recorded while they were on strike.

The House Committee, headed by Hon. Ndudi Elumelu said the strike by the association was unnecessary in the first place, going by the efforts of the Federal Government.

He called on the doctors to render apologies to their patients who suffered and in some cases died for lack of medical care.

“The NMA has suspended the strike, but failed to do one thing. The NMA failed to apologise to Nigerians. The NMA should apologise to Nigerians for all the inconveniences and lives that were lost during the strike.

“The leadership of the National Assembly is not happy that the NMA ignored their clarion call to suspend the strike,” he said.

The Committee also advised the doctors to work with the Ministry of Finance on their accumulated arrears, so as to have the sum included in the 2015 budget.

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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

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We won’t extend deadline for voter registration –INEC OMEIZA AJAYI AND ABUBAKAR UMAR

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he Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday said it had no plans to extend the deadline for the Permanent Voters Card, PVC, and the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, which second phase ended yesterday in Abuja and 11 states.

INEC which acknowledged the agitation in some

quarters for an extension of the exercise, said it was “logistically impossible” to do so.

“This phase of the exercise, which commenced on Wednesday, August 20th, 2014, involved the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 11 states namely Yobe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kwara, Anambra, Ebonyi, Ondo, Oyo, Delta and Cross River.

“Much as the Commission is eager to ensure that all legitimate persons who are yet to register as voters

have the opportunity to do so, it is logistically impossible to extend this phase of the CVR beyond its scheduled deadline (i.e., Monday, August 25th, 2014)”, said Kayode Idowu, spokesman of the Commission’s chairman.

He however said in order to give fair chance to legitimate registrants, the Commission will, on a date to be shortly announced, set up registration points at its Local Government Area, LGA, offices where people yet to

do so can go to register.

The commission said it noted with deep regret that old tendencies towards irregularity, such as politicians urging people to come out and do multiple registrations, largely accounted for the crowd clusters lingering at registration points set up for the CVR by the Commission.

“Many other people who have relocated since the last registration exercise and only needed to apply for their registration status to be transferred to their new

L-R: Lagos Federal Road Safety Corps Sector Commander, Omeje Hyginus; Zonal Commanding Officer, Mr. Godwin Ogagaoghene; Commander, Administration and Strategies, Mr. Ademola Lawal and Ogun Sector Commander, Mr. Adegoke Adetunji, inaugurating Operation Shield at Mowe, Ogun State, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

location, also turned up for fresh registration. When data are consolidated and de-duplication is carried out by INEC, all instances of multiple registrations will yet be eliminated. But, unfortunately, these sets of people obstructed legitimate registrants from having their turn at the registration points.

“The Commission strongly appeals that anyone who has previously registered and already has his / her records in the biometric Register of Voters should avoid re-presenting himself / herself at any other place for registration”, he stated.

In Sokoto State, a coalition of Accredited Observers for the distribution of PVC and CVR has described the period assigned for the exercise as grossly inadequate.

Speaking in Sokoto yesterday, the Team Leader, Comrade Kalu Igwe Anuojo, said this conclusion was arrived at considering the vast geographical size of the state, and the days should be extended, as was done in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, which has six Area Councils.

The coalition noted that there was communication

difficulty because many of the NYSC members used for the exercise do not understand the local language, while there was inadequate and timely publicity about the exercise.

It recommended upgrading of machines to modern versions and stronger backup for speedy and better out-put, increase in registration and collection centres given the difficult terrain in the state and long distance, adequate security as well as motivational incentives aside from the normal workers allowances.

However, the group commended the state government, political parties and other stakeholders in the state for mobilising the electorate for the exercise irrespective of party affiliations or interest and the people of the state for their maturity and patience, especially for avoiding any form of violence.

The Coalition said going by the present INEC strategy, it is obvious that many voters will be disenfranchised in the state, which is capable of causing post-election violence in the coming general elections because the credibility of the election will be doubted.

Enugu deputy Gov may be impeached today DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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ndications emerged last night that embattled Enugu State Deputy Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi may be impeached today.

The indication followed submission of report by the seven-man panel investigating allegations of gross misconduct leveled against the deputy governor by members of the House of Assembly.

Even though the House is expected to debate the report within the next 14 days, there were fears last

night that the House may read the recommendations on the floor and just go ahead to impeach the deputy governor .

The Chairman of the investigating panel, Mr. Uche Franklyn Oraekeiyi who led members of the panel to the Assembly complex, yesterday, told the Speaker, Eugune Odoh that the report was packaged in 3 volumes.

He said the first volume contained their findings, while the second volume contained the panel’s proceedings. The third volume, he said contained the panel’s recommenda-

tions which he did not speak much about.

He said his panel ensured that all concerned parties were given fair hearing in the matter, noting that having concluded their assignment, the ball was now in the court of the lawmakers.

Responding, Odoh said the legislators would within their own time look into the report with a view to see whether to adopt it or not.

He commended the panel for carrying out the “all important assignment” within the

specified period of time, assuring that members of the House would also be thorough in taking decision on the report.

Meanwhile, findings revealed that the House will resume sitting today and is expected to perfect the impeachment without delay.

A source close to the House said: “The lawmakers will sit on Tuesday and it is expected that they will start debate on the report. For now, no one can say whether the Deputy Governor will be impeached today or not but

Jonathan returns to Abuja after private visit to Germany

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday returned to Abuja after a four-day private visit to Germany.

Jonathan, who arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, was

received by top government officials.

At the airport to receive him was his Chief of Staff, retired Brig.-Gen. Jones Arogbofa, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Bala Muhammed.

They were joined by the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, among others.

On arrival at the State House, the president retired to his official residence where he was also received by family members and

some close aides.

He is expected to lead the Federal Government’s delegation to a service of songs for late former Minister of Information, Prof.

Dora Akunyili, at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Garki, Abuja, today.

what is clear is that the House has 14 day within which to decide on what to do with Onyebuchi.”

Though our correspondent could not get details of the panel’s recommen-

dations, it was gathered that the failure of the deputy governor to “properly defend himself of allegations against him might result in his eventual removal.”

Nigerian soldiers flee into Cameroun CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

through the borders in a tactical maneuver.

“Eventually they found themselves on Camerounian soil. Being allies the normal protocol of managing such incident demanded that the troops submit their weapons in order to assure the friendly country that they were not on a hostile mission.

“Following necessary discussions between Nigerian and Camerounian military authorities, the issues have been sorted out.

Subsequently, the troops are on their way back to

join their unit in Nigeria.

“The reference to the incidence as a defection is therefore not appropriate considering the discussion between the two countries’ military leadership and the series of contacts with the soldiers who have confirmed that they are safe,” the DHQ stated.

It said that troops are repelling a group of terrorists who were trying to enter the country through Gamborou Ngala, adding that a group of them who fizzled into the town were also being pursued.

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Nigeria loses 44,880 bpd as Erhoike shuts down THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN WARRI

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here was palpable tension in Delta State communities of Orogun yesterday as fear griped the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, manager of Oil Mining Lease, OML30 following the grounding of production activities at the Erhoike flow station by over 2000 residents.

The shutdown of the flow station could lead to

the loss of about 44, 880 barrels per day of crude oil valued at N1.8 billion in the international market.

The placards carrying protesters vowed to ensure that the oil facilities in the area remain shut until their grievances were properly addressed.

Leader of the protesters, Mr. Morris Ochuko Idiowa, told newsmen that over 2000 women, youths and men decided to go out as early as 6am to shut production activities at

Erhoike Flow Station, to ensure that workers were kept away.

According to Idiowa: “For over fifty years, SPDC has marginalised the host Orogun community on this facility. When SPDC divested to NPDC, the communities were not involved. They wrote letters calling for communities’ representation.

The next minute we saw publications that Shell has divested to NPDC. “Since then none of the women, youths and

men you see here have had a single management slot or unskilled worker engaged by NPDC and Shoreline, yet this Flow Station is tied to over 42 oil wells. In January, NPDC made a publication rating this Flow Station second highest producing in the whole of Delta Central under OML 30. In spite of that the communities are extremely poor.

“In the whole of Orogun, there is no medical facility. Our market is terrible. Women, youths,

community leaders are extremely marginalised.

We have said to Shoreline and NPDC that if they cannot meet our demands, they should leave our land. They must renew all rents and leases; give us a percentage of production. We are ready to defend our rights, our resources with the last drop of our blood till the issues are resolved.”

Speaking for the women, Mary Dohwovevuroye Obuko added: “When NPDC took over in 2013, they said they were aware of the issues and promised to remedy them. After six months they came up with quick win projects. They made our people borrow money. They have not paid for the project as promised.

They turned it kill quick project.”

Dawha, NNPC, GMD

“The communities who said their initial appeal for dialogue and extended ultimatum have fallen to deaf ears said they are tired of NPDC making unfulfilled promises its predecessor operator made, adding, “The CO of 222 battalion Agbarha and the DPO Orogun made efforts to intervene, they did not give them listening ears.

NBS shifts release of 2nd quarter 2014 GDP TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

T Participants at the passing out of Course SH: 876B, Community Support Brigade Volunteers in Jos, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

INEC boss’ assurances offer hope of free, fair elections -APC

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he All Progressives Congress, APC,has said Nigeria may be able to organise truly free, fair, credible and transparent elections in the nearest future if the recent comments by INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega reflect the thinking of the electoral commission.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said three issues stand out in the comments credited to the INEC boss: that hooded security personnel would no longer be allowed during elections, that the security paraphernalia in future elections should be under the control of INEC and that the commission will

use e-card readers for the 2015 general elections.

It said if indeed the INEC boss meant what he said, then it is a breakthrough of sorts in Nigeria’s long quest to hold elections that are not only free, fair and transparent, but are seen to be so by the local and international community.

APC however said it would hold Jega to his promises to avoid a repeat of the situation in the past when promises made by the electoral chief were not kept.

“During the voter’s registration exercise, Jega vowed that anyone who engages in double or multiple registration would be prosecuted. However, some parties who probably had

an advanced knowledge that his statement was an empty threat apparently encouraged their members to engage in double or multiple registration, thus gaining undue advantage over others, yet they were never prosecuted.

“Also, during the last Ekiti governorship election, Jega announced that colour-coded ballot papers would be used in different local governments to prevent election fraud, but that never happened and no reason was given for the failure. This is why we intend to hold. Jega to every word he said in connection with the key issues mentioned above,’’ the party said.

APC recalled that before the Osun governor-

Jega

ship election earlier this month, the party warned that the use of hooded security personnel would encourage hoodlums with access to police or DSS uniforms to invade the state and perpetrate mayhem in the name of providing security.

he National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, yesterday said the second quarter 2014 Gross Domestic Product, GDP, data would be delayed by one week due to what it termed a backlog of work associated with the last national GDP rebasing exercise.

The Statistician General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale, was quoted by Reuters as saying that the 45 days set for the release of the GDP after the end of each quarter was not feasible, thereby necessitating the shifting of the date by one week.

This implies that the second quarter GDP may now be released either this Sunday, August 31 or on Monday, September 1, 2014.

Kale reportedly told Reuters that the rebasing in April took the Bureau off its normal quarterly schedule by creating a backlog of adjusting work.

The Statistician General had said then on the rebased GDP figures, which estimates indicated the forecast for the nominal GDP for Nigeria in 2013 at N80,222,128.32 ($509.9 billion), making Nigerian

economy the largest in Africa and the 26th globally, that the results revealed better diversification of the Nigerian economy than earlier reported and that the structure of the Nigerian economy had changed significantly.

According to him, Nigeria can become a developed nation only if everyone contributes to the best of his or her ability and capacity, adding that the job of government is to set a strategic vision for the nation and design policies, plans and programmes to drive the vision.

Kale said: “Government must then invite the nation to respond to that vision and to give that vision flesh and bones and to advance the ideas to translate a vision into reality. To do this however, we have a great responsibility in providing the reliable data in a timely fashion, required to make this a reality. As a nation, I believe we face two overall choices: “We can either drift into the future or we can plan for our future by providing the up-to-date statistics that enables us to design policies, plans and programmes for development”, he added.

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National News

Tuesday August 26, 2014

Nigeria Ebola patients now 13, says FG MARCUS FATUNMOLE AND FRANKA OSAKWE

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he number of patients with the Ebola virus in Nigeria has reduced from 14 to 13, the Federal Government has said.

The reduction followed a patient, whose earlier tests had confirmed positive to the virus, tested negative, it said.

He will be discharged tomorrow from the Isolated Ward, where patients with the virus are being treated in Lagos State.

Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, while giving an update on the disease.

He said: “Nigeria has revised the number of confirmed cases, since we had index case, from 14 to 13. This came about as a result of false positive tests that were earlier announced.

“You recall that in my previous briefing, I had told the media that for each case, we run further confirmatory tests to make sure that anybody that has been labeled as Ebola virus positive is actually Ebola virus positive.

“So, the 14th case has turned out to be negative; it is not only negative in terms of viremia, but it is now negative in terms of symptoms. That has now revised Nigeria’s number of cases to 13; that includes the Liberian-American who was the index case. So, 13 cases; out of these 13, unfortunately, we have lost five including the index case.

“The number of deaths still remains five, including the index case. The total number of patients who have actually been

treated and discharged from the isolation ward also remains five.

“Presently, we have three patients receiving treatment in the Isolation Ward in Lagos. But, certainly, before Wednesday, one of these three will be discharged from the ward because he tested negative. We are now concluding the discharge process that would lead to the discharge of the additional case.

“When that is done, before the next 48 hours, this would bring the total num-

ber of patients that have been successfully managed to six,” the minister added.

The minster had last Friday in Abuja confirmed two additional cases of the virus in the country, bringing the total cases to 14. He also informed that 213 persons were under surveillance over the virus.

All previous 12 cases but one in the country had been primary contacts of the index case, the Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer, who imported the virus through the Murtala

Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, over a month ago.

The two cases were the first to be recorded in Nigeria from secondary contacts.

The two patients were spouses of the primary contacts of Sawyer; they were among the secondary contacts that had been under surveillance.

Chukwu did not however say whether the readyfor-discharge patient was one of the two secondary contacts tested positive to the disease.

L-R: Late Prof. Dora Akunyili’s husband, Dr.Chike Akunyili; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during the night of tributes in honour of late Dora at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday.

Jonathan tasks lawyers on insecurity, corruption …As NBA begins conference in Owerri CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has urged lawyers across the country to support his administration in the fight against the menace of insecurity confronting the country.

Represented by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, while declaring open the 2014 Annual General conference at the Imo International Conference Centre in Owerri, Jonathan also pleaded with the legal practitioners to lend sufficient support to the fight, instead of negative criticisms, adding that the Federal Government would not relent in the fight, including that against corruption in all

areas of governance in the country.

“I, therefore, use urge the members of bar to lend their support to battle the security challenges,” he said.

In the event attended by a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, governors of Imo and Delta states, Chief Rochas Okorocha and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Speaker and his deputy in the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and Emeka Ihedioha respectively, Imo deputy governor, Eze Madumere, the out-going President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Okey Wali (SAN), among others, the President urged the lawyers to help his administration in strengthening law and sectoral reforms in the country.

He advised young lawyers to shun corruption, adding that those involved in such corrupt practices should be ashamed any time they are fished out as they contaminate the profession.

“This must be discouraged,” he maintained.

Also, Jonathan said his administration would ensure “free, fair and credible elections in 2015 for sustainable democracy, as done recently in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states.”

The President said his administration handled the issue of settlement and recovery of assets clearly in line with international standards, adding that his administration handled the issue of extension of state of emergency in the troubled states in the country

according to the security challenges of the time.

Also, the chairman of the occasion, Gowon, who turns 80 years in October, regretted that Nigeria at 100 was yet to get to its full potential. He recalled that the Bar Association established about 54 years ago had turned out about 72,000 lawyers. He therefore appealed to lawyers to work in tandem with the specifications of their oath of practice.

In his contribution, Tambuwal noted that the issue of governance should be addressed well without fear. He commended lawyers for the milestone in the country during their successful election of new national executive.

Okorocha in his speech noted that the problem of Nigeria was anchored on

bad administration even as Nigeria is 100 years.

In his address, the out-going President of the NBA, Wali, said on assumption of office, he initiated a 10-point agenda which he pursued religiously. As a step in bringing discipline, he disclosed that some erring members were suspended.

Jonathan

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Attacks on photo-journalists persist, despite FoI bill

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n spite of the recently passed Freedom of Information bill in Nigeria that gives room for anybody to seek legal information without being harassed or denied, photo-journalists are constantly being attacked in the course of carrying out their lawful duties of bringing information to the populace through graphic representations.

The attacks are not restricted to a particular area or location, as no single photo-journalist in the country have been spared unwarranted maltreatment, either by the public or law enforcers, just as there is no single case where farreaching landmark court verdict has enabled justice to be served.

In May this year the media was awash with the reports of policemen who were dispersing protesting polytechnic students at Yaba area of Lagos, brazenly and openly targeting photojournalists, who tried to document their actions, and destroyed their cameras on the spot.

Two photo-journalists of the National Mirror, Yinka Adeparusi and Samuel Adetimehin, experienced similar occurrence. They were covering the fire incident at the Central Bank of Nigeria office on Broad Street in Lagos in March this year. The security personnel on ground saw no reason for the photojournalists to report the situation in the news and forcefully confiscated their cameras, destroying one of the lenses worth about N160,000 and misplacing the other in the chaos.

Another instance is of the late former Photo Editor of Newswatch Newspaper, Tunde Ogundeji, who was taking pictures of illegal passengers hanging on a train at Oshodi in August 2012 when area boys from the train alighted and pounced on him before reconnecting with the train. There was no police intervention, let alone arresting the culprits.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fashola counsels students on leadership role FRANCIS SUBERU

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overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has urged the leadership of students unions across the country to brace up for future leadership roles in the country.

The governor made the appeal while playing host to the representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

Fashola urged students' leadership in Nigeria to use unionism as a platform and an opportunity to prepare themselves for future leadership that earnestly awaits them.

He told the visiting NANS team members that their actions and inactions as student leaders would define their perception of leadership, both now and in the near future.

While calling on students’ bodies in Nigeria to change their style of pressing home demands, the governor pledged to always pursue policies that would enhance the standard of education.

He said: "We are trying to give you the opportunity that we didn’t have; the opportunity to participate in the decisions that affect

your life. This are some of the processes that we decided to take in order to prepare you for future leadership.

"We didn’t just wake up one day and decide to increase tuition, but it was you the students who protested to the state House of Assembly to complain over the state of the school. And based on your complaints, we acted accordingly.

"Part of the recommendation by the visitation panel was that the tuition of the school should be increased for progress of the school," he explained.

Fashola, who also got a certificate of commendation from NANS over his decision to revert to the old tuition paid in the stateowned university, promised to interface with his Ogun State counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, to resolve the face-off between him and students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University.

Fashola

NGO wants chief judges to visit prisons quarterly

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non-gover nment organisation, the Centre for Justice, Mercy and Reconciliation, has appealed to chief judges in states to visit prisons on quarterly basis to reduce congestion.

The organisation’s president, Hezekiah Olujobi, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Ibadan yesterday.

NAN reports that the NGO is engaged in advocacy for ex-convicts in order to reintegrate them back into the society.

Olujobi said the Chief Justice of Nigeria should mandate judges to visit prisons on quarterly basis in order to fast-track the release of inmates.

“They should visit prisons and determine those whose detention is manifestly unlawful; they should also determine those who have been incarcerated for

longer periods than they would have stayed if convicted for the alleged offences for which they were detained.

“Whenever chief judges visit prisons, they don’t usually visit those who are charged with criminal offences. It is, however, clear that not all those charged with criminal offences really committed a crime,” he said.

He cited indiscriminate arrests, unnecessary litigation as well as unending adjournments as causes of prison congestion.

Olujobi said a research study carried out indicated that the adverse conditions in prison environment have negative effect on ex-convicts.

“There is need for government at all levels and the judiciary to put in place well equipped rehabilitation centres for exconvicts.

Intending voters waiting to register for permanent voter cards at St. Patrick, Abebi area of Ibadan, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

OOU crisis: CDHR demands sack of education commissioner FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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gun State chapter of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, has called for the immediate sack of the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barr. Segun Odubela, over the crisis that forced the state government to indefinitely shut the Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ago-Iwoye.

In a statement issued yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, and signed by the state Chairman and Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the committee, Comrades Folarin Olayinka and Femi Agunbiade, respectively, the organisation said the education commissioner had demonstrated his incompetence at proffering solution to the

students' agitation for an immediate implementation of tuition fees reduction.

The CDHR also described government's decision to shut OOU over the students’ demands as a "disappointment, demonstration of weakness, unworthiness of trust, failure on educational promises and lack of know-how approach to salient matters that affect the future generation and student community.

"It is a crystal demonstration that the Ogun State government is jittery and incompetent to proffer solution to the students’ challenges. However, CDHR hereby reiterates that a democratic government should not think peace at the expense of justice.

"That the estimated likely loss of N2 billion as expressed by the Ogun State government, should the students’ demand be met,

has revealed clearly that education in Ogun State has been commercialised as against one of the cardinal agenda often reiterated by the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led government in Ogun State,” it said.

In the statement, in which the Commissioner of Police, Director of State Security Service, SSS, State Coalition of Civil Societies, as well as the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, were copied, the CDHR also warned the police and other security operatives in the state against infringing on the ‘constitutional rights’ of the students through instrumentalities of arrests and detentions.

“We condemn in totality, the press statement issued by the Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Police, threatening and intimidating the students of Olabisi Onabanjo Univer-

sity over their right to a peaceful assembly. It will be good we remind the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command that we are not under military dictatorship where anything goes.

“The Nigerian Police, Ogun State Command and other security operatives in the state should be warned against any unlawful act, military action, unlawful arrest, unlawful detention and violation of constitutional rights of any student in Ogun State.

“Ogun State CDHR will not hesitate to challenge any incessant act against humanity and supposed responsibilities of the Nigerian Police, Ogun State.

Any conspiracy between the Ogun State government and the Nigerian Police will, with utmost efficiency via mobilisation, be resisted and challenged legally,” it added.

We don’t owe WAEC, says Oyo govt … pays N1.7bn in three years

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yo State government yesterday denied the allegation that it reneged on its promise of offsetting the WAEC fees of students preparing for the Senior Secondary School, SSS III, Certificate Examinations in the state.

Commissioner for Education, Prof.

Solomon Olaniyonu, in a statement issued in Ibadan yesterday, said the state government had paid N1.7 billion as WAEC fees between 2011

and 2014.

According to him, N339,000,000 was paid in 2011 for 60,000 candidates, while N396,548,000, N446,227,600 and N540,410,400 were paid for 76,786, 55,432 and 54,864 candidates as WAEC fees in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.

He said the state government had even over-paid WAEC to the tune of over N75 million, which was later returned to government

by the examining body, saying this underscored that the Ajimobi administration was a responsible one.

The commissioner blamed the unfounded rumour on the opposition which he said was all out to politicise virtually everything and set the citizens against the government.

He directed all the public secondary school students who sat for the 2014 WAEC Senior Secondary School Certificate Exami-

nations in the state to access their results on the net.

Shekarau, Minister of Education

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

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Ondo judicial workers begin strike HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

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Community medical outreach in Surulere, Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Anxiety grips aviation sector workers over staff audit

OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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here is palpable fear among staff of all the aviation agencies in the country over the insistence of staff audit by the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka.

National Mirror gathered yesterday that the minister, through the Ministry of Aviation, had last week, sent out forms with the headings: ‘Update/ Review of Staff Nominal Roll of Agencies’, which advised all staff to input their bio data.

Although most staff are yet to return their forms

to the ministry, there are rumours of panic that the minister might eventually carry out a retrenchment exercise in some of the agencies any moment from now.

A source close to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, confided in our correspondent that at a recent meeting Chidoka held with the helmsmen of the agencies, the minister alleged that there were ghost workers in the system.

After the filling of the forms, all staff were required to submit it to their Heads of Department, HoDs, to append their sig-

natures and approvals.

The source added that the essence of the form was for the ministry to know the exact number of staff, qualifications, state of origin, name, schools attended with dates, among other necessary information, while two passport photographs are to be attachment to the form.

Chidoka had earlier in a letter to the agencies’ heads ordered the immediate suspension of recruitment and promotion matters in the sector.

Chidoka in the letter also ordered the “immediate stoppage of irregular employment and re-

quested for the update of condition of service and scheme of service in all the agencies which must be concluded by September 23, 2014.”

However, a staff of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, said that there was nothing wrong with the nominal forms sent to all workers to fill.

The source said “The forms given to staff to fill is a regular thing in the system and doesn’t apply to the Aviation Ministry alone, but to all ministries.

The essence is to know the accurate members of staff in each agency.”

700 disenfranchised Osun voters sue INEC CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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ver 700 registered voters in Osun State, who were allegedly disenfranchised in the just concluded governorship election through unwarranted arrests and detention by security operatives have dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to court for infringements on their fundamental human rights.

The state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Wale Afolabi, who narrated his experience in detention to newsmen in Owerri before attending the 54th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Associa-

Prof, Jega, INEC boss

tion, NBA, taking place in the city, said although the state government had taken steps to prosecute the case so that the electorate would not have to go through such experience in 2015.

He decried what took place in the state as a dangerous precedent in the nation’s democracy, which should not be allowed to re-occur in any part of the

country.

Afolabi, who claimed to be one of those arrested and detained, said that a total of five cases had been instituted in court in respect of the frivolous arrest, stressing that the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the state had, prior to the election, gone to court challenging the massive deployment of soldiers, police and the State Security Services, SSS, to the state.

“During the election, they brought in so many fake SSS men and police without tags to indicate their names to supervise the exercise and some of them actually confessed to have come from the neighbouring Ekiti State,” he observed.

The attorney general ex-

plained that the presence of some members of the European Union, EU, in the state reaffirmed “our court decision and almost 25 local government areas were affected in the mass arrest and detention.”

Afolabi, however, made it clear that the APC in the state was not opposed to the deployment of security men to supervise the election, but is bitter with the illegal and unnecessary arrest of innocent voters who voluntarily turned out en- masse to exercise their franchise, stating that the over 700 individuals arrested in the wake of the poll had not been charged to any court of the land or any charge brought against them.

udiciary workers under the auspices of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Ondo State chapter, yesterday paralysed judicial activities in the state as members of the union embarked on industrial action.

Most of the judicial workers abstained from office, while the gate leading to court premises was under lock and key, and the leaders of the union were also present to make sure that members complied with the directives.

Speaking on the development, the Chairman of JUSUN in the state, Femi Ogunode, said the union is demanding for the removal of magistrates’ administrative positions and the consideration of conversion, advancement or promotion of its members.

Ogunode explained that the positions are not meant for the JSC and stressed that continuous holding of administrative positions by the commission and management of the judiciary is not in the best interest of the union and judiciary workers.

He said that since the introduction of the policy, many of the judiciary staff have been denied promotions, while some who had applied for conversion of service were not considered.

He added the strike action was avoidable, but

said the Judicial Commission failed to listen to the plea of the union and listed other demands of JUSUN to include restraining the state JSC from fashioning new scheme of service for the Registrar cadre.

He said: “The Judiciary Service Commission, JSC, has failed to heed the advice of the Ondo State Head of Service that due process should be followed in fashioning out new scheme of service for the Registrars.

“It is our believe that if the Judicial Service Commission wants Magistrates to acquire administrative knowledge it should send them to relevant administrative training institutions.

“Judicial Service Commission has also failed woefully to heed our own advice that it should wait patiently for the release of the new National scheme of service being prepared

by JUSUN national body, in conjunction with all relevant bodies like the National Council on Establishment,” Ogunode added.

Mimiko, Ondo State governor

31 killed in Osun auto crashes

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sun State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Mr Muhammad Husaini, said yesterday in Osogbo that 31 deaths were recorded from road traffic crashes in the state between June and July this year.

He also said that 36 road traffic crashes occurred within the period under review, while 279 persons were involved.

He attributed the crashes to over speeding, poor condition of roads and failure by motorists to comply with road traffic rules and regulations.

“Some of the acci-

dents recorded could have been avoided if the motorists were driving within the speed limit.

“Most of the roads are not in good condition and if drivers were observing the speed limit, they would have the advantage of avoiding ditches and potholes on the roads,” he said.

He, however, lauded the Osun government for redressing the situation through road construction and rehabilitation.

Husaini called on motorists to observe road safety rules, vowing that anyone caught violating the law would be apprehended and prosecuted.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tansian university targets 5,000 intakes CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

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ansian University, Umunya, in Oyi local government area of Anambra State yesterday announced its readiness to admit 5,000 new students for 2014/15 session, beginning October 2014.

Announcing this development at Umunya campus of the university that was named after the late Reverend Iwene Tansi, Mr Cletus Ilorbanafor, who spoke on behalf of the management, said the institution has consequently declared open its admission portal, which is accessible to would-be students from any party of the world.

Cletus, who addressed journalists yesterday, assisted by Akpeji Ben, on the import of the current admission portal launched by the university, stated that the school was targeting 5,000 qualified candidates into the various courses for 2014/2015 session.

He said Tansian University which came into exis-

tence since 2007 has been reorganised and was poised to step-up to the next level through its online registration for admission.

Cletus, who is overseeing the new admission portal of the varsity, urged prospective students to go to any branch of Fidelity Bank and pay for the admission form and then register online using: www.tansianuniversity.edu.ng.

He also disclosed that the current admission process has been on since JAMB released the result of its last examination.

Shedding light on the extent they have gone with next session’s admission, Cletus said, "Our admission portal is now open and it is strictly online. You go to any branch of Fidelity Bank and pick our forms for N10,000 and after that you continue online for all the other processes.”

He further disclosed that activities at the Umunya permanent site of the university will go into full swing in October and that the Oba campus would be phased out in future.

2015: PDP chieftain predicts victory for Jonathan CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

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chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State, Chief Pat Chukwuemeka Orjiako, yesterday expressed optimism that President Goodluck Jonathan would win next year's presidential election, if he decides to re-contest.

Orjiako, who holds the post of South East Zonal coordinator of PDP National Youth Awareness Forum, said Jonathan had achieved a lot since he became president and, therefore, deserves a second tenure of four years.

Addressing journalists in Awka yesterday on the prospects of Jonathan's reelection, Orjiako stated that his optimism for Jonathan's victory was further boosted, in that notable individuals, including Prince Arthur Eze and groups such as the one he leads and the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, have been busy showcasing Jonathan's achievements and seriously mobilising support for his

Jonathan

second term bid.

Orjiako lauded the philanthropic gesture of Arthur Eze, a man he said has positively touched so many lives as part of human capital development.

The one-time Deputy Chairman of Awka South Local Government Council, extolled Eze for his support to the PDP at all levels, a development he claimed had made the party visible and very formidable ahead of the 2015 polls.

He enjoined PDP supporters and all Jonathan's support groups to continue to work hard until victory is achieved.

Orjiako said he left the defunct ANPP to join PDP because he believes in the transformation agenda of Jonathan.

Oil and Gas Producing Communities in Orogun, Delta State, demonstrating at the NPDC OML30 flow station at Erhoike, yesterday.

Police accused of partiality in Ebonyi Assembly crisis ALIUNA GODWIN ABAKALIKI

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ourteen lawmakers of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly yesterday accused the state police command of being partial in its security coverage to the minority group, led by factional speaker, Chukwuma Nwazunku.

Speaking to National Mirror in Abakaliki, the Minority Leader of the Assembly, Enyi C. Enyi, of the All Progressive Congress, APC, said it was unfortunate that Police Commissioner Margari Dikko allowed his men

to be attached to Nwazunku, instead of the majority.

He said: “The commissioner of Police was supposed to see that all the members returned to the House in peace, but what they are doing now is providing security for the minority against the majority, thereby taking sides. That is why I said that as soon as we impeached the former speaker, we paid courtesy call on the commissioner of Police to brief him on the development and that there is a change in our office.

“We convened it and followed our write-up which was signed by 18 lawmakers

out of the 24 members of the House. We submitted it before the Commissioner of Police and he wanted us to be lawmakers as well as law enforcement agents and we said no, that we are lawmakers and law abiding citizens of the state.

“The police on the other hand, have been given coverage to the minority because they pay them more.

We challenged their act in the court of law, but they sealed our office because when we impeached the former speaker, he demanded that we should leave the Assembly premises,” he explained.

The minority leader, also accused the police of not allowing them to enter the House of Assembly complex to do their duties as lawmakers in the state, adding: "Armoured carrier has been in the front of our office since and if go close to the gate, they will drive you back.”

Responding to the allegation, the police public relations officer, ASP Chris Anyawu, said the police could not be dragged into the crisis rocking the House, noting that the police have no business with the activities with the lawmakers.

‘Atani-Ekwusigo Road, key to success of Obiano’s agric scheme’

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nambra State government yesterday assured the people of quick completion of the on-going AtaniEkwusigo road project.

The Commissioner for Works, Callistus Ilozumba, told newsmen in Atani, near Onitsha, that the road was cardinal to its Agricultural Transformation Scheme, meant to generate employment and boost food production.

Ilozumba said that the 12km road would link many farming communities that would participate in the agriculture programme.

Speaking after inspect-

ing the on-going project, the commissioner said that three bridges meant for the road had been completed, while work was still going on at a good pace.

“Atani-Ekwusigo road is a focal road for us, especially as it would support the Agricultural Transformation Scheme since in this axis of the state we have very fertile arable land.

“It would assist our farmers to get their produce to major markets in Onitsha in order to get good bargain for them as well as help those that would like to buy direct from the farms.

“It would be a useless

venture if after producing these tonnes of food items, there is no good means of transporting them out of here and getting them to the market.

“Government would ensure speedy completion of the road which will provide a quicker passage in and out of Onitsha,” he said.

The commissioner stressed that the road would act as a good alternative bypass to ease traffic jam at the Upper Iweka axis of the Onitsha-Enugu road.

“The road, when completed, would also bring considerable relief to commuters using the Onit-

sha-Owerri road, as they would easily connect the Niger Bridge to Delta State through the road, instead of contending with the usual traffic jam at Upper Iweka through the Onitsha-Enugu road,’’ he said.

Ilozumba thanked the people of Ogbaru council for the support they had given to the state government as well as contractor handling the project.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Anambra government has started mobilising massive land, seedlings and inputs for its agriculture programme.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oshiomhole sensitises market women

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overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, held a sensitisation meeting with market women in the state on precautionary measures to take to stop the spread of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in the state.

Speaking at the meeting with the market women in Benin City, Oshiomhole said, “the meeting today is two parts: first, to tell you about the Ebola disease that was brought from another country to Lagos. We thank God that the disease has not come to Edo State.

The governor said the second part of his sensitisation meeting is to let the market women know the value of the INEC Permanent Voters’ Cards.

He advised the market women leaders to educate their members on the need to swear to an affidavit to enable them get permanent voters card in case their temporal voter’s card has been misplaced.

He however cautioned the market women to jealously guide their Perma-

South East

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

EBOLA

Ebola: Youths protest location of quarantine centre DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

S Edo state governor, Oshiomhole

nent Voters Card from political miscreants who may want to deceive them on the pretext that they are keeping it for them maintaining that the Permanent Voters Card is their power to vote. Speaking on the effects of the Ebola Virus Disease, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Aihanuwa Eregie told the market women leaders that the Ebola Virus has been in existence since 1976.

She maintained that though the virus is not presently in Edo State, but the need for effective sensitisation to alert our people in the state especially market women who travel from one part of the state to another become necessary.

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ome youths in Emohua community, Emohua local government area of Rivers State, yesterday barricaded the Ebola quarantine centre set up by the Rivers State Government, saying the area could be exposed to the virus.

The Ebola quarantine centre was set up by the state government as part of precautionary measures for the treatment and management of possible outbreak of the dreaded virus in the state.

Though no outbreak of Ebola has yet been reported in the state, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr.

Samson Parker, had supervised the setting up of the facility.

The protesting youths, who blocked the quarantine centre with palm fronds some 50 metres from the isolated unit, expressed fear that the community could be exposed to Ebola epidemic if government went ahead to use the community as a pilot centre.

The youths frowned at the decision of the state government to choose their community as a quarantine centre.

One of the protesting youths, who did not want his name in print for fear of being identified said: “We all know that Ebola has not

come to Rivers State and we are praying fervently that it does not come to Rivers State.

“However, we are worried that the government has chosen to locate the quarantine centre in our community. We are afraid. We hope that the government will understand our plight," he said.

But speaking with newsmen on the development, Dr. Parker said there was no need for people of the community to be afraid over the siting of the facility.

Parker said the quarantine centre does not pose any danger, saying aside citing it on the outskirt of the community, it was properly guarded.

He however promised that the state government will build additional health centre in the area and requested a land space from the community.

The State Governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, Rotimi Amaechi, described the global fight against the spread of Ebola as a war to save humanity.

Amaechi stated this in Port Harcourt, while declaring open a one-week training for health workers in the state on the Ebola.

He said during wars, unseen enemies, such as parasites, viruses and bacteria kill more people than the gun in a lifetime.

Don’t reject patients with similar symptoms, hospitals warned BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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non-gover nment organisation, NGO, Society Awareness Response on Epidemic Diseases, CARED, has warned against improper management of cases of Ebola Virus Disease to stem its further spread.

The organisation accused some hospitals of rejecting patients with symptoms relating to EVD, the development, it claimed, may lead to unnecessary loss of lives through ailments with similar symptoms with the deadly disease.

Addressing a press conference in Osogbo yesterday, the conveners of the group, Aremu Stephen, also frowned at the poor level of engagement of civil societies and communities, saying the government-led response to the scourge dwelt more on health sector.

While alleging that little

attention was given to educating the public about Ebola by government, Aremu said lack of information, sensitisation by the media and secrecy by health care givers about the survivors of the EVD, are having adverse effects on government's efforts to nip the disease in the bud.

Aremu said owing to the poor understanding of the disease and how it can be managed, "a patient living with HIV, but manifesting symptoms relating to Ebola was rejected in several hospitals he went to for medical help in Lagos. It is frighten that medical personnel could do such a thing.

"We have also had reports from other states in the country where patients are being rejected by health care givers over the fear that they may be Ebola patients. So far, from reports all these rejected patients are not carrying the disease, but were denied attention by those that should take care of them.

L-R: Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio; Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Sam O. Ikon and wife; with Deputy Speaker, Udo Kerien Akpan, during a thanksgiving service by the state House of Assembly at Methodist Church Nigeria, Ikot Ebido Oku, recently.

Stop granting shore passes to vessel crewmen, immigration urged DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

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s part of precautionary measures against the spread of the Ebola virus, Immigration staff at the Port Harcourt Port, Rivers State, have been urged to stop granting ‘shore passes’ to vessel crewmen and others who arrive the facility.

The Port Manager, Port Harcourt Port, Mrs. Carolyn Ufere, stated this on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting with the Immigration, Customs, Police and port operators at the

Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Training Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

Ufere explained that the purpose of the interactive session was to brainstorm and bring to the fore preventive measures to address further spread of the virus.

This is as she disclosed that management of the Rivers Port has provided Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, disinfectants, hand gloves, sanitisers and soap for medical staff and other departments, aimed at checking the virus.

Ufere explained that the

measure became necessary because the Rivers Port is a sensitive entry Port to Nigeria, hence the urgent need to step up action there to help in controlling possible spread of the virus.

She also urged the port security and the port police to be more vigilant and put their men on strategic locations to check the influx of persons into the port; especially those that have no business being at the port.

In her remark, Chief Medical Director, Port Harcourt Port, Dr Margret Osakwe, advised representatives of companies and agencies in the port to be

vigilant and have lesser contact with foreigners at the port.

Osakwe stated that checking the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, was the responsibility of all, even as she advised that suspicious cases should be reported to the relevant quarters.

Organisations and agencies in attendance at the meeting include the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Ports & Terminal Operators Limited, PTOL, BUA Port and Terminals limited, immigration, customs, police, shipping agents, among others.

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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Adamawa: I ‘ll contest if –Acting gov … Rep says Ribadu will return to APC

OBIORA IFOH AND TORDUE SALEM

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he acting Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umar Fintiri, yesterday said though it was the turn of the central to rule the state, but if he emerges as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, flagbearer and win the October 11 bye-election and the people insisted he go ahead, he would contest the seat again in 2015.

Fintiri said this shortly

after he submitted his nomination and expression of interest forms at the party’s national secretariat. “If it is my wish I will not contest in 2015, but if the Adamawa people insist, I will contest.”

He said as a loyal party person he would support consensus and abide by the decision of the party leadership.

Speaking on the issue of the former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, Fin-

tiri said: “I am not threatened by any candidate.

How can I be threatened by somebody who was a presidential candidate of APC, and now that we have collapsed the opposition he (Ribadu) wants to come in.

“It is the turn of the central to produce the governor in 2015, but right now we are in 2014.

We are contesting for 2014, section 191 (2) of the Constitution says whoever emerges would serve the remaining period of the

last administration,” he explained.

Also yesterday, a member of the House of Representatives from the state, Nwangubi Ahmadu Fons, alleged that Ribadu would go back to the All Progressives Congress if he wins the Adamawa State governorship election on the platform of the PDP. The lawmaker made the projection in an interview with select media at the National Assembly yesterday.

He said he was suspi-

cious that Ribadu, who made a scathing criticism of the PDP a few months ago, would turn around to join the party and seek its ticket to govern Adamawa.

“Barely a month ago, the EFCC man was criticising the PDP very well, but 24 hours later, he is in the PDP. Personally, I don’t think he will embezzle money, but why didn’t he contest under APC? “I am suspecting that after securing the PDP ticket, he will go back to APC. So my advice is that PDP should not give anybody a direct ticket. They should allow for direct primaries, so that whoever emerges as winner should get the ticket,” he suggested.

He claimed that the decision of Ribadu to join PDP in the state was not an issue worth jubilating over.

Meanwhile, Ribadu, yesterday said he is not worried about his pending application for waiver

to vie for the party’s ticket.

The former EFCC boss, who spoke after submitting his nomination form at the national secretariat of the PDP said: “I am not worried about the waiver.

I have followed the rules.

I am a law and order person. I have done my own bit and I will wait for the party to do their own.

That part is not my responsibility. ” He also denied the claim that he ate his vomit by returning to the PDP. Ribadu stated that questions over his political structure going into the election need not arise.

He said: “I have been in politics in the last four years. And that is good enough. The same people of Adamawa will decide.

Nobody will say I am a new person in politics.

More so we are all same people. Adamawa is a homogeneous place. We know ourselves. We are more or less like a family.”

Minister directs forestry involvement in GGW project

Vehicles displayed at the campaign office of the Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial aspirant for Adamawa State, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, in Jimeta, Yola, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

NAMA tasks air traffic engineers on safety, efficiency

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he Managing Director, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Mr Ibrahim Abdulsalam, on Monday charged air traffic engineers to improve on their competence to ensure safety and efficiency in service delivery.

The call was contained in NAMA’s weekly update signed by the General Manager, Public Af-

fairs, Mr Supo Atobatele, in Abuja.

According to the weekly update, the NAMA boss made this known at a one-day seminar organised by the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers, NAATE. The theme for the seminar was ‘Enhancing Competence, Safety and Efficiency in Air Traffic Engineering in Nigeria’.

“This kind of workshop is important because it will add to the agency’s drive towards efficiency and professionalism,” Ibrahim noted.

The workshop covered topics such as air navigation infrastructures and human capital, air navigation systems and safety, enhancing competence, safety and efficiency in air traffic engi-

neering.

The weekly update said that the Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Kebbi State was ready to begin operations.

According to the update, a six-man delegation from NAMA on operational inspection to the airport, expressed satisfaction with the hitechnical equipment at the facility.

Gaidam backs Abdulrahaman medical treatment with N1.5m INUSA NDAHI, DAMATURU

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overnor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has provided the sum of N1.5 million financial support to the family of the Managing Director of New Nigerian Newspapers, NNN, Mallam Tukur Abdurrahman, as he seeks for medical

treatment outside the country.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the governor’s spokesman, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, and made available to our correspondent in Damaturu, the state capital.

The NNN MD, who took ill, is currently receiving treatment outside the country.

Gaidam’s Special Adviser on Press Affairs, Bego, who extended the governor’s support to the family, said Gaidam is also praying for his speedy recovery.

Mallam Tukur’s wife, Hajia Jamila Adodo, who confirmed the receipt of the financial support from the Yobe State governor, expressed her family’s ap-

preciation and gratitude for the gesture.

Governor Ibrahim Gaidam

M

inister of the E nv i r o n m e n t , Mrs Laurentia Mallam, has called for the active involvement of the Department of Forestry in the implementation of the Great Green Wall (GGW) project.

The call was contained in a statement issued by the Deputy Director, Press Unit, of the Ministry of the Environment, Mr Ben BemGoong, in Abuja on Monday.

The statement stated that the minister’s directive was with a view to fasttracking the implementation of the GGW project.

The project is an environmental programme of the Federal Government designed to check the ravaging desert encroachment in the northern part of the country.

She, therefore, directed three directors of forestry in the ministry to develop strategies toward implementing the project.

The statement quoted the minister as saying that the content of the project was 90 per cent afforesta-

tion in nature and queried the non-involvement of the department.

She said this was necessary, “given the huge manpower resources available in the department that can easily be deployed to complement what the Project Implementation Unit, PIU, of the GGW in the ministry is doing.”

Earlier, the Director of Forest Management, Mr Simon Adedoyin, said the department was confronted with paucity of funds, among others.

According to him, capacity gap arising from non-recruitment of technical cadres, obsolete forest sector statistics and dilapidated field offices and nursery sites, were other factors affecting operations of the department.

Adedoyin, however, listed some of the achievements of the department to include the establishment of Forest Remote Sensing/ GIS facility, which was inaugurated on March 7, 2013 and the establishment of the National Forest Information System.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

SUPER TUESDAY Waiver is non issue, as no one has spent up to two years in Adamawa PDP –Marwa 14, 43

I’ll contest on my pedigree and not my father’s –Auwal Tukur

14

13

Politics

Why APC will participate in by-election despite Nyako’s impeachment –Bakari

43

Adamawa 2014: Aspirants jostle to succeed Nyako TOP STORY

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he questions begging for answers, but which answers we may have to wait until October 12, the date Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is expected to announce the winner of the Adamawa governorship bye-election is whether the voices of those who make up the Christian community and also those of the non-Fulani ethnic stock, referred to as the ‘kabillus,’ will find a place in the power equation in the state.

Obvious fault lines which have characterised power play in the state since the days of old Gongola State has continued unabashedly along ethnic and religious lines. The politics of the state, is much like that of Nigeria which has often revolved around a tripartite political arrangement comprising the three dominant ethnic groups of Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo.

Considering, that it would be much easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a camel rather than for a Fulani to succeed another Fulani in quick succession, puts the state at a cross roads.

While it appears that the emergence of the acting governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, seems a divine intervention in settling the age long contention for power in the state, since he is a Kabilla and Margi by tribe, his aspirations, spared of any acrimonious conspiracy, is assured a comfortable stand on the power tripod of the state.

This, many believe in large part, has been shaped by the large swathe of public angst, which the acting governor, since his assumption of office, has had to contend with, by working to reverse the rot, occasioned by Nyako’s maladministration and skewed nepotistic disposition to his Fulani kith and kin, which earned the government the appellation of government of “family and friends”.

Nyako’s misadventure in governance is viewed as the albatross that is likely to weigh heavily against any of Nyako’s kinsmen from succeeding him.

But, just as the very nature of politician to be incurable optimist, many of Nyako’s kith and kin like Ahmed Modibbo, Umar Ardo, Adamu Muazu Modibbo, Mohammed Sabo Jimeta, Senator Abubakar Girei and Auwal Tukur, scion of Bamanga Tukur, former National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have continued to signify their interest to occupy the Dougirei Government House, and the ranks continue to swell.

Others who are also angling to succeed Nyako from the Fulani political bloc are

The predilection with 2015 is who will succeed the impeached governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, come October 11, the new date set by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for governorship bye-election? OBIORA IFOH and LIVINUS MENEDI attempt an answer.

Marwa

Ribadu

THE POLITICS OF THE STATE, IS MUCH LIKE THAT OF

NIGERIA

WHICH HAS OFTEN REVOLVED AROUND A TRIPARTITE POLITICAL ARRANGEMENT General Mohammed Buba Marwa, Engr Markus Gundiri, Ahmed A. Gulak, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong and Hon. Jerry Kumdisi, all of the PDP. In the All Progressive Congress, APC, the pack of those angling for Nyako’s seat include: Senator Bindow Umar Jibrilla, Senator Ahmed Barata, Dr. Halilu Hamman and Dr. Salihu Bakari Girei, out of favour, anointed successor of former Governor Nyako, whose political future has been bogged by graft allegation since he went under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC scanners pre-Nyako impeachment.

Girei is Nyako’s son-in-law who was up staged in what appears to be a family coup.

He was initially being propped up to succeed Nyako before Abdullaaziz, Nyako’s first son, through subterfuge put himself into reckoning, upsetting Bakari’s apple cart, so to speak, as Nyako’s heir apparent before Nyako’s disgraceful exit.

As the countdown to the October 11, 2014, begins, we take a look at some of the candidate and their chances.

Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri Hon. Fintiri, Speaker of the state House of Assembly who transmuted into the acting governor of the state, is perhaps among a few fortunate politicians destiny doth easily smile upon. Not one time lucky, this is the second time he has the rare privilege to act as governor. Fintiri’s political clout and as much as his political ascendancy is on the rise and perhaps bolstered by his responsive leadership style shown in his effort of promptly resolving all contentious and anti-people policies of the former administration. His responsive governance style tinged with compassion and determination to foster progress on the polity in so short a space of time has already earned him plaudits and political capital to leverage upon.

Save for one or two other frontline contenders in the PDP as it stands, Fintiri appears well primed to get the party’s ticket, but there are hurdles he must surmount.

An early election such as is now on the plate is one of such obstacles which may foreclose his governorship ambitions.

Throwing his hat into the ring at this juncture puts him at the risk of being opportunistic. Even though Fintiri’s actions since assuming the reins of power in the state have been propelled more by compassion, there are those who feel the actions are not really altruistic altogether but goal driven.

Those who hold these notions had cause to question the administration’s recent appointment of commissioners for an administration with a short span which they claimed only portrayed politics at best. But those who are close to the acting governor, at a vantage position to know his inclinations, say his one desire is to be a senator of the Federal Republic.

Gundiri

On the other hand, it is understood that Fintiri may have been muscled by some powerful party hawks in the state to give up his ambitions of governing the state at least in the meantime. The acting governor, perhaps acknowledging the divine hands of providence in his rise to power and the need not to over-stretch his good luck or irk his political benefactors, may want to put his gubernatorial ambitions on hold. The caveat however, is not to underestimate the acting governor, ahead the PDP primaries, as only him alone can pull the element of surprise capable of re-shaping the forthcoming by-election.

Markus Gundiri Gundiri still enjoys the sympathy of the people who believe he was their “undeclared governor”. Just like in 2012, when he contested against former Governor Nyako, he was the symbolic candidate for change and that mantra still resonates with the people coming into this election.

Using the lines by one of Gundiri’s aide to justify his defection from the APC to the PDP, his defection remained the only way to protect the yearnings of the people for change. Besides enjoying a broad based appeal, Gundiri also enjoys the rarity of the “good fortunes” which can beset any politician seeking any elective office, which is the peoples “uncommon trust” in the candidate to realise their hopes and yearnings for change.

Gundiri’s chances in the elections have been helped in no small measure by former Governor Nyako’s misadventure in the governance of the state. His appeal and aura in the PDP is magnetic, nearly all, if not all of the political juggernauts within the PDP broke ranks with their party to CONTINUED ON PAGE 45

14

Politics

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

I’ll contest on my pedigree and not my father’s –Auwal Tukur I HAVE NOT STEPPED DOWN FOR MALLAM RIBADU... I

Alhaji Auwal Tukur, son of former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur tells OBIORA IFOH that though his father’s image looms large, he is to contest on his personal achievements. Excerpts:

AM IN THE RACE AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WE HAVE OUR PRIMARY ELECTION

It was widely reported recently that you have stepped down for Malam Nuhu Ribadu, why did you change your mind?

I have not stepped down for Mallam Ribadu and as you see, I’ve come here this afternoon to pick up my form, that alone is an indication that I am in the race and we will see what happens after we have our primary election.

But this issue of producing Ribadu as a consensus option, how true is that?

Consensus is a major pinnacle of our party and as politicians, we all know that everyone will not get it at one point; but you can get it through ballot box or consensus. To answer your question, we have not had any consensus meeting. I don’t think anyone has had one or has told me. Like I said, we are all preparing for elections and I do not know who said the consensus is for Mallam Ribadu alone. It maybe for me for instance, it may be for someone else. So, yes, consensus is an option under party rules, but at the moment we are all working towards elections.

If you become the governor, what difference will you bring to governance?

This is the third time I am privileged to pick up the form for gubernatorial, I did it in 2007 and 2011 and today. I have been a privileged Nigerian, Nigeria has done a lot for me and I have been playing politics in my own right since 1992 during the Social Democratic Party, SDP/National Republican Convention, NRC, days and my own kind of politics is to give back what I can. There is so much we can do, not everyone will go out and do politics. I have chosen to do so, and I am seeking leadership to do good things for our people. That is what is driving me, I have been elected before as a legislator to lead my people, I believe I did that assignment the best way possible. I also want to take it up further at the executive level which is the governorship. When I was in the legislative branch, there are things you can do and many others you cannot do. So it is all my belief that I can also put back and do my own quota for my people.

Is your position as Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s son giving you added advantage in the contest?

There is no doubt I am Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s son.

I must be born to somebody, God chose it to be Alhaji Tukur and if he is my father I will ride on my father’s back, I will not ride on someone else’s father’s back.

That is nature. He has given birth to me and there is nothing I can do about it. I have said it that people should also look at my history. I am an individual, until you show me in the constitution where it says because I am Alhaji Tukur’s son, I cannot play politics. I will rise and fall in my own right. Alhaji Tukur’s time has come and gone, this is my time! So, let us not make that mistake, until you tell me a butcher’s son can’t eat meat, or that a politician’s son cannot play politics, I think that is falsehood. So let us leave that horse alone. I go to face electorate, not my father’s people. People should leave my father out of it and face me in my own right.

Tukur

How would you address the issue of Boko Haram and general security challenges in Adamawa if you are elected the governor?

My belief is that it has been a systemic problem over the years and that is due largely because of the economic and social disconnect within the society and this has become so deep such that they have given rise to this crisis. When terrorism and evil feed, they thrive on where people have extreme poverty and problem. In the NorthPDP constitution provides that members running for elective office should have been members of the party for no less than two years, unless they are granted a waiver by the appropriate authority. How does this provision affects your ambition?

I don’t see any great difficulty with this in the sense that when the former National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, assumed office, you will recall the party structures were dissolved and new congresses were organised for the party and all those new members that crossed over then from the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, who had spent less than two months were deemed qualified to run in the congresses and today they remain in elective positions. Nobody asked them for waiver, and none was given. Based on that, we have full confidence that the issue of waiver will not be an issue, because if it has been done in Adamawa State for others it will be extended.

In any case, fundamentally also is the fact that almost everybody in the party will ask for waiver, because fresh registration took place at that time and so you will find out almost everybody has spent less than two years in the party. I have applied for waiver through the normal processes and I am confident that it will be amicably resolved.

You are easily remembered for your achievements as a military administrator, how would that impact on you campaigns and government if elected the governor?

By the grace of God and because of fear of God, our deep sincerity and commitment, our capacity for hard work, our propensity to excel and care for the downtrod-

ern part of Nigeria, we have poverty and in the NorthEast we have deeper and extreme poverty.

Again we are bordering war zones such as Chad, Darfur, Libya and Mali and all these have filtered down and have found a fertile ground in the North-East zone. How do we tackle it? It is a thing that calls for all hands on deck. Government has to use the resources at its disposal to make sure that we begin to get these resources down to the people and get them engaged and occupied.

Adamawa is blessed, just like Nigeria is. I have been a practicing farmer for many years, that is the economy of my area. I do a lot of large scale agriculture in Adamawa and I am seeing the practical effects of what it has done with people, you see how they are beginning to forget problems, it is lesson.

In a nutshell, it is to continue the programme of channelling resources in a deeper and more systemic way into agriculture and allied industries. I think if you look at the transformation agenda, agriculture is been of extreme benefits to our people, it has trickled down to the grassroots and I tell you a lot of these areas which today are problem areas will become zones of prosperity. I tell you that because I am practically involved in those things myself. We should have coordinated and joint programmes among state and local governments that are channelled towards the people not just ending it at your borders. I will get the live of our people economically better and socially improved.

Waiver is non issue, as

Former military governor of Borno and Lagos sta based on years of membership, arguing that in A waiver should not arise. OBIORA IFOH brings e den, those things that I did in Borno and Lagos, I will multiply them because you have to build on previous records.

Even more so, in my dear state, which is, unfortunately, at the bottom of the rung among all states due to unsatisfactory leadership in the previous dispensations. All the indices of progress beginning from security, in the NorthEast, I will bring to bear my background, my training, my experience and capacity to face squarely this challenge and by the grace of God working with other stakeholders and security agencies, we should bring this issue of insecurity to a successful resolution. I am not saying that I, General Marwa will bring things to successful resolution, I am saying with my experience, I will contribute meaningfully towards the resolution of these issues, having been governor of the same North-East before.

Do you believe in the policy of consensus and should the party ask you to step down for another aspirant, what will you do?

Now we have to be very careful with the word consensus, the word by definition is an understanding of agree-

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

15

A PUBLICATION OF NATIONAL MIRROR NEWSPAPERS

L-R: Delta State Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Chris Oghenechovwen; his wife, Regina and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, during the wedding ceremony of Chinenye Mbamala and Rume Oghenechovwen in Warri on Saturday.

Oil theft disrupts power supply as Shell spends N80bn on CSR SAM OLUWALANA

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he Federal and state Governments, alongside oil companies and other stake holders in the oil industry have all raised alarm over the colossal amount of money lost annually to oil thefts in the Niger Delta, but none has mentioned the fact that these activities of a few unscrupulous Nigerians also cost the residents of the region billions of dollars in earnings while also been responsible for the erratic power supply in the country. In an exclusive visit and briefing organized for Niger Delta Mirror by the management of the Royal Dutch oil giants, Shell Petroleum Development Company, revelations were made about the implications of plant shut downs and pipe line vandalization for power supply to the nation and how this environmental scourge cost residents of the Niger Delta area, billions of dollars annually. According to Engr. Ben Agbajogu, the Operations Manager of SPDC’s Afam Power Plant in Rivers State, when oil thieves vandalize trunk lines that supply crude to mains, the company always rapidly mobilizes its workers to conduct a Joint Investigations Visit (JIV)

with the relevant stake holders to determine extent of damages and damage control measures to be taken. ‘’We usually mobilize immediately to repair the leaks, while the condensate is diverted into a storage tank while the repairs last’’, Agbajogu said.

Agajogu explained how these illegal activities lead to disruption in electricity supply : ‘’We have a 240 MM standard cubic feet gas plant at nearby Okoloma called Okoloma Gas Plant and six oil wells which feed our Afam Plant.The gas supply comes with heavy liquid, even though they supply us in dry gas, while the remaining liquid drops out.

The liquid, which is hydro carbon is injected into the crude line. When oil vandals break the supply pipe line, we divert the condensate into some storage tanks, however when these tanks are full, we cannot store more crude in our facilities, to avoid break down in our facilities, we have to shut down the plant which feeds the national grid’’.’’Shut downs of power plants lead to loss in the supply to the grid and these also lead to regional or national blackouts’’.

The plant Manager also commented on the huge loss suffered by the company and electricity

consumers in Nigeria last year. ‘’In 2012, between June and October , we had a loss of 547,488 mega watts per hour. This is massive and it costs all the stake holders a lot of power outage, which needless to say led to the loss of billions of Naira for all’’, he said.

According to SPDC sources, in July last year, the nation lost 13 days mega watts per day, as a result of incessant shut downs of the Afam facility, resulting from pipeline vandalization. This was followed by the months of June and August, when the facility was shut down seven days.

It was also shut down in September (6 days) and October (2 days) Shut downs of power plants last year alone cost the nation about 9 billion dollars in revenue while the residents of the Niger Delta that thrive mostly on favourable acquatic environment suffered a colossal loss of about 3 billion dollars annually according to an NGO, Niger Area Crusaders, who undertook a comprehensive study on the livelihood of residents of the six Niger Delta states, namely; Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Rivers and Akwa Ibom . Silva Preye King, the Project Coordinator of the group based in Port Harcourt said; ‘’We undertook a comprehensive and holistic

study of the cost, standard and way of living of the residents of the state over a period of 9 months and we discovered that the people of the area lost about 4.1 billion dollars arising from pollution and distortion of the environment.’’

King also explained other losses by the people of the region. ‘’During gun battles arising from disagreements between the Joint Task Force, JTF drafted to the area by the federal government to curb oil theft and vandalism and some criminals involved in the illegal activities, some members of the communities are killed in cross fires , while some are injured. Social and commercial activities are also affected and these also lead to losses by small scale tradersl which in turn results in social disorder in the affected areas’’. ‘’Most of the time, nobody says anything about the properties,including houses, vehicles, equipment, farming implements and all others lost in these frequent , disruptive and destructive face-offs’’, he said.

Shut downs also leads to losses of billions of dollars in revenues to the Federal Government aside the energy losses to the economy.

It also raises the level of the ozone layer nay aquatic environment

to a dangerous disruptive level.

It impacts on the economy from the local community to the national level. However, an in-depth investigation by Niger Delta Mirror also revealed that the present energy challenges being experienced by the nation are caused by certain political decisions by the government officials, especially those involved in the administration of the oil and energy sector.An energy expert, Engr.

Ishmael Oparaku, who has been in the energy sector for the past 30 years, in a career that has taken him to Norway, England and the Far East, blamed the Federal Government for its lack of commitment to the provision of uninterrupted electricity supply to the nation.

He said the constraints placed in the path of energy supplier by the Government include the lack of cable lines capable of evacuating energy, transmission facilities, distortion and lack of organized and integrated blueprint for the energy sector. ‘’The evacuation bottlenecks include the fact that the cable lines used in transmitting power from all our power plants to the main grids are all old and largely ineffective. This causes the CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Crisis rocks C’ River Cocoa Association o RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

A

ll is not well with the leadership of the Cross River State Chapter of Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) as the leadership tussle rocking the association is said to have escalated to an extent that stakeholders of the industry seem to be confused on the right person to run the affairs of the association.

For some time now the association had been riddled with series of crisis that seems to have divided the association into two, with one faction standing behind Paul Manyor, erstwhile Chairman for the Cross River State Cocoa Technical Monitoring Committee,and the other faction in support of the Alphonsus Nana,former Chairman for the dissolved exco now being Prince Roland Obi Enah.

This crisis had escalated to an extent that both factions had began to make claims and counter claims on the true god-father that is to put his loyalists in charge of the affairs of the association forcing both factions to be perpetually at logger -head with one another over the true leader of the association in the state to an extent that the Alphonsus Nana faction which is now being headed by newly sworn in Chairman, Prince Roland Obi Enah, passed a vote of no confidence on the association’s National President Mr.Sayina Riman, accussing him of playing double standard ,one who had betrayed the confidence the members had reposed in him.

Members said that their National President Mr. Sayina Riman stands suspended for now adding that they had also suspended, its national Vice president, Mr. Oscar Tangban and urged them to cease from parading themselves as members of state branch of the association for allegedly involving themselves in anti-Cocoa activities which members claimed were inimical to the development and growth of the association.

However, any one following events and trends in cocoa Politics of Cross River State is bound to be miffed to hear that the Vice President Mr.Oscar Tangban and the National president of the association Mr.Sayina Riman are now in the same faction with Paul Manyor erstwhile Chairman for the state Cocoa Monitoring Committee.

Last year, both the presi-

Farmers extracting cocoa from its pod

dent and the Vice president had joined force with Alphonsus Nana to fight the introduction of a policy called non compliant policy which gave te merity to the Technical committee to be collecting five thousand non - compliant levy from Licenced Buying Agents LBA’S with accusation that it was Paul who ill advised the then commissioner of Agric Dr. SANDY ONOR to implement the policy. At that time Riman, Oscar, and Alphonso joined forces to fight Paul Mayor committee in order for Paul to stop his committee from collecting the levy since they felt the levy was exploitative and capable of bringing recession to the industry.

Only recently Riman,Oscar and paul decided to form an alliance with the current Commissioner for Agriculture Mr.James Aniyom to fight a newly inaugurated exco in which Nana happened to emerge as a state Vice Chairman deputising Prince Roland Obi Enah.A critic of politicians Mr.Charles Agbor insinuated that in politics there is no permanent friend nor enemy otherwise how could a people who last year were at each others’throat trying to stop the Ministry of Agriculture and its department of produce inspection from collecting a levy which they all tagged as barbaric and today they are at government side, in the same camp fighting tooth and nail to oust Nana

Cocoa drying process

and his allies completely and if possible make Nana `s faction fizzle out in the politics of cocoa association of Cross River State.

This scenerio forced Nana who is not a Cross Riverian but from one of the states in the defuct Bendel State in the South South Geo-political zone to relinquish power to pave way for an indigne Prince Roland Obi Enah to replace him since the stakeholders are saying his is not a Cross Riverian. Subsequently an election was conducted thus ushering in Prince Roland obi to take over from Nana.

However, news began to make the round in town that the paul Manyor’s faction also held its election to enable it come up with an exco that would in turn sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the State Cocoa technical Committee now led by Paul`s ally Mr.Patrick Abobo to enable the committee collect levy from the Lincense Buying Agent (LBA`s) from now to february when the present administration would come to an end.

Not pleased with the development and role played by their national President, a petition dated August 23, and signed by Sayina Riman Nana`s faction and chronicled a petition and addressed it to the Chairman of Board of Trustees of Cocoa Association( CAN) Headquarters Akure, Ondo State and signed

by newly inaugurated Chairman for Cross River State branch of the association, Prince Roland Obi Enah and 66 participants in the value chain ,made the petition available to National Mirror, stakeholders stated that the suspension was sequel to their president`s collaboration with the dreaded Patrick Abobo led Cocoa Technical Monitoring Committee to rip stakeholders of their fortunes.

The petition accused the association’s president of conniving with Cross River Chairman of the Technical Monitoring Committee to exploit the farmers through the obnoxious policy being carried by the state Commissioner for Agriculture Mr.James Aniyom.

According to the petition, when the exploitation became unbearable the Coc0a association through its erstwhile chairman Mr.Alphonsus Nana challenged the matter in court in suit No.HJ/45/23.

The petition stated that state Government tried breaking the ranks of the association using the National President Mr.Sayina Riman and Riman was able to convince the National Vice President zone 11, Mr.Oscar Tangban whose company 0aths Nig.Ltd and himself were claiming parties to the suit No.HJ/45/23 to accept appointment into the C0c0a Monitoring Committee.

As a member of the committee with a whooping salary of

two hundred thousand naira per quarter of the year.

The petition stated that despite persuasions made by members of CAN and lawyers of the association. Barr.

Mathew Ojua could not appeal to Oscar Tangban to turn down the appointment stressing that this action of Oscar Tangban dragged the case backward,as another procedure had to be followed to strike out Oscar Tangban and his company’s names as parties from the suit.

Subsequently, judgement for suit No.HJ/45/23 was delivered on March 4,in favour of the state branch of the association declaring the non compliant policy illegal,baring the Technical Monitoring Committee from extorting money from members of the association.

The petition stated that despite warning by stakeholders to the three erring members to desist forth from entangling themselves in activities that that tend to take the association anti-clockwise,its president and the two other officers treated the matter with kidgloves blamming their president for conniving and collaborating with the Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture Mr.James Aniyom to rip members of the association of their fortune through what the petition described” as obnoxious, unconstitutional and evil policy which the State Cocoa Monitoring Committee branded as a non

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

17

In defence of Islam RAHEEM OLUWAFUNMINIYI Continued from last Tuesday

I

f we have to go by the Quranic injunctions and Hadith, which highlight issues pertaining to perfection of the faith, one would not but agree that Islam is a complete religion and a way of life bound by impartial laws, just like every religion, which its followers must adhere strictly to.

It has, however, been discovered that a few elements, in order to satisfy their whims, lend new variations into these original and ‘perfected’ laws, using such indiscriminately, unjustly and unfairly in the most preposterous manner unbecoming of God’s natural laws to abridge the basic rights of man.

Just as the state has imbibed this unholy attitude so are a number of its followers.

Today in this part of the world, many see religion as a private property bequeathed on them by God and in essence, anyone who chooses to toe the other path is either ostracized or dehumanised. Some even lose their life in the process. What then could be wrong with Islam?

This particular scenario has become a common feature in some parts of the Muslim world, and most especially in Nigeria where religious tolerance is fast waning. There are abounding examples to support the above presumption. The case of Mubarak Bala, a chemical engineer is

quite interesting here. Bala not too long ago renounced Islam to embrace atheism.

His action was a rude shock to his family, who thought he was mentally unstable and so forced him to a mental hospital. It would take the swift intervention of his online friends to get him out of the quagmire. Despite his release, Bala lives in hiding after receiving death threats.

In Uganda, the case of a 17-year old girl beaten to death by her father sometime last April simply because she converted to Christianity is, to say the least, shocking.

And in Ibadan, Oyo State, 19-year old Kaosara Isiaka was knifed to death in a church for the same reason. Her father has been linked to the murder. As if that was not enough, in the same Uganda, one Wenene Nuru, a 23-year old lady was hospitalised after her Sheikh father tried to kill her for becoming a Christian. Not too long ago, the world was inundated with the shocking story of one Meriam Ibrahim (a Sudanese woman born to a Muslim father, but raised by her Christian mother), who married a Christian man from South Sudan.

Meriam’s family, to save themselves the embarrassment, quickly reported her to the authorities who in turn charged her for apostasy. The Islamic court in Khartoum was quick to sentence her to death by hanging and would only take an international outcry for her to regain freedom from the ordeal. In all of these, what then could be wrong with Islam?

ISLAM IS NOT ONLY A RELIGION OF PEACE

AND TOLERANCE, BUT ONE THAT DEMANDS TOTAL SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF

GOD

There are hundreds of likely unreported cases as the above within our respective societies. A writer once opined that leaving Islam is like passing a death sentence on oneself. This opinion cannot be far from the truth if the examples highlighted above are anything to go by. Islam is a religion of peace and so takes peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance seriously. The fact that one of the Quranic verses openly identifies no compulsion in religion should have been an ample evidence for those who only seek to make mockery of Islam.

Interestingly, there is no doubt in the mind of this writer and among millions of Muslims around the world that the Boko Haram sect, which claims to be fighting for Islam, is doing so for the wrong reasons. Islam represents peace and tolerance, and therefore, anything contrary is pure extremism, and extremism has no place in the belief system of the Muslims. What then could be wrong with Islam?

From all indications, it is best to aver that Islam is not only a religion of peace

and tolerance, but one that demands total submission to the will of God; therefore, one can infer with exactitude that nothing is wrong with Islam. The reason for this is not far-fetched. Religion today is being manipulated by a segment of the populace, not only to prevent worshippers from having a grasp of the many personal challenges they face but also confuse their understanding of how to solve them. In the end, most resolve to place their fate on religious opportunists, who further compound their problems.

Our total lack of understanding of what religion truly entails is why some feel others must practise their religion with force without which they are subjected to inhuman treatment. The case of Meriam, Bala and many others across the world, who face one form of humiliation or the other because of their choice of faith and belief despite the principles of Islam frowning against coercing one to accept Islam, does not only paint Islam in the wrong light but causes disaffection among an already religiously polarised state. It is an act that does not augur well for our collective existence.

As the month of Ramadan has ended, we must begin to have a change of heart before our condition is changed. There is simply nothing wrong with Islam, only its followers are!

Concluded Raheem wrote via premiermotivationalconcepts@gmail.com

Science, space, colonialism and God BOBSON GBINIJE

M

an in his natural quest to conquer, explore, exploit and understand a complex world, has applied fundamentally radical researches, trials and errors, and analyses to build blocks of facts and discoveries that have eviscerated him from the bowels of “mental Erebus”. In 1860, Anthony Trollope, British novelist, said: “All mankind has heard much of ‘M. Lesseps’ and his Suez Canal …. I have a very strong opinion that such canal will not and cannot be made, and that steam navigation by land will and ought to be the means of transit through Egypt”. The Suez Canal was opened only nine years later and proved to be one of the most heavily-used shipping lanes in the world.

In his book the “Admired of the Ocean Sea”, Samuel E. Morrison, cited the impossibilities highlighted by the Royal Committee appointed by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain in 1490 on the great impracticability of voyage to the New World, much more the discovery of a shorter route to India. But to their uttermost surprise, this became a reality that changed the Americas.

In 1610, some group of Aristotelian professors, who were contemporaries of Galileo, made a pronouncement on his discovery of Jupiter’s moons thus: “Jupiter’s moon are invisible to the naked eye and, therefore, can have no influence on the earth and, therefore, would be useless

and, therefore , do not exist.” They have ever since been proved wrong.

In 1873, Sir Erickson, a British surgeon, doubted the possibility of surgery on the chest, abdomen and brain. He was proved wrong in 1881 by Dr. Albert Christian Theodore Billroth, who performed the first successful operation for stomach cancer.

This penumbra of vagueness and doubts also predated the invention of the radio, television, aircraft, submarine, automobiles, the atomic bomb, atomic fuels, landing on the moon, rockets, locomotives, etc. However, mention must be made of the doubts and controversy that engulfed the invention of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM). The United States Senate set up committees to look into the invention. In one of the reports submitted in 1945 by Dr. Vannever Bush, he stated: “There has been a great deal said about a 3, 000- miles high angled rocket shot from one continent to another carrying atomic bomb and so direct as to be a precise weapon which could hit a city. I say technically, I don’t think anyone in the world knows how to do such a thing. I wish the American people would leave that out of our thinking”. Today, assorted ranges of the ICBMs litter the nooks and crannies of the world.

The desire to unravel the mystery of the universe initially gave rise to the terrestrial telescope that revealed the planets of the solar system. Astronomers and space technologist have continued to discover new things hitherto thought non-existent.

They have discovered a 10th planet and

WITH ALL THESE BREAKTHROUGHS MAN IS ON THE THRESHOLD OF PLANETARY COLONIZATION THROUGH ROBOTICS AND MANNED SPACECRAFT more. Instead of the former nine which were Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.

The joint development effort by the old Soviet Union and America led to the building of the Sotyuz-Salyut spaceship as predicted by Sir Bernard Hovell. This has evinced the establishment of permanent robot manned and unmanned spaceship in orbit around the earth and other planets. Robots now man the asteroids.

Unmanned interplanetary investigation has gained currency amongst technologically advanced nations. China, France and Britain are making great strides in these regards.

The discovery of fossils: recognizable part, trace or imprint of a prehistoric animal or plant in the Planet Mars has latently accentuated the drive and search for extraterrestrial life. The mystery of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) has also done same. All these have tended to revitalize space exploration with a view

to its exploitation. Nearly all the stars in the galaxy are being tagged with breakthrough in physics and biophysics, larger space stations, permanent scientific communities on the moon and manned exploration of all stars are being projected.

With all these breakthroughs Man is on the threshold of planetary colonization through robotics and manned spacecraft.

It is the thematic thrust and scientific motive of man in the 21st century, with America through NASA and Russia through its Space Science Association, taking the lead. The launching into orbit of the Voyager, the Challenger and the Viking by the American Space Shuttle, the landing on the moon of Russian Cosmonauts and setting up of a permanent Lunar Base for exploration and scientific research, Japan’s sending inter-planetary probes to Venus, with virtually all developed nations having satellites in space and China putting an astronaut into orbit around the earth point to a burning desire of man to colonize space.

Where does God stand in this quest? He cannot be an author of confusion. He has created all of these for Man to extend and exploit the contours of His creation!

Chief Gbinije is founder of Mandate against Poverty, Warri, Delta State.

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FG’s ‘affordable’ housing scheme

T

he Federal Government, early in the month, inaugurated the first phase of what it called its affordable home ownership scheme aimed at creating 10,000 mortgages.

Coming under the Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC), the project is expected to enable Nigerians own houses at affordable rates.

Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, said with the newly-introduced mortgage refinancing model, low income earners would have the opportunity to own their houses under a flexible payment package. She said the process had been simplified such that under the new framework, the processing time for application for the mass housing project had been reduced from between six and 18 months to just six weeks.

“Since the ability of banks in providing mortgages is limited by the fact that 80 percent of all deposits are on 30-day period, which does not ensure great level of sustainability in providing resources for the housing sector, the NMRC gives tenure for financing of up to 10 to 15 years. So instead of people not being able to own houses as they would have to pay up in 12 or 18 months, we are changing that now so that

for 10 to 15 years, people can be able to pay for their own houses”, Okonjo-Iweala said.

For donkey’s years, however, Nigerians have been inundated with such promises. But making affordable houses available to the public has remained a mirage. Just last year, President Goodluck Jonathan, speaking at the 53rd General Assembly of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) in Abuja, reiterated the known fact that the nation is in deficit of 17 million housing units; and that the country needs N56 trillion to bridge the gap. He was represented by the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen. “Housing associated facilities are grossly inadequate; and millions of citizens live in substandard environments or slums plagued by squalor and lacking basic amenities of life. To reverse this trend, my government recently announced plans to establish the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Corporation”; the new outfit Okonjo-Iweala made reference to.

Relatively affordable houses for Nigerians were last witnessed during the Second Republic, especially with the housing schemes embarked upon by ex-President Shehu Shagari’s government at the national level; and the Al-

August 26, 1920 The 19th amendment to United States Constitution took effect, giving women the right to vote. The Nineteenth Amendment (Amendment XIX) to the United States Constitution prohibits any US citizen from being denied the right to vote on the basis of sex. It was ratified on August 18, 1920. The Constitution allows states to determine the qualifications for voting, and until 1910, most states disenfranchised women.

THE FG SHOULD LOOK AT THE ENTIRE GAMUT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT MADE PAST HOUSING POLICIES CRUMBLE haji Lateef Jakande estates in Lagos. Since then, however, affordable houses have eluded ordinary Nigerians up to the present day that the deficit has hit 17 million. The common experience these days is that government partners with the private sector; and jointly they construct residential estates which at the end of the day, no ordinary Nigerian can afford.

The government also has no qualms demolishing houses private individuals use their life savings to erect, sometimes based on flimsy excuses. Besides, it takes several years to procure Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for already acquired landed property.

Is it not shocking that such wide margin of deficit in housing exists in a country that parades a housing policy, the Federal Housing Authority and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN)? Additionally in existence is the National Housing fund (NHF), a scheme

ON THIS DAY August 26, 1978 Papal Conclave of August 1978: Pope John Paul I was elected to the Papacy. Pope John Paul I, born Albino Luciani (October 17, 1912 – September 28, 1978), was the head of the Catholic Church from his election to the papacy on August 26, 1978 to his sudden death 33 days later on September 28, 1978. His 33-day reign is among the shortest in papal history, resulting in the most recent ‘Year of Three Popes’.

introduced by the FG, to which all public servants and employees in the organised private sector are expected to contribute 2.5 per cent of their monthly salaries to the FMBN. Employees of establishments that are active contributors to the scheme are supposed to access the fund through primary mortgage institutions (PMIs); while a maximum of N5 million at the rate of six percent interest repayable over a 30-year period is purportedly obtainable under this scheme.

It is, however, evident that the NHF is a huge failure, hence the latest NMRC experiment.

While the NMRC promises a huge relief (though on paper for now), the FG should look at the entire gamut of the problems that made past housing policies crumble. They include the Land Use Act of 1978, which built environment experts want repealed. Others are poor policy implementation, public sector corruption and political instability. Boosting housing finance, encouraging cooperatives, use of local building materials, development of infrastructure and regular appraisal and review of the nation’s housing policy have also been recommended. Except these challenges are addressed, the future of the latest housing initiative will, at best, be grim.

August 26, 2011 The ‘Boeing 787 Dreamliner’, Boeing’s all-new composite airliner, received certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States. The aircraft is a long-range, mid-size, widebody, twin-engine jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Its variants seat 210 to 330 passengers. It is designed to be 20 percent more fuel efficient than Boeing 767.

Business Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Most SME owners lack financial management skills, says ACCA 21

Airport bombing attempt: Wake up call for FG, say security experts 31

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

19

Stakeholders still anticipating growth in insurance, pension 33 sectors FLIGHT

SCHEDULE Arik Air Lag-Abj:07.15, 09.15, 10.20, 13.05, 15.20, 16.20, 16.50,18.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun).

Abj-Lag: 07:15, 09.40, 10.20, 12.15, 15.15, 16.15, 17:10, (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun); 12.15, 15.15, 16.15 (Sun) Lag-PH: 07:15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.10, 17.15 (Mon-Fri); 07.30, 11.40, 15.50 (Sat) 11.50, 3.50, 17.05 Sun) Abj-PH: 07.15, 11.20, 15.30 (Mon-Fri) 07.15, 16.00 (Sat) 13.10, 16.00 Sun) PH-Abj: 08.45, 12.50, 17.00 (MonFri) 08.45, 17.30 (Sat) 14.40, 17.30 (Sun) Abv-Beni:08.00, 12.10 (MonFri/Sat)08.56, 12.10 (Sun) BeninAbj:09.55,13.30

Aero Contractors

SMEs eager to embrace N220bn intervention funds The commencement, last week of disbursement of N220bn Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund, MSMEDF, by President Goodluck Jonathan has rekindled hopes among MSMEs operators of increased access to cheap funding to fund their businesses, UDO ONYEKA reports.

W

ith the disbursement of N220bn Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund ,MSMEDF, formally flagged –off last week, by President Goodluck Jonathan, Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs have geared up to key into the fund which they say is capable if transforming the economy.

They called on the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, to quicken the disbursement of the fund as a mark of encouragement to boost micro enterprises’ contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP. Emefiele, who noted at the formal launching of the fund that relative to both global and sub-Sahara African growth tra-

jectories, Nigeria had achieved remarkable economic growth and development in recent years as a result of the resilience of our people, especially the SMEs, and the programmes of our governments at all levels, pointed out that in the last seven years, Nigeria’s economy had expanded by an average of 7 per cent, while sub-Sahara Africa’s real GDP growth averaged 5.2 per cent.

He said that sustaining the developmental strides with a balanced and inclusive economic growth will depend largely on the provision of affordable and efficient financial services to the MSMEs, particularly the micro entrepreneurs who account for more than 90 percent of the MSMEs in

Nigeria.

According to Emefiele it is imperative that this segment of the financial system be strengthened in order to forestall the inevitable adverse socio-economic consequences of financial exclusion.

“The linkage between finance and economic development has been well documented. Access to finance has a significant multiplier effect on the economy because of its catalytic effect on job creation and poverty reduction.

“It is in realisation of this fact that the CBN launched the N220bn MSME Development Fund to provide financial resources to the entrepreneurs across the country through Participating Financial Institutions, PFIs”, he said.

According to him, since said

access to finance always have a multiplier effects on the economy, especially with the catalytic effects on job creation and poverty reduction, it is therefore for this positive implications that the apex bank launched the N220bn MSMEs Fund to pride financial resources to entrepreneurs across the country though participating financial institutions.

According to MSMEs further delay to the disbursement would not be in the interest of the economy.

They called on the CBN to promptly disburse the N220bn intervention fund to enable operators utilise it in the second half of the year.

However some of the MSMEs who spoke to National Mirror CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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

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

20

Business

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SMEs eager to embrace N220bn intervention funds CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 have raised the issue of stringent conditions which may make it difficult for some Microfinance Banks to play the role of PFIs. Managing Director, Lovonus Microfinance Bank Ltd., Mr Onoja Usman, recently said that most microfinance banks might not be able to access the fund.

Usman said that this was due to the stringent criteria the CBN had laid down for accessing the fund.

He said that most microfinance banks were struggling to shore up their capital to meet the financial requirements and this might delay the disbursement if the conditions were not made more flexible.

The CBN and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, recently directed that prospective microfinance banks and finance companies must comply with the prevailing regulatory capital requirements and prudential ratios.

“Others conditions are average deposit growth rate of 20 per cent per annum for institutions that have been operating for over two years and average clientele base growth rate of 20 per cent per annum.

“Sound risk management framework, corporate governance, adherence to sound ethical values and the degree of separation of ownership from control management are also part of the conditions”, he said.

President, NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women, NNEW, Mrs Lola Okanlawon, said the establishment of the fund in August 2013 raised the hope of many entrepreneurs who had been obtaining loans at high interest rates.

“However, the delay in the disbursement of the fund has got everyone disappointed. We hope that all the barriers against prompt disbursement of the fund would be removed soon.

“We laud President Jonathan for his efforts to boost small and medium enterprises; some of our members benefited from the YOUWIN project, but more needs to be done.” she said.

In the same vein, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, NASME, Mr Eze Ubiji, expressed optimism that with the flag–off of the fund the CBN would disburse the intervention fund soon.

According to him, there are some conditions that have to be met to ensure smooth disbursement of the fund in line with the country’s revised Microfinance Policy Regulatory and Supervisory framework.

“One of the major reasons I think the disbursement of the fund has been delayed is because of the collateral issues that is prominent in accessing loans in Nigerian banks.

“The governor of CBN mentioned that Collateral Registries Committee was being set up so that it would make it easier for more SMEs to access loans under a secured collateral system, but so many business owners are not aware.

“What I mean is that some women may have gold jewellery worth millions at home, but will be running here and there in search of collateral in form of property or land which they don’t have. “ So, we urge the committee to promptly come out with favourable policies and ways through which accessing loans would be made easier so that the intervention funds that are available would be disbursed on time,” he said.

Emefiele

Oduoza

Abdullahi

Agbaje

WE LAUD PRESIDENT JONATHAN FOR HIS EFFORTS TO BOOST SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES; SOME OF OUR MEMBERS

BENEFITED FROM THE

YOUWIN PROJECT,

BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE He expressed optimism that the new governor of CBN would disburse the intervention fund soon.

Chairman, Lagos chapter, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists, NASSI, Mr Segun Kuti-George also appealed to the CBN governor to give priority to the disbursement of the fund.

“We want the governor to priotise the disbursement of the fund to enhance efforts to reduce poverty, create jobs and ensure macro-economic stability.

“Most banks have been paying lip service to the assistance they claim to grant to SMEs because they have stringent conditions that our members cannot meet.

“We laud President Goodluck Jonathan for the initiative and believe that the disbursement of the fund would assist so many ailing businesses to bounce back, while creating more jobs”, he said.

However the CBN said it has taken measures that will encourage banks to lend and support SMEs and of which is the intervention fund, which also come at a single digit interest.

According to CBN’s Director of Banking Supervision, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, many banks have keyed into the policy, instituting internal measures to woo the SMEs. Speaking in Lagos few weeks ago at the Bankers Committee meeting Martins said

the CBN has set up guidelines for the management of the N220bn MSME fund.

According to her many unserved and under-served clients exist in the MSMEs’ subsector, stressing that to address the funding requirements of this critical segment of the economy, 80:20 ratio for on-lending to micro enterprises and SMEs has been designed.

She said women’s access to financial services should increase by 15 per cent yearly to eliminate gender disparity, adding that to achieve this, 60 per cent or N132bn of the fund has been earmarked for providing financial services to women.

National Mirror gathered that 90 per cent of the fund, amounting to N198 billion, will be utilised for the provision of direct onlending facilities to participating financial institutions.

The CBN said participating financial institutions can only finance agricultural value chain activities, trade and general commerce, cottage Industries, artisans, among others.

The apex bank said to ensure that productive sectors of the economy continue to attract more financing necessary for employment creation and diversification of the country’s economic base, a maximum of 10 per cent of the commercial component of the fund will be channelled to trading and commerce.

Also to the CBN, has extended the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme ,CACS, by nine years, up from year 2016 to 2025 in furtherance of its strategic focus on agricultural sector lending for national economic growth and sustainable development.

Emefiele, said that the apex bank would focus on sectors that had the potential of creating jobs and help the country reduce its growing import bill to conserve much needed foreign exchange.

According to him, as part of the efforts of the apex bank to consolidate the achievements of the ATA, emphasis would be placed on value chains financing in four priority commodities including rice, fish, wheat and sugar.

Emefiele said that to ensure that the funds get to genuine borrowers, participating Deposit Money Banks ,DMBs and financial institutions will be required to obtain biometric information of borrowers through a data base already created by the CBN to avoid multiple access by borrowers, while the CBN will be undertaking on and off site monitoring and evaluation of disbursement to ascertain veracity of the reports received by it.

However apart from funds lack of discipline and financial management have been mentioned as some of the challenges confronting MSMEs in the country.

A university don, Professor Dixon OgbecheBolajoko, has identified lack of discipline, corruption as responsible for low success rate by most Nigerian businessmen and entrepreneurs.

Bolajoko, a lecturer in the department of Business Administration, University of Lagos, in an interview with National Mirror recently, said that though God has given us everything, including physical and mental abilities, most Nigerians lack discipline where it matters most for business success.

Responding to question why Asians who come to Nigeria seem to succeed where most Nigerians have failed, she said, Asians are highly disciplined, principled and committed people, adding that by virtue of that wherever they go they will excel no matter how adverse the business environment is.

“Here we lack discipline; we lack time marking and management. An Asian will not play with his time. He would not entertain visitors during his office hour, and he would not be doing other job outside his schedule when he has his official work to do, honour matters to them, and so, if they decide to do a work they will do that work.

“But here in Nigeria, we lack such discipline, and because of that we are not able to achieve our potentials. That is one of our major challenges, apart from corruption and other bureaucratic bottle necks, which exist elsewhere. That is why they excel even in our own environmental setting”, he said.

In the same vein Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, ACCA, has identified lack of proper financial management and accounting skills as a major challenge confronting most Small and Medium Enterprises owners in Nigeria.

Head, ACCA Nigeria, Mrs. Toyin Ademola, stated this in a media interview during the 2014 Student. Colloquium in Lagos two weeks ago.

According to Ademola, beyond infrastructural and funding challenges facing SME owners, the poor understanding of how to manage their financial books, is also an albatross to their survival.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

21

Most SME owners lack financial management skills, says ACCA KUNLE AZEEZ

T

he Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, ACCA, has identified lack of proper financial management and accounting skills as a major challenge confronting most Small and Medium Enterprises owners in Nigeria.

Head, ACCA Nigeria, Mrs. Toyin Ademola, stated this in a media interview during the 2014 Student. Colloquium in Lagos, recently.

According to Ademola, beyond infrastructural and funding challenges facing SME owners, the poor understanding of

how to manage their financial books, is also an albatross to their survival.

She explained that sound accounting skills will propel SME owners to run their businesses in an efficient and prudent manner.

“The need for small entrepreneurs to be well grounded in financial management and proper accounts keeping is very key to businesses’ survival; we know today that most SMEs have not realised this that’s why most of them don’t normally survive in their early days,” she said.

She, however, noted that to address this challenge, ACCA has put in place an entrepreneurship

accounting training programme so as to provide the SMEs with necessary accounting skills needed to run their businesses efficiently.

“We are also organising both for big and small players on the need for them to conform with the International Financial Reporting Standard, IFRS because to adopt IFRS standard, practitioners and businesses need to acquire the skills. It is the lack of skills of IFRS that has slowed down its compliance across industries in Nigeria,” she said.

Ademola, while noting that

Nigeria and other countries in African continent require 1 million certified accounting professionals by 2020 to support the continent’s economic growth, also stressed the commitment of ACCA to producing ethical, qualified and certified accounting practitioners in Nigeria.

“As such, we would continue to provide convenient and flexible means for students and professionals to get ACCA certification as we now run computer-based examinations. We also create opportunities for our student members to get employ-

ment opportunities,” she added.

Earlier, while addressing a large gathering of over 200 students at the colloquium, Ademola elaborately provided them with valuable information in curriculum vitae V writing and interview skills.

Also, Mr. Jide Ibironke, Director of Studies at a Synergy Professionals, an Approved Learning Partner for ACCA examinations in Nigeria, also provided the students with the latest information they needed to know to obtain ACCA certifications.

FAAN MD lauds Chidoka over conferment of award OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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he Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Engr.

Saleh Dunoma has commended the Minister of Aviation, Mr, Osita Chidoka over the award of the National Productivity Order of Merit, NPOM, bestowed on him recently by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Chidoka with other prominent Nigerians were recognized for their significant improvements brought into the Nigerian system.

An online statement signed by the General Manager, Corporate Communcations, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati stated that Dunoma expressed pride for the enviable achievement of Chidoka during his stay at the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, where he served as the Corps Marshal for several years before being appointed as a minister in the sector.

He noted that his unique management style, creativity and determination had earned the commission encomiums at home and in the international communities, adding that this is aside from his transparent commitment to the implementation of Government’s

Transformation Agenda in road safety, including infrastructural development, manpower training and development.

He said, “We are confident that your sterling qualities at FRSC, which earned you this award will be brought to bear in the aviation industry.”

Dunoma in the statement pledged his unalloyed commitment and support towards ensuring that these successes are replicated in the aviation industry.

The statement emphasised that the occasion was attended by the newly posted Permanent Secretary Mr. Yemi Adelakun, Directors from the ministry and Chief Executive Officers, CEOs, of the aviation agencies.

It would be recalled that Jonathan was represented at the occasion by the Vice President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, who said that said recipients were being recognised for their productivity and commitment towards nation building.

Sambo charged the recipients to continue to give their best for the growth and development of the country at large. The event was chaired by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Nwogu.

Adamawa State Coordinator, National Directorate of Employment, Malam Ismaila Yar’adua (2nd left) inspecting shoes and bags made by women trainees of the directorate in Yola, recently.

College, two other agencies to partner on agric production DANJUMA WILLIAMS GOMBE

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he Federal College of Horticulture Dadin-Kowa, Gombe State, in collaboration with the West African Agricultural Productivity Programme, WAAPP Abuja and the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN, are distributing 65,000kg of certified seeds of maize and rice to about 800 farm-

ers in three villages.

Speaking shortly after the event marking the distribution exercise, the Acting Provost of the College, Mallam Salisu Yusuf said the two villages to benefit from the programme include Baure and Hinna, all in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government of Gombe State.

He explained that over 70 per cent of the people are farmers adding that if the certified seeds

NGO gives N1.3m to support SMEs in Cross River RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

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non-governmental organization, the Foundation for Destiny Transformation, has doll out about N1.3m to salvage Small and Medium Entrepreneurs in its on-going SMEs Promotion Scheme in Cross River State.

Presenting the cheques in

Ogoja Local Government in Cross River state to beneficiaries of the scheme chairman of the Board of Trustees and the initiator of the foundation, Mr Ajigo Nyambe, reiterated the NGO`s commitment to tackle the scourge of poverty among youths and women through an aggressive promotion of small and medium scale enterprises in the country.

Nyambe, who was represented

by the Executive Secretary of the foundation’s governing board, Mr Naku John, said the gesture was aimed at supporting government at various levels to provide jobs thereby reducing unemployment and creating wealth for Nigerians with a view to encouraging the current administration’s transformation agenda and the realization of the nation’s vision 202020.

The Board chairman urged the

beneficiaries to utilize their funds judiciously to develop their businesses in order to improve their socio-economic wellbeing.

Also speaking,Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Edak Iwuchukwu, pledged her ministry’s commitment to collaborate with the foundation in its drive to reduce poverty and create wealth for the indigent women and men and youths in the state.

are utilized efficiently, it would yield bumper harvest and contribute to food security as well as contribute to the economic growth of the country.

According to him, the improved seeds have resistance to environmental changes in Africa and would also ensure that farmers would get higher yields if properly utilized.

Also speaking, the Coordinator of WAAPP, Mr. Francis Osometha, called on the college to develop a sound rurally based technology that would assist the farmers to ensure the standard level of modern agricultural technology.

He said seeds are distributed to farmers free by WAAPP so as to enhance food security and boast agriculture across the country.

He added that the rice, if planted, takes less than three months to mature while the maize are drought resistant with a shortest fall of rain.

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Business News

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Advertising industry billings rise 13% to N103bn

Standard Bank Group appoints Peterside non executive director

DAVID AUDU

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igeria’s advertising industry in 2013 recovered from the slide it recorded in 2012 as the media spend by advertisers across the country amounted to N103.8bn; representing an increase of N12.95bn over the N91.9 billion the previous year.

This is contained in the justreleased 2013 mediafacts, a key media resource for marketing professionals in West and Central Africa produced annually by mediareachOMD, a specialist media company that provides media planning, buying, control and inventory management services.

With the total advertising spend of N91.9bn it recorded in 2012, the nation’s advertising industry suffered a 10.52 per cent drop when compared with the N102.7bn earned from advertisers the previous year.

However, the total above-the-

line advertising expenditure in 2013 increased by 13 per cent over the 2012 figure. The growth, it stated, was primarily driven by the Beer category; Banking and Finance and Personal Paid Adverts.

The 2013 document also disclosed that the television sub-sector dominated advertising expenditure for the year. The sub-sector attracted a total spend of N47 billion which represents 45 per cent of the overall advertising spend for the year.

The Report said that with N23.2 billion spent on the outdoor advertising during the year under review, the Outdoor subsector came second after television. Similarly, the Report stated that Radio and Print media attracted advertising spend of N15.1 billion and N18.5 billion; respectively in 2013.

“The TV dominated media spends of advertisers - accounting for 45 per cent of the total expenditure of N103.8 billion in 2013. While TV and Radio spends

dropped by 9 per cent and 2 per cent points, OOH and Print increased by 3 per cent and 8 per cent respectively,” the Report stated.

Meanwhile, in its analysis of the quarterly performance, Media Facts said that of the total advertising figure for 2013, advertisers spent a total of N28 billion, representing 27 per cent of the overall spend during the second quarter of the year. It also said N26.6 billion, N25.8 billion and N23.4 billion were spent during the first, third and fourth quarters; respectively.

The regional analysis of the Report shows that with the N44 billion volume of advertisements placed within Lagos alone, the State took 42 per cent of the total advertising spend during the year. The North had 27 per cent (N27.9 billion); while the West had 16 per cent (N16.5 billion); and the East 15 per cent (N15.4).

L-R: Coordinator, SURE-P Programme, Mr. Ali Fatoma; Convener, Roads and Bridges, Alhaji Kassim Bataiya and Chairman, Gen. PHOTO: NAN Martin Luther Agwai (rtd), during the inspection of section 1 of Abuja Lokoja Road, yesterday.

UDO ONYEKA tandard Bank Group Limited said it is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Atedo Peterside as a non executive director to its board and the board of the Standard Bank of South Africa Limited with effect from 22 August 2014.

Mr Peterside obtained a B.Sc. degree in Economics from The City University, London and M.Sc. in Economics from London School of Economics & Political Science and holds an Honorary Doctorate of Science. He is currently the chairman of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, which is part of the Standard Bank Group and a director of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Presco Plc, Unilever Nigeria Plc

and the chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc. He was the chairman of the Committee on Corporate Governance of Public Companies in Nigeria.

Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs. Sola David –Borha remarked that she is very pleased that Peterside, chairman and founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank plc, is joining the board of directors of Standard Bank Group Limited as well as the board of directors of The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited.

“The Board and Management of Stanbic IBTC wish him all the best as he takes on this additional role overseas”, she said.

She noted that Peterside is also a member of both the National Economic Management Team and the National Council of Privatisation.

Sterling Bank appoints new chairman

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terling Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Mr. Asue Ighodalo as the new Chairman, Board of Directors of the Bank.

Ighodalo succeeds Alhaji S.A Adegunwa, who retired from the Bank after twelve years of exceptional service.

In a statement by the Bank’s Chief Executive, Yemi Adeola, he commended the outgoing Chairman for contributing immensely to the sustained growth of the Bank.

The statement read in part - “…

During his tenure, Dr. Adegunwa provided purposeful leadership and demonstrated his undivided commitment to ensuring that Sterling Bank occupies its rightful place in the banking industry, whilst bringing his diverse experience in international business to bear on the fortunes of the Bank.”

Commenting on the appointment of the new Chairman, Mr. Adeola expressed optimism that the Bank would benefit immensely from Asue Ighodalo’s wealth of experience.

He further stated that his selection was based on his track record as an accomplished professional and astute businessman – who typifies the Bank’s value system which is hinged on integrity, dynamism, and purposeful leadership.

Asue Ighodalo is the co-Founder of Banwo & Ighodalo, a leading corporate and commercial law firm in Nigeria, founded in partnership in 1991. His core practice areas are Corporate Finance, Capital Markets, Mergers and Acquisitions, Banking & Securities, Foreign Investments & Divestments, Energy & Natural Resources, Privatization and Project Finance.

WorldStage Electricity Power forum to Lufthansa Cargo commences new freighter flights to Lagos address post-privatisation challenges OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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he cargo unit of Lufthansa Airlines, Lufthansa Cargo has announced the commencement of freighter flights into the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos from its base in Frankfurt, Germany.

The airline stated that the commencement of the freighter flights would further integrate Lagos into its own network through twice-weekly flights. The flight takes effect from September 15 with Lufthansa Cargo MD-11 freighter.

An online statement sent by the media consultant to the air-

line, stated that the flight would take off from Frankfurt for the Nigerian city every Monday and Wednesday.

The statement added that Lagos as an important destination for the oil and gas industry in particular, urgently required spare parts and equipment for oil production facilities, which would now be transported faster to Nigeria, and with greater flexibility.

The Vice President Europe & Africa at Lufthansa Cargo, Carsten Wirths stated that the airline estimated the total of 170 tonnes of capacity to be airlifted weekly through its flights on the route.

The statement added, “Following a brief stop, the freighter

will fly on to Johannesburg. The return leg to Frankfurt will include a stopover in Nairobi. Another two weekly flights from Frankfurt to Johannesburg will also stop in Nairobi on the southbound flight.

“Adding Lagos to our freighter network considerably strengthens our involvement in West Africa. In Nigeria alone, Lufthansa Cargo offers freight capacity on board Lufthansa Passenger Airlines flights to three destinations.

Besides Lagos, Lufthansa also flies to Port Harcourt and Abuja with an Airbus A330.”

Accra (Ghana), Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) and Luanda (Angola) are further destinations in West Africa.

W

ith about 30 million households in Nigeria still without access to electricity at the dawn of a new era in Nigeria’s liberalized electricity power sector, the 4th WorldStage National Electricity Power conference 2014 is sets to address the challenges of post-privatization.

According to the organisers, the conference which will hold at the Lagoon Restaurant, Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, between September 25 and 26, 2014 will bring the policy makers and the private sector together to review the new development in electricity power sector, address new challenges, deliberate on critical issues and chart the way forward for the realisation of privati-

zation objectives.

The forum that will attract participants from the Presidency, Ministry Power, Ministry of Finance, NERC, National Assembly, BPE, GENCOs, DISCOs, NIPP, IPPs, State Governments with IPPs, oil and gas firms, banks, insurance firms, local and foreign investors, media and other relevant stakeholders, will feature presentations from top government officials, industry experts and panel discussions on, Challenges of Electricity Generation Post Privatisation; Transmission and Distribution Challenges; Alternative Energy Sources/ Energy Conservation; and State Governments’ Promoted IPPs among others.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Jobs & Career

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

23

Strategies to gain, retain staff loyalty

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s a manager, you depend on your team to be productive and reliable so that the entire department can be successful. But to get everyone to do their best work, you need to build a relationship of trust and support. Here are some tips to help you build staff loyalty. If you’re a manager, you depend on your staff to do their work. Their success is critical to your own success. If you can develop loyalty among your staff, you build up a bank of “good will capital “you can spend, when necessary -such as when those impossible deadlines loom and you have to ask for extra effort.

Here are a few pointers to help you build that loyalty.

Be initially neutral regarding concerns about a subordinate-Don’t throw an employee under the bus when someone outside the department complains to you, agreeing with that person automatically.

At the same time, don’t assume the person is totally wrong, rebuking him or her, and blindly defending your employee. Listen to the concern, thank the person for alerting you, and say you will check with the subordinate in question. Then do so. In this way, you get both sides of the story Aim for collaboration-The more you can develop a collaborative relationship with your staff, the better that relationship will be. You and your staff do depend on each other, so try to impress that point on them. Remind them that each of you can (and should) help the other to be successful.

Remember the saying that one hand washes the other.

Listen to staff concerns-Your staff will have concerns about working conditions, working hours, deadlines, and other matters. You may not be able to resolve them all.

However, listen to what they are telling you, because if you don’t, you will lower morale.

If there’s little chance that you can resolve the concern, let them know immediately so that they have a proper expectation. Similarly, if you do succeed in resolving a concern, let them know about it. They may not thank you verbally, but chances are they still will appreciate you for what you did.

When listening to your staff, try to avoid interrupting them to explain or defend a position. Similarly, try to remain eventempered and think before you speak. Your attitude sets the tone for the whole department. Remember the old saying, (which applies equally to both genders): “A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.”

Be committed to staff developmentYour employee’s needs training to maintain their skills. That training includes hard skills, such as programming and network design. It also includes soft skills, such as how to deliver effective presentations and how to communicate effectively. In fact, those soft skills often are more important than hard skills in determining career success. Make sure your staff receives such training -- and when they’re participating in a training session, respect that time.

Don’t call and pull them out of class “just for a second,” because they never will return, and you will have wasted money.

Staff in a board meeting

Fulfil commitments-If you make commitments to your staff, keep them. Otherwise, you lose credibility and will face lowered morale. When you keep your commitments to your staff, it increases the chances that they will reciprocate and keep their commitments to you regarding work delivery.

Exhort, don’t belittle-You always want your staff to do more, produce more, finish the project earlier -- and for less cost. So there’s often a gap between where they are now and where you’d like them to be. It’s better, generally, to exhort them to reach that point. If you criticise them because they’re not where you want right now, you may create resentment. The percentages are against you, however, because many others will simply turn off. It’s far better to say, here’s where I’d like us to be, and I know you can do it rather than, How come you’re not there right now, you slacker?

When singling out staff in public, do so positively-I’m not saying that you always should praise people publicly. Some people become embarrassed or self-con-

K

PMG on behalf of a multinational firm leads available job vacancies this week, with various openings up for grabs.

The head of examination and regulation, head markets and business development, head, risk management and control and head, compliance and legal are some of the vacancies available.

To access and apply for these positions, interested candidates are urged to visit the KPMG website and also send applications to corporaterecruitment@ ng.kpmg.com Leading jobs provider, www.findjobafrica.com this week, have a position for a chief financial officer.

To be based in Lagos, the key responsibilities will be to provide an operating budget. The incoming will ensure programmatic success through cost analy-

scious when they’re the subject of public attention. But I am saying that if you do choose to single someone out in public, do so in a positive, rather than a negative way. The latter will embarrass everyone involved.

When you issue public praise, be brief and specific. Talk about what the person did and why it helped the department, organization, or company. Finally, thank the person. Ironically, the less you smile when praising, the more sincere it sounds. (Of course, you should be sincere to begin with, and you should smile just a little bit.)

When giving correction, do so privatelyConversely, if someone messes up, talk to them about it behind closed doors. When doing so, focus on the issue, not the person.

Try to avoid words like “you” and “yours.”

Instead of, “Your program caused the system to crash,” consider. Focus on the actions that caused the problem and help the subordinate learn from the situation so that the same issue doesn’t occur again.

Serve as a buffer for your staff-Unfortunately, you may run into upper-level

managers who insist on micromanaging.

They will visit your staff and issue directives that might clash with yours. As a result, your employees will find themselves in an awkward situation, unsure of how to react. When that happens, you must step in and make clear to upper management that the chain of command works in both directions. You wouldn’t want your staff going around you to complain to your bosses. Neither, therefore, should the opposite occur.

Yes, stepping up could be hazardous to your career, so be diplomatic and tactful when you talk to your bosses. Focus on the benefits to them on observing the chain of command, rather than criticising them for disregarding it. After you’ve had the talk, make sure your staff knows about it. Even though the grapevine probably will have alerted people, it’s still good to remind your staff that you have their back.

Don’t micromanage-Just as your bosses shouldn’t be micromanaging, neither should you. If you’ve staffed your team with competent people (and if you’re a first-line technical manager, you have strong technical leads), you should be confident that they know what they’re doing. You don’t have time to do the job of each member of your team anyway.

At the same time, be alert to clues that you might have to step in. Are others talking to you about a co-worker’s performance?

Are you getting evasive or unclear answers in meetings or conversations? Do you have an uncomfortable gut feeling about a project? In those cases, you might have to take a more active interest in your subordinates’ work. However, pick your battles carefully.

Both sides of the coin-It’s common to talk about the importance of being a good subordinate. But it’s equally important to be a good boss. If you follow these tips, you can build a loyal following, which only can help you in your own career.

Source: www.techrepublic.com

Job Vacancies sis support, and interpreting legislative and programmatic rules and regulations to ensure compliance with all federal, state, local and contractual guidelines, alongside ensuring that all government regulations and requirements are disseminated to appropriate personnel.

The chief financial officer will also oversee the management and coordination of all fiscal reporting activities for the organisation including,organisational revenue/expense and balance sheet reports, reports to funding agencies, development and monitoring of organisational and contract/grant budgets.

Qualifications required are a bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance masters degree in accounting/finance or MBA. 5 years in a senior finance role or equivalent and 15 years of experience in total is needed.

Still from www.findjobafrica.com is the opening for a surface / pressure control sales manager for Central Africa. The position is based in Luanda, Angola.

Essential responsibilities for the post are to outline, present and sell the value of our products and services that can benefit customer needs; help in Identification, qualification, pursuit and capture all sales opportunities with the objective of maximizing sales; and lead the preparation, submission, tracking and closing of quotations and proposals; Other are to develop and implements strategies for key accounts, tenders and strategic deals; make sales presentations to senior level customers & internal GE management; actively engage in new product Initiatives and relate this to sales; and develop, maintain and nurture relationships with customers;

24

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

25

Real Estate & Environment

FG mobilises stakeholders for flood control Flooded area in Lagos.

Last week, the Federal Government rallied stakeholders across government strata on the operation and importance of the National Digital Flood Model in Flood Early Warning System. The highlight of the programme was the sensitization of stakeholders to how best to utilize flood alerts provided by the model for flood disaster reduction, OLUFEMI ADEOSUN writes.

FG links disruption of ecosystem to violation of environmental laws 27

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nlike in the previous years, particularly 2012 when heavy rain resulted in massive flooding across the country, the nation has been relatively lucky this year as there has not been any tell-tale of woes arising from heavy downpour.

However, in a clear departure from the usual Nigerian attitude of waiting for disaster to happen before acting, the relevant MDAs have begun to initiate preventive measures to forestall any likelihood of flood related disasters to live s and property in the country.

Indeed, the launch of the Upgraded National Digital Flood Model last week by the Ministry of Environment further reinforced the commitment of the Federal Government to taking proactive measures against flooding. Before now, it would be recalled that the Federal Government had, as part of its moves to prevent the sad occurrence of the 2012 flooding incidence, intensified work on the the construction of the Kashimbilla/Gamovo multipurpose, Ose Dam to serve as a buffer for water flows

from Cameroonian dams .

Other initiates of government in the post 2012 flood disaster event, include installation of 307 web-based flood warning systems nationwide, community-based flood early warning systems in Ondo, Niger, Cross River, Imo, Anambra, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara, Akwa-Ibom, Abia and Enugu states, and the acquisition and deployment of four stand-alone automated functional flood early warning facilities along riversAlamutu, Eruwa and Owena river Basins.

Speaking during a public presentation of the upgraded FEWS in Abuja last week, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta, stated that the daunting challenges of flooding in the country necessitated the conceptualisation of a reliable national tool for flood forecast.

On the imperative of the new initiative, she said, “In pursuant of the federal government commitment to combat the menace of flood, the Federal Ministry of Environment in 2011 evolved a web-based FEWS to provide a coordinated proactive approach to

SSACTAC supports commercialisation, recapitalisation of FHA 28

flood monitoring and prediction using forecasted hydro-meteorological parameters.

“The ministry noted the success of the FEWS programme in flood disaster risk reduction and thereby commenced the development of the National Digital Flood Model in 2013 to enhance its forecast.

Jimeta, who lamented the lack of coordination among MDAs in the country in addressing the menace of flooding, noted that the stakeholders’ forum was organised to synergies how best the FEWS could be better put to use in addressing the scourge of flooding in the country.

“It is worrisome that relevant agencies in water and environment sectors lack coordination in the matter of flood forecast for the country, hence he need for this occasion to bring the stakeholders together to faster cooperation among them. One of the expected outcomes of this public presentation is the enlightenment of the stakeholders on the operation and importance of the National

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

N10bn GGW programme to be community-driven, says FG

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Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG mobilises stakeholders for flood control

DG NEMA, Sani Sidi

Laurencia

Anuforom

CONTINUED FROM 25 Digital Flood ‘Model in Flood Early Warning System.

“Therefore, your participation as strategic stakeholders should define ways of utilising flood alerts provided by the model for proactive measures to be taken as flood disaster reduction approach in the country, “she noted.

In his presentation, the Director General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Dr. Anthony Anuforom, said that the danger posed by flooding disaster was capable of derailing government developmental programmes, including the actualisation of the present administration’s transformation agenda and vision 20:2020.

Citing statistics from the World Meteorological Organisation, the DG who was represented at the forum by the Director, Applied Meteorological Services, Mrs. Julie Ukeje, stated that flood, along with other hydro-meteorological disasters accounted for about 90 per cent of lives lost in natural

Your participation as strategic stakeholders should define ways of utilising flood alerts provided by the model for proactive measures to be taken as flood disaster reduction approach in the country disasters, affecting over 520 million people worldwide, resulting to 250,000 deaths in a year.

While saying the installation of the FEWS was highly commendable, Anuforom noted that a good understanding of the causative factors of the expected hazards such as flood, rainfall regime were necessary requirements.

Speaking on the roles NIMET had played

and still playing in stemming the tide of flooding, he said,”NIMET as the nation’s authoritative voice on weather, climate and water, has in its custody, the nation’s historical weather records spanning over 100 years. The agency is therefore best positioned to provide this necessary understanding and guidance on the nation’s rainfall pattern and distribution”. This, according to him, would also constitute a vital

input into the planned awareness on the importance of FEWS in flood monitoring and management in Nigeria.

He explained that other efforts being made by the agency included the provision of more accurate forecasts with better lead time with a view to radically improving people’s chance of living in relative safety.

Such information, according to him, also include Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SPR) and Drought and Flood Monitoring Bulletin which, he said, are made available to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Also speaking at the launch, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Abdu Bulama who was represented, also emphasized that the satellite technology application which was developed by the National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA, was a critical tool which has the capacity to enhance the Digital Flooding Platform.

Hotel beach resort property investment in Cape Verde taking off

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ape Verde has been named one of the top 10 countries in the world for long term tourism growth which is set to have an impact on the archipelago’s real estate investment market.

Often referred to as the African Caribbean, the islands off the coast of West Africa have seen tourism numbers increase by 115 per cent since 2000 and officials expect a million visitors this year.

‘Whilst many still struggle to place Cape Verde on a map, this archipelago is punching above its weight in tourism terms. Cape Verde is certainly a hot travel destination of the future and an investor’s dream,’ said Samantha Gore, sales manager for international estate agents uv10.

Figures from the World Travel and Tourism Council also show that travel and tourism directly contributed 16.2 per cent of Cape Verde’s total GDP in 2013 and this is expected to rise to 20 per cent of total GDP by 2024. This places Cape Verde 40th out of 184 countries for its growth forecast in 2014, and an tenth for long term growth over the next decade.

Meanwhile, in 2013 travel and tourism directly supported 32,000 jobs, 14.5 per cent of total employment, by 2014 this is expected to increase to 64,000 jobs or 23.3 per cent of total employment.

Cape Verde’s potential hasn’t gone unnoticed amongst global hotel chains.

Hilton has recently laid the first stone on their €46 million 240 room hotel on the island of Sal, the first of the luxury

chain in Cape Verde,’ explained Gore.

Meanwhile Spanish chain Melia has four hotels either open or in the pipeline with its first, Melia Tortuga Beach, recently celebrating half a million visitors since opening in 2011. Melia Dunas Beach Resort follows in November this year and Melia Llana Beach in 2016.

The firm is now marketing the fourth Melia project due to open in 2018 but with 7% returns from day one. Entry level investment is £10,000 for a sixth of an off plan garden or premium hotel room with the 7 per cent guaranteed interest paid for the start for four years or until the opening of the resort, whichever is first.

Once complete the investment unit joins a rental programme. As an example, Melia Tortuga Beach is already

returning 6 to 9% per annum to buyers.

There will also be a guaranteed buyback at open market value three years after operations commence.

Gore believes that Cape Verde, which is on the same latitude as Barbados, has a lot to offer in terms of beautiful beaches, green mountains, guaranteed year round sunshine and an average temperature of 27ºC. The Islands now receive more than 40 international flights a week and, for visitors from the UK, the flying time is five and a half hours, on par with places like Cyprus. Gore said that Cape Verde, whose currency is tied to the euro, also offers political and economic stability with the archipelago’s central bank predicting GDP growth of between 1.5 and 2.5 per cent in 2014.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Real Estate & Environment

27

FG links disruption of ecosystem to violation of environmental laws

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he Federal Government has identified violation of environmental laws and regulations as one of the major undoings of the people and industry players that constituted major threat to the proper functioning of the nation’s ecosystem.

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam stated this in Abuja last week during a one-day Federal/States Regulatory Dialogue on the Implementation of National Environmental Regulations.

Organised by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the forum is a yearly platform that rallies key stakeholders in the environment

sector across the three tiers of government to share experiences and fashion out best practices in compliance monitoring and enforcement.

Mallam, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta, lamented the extent of damage the people had done to the environment through unwholesome practices.

She said such practices had overtime resulted in water pollution, indoor and outdoor air pollution, industrial pollution, biodiversity loss, erosion, flooding, land degradation, desertification, sprawling urban solid wastes, open and bush burning, noise pollution as well as wildlife crimes, climate change and

ozone layer depletion, among others.

The Minister noted that NESREA was saddled with the responsibility of enforcing all environmental laws, including coming up with regulations and setting standards, and would not fail to prosecute anyone that contravenes the laws.

On some of the agency’s efforts to ensure fidelity with nature, Mallam stated, “Within the last four years, NESREA has held four sessions of the Regulatory Dialogue, supported by the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP).

Thirty three National Environmental Regulations cutting across different sectors of the environment were presented at the sessions

for review and adoption.

“Twenty eight of these have been gazetted and are being implemented. The remaining five are undergoing due diligence at the Federal Ministry of Justice in preparation for gazzetting.”

The minister all cited the implementation of the national vehicular control programme by the agency as one of its efforts in combating the issue of air pollution.

According to her, the two major planks in the vehicular control programme include outright ban on the importation of 2-stroke engine and the yearly emission testing of vehicles.

Mallam added that the ban on 2-stroke engine had been incorporated into the country’s National Physical Policy and currently being enforced by NESREA with the cooperation of the Nigeria

Customs Service and other security agencies at the Ports.

Speaking at the event, NESREA Director General, Mrs. Ngeri Benebo, stated that the regulatory dialogue which is in its fifty session, was conceptualised to chart a course in ensuring an inclusive environmental compliance monitoring and enforcement programme in Nigeria.

She noted that this year session was to assess how the nation had performed in the area of implementation of the environmental regulations with a view to among others, harmonizing the roles of various stakeholders for effective enforcement, fashioning out strategies to achieve a more effective compliance monitoring enforcement and sharing experiences obtained from the field as part of lessons learnt to guide future actions.

Environmental compliance: NESREA reads Riot Act to consultants

T Slum area in Makoko, Lagos.

Brazil offers property investment for overseas buyers

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razil’s real estate market is also proving to be of interest to overseas buyers looking for a real estate investment According to a new analysis from real estate firm Savills, Brazil’s property market, compared to some of the other fast growing emerging economies, does not yet look overheated.

According to Paul Tostevin, associate director for world research at international real estate firm Savills, commercial yields currently stand at 8.5 per cent and residential yields are at 5.1 per cent.

He pointed out that the high profile sporting events are helping to raise Rio’s international profile.

‘It is no surprise that Brazilians are returning to Rio in large numbers. The city is now growing at a faster rate than São Paulo. The rate of annual house price growth in Rio de Janeiro peaked at 40 per cent in 2010, slowing to 15 per cent in 2013,’ he said.

‘This is much more in line with underlying occupier demand,

matching rates of growth in rents.

However, mortgaged indebtedness is low and credit control is strong, so the prospects for a substantial downward price correction seem relatively remote in the current climate of growing wealth creation,’ he explained.

He added that while São Paulo is now Brazil’s financial capital, Rio de Janeiro still boasts a major financial district. Several multinational corporations are based there, a legacy of the city’s days as the country’s capital.

Rio is also home to a significant number of oil and gas companies, as well as telecommunications, entertainment and media organisations. Office rents appreciated rapidly between 2010 and 2011, growing by 37 per cent in a single year, although they have since fallen by 14 per cent.

But there are signs that the property market growth is slowing in some locations. According to the latest edition of the Global Property Guide house prices in

Sao Paulo increased by 6.71 per cent year on year in the first quarter of 2014, the slowest growth in the past six years. On a quarterly basis, house prices in Sao Paulo dropped by 0.12 per cent.

One firm, Luxury Estate, says that Rio de Janeiro is the most popular place for overseas buyers followed by Sao Paulo. Those seeking an investment are betting on the considerable infrastructure that has been put in for the World Cup and for the Olympic Games in 2016 will make real estate capital growth promising.

While 70 per cent of buyers are from Brazil there is an increasing number of buyers from overseas investing in property, mostly apartments. An analysis of the 250,000 searches conducted on its website from the beginning of the year until the end of May found 7 per cent were Americans, 6 per cent French, 5 per cent Italian, 4 per cent, Germans, 3 per cent, Spanish, 2 per cent from Portugal, 2 per cent from the UK and 1% from Russia.

he Director General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr. Mrs. Ngeri Benebo has said that appropriate sanctions would be meted out to consultants that fail to effectively discharge their duty to the agency.

Benebo, who spoke in Abuja during the 3rd Induction and Refresher workshop for accredited environmental consultants, said the agency would not hesitate to punish any consultant found to “have fallen short” of expectations and standards.

NESREA’s accredited consultants are expected to serve as interface between the agency and the regulated community to ensure that business operators respond appropriately to compliance concerns.

She said: “Some of the observed gaps in environmental audit reports include presenting environmental problems of a facility without proffering solutions, citing outdated regulations and standards exclusion of GPS locations, copy and paste etc.

“I want to state categorically that the Agency will not tolerate any unprofessional and shoddy jobs from any environmental consultant. Also, we will not hesitate to sanction any consultant engaged in unethical and sharp practices”.

The DG explained that a reawakening to environmental responsibilities following the

agency’s compliance monitoring and enforcement programme, sometimes forced the agency to recruit young consultants with little or no result.

In order to forestall the pitfalls, she passionately appealed to the highly experienced consultants to monitor, train and provide the needed platform that would enable new consultants attend fresher workshops to equip them better for the task ahead.

She said: “With our compliance monitoring and enforcement programme, lots of people are awakening to their environmental responsibilities which means they need more consultants.

“As a result, some of the consultants who are good have had to employ younger people to do the work for them and often times; it is these younger ones that do not do the job right. We are now appealing to them monitor them, train them properly and make sure they attend these fresher courses that we have for them so that they can do the job well.

“Often times the codes are obsolete regulations, the ones that we have already reviewed meanwhile we have moved forward.

They should know the newer regulations and stamp them as standards and as yardstick for measuring compliance and for these new ones taken on board, they should train them because we are creating green jobs by what we are doing”, she added.

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Design

FG outlines initiatives for affordabe housing ...Set to speedy up process of FHA’s commercialisation

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he Federal Government has undertaken some proactive steps towards ensuring standard and quality housing that would be affordable to low and medium income earners in the country.

The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi disclosed this during a media chat held recently in Abuja.

Eyakenyi had organised the media interaction with a view to highlighting and articulating her plans and programmes for the housing sector, particularly the various initiatives aimed at creating housing affordability.

On the efforts of government to speedy up the delivery of the 10,000 housing units under the mortgage facility of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), the minister hinted that the ministry, in conjunction with other relevant stakeholders, was working on the delivery models and modalities for affordability.

Besides, the minister added there were on-going partnership with various state governments, stakeholders, manufacturers of

building materials and developers, towards enhancing affordable housing by creating a flexible room for accessibility.

She said: “The Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is facilitating action on the delivery of 10,000 housing units that the mortgage facility of the NMRC will support.

“A ministerial committee under my chairmanship is responsible for working out modalities for the delivery of the 10,000 units over the next few months, she added.

The minister further disclosed that in respect to the provision of unencumbered lands to help facilitate the NMRC project, about 14 state governments in addition to the federal capital territory, had shown support by responding accordingly.

She added, “We are encouraged by the positive response from the state governments in respect of the provision of the unencumbered land for the project. Already, we have identified availability of land in 14 states of the federation, and the federal capital territory, Abuja, for the

take-off of the project. I assure you that in the next few weeks, we shall secure more unencumbered land for the take-off of the project in the remaining states of the federation”.

As part of the efforts to address the housing deficit gap in the country, Eyakenyi noted that the ministry was working in collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPS), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), National Planning Commission (NPC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to carry out a nationwide housing survey.

While stressing the importance of a housing survey in addressing the prevailing challenges in the housing sector over reliability on forecasts, she maintained that the survey would expunge housing gap by helping to determine the magnitude of housing deficit in the country, which according to her, “stands at about 17 million houses.”

She said: “ the survey will also help us to establish the actual number of housing deficit in the country instead of relying on forecasts and the quantum of the investment needed to mean-

ingfully address the housing gap, as well as the capacity requirements for transforming the housing and urban development sector on a sustainable basis.

“In the short term, a pilot study will be carried out in the federal capital territory, representing the best housing case scenario and one other state that will symbolize the worst housing scenario, to determine the magnitude of the housing deficit in Nigeria. From the trends we have seen so far, affordability is a key issue in housing deficit”.

In order to minimize poor standard of housing, the Minister said a revised building code was in the processed of being finalized, noting that when in place, it would address the issue low quality of houses.

Apart from that, she revealed that there would be an optimization on the use of all federal lands and landed properties across the country, by carrying out a national inventory and auditing of federal lands and properties to ascertain the status of the fixed assets in order to free under-utilized lands for development.

Road rehabilitation in Ogun State.

SSACTAC supports co

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he Senior Staff Association of Communications, Transport and Corporations (SSACTAC) has declared its support for a full scale commercilisation of the Federal Housing Authority(FHA), insisting doing so would enable the agency deliver on its mandate in the housing sector.

However, in commercializing the agency, the association called

on the effecti SS nalists Abuja ment e proces ment o He n positio the gu ently,

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

29

n tips for functional kitchen remodels The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the modern home, but it doesn’t always get the attention that it deserves. With as much time as some people spend in their kitchens, the spaces themselves aren’t always designed with function in mind.If you like to cook and spend a lot of time in your kitchen, maybe it’s time for a custom kitchen remodel to make things more functional and comfortable. Here are some tips that you should find useful.

One of the keys to having a functional kitchen is knowing where to store everything. For example, cereal bowls and cereal should be stored close to your breakfast table, while plastic containers and plastic wrap should be kept where you would prepare leftovers for storage. Thinking of how you use space will help you determine where to add extra cabinets, shelves, and so on. The idea is to eliminate the need to walk all over your kitchen over and over to complete the same task.

allow for a 42-inch wide walking space around the cooking area. If you want a two-cook kitchen, expand that to 48 inches.

It should be noted that walkways through your kitchen shouldn’t go past the stove, especially if you have small children. It’s easy to knock a pot off the stove while walking by, so you should do your best to discourage that. You should also design your kitchen so that the refrigerator is easily accessible both to people working in the kitchen and those passing by.

3. Determine how islands will be used

2. Leave walkway space You may think that you’re stuck with narrow walkways if you have a small kitchen, but the best kitchen design consultants know how to make the most of any space. When you’re designing your kitchen’s layout, remember to keep all paths through your kitchen about 36 inches wide. You should also

An island is a great thing to have in your kitchen, but you should know how it will be used. Some islands are used as dining spaces while others are used for cooking. Some islands are even equipped for multiple functions. If you plan to use a kitchen island for food preparation and dining, make sure there is sufficient space for both; you don’t want to cook and prepare meals in the same space where people will be eating them.

4. Keep Trash and Recycling Hidden but Accessible There are few things worse in a kitchen than a smelly or overflowing wastebasket, but you need to have somewhere to throw your trash and recycling. Keep a wastebasket in a lower cabinet near the sink or the stove. You can also design a special space for it if you wish. The same goes for recycling bins. This maximizes the actual area you move through in your kitchen and removes some of the visual clutter.

ommercialisation, recapitalisation of FHA

e Federal Government to recapitalize it for ive housing delivery.

SACTAC in its communiqué read to jours by its President Muhammad Yinusa in a, also demanded that the federal governensure fair-play in the ongoing liquidation ss of NITEL, including ensuring the settleof all outstanding labour related matters. noted,”NEC in session reviewed its earlier on on NITEL liquidation and demand that uided liquidation be carried out transparincluding the settlement of all outstand-

1. Rethink your storage space

ing labour related matters.”

Yinusa also lamented that FHA had failed to deliver on its core mandate of housing provision for the low income earners in the country because of inadequate funding and unnecessary interference from the nation’s successive government.

While urging the government to free its hands from the operations of the agency and allow it to

function like a private enterprise, he stated that it should be recapitalized to enable it provide houses for the low income earners who could not afford to buy houses in the open market.

He said, “The bane of the FHA has been government interference and lack of adequate funding. For instance, from the inception of the agency till date, the funding has been so poor such that it has stagnated most of its housing projects across the country. While we support the ongoing process of a full commercilisation, we also urged the federal government to provide it with the needed funds to carry out its programmes in the housing sector.

On the NITEL liquidation, the SSACTAC President bemoaned the treatment of staff by the Federal Government, describing a situation where they were being owed four months salaries as unacceptable.

“When you are liquidating a government own company, efforts must be made to look at the plights of workers. As I speak, staff salaries for about four months have not been paid. That is just one; secondly none of our members is represented on the committee set up by the government to fashion out modalities for the liquidation.

What this means to us is that, our contribution does not matter in the deal,” he noted.

N10bn GGW programme to be community-driven, says FG

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s communities in Kebbi State await the flag-off of the Great Green Wall programme by President Goodluck Jonathan, the Head Programme implementation Unit, Dr. Hassan Bukar has shed some lights on the afforestation programme.

Bukar, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Abuja, stated that the focus of government in designing the programme was for the communities where the GGP are being implemented to own and sustain it.

According to him, in line with this focus, government has begun house-to-house sensitization campaigns in all the communities of the eleven frontline states undergoing the project with a view to making them take over the programme at the end of the three years implementation time frame.

It will be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan had released N10billion for the implementation of the programme aimed at addressing the scourge of desertification in the eleven frontline states of Kebbi, Kano, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara, Sokoto, Gombe, Bauchi and Katsina.

On the import of the President’s visit to one of the sites where the

programme is being implemented, the PIU coordinator noted that the visit would afford him the opportunity of assessing the progress so far made in the implementation of the programme.

He said, “The occasion of the flag-off which is expected to take place in Kebbi would afford the President the opportunity to assess the progress made in the implementation of the programme. He has graciously given us resources to work and we started work last year and we feel and confident that it is high time we invited to come and see the progress of work done.

When confronted with the fact that some other countries involved in the GGW programme had gone far ahead of Nigeria in terms of implementation, Bukar argued that the nation started rather late, unlike other countries which started their own programme 45 years ago.

He, however was quick to add that it was a win-win situation for the country, stressing that, although Nigeria started its own programme just last year, it had been able to make tremendous progress because of the opportunity it had in drawing experiences from other countries.

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Luxury property prices rising in key global cities

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A new home building in England, UK.

Home building up 18% in England in second quarter

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ore homes are being built in England with housing starts up 18 per cent in the second quarter of 2014 compared to a year ago, the latest construction data shows.

Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis announced that there were 36,230 new housing starts between April and June, bringing the total number of starts over the last 12 months to 137,780, a 22 per cent increase on the previous year and the highest level of house building since 2007.

He pointed out that government efforts to help people onto the housing market are working with almost 40,000 households have bought a home through Help to Buy, with over 80% of sales going to first time buyers purchasing new build homes.

He said that the direct result is a new generation of home owners and a 34 per cent increase in private house building during the first year of the scheme.

At the same time the construction sector has been growing for 15 consecutive months, and is currently experiencing the sharpest rise in house building orders since 2003, while companies are taking on new workers at the fastest rate since 1997.

He also pointed out that a growing pipeline of new projects is also emerging from the reformed planning system. Last year successful applications for major housing schemes were up 23 per cent, and planning permissions were granted for 216,000 new homes.

Also published were the latest figures for Right to Buy, which allows people to buy their council homes. In the second quarter some 2,845 council owned properties were sold, a 31 per cent increase on the same quarter last year, and bringing the overall number of homes sold under the reinvigo-

rated Right to Buy to nearly 22,500.

Receipts from additional sales are now being recycled into building new affordable homes. In the last quarter councils received £211 million, and started work on 675 new homes, bringing the total number of replacement homes started to almost 3,700. More than 480,000 new homes have now been delivered since July 2010, including almost 200,000 affordable homes.

‘Wherever you look across the housing market, the signs of progress are clear. House building in England is up by over a fifth compared to last year, orders for building materials are rising at the quickest pace for 11 years, and companies are hiring new staff at the fastest rate since 1997. Hardworking tenants are also voting with their feet and taking up the Right to Buy,’ said Lewis.

‘This progress did not happen by accident. It bears testament to our efforts to reform the planning system and help home buyers while paving the way for house builders to boost their output. But there’s still more to do, and improving the housing market will remain a vital part of our long term economic plan,’ he added.

However, some property industry experts are pointing out that this is still nowhere near the number of new homes that are needed. ‘The tide is gradually moving in the right direction but the UK property industry can’t forever compare itself against the benchmark of its deepest troughs. We still need to provide twice as many homes again every year,’ said Duncan Kreeger, director of lender West One Loans.

He pointed out that while planning changes and getting projects flowing are welcome policies, a bigger problem is that house builders are completing current projects

first before starting on new sites.

‘For the required numbers of homes we’ve got to get started right away, as soon as sites become available. Greater resourcefulness is critical too. Converting and refurbishing is often easier and more profitable than the painstaking work of ground-up development,’ he explained.

‘Here, finance matters as much as the supply of bricks and cement. Lenders who have learnt the lessons of the financial crisis must embrace the real challenge of providing more places to live, not just extending bigger mortgages.

uxury property prices in key cities around the world have increased by 6.2 per cent year on year led by Jakarta and Dublin.

Of the 32 prime residential markets tracked by Knight Frank’s Prime Global Cities Index, some 27 recorded positive annual price growth in the year to June 2014, up from 21 a year earlier.

The index report also shows that luxury homes in key US cities are now increasing in value at a faster rate than those in several European and Asian cities.

Even although Jakarta and Dublin are the top performers, ending the year to June 27.3 per cent and 23.5 per cent higher respectively, in both cases the rate of growth has slowed in the second quarter.

In Dublin’s case, the rate of growth slowed from 5.6 per cent in the first quarter to 2.1 per cent in the second. However, given Ireland’s improving economic landscape and the expiry of Ireland’s capital gains tax incentive at the end of 2014, and Knight Frank expects prime prices will continue their upward trajectory in the second half of the year.

Dubai has also seen strong growth but the data shows that annual price growth slipped from 11.7% in the first quarter to 6.3 per cent in the second quarter. The emirate’s mortgage cap and doubling of transfer fees at the end of 2013 has influenced buyer activity more than forecast, it is suggested.

Indeed, new research by Knight

Frank revealed 25 per cent to 35 per cent of purchases are mortgage financed in the Emirate, more than previously thought. However, with new supply at the prime level looking limited over the next 18 months, the firm expects prices to strengthen in the remainder of 2014.

The improving performance of luxury homes in North America which was reported in the first quarter index has continued in the second quarter with New York, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco all recording double digit annual growth in the 12 months to June, placing them all in the top 10 rankings.

A number of key European markets are at the bottom of the index table. Rome has seen values unchanged in the 12 months to June, Zurich has seen prices fall by 0.3 per cent, Paris by 2.5 per cent and Geneva a fall of 4.3 per cent.

Some Asian markets have also experienced a poor 12 months. In Singapore prime prices are down annually by 7.7 per cent, in Hong Kong they are down by 2.9 per cent, while Tokyo has seen prices rise by just 0.2 per cent, Mumbai a rise of 0.8 per cent and Delhi a rise of 1.8 per cent.

The index report says that with the gradual withdrawal of stimulus measures in the US and the UK, the prospect of rising interest rates and the continual enforcement of cooling measures across much of Asia, it would be logical to assume the index’s performance would be weakening.

the nature of short term secured finance, the loan term is almost always less than a year and interest is often rolled up,’ said Duncan Kreeger, director of West One Loans.

‘By contrast, post-MMR delays in the mainstream market have crept into many areas of buy to let and commercial lending. So many property investors are now more actively choosing to bypass the usual lenders from the start as the high street is forced to focus its attention on simpler cases,’ he explained.

‘This is combining with a growing awareness about what bridging finance can get done, thanks in no small part to the growing expertise of specialist brokers. As the variety of borrowers grows in line with the sheer numbers of inquiries, we don’t expect this acceleration to reverse any time soon,’ he added.

The index report suggests that the most recent spurt of growth in the bridging market is being

driven by progress in both the size and number of loans being written. The average loan size now averages £475,500 over the 12 months to 01 July, a 14.8% improvement on the previous twelve months, when the average loan was for £414,000.

Greater loan volumes have been even more significant, with a 28.2 per cent improvement over the last 12 months. This is driven in particular by a 13.5 per cent increase in loan volumes on a bimonthly basis, the two months from 01 May to 01 July, compared to the two months before the Mortgage Market Review.

‘Property prices are rising, creating both an opportunity for investors and a challenge for those in need of affordable homes or workplaces. Bridging lenders are responding with the finance that can help ease the squeeze on supply, in loan sizes that are more than keeping up with the property market and in volumes that will make a real difference,’ said Kreeger.

New mortgage rules help to boost bridging loans in UK

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ew mortgage rules introduced in the UK in April have contributed to an acceleration in bridging lending in the 12 months to the end of June, it is suggested.

Growth in bridging lending has increased to 24 per cent per year, up from 18 per cent before the new MMR rules and annual gross lending has reached a record £2.17 billion, with £470 million lent in just last two months.

The data from the latest West One bridging index also shows that loan volumes are up 28 per cent year on year and borrowers see interest rates close to historic lows, averaging 1.14 per cent over the last two months.

‘Bridging is firing on all cylinders. And this is down to a number of positive factors all coming into alignment over the past few months. Thanks to the constructive approach of the financial regulators, the new MMR affordability assessments don’t apply to most bridging loans. Due to

Aviation

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Airport bombing attempt: Wake up call for FG, say security experts Last week’s attempt by a disabled young man to detorate a bomb at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, jolted aviation professionals and stakeholders in Nigeria.

However, some security experts were not surprised by this development.

OLUSEGUN KOIKI writes.

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he renewed threat to global security has necessitated the need for aviation authorities around the world to reinforce security measures in all the airport environments, Nigeria inclusive.

That Nigerian airports especially the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos are porous is an understatement. In fact, several people without tangible and explainable reasons find themselves even in restricted areas of the airports in the presence of the fully armed and stern looking security officers who are spread around the airports.

On several occasions, security has been compromised at the various airports around the country. While a few ones had resulted into major catastrophe, others have been minimal.

Sometime in the last quarter of 2010, some very sensitive official materials, Direct Data Capture Machines belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the conduct of the 2011 general elections disappeared from the airport.

The sensitive electoral materials were still awaiting clearance at the cargo terminal of the airport when about 60 pieces were suddenly spirited away from right under the noses of the security team.

Also, on March 13, 2013 armed robbers invaded one of the major car parks at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, shot and killed policemen and still managed to escape with their loot.

Apart from these, numerous stowaway incidents had been recorded in Lagos and other airports around the country.

The latest of such threats is the mounting attempts by the deadly Islamic sect, Boko Haram to cause havoc at the nation’s airports. Such efforts had been made in the past, but without major breakthrough.

However, last week’s arrest of a suspected suicide bomber within the MMIA, security experts say calls for concern.

The handicap suspect who had since been flown to Abuja by security agencies, pretended to be a beggar when the in-house security officers of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA,

The suicide bomber

inquired about his presence at the airport.

The suspect was allegedly on ground making phone calls along the airport road close to Centrex, an annex office of NAMA when he was apprehended by security personnel. The vigilance of the officers prevented the suspect from detonating the explosive device at the complex as they discovered that he wore an explosive belt, which he attempted to detonate around his waist.

NAMA, in a statement signed by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Supo Atobatele had said, “His incoherent explanation exposed him to the security personnel who later found on him with some devices suspected to be explosives. He was subsequently handed over to the Airport Police Command for further investigation.”

Although, the Federal Government had on several occasions insisted that security had been beefed up in the nation’s airports with the deployment and installation of several security gadgets like the Closed Circuit Television, CCTV, cameras and other sophisticated devices, security experts insisted that the government still had a lot to do in terms of intelligence gathering and information sharing.

The Managing Director, Centurion Aviation Services, Grp. Capt. John Ojikutu put the worsening security situation at the door steps of the government.

According to him, most of the security agencies within the airport environment

work in isolation, which he said further gives room for heinous crimes to be easily carried out within the airport. He stressed that apart from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, NAMA and the Nigerian Meteorological Service, NIMET, that are responsible to the Federal Ministry of Aviation, other security agencies at the airports are accountable to their different ministries.

Ojikutu emphasised further that at this period of massive insecurity, which had enveloped the entire country, security operatives could not afford to be complacent and called for a review of the airport security programme to meet the current challenges posed by the Boko Haram sect.

He also charged the government to be wary of those living very close to the airport environments and mentioned the car parks within the airport as another area, which the security operatives could focus their attention.

He added, “The responsibility to fish out suicide bombers within the airport environments is with the airport authority and the airport security committee, which all the government agencies working in the airport are members. The synergy to handle such situation should be in the airport security pogramme written by the airport security committee. The airport car park is another area you will find these people.

“At this heightened period of insecurity

WHAT WE NEED IS INTELLIGENCE, CCTV CAMERAS AND COORDINATION. FROM THE MOMENT YOU LOOK AT PEOPLES’ PASSPORTS, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DETECT WHO THE PERSON IS. YOU NEED TO PRE-EMPT THEM AND NOT BY INTIMIDATING PEOPLE TO SHOW THAT YOU ARE WORKING

and knowing fully well that aviation is in progression of terrorists’ targets and terrorists are coming in different disguise, this is not the time for the authorities in airports to be complacent. The airport security programme should immediately be reviewed to meet the challenges posed by terrorists.”

Besides, the Chairman of Scope Centre Limited, a security firm, Mr. Adebayo Babatunde said that the recent incident has put aviation security on the front burner and insisted security is porous in the country’s aviation sector.

Babatunde however commended the security operatives especially of NAMA for being inquisitive and stopped the suicide bomber before committing havoc on the airport environment.

He advised the Federal Government to beef up security within and around airport, stressing that airport was more than terminal beautification.

An aviation expert, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo also commended the security operatives for a job well done, but urged them not to rest on their oars.

He said that in a bid to prevent a recurrent, the various security outfits at the airports should beef-up security within the vicinity, adding that sharing of information among the agencies too would go a long way in curbing a recurrence in the sector.

Ohunayo noted that in a bid to combat terrorism, there is a need for intelligence gathering, installation of Closed Circuit Television, CCTV, cameras at strategic places and 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 a repeat of what happened in Ukraine, stressing that was the latest antics of terrorists around the world today.

He said, “The lessons that can be learnt is that while we are trying to combat bioterrorism, the other terrorism is here and is not far away. There is a new thing now; that is shooting down an 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.’’

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South African Airways to commence Abuja route soon –Regional General Manager

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L-R: Travel Manager, Peacock Travel & Tours Ltd; Mr. Keith Lloyd, Branch Manager, Barclays Bank PLC, Twickenham, Jayne Costagliola, Business Manager, Barclays Bank PLC, Twickenham, Luke Ponikwer and Retail/Travel Consultant, UK & Europe, Peacock Travel & Tours, Lisa Rudkin, during a joint business promotion by Barclays Bank and Peacock Travels in London recently.

countries and beyond with more ease.

He explained that the carrier would deploy an Airbus 340-600 into the route with a configuration of 317 seats; 42 for Business Class and 275 for the Economy.

He recalled that South African Airways commenced flight operations in 1998 with two frequencies per week, grew it to four weekly and later increased the frequencies to seven some few years ago.

He said, “Nigeria is of extreme importance to us in South African Airways. The entire SAA catches cold whenever Nigeria sneezes.

Out of the 20 years of democracy

in South Africa, 16 of the years, we have been flying into Nigeria and we have continued to grow steadily.

“The additional frequency will enable us to have ample connections within the continent. We decided to increase the frequency because of customers’ demands.

With this additional flight, our clients can come into the country anytime of the day and connect local flights in Nigeria. With the heavy demands, the management is seriously thinking of connecting Abuja, which is in fulfillment of the BASA we have with the government.”

Overland Airways commences flights to Bauchi Airport

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ne of the steadily developing airlines in Nigeria, Overland Airways has announced the commencement of scheduled flight operations to the newly constructed Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi.

The airline also stated that effective from Monday, August 11, 2014, it had discontinued scheduled flight operations to Bauchi Airstrip and relocated its services to the new Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport.

An online statement from the stable of the airline stated that it now operates flights in and out of the new airport every Monday – Friday andSunday.

Overland flights depart Abuja at 8:00am every Monday, Wednesday andFriday and arrive Bauchi at 9:00am, while the return flights on these days depart Bauchi at 9:30am and arrive Abuja at 10:30am.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, flights depart Abuja at 9:00am and arrive Bauchi at 10:00am, while return flights depart Bauchi at 10:30am and arrive Abuja at 11:30am.

On Sundays, flight departs Abuja at 2:30pm and arrive Bau-

Airside shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

When suicide bomber came calling

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Stories: Olusegun Koiki ne of the leading African carriers, South African Airways, SAA, has disclosed plans to commence flight operations from its base in Johannesburg into the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja.

The airline said that this was part of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement, BASA, its government had with the Nigerian government in its renewed agreement with the country.

The Regional General Manager, Africa and Middle East, Mr. Aaron Munetsi, revealed this to aviation journalists in Lagos over the weekend during the unveiling of its eighth weekly direct flight from its base in South Africa to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.

South African Airways’ additional frequency would take effect fromSeptember 2, 2014.

According to Munetsi, the South African government signed a pact of 10 frequencies weekly between the two countries, stressing that with the commencement of the Abuja route, air passengers would be able to connect the two

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

chi at 3:30pm, while the return flight departs Bauchi at 4:00pm and arrive Abuja at5:00pm.

Commenting on the new operations, the Chief Executive Officer of Overland Airways, Capt. Edward Boyo said that the new Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport would enable the airline serve the good people of Bauchi State more efficiently and offer flight connections between the state and other cities in the Northern region to further fulfill

the its objective to facilitate air transportation between the major cities of Nigeria.

Boyo congratulated the Bauchi State Government and the Executive Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda for the vision to embark on and complete the new Bauchi Airport project.

He added, “Overland Airways is committed to providing our customers with safe, efficient, and outstanding service with excellent value for money.”

onday, August 18, 2014 was a day calamity was prevented from happening in the Nigerian aviation industry with the arrest of a handicap suicide bomber at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos through the inquisitiveness of the in-house security officers of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA. NAMA in a statement few hours after the capturing of the alleged suicide bomber had stated that the said suspect was on the ground making phone calls along the airport road close to CENTREX, an annex office of NAMA, but his incoherent explanation exposed him when he was pressed by the security personnel who later found on him some devices suspected to be explosives.

But, the Federal Airports

Associated Airlines and abandonment of cabin crew survivor

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he gnashing of teeth of most families of Associated Airlines passengers of October 3, 2013 will not vanish in a hurry. It was a day an Embraer aircraft with the registration number N5-BJY enroute Akure from the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos with the corpse of the immediate past Governor of Ondo State, Chief Olusegun Agagu crashed after 33 seconds in the air.

While some of the passengers died instantly, others later died in the hospital while about three of the 16 souls onboard managed to survive the devastating

crash.

Unfortunately, the crash brought several unanswered questions from stakeholders and professionals in the sector, but despite the obvious lapses, over six months after the crash, the airline whose insurer is still in contention struggled to pay 30 per cent of compensation to the victims’ families.

But, the few survivors were completely neglected by the airline. One of the neglected was Miss. Oluwatoyin Samson.

Since the accident occurred, she claimed that she had been abandoned by the airline.

Etihad announces slight changes to Johannesburg’s schedule

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L-R: GSA Manager, Delta Air Lines , Miss E. T. Sefia, presenting a free ticket to the US to the winner of the Secondary Schools Category, National Travel Essay Competition, NTEC 2013/14, Miss Karimat Sowemimo, and the Founder, NTEC Mr. Ewos Iroro, during a courtesy visit to the airline’s office in Lagos recently.

Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, in a release 24 hours after the incident, dismissed the suicide bomber theory. Rather, FAAN admonished the media to always cross check their facts before going to press, to avoid sending the wrong signals to the public.

Airside thinks FAAN was economical with the truth on this issue. While Airside understands that it is imperative for the agency to douse tension in the sector especially at this time of security fears, it also insists the agency shot itself in the leg by feeding the public with incomplete information.

First, FAAN agreed that “the suspect was alleged to be in possession of a device suspected to be used in making explosives,” but what would the suspect have been doing with such devices if not to cause destruction?

he national airline of the United Arab Emirates, UAE, Etihad Airways has said that there would be changes to its schedule between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg, effective 26 October 2014.

The change in the flight schedule, with new daily departure options from Abu Dhabi to Johannesburg and vice versa, the airline said would provide travellers in either direction with improved opportunities to connect onwards to regional networks across Africa, and internationally beyond the airline’s hub in Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Airways’ General Manager, South Africa, Xenia

Adamou, explained that with the new schedule, the airline would be able to provide daily departures to clients, ensures that its business and leisure travellers benefit from greater connectivity and flexibility when flying between South Africa and the UAE. Adamou added that the new schedule would also provide passengers with a significant increase in weekly connections between Johannesburg and a number of key Asian business and leisure destinations on the airline’s fast growing global network, including Chengdu (China), Singapore and Phuket (Thailand).

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Insurance

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

33

Stakeholders still anticipating growth in insurance, pension sectors With series of reforms already made, proactive regulatory polices and improved compliance by operators, expectations by insurance and pensions industry stakeholders of significant growth in the near future is not out of place, MESHACK IDEHEN writes.

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hroughout most of last year, the insurance industry in Nigeria, witnessed series of reforms and policy introductions that analysts said helped move the sector forward in the right direction.

For the pension sub sector of the industry however, performance last year, analysts say, was not encouraging, particularly when viewed from the prism of numerous irregularities in documentation and management of contributions associated with the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, that were recorded by operators.

The alleged poor management capacity of most of Pension Funds Administrators, PFAs, which Nigeria’s Senate President, Mr. David Mark recently raised the alarm about, coupled with alleged incidences of gross abuse of office also forms some of the hiccups for the potentially booming industry.

Weak accountability for contributor’s deposits was also an issue of discontent.

These situation notwithstanding, experts and industry players told National Mirror there were high hopes that stakeholders will record massive consolidation, growth and expansion in the industry, and that operators in particular have every reason to be progressively hopeful of what is to come.

Insurance expert and Managing Director of Conrad Clark Nigeria Limited, Mr. Joachim Adenusi, is of the view that the unlimited potential and prospects ringed with doing insurance and pension management business in Nigeria has been reasonably and adequately identified by regulators and operators alike.

He explained that for instance, the burden of non-compliance with the International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS, which in the past hindered operators from playing in the big and lucrative league of international insurance business has been reasonably addressed by the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM. According to him, “Insurance practitioners in Nigeria can latch on to the No Premium, No Cover Policy to take the industry to a height never before witnessed,” adding also that the new sense of orientation and purpose with which insurance is now being practiced in the country is more than enough reason to be hopeful this and in the coming years.

Adenusi pointed out for instance that last year marked a watershed in the annals of insurance and pension management history and practice in the country, and a departure from the industry’s past, considering the fact that both the insurance and pension industry are currently experiencing a boom period, while at the same time, also poised for regional and continental expansion in a way never witnessed before.

Immediate Past President of the National

Mark

Osijo

We as operators need to consolidate and improve on the encouraging performance of the industry in

2013. To do that, issues

like late or non-submission of financial reports, rate cutting, demarketing and

other vices that ails the sector must be comprehensively looked into and properly addressed Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, NCRIB, Mrs. Liade Osijo, speaking in the same vein, told National Mirror that though sectoral challenges still exist, that indications have over the course of the year, continually emerged to show that the insurance/pension industry will soon occupy its pride of place, as far as contributions to national development was concerned.

She noted also in particular that the introduction and implementation of the “No Premium, No cover” policy by the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, has successfully changed the face and practice of insurance business in Nigeria and around the continent.

Pointing out also that the planned emulation and introduction of the No Premium, No Cover policy by other countries in the region, including Ghana, Liberia and Serria- Leone, is an indication that the insurance sector in Nigeria achieved something very significant in the outgoing year, the former NCRIB president said the responses and feedbacks from operators’ shows the policy; alongside other initiatives from the country’s insurance sector was a positive move for an otherwise previously struggling

industry.

The disclosure by the Nigeria’s Insurers Association, NIA, that only 12 out of the over 50 insurance companies operating in the country dominate the industry is a source for concern for the industry, said insurance practitioner, Mr. Lucky Igunbor, who is of the opinion that year 2013 is a year of mixed fortunes and blessings for the industry’s players.

Igunbor, who is the Managing Director of City Insurance Brokers Limited said: “The lack of depth, the prevalence of professional shallowness due to lack of training opportunities for operators and low capacity utilisation that still pervades the insurance industry to a large extent must be halted through stringent implementation of all the development and growth policies that were introduced and implemented in the course of the year 2013”.

He maintained that a situation where only 12 underwriting companies presently control large chunk of the insurance market in Nigeria despite the best efforts of the regulators and forward looking firms was not good enough or sustainable for the industry and the economy in the long term, adding

also that the coming year will present more opportunities and challenges for the industry.

According to him, “We as operators need to consolidate and improve on the encouraging performance of the industry in 2013. To do that, issues like late or non-submission of financial reports, rate cutting, demarketing and other vices that ails the sector must be comprehensively looked into and properly addressed”, he suggested.

Driving home the point inherent in the pitfalls of allowing only few companies to control and dominate the industry, insurance broker, Mr. Gabriel Osibogun, again made reference to the NIA report which explained that the market positions of the insurance firms were determined by their gross premium income written in 2012.

He noted with apprehension that with the NIA maintaining in the report that 90 per cent of the other operators that make up the numbers of companies in the industry are contending with the left-over markets left by the big operators, that creating a level playing field should form one of the main concerns of regulators in the coming year.

National Mirror gathered from sources within NAICOM that less than 31 out of the 60 insurance companies operating in the country have submit their audited accounts to the commission as at November this year.

Bancassurance Expert, Mr. Obasi Ngwuta, said the introduction of guidelines for the practice of micro and Takaful insurance by NAICOM, is another significant milestone that was recorded during the course of the year 2013.

Ngwuta said with the release of the guidelines that vast majority of Nigerians and potential insurance customers will now be captured into the nation’s financial system; a move he added will go a very long way towards boosting the country’s economy.

Harping thus on the need to deepen and enlarge the insurance industry in Nigeria through mass market participation in 2014, Managing Director of Riskguard-Africa Nigeria Limited, Mr. Yemi Soladoye, said operators in the industry must concentrate more on market expansion instead of premium growth.

Soladoye said insurance firm’s concentration on premium growth instead of expanding the market and deepening the industry is inimical to growth, adding that the future of the industry can only come from market expansion.

Taken together, and inspite of the unlimited growth prospect being envisaged by the industry, the inability to comprehensively boost insurance penetration and aid national food security through risk bearing support to farmers and agro allied businesses by the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation, NAIC, is a neglect that must be corrected.

34

Insurance

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

PenCom to summon pension operators over staff training

PenCom DG, Anohu Amazu

Stories: Meshack Idehen

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he National Pension Commission, PenCom, has summoned pension operators to a meeting in order to evaluate the impact of training in the pension industry.

The commission said the meeting between PenCom and heads of human resources and training of

licensed pension operators is part of efforts to ensure that pension operators treat the issue of staff training with paramount importance, as well as make the operators invest more in the training of their employees.

PenCom said in a statement that in view of the importance attached to the meeting, that all licensed pension operators have been directed to ensure that their organisations are represented, adding the commission is dissatisfied with the attitude of pension operators towards staff training.

Head of PenCom’s Surveillance Department, Mr. Mohammad Datti, told National Mirror the pension regulator had sent a circular to all licensed pension operators, stating that the need for operators to make adequate investment in the training of its employees.

He said constant training is of paramount importance to the commission especially at this stage of the development of the Contributory Pension Scheme where issues of service delivery have become a

major focus/concern in the pension industry.

“There is also the need to ensure that adequate measures have been put in place in terms of training to guarantee smooth succession especially during senior level exit from the business thus contributing to safe guarding the sustainability as well as to bridge skills gap in the pension industry.

While pointing out that PenCom views the issue of staff training as crucial to the growth, development and success of the pension industry, the commission directed the operators to develop a training programme/calendar on a yearly basis indicating the training needs of each employee as well as ensuring that relevant courses are identified for each employee relating to their own areas of operation/expertise on needs.

The commission also directed the pension operators to ensure that existing employees are trained to refresh and enhance their knowledge especially with new development in the organisation and the Industry.

ARIAN harps on importance of crop insurance

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he President, Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria, Mr. Gbadebo Olamerun, has said a vibrant federal crop insurance programme was key to the success of the country’s agricultural economy.

He stated this in his report on why crop insurance should be adopted as an essential business tool for agricultural producers, saying crop insurance provides the access to capital and security farmers need to increase crop yields, improve efficiencies and stay competitive in

the world markets. A healthy farm economy is essential to the stability of a nation’s economy.

Olamerun explained that crop insurance would provide a safety net against diseases, frost, drought, flooding and hail.

He said that without a strong crop insurance programme, uncontrollable changes in weather could undermine the financial security of individual farmers and place the entire farm economy in jeopardy.

The insurer said that in an increasingly volatile business envi-

ronment, crop insurance would provide an important measure of stability for agricultural producers.

He observed that food shortage had remained a major issue in Africa, adding that reports had shown that at least 10 children died every day globally for lack of food.

Olamerun observed that most countries no longer concentrated on agriculture not because they did not want to but because of the challenges of farming which were enormous such as drought, flood, insect outbreak and fire.

Insurers tasked on products for the poor

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he National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, said it has charged insurance companies to develop products that meet the needs of the low income earners in order to protect the underserved population and promote financial inclusiveness in Nigeria.

Commissioner for Insurance/ Chief Executive Officer of NAICOM, Mr. Fola Daniel, made this call while speaking at a workshop in Lagos recently.

He said microinsurance is targeted at the low income earners and the poor who have no access to the conventional insurance, saying the commission believes the move would reinvigorate rural economies and generate employment.

“It is the commission’s view that to protect the underserved population and promote financial inclusiveness; insurance companies should develop products that meet the needs

of the low income earners with very small premium that provides a pay-out within a few days if a shock event occurs. It has worked in countries like India and Malaysia. Back home in Africa, it is working in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.”

In view of the fact that insurance is a business of numbers while the nation’s population is more than 170 million people, he added that “with the right products, microinsurance would spearhead the much desired renaissance in the industry”.

According to him, “if the insurance industry is able to explore the retail market, take advantage of the huge opportunities that exist in microinsurance, takaful and agricultural insurances, the issue of low access to insurance in the country might just be a thing of the past in no distant future.

“Insurers will need to continuously develop simple and affordable

Daniel

products that will appeal to the public and should be able to offer better value by developing products and services which guarantee not only the profit needs of the company but, fits the pockets of the clients. Thus, the Commission believes that with microinsurance, consumer interest in insurance would be awaken while access to insurance will be greatly enhanced in the country,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

How to buy a life insurance policy

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ecent reports shows more than 50 million households in the country have no life insurance coverage, and more than half say they need more life insurance.

Like many financial products, life insurance policies can be complicated by various terms, riders and stipulations which make the purchase of even a straightforward policy tough.

Consumers are so confused about buying life insurance that many postpone a purchase or never buy at all. Known that in the event of a person’s death, that a life insurance policy provides their spouse, family or named beneficiaries immediate money for funeral costs and other everyday living expenses, it becomes important to know also that life insurance is designed to replace the income generated by a wage-earner and to help cover things like mortgage payments, children’s college education and other major expenses over a lifetime. Here are tips on how to go about getting a policy.

Determine how much coverage you need- Do the math.

Figure out what your spouse and family would need financially if you weren’t around.

Take into account your lost income and outstanding debts such as a mortgage and big bills like college tuition or medical expenses. There are numerous online calculators and worksheets to assist with the number-crunching.

Buy at the office- Take advantage of group life insurance offered at minimal or no cost through your employer.

Many companies, however, will only match an employee’s salary. For more coverage, you can scan the supplemental coverage at work but make sure to shop around too.

It’s not that much money- As a general rule, younger couples should look for a policy worth five to 10 times their annual income. A 35-year-old healthy, nonsmoking male can purchase a $1 million, 30-year term life policy for about $700 a year. Terms vs. Perm. Term life provides coverage over a set period, says 15 to 30 years, and then expires. Permanent life insurance, which comes in many varieties, lasts until your death.

Start with term- Most consumer advocates and financial planners recommend starting out with term life insurance, which is the most affordable option and easiest to understand.

It makes sense if you’re trying

to ensure there’s money for the kids’ college or paying off the mortgage and other debts over 20 years. The beneficiary can receive a lump sum payout. The premiums are the same for the duration of the contract.

Permanent or whole life, insurance won’t expire after so many years. It’s significantly more expensive but these policies also build up a savings account that grows tax-deferred.

Another option is return-onpremium policies that give back your money after the term ends. In both cases, many insurance experts recommend taking the savings from buying term life and investing them on your own.

Check rates, returns and ratings and opportunities to save- Rates are very competitive on term life policies and numerous quotes are available online at Insure.com. Consider paying your premium annually to avoid extra fees for monthly payments.

Be a skeptic- For whole life; be skeptical about the rate of return companies promise in their illustrations showing dividends paid out over the policy. Also, whole life policies can have high fees and administrative costs that drag down the yield.

More than premiumsDon’t fall for the lowest premium without checking the insurance company’s rating for financial soundness. You want to make sure the company is around in case you aren’t.

Don’t wait- Postponing your purchase until you’re older and sicker will make your policy more costly, if you get one at all. It’s best to lock in low rates when you have a clean bill of health and can sail through an insurer’s medical exam. If you do smoke or have a medical condition, be sure to fess up.

Don’t overlook a spouseWhen one spouse (you) dies, the lifestyle of the surviving spouse can change drastically.

Even if a parent doesn’t work outside the home, it would cost money to replace their childcare and other household duties.

Don’t let go- Letting a policy lapse after a few years. It’s tempting when the household budget gets squeezed, but the surrender or cash value on a whole life policy won’t equal the premiums paid until 12 or 15 years have passed. Term life doesn’t build up cash value.

S o u r c e : w w w. m a r k e t watch.com

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

35

Money Can reintroduction of ATMs charges lead to improved services?

As mixed reaction trails the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s reintroduction of Automated Teller Machines, ATMs charges, analysts say banks can only justify the charge through improved services UDO ONYEKA reports.

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ince the announcement by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to reintroduce Automated Teller Machines, ATMs chargers billed to commence September 1, many have rise against the policy, which they equally described as a policy summersault.

According to some analysts and market watchers, banks are profit making organisations set up by investors to make profit as return on their investments, therefore should deliberately at all times reduce cost.

Former President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, and Managing Director, Maxifund Finance and Securities Limited, Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu, had in an interview with National Mirror said that many customers do not realise that banks were set up to make profit. “Most times customers do not want to pay for the services they get from banks and that should not be so”, Unegbu said.

A Lagos based building materials merchant, Mr. Emeka Chukwura said that there is the need for banks to change some of their ATMs that are obsolete. “It is a recurring decimal that some ATMS trap customer’s cards.

For me I don’t have any problem with the charge as long as there is improved service.

Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, said the CBN took the decision to re-introduce charges on ATM in order to cover remuneration of the switches, ATM monitoring and fit-notes processing by acquiring banks.

According to him, it has been discovered that some customers make up to 500 withdrawals a month from other banks where as their banks have made the same service available free to them.

Sterling Bank’s Executive Director, Finance and Strategy, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman that what happened was a restatement of cost recovery for the use of other banks, “adding that it is intended to limit the cost incurred by banks and does not constitute profit.

“Banks are still left with the burden of three free withdrawals a month, which translates to N195 monthly charge. While this cost is less than the income on medium and high value accounts, it is sufficient to render most low value accounts unprofitable, which will force banks to discontinue marketing such accounts.

He said the last thing the country needs is a rollback of the financial inclusion campaign, which has resulted in a noticeable uptick in customer enrolment by banks and has created access to financial services for more than one million Nigerians in just over a year.

“The previous policy on limitless withdrawals might have benefitted those who were already financially included in the short term but would have harmed mostly poor people with banks scaling back investments for mass market and refocusing on the middle class.

“Again, the current burden on Nigerian

Fatokun

Wigwe

Where do they expect banks to make profits after all these deductions? Don’t forget that banks have to invest and

reinvest.

So, it makes a lot of sense to return the charges for the ATM

banks arising from the combined weight of Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, premiums and Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, levy as well as the increasing cost of Cash Reserves Requirements give little room for pushing additional cost to banks.

“It is also becoming a source of concern for investors and could have negative impact on capital flows. When it comes to the cost of using ATMs, Nigerian banking customers still have one of the best deals you can find in any jurisdiction”, Suleiman said.

Also an economist of repute and Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane said the reinstatement of the ATM charge was appropriate.

He said the removal of ATM charges was wrong in the first instance, adding that there was no way a bank can recover their costs and improve their profitability.

For instance, he noted that banks have to pay AMCON levy, NDIC charges and at the same time are losing money from COT charges, which is being gradually reduced and would eventually be phased out in the next two years.

“Where do they expect banks to make profits after all these deductions? Don’t forget that banks have to invest and reinvest. So, it makes a lot of sense to return the charges for the ATM,” Rewane said.

The CBN said that its directive to deposit money banks to re-introduce a charge of N65 per transaction on remote-on-us ATMs cash

withdrawals will not affect its financial inclusion campaign.

Speaking in an interview in Lagos, the Director, Banking and Payment System Department, CBN, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, insisted that the policy was not a re-introduction of charges.

Remote-on-us are transactions done by a card holder on another bank’s ATM. Fatokun explained that prior to the amendments in December 2012, it used to be N100 on any remoteon-us withdrawal.

But he said the N100 was removed then so that people would be encouraged to go to other banks’ ATMs. “But the truth is that, as we said in the circular, that of the N100, N35 goes to the payment bank, which has now been completely waived. But in going to other ATMs to make withdrawals, your bank, which is the acquirer bank, incurs a cost of N65 which they pay to the switches and the owner of the ATM that you are using.

“Between 2012 and recently when the review was done, it was discovered that people have actually turned ATMs into their personally purses because nothing is charged. Somebody needs N500, N1, 000, he will go to an ATM to withdraw, such that in a day, some people can patronise ATMs up to five times,” he said.

According to him, this had created a huge cost burden for the banks that issued the cards.

This, according to him was the major reason why the central bank decided that even though remote-on-us would still be encouraged, a customer can go to other banks’ ATMs and with-

draw up to three times and there would not be any charges. But the customer would be charged N65 when he makes the fourth withdrawal.

“Of course, if you go to the ATM of your bank, you are free to withdraw as much as you like. So, it does not discourage financial inclusion,” Fatokun said further.

The policy takes effect from September 1, 2014. The central bank had explained that it took the latest decision as a result of the unintended consequences on banks.

It had said the earlier arrangement had resulted in substantial cost burden incurred by banks in defraying the cost for the service.

According to the CBN, the re-introduction of the fee was also to cover the remuneration of the switches, ATM monitoring and fit-notes processing by acquiring banks.

Also Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Ibrahim Mu’azu, in explaining the rationale behind fees/charges on the extended use of other banks’ ATMs, said it was to ensure that ATMs across the country continue to function to the satisfaction of all bank customers.

Mu’azu said some public comments on the policy have been mixed with most commentators showing great understanding and other stakeholders expressing clear lack of understanding of the rationale for this decision of the Bankers’ Committee.

“Our intention in this public communication is to further explain the rationale and the critical need for this measure which has been taken in order to ensure that ATMs across the country continue to function to the satisfaction of all bank customers”, he said.

According to him Cash withdrawal at the ATMs of a customer’s bank is free “Remote-onUs” transaction is when a card holder goes to the ATM machine of another bank other than his or her own bank to make a withdrawal.

Muazu said in December 2012 what happened was that the CBN, in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, transferred the payment of N100 fee on “Remote-on-us” ATM cash withdrawal transactions to issuing banks.

“The N100 was never removed. It was only transferred to customer’s bank to pay, and this was intended to encourage/promote the use of ATMs nationwide.

“Having sufficiently raised customers’ awareness, the first three “Remote-on-Us” transactions in a month are free for the card holder but paid for by the issuing bank.

“The N65 charge only applies when a customer withdraws cash from another bank’s ATM other than that of his/her bank. The N65 starts to apply from the 4th transaction at another banks’ ATM in a month”, he said.

Corroborating Fatokun, he said that the charge is not intended to discourage financial inclusion, as the CBN will not endorse any anti-customer policy.

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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Taxation

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Rebased GDP poses new challenges for Nigeria’s tax drive, debt mgt –DMO boss gage key business leaders, top government functionaries and corporate chieftains on the Service’s Capacity Enhance Programme, CEP, said that the GDP rebasing exercise had demonstrated that the Nigerian economy is much more diversified than earlier assumed and that it also created the opportunity for improved revenue earnings.

She said: “What the rebasing has done is to demonstrate that Nigeria has much more diversified economy than we thought,

Stories: Tola Akinmutimi ABUJA

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he Director General of the Debt Management Office, Dr Abraham Nwankwo, has likened the rebasing of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, to a two-edged fiscal sword which should be carefully handled in terms of its revenue generation and debt management challenges and opportunities in order to translate the exercise’s potential benefits to national development advantage.

Nwankwo noted that despite the immense socio-economic promises of the rebased GDP for the economy, there was the need to also effectively manage the fiscal risks such that more tax revenues could accrue to government coffers and help in bridging the nation’s tax-toGDP ratio gap.

Disclosing this during a chat with finance journalists last week in Abuja, the debt management expert explained that even with the potential investment and real growth opportunities created by the exercise for Nigeria’s economy, the challenges of boosting tax revenue remained more daunting as the nation’s debt profile and service demands might become bigger in the GDP post-rebased years.

The DMO boss said that with the tax-to-GDP ratio decreasing from the about 22 per cent before the last rebasing of the economy to 12.1 per cent after the exercise and the current total domestic debt of about N8.9bn and external debt of about $9.38bn, Nigeria’s debt to GDP ratio remained far lower than those of other countries in its peer group of 56 per cent.

To close the gap and stimulate sustainable debt management and economic growth, Nwankwo can-

DG DMO, Nwankwo

Chairman FIRS, Mashi

vassed improved corporate tax revenue drive at all levels of the economy and a collective commitment by stakeholders in ensuring that taxes are collected and borrowed money through the capital market locally and internationally are utilised for capital projects or infrastructure with huge capacities to support economic activities.

He explained: “As indicated, before the rebasing for 2013, the debt –GDP-ratio was about 22 per cent after rebasing it dropped to about 12 per cent. Yes, it provides fresh challenges and opportunities. So, now you say you have more borrowing space. But that is an illusion. That is a challenge, you have to recalibrate, you have to recreate yourself to appreciate that your GDP has been measured higher.

“However, it provides an opportunity to know that our debt is now sustainable and yet we are not collecting as much revenue as we should collect in terms of taxes that should be going into the treasury.

So, if we over collect more taxes based on the GDP that is existing, then we will be in a better position to service our debts. So, it is a chal-

lenge from the conceptual point of view because if you don’t take time, you get the impression that you have more borrowing space.

“On the other hand, it throws up the need to improve on our taxes and the collection of tax revenues so that the treasury will have more resources to service debt and enable us to fund developmental projects and programmes more efficiently.

The challenge, as far as we are concerned, is to encourage greater compliance with tax payment so that out tax revenue to GDP ratio will be significantly higher than what it is now”, Nwankwo added.

It would be recalled that the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had shortly after the release of the rebased GDP figures expressed a similar concern and tasked the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, to translate the opportunities of the rebased GDP to improved tax revenue collection.

Okonjo-Iweala, who gave the directive at the Stakeholders Engagement Forum organised by the FIRS in Lagos a few months ago to en-

services is now 51 per cent, up from 26 per cent. Agric is now 33 per cent from 22 per cent. The movie sector that was 0.7 per cent 10 years ago is now 1.2 per cent. What I’m saying is that the Nigerian economy is evolving in terms of service.

“Service is now one quarter of the GDP. The point we are making is that the rebasing has demonstrated the potentials in tax in a diversified economic base. Though Nigeria is not doing as good as Kenya and South Africa in tax to GDP ratio’’, the minister added.

ActionAid lauds ban of non-revenue officials on tax collection

A

ctionAid Nigeria, AAN, a non-governmental and antipoverty organisation, has commended the National Economic Council, NEC, on the decision to ban non-revenue officials from collection of taxes and levies by federal, states and local government agencies across the country.

Reacting to the directive by the NEC in a statement at the weekend, the anti-poverty agency described the decision as a progressive position worthy of commendation.

According to the Country Director of organisation, Dr. Hussaini Abdu, “the unconventional option of employing non-revenue officials and non-professionals for tax collections by states and local governments in recent years has led to untold hardship for citizens, especially the poor, who are often harassed and brutalised by these contractors” Abdu also noted that in some instances due to engagements of touts and thugs by some local governments for collection of levies and dues, there had been cases of maiming of citizens who are socially disadvantaged and are unable to either

report such incidents to appropriate authorities or seek redress.

Agreeing with the national economic council, the AAN chief executive noted that there had been duplication of some taxes and levies at states and local governments, and that taxes and levies administered by some states are not backed by appropriation legislation.

He said that this duplication of levies, dues and taxes had further deepened incidence of inequality in the country as the meagre income of the poor, especially those in the informal sector has come under severe pressure and attacks.

On the Council’s position that the 1998 Taxes and Levies Act was overdue for review, Abdu said that apart from the need for a review of the law there is need also for a holistic review of the nation’s tax policies.

Abdu said: “It is also important that the whole of Nigeria’s tax policies be reviewed to address gaps in the laws, especially those that have aided tax avoidance by multinationals and ceded to same much needed resources by the country.

TAX LAWS AND ISSUES

Ghanaian govt urged to tighten up on transfer pricing

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nhancing tax incentives and training of the Ghana Revenue Authority, GRA, are key to the prevention tax evasion and abuse of transfer pricing law, Omane-Antwi, Professor at Ghanaian Pentecost University, told a seminar in Accra penultimate week.

Addressing the seminar on mid-year review of

the 2014 budget statement, Omane-Antwi said that there is scope to increase tax revenues and curb tax evasion by ensuring voluntary tax compliance through enhanced tax incentives and reduction in tax rates.

Omane-Antwi called on the government to expend its supplementary budget on specific projects that will boost economic growth, and

urged the government to prioritize its budget proposals if they were to be accomplished within the budget cycle.

With support from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD, Ghana formulated a transfer pricing policy in 2012 to follow international best practice in assessing the tax and examining the records of domestic entities

that operate in conjunction with other domestic and foreign affiliates.

In April 2014, the Government of Ghana presented its economic and financial policies for the medium term, stating that: “Ultimately, by promoting effective auditing in 2014, the process will reduce the abuses and underdeclaration of profits and, thereby, resulting in higher

revenues from the tax regime. From 2014, GRA will train more staff in the new transfer pricing regime and extend its application to strategic and expanding sectors of the economy.”

It was said that: “Current tax policy initiatives emphasize on improving revenue mobilisation through tax effectiveness and efficiency.

To that effect, the GRA is

continuing its tax modernisation program to support the establishment of a Tax Policy Unit in the Ministry of Finance. The policy measures being formulated include rationalising the tax regime, minimising abuses in the tax exemption regime, and analysing the impact of the specific tax regimes in sectors such as petroleum and mining.”

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

37

Fraud: NSE fines operators N17m, others Johnson O kanlawon

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he Disciplinary Committee of Council of Nigerian Stock Exchange has penalised five companies for contravening its trading rules and regulations. The companies were suspected of various offences ranging from price movement of companies shares and unauthorised sales of clients shares.

Bytofel Trust and Securities Limited was fined N5m for unauthorised sales of 375.8 units of Union Dicon Salt Plc shares, while Calyx Securities Limited was penalised with N1m on the allegation of suspected price movement on DN Meyers Plc. Apel Asset and Trust Limited, which breach Article 15,104 and 107 rules of the Exchange, was fined N6m, while EDC Securities Limited was fined N5m for the same offence. Lakesworth Securities Limited was suspended indefinitely by the committee for unauthorised sales of clients shares.

Also, Messrs Kingsley Nnaji, Kayode Awotile and Akinwale Olagundoye have been blacklisted for unprofessional conduct, unauthorised sales of shares and the latter membership of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers has been withdrawn.

The Exchange, in its bid to improve investors’ confidence in the market commenced a strong campaign against market infraction by its dealing members by introducing a dealing members compliance report, BrokerTraX. It explained that with the TraX, investors can make more informed decisions about where to invest by viewing names of dealing member firms that have been found liable for contravening market rules. “The goal is to reduce contravention of market rules to its barest minimum in line with the

President CIS, Albert Okumagba

NSE DG, Oscar Onyema

The SEC approved rule provides that where a dealing member firm is inactive

for six consecutive months, the

Exchange

shall revoke its licence deliberate and sustained effort to restore confidence,” the Exchange said.

The NSE last week said it will cut off inactive dealing member firms from operating trading activities.

A statement from the Exchange said the dissever is necessary to maintain the integrity of the capital market and further protect investors in the country.

It explained that any dealing member firm that is inactive for six consecutive months.

“The intention is being pursued through a Securities and Exchange

Commission approved rule that authorises the NSE to revoke the dealing member licences of such inactive firms.

“The SEC approved rule provides that where a dealing member firm is inactive for six consecutive months, the Exchange shall revoke its licence.

The circumstances of the inactivity are further categorised into voluntary and involuntary inactivity,” the statement said.

It quoted the Head of Legal and Regulation Division, Ms. Tinuade Awe, as saying that voluntary inactivity oc-

curs where the dealing member firm has not engaged in any trading activity for a consecutive period of six months without being suspended by the Exchange or the SEC. According to her, the rule provides further that the Exchange shall forthwith revoke the licence of any dealing member firm that falls into this category.

She said, “Involuntary inactivity occurs where a dealing member firm has been suspended from trading activities by the Exchange or the SEC by reason of any infraction committed by that the firm and it has not carried out any trading activity within the stipulated six months period.”

Awe noted that the powers of the Exchange under this SEC approved rule will be exercised judiciously and will take into account all the circumstances surrounding each individual case as well as the interests of all stakeholders, particularly the investors.

She observed that the majority of the prohibited practices in the market have been linked to inactive firms and so it is important to stress that the new rule is aimed at further sanitising the market to protect investors.

The Head of Broker Dealer Regulation at the NSE, Mr. Olufemi Shobanjo, said that the Exchange in exercising its regulatory authority over dealing member firms shall continue to use the utmost care and diligence.

He noted that the NSE is keen to entrench the required catalysts to stimulate and build a healthy and well regulated market so as to stimulate increasing levels of investor confidence in the market.

Bond due 2024 to be added to JPMorgan Index –FG

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igeria’s 10-year bonds will be added to the JPMorgan Chase & Company benchmark emerging-market index series, the nation’s debt management agency said.

The debt due 2024 will become part of the gauge by August 29, Patience Oniha, executive director in charge of market development at the Debt Management Office, told Bloomberg.

The inclusion reaffirms the strength of the bond market, she said JPMorgan added the West African nation’s

bonds due 2014, 2019 and 2022 to its emerging-market index series in 2012, predicting the inclusion may lure $1.5bn of portfolio investments in the country. Barclays added some of the country’s debts to its index last year.

“JPMorgan will want to add more Nigerian bonds in the future as old ones on their portfolio drop in tenor and there is need to review and add longer-tenor bonds that will reflect true pricing,” Kunle Ezun, a fixed-income securities and currency analyst at

Ecobank Transnational Inc. (ETI) in Lagos, said by phone. “The addition will give the Nigerian bond market a global outlook, increase investor demand and drop yields.”

The country joined a key JP Morgan local currency government bond index in 2012, becoming the second African country after South Africa to be included in a widely followed index.

The country’s entry into the JP Morgan Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets (GBI-EM) from October 1 could translate into at

least $1.5bn of inflows to the bond market, the bank estimates.

Analysts at JP Morgan said it will raise the profile of Africa’s most liquid debt market after South Africa and is expected to lead to greater foreign participation, given that Nigerian yields offer a significant premium to established sovereign lenders.

“It’s now seen as a market that can’t be ignored internationally and one of the frontier markets where you need to have a position,” said Samir Gadio, emerg-

ing markets strategist at Standard Bank.

The entry of Nigeria into the GBI-EM comes as South Africa joins Citigroup’s World Government Bond Index, although funds tracking the latter are estimated at $2trn compared with $180bn for the JP Morgan index.

At around $25bn, Nigeria’s sovereign debt market is still dwarfed

by South Africa’s $100bn.

Secondary market turnover is also around a fifth of its more developed peer.

However, analysts said Nigeria’s addition to the

GBI-EM marks it out as one of the more accessible markets on the continent for foreign investors.

“Nigeria has done a lot of work in recent years in developing its bond market to improve liquidity,” said Leon Myburgh, sub-Saharan Africa strategist at Citi.

“In most African markets, foreign participation is largely limited to the Treasury bill market, but Nigeria has been able to cross the threshold and see foreign investors enter its bond market as well.”

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Features

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ogun: Battling the scarcity of potable The constant supply of potable water in many communities has remained a distant dream.

It is not unusual to see residents trekking long distances in search of potable water daily. FEMI OYEWESO reports that Ogun State is caught in an uphill battle for supply of potable water to the citizens.

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n February 3rd 1976, the military administration of late Gen. Murtala Muhammed carved out Ogun State from the old Western Region of Nigeria.

The state which is named after the Ogun River has borders with Ondo, Oyo, Osun and Lagos states, including the Atlantic Ocean.

With a land mass of 16, 432 square kilometres and population of 3.75 million, the state however, still suffers from a dearth of basic facilities such as good roads and potable water. Until the advent of the present administration, the only functional infrastructural facilities in the state were those bequeathed by the old Western Region.

This explains why for instance, the citizens in both urban and rural areas still go through the daily grinds of getting potable water.

In the state capital, Abeokuta, residents of several communities can be seen daily searching for water for household chores. This is due to the fact that the main arterial pipes serving the metropolis from the state Water Corporation at Arakanga water scheme phase I and II are all old and rickety.

Places like Ibara Housing Estate which is a Government Reserved Area (GRA), where members of the House of Assembly live, is still without potable water in spite of the huge sums of money spent by successive administration for projects expansion.

It is noteworthy to note that the legislative and commissioners’ quarters are all in Ibara Estate.

Before now, the estate used to be one of the areas in the old Western region that had laid pipes for water supply. But due to population explosion and lack of maintenance of the infrastructure, potable water has now become a much sought -after gold in the area.

The same goes for communities such as the Oke – Ilewo, Onikolobo/ Saraki/ Alowonle, Ijeja/Igbore axis of the metropolis, where pipes were laid in the 1960’s but due to non- upgrade of the facilities, water no longer runs through them.

Such newly developed areas as Obasanjo and Sam Ewang Hilltop estates, also suffer from lack of potable water. Residents have however, resorted to digging bore-holes for water.

Meanwhile, the indigenous Egba

Residents in Abeokuta collecting water from burst pipes.

People queueing with jerrycans for water at a public tap

settlements in Abeokuta such as Saje, Elega, Akomoje, as well as Iberekodo which are closer to the water corporation often enjoy regular water supply than other areas.

Investigations showed that most of the other communities where water pipes were laid in the old Western region still lack potable water supply due to poor maintenance of the pipes.

In places such as as Kugba and Adatan where the water pipes have become rusted, most residents now scoop water from burst pipes that run through gutters for their daily needs.

Aside this, places like Ita – Eko, Ago Ika, Sokori, Totoro and other Owu communities, such as Akin Olugbade, the residents have often experienced erratic water supply as supervising officials of the state water corporation pump water for distribution at their pleasure.

Aside Abeokuta the state capital, residents of other urban areas such as Ilaro, Odeda, Obafemi – Owode, Sango – Ota, Ilashe, Idiroko, Oke – Odan, Owode Yewa Ijofin, Tube, Agosasa and others in the Ipokia Local Government also have sad tales of potable water supply to tell.

IN THE ENTIRE STATE, POTABLE WATER HAS

BECOME A LUXURY, AS MANY RESIDENTS NOW RESORT TO DIGGING

WELLS OR BORE-HOLES FOR WATER

In the entire state, potable water has become a luxury, as many residents now resort to digging wells or bore-holes for water.

While residents of Ifo township, Mowe, Ibafo, Magboro in the Ifo and Obafemi Owode local governments areas suffer from lack of potable water, residents in areas such as Akute and Ajuwo, where mini water corporation sites are sited get erratic supply of water.

In Ijebu axis, supply has become a

nightmare as many areas are without water, especially since the commencement of the on-going infrastructural and road projects in the town.

Although areas like Italapo, Oke – Owa, Isado, Molipa Degun, Adeola are enjoying constant water supply, the quantity is still insufficient, even as areas like Imoru, Itantebo, Ijasi, Odo Egbo, Italowajoda and others are currently experiencing water scarcity.

Residents have always argued that for constant water supply, the facilities at Imoru, Omu and Apoje in Ijebu Igbo should be upgraded.

National Mirror gathered that the federal government is aware of the water supply shortage and is making efforts to address the problem.

It was also gathered that it has provided financial support to states, which include Ogun through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

In line with the mandate to improve water supply, the ministry in collaboration with Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) haS intervened in more than 20 water supply schemes in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun states.

This is against the backdrop that only 58 percent of Nigerians have access to potable water as at 2011.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe once said at the launch of a $10 million private partnership scheme tagged “Safe Water for Africa” in 2012, that the federal government was not happy that more than 60 million Nigerians lack potable water and that the mandate of the ministry was to meet the Millenium Development Goals (MDG) target of providing 75 percent Nigerians with improved water supply coverage by 2015.

She said, “It is against this background that the ministry resolved that it must intervene and support state governments to ensure the completion of water schemes.

The ministry believes that beyond

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Features

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

39

water in rural, urban areas the construction of dams and infrastructures from which state water corporations and agencies draw water for treatment and supply, it has to provide complementary water schemes, treatment plants and boreholes as interventions.

Accordingly, the ministry began the implementation of the government’s road map for an integrated water resources development, involving the three tiers of government, the private sector, international community, donor agencies and other stakeholders.

Specifically, the 22nd meeting of the National Council on Water Resources in Kaduna in December 2013 reiterated this position”.

Three years on, there is much to show in the area of potable water supply which have been or are being executed all over the country.

Speaking on various interventions at overcoming the challenges of potable water for the citizens, the Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information, at the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA), Femi Dokunmu said the federal government has always intervened at the request of the state government.

He stated that work has been completed on the rehabilitation and improvement of the Ijebu-Ode water supply scheme at a cost of N464 million.

Dokunmu said that Abeokuta, has a number of projects that include the dedicated pipeline from Arakanga Water Works to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), the first and second phases of which have been completed at a sum of N630 million.

“Other projects in Abeokuta are the rehabilitation of Panseke booster station and Pipeline works (N221 million), construction of Onikolobo overhead tank and distribution networks (N383.4 million), Ibara, Onikolobo water supply scheme (N391.4 million), Panseke Onikolobo water scheme (N383.4 million), and the Adatan, Eleweran, Obantoko water Project (N243 million).

Work has also been completed on the expansion of the Osiele water scheme and ready for handing over to the state water corporation”, he said.

Even with so much fund in assistance to the state government, residents are still wondering why the state is still facing monumental water shortage.

But Dokunmu, said that constitutionally, water supply is part of the concurrent responsibilities of all tiers of government. The federal government is expected to annex and develop water resources in various areas in the country.

“Ogun State falls under the operations of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) and it was gathered that the agency has ensured that it develops the water resources under and on ground surface. To that extent, the agency has provided multipurpose and small dams that supply water to Ogun State for onward treatment and

Entrance to the state water corporation’s headquarters

Students at the inauguration of water taps in their school

distribution to the people.

Dokunmu said, his agency usually impounds water to the Ikere Gorge and Oyan dams’ reservoirs during the rainy season. Such water is eventually released back to the Ogun River during the dry season, when the state water corporation finds it difficult to draw water from the river for treatment and distribution.

“Just as we keep some water in the reservoir of Ikere Gorge Dam, we also keep water in the Oyan River Dam. So, when it is dry season, we release water to Ogun State Water Corporation and then it can have enough to treat for people of the state”.

Apart from these two multipurpose dams, Dokunmu further explained that the federal government has the Owiwi dam that has just been constructed in the south western axis of Abeokuta metropolis.

“That dam has a water treatment plant which has been handed over to the water corporation to manage and

EVEN WITH SO MUCH FUND IN ASSISTANCE TO THE

STATE GOVERNMENT, RESIDENTS ARE STILL WONDERING WHY THE STATE IS STILL FACING MONUMENTAL WATER SHORTAGE provide water to communities of Owiwi, Akinale, Obada – Oko and others in that area”.

Aside dams constructed by OORBDA, Dokunmu said his agency has provided several bore holes in various parts of the state.

“They were provided by the federal government through our agency and have been handed over to the state government”.

Presently, some of the projects we have completed included the Ijebu – Ode water scheme.

Dokunmu said that what the state government through the water corporation does is to identify their areas of need and make formal requests to the federal government for assistance.

“And in that regards, the federal government just intervened by providing the necessary funds and the supervision, depending on the amount of the scheme.

He said water projects are presently being completed and handed over to the states, while efforts are on to secure budgetary allocation to complete on-going projects.

“The ministry and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority are also exploring areas of collaboration with the various states to get necessary fund to complete the projects and put them to use.

“If these efforts are sustained, the goal of supplying water to at least 75 per cent of Nigerians by 2015 will be achieved”.

In spite of these interventions, challenges of providing potable water to people of Ogun State still persist.

In an interview with the General Manager of Ogun State Water Corporation, Engineer Monsurat Agboola,she blamed the challenges militating against the provision of potable water in the state on inadequate electricity supply.

Agboola said that the corporation would need a minimum of 16 hours of uninterrupted electricity supply before it can draw water for treatment and supply from the various sources in the state.

She said, a minimum of eight hours electricity supply was needed for treatment and another eight for distribution of water.

Agboola further explained that the power company has already tampered with electricity supply to the water treatment plant at Arakanga, hence, the challenges of providing constant potable water to the people.

To enable the state overcome the challenges, the government has provided solar powered boreholes in some local government areas.

The state also procured and distributed 2, 500 units of ceramic filter pots called “Omilero” to enable people in rural areas filter water from streams.

Aside irregular electricity supply, National Mirror gathered that most of the federal government’s intervention that came through bore holes dug by politicians often malfunctioned or were abandoned before the donors left office.

However, the problem of portable water supply has become a yearly re-occurrence in Ogun State.

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Global Business

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

to buy $3.15bn of Dollar rallies versus euro in Goldman debt to end FHFA claims longest streak since 2012 G T he dollar rallied against the euro in the longest stretch in more than two years as data from housing to jobless claims signaled faster economic growth, bolstering speculation the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next year.

The greenback gained as Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s remarks in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, noted jobs gains made during the five years of economic recovery. The pound touched its lowest level since April as U.K. inflation rose less than forecast. The Commerce Department may report today that durable goods orders increased 7.6 per cent in July, according to a Bloomberg survey.

“The market saw further evidence of monetary-policy divergence in the Group of 10,” Vassili Serebriakov, a New York-based foreign-exchange strategist at BNP Paribas SA, said in a phone interview. “The dollar is the main story, but sterling to some extent as well.

Currencies where central banks are turning more hawkish are doing well, but it’s been mostly about the dollar.”

The dollar gained 1.2 per cent to $1.3242 per euro in New York, its sixth-straight weekly rally, the longest since the period ending Jan. 13, 2012. The greenback reached $1.3221, the strongest level since September 9. The U.S. currency added 1.6 per cent to 103.95 yen af-

Dollar notes

ter advancing to 104.19, the highest since January 23. The euro rose 0.4 per cent to 137.64 yen.

Australia’s dollar has gained 4.5 per cent against the U.S. dollar this year, the most among major currencies, according to data compiled

by Bloomberg. Sweden’s krona has lost the most, down 6.9 per cent.

JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Global FX Volatility Index rose as high as 6.23 per cent on a closing basis this week, up from an all-time low on of 5.29 per cent on July 3.

Hedge funds and other large speculators increased bets on declines in the euro against to the dollar to the most since July 2012. The difference in the number of wagers on a decline compared with those on a gain -- so-called net shorts -was 138,825 on August 19, compared

with 126,017 on August 12, according to data from the Washingtonbased Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said Friday that policy makers are prepared to add more monetary stimulus and called on member governments to do more with spending to help the euro-area economy.

“We stand ready to adjust our policy stance further,” the ECB president said in the text of a speech at the economics conference in Jackson Hole. The remarks come one year after the end of the currency bloc’s longest-ever recession, as the economy has stalled, unemployment remains at almost a record high and inflation is the weakest in almost five years.

China mulls subsidies for energy-saving appliances

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hina is considering a plan to offer subsidies to encourage wider use of energy-saving home appliances, people familiar with the matter said. Shares of appliance makers rose.

The State Council would need to approve the subsidies plan, which targets makers of appliances including energy-efficient air condi-

Xi Jinping

tioners and refrigerators, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorised to speak publicly about the matter. The Ministry of Finance, National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Commerce are drafting the plan, they said.

The subsidies would follow a yearlong program begun in 2012 offering financial incentives to consumers of energy-efficient appliances. China’s household electronic sales rose 8.6 per cent in the first seven months of the year, lower than the 15 per cent sales growth in the same period last year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Companies would need to submit applications for their products to qualify for the subsidies, according to the people, who said there was no timeframe for when the proposal may be approved. The Commerce Ministry, Finance Ministry and NDRC didn’t immediately respond to faxed requests for comment.

In an August 6 statement, the NDRC said it wanted to start a new programme to encourage innovation and adoption of energyefficient technology. Any such program would likely include subsidies and benefit large producers, crowding out smaller ones, China International Capital Corp. analysts Wei He and Haiyan Guo wrote in an Aug. 11 report. They recommended buying shares of Midea Group Co., Haier Electronics Group Co. and Qingdao Haier Co. in response.

Midea rose 3.7 per cent to 22.66 yuan at the close in Shenzhen trading, the highest level since its listing in September, while Jiangsu Chunlan Refrigerating Equipment Stock Co. gained 1.8 per cent in Shanghai.

Haier Electronics climbed 0.4 per cent in Hong Kong. The Shenzhen Composite Index advanced 0.7 per cent, while Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng Index rose 0.5 per cent.

oldman Sachs Group Inc. agreed to pay $3.15 billion to repurchase residential mortgage-backed securities to resolve federal claims tied to the sale of the bonds to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The buyback represents a premium of about $1.2 billion and makes the two U.S.-owned mortgage-finance companies whole on the securities, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the firms’ government overseer, said Friday in a statement. The cost of the settlement is “substantially covered” by Goldman Sachs’s reserves, the New York-based bank said in a separate statement.

Goldman Sachs is the 15th bank to settle all claims after the FHFA sued 18 firms in 2011 seeking to recoup taxpayer costs from when the U.S. took control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2008, at the height of the financial crisis. The $1.2 billion cost surpasses Goldman Sachs’s $550 million payment in 2010 to end a Securi-

ties and Exchange Commission suit over the marketing of a synthetic collateralised debt obligation dubbed Abacus 2007-AC1.

The bank’s cost could be lower than $1.2 billion if it’s able to sell the securities at a higher price than their current value. Other banks have opted for a cash payment to settle claims against them.

In July, Goldman Sachs said it set aside $284 million in the second quarter for litigation and regulatory proceedings, up from $149 million a year earlier. The case had been set for trial in September. The bank will pay $2.15 billion to Freddie Mac and $1 billion to Fannie Mae for the securities, the FHFA said. The agency said in its original lawsuit that the two mortgage-finance firms bought $11.1 billion from Goldman Sachs.

Morgan Stanley agreed in February to pay $1.25 billion as part of a settlement over $10.6 billion in securities. JPMorgan Chase & Co. agreed last year to pay $4 billion to settle claims related to about $33 billion in mortgage bonds.

BOJ boss considers using foreigners to fill job gaps

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ank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said that using foreign workers to help mitigate potential labor force shortages in the future deserves consideration.

The examination should be done in addition to ensuring increased participation of women and the elderly in the work force, Kuroda said Saturday, speaking at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s annual conference at the Jackson Hole resort in Wyoming.

“Fortunately, during the current economic recovery, labor force participation rates, in particular those of women and the elderly, have been rising. It is critical to ensure that this phenomenon is not a cyclical one, but becomes permanent,” Kuroda said, according to the text of his speech posted on the central bank’s website. “Utilisation of foreign workers also deserves consideration.”

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has embraced the potential for greater numbers of working women, and a limited increase of immigrants, tied to labor needs ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The nation’s population slid for a third year in 2013, with the proportion of people over the age of 65 at a global record, underscoring the challenge the world’s most-indebted economy faces in financing its aging society.

Japan’s population declined by

0.17 per cent to 127.3 million as of Oct. 1, as the country maintains one of the world’s lowest birth rates. People 65 years or older made up one fourth of the total, the highest-ever ratio, as postwar baby boomers head into retirement, the Internal Affairs Ministry said in April. That’s the highest of any country in the world, according to the Population Reference Bureau.

“Reflecting the aging of Japan’s population, the labor force participation rate has been on a downward trend, and serious labor shortages are likely to emerge in the future,” Kuroda said at the Fed’s policy symposium, also attended by Fed Chair Janet Yellen and European Central Bank President Mario Draghi.

Japan’s unemployment rate rose to 3.7 per cent in June from 3.5 per cent in May, driven by more people looking for work, with the labor force increasing by 120,000 people.

Koruda

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

of Nigeria (CAN)

Edo CSOs hold Ebola sensitization trek SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

As part of its monthly health and exercise trek, the Edo State Civil Society Organisations held an Ebola Virus Disease sensitization trek on Saturday, 23rd August, 2014.

The trek, as National Mirror observed, was aimed at sensitizing the Edo State general public about the possible preventive measures for the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The trek kicked off at about 7.00am from the New Benin Market and took participants through major roads in the metropolis with the event organizers giving out printed leaflets, hand bills and other educative materials beside the use of a public address system for the

purpose of enlightening the public in both English and local languages.

Speaking with the press after the exercise, the Coordinator General of ESCSO and former Chairman of the NLC in Edo State, Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodin said that EVD has become a national issue, hence the need for Edo Civil Society Organizations to contribute their quota in ensuring that the society was adequately educated on how to avoid the devastating infection.

Eboigbodin added that since every citizen is either infected by the virus or affected when a relative or a friend is infected, it is incumbent on the civil society actors to do the necessary enlightenment for the nation to overcome the threats Ebola poses to the health and wellbeing of

Nigeria and Nigerians.

“Our action is a clarion call at a most critical time in the evolution of our great country, Nigeria. Indeed, as you have seen, our tenacious stand will help in kicking out of Nigeria this evil stranger, called Ebola,” he said.

The group carried a banner with the inscription: ‘Kick Out Ebola Virus Today’ as they moved along major streets in Benin, the capital city. Participants of the trek include members of the group as well as concerned friends and well-wishers led by the Executive Director of Youth Affairs of the Edo State Government, Mr. Yakubu Emmanuel.

The Health Trek is a monthly exercise ESCSO organizes to promote a healthy living among members and non-members.

Mobil’s unique CSR projects National President CAN Mr.Sayina Riman

Compliance fee which compels lincense buying agents (LBA`s) to pay five thousand naira levy per tonne of cocoa and 150 thousand naira for each truck load of coc0a that is evacuated from the state to Lagos and ondo states for sale.

Other allegations which the petition accused the CAN president of meddling in was the gathering of selected pure\sachet water and sand traders in August 15,2014 and purportedly conducted a kangaroo election with names of these sachet water and sand traders on CRBC radio as new elected leaders for the state chapter of Cocoa Association of Nigeria stressing even when the genuine exco members countered the move its national president paid deaf ears.

Other Members who the association stakeholders claimed had been expelled from the cocoa association includes its Vice President Zone 11, for Cross River and Akwa Ibom state chapters Barr. 0scar Tangban and Former General Secretary/ Vice President Zone 11, Mr .paul Manyor Ojong stressing that the suspended members had been engaging themselves in anti-Cocoa Association activities.

However, another issue that angered the Nana`s faction concerning the election which the petition described as a kangaroo election was that the national President and his cohorts used sachet water and sand traders who had no business in cocoa trade to contest election which they went ahead and hurriedly announced the result at the

Cross River Radio.

Meanwhile the same Cross River Radio refused to announce the result of the election by Alphonsus faction conducted by General Assembly of the association even when they paid for the air time .

But the National Chairman for the association Mr.Mr.Sayina Riman who reacted simultaneously with the erstwhile Chairman for the state Cocoa Techical Monitoring Committee Mr.Paul Manyor in a telephone interview faulted the content of the petition boasting that the petition has “no Locus standi” ”Sayina is a National Officer and as such cannot be sanctioned by the state chapter of the association” accussing the former state CAN Chairman Alphonsus Nana of trying to remain perpetually in power.

The duo claimed that the election they conducted was as a result of a mandate that they got from the national body of the association stressing that article 5 of the Cocoa association of Nigeria gives the national Chairman the powers to conduct elections within the twelve states of cocoa producing area. “why would the Nana faction claim that our election that we conducted was a kangaroo poll even when we made it open for every stakeholder who deem it necessary to pick a form and run elections,you are a journalist you can go ahead and carry out your investigations we have nothing to hide the duo added.

DENNIS NAKU, PORT HARCOURT

T

he principle of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not new to the International Oil Companies (IOC’s). Putting it to practice has not only helped oil concerns to remain in business; it has also in more ways than one, put smile on the faces of members of communities where their businesses are located.For multinational companies like those in the oil industry, construction, manufacturing firms among others, CSR involves cultivating and relating well with communities where their businesses are cited, by carrying the people along, thereby eliciting the peoples’ cooperation so that while business thrives, the communities also benefit.

For the IOC’s, they have gone a step further in keeping faith with their CSR, by evolving the Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU as a way of ploughing back to the society.

This model gives communities the leverage to suggest projects and programmes that will be of great benefit to them, while the firms assess and provide funding based on conviction and internal mechanisms of selection.Recently, one of the leading IOC’s, Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) did something that stands it out as responsible company, by reaching out to three communities outside its area of operation.

Mobil said a total of N28million was spent to boost healthcare needs in Omagwa, which is the immediate host of the Port Harcourt Airport, along with Ipo and Igwurita communities, all in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The company also constructed

a Radiographic block for the Federal Airport of Nigeria, FAAN medical centre at the Port Harcourt International Airport, in addition to renovating the building, according to the Manager, Occupational Health, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Dr. Ayodele Fagbemi who started a nine-day free medical campaign in Omagwa.

Profound Love Health Initiative provided the free healthcare services for nine days (three days in each of the communities) with Omagwa as the start off point on behalf of the NNPC/MPN joint venture.

Giving details of the gesture, Fagbemi said that Mobil donated 35 various lines of medical equipment for the Federal Airport Authority, FAAN medical centre saying the equipment “ranges from X-ray, Ultra Scan, ECG Machines and simple tools such as forceps, to office furniture.”

Fagbemi explained that Mobil does not have operations in the area, but that the projects were in response to a request made by the management of FAAN, Port Harcourt Airport to assist her develop various projects.

He said, “As MPN does not have operations in Ikwerre Local Government Area, the free healthcare campaign for the three communities and the project we have executed at the Port Harcourt International Airport is to affirm the NNPC/MPN’s reputation locally and internationally as a responsible citizen and an engaged player who cares for public good.”Continuing, Fagbemi said, “after an assessment, we (Mobil) choose the health project and repackaged it in a way that members of the public far and near will benefit from, now and in the future.

“Little drops, they say makes

an ocean. Our project at the Port Harcourt International Airport and the Free Healthcare for the three neighbouring communities which cost us (Mobil) nearly N28million is one of these little drops,” adding that the Airport was strategic to Mobil and others that use it.He said the firm will continually seek the goodwill and support of states in the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large, “not just for the NNPC/MNP joint venture, but also for the oil and gas industry in general,” so that such efforts will help develop her citizens.

In her remarks, FAAN’s General Manager, South-South, South-East, Mrs. Ebele Okoye said that when she resumed office in October 2012, one of the first things as a plan of action for 2013 was to pay courtesy calls to blue chip companies within the purview of her office, especially those located in Port Harcourt.

Mrs. Okoye added, “We had at the back of our minds that we would present to them areas where they could come in and render a sort of helping hand with regards to reaching out to the Airport publics and the host communities who use the facilities provided by FAAN.” She stated that in the list of her request, Mobil showed interest in the clinic, expressing happiness that the efforts made by the Airport authorities have yielded the desired positive results.The Regional General Manager poured out her excitement by listing the detail of the assistance which Mobil offered.

Among the items she took delivery of are: hospital beds, office chairs and tables, cabinets, wall lockers, neck collars, Gallipts, kidney dishes, artery forceps and weighing balance.

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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Isokos bemoan poor state of rural feeder roads THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN WARRI

T

he people of Isoko Federal Constituency in Delta State have cried out over the alarming rate of absence of network of roads linking various communities in the area, calling on the state government to rise up to the situation. The people of the area, which is predominantly agrarian, lack access road

in most cases to transport their farm produce to their homes and neighbouring urban markets for sale. This they say is a major challenge to farmers. Some concerned citizens, mainly members of the ‘Umeh Need Road’, an online advocacy group on Facebook, whose contribution had in years past contributed to attracting government attention to the plight of the people, appealed that the state of roads in

Isoko land is one that needs urgent attention.

They lamented that local farmers need access roads to transport their produce to neighbouring markets. Among the roads are Emevor-Orugun, Owodokpokpo Road Igbide, IrriOyede Road, Owhe-Abbe Road, Oleh-Emede Road, Ala square, Ozoro, Owhelogbo-Abraka Road, Uzere Township Road among others all located in Isoko North

and South.

Enwhe failing bridge is another project that is drawing serious concern for the people of the area as eventual collapse of the bridge could lead to total shut down of economic activities in the surrounding villages in the area.

Our correspondent who took a trip to the area gathered that Emevor-Abraka road is a major source of concern for the people as the road which links six villag-

L-R: Representatives of Delta State and winners of the Primary School category, Enameguono Aroesiri, Adarerhi Efere; General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arinze; representatives of Imo State and winners of the Secondary School category Adolalom Obinna and Omoniwu Benjamin, at the NNPC/MPN/STAN National Science Quiz Competition finals in Asaba, Delta State.

Oil theft disrupts power supply as Shell spends N80bn on CSR CONTINUED FROM 15 transmission constraints experienced daily by our energy supplier, for example, I know for a fact that there are two lines that transmit power between Afam and Alaoji, but from Alaoji to Onitsha, they have only one line’’ On the consequences of this anomaly, Engr.

Oparaku said, ‘’This results in constrains that leads to grid instability, especially since the lines are old and largely ineffective. During the rainy season, this leads to shock and accidents, which could fatal sometimes’’, he warned. On the way forward, the Energy Development expert advised that all the relevant stake holders in the energy sector should continue to synergize and fashion ways to accelerate existing transmission network while also building others in other to realize the objective of power for all.

However, good news has come out of the power sector for the local people of the Niger Delta and the nation generally, via the initiative of Shell which has contributed about $80 billion to economy in the past five years, while also committing a further 3 billion dollars into human capacity development around the Niger Delta. In its 2013 annual report, Shell claimed

that its joint venture operated by the SPDC has paid the sum of $42 billion as taxes to the Federal Government since five years ago (20082012). And that the FG received the amount after costs from the joint venture.

The company which produced an average of 949,000 barrels per day in 2012, also said its off shore unit, SNEPco paid about $25 billion dollars as taxes during the same period (2008-2012).

While it has contributed the sum of $178.3 billion dollars to support the interventionist agency, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC ,the company says it supports and finance programmes that address social and economic challenges in the Niger Delta through voluntary social investment and that in 2012 alone, it invested the sum of $103.2 billion together with its off shore unit, SNEPco. This it said was ; ‘’ towards addressing social and economic development challenges in the region. The focus areas of our social investments are education, community health, enterprise development for youths and women and community-driven development initiatives via Global Memorandum of

Understanding (GMoU) between Shell companies in Nigeria and communities’’, the company’s 2013 reports said.

The largely misunderstood company has been variously vilified for being the cause of oil spills and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, but when it commissioned the now muchhyped UNEP report in the Ogoni land and after being a leading sponsor of the Nigerian Extractive Transparency Initiative ( NEITI), its critics have now seen the light and the true colour of the company as the leading friend of the people of the Niger Delta region.

Through a youths and women empowerment project, the Live Wire Nigeria Programme , which it started in the region in 2010,Shell has trained 5,232 Niger Delta youths in enterprise development and management.2,698 of these youths have been assisted to start up their own businesses through business start-up awards. The company has received various awards and recognition for these unprecedented human capacity development projects , which has now been expanded by the company to cover all the Niger Delta region.

In 2011, it received the ‘’Afri-

can Leadership Magazine Award for Youth Development’’ and the ‘’Social Enterprise and Reports Award’ ‘in 2010. Through a partnership it signed with NDDC, Shell and the interventionist agency used the platform to create employment opportunities for over one thousand, six hundred women( 1600) youths between the age of 18 and 35.The community-friendly oil giant also committed about $ 45.3 million on innovative scholarship programme and the promotion of educational excellence and academic achievement through Science Fairs and Quiz competitions.

On the environment, Shell stated in its annual report that it has begun implementing some of the findings of the UNEP report as it affects its operations.’’SPDC reviewed these findings and has taken the following specific actions since the report was published.

The company said it has ‘’Completed a comprehensive review of its remediation Management System (RMS) and made a number of changes in line with the best industry practice.(ii) reviewed its clean up and remediation practices and confirmed the usage of Bioremediation as the principal techniques for soil and under

es of Isi-Emevor and that of Owhelogbo-Abraka road and the access road linking the home town of Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay, the Secretary to the Delta State Government, SSG, has more than eight communities lying around.

Erowa Community road is another source of concern for the people, a village described as the oldest community of Isoko race has no access road and the unterred road is in deplorable condition which has led to the sitting of a committee to quickly facilitate the repairs and drawing of government attention to the plight of the community.

Erowa Road Project has since made a powerful delegation to open and drive consultation with Senator James Manager and Rt. Hon. Leonard Okuweh Ogor towards the realization of this project.Seasoned Isoko born development activist and administrator of online group, ‘Umeh Need Road’, Barr. Duncan Afahokor told National Mirror that there was need to declare a ‘state of emergency’ on Isoko roads considering the deplorable nature of the roads.Afahokor led advocacy group which has drawn the likes of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and other prominent Isoko sons and daughters especially the attention of the state government to the award of popular Umeh road among others said government declaring a state of emergency would help address the state of bad roads in their land.

According to him, “We are calling on the government to declare “state of emergency “on Isoko roads as was done in 2012 on Warri and Asaba roads” this coming dry season.”

He added that aforementioned roads were important for the development of Delta State economy.Also speaking on the plight of Isoko people, Ulueme Owhodome fervently lamented about the bad state of street roads in Ozoro, administrative headquarters of Isoko North Council which also doubles as the country home of Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, Honourable Leo Ogor.

According to him, such bad state does not befit Ozoro, the second most densely populated Isoko community especially like Ala Square which serve as commercial centre in the community while calling for urgent attention to remedy the situation. On his part, Akpozu Okperi, who first drew the attention of this reporter to the plight of his people said that if political promises by politicians concerning EmevorOrogun road was anything to go by; the construction of the road should have been a done deal.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

43

Why APC will participate in by-election despite Nyako’s impeachment –Bakari How has the exit of former Governor Murtala Nyako affected the electoral fortunes of the APC? As a party, this is not about the governor of Adamawa State, been an individual member of the party, but as we are all aware, the party has hundreds of thousands of registered members in the state, from the unit up to the state level. So, the fate of the party is not hinged on one individual and cannot be adversely affected by the exit of any administration.

The party would survive without an administration.

And currently, by the law of this country, there must be a by-election under section 191 sub-section 2 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which states that “in the exit of the governor and the deputy governor, the governor would be re-elected within the ninety days.” The new governor is expected to complete the unexpired term of the former governor. So, the party is in line or queue with that article and sub-section of the constitution. And we are fully mobilised to go into an election. But at the same time, the party and the former governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako, have also gone to court to challenge the impeachment process itself. But if the court gives favourable judgment, and the governor returns, he continues with his administration, but if the election comes, before the judgment of the court, we are ready to go into the election.

There are talks about new guidelines for your party, tell us about this and your level of preparedness to go into election.

The mandate for the party guideline to conduct primary to pick the party’s candidate for the by-election solely lies with the national executive committee of our party in Abuja. But what I can tell you is that, under article 20 of our constitution, “every vacancy will be filled through a direct congress at the ward level or through a consensus”.

And even if there is a consensus, that candidate must be affirmed by the majority of the delegates. So, in Adamawa, what APC is planning, anybody that is coming out for the governorship candidate of APC in Adamawa State must go to each and every ward and get a nomination form of each and every registered member of the party.

Except and otherwise, there is a modified guideline from the National Secretariat. But we believe that this is what the party will adopt. This is what was done in Anambra State during Chris Ngige election.

We are fully prepared for that when the guideline comes out. We are all aware that the state House of Assembly re-

Abdullahi Bakari, the state secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Adamawa State, tells LIVINUS MENEDI that the exit of Governor Murtala Nyako would not undermine the party’s political fortunes. Excerpts:

IF THE ELECTION COMES, BEFORE THE JUDGMENT OF

THE COURT, WE ARE READY TO GO INTO THE ELECTION

fused to communicate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, about the impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako. They only did it yesterday, officially.

We have to follow the law of the country, INEC shouldn’t have to wait for any official communication from the House before it carries out its constitutional duties. There are many candidates that want to contest under APC, but they are carrying out consultations within the different caucuses in the state.

We understand your party is already in court to challenge Nyako’s impeachment. What is the fate of that case?

You are aware that the judicial service workers were on strike and only returned to work recently. The party has different cases in the law court, but we believe that with the resumption of work by the judicial workers, all the cases will proceed as they should. So the party is still in court.

The party has a case against the three members that have defected. Our argument is that the three members who defected should not participate in the impeachment process.

This is under section 149 of the constitution. This is what the party is saying in the law court.

What is your bone of contention against Nyako’s impeachment?

You see our opposition to the impeachment is clear, what we are contesting is the defection of some aggrieved members of our party who were allowed to participate in the impeachment process. And I think, they have their

Bakari

rules and procedures. They actually defected from APC back to PDP and there was no division in the party. You are only allowed to defect whenever there is a division or faction in the party and that is also in section 109.

This is why we are challenging the process, we are challenging the issue. The issue of constitutional provision is clear. Whether you delay it or not, one thing is sacrosanct, you cannot change the letter of the constitution. And even if you want to change the letter of the law or the constitution without consequent amendment from the National Assembly the judiciary is there. I believe in the judiciary and that is why we are in the court to seek for a redress over what has happened.

s no one has spent up to two years in Adamawa PDP –Marwa

ates, General Buba Marwa, has challenged his disqualification from the governorship race Adamawa PDP, fresh registration took place less than two years ago; hence the issue of excerpts: ment reached among contestants, not somebody else does consensus. Fine, if the issue of consensus is to be contemplated, there is absolutely nobody who wants to go through the rigours of all these stress, but having said that I know the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is a party that wants the electoral process to be properly followed. And this has happened in Ekiti, Osun and there is no reason why the same process should not be followed in Adamawa State.

Are you afraid with the Ribadu’s entrance into the contest?

The word, afraid, must be carefully examined, when you say afraid, may be other people are afraid of Marwa.

May be that is what you mean, nobody drafted anybody; every one of us willingly joined the race. It depends on what everybody has done; the electorate will have the final say.

It has been revealed that some of the aspirants are now meeting to check imposition of a candidate, how true is that?

I can confirmed that I have held meetings with few of the aspirants, over the last several weeks, it is a continuous process, there is absolutely no reason why all of us intending to build our state, if given the mandate, should not be talking to ourselves because we are not enemies.

If a candidate is imposed, will you leave PDP? We built the Adamawa State PDP, I will remain in PDP.

WITH MY EXPERIENCE, I WILL CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFULLY TOWARDS THE RESOLUTION OF THESE ISSUES, HAVING BEEN GOVERNOR OF THE SAME

NORTH-EAST BEFORE

Marwa

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Politics

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

I’ll have no problem stepping aside for a better candidate –Senator Bindow elections?

They don’t have any choice; the constitution makes it clear that there must be an election. The acting governor is my younger brother. I am sure he has respect for the law of the country. The All Progressives Congress, APC is for the masses, APC is the only party that is good for the masses. We need change, PDP has overstayed, even God needs change so we need change. Like in my own case, I am not coming out for mere change, I would bring development.

We must change our people from the grassroots from unemployment, by creating opportunities for them to be gainfully employed. You will agree with me that the poor masses are suffering and in order to make them survive, we must come out with policies and programmes that will mitigate their sufferings. I am sure the PDP will not want to do anything that will hamper the elections from being conducted.

Senator Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow, Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence and Security, explains to LIVINUS MENEDI, in this interview, why he wants to govern Adamawa State, adding that he is ready, as a loyal party man to concede his ambition, if the party finds a better candidate than him in the contest. Excerpts: You are one of the first to express you intent to contest in the forth-coming gubernatorial by-elections, what is behind this action?

Let me first of all say that I am happy the way the party received me and I am grateful to the party. This is not a declaration in any way; it is just a letter of intent to contest the forth-coming by-election to complete the unfinished tenure of the former Governor Murtala Nyako.

For me, I know what to do if given the opportunity to govern the state. Basically, there is nothing in Adamawa, nothing left on ground; we have to start everything all afresh. The basic needs of people should be put in place, democracy as they say, “is a government of the people, by the people and for the people,” you should allow the dividend to affect the masses. I think I know what to do when I am given the opportunity to govern this state. I know where to get the right people to work with.

Adamawa is a very good state, it has good people, and the only thing it needs is good leaders who will carry everybody along. What I have done as senator is enough and has vaulted my reputation. As a serving senator, I am not just serving, I am the Vice Chairman on Defence and Army in the upper chamber, you know I have a lot of experience and our major problem is security.

What is happening in the northern part of this country especially the North-East is a thing of concern. If I am given the opportunity to govern this state, there’s no doubt I have a lot to offer.

As a young man, I know from experience that leadership is a collective responsibility of all; it is not an individual responsibility. You cannot be an island, you must carry everybody along. Basically, that is the reason why a lot of people have failed in the governance of the state.

When you believe you alone can do it, that is where you will fail because it is not possible. It is only God who can manage the sensitivity of people, successfully, without seeking advisers.

You said your decision to contest is in response to a call, can you give some clarity on this?

Even people from Southern senatorial district have called me, I represented them, why, because they know my performance. When people vote you in to power, you have to come close to them, like in my case, any little opportunity I have, either during holiday or when I am less busy with committee work, I often would come down to my people and ask them their needs and problems. You know places like Mubi is vulnerable, especially with this issue of insurgency and attacks. Nevertheless, I still come down to see their condition and their problems.

I can tell you, all the promises I have made during my campaign I have achieved them all. Among the promises I made, the one I have found difficult to realise is the road between Mubi, Maiha and Sharau, which is about 42 kilometres. God helped me, in the work now people are using the road. Any person from my constituency will agree with me. I am not the type of politician who promises and fails. What I have done is there for every-

Would you be bound by any consensus arrangement by your party?

You are talking about consensus, when I came to submit a letter of intent. I have told them my intention, and I have also told them that I did not nominate myself. The people of Northern senatorial zone called me to vie for the post, I even wrote in my letter of intent that if they find me fit, its fine, but if there is another person who is better than myself, I don’t have problem, because I am a party man. I can concede for any other better candidate which the party may wish to present in the elections.

Bindow

I DON’T HAVE PROBLEM, BECAUSE I AM A PARTY MAN. I CAN CONCEDE FOR ANY OTHER BETTER CANDIDATE WHICH THE PARTY MAY WISH TO PRESENT IN THE ELECTIONS

body to see.

I am not the type of senator who will be making noise in the Senate, I have achieved what I am supposed to achieve as senator. If you are from the Northern senatorial district, you will understand what I am saying, and it is for this reason people are calling on me, “come and represent us”. They said: “What you have done is more than just a legislator.” Like I told you, if I am given the opportunity I will fulfil all my promises. So, the moment I am given the opportunity during the general election, I will change the state and develop it.

Do you have any premonition over the forth-coming by-

What is going to be your outlook to governance if W elected? e Like I told you earlier, I am the Vice Chairman on Defence and Army, it is not like I am an expert on security f issues, but I am someone who can get any task done by working with all those who are knowledgeable in those w fields.

In Adamawa, even before the state of emergency, f there were cases of armed robbery in places like Mubi, t Madagali and Maiha, the cases of Boko Haram was not M so s rampart, but thank God we have some able Generals who w are capable of handling the situation. Thanks God we w have the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, he is from Adamawa, not only from Adamawa, he is from Mubi, he is a from my constituency, I represent him. I meet with him f regularly and whenever he wants to see me. Like I said earlier, everybody has his own understanding of leadership. Everyone has his own way of doing things, so I also have my own way of leading. The most important thing a leader should take notice of, is to carry everybody along. Why is it important to carry everybody? This is because government is not for you, it is for the people, you are just a representative of the people. When there is an understanding between you and your people, you should be able to tackle most of their pressing needs.

Adamawa is a small state, it is not a big state as such. So what you need to do as a leader is to get the right people and good advisers and if possible get professional on board to guide you on what to do.

Former VC to run for governor ELIZABETH MUKUNGA

F

ormer Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Sonny Tyoden, has formerly announced his intention to run for the number one seat in the state under the flagship of the Peoples Dem-

ocratic Party, PDP. His campaign posters have been seen in and around the state, alongside those of other aspirants in the state.

Other aspirants who have picked up their forms from the state secretariat of the PDP are Senator Victor Lar and Hezekiah Dimka.

The governorship seat has been zoned to the Southern senatorial zone of the state, a development which has caused a silent war in the state based on a political system in the state where the governorship seat goes round each zone.

The incumbent gover-

nor, Jonah Jang, is from Plateau North while his predecessor is from the Central zone, which leaves the South zone with a higher chance of occupying the Government House come 2015, though not without series of agitation and dissatisfaction from other zones.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

45

Adamawa 2014: Aspirants jostle to succeed Nyako CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45 work for Gundiri in the 2012 gubernatorial elections. Even though an opposition figure ahead of the 2012 elections, Gundiri attracted a cult-like following even within the PDP, which made Nyako in the build up to that elections look like the outsider.

Now that he is within the PDP fold, he remains perhaps the only candidate who need not labour hard to put up any political structure. Like one political pundit put it, all he needs doing is to oil the machinery and sound the clarion call. Going into the primaries, Gundiri has 13 local councils, which are his traditional fortress; delegates from these councils are likely to deliver 90 per cent of their ballots to him.

His chances of emerging winner of the PDP primaries are very bright but even that would be dependent on the acting governor’s neutrality.

Mohammed Buba Marwa The General carries with him the hope for change, except only that it is yet to be bought wholesale by the people. He remains the most charismatic of the pack of contenders, but just as is true of all cause, you must have the people to support it. Marwa is coming into the race with a rich antecedent as administrator and performer, following his signature performance as military administrator of old Borno and Lagos states and he perhaps boast of an intimidating C.V, which cuts across military and diplomatic service, yet those messages, however hard he tries to sell them to the electorate, has failed to get root. His chances in the forth coming byeelections remain elusive, partly borne out of the fact that he has a non-existent political base in the state.

The reasons are not farfetched, complexities and the fault lines which define the outcomes of elections have often hampered Marwa’s political ascendancy and circumscribed him as an “outsider” politically speaking. His work rate and deft politicking has made up for what he lacks as a base. He goes into the forthcoming by-election with a moderate chance of winning the party’s ticket. He has over the years demonstrated a well placed confidence in the electorate campaign in every nooks and corners of the state, but he, however, hasn’t gotten the benefit of the trust of the political elites of the state. To further his chances, he has to build a consensus for his political future with the leaders of thought, who are uneasy with him.

Nuhu Ribadu The defection of the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the presidential candidate of the defunct ACN in the 2011 presidential election, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, from the APC to PDP allegedly on the prompting of the Presidency and top leadership of the party in Adamawa State is presently causing implosion within the PDP, as most stakeholders are kicking against his alleged imposition. The odds against Ribadu, a man known to have rabid hatred for the PDP and its principalities, are daily mounting, raising the question on how he can surmount the hurdles.

This came to fore last Friday in Yola, when Ribadu in company of aides of former

Gulak

Governor Nyako came to the party secretariat and were met with hostile reception.

Smarting from the crisis that cost him his job both as the EFCC chairman and a Police officer, Ribadu joined the progressives elements in the then ACN and was awarded the party’s presidential ticket to compete against the likes of President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 presidential election. He came a distant third behind President Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari then of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. He joined the merger arrangement, though he played very nominal role but rumours have it that he fell out with the leadership of the APC, but he remained loyal to the party, determined to be very critical of the government of President Jonathan.

Ribadu had once said that “the only things the PDP has brought to us are insecurity, suicide bombings and corruption at the highest level,” and that “PDP has failed Nigeria. It is time to give the opposition a new chance. I call on other opposition parties to join the new train of progressives.”

Few months back when news filtered that Ribadu was contemplating moving to PDP, the former cop took to his posting on Facebook, declaring such reports as the handiwork of his political opponents. All are now in past as Ribadu is now a card carrying member of the PDP. Allegedly facilitated by the principal private secretary to the president, Ambassador Hassan Tukur, the Presidency had promised Ribadu the governorship ticket.

Ribadu’s popularity, particularly with the electorate is not in doubt, but the elite distaste him. He is not also known to have any political structure. The Presidency is aware of the development and is therefore believed to have fallen back to former National Chairman of PDP, Tukur who appears to command the structure within the PDP for help. Incidentally, Tukur’s son, Awwal is an aspirant in the election. He is determined to see the end of the game.

One other major hurdles Ribadu must cross before picking the ticket of the PDP is the waiver. The PDP constitution prescribes a minimum of two years membership of the party for anyone desiring to run for elective office on the party’s platform.

Ribadu is less than two weeks as a member.

Auwal Tukur The younger Tukur is certainly not new in politics, having been exposed early in life to the game during the ill-fated Third

Hong

Tukur

PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PDP, HAVE CONTINUED TO SIGNIFY THEIR INTEREST TO

OCCUPY THE DOUGIREI

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, AND THE RANKS CONTINUE TO SWELL Republic. His father was the governor of the old Gongola State under the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention, NRC, where the youthful Awwal played a residual role.

However, by the time politics resurrected again in 1999, Awwal was grown and good enough to be elected into the House of Representatives, where he posted a commendable performance up till 2003, when former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s dominance in Adamawa politics clearly swept him aside, resulting to his losing the ticket to return to the House.

Not done, Awwal aspired to govern the state in 2007 and 2011 under the platform of the PDP, but was on each occasion denied the ticket. This consummate businessman bided his time and luck smiled on him when his father was elected the National Chairman of the PDP shortly after the 2011 general election, and it was believed that his assumption of office was a matter of time.

Then began the incinerating intrigues in Adamawa politics between the Tukurled faction which was stoutly opposed to the Governor Nyako’s faction, leading to the bitterpolitical battle which eventually consumed Nyako. Tukur’s victory was shortlived, as he also had to be forced out of the party leadership almost at the gun point.

Awwal was undaunted, though many believed that his power lies with his father’s towering influence in the party and that with the stepping aside of Tukur, Awwal may also go under the blanket. This was not to be as Awwal has challenged other aspirants to beat him to the game even though, he is not ruling out the advantages being the son of the elder Tukur could play in his quest to rule the state.

His chances of picking the ticket is quite high as he intends to operate on an already h llaid structure put in place by his father.

However, the pressure from the Presidency H on his father to work for Ribadu could only o mean that the younger Tukur may settle m ffor another appointment should his father agrees to the Presidency’s request. a

Barr Ahmed Gulak B The immediate past former Political Adviser to the President, Gulak played a masv ssive role in the election that brought President Jonathan into power in 2011, when he led d over 3000 political associations and groups o under the umbrella body, the Goodluck Supu port Group, GSG, to achieve the president’s p mandate. He was ably rewarded with the very powerful office of political adviser.

Though, not a very influential personality in Adamawa politics prior to the 2011 general elections, his appointment as the presidential adviser brought him to limelight. He lost his job in a very controversial manner few months ago after he over stretched his bound and thus became the first top political office holder under this administration to be fired ‘with immediate effect’.

The Adamawa governorship by-election has afforded him the opportunity to relaunch himself into mainstream politics but before now, he has courted for himself a deluge of political enemies both within the government circle and party circles, who may now see his ambition as an opportunity to extract their own pound of flesh. It is therefore believed that his antecedent will count against him. He is also not known to have any structure in the state.

Dr. Idi Hong As a former Minister of State for Health and later for Foreign Affairs, Hong served the nation with his capacity appreciably.

He is known to be the godson of Professor Jibril Aminu, a distinguished senator and an ally of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Senator Aminu had led the onslaught that fought former Vice President Atiku to standstill during the face between the former President and his Vice. He was rewarded with the structure of the party in the state and he decided who becomes what in Adamawa. He single handedly removed the party ticket from Dr. Ardo and handed it to Nyako at the request of Obasanjo. It was Aminu that also rewarded Hong who was one of his aides as minister with a ministerial appointment.

46

Politics

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

2015: Group flays Northern Elders over call on Jonathan KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

A

political group, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Fans Club International, yesterday condemned the call by the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, that President Goodluck Jonathan should not attempt to partake in the 2015 presidential race, saying the call was ethnically biased and unconstitutional.

South West coordinator off the group, Deacon Olusegun Olalere, while speaking with journalists

in Ibadan, said the condition given that the President should bring back the kidnapped Chibok girls for him to contest was illogical in view of the commitment of the President in that regard.

Olalere said: “The call of the NEF is laden with high level of hypocrisy, ethnic bigotry and lack of understanding of the running of government and above all it shows an exposition of the plot against Mr. President.”

Maintaining that it was a ploy to perpetrate further the forum’s initial re-

solve to make the country ungovernable for President Jonathan, Olalere added: “This stance must be out rightly condemned by all well meaning Nigerians. We are however relieved by the fact the millions of Northern Nigerian citizens strongly disagree with the parochial view of the NEF, as exhibited by the comment of an elder statesman of the Northern extraction, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, who condemned the statement of NEF.” Olalere then called on President Jonathan not to

be distracted by such call but to focus on his Transformation Agenda which has hitherto impacted on all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

“We call on all Nigerians to join hands with President Jonathan to fight terrorism to a halt and support his efforts at transforming Nigeria. We urged Mr. President to focus on his agenda and go ahead to declare his intention to contest for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2015,” he added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

INEC, DSS nearly mar Osun guber poll –NATA BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

A

group of artisan, Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association, NATA, yesterday said the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Department of State Security, DSS, nearly marred the last governorship election in Osun State.

NATA said while many eligible voters could not find their names on the registers provided by INEC on the day of the poll, the activities of DSS during the exercise gave the agency out as “anti-democratic.”

Addressing journalists in Osogbo, National Secretary of the group, Comrade David Ajetunmobi, said NATA’s election monitoring team witnessed a situation at a polling booth in Osogbo, the state capital, where a deaf and dumb woman with permanent voter’s card, who was prevented from voting because her name was not found on the register, broke down and wept publicly.

Commenting on the activities of the security men deployed to the state during the poll, Ajetunmobi, singled out men of the DSS

for criticism, saying the operatives harassed and intimidated voters.

Further accessing conduct of the poll, Ajetunmobi condemned the use of mask by operatives of the DSS during the election, saying the development was undemocratic and uncivilised.

He said: “INEC should know that the concept of free and fair election goes beyond mere ballot thumb printing and availability of empty ballot boxes, but also include free movement. If not for the determined resistance of the people, the will of the people would have been subverted.”

He called for the recognition of the last Election Day as Liberty Day in the state, saying: “In honour of those innocently harassed during the election, in honour of the courageous resistance of the great people of Osun against colonisation of the state by anti-democratic forces, in honour of those illegally arrested and detained, in appreciation of the believe of the people of Osun State in democracy, we call on the state government and the people of Osun State to declare every August 9 Liberty Day.”

I’m in the race to rescue Adamawa –Moddibo L-R: Secretary to Kwara State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; Chairman of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN, Kwara State chapter, Alhaji Saka Danfo and the Special Adviser to Kwara State Governor on Political Matters, Alhaji Usman Bibire Ajape during PMAN’s solidarity visit to the governor in Ilorin, yesterday.

Credible NASS membership, tonic for growth, stability –Ex NBA scribe ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

A

former Secretary General of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Mr Obafemi Adewale, has said that the growth of democracy resulting in economic stability in developed climes of the world is a product of commitment of credible individuals particularly at the legislative arm.

Adewale, who described the legislature as the most indispensable symbol of democracy, said it was high time the electorate considered electing credible and committed people to represent them at the legislature.

The former Attorney General of Ekiti State,

who is aspiring to represent Ekiti Central senatorial district at the Senate under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, made the assertion during a chat with journalists in Ado Ekiti at the weekend.

He said that his intention to run for the Senate was based on his conviction that quality representation at the National Assembly was a sine qua non for sustainable democratic adventure in Nigeria.

Adewale, who said his mission was to give his constituency and indeed the state quality representation and bring about the desired change and progress, lamented that Ekiti State had been relegated

to the background, thus requiring quality person to put right.

He said: “My mission is to ensure we put Ekiti State on the national and international map socially, economically and politically. My intention at the Senate is a subset of the aspiration to ensure a better Ekiti.

“I want to add value on the floor of the Senate and outside of the legislature.

There is the need to redress the low federal presence in the state through effective networking.

There is the need to restore our core values.”

The Ijurin-Ekiti in the Ijero Council area-born politician expressed confidence in his ability to clinch the PDP senatorial

ticket and win in the 2015 election based on his experience, exposure, credibility and network ability, especially in free, fair and transparent primaries and general election.

PDP state chairman, Mr Makanjuola Ogundipe, described Adewale as “one leader we will love to have and deserve in this party. He is one leader that has been guiding us legally in this party. He is one leader that believes in the supremacy of this party.

I will only pray that God will give you this ticket in Jesus name.”

Ogundipe reiterated that the party would not anoint any candidate, but provide a level playing field for every aspirant to fight for the ticket.

OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

F

ormer chairman of Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, and a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship aspirant for Adamawa State, Alhaji Mohammed Modibbo, yesterday declared that he is in the race to rescue Adamawa State from under development.

Speaking after he submitted his nomination form to contest for the October 11 governorship byelection, Modibbo however expressed reservations over consensus arrangement, saying it was responsible for the tragedy faced in the state.

He said he has paid his dues, having worked in the public service for 35 years and lectured for 23 years, adding: “We are on a rescue mission of Adamawa State from bad governance and

to ensure effective development of the state. With determination, we will transform the state.”

He said: “I am not afraid of any contestant. Not even Ribadu and Marwa and the National Organising Secretary has reaffirmed to all of us that there will be level playing field so I believe we should all go to the field and test our popularity.

“Of course yes in democracy you can say consensus and all that but democracy allows the vote of the people to determine. If you are that popular, subject yourself what the people think and you will take the verdict from the people.”

Former Minister of State for Health, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, said he has no doubt in his mind that the party and the people of Adamawa State “would give him the opportunity to serve the state as governor.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

47

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at August 25, 2014 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

48

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

UBA Group appoints Elumelu Chairman JOHNSON OKANLAWON

U

nited Bank for Africa yesterday announced the appointment of Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, as Chairman, succeeding Ambassador Joe Keshi.

He is Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Holdings, the pan-African proprietary investment company, he founded in 2010, which holds stakes in a number of leading African businesses, including Transcorp and UBA. Elumelu, who rang the closing bell on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, retired as Group Managing Director and CEO of UBA in 2010, following the introduction by the Central Bank of Nigeria of 10-year tenure

limits for bank CEOs. He had served as CEO of the UBA Group for 13 years, where he was responsible for the creation of today’s UBA, a financial services institution that built a reputation for innovation and the democratisation of banking services and now spans Africa, providing services to more than 10 million customers, across the continent and in London, Paris and New York.

Speaking on his appointment, the Group Managing Director of UBA, Mr. Phillips Oduaza said Elumelu’s track record at UBA speaks for itself, noting that his return to the board brings a depth of knowledge and experience in the African financial services industry that is second to none.

“We are privileged to have him lead the Board at this critical stage in our development,” he added.

Chief Executive of Financial Derivatives, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, pointed out that the drive, dynamism and competitiveness during his period as CEO of UBA, was one of the catalysts of the enormous changes in the Nigerian banking sector.

He said, “Banking in Africa is a dynamic, exciting and an increasingly competitive and challenging industry.

Tony is visionary, courageous and has shown an ability to both, think for the long term, and to create significant shareholder value.”

The President, Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders, Dr. Farouk Umar,

Naira eases, equities slides 0.5%

N

aira eased against the United States currency yesterday, with last week’s move by JP Morgan to include the country’s 10-year bond in one of its indexes failing to stimulate strong dollar inflows.

The currency closed at N162.07 to the dollar, compared with Friday’s close of N161.98, the same level it closed on Thursday prior to JP Morgan’s announcement.

The 2024 bond is due to be added to JP Morgan’s Government Bond IndexEmerging Markets on August 29, in addition to five other bonds already listed, potentially triggering more offshore interest.

But dealers said local

bond trading was muted yesterday due to a holiday in Britain, where a number of foreign investors who trade Nigerian debt are based.

Yields on the 2024 bond rose to 11.99 per cent, as against 11.92 per cent on Friday.

Citibank said in a note it expected the naira to get support from potential oil company dollar sales and foreign portfolio inflows this week.

Meanwhile, the benchmark index of equities continued to shed points on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as more investors sold their holdings.

Specifically, the All Share Index dropped 224.71 absolute points or 0.54 per cent to close at 41,339.50 points, com-

pared to the decline of 0.49 per cent recorded on Friday to close at 41,564.19 points.

Market capitalisation shed N74.6bn to close at N13.65trn, compared to the decease of N67bn recorded on Friday to close at N13.72trn.

RT Briscoe Plc led the gainers’ table with four kobo or 4.65 per cent to close at 90 kobo per share, followed by Premier Breweries Plc with seven kobo or 4.43 per cent to close at N1.65 per share.

Costain West Africa Plc added five kobo or 4.42 per cent to close at N1.18 per share, while Mansard Insurance Plc appreciated 11 kobo or 4.40 per cent to close at N2.61 per share.

said, “We are delighted with this appointment. It bodes well for UBA and the banking industry, now and in the future. Elumelu is a transformer and value creator for shareholders. We are excited about his return.”

With operations in 19 African countries and presence in New York, London and Paris, UBA is one of the largest financial services institutions in Africa.

The bank recently unveiled its Project Alpha, a three years road map of key transformation initiatives, designed to consolidate the group’s strategic positioning and fully exploit the opportunities provided by Africa’s economic renaissance and the UBA Group’s unique platform.

Red Star Express Plc was up 20 kobo or 4.35 per cent to close at N4.80 per share.

Conversely, Universal Press Limited dipped 27 kobo or 6.18 per cent to close at N4.10 per share, while Caverton Plc fell 28 kobo or five per cent to close at N5.32 per share.

Learn Africa Plc was dwon eight kobo or five per cent to close at N1.52 per share, while Japaul Oil Plc depreciated two kobo or 3.77 per cent to close at 51 kobo per share.

Evans Medicals Plc lost seven kobo or 3.50 per cent to close at N1.93 per share.

A total of 156.7 million shares valued at N1.49bn were traded in 3,956 deals.

Access Bank posts N27bn profit in half year JOHNSON OKANLAWON

A

ccess Bank yesterday declared a profit after tax of N27.1bn for the six months ended June 30, 2014, an increase of four per cent when compared to N26.1bn posted in the same period of 2013.

It announced an interim dividend of 25 kobo each, the same amount it paid a year earlier.

The bank’s gross earnings rose to N117.9bn, from N102.4bn in 2013 half year, while interest income stood at N83.6bn, an increase of 16 per cent from N71.9bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2013.

According to the result presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the bank’s assets is higher than its liabilities, as net assets appreciated six per cent to N259.1bn, from N244bn recorded in the same period of 2013.

Further analysis showed a total assets of N2.04trn, an increase of 11 per cent from N1.83bn recorded in the half year of 2013, 2hile total liabilities stood at N1.78trn, from N1.59trn in the same period of 2013.

In the first quarter, the bank announced a profit before tax of N13.4bn in its unaudited results for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

This represents an in-

crease by 20 per cent, compared to the N11.1bn recorded in the comparable period of 2013.

The bank’s gross earnings also jumped by nine per cent to N57bn, in the period under review.

Similarly, its operating income increased by 19 per cent to N42bn, supported by a 12 per cent increase in its non-interest income during the period.

The bank’s net interest margin rose to 6.2 per cent, compared to the 5.4 per cent it attained in the the first quarter of 2013.

The results also showed that the bank recorded an eight per cent increase in its loan book to N871.8bn, from

the N810.7bn it stood in the fourth quarter of 2013, while it customer deposits climbed to N1.40trn.

The Group Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe had said in the first quarter that the results clearly demonstrate strong progress towards sustainable and profitable growth for shareholders.

He said, “Business performance has improved across all key segments, as the bank lays out its medium term plan. Whilst our corporate banking division remains a stronghold for the Bank, significant potential is being shown by our Personal and Business banking divisions.”

Source: NSE

Market indicators All-Share Index 41,339.48 points Market capitalisation 13.7trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

PREMBREW

1.10

1.20

0.10

9.09

PHARMDEKO

2.27

2.38

0.11

4.85

CCNN

14.33

15.00

0.67

4.68

NEIMETH

1.12

1.17

0.05

4.46

LEARNAFRCA

1.58

1.64

0.06

3.80

AVONCROWN

1.69

1.75

0.06

3.55

FO

226.00

233.90

7.90

3.50

FIDSON

3.01

3.10

0.09

2.99

ASHAKACEM

34.00

34.70

0.70

2.06

STANBIC

29.15

29.70

0.55

1.89

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

FLOURMILL

73.55 (80.90)

68.11

-5.44

-7.39

FORTISMFB

6.00

5.70

-0.30

-5.00

VITAFOAM

4.25

4.05

-0.20

-4.71

JAPAULOIL

0.53

0.51

-0.02

-3.77

RTBRISCOE

0.95

0.92

-0.03

-3.16

WEMABANK

0.98

0.95

-0.03

-3.06

FIDELITYBK

2.03

1.98

-0.05

-2.46

ETERNA

3.99

3.90

-0.09

-2.26

SKYEBANK

3.12

3.05

-0.07

-2.24

CUTIX

1.95

1.91

-0.04

-2.05

FGN Bonds Bid Description

Offer

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

1.98

103.25

11.17

103.40

11.09

15.10 27-APR-2017

2.68

109.00

11.11

109.15

11.04

16.00 29-JUN-2019

4.85

117.60

11.19

117.90

11.12

16.39 27-JAN-2022

7.43

122.40

11.78

122.70

11.72

14.20 14-MAR-2024

9.56

112.65

11.94

112.95

11.89

10.00 23-JUL-2030

15.92 84.70

12.20

85.00

12.15

Closing Market Prices of August 22, 2014

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

20-Nov-14

9.75

9.99

19-Feb-15

10.25

10.80

6-Aug-15

10.25

11.36

NIBOR Tenor

Rate (%)

O/N

10.9167

1M

12.2701

3M

12.9107

6M

14.0296 The Fixings of August 25, 2014

Tuesday August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

Community Mirror We have made promises to people; we will hold true to our promises and deliver on all the projects. I completed projects that were not even started by me.

GOVERNOR OF EKITI STATE- DR KAYODE FAYEMI

Man murders friend for refusing him sex DARE AKOGUN

A

24-year-old suspected homosexual, Michael Okorocha, has allegedly murdered his male partner, John Okere Chinedu, 20, in a Lagos hotel room.

The incident which occurred at Oke Afa area followed a misunderstand-

ing between the two lovers who incidentally met each other on facebook.

Meanwhile, the police at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti Yaba, have arrested the 24-year-old suspect, including the hotel manager, over the murder.

It was gathered that Michael and the late John suspected to be homosexu-

als, met on social media and became friends. When they eventually met, Michael was alleged to have sliced John’s throat with a knife for refusing his sex advances which led to his death.

According to a police source, Michael who resides at Mafon Area of Ogun State had allegedly lured John residing in

Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos State to the hotel with intention of having sex .

The source said while inside the room, John resisted Michael’s attempt at having sex with him and in anger, the latter sliced John’s throat with a knife.

After the act, Michael reportedly fled the crime scene after telling the ho-

tel staff that he wanted to buy some articles outside.

On entering the room on routine check, the hotel staff discovered the naked body of John with blood splattered all over the room.

The matter was reported at Ejigbo Police station while the hotel manager was arrested, even as Michael was later arrested

through the help of his parents at Mafon area.

At interrogation, Michael confessed having murdered John in anger, saying that after paying to lodge in the hotel, the victim refused to satisfy his sexual urge.

The suspect has since been charged before an Ebute-Metta Magistrates’ court with murder.

Kogi procures transformers for electricity WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

T

People celebrating in Yandaba, Birshi District of Bauchi State, at the turbaning ceremony of their new District Head, Alhaji Muhammed Lawal ,yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Four arrested for robbery in Osun BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

F

our youths have been arrested by the Osun State Police Command for allegedly robbing a bakery operator at Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun local government area of Osun State.

Sources said the youths

were members of a robbery gang that has been terrorising the area.

It added that members of the gang are being held at the Criminal Investigation Department, Osogbo for further investigations.

The gang allegedly attacked one Olusola, a bakery operator and carted away several items, in-

cluding money.

Luck however ran out of the gang, when one of their members attended the christening ceremony of Mr. Olusola’s child.

A very reliable source, said the victim’s wife, who recognised the culprit at the event told the husband who then reported the incident to the

police.

On arrest, the suspect was said to have assisted the police in identifying other gang members who were also arrested.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Folasade Odoro, promised to liaise with the authorities to confirm the incident.

Niger empowers youths with vocational skills PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

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s part of efforts to end the constant clashes between youths of Angwan Daji and Limawa areas of Minna, Niger State, a total of 93 unemployed youths have been trained in various skills. The training is

as a result of partnership between the Niger State Ministry of local government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Chanchaga Local Government Council.

According to the council chairman, Alhaji Yakubu Salau, the beneficiaries were trained

through the assistance of the ministry.

He said that while, the widows from the 11 wards of the council were trained on shoemaking, handbags, soap and shear butter, the youths from Angwan Daji and Limawa local governments were trained on welding, fabrication, tailoring, mechan-

ic, plumbing, electrical works and masonary.

Salau also said aside the working implements, beneficiaries will be assisted with start up funds, adding that being self reliant will go a long way in putting an end to the persistent clashes between youths of both communities.

he Kogi State Government has procured transformers worth N402 million for distribution to 300 communities to boost electricity supply in the state.

The transformers numbering 160 will be proportionally distributed in the state’s three senatorial districts.

The Governor, Captain Idris Wada who disclosed this at the launch of the transformers under the accelerated rural electrification scheme in Lokoja, said this was in fulfillment of promise to make electricity supply accessible to rural

communities in the state.

Wada however decried the illegal Estimated Billing System, EBS, by power companies which has put a lot of financial burdens on consumers, even as he pledged to visit the management of the electricity company in Abuja to correct the anomalies.

He also reiterated his commitment to improve the living standard of the people, as well as boosting socio-economic activities in the state through the provision of infrastructure.

Wada therefore called on the benefiting communities to guard the transformers against vandalism by hoodlums.

Directorate trains 50 women on shoe making IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

T

he Nasarawa State office of the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, has commenced the training of 50 women on the use of local fabrics for making shoes and bags.

Coordinator of the directorate, Architect Monday Dalyop, who declared opened the two-week skill acquisition training workshop in Lafia, said the exercise would make them self reliant.

He said: “The aim of organising the workshop was

to empower women with skills in order to arrest unemployment, as well as making them self reliant for the overall development of the country.”

He said, it is better to teach them to catch fish than to give fish to eat,as he urged the youths not to wait for white collar jobs but rather to embrace skills acquisition for the development of the country.

Dalyop restated the directorate’s commitment to train more people in order to tackle youth unemployment, restiveness and poverty in the state.

50

Tuesday August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News I think ISIS has been so brutal, and has wrapped itself in a radical religious legitimacy that clearly threatens everybody – US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey

Ebola: Liberian doctor dies after treatment with ZMapp •WHO sends supplies for outbreak in Congo

PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

O

ne of three African doctors infected with Ebola and treated with the experimental drug ZMapp has died in Monrovia, Liberian Information Minister Lewis Brown, said yesterday.

Liberia, the West African country where Ebola is spreading fastest, received three doses of the rare treatment on August 13. Initially, Liberia said the three doctors, Zukunis Ireland and Abraham Borbor from Liberia and Dr. Aroh Cosmos Izchukwu from Nigeria, were responding well to the treatment, raising optimism about the experimental therapy.

Asked to confirm the death of doctor Borbor, Brown said: “That is correct. He died yesterday.”

Two U.S. aid workers who caught Ebola in Liberia were declared free of the virus and released from an Atlanta hospital last week after receiving the same treatment. But a Spanish priest who received ZMapp died.

Health workers wear protective clothing before carrying an abandoned dead body presenting with Ebola symptoms at Duwala market in Monrovia, recently.

The drug’s U.S.-based manufacturer, Mapp Biopharmaceutical, says limited supplies have already been exhausted and producing more will take time. There are other drugs in the pipeline but all are unproven and have yet to clear even the earliest stage of clinical trials.

The hemorrhagic fever has killed at least 1,427 people in the deadliest outbreak of the

disease to date. In the week through to August 22, 297 new suspected, probable and confirmed cases of Ebola were reported in Liberia - the largest number of weekly cases since the epidemic began in March, according to a United Nations Children’s Fund report.

Ebola can kill up to 90 percent of those infected though the fatality rate in the current epidemic is around 60 percent.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday it has sent protective equipment for medical staff to Democratic Republic of Congo, where authorities have confirmed two cases of Ebola in a remote area.

“The ministry of health has declared an outbreak and we are treating it as such,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said in Geneva in response to a query.

Fresh crisis as French president orders cabinet shake-up

F

rance was thrown into fresh crisis yesterday as President Francois Hollande told his prime minister to form a new government after damaging splits within the ruling Socialist party burst into the open.

It is the second reshuffle in just five months as the Socialists struggle to pull stagnating France out of the economic doldrums and the party is riven by infighting between left-leaning members and those who veer more to the centre.

A presidency statement said Prime Minister Manuel Valls had tendered the resignation of his government and the new line-up would be announced on Tuesday.

“The head of state asked him

(Valls) to form a team consistent with the direction he has himself set for the country,” it said.

The move caught France by surprise and sparked concern that Hollande, whose popularity is at a record low at just 17 percent, will lose further support by alienating key members of his party that still wield influence.

Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg, whose comments over the weekend slamming the country’s economic direction and France’s ally Germany sparked the crisis, said he would not be in the new cabinet as did his ally Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti.

Montebourg also announced that Education Minister Ben-

WORLD BULLETIN ...Japan set to offer flu drug for virus treatment Japan said yesterday it is ready to provide a Japanese-developed anti-influenza drug as a possible treatment for the rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that Japan can offer favipiravir, developed by a subsidiary of Fujifilm Holdings Corp., at any time at the request of the World Health Organization.

The drug, with the brand name Avigan, was developed by Fujifilm subsidiary Toyama Chemical Co. to treat new and re-emerging influenza viruses, and has not been proven to be effective against Ebola.

Favipiravir was approved by Japan’s health ministry in March for use against influenza. Fujifilm is in talks with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, through a U.S. partner, Medivector, to prepare for clinical testing of the drug in treating Ebola, company spokesman Takao Aoki said.

Chinese president lauds Mugabe as renowned leader China’s President Xi Jinping yesterday hailed Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe -- a pariah in the West -- as a renowned African liberation leader and an “old friend” of the Chinese people.

The former guerrilla turned Africa’s longest-ruling leader, now 90, was on his 13th trip to China, seeking more Chinese investment in his nation’s stagnant economy.

“The traditional friendship between China and Zimbabwe was forged in the glorious years when we stood shoulder to shoulder against imperialism, colonialism and hegemony,” Xi told Mugabe -who is subject to sanctions by the US and European Union -- at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

“The Chinese people value friendship and we will never forget those good friends and good brothers who have shown mutual understanding and support visa-vis China and who have come through thick and thin with us.”

Libya’s ex-parliament reconvenes, appoints new PM French President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls shaking hands at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris after a weekly cabinet meeting, recently.

oit Hamon, another member of the left-leaning clan of the party, would not take part in the new line-up.

Echoing his weekend comments in stronger terms, the anti-

globalisation advocate warned in a speech Monday that austerity measures were only prolonging and worsening a “serious, destructive and long” crisis in Europe.

Libya’s previous parliament reconvened unilaterally yesterday to elect Islamist-backed Omar al-Hasi as prime minister, a parliamentary spokesman said.

The term of the former legislature, in which Islamists had a strong representation, ended with national elections in June.

It has refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of its successor parliament, which is dominated by liberals and federalists.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

51

Bauchi wants INEC to extend voters’ registration EZEKIEL TITUS BAUCHI

B

Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang (left), congratulating the new Chief Judge of the State, Justice Pius Damulak, during his swearing-in in Jos, yesterday.

Borno: NEMA bemoans increase in displaced persons INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

T

he National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, yesterday said it was faced with a daily increase of internally displaced persons, IDPs, at established camps in the North East of the country, as insurgents continue to invade communities.

The agency said last weekend’s attack by insurgents on Madagali, Adamawa State, a town which had played host to many fleeing victims of insurgency from captured Gwoza town in Borno, had led to another challenge for the agency.

The information officer of the agency in the Northeast, Mallam AbdulKadir Ibrahim, who, a few days ago, disclosed that the agency had registered about 12,000 IDPs in neighbouring towns to Gwoza,

as a result of the attack on the town, lamented on Sunday that NEMA had to face another challenge of establishing other camps as a result of the attack on Madagali.

Ibrahim, who said the North-East zonal office of NEMA has continued to provide succour for victims of insurgency attacks from Gwoza local government that are presently taking refuge in different IDPs camps in Adamawa State, said all that was needed to cater for the growing challenge would be deployed for the use of the affected victims of the insurgency.

He noted that presently a team led by the North-East zonal coordinator of the agency, Alhaji Muhammed Kanar, has continued to take charge of the humanitarian crisis situation in the affected areas.

Ibrahim said the team

which has established a mobile unit having relocated from the Maiduguri zonal office over five days ago, has been on hands, delivering relief materials to the fleeing residents of Gwoza town at various IDPs camps both in Borno and Adamawa states.

He said with some IDPs now fleeing to Yola, the Adamawa State capital, the agency has started to work with the state Emergency Management Agency to not only keep track of the victims of the insurgency attacks but also to get relief materials to them.

He also noted that on Saturday the team was in Askira Uba at the IDP camp in the town to deliver various relief items consisting of food and non-food items and other essential household needs like buckets, blankets, mats and mosquito nets.

He said: “The team is working in conjunction with the Adamawa State emergency management agency which has also reported a new influx of the Gwoza IDPs to Yola, the state capital. The new IDPs are camped at Karewa Primary School and the Labour House in Jimeta.

“The executive secretary of ADSEMA, Haruna Furo, has told NEMA that preparations are in top gear to transfer the IDPs to a central location at the NYSC camp in Yola, the state capital,” Ibrahim revealed.

KATSINA

C

heques worth N100m were yesterday presented to hundreds of victims attacked by cattle rustlers in Katsina State.

The attack, which occurred in several communities in five council areas, had occurred in March and had led to the death of 117 people with over 1,500 displaced.

Shortly before presenting cheques to some of the victims in Faskari council area, Governor Ibrahim Shema said the money was part of outcome of a committee set up by government to assess extent of damage by the attacks.

He said more than N500,000 would be issued to each family that lost a loved one, and that the amount would be shared in line with inheritance rights as stipulated in Is-

lamic law.

He said those wounded would get a minimum of N100,000 and maximum of N300,000 each and that those that lost property would get a minimum of N557,000 each.

Shema, represented by his deputy, Abdullahi Garba also said that a non-governmental organisation, Jaiz Foundation, had given food items, including hundreds of bags of maize, millet, rice,

CBN flags off consumer protection campaign in Sokoto ABUBUKAR UMAR SOKOTO

Sani Sidi NEMA boss

Katsina cattle rustling victims get N100m compensation JAMES DANJUMA

auchi State government has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to extend the on-going voters’ registration exercise and provide more data capture machines, DCM, to enable each and every eligible voter to register for elections in the state.

The Deputy Governor, Sagir Aminu Saleh, who tendered the passionate appeal, observed that lack of adequate DCMs in some registration centres to facilitate the smooth registration of eligible voters has greatly hampered the exercise.

Saleh, who, at the weekend, paid inspection visit to a number of registration centres across the three senatorial districts of the state, also noted with dismay the inadequacy of INEC staff to hasten the exercise.

He embarked on the inspection tour to registration centres after obtaining his permanent voter card at the Azare INEC office in Katagum local government area.

The deputy governor, who commended the role being played by tradition-

groundnut oil, and cloth materials to affected victims.

He said the food items would be distributed to victims in all the affected community areas for the next two to three days.

He assured that military personnel would continue to be on ground in affected area to ensure the incident does not re-occur, and that efforts would be made to restore normalcy to affected communities.

al rulers in mobilising their subjects to actively partake in the exercise, was very impressed at the turnout of eligible voters to register.

Some of the registration centres Saleh visited included in Azare Township, Zadawa in Misau local government area and in Darazo local government area.

Others included the Tirwun Central Primary School registration centre in Bauchi local government area, and in the state capital.

He also visited the palaces of some traditional rulers that included Darazo district head, Alhaji Bababa Ibrahim, after he was received by the Darazo Local Government Council Caretaker Chairman, Sa’idu Ibrahim Hamza who commended the state government’s efforts towards the successful conduct of the exercise.

The deputy governor was also received at the Tirwun registration centre by the Caretaker Chairman of Bauchi Local Council, Umar Aliyu and the Tirwun District head, Alhaji Aminu Adamu Jumba who complained of inadequate manpower for the exercise.

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has flagged-off its Financial Literacy and Consumer Protection sensitisation programme for consumers of financial products and services in Sokoto State.

The Director, Consumer Protection Department of CBN, Abuja, Hajiya Umma Aliyu Dutse, yesterday in Sokoto added that the week-long activity is to interact and to sensitise people of Sokoto on financial literacy and consumer protection.

Represented by Hajiya Khadija Kassim, the Deputy Director, Financial Literacy Department, the director recalled that an indepth study of the global

financial crisis, which affected the Nigerian financial system, showed lack of consumer sophistication as a key factor responsible for the near collapse of the financial system.

She said the CBN, therefore, created a Consumer Protection Office in 2010, as part of reforms to address these factors, to sanitise and stabilise the system with consumer protection as a cardinal component of the reform.

Hajiya Umma and the department is saddled with the responsibility of implementing policies and programmes that would engender trust and confidence in the financial system through the promotion of responsible market conduct and fair treatment of consumers.

52

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday August 26, 2014

I would not be bothered at all about the name-calling. I have a job to do at this great club – Manchester United Manager, Louis van Gaal

Sport

Algeria suspends league over death of Cameroonian 53

Presidential honour awaits Falconets ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated the Falconets for winning the silver medal at the just-concluded FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, even as he prepares to

receive them at the Presidential Villa.

In a statement issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President assured the Falconets that despite the loss in extra time to their German counterparts in the very keenly con-

tested final, all Nigerians remain proud of the skilful, highly spirited and patriotic performance they put up throughout the tournament.

Jonathan applauded the Falconets who outplayed the Germans for long periods in the final, and also had greater ball posses-

sion and a higher number of goal attempts, for equaling Nigeria’s best-ever finish in the tournament, and, in Asisat Oshoala, producing this year’s top scorer and Most Valuable Player (MVP).

He further assured the Falconets and their trainers that they would continue to receive all the

support and encouragement they require from the Federal Government to fully actualise their world-beating potentials.

Jonathan said he looks forward to honouring the team with a reception at the Presidential Villa on their return from Canada.

Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala with her MVP award (m) flanked by adidas silver ball winner, Griedge Mbock Bathy of France (right) and bronze ball winner, Claire Lavongez, also of France

...as Dedevbo blames loss to tactical indiscipline

Canada 2014:

FIFA votes Oshoala C best player

ADEOLU JOHNSON

A

fter 32 games, the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup ‘Canada 2014’ ended last Sunday in Montreal with Germany pipping Nigeria 1-0 to win the trophy for a third time and France sealing third place after beating North Korea 3-2 in the classification game.

Falconets striker, Asisat Oshoala, apart from winning the silver medal with her team mates, was also crowned the most outstanding player as well as the top striker of the tournament.

Oshoala won the MVP adidas Golden Ball, followed by France’s Griedge Mbock Bathy and her compatriot, Claire Lavogez.

The Nigerian attacker scored seven goals to also win the top scorer’s adidas Golden Boot.

Nicknamed Superzee by her appreciative team-mates, Oshoala owes her accolade to her speed and nose for goal. The free-scoring forward set several records during the competition and ended it as the leading markswoman.

oach Peter Dedevbo has blamed his players’ lack of tactical discipline for Nigeria’s 0-1 loss to Germany in Sunday’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final in Montreal, Canada.

“I’ve not spoken to the girls yet, but I will tell them to take this defeat hard and learn from it because we lost this game due to tactical indiscipline,” Dedevbo told FIFA.com Dedevbo, however, praised his wards for making it to the final of the tournament when other good teams crashed out, even as he bemoaned their poor finishing that

would have made them champions.

“There are lots of good teams in this tournament who crashed out earlier than us, whereas Nigeria - not generally seen as the best - made it all the way to the final,” he added.

“Today, we had enough opportunities to win this match in the first half alone. But while we had chances we didn’t take them. Germany had one chance and took it.

That’s the nature of football.

“We had a great opportunity to win a World Cup with the chances we had in the first half, but we threw that chance away. Be that as it may, we did our best to redeem Nigeria’s image,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Tuesday August 26, 2014

53

Reds seals

Balotelli transfer L

iverpool yesterday confirmed that it has completed the signing of AC Milan striker, Mario Balotelli, although the club says the move is subject to registration.

The 24-year-old sealed his switch to Anfield from AC Milan after passing a medical and agreeing a longterm deal to become the Reds’ ninth signing of the summer so far.

“I’m very happy. We’ve been talking about coming here and now I’m happy to be here,” Balotelli said at the unveiling.

“Liverpool are one of the best teams here in England and the football is very good here.

“It’s a great team with young players, and that’s why I came here.”

The Italy striker, who joins Liv-

erpool after a year-and-a-half with Milan, where he scored 30 goals in 54 appearances, already has experience of playing in the Barclays Premier League having represented Manchester City, where he helped the Etihad side to the title in 2012 after moving from Inter Milan.

Balotelli has also clinched several other winners’ medals during his career so far, which include the Champions League, three Serie A championships and an FA Cup. He has won 33 caps for Italy, scoring 13 goals for the Azzuri.

Devils ‘ll bounce back–RVP M Late Ebosse

Algeria suspends league over death of Cameroonian

A

lgeria has suspended football indefinitely following the death of JS Kabylie striker, Albert Ebosse, who was hit by a stone thrown by fans last Saturday.

The Algerian Football Federation made the decision after a meeting on Sunday.

Ebosse, who was 24, was struck on the head when leaving the pitch after his side JSK’s home defeat by USM Alger in Tizi Ouzou on Saturday.

Algerian authorities had already ordered the indefinite closure of the 1st November 1954 Stadium and the ruling will now apply to all stadiums in the country.

The federation has also de-

cided that US$100,000 will be given to Ebosse’s family, a figure believed to be the amount he would have earned over the period of his contract. In addition, JSK’s players will each donate a month’s salary.

An investigation into Ebosse’s death, and a deeper inquiry into football hooliganism in the country, has been ordered by the Algerian interior ministry.

It is understood that one of the key questions to be asked by the investigation will be why the venue was used when construction works were still in progress.

The match was only the second round of games in the new season.

anchester United’s Robin van Persie, insists the team will soon recover from the frustrating start to the season that has seen the Reds register just one point from six in the Barclays Premier League.

The Dutchman made his return to first-team action during Sunday’s 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light following an extended break after the World Cup, and played for an hour before being exiting for Danny Welbeck.

“We were a bit too sloppy in possession, and in that sense we made it too hard for ourselves,” ” he recalled.

“We’ve played two games and d only picked up one point, we e would have loved to have got six x

Robin van Persie

points but it didn’t happen, so we have to return stronger.”

Asked on his fitness, van Persie said: “I feel good, I feel fit.

I had a good few weeks of training and played my first hour today, so I’ll look forward to the next game.”

Misconduct: Simeone gets heavy ban

A

tletico Madrid Coach, Diego Simeone, was yesterday handed eightmatch ban for his behaviour in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup last Friday.

Simeone, 44, tapped the fourth official on back of head following a heated exchange during Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid.

The Spanish Football Federa-

tion (RFEF) also confirmed the touchline ban was for four different offences.

Atletico’s assistant coach, German Burgos, will take charge in Simeone’s absence.

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Sports

Tuesday August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Germany players celebrating their victory over Nigeria at the Montreal Olympic Stadium, Canada on Sunday

How FIFA saw the Nigeria, Germany final G

ermany have won the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup for a record-equalling third time after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Nigeria at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium.

Lena Petermann scored the title-winning goal eight minutes into extra time to settle a match that, like the semi-final against France, had seen the Germans outplayed for long stretches. For the second match in succession, though, the Europeans’ will to win shone through, as did the quality of goalkeeper Meike Kamper - again named player of the match.

This clash of styles and football cultures was always expected to produce an open, engaging final, and so it proved. Nigeria quickly gained a foothold and went on to dominate the first half, creating the better and more numerous chances. An inability to convert those chances was their only failing, and the most guilty party was tournament top scorer, Asisat Oshoala.

The in-form striker, who had scored four times in the semifinal win over Korea DPR, was lively throughout but missed her first golden opportunity after 22 minutes. In fairness, she created the opening out of nothing, robbing Margarita Gidion, outpacing the German defence and rounding Kamper in a stunning display of speed and strength.

She could not, however, find the finishing touch, managing only to shoot into the side-netting from an acute angle.

With Nigeria’s superior physical attributes a telling factor on the big Olympic Stadium pitch, it wasn’t long before more chances arrived, with Oshoala again given a sight of goal seven minutes before the break. Again, though, her sights were out, with the ball flashing wide after Chiwendo Ihezuo had done well to snatch possession from Rebecca Knaak at the byline and cut the ball back.

These were nonetheless worrying times for Germany, whose best effort had come from a Lina

Magull free-kick comfortably saved by Sandra Chiichii. But Maren Meinert’s side began the second half brightly, with Theresa Panfil and Lena Petermann combining to tee up Sara Daebritz for a powerful left-foot shot that skidded into the arms of Chiichii.

Oshoala remained a constant source of danger, though, and she again came to life three minutes later, jinking in from the left wing past two German defenders. All that was lacking was the final touch, with the No4’s first effort striking a team-mate before the rebound was sliced high and wide.

However, missing chances

wasn’t restricted to Oshoala and Nigeria. Germany also spurned their opportunities, with Pauline Bremer stealing in unmarked on a Sara Dabritz free-kick only to head wastefully wide. The Super Falconets then had to call on the bravery of their keeper, with Chiichii racing from her line to dive at the feet of Lena Petermann, picking up a bruised jaw in the process.

Play still tended to rage towards the other end, though, and with five minutes remaining Nigeria had the ball in the net only for their celebrations to be cut short by the assistant referee’s flag. That left extra time to settle

this pulsating affair and, after Oshoala had again gone close for Nigeria, it was Germany who found a breakthrough.

Petermann scored it, slotting home from six yards, but the plaudits went to the energetic Bremer, who had robbed left-back Gladys Abasi before driving towards the byline and delivering the perfect cutback.

Nigeria, who had given so much to the match, proved unable to respond. Germany saw out the remaining minutes with a degree of comfort and can now savour the familiar feeling of being crowned champions of the world.’

NFF bows to Anyim, holds GA in Abuja EVEREST ONYEWUCHI

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confused Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced yesterday that its General Assembly (GA) would meet in Abuja today, to draw up a new roadmap leading to the conduct of elections into the NFF Executive Committee next month.

This is coming after the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Pius Anyim, called a stakeholders meeting in his Abuja office last

Sunday, at which he literally whipped the warring NFF factions into line, warning them to toe the path of peace or else government would damn the consequences and disband the entire executive committee.

Yesterday’s statement confirmed that it was agreed at the meeting in Anyim’s office that the gathering earlier scheduled to hold in Warri, Delta State as an elective congress, will now hold in Abuja, where federal authorities and security agents will monitor the deliberations to ensure there are no dissenting

voices.

NFF General Secretary, Mr. Musa Amadu, was quoted as saying that the General Assembly would begin later this afternoon at 4pm at the Chida International Hotel, with Chairmen and Secretaries of the Football Associations of the 36 States and the FCT, as well as Chairmen and Secretaries of the various Leagues, Coaches Association, Referees Association and Players’ Union expected in attendance.

In all, there will be 98 official delegates at the assembly.

“The congress will only fash-

ion out a roadmap for the elections, with the elective congress expected to come up not later than two weeks after the congress of Tuesday, 26th August (today),” Amadu said.

In a letter dated August 21, addressed to NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari and signed by deputy secretary general, Markus Kattner, FIFA had approved of the proposal for the assembly to work out a new roadmap and also decide on the composition of the electoral committee and the electoral appeals committee.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Tuesday August 26, 2014

2014:

55

US Open

Victoria

Agnieszka

Simona

Petra Kvitova

Serena Williams

Eugenie Bouchard

Serena leads Sharapova, others

Caroline

Petra Kvitova

T

he 2009 US Open was where Petra Kvitova announced herself to the tennis world, defeating then-world number Dinara Safina, but she has openly admitted to struggling with the humid conditions and rowdy crowds of New York. Last year she was beaten soundly in the third round by unseeded American Alison Riske.

Victoria Azarenka

I

t’s safe to say that Victoria Azarenka would like a do-over on 2014. She has missed the majority of the year due to a foot injury and suffered losses to opponents she would normally handle easily.

Serena Williams

A

t 32, Serena Williams is still considered the premier favorite to win Grand Slams long after most of her contemporaries have retired. The two-time defending US Open champion hasn’t yet reached the quarterfinals of a major in 2014, but four of her five tournament victories this year have come on outdoor hard courts.

She also rounded into form during the Emirates Airline US Open Series, with a loss in Montreal to big sister Venus the only blemish on a summer that saw her win two tournaments and compile a 12-1 record. With her eyes set on Grand Slam title on number 18, a focused and determined Serena will be a tall order for anyone in the draw.

Agnieszka Radwanska

Simona Halep

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ot even ranked inside the Top 15 at this time last year, the humble Romanian has surged to number two in the world in just 12 months. In reaching her first Grand Slam final at this year’s French Open and following that up with a semifinal finish at Wimbledon, Halep showed that she is a threat on all surfaces.

Her summer hard-court season has raised a few red flags with a fifth consecutive loss to Maria Sharapova in Cincinnati and an early exit in New Haven, but Halep has declared that she is rested and ready to go. It will likely take a top player in full flight to stop her from winning her first Grand Slam title.

T

he always popular Polish player posted one of the biggest tournament victories of her career earlier this month by winning the Rogers Cup in Montreal, and she has won 11 of her 14 career titles on hard courts.

But for whatever reason, that success hasn’t translated to New York. The US Open remains the one Grand Slam in which she hasn’t reached the quarterfinals, and recent losses here to Roberta Vinci and Ekaterina Makarova leave her opponents believing they have a shot to beat her here. However, it’s well established that Radwanska won’t give a match to anyone. And if she brings her form from Montreal over to the US Open, it’s very possible she could secure her first Grand Slam title in two weeks.

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova

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he 2006 US Open champion was forced to withdraw from last year’s tournament due to a right shoulder injury, but she has been making up for lost time since rejoining the tour in January. The 27-year-old Russian excelled during the clay-court season, posting a 19-1 record and winning her second French Open title.

But she hasn’t won a title on outdoor hard courts since Cincinnati in 2011, and she has advanced to the quarterfinals just once in her last five visits to to Flushing Meadows.

That said, Sharapova has always thrived on the New York crowds, and the fact she is in the opposite half of the draw as her nemesis Serena is a major plus. If she can build momentum in the early rounds, Sharapova will have a very real shot at winning her second major of the year.

WORLD RECORD

Most languages sung in concert Vol. 04 No. 924 Tuesday, August 26, 2014

The most languages sung during one concert is 76, achieved by Dr. Kesiraju Srinivas a.k.a Ghazal Srinivas, at the Gandhi Hills, Andhra Pradesh, India from 2-3 June 2008.

N150

Confab report and matters arising

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ust recently, the National Conference inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan on March 17, to discuss issues of national importance which bother on the interests of the federating units which constituted the nation Nigeria ended its assignment with the final reports of its recommendations submitted. For more than two months the representatives nominated by their respective constituencies deliberated on many issues hitherto agitating the minds of Nigerians.

As expected, the move by the Presidency to convoke the confab was widely criticised by many who considered such as waste of time and resources.

At the same time, others saw in it an-

C

ameroun captain, Samuel Eto’o, is among the top stars dropped from the list released by Coach Volker Finke Ahead of the country’s AFCON 2015 qualifiers with DR Congo and Cote d’Ivoire next month.

TALKINGPOINT Seyi Fasugba

seyifasugba@yahoo.com 08053069514 (sms only)

other opportunity to douse the tension already gathering momentum and to provide answers to a lot of questions, issues threatening the country’s existence and the co-habitation of its numerous ethnic groups. After weeks of discussing issues, both volatile and less volatile ones, the tension and suspicions among the units represented at the confab eventually subsided.

If there is anything at all that the confab indeed achieved, it was in building the confidence of the various ethnic groups back into one and the readiness to continue to live together as a nation, though tongues and religion may differ. Before the inauguration, it appeared that there were more issues that separated us as a nation than those that bind us together. It was therefore very glaring that with none of these issues held back and even with disagreements and consensus reached during the debate, deliberations ended in a friendly manner. And above, all, the delegates came out of the meeting with a better understanding of what it takes to co habit as a nation.

As indicated by President Jonathan in his inaugural speech to the delegates; ‘our peoples have year nings and desires that need to be discussed’. The confab not

THE WORLD IS HOWEVER WAITING TO SEE WHAT WE WILL MAKE OUT OF THE REPORT only provided the platfor m for the year nings and desires of the constituents to be discussed but also a veritable ground for issues bottled up to be expressed thus culminating in a better understanding.

And this exactly is what eliminates misunderstanding which if not properly handled often leads countries to war and there has never been any pleasant war experience in history. As demonstrated during the confab. A traditional ruler threatened to secede with his people and his kingdom if not allowed to express his grievances and when he was eventually given the floor, he was not only understood but his perception of other delegates was corrected.

There can’t be a collection of those representing varied interests as were gathered during the confab and not witness dissenting views and or confrontations as ex-

pressed virtually in all sessions of their deliberations. Apart from the delegates, Nigerians now know better than ever before why the union must continue and what to do to strengthen the cord of relationship.

The confab has come and gone but the report which documented the decisions from the various debates and positions canvassed that had been submitted become a reference point now and in the future.

President Jonathan has promised to implement the recommendations contained in the report if only to justify the resources expended on the over three months deliberations.

The caveat at this point is for the unwavering commitment of the federal gover nment to do as promised rather than treat it the same way similar report in the past had been handled. It is not enough to jaw jaw without any action taken on the decisions which Nigerians look forward to see implemented. Failure to do so would have confir med the position of critics who never believed in the exercise initially. The reason is not farfetched but simply due to the ways things had been handled in the past.

May be one area the confab could have help the emerging generation of Nigerians is in the issue of indigenes which also portends a lot for our nascent democracy. This without any doubt is one factor capable of enabling youths to release their potential in any part of the country they find themselves and where their talents will be needed without any fear of possible rejection. This is a factor that has help and continues to help many developed democracies in the world. In this circumstance, Nigeria will not be an exception. The world is however waiting to see what we will make out of the report.

Sport Extra AFCON 2015: Eto’o, other stars axed from Cameroun squad Others are first choice keeper Charles Itandje, defenders Aurlien Chedjou and Benoît Assou-Ekotto, midfielder Jean Makoun and striker Achille Webo.

Injured Henri Bedimo

and suspended Alexandre Song have also been dropped, as Finke invited many youngsters like Cedric Djeugoue, Frank Bagnack, Edgar Salli, JeanMarie Dongou and Clinton

N’Jie in what looks like a bold attempt by the German gaffer to rebuild from the disastrous outing at Brazil 2014 World Cup. “For a better future, we must have the courage

to work with the youngsters,” Finke, who however called up more experienced players like Gaetan Bong, Georges Mandjeck and Leonard Kweuke, explained.

Samuel Eto’o

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