Binder1

75,000 Nigerians die of cancer yearly –NMA MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

T

he Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, yesterday

Alhassan

Vol. 5 N0. 1046

said about 75,000 Nigerians die of cancer yearly.

NMA stated this in a statement by its President, Kayode Obembe, and made available to our correspon-

dent in Abuja.

The doctors said from the nation’s estimated 170 million people, 100,000 new cases of the disease were beCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

45 DAYS TO GO

Shift in elections dates necessary –Adams

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

P.44

N150

Polls shift: UN T calls for restraints

ROTIMI FADEYI, OMEIZA AJAYI, WALE IGBINTADE AND UBONG UKPONG

EU disappointed, votes €35m to support elections

he United Nations, UN, yesterday advised Nigerians to exercise restraints in the conduct of 2015 general elections.

The global body also commended political parties and other stakeholders for CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Troops recover 147 unexploded bombs in Borno P.12

Presidency debunks plot to remove Jega P.6 ADVERT HOTLINES

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

L-R: Lagos APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode; his wife, Abimbola; deputy governorship candidate, Dr. Oluranti Adebule; member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Funmi Tejuosho; Governor Babatunde Fashola; his wife, Abimbola and the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, at the party’s rally at Iyana Ejigbo, Oshodi and Isolo LCDAs, yesterday.

Tinubu raises alarm over soldiers’ presence at residence

...Fashola, others condemn action

P.5

IGP redeploys more commissioners of police

P.7

News

2

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Polls shift: UN calls for restraints CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

accepting the postponement of the elections.

Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, in West Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambers, said this in a chat with State House correspondents after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.

He maintained that the electoral process had been proceeding in a calm, peaceful and credible manner.

Chamber said: “On Friday, the Secretary- General had a telephone conversation with Mr. President. In

fact, a day before, he had spoken to Buhari. Of course, it was about that time it was sensed about the possible postponement of the elections in this country.

“We have seen that the postponement has been accepted by all the political parties, stakeholders.

The reasons adduced are known now. Of course in some states it is clear that very few people relatively have been able to collect their PVCs. The extension provides an opportunity for many more Nigerians to collect these cards and be able to exercise franchise.

“But above all, the Secretary-General told me to commend Mr. President and other leaders of the political parties and Nigerians as a whole for the maturity that has been demonstrated so far in this whole preparation towards the general elections.

“We saw first of all the primaries; there were a lot of speculations about how they will go. They transpired in a very calm and peaceful manner. The campaigns started and again, Nigerians have demonstrated a lot of maturity in the general manner in which

the campaigns have taken place.

“Naturally in periods such as this, there will be heightened tension, heightened rhetorics, but on the whole, we have very little violence associated with this process.

“And this is the same also with the postponement, where there were a lot of speculations about what would happen but so far this process has been proceeding in a calm, peaceful and credible manner.

“This is the wish certainly of the UN but also many friends of Nigeria. It

L-R: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wale; Minister of Agriculture, Prof. Akinwunmi Adeshina; President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo during the inauguration of Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy, in Abuja yesterday.

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

Tinubu raises alarm over soldiers’ presence at residence FRANCIS SUBERU, JAMES ABRAHAM AND UBONG UPONG

N

ational Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday raised the alarm over the presence of armed soldiers parading his Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos residence.

Allegedly numbering close to 30, the battle-ready and helmet-wearing soldiers were said to have placed Tinubu under surveillance.

Tinubu was alleged to be the obvious target and perhaps the hordes of politicians and visitors to his Bourdillon residence.

The soldiers were reportedly first noticed on Sunday, a few minutes to 11pm in an army truck stationed about 500 metres away from Ti-

nubu’s gate and later moved close to his gate.

The stern-looking soldiers were said to have been around for hours on Sunday and returned on Monday to continue their surveillance.

At 10.45pm on Monday, they were said to have returned in two army vans and were there throughout the night.

Yesterday morning, two vans from the army were allegedly stationed on both sides of the house in pursuit of their mission, shrouded in secrecy.

Following this unusual circumstance, Tinubu yesterday issued a statement, saying he would not be intimidated by the Federal Government’s show of strength, intimidation and possible harassment.

Tinubu, in the statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Sunday Dare, said he remained resolute and com-

mitted to the rule of law and would not be intimidated.

“I remain resolute in my advocacy and support for the rule of law. Jonathan’s government has through the service chiefs staged a coup against Nigerians and the Constitution and now wants to silence his critics.

“I will not be muzzled through the barrel of the gun. The guns and bullets they should use to defeat Boko Haram are now being turned against the opposition and innocent Nigerians,” he said.

The statement added: “The soldiers were first noticed on Sunday a few minutes to 11pm in an army truck. They stationed about 500 meters away from Tinubu’s gate. Later they moved close to his gate as if making efforts to enter. The stern- looking soldiers were around for hours on Sunday and returned on Monday to

continue their surveillance.

“Monday night about 10.45pm, they returned to the residence in two army vans and were there throughout the night. Some of the soldiers discharged from the van and walked back and forth in front of the house and around the house in what is clearly some casing effort.

“This morning, Tuesday (yesterday morning), two vans from the army were stationed on both sides of the house along Bourdillon road their missions shrouded in secrecy.” the statement said.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola during his speech at the APC gubernatorial campaign rally held at Ejigbo yesterday said the sudden deployment of soldiers at night around the Bourdillon home of Tinubu was appalling.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

is our expectations that all will continue to exercise restraints and keep this process clean and that at the end of the day Nigerians will all accept the outcome of the vote of the people.”

He added that the United Nations would continue to support the Federal Government in its renewed war against insurgency and the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

“The Secretary-General expressed strong support in the fight against Boko Haram. Boko Haram is not a threat only to Nigeria or the region but indeed an international issue and requires full international support in Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram the same way the fight is taken against Al-Shabab, ISIS and AGNI, in north Mali,” Chambers said.

“The UN stands firmly behind Nigeria in its legitimate fight against Boko Haram. Mr. President has the assurance of the SecretaryGeneral for the recent initiative whereby the Lake Chad Basin Commission will be the platform to anchor the multinational task force which is being put in place.”

Chambers assured of the support of the United Nation through the department of peacekeeping to ensure that the concept of operations, planning and other activities to ensure a truly joint operational force According to him, with a clear commanding control and unity of purpose among the different countries contributing troops, they will all work as one and get their efforts towards degrading and eliminating Boko Haram.

Also yesterday, the European Union, EU, expressed its disappointment with the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, shifting polls in Nigeria to March 28 and April 11.

This was part of the decisions taken at EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Monday on Nigeria’s elections.

A statement made available to journalists in Abuja yesterday by EU Press Officer, Modestus Chukwulaka, also noted the release of 35m Euro to support the elections processes in Nigeria.

The statement reads in part: “The council, which

stressed that Africa’s vigorous democratic culture is demonstrated by the large number of elections to be held on the continent in 2015, said it was very much disappointed when the INEC made that pronouncement on Saturday.

“The European Union reaffirms its wider policy of support for peaceful, inclusive, transparent and credible elections and its readiness to assist Nigeria in this respect. The European Union will also be providing electoral support to a number of countries in Africa this year.

“The European Union will be focusing with particular interest on the Nigerian presidential, parliamentary and gubernatorial elections: the largest single exercise in democracy in Africa.

“The conduct and quality of this electoral process will be key for the future of Nigeria, the region and the continent.

“The EU is, therefore, disappointed by the postponement of the elections on the basis of security advice delivered at very late notice.

“The European Union strongly urges the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure the necessary arrangements are in place for transparent and well-run elections.

“It calls on all parties to respect the independence of INEC, ensure that elections take place without further delay and enable each eligible Nigerian citizen to cast their vote fairly, including those affected by the security situation in the NorthEast of the country.

“The council welcomes the signing of the “Abuja Accord”, on January14, 2015, in which political leaders committed to preventing electoral violence before, during and after the elections.

“It is essential for both the people of Nigeria and for Nigeria’s international standing that this commitment is honoured without exception throughout the electoral process, irrespective of results.

“The EU would be particularly concerned by deliberate attempts to undermine the electoral process, by violence or any other means, and would have to consider CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

3

4

Photo News

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

L-R: President, Court of Appeal, Justice Zainah Bulkachuwa; Chief Justice, Federal High Court, Ibrahim Auta and presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Lagos, Justice Amina Augi during the Court of Appeal’s sensitisation forum in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Head, Product Management, West Africa, Transactional Products and Services, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Nnenna Okoro; Chief Legal Officer, Oando, Ngozi Okonkwo, and Head, Transactional Products and Services, Financial Institution Sales, West Africa, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Abimbola Akerele; at the 6th annual West Africa Trade and Export Finance Conference in Lagos, recently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: INEC Supervisory National Commissioner in Charge of Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Rivers State, Mrs. Thelma Iremiren; Ochie of Echie Land, Eze Emmanuel Opurum and Resident Electoral Commissioner, Rivers State, Mrs Gesila Khan, during a courtesy visit to Ochie of Echie Land in Rivers, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

L-R: Executive Director, Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON), Chief Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi; Director, 100 Group, Chief Wale Bolarinwa; Publicity Secretary, Mrs Bose Oyewole; Director, Centre for Media Resource In Development, Mrs Bisi Yomi-Layinka, at the Sensitisation Forum for Female Voters in Ibadan, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

National News

APC challenges Jonathan on interim government plan OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

T

he All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, APCPCO, yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to debunk alleged plan to put in place an interim government.

The organisation said this was necessary to avert unrest and possible civil disobedience that could scuttle the nation’s hard-earned democracy.

The campaign organsation also decried what it calls embedded vested interest and sinister motives behind the polls postponement.

In a statement in Abuja by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, APCPCO frowned at the unholy alliance between the Jonathan government, the PDP and the military for the purpose of subverting the franchise of the people in the rescheduled presidential and other elections on March 28 and April 11, re-

…says PVCs on sale at N10, 000 each spectively.

He said: “If the witch cried in the night and the baby died in the morning, it would not be a mere coincidence. Hence, the body of civilised and democratic people around the world believes the security excuse used by this unpopular government to prolong the polls is untrue and pretentious.

“What type of democracy allows compromising security chiefs to determine when elections would hold or not?

“Now, the National Security Adviser, NSA, has become the megaphone for this government. He went to Chatham House in the UK to call for election postponement, which he has now obtained.

“Next, he claims he would crush Boko Haram within six weeks. What if he can’t, will there be a further excuse to extend the elections and create constitutional impasse? Nigerians are no fools and nobody can pull soiled cotton over our eyes anymore.

“We are inundated with information as to how this government wants to tamper with due process by discrediting INEC and even sack its chairman, raise false alarms, rig the election with military connivance and eventually scuttle democracy, replacing it with an interim government.

“For all we know and can see, the contraption of an interim government has no place in the constitution as former President Obasanjo said on BBC Monday night.

“President Jonathan must come clean on these allegations. He is the Commander-in-Chief, and not the NSA. Hence he must, as a matter of urgency, speak to the nation and the world on these salient allegations.

“A refusal would make him the historic President who doesn’t give a damn while on national assignment.”

Meanwhile, APC yesterday raised the alarm that some people suspected to be agents of the PDP have resorted to

the purchase of PVCs and the intimidation of some voters to seize their PVCs. In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said a company, Agro-Allied Communities Service Nigeria Limited, has been formed ostensibly to provide N50,000 loan each to empower women.

It said, however, that anyone seeking to get the loan must provide her PVC as collateral, which, it said, is the essence of the establishment of the company.

The company, according to APC is supposed to be a private concern but is fronting for PDP to mop up PVCs, especially in opposition strongholds.

APC said it is now getting clearer by the day what the PDP-led Federal Government sought to gain by forcing the postponement of the elections for six weeks which is to perfect their rigging plans.

The party warned those

behind the acts to desist from such tactics, which reflect the desperation by some people to hold on to power at all cost, even when it is clear that Nigerians have widely rejected them due to non-performance, massive corruption and profligacy under their watch.

It also appealed to its members and supporters in particular, and Nigerians in general, not to sell their PVCs under any guise, saying that is the only power they have to effect a meaningful change that can ensure the deliverance of democratic dividends to them.

“Our members have alerted us to the fact that PDP agents have been operating in all villages between Kobape and Orile-Imo along the Sagamu-Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun State, giving N10,000 to each poor villager and collecting their PVCs. The PDP agents are also promising each villager a monthly stipend of N10,000 if and when their party assumes office in the state.

“Indications are that this

objectionable PVC mop-up is being replicated in all opposition strongholds by the frenzied PDP, hence we at the APC have decided to alert the nation to the reprehensible act,” the party said.

It also said that some Immigration personnel, acting under the guise of arresting illegal aliens with voter cards, are dispossessing a lot of unsuspecting locals in the northern part of the country of their PVCs. The people are arrested and their cards seized, all in an attempt to disenfranchise them.

“This act of desperation is totally unacceptable and must stop forthwith. Every voter should be allowed to exercise his or her franchise in accordance with his/her conscience, without intimidation or inducement.

“We hope this is not part of the reasons that the PDP relentlessly campaigned for a postponement of the elections, so it can engage in PVC purchase and the disenfranchisement of innocent Nigerians through harassment and intimidation,” it added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

5

75,000 Nigerians die of cancer yearly –NMA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ing recorded annually.

Globally, NMA said cases of the ailment would rise from its present 14 million to 22 million within the next two decades.

It noted that 30 per cent of cancer deaths were due to five leading behavioral and dietary risks, namely high body mass index; low fruit and vegetable intake; physical inactivity; tobacco and alcohol use.

“Recent research has also shown that cancer in the black has different molecular attribute which makes the cancers aggressive with

a poorer outcome.

“It is, therefore, compelling that these peculiar challenges be addressed among the black,” NMA said. Despite the figures recorded of the disease in Nigeria, the association added: “There is no nationwide populationbased cancer registry to help understand the epidemiology of cancer, to create effective policies and to trace progress in prevention and treatment of cancer in the country.

“Though current data is provided by some smaller population-based registries, this data still suggests that

cancer incidence is on the increase.”

Common cancers in Nigeria, according to the doctors, are breast, cervix, prostate, colo-rectum and skin.

The NMA advised the Federal Government to strenghen the National Cancer Plan developed in 2008.

The association also called on the Federal Government to provide measures for tackling the disease, which include es-

tablishment of functional National Cancer Registry to increase cancer awareness and create effective policies; subsidise cancer screening and cancer care; improve infrastructure by setting up more cancer /oncology centres; and increase cancer advocacy, with more pressure exerted on political leaders to institute policies for cancer prevention.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation, WHO,

has said that more than 50 million people worldwide live with epilepsy.

The agency stated this in a statement released on its website on Monday.

It, however, lamented that three out of four persons with the condition in developing countries were not getting treatment.

“Nearly 80 per cent of the people with epilepsy are found in developing regions.

“Epilepsy is the most

common chronic brain disorder globally and affects people of all ages.

“With treatment, an estimated 70 per cent of people with epilepsy can be seizure- free, yet about three fourths of people in developing countries do not get the treatment they need.

“Furthermore, people with epilepsy and their families frequently suffer from stigma and discrimination.”

Tinubu raises alarm over soldiers’ presence at residence CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

He also said security report before the party indicated that policemen attached to the leadership of INEC had also been withdrawn.

Fashola wondered the benefit of withdrawing policemen attached to INEC leadership at this critical period in the life of the nation.

He said: “They are removing security from INEC. In the last three days, they deployed soldiers to the home of Asiwaju. Every night now, they send a truck load of soldiers to his home.

But I have news for them; we will not be intimidated by their actions.

“Our votes will speak for us. Let me remind them that if Yar’Adua was alive, the owner of this mandate, he will be preparing to leave the office now.

“When President Jonathan was seeking for our votes in 2011, he didn’t deploy soldiers to our homes rather he was begging us.

“He said that he had no shoes. And after he assumed office, he has since inflicted pains on us. After giving him 1.2 million votes, we have no minister. And that shows that he doesn’t care about Lagos. But we need to let him know that Lagos is unique.”

The Nigerian Army Headquarters, AHQ, tactically refused to officially confirm the allegations of the troops’ siege.

This is even as some top army officers accosted by our correspondent in Abuja, who did not want their names mentioned, played safe by denying the report.

However, efforts by our

correspondent to get the army authorities to officially confirm the deployment were unsuccessful.

Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, told our correspondent to give him some time to respond but the response never came as at the time of filing this report.

All other efforts to get Usman to speak on the matter were also unsuccessful as he could not be reached.

Meanwhile, reactions have been trailing the development, with the Lagos State chapter of APC condemning the siege.

In a statement in Lagos by the state Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party described the development as a brazen show of despotism and an intimidation against the rising influence and popularity of Tinubu.

“The party warns that Jonathan and the leadership of the PDP, scared of the mass rejection it is presently facing after wasting precious years of Nigerians’ lives, will plunge Nigeria into intractable crisis if it does not arrest its present predilection to bringing Nigeria down because Nigerians have rejected PDP. “Nigerians know that the PDP, its leaders, supporters, enablers dread Tinubu like a pestilence and if the weight of the gargantuan smear campaign and devilish propaganda the PDP has sponsored against the person of Tinubu has failed to sway Nigerians to continue supporting the banditry of PDP governance, it should know that it is struggling in vain.

Some of the 147 unexploded bombs recovered by police near Jakana in Konduga LGA, Borno State, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Polls shift: UN calls for restraints CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

swiftly how to respond.

“The European Union underlines that all disputes over the conduct or results of the elections should be dealt with through the proper judicial processes.

“In this respect, the council calls upon the Nigerian security services to fulfill their obligation to support the constitution and to maintain law and order during the electoral process in an even-handed and proportionate manner, to allow all eligible citizens to exercise freely and peacefully their democratic rights.

“As the media have an important role to play in the delivery of transparent elections, the EU calls on all authorities to ensure full media freedoms and access.

“To support these efforts, the European Union has provided a package of assistance to the Nigerian electoral process totaling 35m, and at the invitation of the Nigerian authorities, has deployed an EU electoral observation mission led by Mr. Santiago Fisas Ayxelà, who will be returning to Nigeria this week to undertake a continued and comprehensive assessment of the elections, in cooperation with

other observer missions.”

The EU Observation Mission EU EOM in Nigeria has warned the Federal Government against politicising insecurity issue in the country.

Regretting the postponement of the general elections, the mission said although security remained a critical issue, it must be handled with caution.

It, however, stated that in spite of the postponement, it would continue to observe elections in the country.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday, Chief Observer of the EU EOM, Mr. Santiago Fisas, who arrived in Nigeria on his second visit, said the team acknowledged the different views about INEC’s postponement of the general elections to March 28 and April 11, following statements by security chiefs who unanimously reiterated that safe elections could not be guaranteed at this time.

“We are seriously concerned at this delay and the reason given. Security is critical but must not be political. People have to be able to vote, elections have to be held so that government is accountable.

“We look to the security

agencies to give full support to INEC and all the people of Nigeria in the holding of the polls,” Fisas said.

“The EU EOM commends the peaceful reaction so far to the postponement and will continue observing the electoral process. We encourage all political parties, candidates, supporters and other stakeholders to consider the extra time as an opportunity to further prepare for the election days.

“More voters can collect their Permanent Voter Cards, candidates can elaborate on their proposed policies,” he added.

Fisas also noted that for citizens to have confidence in the electoral process, the polls should not be further delayed.

“People need to know this and to see what is being done by the different authorities to make this happen.

We will be here in different parts of the country observing the next crucial weeks in the run up to the election and beyond.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has warned INEC that Nigerians will not allow any further postponement of the 2015 general elections.

NBA President, Mr. Au-

gustine Alegeh, stated this yesterday at a one-day workshop entitled “Countdown to the 2015 general elections: Are Nigerians ready?” organised by the association in conjunction with Lagos State Ministry of Justice in Lagos.

The NBA president stressed that while the association was not opposing the shift in 2015 election dates, it would not accept any further postponement of the election for whatever reason.

According to Alegeh, the association is in touch with INEC and would ensure that all eligible Nigerians who have registered are given their Permanent Voter Cards.

Alegeh said it was obvious INEC was not ready as almost 2.5 million Nigerians were yet to be provided with PVCs. He added that if the postponement would ensure that eligible Nigerians were not disenfranchised, the postponement should be allowed.

He urged INEC to make the best use of the extension by ensuring that preparations were foolproof, including broadening the distribution of PVCs.

6

National News

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Polls: NSA raises concern over Jega’s rumoured sack Ubong Ukpong ABUJA

O

ffice of the National Security Adviser is deeply troubled over growing rumoured sack of Chairman of Independent National

Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in view of its effect on national security.

This is just as the Presidency has debunked the rumour gaining ground in some online and social media that the Federal Government has sacked the

beleaguered INEC chairman, saying his job was intact.

According to a source yesterday, the rumour raises serious security concerns as the falsehood spread by politicians was capable of inciting violence.

The source said the NSA has been bombarded with calls from all parts of the country, describing the rumoured sack as an outright falsehood and mischievous propaganda allegedly engineered by some forces within the main opposition All Pro-

gressives Congress, APC. According to an official in the Presidency, “the rumoured sack of Jega is not from the Presidency, but part of the propaganda by the opposition to soil the good name of the President, to discredit the government and cause trouble.”

The official noted that the current administration was a law-abiding government that “follows the constitution in the discharge of its duties, including chairman of INEC or any member for that matter.

“The questions of leave or no leave, the laws are clear about it and the government has nothing to do with that. The man has a job to do, please allow him to do the job without dragging the government into it.

“This is the government that has been obeying the rule of law and is not going to abandon its adherence to it. Please, they should allow Prof. Attahiru Jega to do his work and stop heating up the polity.

“They should stop fanning the embers of trouble and inciting people to violence.”

Jonathan’s secret plot of tenure elongation, by Senator Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

A Taraba Commissioner for Special Duties, Prince Mustapha Hamman-Gabdo (right), receiving relief materials on behalf of the 27 IDP camps in the state from Gombe Operational Officer of NEMA, Alhaji Saidu Ahmed, in Jalingo, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

APC plotting to disparage military –PDP Obiora Ifoh ABUJA

P

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday described the claim by All Progressives Congress, APC, that it interfered with and pressurised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to reschedule the general election, as an attempt to cause political crisis and denigrate the esteemed position of the military in maintaining the unity of Nigeria.

Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, in a chat with newsmen in Abuja said APC’s claim of interference cannot be anything nearer to the truth and was an attempt to politicise the military from its

professional role of ensuring the unity and stability of the country.

He said, “The APC is just playing to the gallery and unnecessarily overheating the system by beating the drums of war and shouting wolf where there is none.

“The truth is that INEC was not ready for the elections and lacks the ability and strength to say so.

How can INEC say the basic reason for the shift of the elections was the security crisis in the Northeast states of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Gombe without telling Nigerians the challenges it id facing in distributing the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs. “Let INEC tell Nigerians the details of the report submitted to it by the

two United States Democracy Institutes, I mean the reports from the National Democratic Institute, NDI, and the International Republican Institute, IRI.” According to Secondus, “INEC is keeping quiet on the report submitted to it as far back as January 20 or thereabout. If INEC is not for mischief, let the commission tell the world its level of preparedness in terms of training of more than 900,000 ad-hoc staff and the distribution of all sensitive materials.

“How can INEC claim to be ready for the elections when in some states, about 50 percent of the voters are yet to have collected the voter cards?

In Lagos State with the highest number of voters,

more than 33 percent are yet to collect their PVCs. Yet INEC says it is ready to conduct the elections.

Is INEC out to disenfranchise eligible voters and then find another way to discredit the entire electoral system?” he asked.

The Deputy National Chairman of PDP frowned at the continued denigration of the military by APC, warning however that, “The military is the professional body that is charged with the maintenance and stability of the country and should not be dragged into political issues. This is in the overall national interest of all Nigerians. What the APC is trying to do, is pour mud on the face of the military and cause crisis in the country.”

n alleged secret plot by President Goodluck Jonathan to elongate his tenure in office by two years was yesterday blown open in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

A National Assembly member, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who represents Ekiti Central, kept members of the Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, wondering as he alleged how President Jonathan has been making spirited moves to court the lawmakers into buying his agenda for the two-year tenure elongation.

He made the revelation while addressing the ARG gathering inside the Trenchard Hall of the University of Ibadan during the group’s discourse with the theme, ‘The Change Yoruba will Vote For.’ He said: “Talking about two years, Jonathan has been pleading that they should allow him to do two more years because if we have an election and a northern Muslim becomes the winner, there may be problems in the Niger Delta. If you have him win over a northerner, there will be problem in the North.

Therefore, the solution is for him to do two more years and at the end of the two more years, then you can have Northern-Northern and Muslim-Muslim

candidates. That is their logic and that is what they are working towards. Left to us, they know it shall not pass. We must start crying out now and be strategic in our planning.

“We are about entering into a very long night in Nigeria. It is a very sad thing that whenever we thought we have made progress, we take 10 steps backward. This is what is happening now. If anybody thinks there is going to be elections on March 28, the person is deceiving himself. All the people that are close to me, especially my friends, I told them a year ago that there would not be election and that they are just deceiving us.

“Some of us who are perceptive have seen this in the body language of our colleagues (lawmakers); the body language of the Senate President himself, David Mark. When we came back from summer recess last year, he said for him, it’s not time for election. We should not be thinking of elections now, rather we should be thinking of fighting Boko Haram. The moment we took him up on that, he reversed himself.

“There are conscious attempts at lobbying some of us to work against having elections. Therefore, where they have got to now is the preliminary stage. We will resume next week Tuesday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News 7

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

N620bn bailout: Court strikes out suit against CBN Wale Igbintade

A

Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday struck out a suit challenging the power of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to unilaterally print and spend N620 billion in 2009 without first obtaining the approval of the National Assembly.

The suit marked FHC/L/CS/1125/2009 was instituted by the Minority Whip of the House of Rep-

resentatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

In a judgement delivered yesterday, Justice Ibrahim Buba resolved all the issues raised in favour of the defendants and therefore struck out the suit.

The suit was sequel to the decision of the CBN, under its former Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to rescue eight ailing or under-capitalised banks in the country, by granting them loan or

bailout.

Consequently, Gbajabiamila, through his lawyer, Seni Adio, asked the court to determine, among other things, whether the constitution empowered the CBN to raise money by printing the sum of approximately N620 billion and unilaterally and in their exclusive discretion spending the money so raised by providing funds to certain banks earmarked to receive same or any other banks without

first submitting the funds raised to the National Assembly for appropriation or otherwise obtaining the approval of the National Assembly.”

Justice Buba held, “this court is of the firm view that the counter-affidavits of the 1st and 2nd defendants are not only as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar, but the plaintiff has also not been able to refute the averments.

“This court is of the firm view that those aver-

L-R: Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan; Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke; President, Women Arise, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin and Chairman, National Human Rights Commission Prof Chidi Odinkalu during Dissemination of the Guidelines on Gender Based Violence among Young Persons in Nigeria, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Groups warn FG on further election postponement Gboyega Adeoye

C

oalition of Oodua Self Determination Groups, COSEG, has called on the Federal Government to adhere strictly to the new election timetable, noting that any further move to tinker with the March 28 date would be resisted.

Chairman of COSEG, Ifedayo Ogunlana, said the warning hinged on allegations that there are lingering underground plans to alter the present arrangement with a view to installing an Interim Government that would lead the country for the next two years.

COSEG had met in the ancient city of Ibadan, South West, Nigeria, earlier this week, to endorse the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential

candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, as its presidential choice and vowed to fight any move to derail the elections.

Ogunlana reasoned that since the recent postponement was hinged on insecurity and not the fault of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Presidency would be held liable for any further lapses.

Ogunlana stressed that the groups are ready to rise to the occasion when it matters, noting that, “the subterranean resolve by the incumbent to perpetuate himself in office at all cost is made naked by the recent shift of the election dates.”

The group also sent a warning signal to individuals or groups standing behind the present government to do so in their own capacities and not to drag

the entire race into it, noting that further misrepresentation of the Yoruba in the present political order would not be watched with folded arms.

“We use this opportunity to send strict warning to the Afenifere group and some individuals in Yoruba land who sees nothing wrong with the government of the day that gives the race no place of recognition in government, that while they are entitled to their positions, they must not attempt to drag all of us into heir selfish and dangerous political scheming.

“We are not unaware of the evil alliance some of them entered into at the last confab and we shall not fold our arms in the evil plot to armtwist us into following them in the betrayal of fatherland,” Ogunlana said.

The group described those agitating for the postponement of elections or the institution of Interim Government as enemies of Nigeria who must be fished out and dealt with for the nation to move forward.

ments, in the absence of valid denial, have pulled the rock off the feet of the plaintiff.

Consequently, the questions for determination have become hypothetical and therefore not grantable.”

The lawmaker had sought a declaratory order that the defendants did not have the constitutional authority to raise and unilaterally spend funds without first securing the approval of the National Assembly.

The defendants in the suit are the CBN, its Governor and the Attorney General of the Federation.

The case, which had earlier been decided in favour of the CBN by Justice Fatima Nyako, however, returned to Justice Ibrahim Buba by the Appeal Court, which set aside Nyako’s judgment and ordered fresh trial before Buba.

But ruling on the case on Monday, Buba held that the defendants had been able to effectively refute the claims by the plaintiffs, adding that such denial had rendered the prayers of the plaintiff hypothetical and the declaration sought not grantable.

One Adeteju Ajimotokan, who deposed to a 17-paragraph affidavit in support of Gbajabiamila’s originating summons, had averred that sometime between July and August 2009, the CBN appraised or audited 10 commercial banks in the country and found out that five of them lacked adequate liquidity ratios compared to their obligations.

According to Ajimotokan, following this discov-

ery, Sanusi sacked the Executive and Managing Directors of the five banks said to be under-capitalised and decided to infuse N420billion into each of the banks.

The affidavit stated that the CBN embarked on an audit of a second set of banks wherein 14 banks were audited in September 2009 and three were found to be under-capitalised.

Again, Sanusi sacked the Executive and Managing Directors of the defaulting banks and decided to raise the banks with N200bn each.

The deponent said: “Therefore, based on these two audits, the CBN intends to unilaterally infuse the sum of approximately N620bn into eight banks.”

But in its counter-affidavit deposed to by one Damilola Amore, the CBN, denied raising any such money.

He argued that the CBN did not raise any money by printing nor did it spend any such monies raised by printing as alleged by the plaintiff.

Amore added that what the apex bank and his then governor did was to intervene by providing Intercontinental Bank with N100bn to sustain its operations.

He further stated that prior to the intervention; the former CBN Governor appeared before and secured the endorsement of various committees of the National Assembly, adding that Gbajabiamila’s suit was meant to invalidate what had been commended by the National Assembly.

IGP redeploys police commissioners Omeiza Ajayi

A

head of the general elections, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba, has ordered the immediate redeployment of some Commissioners of Police, CPs, to commands and formations.

Abba said the exercise was in line with the determination and drive to enhance the administrative and operational

effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force.

In the redeployment chat, CP Danladi Mshelbwala of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit moves to Kebbi State command and Ibrahim Idris to Kano State command.

The postings, which were contained in a statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, was said to be in line with efforts to reposition the force, fill-

ing vacancies created in view of officers proceeding on courses at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Jos, as well as posting of returning senior officers from NIPSS. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police has announced the sudden death of one of its officers, AIG Ibrahim Maishanu, who passed away on Sunday at an Indian Hospital while undergoing treatment.

8

South West

KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

A

cademic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday alerted Nigerians of alleged grand plan of the ruling cabal to ask Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, to proceed on terminal leave.

The union in a resolution reached at the end of a national symposium on the 2015 elections signed

by Chairman, University

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Resist plan to sack Jega, ASUU charges Nigerians of Ibadan chapter, Professor Segun Ajiboye, asked Nigerians to be alert on the grand plan to scuttle the 2015 general elections.

He warned the cabal to tread with caution as Nigerians are too sensitive to be hoodwinked to succumb to tyrannical ploy.

He said having succeeded

in using military chiefs to influence shifting of the polls, “the next plan on their agenda is to ask Jega to proceed on terminal leave, while they bring a waiting willing tool, who will do their bidding to rig the elections in their favour.”

While urging Nigerians to stand up and resist ele-

ments of retrogression, Ajiboye insisted that anyone who emerges from a credible, free and fair election must be ready to implement fully the 2009 agreement reached with the union.

The resolution, which bemoaned the haphazard implementation of the agreement, said a purpose

and focused attention of education will engender development in Nigeria.

While condemning hate speeches and advertorials placed in the media, the union called for caution among politicians and parties not to plunge the country into crises.

The union further urged

security agents to do all within its powers to ensure that it was not used as a pawn to destabilise the country, but rather provide the needed security for the polls so that all eligible Nigerians who have obtained their card would be able to exercise their rights without fear of intimidation.

Insecurity: NSCDC canvasses safety training for Nigerians BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

C

L-R: Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Prof. Olufemi Taiwo; Chairman on the occasion, Prof. Samuel Akande and Guest Speaker, Dr Augustine Osigwe, at a seminar on “Crude Oil and Economic Performance in Nigeria, a Sectoral Approach” in Ibadan, yesterday.

Lagos’ll become tourist destination –Ambode FRANCIS SUBERU

G

overnorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has assured Lagosians that he would make the state a preferred tourism destination in Africa if voted into office in the April 11 gubernatorial polls.

Ambode, who gave the assurance at APC campaign rally held at Ejigbo in Oshodi- Isolo area of the state, said he would give priority attention to tourism development in the state if voted into power.

He said: “I want to promise all of you on this Ejigbo play ground, we are going to turn it into a stadium. You know I have always told you I am ready to improve on anything the present governor did not finish, wherever he

stops, I am going to continue with it.

“I have said I am going to integrate tourism, hospitality, entertainment and sports together to create more jobs for all our youths. We have said it, we are looking for more jobs for all our young ones, we would also create an Employment Trust Fund, which would allow you to have access to free capital so that you can do all the things you have always learnt to do.

“In addition to that, we would create a small credit guarantee scheme for all our small businesses and all our entrepreneurs. What does that do for all of us, it would allow our mothers, our fathers and our young ones to do whatever it is they decide to do what they want to do on their own.”

Ambode added that when they make more profit, they would employ more people, saying

the initiative would take more people off the street.

He said: “If we take more people off the street, it would improve on the provision of the infrastructure.

It is more about roads in this neighborhood. We are going to do more roads, like I have said we have over 6000 roads that belong to the local governments and about 3000 that belongs to the state government.

“We would do an operation called Operation 20:20:57. For every year, each local government will commit 20 roads and 20 street lights, when we are able to do that; we would provide you with 1,140 roads. When we do that for four years, that is almost 5000 new roads.

“We are going to light up our streets, we would light up Lagos to ensure comfort for everyone. We would provide additional buses, even before the

end of this administration; we are going to get more buses for all our roads. The roads where BRT does not ply now, we would make sure that buses ply them.”

The former Accountant General of the state said plans are in the full gear to re-engineer traffic management in the state.

He said: “There would be easier traffic in our neighborhood.

Beyond that, what is the great promise? The great promise is the prosperity of Lagos and nobody will be left behind in this prosperity. We need our individual families to be prosperous and in doing that, we need to take over the centre. Whether they like it or not, we are taking over this Federal Government. They can shift the date of the election, but they can’t shift our destiny. They can’t shift our minds; our minds are already made up.”

ommandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Ade Abolurin, yesterday advocated training of at least 10 per cent of the country’s population in personal security.

The training, which will include basic safety tips, self-defence tactics, he said, should be incorporated in the larger plan to tackle the security challenge facing the country.

The NSCDC Osun command’s Education Liaison Officer, Solomon Olasupo, stated this at the opening session of three-day free public safety training for media practitioners in Osogbo, Osun State capital. He explained that the training would also equip journalists with relevant tips that would enhance their safety on the field.

He said media practitio-

ners need to be equipped with certain skills that would prevent commission of common crimes such as theft, burglary, rape and terrorism.

Delivering a paper on media/security agents’ relationship, an Assistant Commandant, Research and Training, Ahmed Bodunrin, called for mutual respect between the two groups, stressing that they remained partners working towards same goal, but with different training and orientation.

According to him, proper identification by newsmen while covering public functions and good approach to security men on duties would go a long way in establishing better relationship between them.

He urged journalists to always observe basic security tips before going for any assignment through proper dressing, adding that personal security from their residences to offices should be of paramount importance.

Ipetumodu, Ashipa communal crisis: Ooni preaches peace BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

O

oni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse II, has charged residents of Ipetumodu and Asipa to embrace peace in their communities.

Receiving members of the Justice Oyejide Falola Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the Ipetumodu and Asipa communal dispute in his palace, the monarch expressed belief that the commission was capable of finding a lasting solution to the communal dispute.

He commended the

commission for the visit to his palace and urged it to be fair to all parties in the matter.

In his remarks, chairman of the commission, Justice Jide Falola, called for royal support, advice and blessings, as the panel receives reports from all stakeholders with a view to finding lasting solution to the dispute.

He decried the rising cases of communal disputes in the state which he claimed is becoming a common phenomenon that must be checked.

He also commended the monarch for his support for the commission.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

9

Collapsed building: Low turnout stalls coroner inquest MATTHEW IRINOYE

L

Beko Rights Club holding a memorial procession from Obalende to Ikoyi cemetery to mark the 9th Bekololari Ransome-Kuti Memorial in Lagos, yesterday.

Doctors task FG on military reform, health crisis KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

W

ith the general elections postponed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to reorganise the defence structure of the military and rid his government of Boko Haram sympathisers.

The union lamented that the Army has transited from a fighting unit to a frightened force holed-up in barricaded barracks like scared sparrows.

These were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of National Executive Council meeting of the union, signed by its President, Dr Steven Oluwole, and made available yesterday to journalists in Ibadan.

He said it was laughable that security chiefs, who could not tame Boko Haram for six years, now prefer six weeks to rout the

rag-tag terrorist group.

According to him, President Goodluck Jonathan should immediately relieve the security chiefs, who failed to prepare for the elections, of their duties, adding that any delay to act might put democratic governance in jeopardy and plunge the country into chaos as forecast by some foreign powers.

He also charged President Jonathan not to diminish his resolve to end the unhealthy rivalry in the health services.

While noting that the less than salutary state of healthcare delivery in Nigeria suffered further assault in the past six months from strikes by several unions in the health services, Oluwole lamented that the objectives of the strikes were not to improve or develop service delivery.

On the health sector crisis, he said while the president’s meeting with JOHESU that led to suspension of its strike was a welcome development and appropriate, “it is very disturbing that Mr President appears

to appease JOHESU to further subject the fundamental findings of the Yayale Ahmed Committee to further debate.”

He maintained that the Yayale Ahmed Committee was not set up to advance, enshrine or endorse the manifesto and desires of any union, or translate the demands of JOHESU to government white paper.

While asking the Federal Government to commence full implementation of the National Health Act, Oluwole enjoined the president to ignore the cacophony of threats and admit the fundamental findings of the committee set up to restore sanity in the health services, adding that it should not be sacrificed on the altar of expediency or political correctness.

He maintained that the objections of JOHESU to the recommendations of the committee further demonstrate the union’s intent to invent a health system that has no equivalent in the world.

“JOHESU should accept the Yayale Ahmed definition of medically qualified,

which was based on the NIC judgement as it demanded.

Rescind the pursuit of unhealthy rivalry based on the structure and organisation of health services outside Nigeria, which Yayale Ahmed Committee documented.

“Seek enhanced remuneration for its members through legitimate labour law processes rather than usurpation of roles and assumptions of titular positions that will distort the command structure of the health services. Accept their defined roles in the hospitals as practised in health institutions visited by Yayale Ahmed Committee.

“Encourage their members in the laboratory services to work under the leadership of medical doctors as recommended by Yayale Ahmed Committee.

Withdraw court cases that Yayale Ahmed findings have rendered obsolete.

Stop all acts of hooliganism and vandalism. Be prepared to parley with MDCAN to achieve peaceful and healthy professional coexistence in the hospitals,” he said.

agos State coroner’s inquest into the collapsed Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, guest house was stalled yesterday following low turnout of lawyers and interested parties.

Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe therefore, adjourned till Tuesday, February 17, for continuation of hearing.

Earlier, Komolafe had expressed the court’s determination to see the end of the matter in two weeks, even as he urged lawyers and interested parties not to employ delay tactics as proceedings continue.

The magistrate also announced that the remaining days of this week would be used to give interested parties the opportunity to view the CCTV footage already before the court.

It would be recalled that the strike earlier embarked on by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, had frustrated the adjourned sitting of the court.

This is because the Ikeja High Court premises, venue of the Coroner Court, had been sealed

by JUSUN officials.

The court had on December 23, 2014, earlier adjourned till January 6.

The inquest was instituted under the Lagos State Coroner’s System Law No. 7 of 2007 to unravel the cause of the collapsed six-story building that left about 116 dead on September 12, 2014.

At the last hearing of the matter, the National Executive Coordinator of Life Savers Foundation, LSF, Mrs Fola Shoe-

APC accuses Ekiti media of unethical practices ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

A

ll Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has expressed concern over alleged directive by Governor Ayodele Fayose, banning all APC’s adverts and jingles on state

radio and television.

APC state Publicity Director, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said it was illegal to stop adverts that were fully paid for by clients.

Olatunbosun in a statement in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, said the practice was a bastardisation of media

professional ethics and abuse of contract agreement between the stations and their clients.

The party criticised the governor’s aide on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, for turning the stations into a personal property of his boss, argu-

ing that before the latest ban on APC’s jingles in the stations, there had been many unprofessional practices by the stations, which were brought to the attention of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC. His words: “The stations have become a laboratory

for manufacturing falsehoods against high ranking government officials in the judiciary and legislature perceived to be against Fayose’s administration.”

But the governor debunked the allegations, saying they were creations of the imagination of the

tan, told the court that the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA were not well equipped to manage disaster situations in the country.

She therefore called on the Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government and Lagos government, to ensure adequate equipments were provided the agencies for effective containment of possible emergencies.

Shoetan also advised that more non-governmental organisations be allowed on board in rescue operations.

The witness further maintained that youths from SCOAN played a major role in the rescue operations, adding that statutorily, responders are not supposed to move away from a disaster site.

According to Shoetan, “I don’t know when NEMA officials left the scene on the first day.

But LASEMA officials left at 10:30pm on the second day. As at the time LASEMA officials left on the second day, persons were still trapped on the collapsed site.

“The LASEMA General Manager, Dr Femi Osanyintola, did not cooperate very well with other responders and I kept telling him that.

“Though he is very hard working and was always around at the site, what he did most times when around, was to hold meetings with his team in the state.

“The police, I can confirm, were present all through the rescue operation and no security agent ever stopped us from working; and to the best of my knowledge, nobody was assaulted.”

APC. The governor’s aide on Special Communications, Lere Olayinka, denied the claim, saying adverts and jingles of the opposition party and its candidates were being used on the state’s broadcasting stations.

10

South East

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nnaji campaigns for Jonathan DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

D

espite his “forced” resignation from the cabinet, former Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji, yesterday mounted the podium to campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan and asked his native Nkanu East Local Government people in Enugu State to turn out en mass on March 28 to re-elect the president for a second term.

Nnaji’s campaign came as people of the local government tasked the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to declare a state of emergency on infrastructural development, especially roads in the council if he wins the coming general election.

People of the area lamented that even though the outgoing Governor Sullivan Chime has done so well in providing human capacity development and infrastructure in the local government, they want the next governor to expedite action in laying more infrastructure in the area, which they claimed lacked some essential facilities.

Nnaji and his people spoke at the state’s PDP rally for Nkanu East in Amagunze, yesterday.

Chairman of the local government council, Pastor Sam Iyiogwe, pleaded with the governorship candidate to complete the road from Akpugo to Amagunze through Idodo

to Ubuhu, stressing that the link roads required urgent attention.

Pastor Iyiogwe named other roads in the council area that are in bad shapes to include the Agbani-Ugbawka-Nara road, the Nkara-Nkerefi road, among others.

The council chairman noted that design works have been completed on the roads and urged the next governor of the state to help the people in constructing the roads.

Iyiogwe stated that it was the free hand that Governor Chime gave the council chairmen in the state that made his administration to provide some modest infrastructure like the 22km asphalt road from Idodo to Ubahu among others.

The council chairman said that God answered the people’s prayer of anointing the best successor to governor Chime which manifested in the candidature of Ugwuanyi, pleading that his people have agreed to vote for all PDP candidates in the March 28 and April 11 elections.

Jonathan

L-R: Comptroller-General of Prisons, Mr. Ezenwa Ekpendu; Best Graduating Student, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Enugu Maximum Prison, Mr. Okechukwu Adenyi; Comptroller of Prisons, Enugu State, Mr. Alloy Uchenwa and ACP Joseph Komolafe, during Noun Enugu Maximum Prisons convocation, yesterday.

PHOTO:NAN

Enugu remains PDP stronghold, say Nwobodo, Nnamani DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

F

ormer governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, has described Enugu State as where the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is sure of victory in the contest for all positions during the forthcoming elections in the country.

Nwobodo made the declaration while addressing a huge crowd of supporters during a PDP campaign rally at Uwani, headquarters of Enugu South Local Government Area of the state.

He stated that there was no opposition in Enugu State as far as the forthcoming election is concern

and warned all members of the PDP that left the party to contest elections in other political parties that they were merely wasting their time.

Nwobodo, however, urged such people to return to the PDP fold as the umbrella of the party is big enough to accommodate their various interests.

The former governor also expressed confidence that the governorship candidate of the party, Honourable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, will continue with the good works of Governor Chime, having distinguished himself creditably as a true member of the PDP and three-time member of the House of Representatives, who has held important

portfolios, including his current position as chairman, House Committee on Marine Transport.

Also speaking at the rally, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, decried the antics of fifth columnists within the party, especially in Enugu East Senatorial District and charged party members to be watchful and not to relent until victory is achieved.

Nnamani stated that Enugu South Local Government Area was a fortress for the PDP, having produced the likes of himself and Senator Jim Nwobodo, adding that the good works of Governor Sullivan Chime have made it easy for the party to coast to victory in the forthcom-

ing elections.

In his own speech, the governorship candidate of the party, Ugwuanyi, thanked all the stakeholders of the party, especially delegates that voted for him during the governorship primary election for their overwhelming support.

Nnamani

Hoodlums flog protesting widows in Imo CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

S

ome hoodlums in Owerri, Imo State capital, yesterday gave members of the Imo Widows Association the beating of their life as they were about to embark on a protest.

The widows were angry over accusation against the Minister of State for Education, Professor Viola Onwuliri, purporting that she was instrumental to the death of her husband.

The women, numbering over 1,000, arrived

at Okigwe roundabout, opposite Government House, as early as 8am, singing solidarity songs in support of Onwuliri, with the lyrics: “leave our benefactor alone, she is not responsible for the death of her husband,” among others.

However, unknown to the women, some thugs laid ambush with the intention of unleashing mayhem on them.

It was alleged that soon after the widows had assembled at the designated venue, the hoodlums struck, leaving five of them lying critically

Okorocha

injured at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Owerri, after the attack.

One of the injured women, Mrs. Margret Kwusi, from Oguta Local

Government Area, narrated her ordeal in the hands of the hoodlums.

“As we were praying at the venue for peace to continue to reign in the state and the nation generally, hoodlums descended on us, flogging us mercilessly with canes, which resulted in injuries among many of our members,” she said.

Speaking also, leader of the group, Mrs. Josephine Ibewike, stated that they were on peaceful procession in protest against the unfounded accusation leveled against Onwuliri, which

she said they found to be very repulsive and decided to let the public know the truth of the matter.

“We embarked on the protest to inform the state government that Viola is a good woman that cannot harm a fly, talk less of killing her husband, she has been assisting us through the instrumentality of her office.

“I am a widow for 15 years and I know how painful it is to live without the bread winner. Accusing a woman whose husband died in plane crash of killing the same

husband is absurd.”

According to her, philanthropists all over the world practice same with human face and detest a situation where people tell lies in the name of philanthropy.

Reacting, the state government through a statement by the Governor’s media aide, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said the women were hired from neighbouring Abia State to cause trouble, adding that the state government would not tolerate a situation where people are hired to cause confusion in the state.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Wednesday February 11, 2015

11

Why I dumped C’River PDP for LP —Ugbo RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

L

Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Henry Babalola (right) presenting a souvenir to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, during the FOC’s courtesy visit to the governor as part of his familiarisation tour of Naval formations in Akwa Ibom State, yesterday.

Sylva, Murray-Bruce, others shun Bayelsa peace accord OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

F

ormer Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, and Chairman, Silverbird Group, Ben Murray-Bruce, were among top candidates of political parties, who shunned the Bayelsa Peace Accord for public office contenders in Yenagoa, yesterday.

While Sylva is the flagbearer of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayelsa East, Ben Murray-Bruce flies the flag of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the same district.

Also, Bayelsa Central senatorial candidate for PDP, Senator Emmanuel Paulker and his Bayelsa West counterpart, Dr. Foster Ogola, were not at the peace meeting organised by the state’s police command.

However, many other

contenders, including the state’s Assembly Speaker, Kombowei Benson, attended the meeting presided over by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5, Musa Daura.

Daura said the peace accord was imperative and part of measures towards rancour-free general elections, just as he stressed the importance of peace in the conduct of elections.

He said the police were poised to ensure the coming polls were free, credible and hitch-free and admonished the candidates to shun acts capable of undermining the exercise.

He also solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders, saying there was no way only the police could succeed in the task of providing security without assistance from Nigerians.

He said, “I wish to re-

mind you that our major concern is to stress the importance of peace before, during and after the general elections.

“Peace and stability is one of the major concerns for the elections. The same peace accord was signed by presidential candidates for various political parties in Abuja. The peace accord was directed by the Inspector General of Police to ensure the coming general elections are free, fair and credible.

“I wish to remind all the candidates to adhere to all existing laws and regulations pertaining to the polls especially guidelines by the Independent National Electoral Commission, electoral acts and the 1999 Constitution as amended.”

Police commissioner Valentine Ntomchukwu read the provisions of the accord before calling on

individual candidates present to sign the document.

He told the candidates to ensure they adhere strictly to the accord’s provisions in the interest of peace.

The APC House of Representatives candidate for Ekeremor/Sagbama constituency, Mrs. Rosemary Okieghazi, said the peace accord was a step in the right direction.

“The police are the defenders of the people. We expect them to uphold the law. They must do this by protecting all candidates equally. I have faith in the police,” she said.

A PDP candidate and member of the state Assembly, Tonye Isenah, however observed that the accord was silent on the aspect of unregulated social media campaign, where he claimed his party’s candidates were being attacked.

Jonathan holds special presidential media chat today ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan will host a special edition of the Presidential Media Chat today.

The programme would be broadcast live on network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, and the Voice of Nigeria, VON,

from 7 a.m.

A statement issued yesterday by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity said Jonathan would respond to questions from a panel of journalists on current

national issues during the programme.

All other television and radio stations in the country may hook-up to NTA and FRCN to relay the programme to their viewers and listeners.

abour Party, LP, candidate, Ntufam Ugbo, yesterday said he could not be used and dumped by the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Cross River State.

Ugbo, who is the erstwhile Executive Secretary, National Planning Commission, NPC, also blamed the state’s PDP leadership for eroding the values and political culture of the people.

Ugbo spoke during a courtesy visit to former Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof.

Kelvin Etta, at his residence. Etta just returned from a successful surgery in India.

“I`m someone who acquits himself very creditably in any position I hold,” Ugbo stated.

The former Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Planning maintained that he was not a property to be used and dumped by the leadership of Cross

River State PDP, adding that he was still very energetic to do whatever he wished and leave a legacy.

He said since the state’s PDP leadership forced him to dump his gubernatorial aspiration, no member of the party had called him to commiserate or inform him on why his ambition should be jettisoned.

“The governor did not even bother to call me for a talk on that issue. I was told that I was the one in contention each time they held a meeting; but no one told me what happened in the closet. I had expected the PDP to tell me what went wrong on the day of the primaries,” Ugbo said.

According to him, “Nelly (Ewa), my running mate and I, have made enormous contribution to the development of the state.

“We know our society does not have regard for values; (however) we are going to strive to turn this around because that is what moves and improves our society. We are prepared to bring our wealth of experiences gained over the years to bear.”

21,195 apply for teaching jobs in Edo

E

do State government says it will employ all applicants that scaled screening hurdles by the committee it set up to recruit teachers.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole stated this yesterday while receiving report from the committee chairman, Prof Dennis Agbonlahor that 21,195 persons applied for teaching positions in the state.

During the report’s presentation to the governor, Prof Agbonlahor said the committee invited all the applicants through short message service (sms) but only about half of them eventually responded to its invitation.

According to him, a total of 9,171 of the applicants were fully involved in the screening exercise after the first stage of the computer test.

Oshiomhole said all those recommended by the committee, irrespective of their state of origin, would

be employed.

Oshiomhole added: “As it is now well known to the people of this great state, we have demonstrated through our intervention and by the quality of schools we have built - both primary and secondary - that education for us is at the heart of our future.

“Our future lies in producing the best of human capital, and where merit is required our people would be a first choice.”

The governor told the panel boss, “You have taken us through your methodology, those who applied, how you identified those to be invited and tested them, such that everyone can see for him or herself whether he or she did well or not.

“I know that we still need more teachers, we still have schools without enough teachers, and this is premised on the problem of posting and corruption in the section of the Ministry of Education.”

North

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ex-police chief’s’ son, two others nabbed for gun-running Wole Adedeji ILORIN

T Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service, Plateau Command, Mr Raymond Akra-Jaja (left), with representative of INEC Resident Commissioner, Mr Osaretin Imahiyereobo, at a Sensitisation Seminar on National Security Imperatives and Foreign Nationals in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

APC queries fresh NIS recruitment Obiora Ifoh ABUJA

A

ll Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, APCPCO, has raised an alarm over the latest call for application from Nigerian youths for recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, as continuation of the despicable scamming of jobless youths by the government.

The APCPCO in a statement in Abuja yesterday said this latest attempt being supervised by a presidential committee, comes on the heels of the March 15, 2014, exercise that ended in disaster across various centres in the country.

The statement signed

by Mallam Garba Shehu, Director of Media and Publicity of the campaign, said aside payment of N1,000 from each of the 520,000 applicants, very shoddy preparations were made for the exercise.

Shehu said it was shocking that the input of the NIS was not sought as its Comptroller-General, Mr. David Paradang, revealed at the National Assembly hearing that for all his years in the service, there had not been a time the recruitment of personnel in the inspectorate cadre was done outside the NIS. In other words, Shehu said the Minister of the Interior, Abba Moro, solely supervised that botched recruitment ex-

ercise that resulted in the death of 19 Nigerian youths, whose only transgression was that they trusted their country for employment.

“Furthermore, in a desperate move to placate the victims and still make Mr. Abba Moro keep his job – for obvious political reasons – President Goodluck Jonathan promised each family of the dead victims three automatic jobs. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, seven months after the tragic incident, there was a protest march in Benin City against the unful-

filled presidential promise. One of the victims, Mr. Timothy Omoagbon, said that since the death of his wife, life had been unbearable.

It would be recalled that before the March 2014 scandalous exercise, there was also a recruitment exercise some years ago (under President Jonathan), which was marred by accusation of lopsidedness and nepotism. Meanwhile, four of the victims – Patience Omezie, Kasim Suleiman, Okojie Arabamen, Godwin Morka – have jointly filed a suit against the Interior Min-

ister, Abba Moro. Among their prayers is a declaration by the court that Moro is unfit and improper to hold public office in Nigeria, having regard to his callous statement that the Nigerians who died and those injured during the exercise were careless.”

Shehu described as galling, that Moro was still in charge of the Interior Ministry and that another recruitment exercise was being planned when actors in the last tragic exercise had yet to be penalised for their questionable conduct.

FG, ASUP on warpath over Oko, Ekowe polytechnics James Abraham JOS

F

ederal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, are set to clash over what the former described as intimidation and arbitrary suspension of workers at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, and Ekowe, respectively.

Already, the National Executive Council, NEC of ASUP has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Ministry of Education, starting from February 3, to check activities of the councils of the two institutions or face a showdown.

In a press statement made available to Nation-

al Mirror in Jos yesterday signed by ASUP’s national publicity secretary, Clement Chirman, the union observed that the reckless interference in its activities by the polytechnics’ councils and managements, and the sordid experiences of its members in the institutions, were lamentable.

The statement also urged the Federal Government to get them to rescind intimidation and arbitrary suspension of staff, as well as abuse of administrative procedures in the institutions.

While decrying the overbearing attitude of the governing council of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Chirman said, “The coun-

cil in the institution has unwittingly undertaken certain actions against staff and ASUP of the institution with the sole aim of souring industrial peace and promoting discontent.

“The governing council in the Federal Polytechnic, Oko has entrenched a culture of vicious blackmail, bullying and intimidation of staff of the institution through unnecessary issuance of queries and suspension letters to staff and denial of salaries with the sole aim of protecting the Rector, whose style of administration has been weird and retrogressive and full of surplus misdeeds.”

he son of a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police was yesterday paraded by the Kwara State Police Commissioner, Salihu Garuba, for illegally possessing firearms.

Garuba also paraded two others, who his men arrested in the border town of Kosubosu with a Mercedes Benz truck loaded with 180,260 rounds of live cartridges.

According to the police chief, the arrested boy, David, is the son of the late Momoh Ogirima from Nasarawa State.

Garuba said David was arrested on February 6 at Tanke area in Ilorin metropolis, while threatening one Al-Amin Lukman with a gun because of an alleged rift between them.

The commissioner said when a search was conducted at the suspect’s residence, one Baretta pistol, one Revolver pistol, one locally-made double barrel gun, 133 pieces of 7.62mm ammunition, 28 pieces of .9mm ammunition, 22 piec-

es of 7.6mm ammunition and three bullet proof vests were recovered.

Other recovered items were one respiratory, one complete set of body protector, three blast, one hand grenade, 11 smoke cartridges, 86 live cartridges, 42 pieces of 5.5mm ammunition, two pieces of .36mm ammunition, two handcuffs with key, one Fulani knife, nine live .9mm rubber bullet and one anti-riot helmet.

The suspect, while speaking with newsmen, confirmed that the entire exhibit belonged to his late father and regretted his refusal to return them to the command since 2013 when his father died.

The other two suspects, Abdulazeez Isiaka and Amusail Amodu were arrested with the Mercedes Benz Truck with registration number XU110 BDG by a team of policemen attached to Kosubosu Division in Baruteen local government area of the state.

The police commissioner said investigation was still ongoing, and lamented that the suspects had not been charged to court because courts were still on strike.

Borno: 147 unexploded bombs recovered Inusa Ndahi MAIDUGURI

B

orno State Police Command said it recovered 147 cluster bombs in Auno village of Konduga Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Commissioner, Clement Adoda, disclosed this yesterday to journalists at a press conference in his office in Maiduguri.

He said: “I am glad that about 9am on February 8, 147 unexploded cluster ordinances (UXOS) were recovered at 2km, away from Auno village near Jakana, Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, about 30km drive to Maiduguri.”

He added that the combined team of bomb disposal unit, policemen and troops attached to Jakana

general area led by Capt.

Daniel Yakubu sighted the explosives, recovered and destroyed them in good time without any injury or damage to lives and property.

The commissioner said the state’s bomb disposal team also recovered unexploded ordinance (UXO) suspected to have been launched by Boko Haram during one of its attacks on Maiduguri at a Boys Quarters in the residence of the state’s Director of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, along Damboa road, Maiduguri.

According to him, the explosives were detonated safely without damages to lives and property, adding that the feat wouldn’t have been achieved without the timely rendering of information to security agents by members of the public.

12

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

13

Politics

Concerns as EFCC probes governors, ministers, others

14

PDP full of mad people like Eze, Uba –Obiano EBERE NDUKWU

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leaders from Anambra State in the Presidency yesterday were livid over statements allegedly credited to the Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano on Tuesday night during a meeting with former commissioners who served with former

Governor Peter Obi. Obiano had told the former commissioners and appointees in Obi’s government that PDP as a party is full of mad men, the likes of Engr Arthur Eze and Chief Chris Uba. The issue is already creating tension in the camps of Chief Uba and Prince Eze, both top ranking members of the PDP. When contacted, those who witnessed the meeting confirmed the allegation, re-

iterating that Obi has joined the group of mad people.

Obiano allegedly said he knew that madness was inherent part of the PDP, hence, he advised Obi not to join PDP, but he refused.

He said: “Obi has joined PDP and by that he has joined the band of mad men, tell me how he would not become a mad man.”

Obiano claimed that, even the President had confided in him that he was

not happy that Obi joined the party.

Earlier before the meeting, former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Uju Okeke, was said to have been given N150, 000 for recharge card with which she send text messages to other former commissioners notifying them about the meeting.

Obiano appealed to them to support him and make sure Victor Umeh is deliv-

L-R: Delta State Labour Party chairman, Chief Tony Ezeagwu; gubernatorial candidate, Chief Great Ogboru and Delta Central senatorial candidate, Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege, during a press conference on the general election in Delta on Monday.

I’ll donate my four-year salaries for devt –Kwara LP guber candidate WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

K

wara State Labour Party, LP, gubernatorial candidate in the 2015 elections, Dr Mike Omotosho, has said that he will donate his monthly salary of four years for social development and social services security if elected.

Speaking with journalists yesterday, Omotosho said he would devote his salaries for the upkeep of

aged, pensioners and handicapped people in the state.

Promising to institute social security and welfare programmes that would take care of the aged and handicapped in the society, Omotosho also promised that his government would be committed to a monthly allowance to the elderly beyond the age of 70.

He said he would ensure prompt payment of pensions and gratuity in addition to other special

welfare packages for pensioners in the state saying: “Never again in Kwara will pensioners queue up before accessing what is rightly due to them.

“Kwara shall be the first state in Nigeria in the area of ensuring that those who served the people with the strength of their youth are not subjected to ridicule at old age.”

He was of the view that been physically challenged in any way should

not make anyone a second rated citizen.

Omothoso, who is the North Central zone coordinator of the Jonathan Actualisation Movement, JAM, said though he is now in the LP, he would make his supporters vote President Goodluck Jonathan while he would run for the governorship.

He said he would maintain that position even if LP does not endorse the president at the end.

AFOLABI GAMBARI

Delta guber: Group mobilises for Okowa

socio-political group, Ndokwa Peoples Initiative, NPI, has called on peoples of Delta State to vote massively for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s gubernatorial candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

NPI President General, Mr. Agba Emmanuel, said Okowa will focus on pro-

grammes and policies that would create wealth and generate employment for Delta youths if elected.

He said: “Okowa will look into our plights and give us a lift because he knows that we have the human capital that could help him realise his dreams for a greater Delta.

“As a pan-Deltan, he

A

will establish vocational training centers across the state; upgrade the technical school in Utagba-Obe to world class institution and reposition Ndokwa land by bringing amenities to our communities.

“At this stage, we need a unifying force and we believe Okowa has the capaci-

ty to frontally address issues of governance in the state.”

Emmanuel further said that Okowa’s experience at being council chairman, commissioner, Secretary to the Delta State Government and senator would stand him in good stead, adding: “No wealth of experience can be better than this.”

ered, inviting any of them that has a registered company to bring the name of the company to him for contract, assuring that he has eight years to stay as governor and that there would be plenty of good things to enjoy.

He said: “Look at the champagne you are drinking now, did you drink it when Obi was the governor. The highest he gave you was Two Ocean that is sold N1000 per bottle.”

Boasting that he had been made the state coordinator of PDP Presidential campaign organization, PCO, by the President himself and that soon money will be released directly to him, Obiano descended on Obi, saying that though he is a good man, he was tricky adding that “if he tells you to stop, you should run; and stop if he tells you to run.”

Recalling how he became governor, he was said to have revealed that he was in his swimming pool enjoying himself when Obi called to inform him that he had purchased ticket for him to return home, adding: “Prior to this, I was al-

45 DAYS TO GO

ready a rich man.”

After the meeting, called to strategise on how to deliver Umeh to the Senate, Obiano gave them rice, tomatoes, wines and N200,000 cash each, which he called Christmas gifts, but which some returned, saying they cannot sell their conscience.

National Mirror learnt that some of the commissioners did not attend the meeting, asking him to reconcile with Obi before calling them to such a meeting.

Among those that attended were: Barr. Peter Afuba, Prof. Stella Okunna, Engr. Patrick Obi, Dr. Edozie Aroh, Dr. Ego Uzoezie, Dr. Egbebike, Dr. Okeke, Lady Henrietta Agbata, Dr. Kay Onyechi, Prof Amobi Illika, Dr. Ngozi Okoye, Chief Sebastian Okoye, Barr. Vincent Ezenwajiaku, Mr. Law Chinwuba, Col. George Muolokwu, (rtd), Chief Godfery Nzenagu, Chief Paul Odenigbo, Chief Maja Umeh, Barr.

Okoli Akirika, Mrs. Chinwe Anowai and Dr. Lawrence Ikeakor

I’ll boost Taraba economy –Ishaku •Donates 200 motorcycles to youths JUSTIN TYOPUUSU JALINGO

T

araba State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial candidate, Arc. Darius Ishaku, yesterday reiterated his determination to revive the Nwonyo Fishing festival in his effort to boost the state economy if elected.

Ishaku made the pledge at different functions yesterday in Ardo Kola and Wukari local government areas while presenting keys of 200 motorcycles to youths as part of efforts to empower youths in the state.

Nwonyo Fishing festival which is one of the tourist sites in the state used to be a yearly event, but has been

suspended for the past two years.

Ishaku said the festival has the potential to turn around the economic fortunes of the state and create jobs for the people if desired attention is given to it.

His words: “Nwonyo fishing festival is a natural gift to the people of the state and must not be left to waste. I will revive the festival and tap from the economic potential of the fishing festival to boost our economy and create jobs for our people.”

Enjoining youths to shun acts capable of tarnishing their future but engage in profitable ventures, he urged them to make good use of the motorcycles.

14

Politics

The recent disclosure by the chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Larmode that his commission is probing governors, ministers and other politically exposed Nigerians at the twilight of the 2015 polls raises many concerns, writes GEORGE OJI

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Concerns as EFCC probes governors, ministers, others ANOTHER ISSUE THAT BEGS FOR PUBLIC EXPLANATIONS IS HOW COME THAT IT IS

A

fter close to three years of self-imposed media gag, Nigeria’s anti corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, appear to have woken up from its slumber and found its voice in the media.

Once he was confirmed by the Senate in 2012 as the substantive chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Larmode, had shut the doors of the agency on the media. The implication was that the activities of the commission had since then been shrouded in secrecy and doubts.

Anybody who witnessed the screening of Larmode by the Senate would not be surprised at his regime’s media policy. The anti corruption czar had explained to the lawmakers that the media hype usually given to cases before the commission had often distracted it and made it impossible for the commission to properly prosecute such cases, especially when proper investigations had not taken place before publicising such cases. This practice, Larmode had pledged he would stop once confirmed as chairman of the commission.

Even though the chairman’s logic appears unassailable in many respects, the policy has not worked in favour of EFCC before the Nigerian public. For instance, while the commission may be beating its chest for achieving many feats within its limited resources and time, the public believes that there has been a deliberate attempt by the present administration to whittle down the powers of the commission in the fight against corruption.

The dogged fight by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, to bring the activities of the commission under the control of his office coupled with the perception of many Nigerians that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration is not disposed to giving corruption a straight and severe fight has not done any good to the image of the EFCC. It is against the fore-going that Nigerians are reading meanings into the recent boast by Larmode that EFCC was tracking ministers, governors, members of the National Assembly and other politically exposed persons in its corruption radar.

Larmode, who spoke just last week in his office in Abuja when he hosted a meeting with a team from the Metropolitan Police of London, led by Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Benton, assured that the EFCC would confiscate assets of former Governor James Ibori in the United Kingdom.

The EFCC chairman was also reported to have assured that the agency had not abandoned the trial of some former governors like Saminu Turaki, Orji Uzor Kalu, Joshua Dariye, Jolly Nyame, Abubakar Audu and Governor Ayo Fayose.

Larmode was reported to have pledged that his commission and the Metropolitan Police of London are in partnership to investigate and try politically exposed Nigerians.

Lamorde was quoted to have said: “In respect of some of the new cases we have embarked upon, we are investigating sitting governors, some ministers that are serving, also ministers that have left office, some former heads of the civil service of the federation and members of the National Assembly.

“We will never mention names, since it’s a joint investigation that we are doing. And you know unlike what we do here, where some of our people here want sensationalism, that’s not the way it works with them.

The investigation has to be conducted properly first. It is when the matter is ready to go to court that publicity is given to individual case.

“For the time being, they are here. We are review-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ONLY WHEN ELECTIONS ARE BY THE CORNER THAT THE COMMISSION WILL BE REGALING

NIGERIANS

WITH ASSURANCES OF PROSECUTING CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICERS?

Larmode

45 DAYS TO GO

ing those investigations and when we are ready to go to court, then names and these cases will be properly mentioned.”

“Another thing I also want to say is that some of these investigations will take a little bit of time. The Ibori case, the investigation lasted about six to seven years before he was charged and arraigned in court.

“So, we cannot be in a hurry, the most important thing is that people should know a lot is going on.

“And any person either a man or woman occupying public office, who decides to put his or her hand in government coffers to steal, there is no hiding place, whether or not you take the money outside this country.

“There is machinery in place to trace this money and also bring such individuals to justice, and we also want to thank Mr. Benton and his team, for the assistance they have rendered to us as an organisation and to Nigeria as a country.

“We believe the work they have done to assist what we are doing has helped tremendously in making us achieve a lot of results. It has also helped to discourage a lot of people from stealing money from Nigeria and taking it to the UK to either hide or invest, thinking that it will never be detected.

“That has helped the development of Nigeria because the less money is taken out of the country; the more it is retained here for development. Not only that they have done the investigations and confiscated assets and properties, the United Kingdom has always found a way of returning these assets to Nigeria. And I believe shortly we would have more assets that have been confiscated in the United Kingdom returned to the country.”

Lamorde disclosed that EFCC and the Metropolitan Police have a very robust working relationship dating over 10 years now, adding that Benton came into the country with his team, who for obvious reasons, cannot appear before the press, saying that Benton and his team are in Nigeria “to review our activities over the

years and the current activities we are working on.”

He added: “We have a lot of ongoing investigations that we have been doing together. We need to review those cases and how we move them forward.

“You are also very much aware that the Metropolitan Police Proceeds of Corruption Unit is the unit that assisted us in the case of former governors DSP Alamieyeseigha and Joshua Dariye in the past. And of course, the big one that everybody is aware of, Ibori, who is currently serving jail term in the United Kingdom.

“In a few months, there is also going to be confiscation proceedings in respect of the assets of Ibori in the United Kingdom, which of course we have been working assiduously to make sure will be successful.”

Larmode mentioned that shortly in four months when some of the serving governors would lose their immunity, EFCC will subsequently commence the prosecution of such governors.

He said: “As I said, these investigations are ongoing.

You don’t arrest unless you have concluded the investigation and you are ready to go to court, or there is evidence you want to get by effecting that arrest.

“On the issue of immunity, in less than four months from now, the immunity will be gone, and not only those that are in office, even those who have left office.”

Listening to Lamorde reel out EFCC’s work plans exposes him and his anti graft agency to public ridicule.

For instance, is it not the same EFCC that failed to establish a conviction against Ibori here in Nigeria that is now boasting of confiscating the UK properties of the thieving governor?

Another issue that begs for public explanations is how come that it is only when elections are by the corner that the commission will be regaling Nigerians with assurances of prosecuting corrupt public officers?

As a result of this consistent and election era pattern of prosecution, EFCC will need to do a lot to clear its image before the Nigerian public that the said prosecution of corrupt public officers has everything to do with the statutory mandate of the commission and less with witch-hunting. Nigerians obviously know better than to be taken in by these EFCC routine gimmicks.

What is more is that the EFCC needs to do more to prove to Nigerians that the commission, which was set up by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo via an Act of the national Assembly in 2003 and headed by the then Assistant Commissioner of Police, Nuhu Ribadu, still has enough valve to discharge its statutory mandate.

The perception of many Nigerians is that the Jonathan administration has not done enough to empower the commission, but instead has watered down its powers as many presidential aides and associates, including public and civil servants continue to milk the resources of this nation dry while EFCC looks the other way.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror National News www.nationalmirroronline.net

15 15

From The Civil Service Polls: FRSC warns against traffic violation

P.41

MDAs shutting down over polls – Investigation MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

M

L-R: Member, Board of Directors, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC),Chief Bisi Ilaka; representative of Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Deborah Dosunmu and representative of NDIC Managing Director, Mr. Bashir Umar, inaugurating Education Resource Centre at Government College in Ibadan recently.

PHOTO: NAN

Ministry of Culture set for peace rally JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

T

he Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation and groups known as united Nigeria against violence at home and abroad said they were ready to take the campaign against violence to all nooks and crannies of the country so as to ensure a violence-free general election.

This is even as, the groups had unanimously chosen 11th and 21st February to stage a network peace mass rally against violence at home and in diaspora.

They disclosed this at the parley yesterday, in Abuja while calling on all Nigerians to shun violence before, during and after the forthcoming general election.

While Speaking during the parley, Minister of Tour-

NEMA investigates alleged rape, child trafficking in IDPs camps P.41

ism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke called on Nigerians not to take the future Nigerian for granted but to raise their voices against violence that is alien to Nigeria.

He said: this is a very timely initiative by Nigerians united against violence, a very important coalition of men and women with commitment to the future of Nigeria. “Some people said 2015 will see the disintegration of Nigeria through violence in the cost of our electoral process. That should be an alarm bell in the mind of any Nigerian aspiring for any public position not to be an agent that will give credence to such a negative prediction. “nothing must come between unity of our people, the indivisibility of this nation and the protection of its

Muhammad Sani Sidi

territorial integrity. politicians should not allow their quest for public office lead to disintegration of nigeria,” he warned. He urged Nigerians to be voluntary soldiers in the propagation of the principle of national unity, national cohesion and violence free election.

“We cannot afford a Nigerian up in flame; they should not forget that there must be a society before anybody can aspire to occupy public office. “Over the years, violence had never been in the consciousness or in the culture on the lexicon of the Nigerian politician. We only see irregularities in the past election but never in the recent few decay do we hear violence is a tool of accessing political office to serve the public., he said.

Speaking earlier, Director General of save Nige-

rian group Mr. Kennedy Iyere, said Nigerians at home and in diaspora are watching and they are joining forces with us, so together we make Nigeria a saver heaven for us and our children.”

“This is a simple way of saying we need to have a free and fair election and violent free. So that blood shied will be things of the past.

“It was on this backdrop, we agreed to have a peace match, where we shall mobilize millions of Nigerian from across all sectors and profession to be able demonstrates solidarity against violence and blood shield.

“The network peace match will come up on Wednesday, the 11th of February and the second one will come before the governorship election on the 21st.” he disclosed.

ALGON expresses commitment to ending joint account tussles P.42

inistries, agencies and departments, MDAs, of government are gradually winding up their activities over this year general elections, National Mirror findings have shown.

Not only have the MDAs lost their political heads to electioneering campaigns, major career top shots and other employees of the institutions have lost focus and believe things could only “pick up” after the polls.

Findings by National Mirror showed that in federal government MDAs in the nation’s capital, execution of programmes/ projects already budgeted for has been halted by paucity of funds and lack of needed leadership to drive such programmes/ projects.

For instance, in the Federal Ministries of Health, Education covered by this reporter, including other major prominent ministries, there has been covert outrage among employees over failure of the Ministry of Finance to release funds to them.

It is widely believed the funds are being used for campaigns by the ruling party. This is even as the National Assembly is yet to pass the 2015 budget.

Virtues such as industry, accountability, quality service, probity are being lost in the ministries to the campaigns, National Mirror investigations further showed.

“As Assistant Director, I have been coming to work

in the past six weeks without attending to any major programme or activity in this ministry. It is so unfortunate that elections practically stop government activities the way we have seen it do in the past few weeks.

“How will you have right frame of mind to work when all you come to do in the office is to sit down, watch campaigns on television and go back home?,” said a senior official in one of the ministries who preferred anonymity.

The civil servant said further: “We expect to see worse than what we are currently witnessing now that the polls have been shifted by another six weeks. Do you think workers will do anything meaningful in the next six weeks? Where will government see the money to fund more campaigns and their supporters? Is it not from the treasury?

Will you ever see any Minister or top government officials sit in their offices during the period? We are in trouble,” the official stressed.

Situation in the MDAs changed for the worst last Monday after the announcement of polls shift by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Most of the MDAs recorded very low presence of staff while those on duty spent all the day discussing the polls. National Mirror gathered that some employees had travelled to their villages, abandoning their duty posts, before the announcement.

FG, UNDP train 200 youths on technology tools P.16

Dr Abdu Bulama

16

Civil Service

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG bars civil servants from foreign training OMEIZA AJAYI

T

L-R: Delta State Commissioner for Works, Hon. Funkekeme Solomon; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Paulinus Akpaki and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan during a visit to the ongoing rehabilitation works at Osadenis Mixed Secondary School in Asaba yesterday.

FG, UNDP train 200 youths on technology tools REGINA OTOKPA ABUJA

N

o fewer than 200 youths have benefited from a technology application training exercise organised by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology with support from the United Nations Development Programme UNDP, with a view to ensuring peaceful and credible elections.

The programme aimed at youths within voting age from across the country is coming at the heels of the first phase, organised for staff and officials of the seventeen agencies under the watch of the ministry also on application of technology based solutions in the conduct of credible elections.

Flagging off the programme tagged, ‘Capacity Development Conference for Nigerian Youth on Technology Tools to Report as

Citizens During the General Elections’ in Abuja, the minister of science and technology, Dr Abdu Bulama, said the training would further enhance electoral processes for peace and general development in the country.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, the minister maintained that the exercise would broaden the scope of the participants on effective application of technology during the fort coming elections to spread messages of peace.

He said: “this unique training will equip the participants with the knowledge and skills on the application of technology in elections for voter education, citizen mobilization, spreading of peace messages and supporting the overall credibility of the 2015 electoral process and beyond.

“It is imperative for the tion campaigns, recordministry to play a leader- ing of cast votes, counting ship role towards sensitiz- and consolidation of vote ing and equipping Nige- results and publication of rians especially the youth election results.

According to Bulama, with skills and technological tools used by advanced the training was to bring democracies in electoral forth youths to serve as processes for peace and agents of change rather than perpetrators of viogeneral development”.

Stressing on the need lence sponsored by some for technology applica- politicians to manipulate tion training, Bulama ex- the system as recorded in plained that deployment previous elections.

“The essence of this of appropriate technology was necessary in all as- training is to produce a new pects of electoral admin- crop of youth that will serve istration to promote effi- as agents of change through ciency, reduce long term utilisation of innovative costs and also to enhance and technological tools in promotion of non violence transparency.

He further noted that and spreading of messages technology was embed- of peace during elections.

“Nigerian youth are the ded in electoral processes in other countries of the fulcrum of the country’s developmental efforts and world in compilation of therefore indispensable in voter lists, drawing of electoral boundaries, man- the bid to ensure free and fair elections in the counagement and training of staff, printing of ballots, try”, he added. conduct of voter educa- CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

Bayelsa govt signs water project MoU with EU

T

he Bayelsa government on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with European Union (EU) to promote water projects in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MoU was signed during the official launch

of the Bayelsa EU-Assisted Niger-Delta Support Project (Water and Sanitation Component) in Yenagoa.

The Bayelsa Deputy Goverrnor, Retired Rear Adm. Gboribogha Jonah, said that the MoU was a welcome development and would go a long way

in promoting water projects and water provision in the state.

Jonah, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Justice, Mr Kemeasuoda Wodu, described water as ``life’’ and commended the EU for the support to water projects in

the state.

He said ``we, the government of Bayelsa appreciate the EU partnership with us on sustainable water development; I urge communities, who are going to benefit from the project to embrace the projects in their domain.

he Federal Government has announced a ban on all foreign training and traveling by its civil servants, citing recent unfavourable development in the International oil market for its action.

It said the development has affected its revenue stream and that it has become necessary to introduce a number of costsaving measures.

In a Circular titled “Restrictions on Foreign Trainings and International Travels by Public Servants,” issued from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi said that government has embarked on a number of measures to help manage the situation.

One of such measures according to him is an embargo on foreign trainings and international travels by public servants in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including all Parastatals beginning from January 2015.

The Head of Service who listed in the Circular some guidelines/instructions which shall be applied before any Public Officer shall travel out of the country on Government expense stated further that “proposals for participation or attendance of International Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, Study Tours, Trainings, Presentations of Papers, Negotiating/Signing of Memoranda of Understating (MOU) abroad at Government expense, shall no longer be allowed except those that are fully funded by sponsoring /invitation organizations.”

The Circular further states that no Ministry, Extra-Ministerial Office, Department, Agency or Parastatals shall send staff outside Nigeria for training at Government expense whether or not that Agency draws funds

from the Federal Government Budget or meets its financial needs from revenue generated by itself.

It says that Public Servants invited for Foreign Trainings/Study Tour, Conferences by any organization, Government or other Bilateral/Multilateral organization will be allowed to travel provided that no travel cost, Estercode application or any other cost on Government is involved.

The Head of Service said that local training will continue and, where necessary, foreign experts may be invited to conduct trainings for which there are no local experts and requests for international travels is essential and strategic cases must be strictly justified with evidence of sources of funding.

Also, in order to ensure that officers in the Federal Public Service are not able to manipulate their records, the Federal Government says that it has become necessary to introduce more stringent measures towards protecting data integrity on the IPPIS platform.

Assistant Director, Media Relations in the OHCSF, Ahmed Manga in a statement yesterday said the new measures were contained in a Circular titled “Incessant Requests for Change of Employee Date of Birth and Date of First Appointment on the IPPIS Platform”, issued from his Office and sent to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.

Kifasi said “it has been observed with serious concern the incessant requests for correction of Dates of Birth (DOB) and Date of First Appointment (DOFA) of Officers from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

These requests are usually predicated on the claim that a mistake, was made at the time of capturing the employees’ records on the IPPIS Platform”.

Accordingly he said, “all Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Agencies are required to thoroughly scrutinized the documents presented by Officers for CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

17

Buhari: Between facts and fallacies L ATEEF RAJI

T

his is the season of desperation, lies, fallacies and monumental propaganda for the ruling PDP. In its frantic bid to stalk the current popularity and widespread acceptability of the presidential candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, the ruling party is frenetically embarking on a disparaging smear campaign on his personality.

The PDP, which initially proclaimed sticking to an issue-based campaign, now hinges the bastion of its campaign solely on the demonization of the character of the people’s General. If it is not about Buhari’s certificate today, tomorrow it is about his gapped tooth or even his height or his light skin or his wife.

For the PDP, things have become so precariously degenerate!

Of all the lies being peddled by the PDP to blotch the personality of General Buhari, labelling him a religious bigot is most particularly damning and fraudulent. At the slightest opportunity, the PDP and its cronies resort to the religious card as part of the ploy to portend General Buhari in bad light. At the core of this finicky irreverent fabrication is the deception that Buhari has a mission to Islamize the country. What the PDP is yet to tell Nigerians is how a man who ruled the nation as a military dictator and didn’t Islamize the country would

do same as a civilian president, with all the democratic checks and balances in place.

The truth of the matter is that Gen Buhari is a practising Muslim and there is actually nothing wrong with this. The Nigerian constitution permits every Nigerian to practise the religion that he/ she believes in and in the way he chooses to. President Goodluck Jonathan has been worshiping from one church to the other across the country. He was once in Jerusalem with some Christian leaders and a few Christian members of his cabinet and party. He is actually free to do this as guaranteed by the country’s constitution, but then, why is General Buhari being unnecessarily vilified for his faith? Till date, no one could actually lay claim to any instance when the General has acted in ways that hinder others from practising their religions.

As it is often said, opinions are free but facts are sacred. When General Buhari took over as the military head of state in 1984, out of the 19 military governors, he appointed, 11 of them were Christians. The record is there for whoever cares to corroborate.

To demonstrate his dispassionate disposition to adherents of other faiths, General Buhari chose a popular Pentecostal Pastor, Tunde Bakare, as his running mate in the 2011 presidential election. Buhari’s choice of running mate rubbished the picture of a religion extremist being painted of him. Yet again,

A LL

FORMER

LEADERS ARE

N23 MILLION MONTHLY , BUT ONLY B UHARI ENTITLED TO

CHOOSES TO EARN

N2.3

MILLION

General Buhari has demonstrated his liberal position concerning religion by going for another committed and faithful Christian pastor, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), as his running mate. How could a supposedly Islamic fanatic opt for a pastor as running mate? A religion chauvinist wouldn’t do that! In choosing Osinbajo as his running mate, what Buhari has clearly shown is that he is ready to partner with any Nigerian, irrespective of the ethnic and religion divide, to move the country forward. So, what we have seen in Buhari, through this, is a statesman and a patriot who holds the unity of the country so dearly at heart.

The fear of the PDP as expressed by the Mr. President that Buhari would send some Nigerians to jail for corruption as soon as he becomes the president is no surprise. His government court’s corruption, and deserves nobody’s sympathy, a corrupt public officers and their accomplices belong nowhere but jail houses. However, the truth this time un-

der democracy and the rule of law, due process will be guiding principle. If the General, like any rational leader, is going to fight corruption, he would have to do that within the confines of the law.

Nigeria is not a banana republic. The constitution remains the guiding document of faith in the country. It is true Dr. Jonathan has been treating this sacred document with impunity, and believes this would be the same under Buhari, the answer is no.

Buhari had been military head of state, Minister of Petroleum Resources, military governor of Borno State and chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), which was then the cash basket of the country. However, there has not been even an accusation of him using those positions to corruptly enrich himself. This is extraordinary. The PDP should come out to denounce the fact that all former leaders are entitled to N23 million monthly, but only Buhari chooses to earn N2.3 million.

What stands Buhari apart today is the very element that is lacking in the current crop of leadership we have in this nation – INTEGRITY! There is, therefore, no amount of the campaign of calumny that can stop the Wind of Change.

It has gathered momentum. The mass of the people are already on board.

GMB is the man!

Raji is the Special Adviser (Information and Strategy) to the Lagos State governor.

Election 2015 conversation: Troubling issues requiring answers COLLINS NWEKE

I

t is a well-known secret that I have maintained neutrality in matters regarding support for any particular political party in Nigeria till date. And I intend to keep it that way for some time.

Those who doubt my neutrality will always point to the close association that I have had with the administrations of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and his successors. They also will mention the fact that in my capacity as chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Europe from November 2011 to November 2013, I had had to coordinate the input of the association to national development, and leading the global Nigerian Diaspora to the annual Diaspora Day/Science & Technology Conference in July 2013.

The fact that the presidents in power during my 10 year engagement with Nigerian Government mainly through Diaspora politics were incidentally from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is readily cited as a sign of my affiliation to PDP. On my part I would also always readily and proudly remind those ready to listen that one of my best moments in service to Nigeria so far was the trade and investment mission that I led to the State of Osun under Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the APC. Essentially, people believe what they want to believe. Does it really matter? No, I don’t think so.

Meanwhile from the comfortable

THERE IS THE SAD ANGLE TO THE POLITICKING, FOR EXAMPLE THE SENSELESS VIOLENCE AND BLOODSHED WITNESSED sideline, I have been watching and enjoying the political intrigues as they unfold in Nigeria. Some of the politicking is funny; they really make me laugh heartily. Among the thrills are the hilarious political cartoons; controversy over whether General Muhammadu Buhari, a former military leader is academically qualified to contest the upcoming presidential election; the much touted dismal failure of the Jonathan administration, et cetera.

Equally, there is the sad angle to the politicking, for example the senseless violence and bloodshed witnessed. Yet for some other politicking, you just don’t know what to think. One of such is contained in a passage out of Max Siollun’s book, ‘Soldiers of Fortune: Nigerian Politics from Buhari to Bababgida 1983 – 1993’. I came across the work of Siollun as I deepen my inquiry into this fascinating country, trying to understand it more and better, trying to equip myself to answer the many uncomfortable, sometimes paradoxical questions from my two sons, whose

hearts are though obviously in their Nigeria, yet they nurse deep wounds and disappointments about its many contradictions and missed opportunities.

There are more; as I do random research on two opinion pieces that I have been commissioned to write for a major Nigerian and an international news media on, ‘The impact of the Greece radical left victory on trade relations with Nigeria’; and ‘The state of the Nigerian Diaspora post 2015 presidential election.

It emerged from the random reading that General Buhari has consistently denied his role in the December 1983 coup.

But then I got confused when I read the accounts of the late Major Bamidele, which flatly betrayed Buhari’s complicity in the said coup. I gathered that when Bamidele got wind of the coup to oust Alhaji Shehu Shagari, he reported it to his GOC 3rd Armored Division (Major General Buhari), who was allegedly in the plot. To prevent Bamidele from leaking the plot, Buhari ordered Bamidele’s arrest and detention only to be released after the successful execution of the coup. Learning from this unfortunate experience, Bamidele didn’t report any rumours of the so-called Mamman Vatsa coup and was executed for it. Bamidele’s words to the Special Military Tribunal that tried and convicted him to death were: “I heard of the 1983 coup planning, told my GOC General Buhari who detained me for two weeks in Lagos. Instead of a

pat on the back, I received a stab. How then do you expect me to report this one? This trial marks the eclipse of my brilliant and unblemished career of 19 years. I fought in the civil war with the ability it pleased God to give me. It is unfortunate that I’m being convicted for something which I have had to stop on two occasions. This is not self-adulation but a sincere summary of the qualities inherent in me. It is an irony of fate that the president of the tribunal who in 1964 felt that I was good enough to take training in the UK is now saddled with the duty of showing me the exit from the force and the world”.

I am seriously hungry for coherent explanation from General Buhari on the above incident. Is there anyone out there who’d be able to help me, to provide conclusive answers to this and other hanging questions? I need answers now, but also when Buhari makes it back as President, or even when Goodluck Jonathan gets re-elected?

Nweke is a a two-term Municipal Legislator at Ostend City Council, Belgium and former Chief Executive of Nigerians in Diaspora Europe.

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

Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

18

Editorial

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

SUNDAY OLAJIDE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO SEYI FASUGBA DAILY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI SATURDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN SUNDAY EDITOR BEN MEMULETIWON GENERAL EDITOR DOZIE OKEBALAMA COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD CALLISTUS OKE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF FIDELIS LEMCHI OWOAMANAM GM, ENERGY NEW PRESS GABRIEL SUNDAY

HEAD, GRAPHICS

Upcoming general elections and the rash of prophecies

O

ne disturbing feature of the build up to the upcoming general elections is the rash of prophecies by the self appointed prophets of God, particularly of the Christian faith. A development that took a frightening turn at the beginning of the New Year, has witnessed contradictory prophecies of doom and redemption, but more of doom.

For a wearied nation on the edge over disturbing prognoses on the 2015 general elections, the least expected from its religious leaders is a confirmation of violence, bloodletting and wanton destruction of properties from electoral disputations. This newspaper condemns in very strong terms a development that is capable of exacerbating the tension in the land and calls on the security agencies to move in to stem the ugly tide.

What is confounding about the entire development is the confusion arising from the true position of God on the affairs of Nigeria. If indeed, as the Holy Book says in 1 Corinthians 13:33, God is not a God of confusion but of peace, why would the men of the same God give conflicting messages on a particular subject to His children in Nigeria? If indeed, God is behind the prophecies of doom, the best the nation expects from these prophets

NOBODY SHOULD DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD INADVERTENTLY PROVOKE ETHNO-RELIGIOUS CONFLICT IN THIS COUNTRY is intercession to ward off the looming danger.

Nigeria has had a raw deal from the mismanagement of her electoral processes. The disputations over the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was annulled by former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, have remained the scariest in the history of democracy in the country. The annulment of that election threw the nation into a monstrous political crisis for five years that wreaked collateral damage to the psyche of the people and the tenuous bond that held the country together. It is, therefore, a sad commentary that some men of God could still wish that the nation go through the same road.

Similarly, it is a great disservice to the country for any man of God to set the Christians against Muslims like one did by turning President Jonathan into a crusader of Christian cause

and therefore, urging all Christians to rally round him to give him a decisive victory in the March 28 presidential election.

What would be the fate of the country if Muslim clerics take similar stance on the election? It is obvious that the grounds are being prepared for a religious war in the country. Should this happen, the stage is set for the eventual disintegration of the country. We doubt if this is God’s plan for Nigeria. Needless to say such prophecies do not advance the cause of democratic governance, especially in a plural and multi-religious state like Nigeria.

They also do not advance the cause of nation building.

Granted that the prophets are stakeholders in the Nigerian project, and they are entitled to their personal opinions, however, they should realise that ordinary people place more premium on what they have to say. This is the reason why the men of God must exercise caution in the discharge of their duties. Nobody should do something that would inadvertently provoke ethno-religious conflict in this country. Those nations that have passed through this route have found it difficult to recover from the horrendous destruction of lives and properties that follows it. The overall

ON THIS DAY

well being of our nation is crucial now more than any other time. This is why our people must not see these prophecies as gospel truths that must come to pass.

Both the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) have a responsibility to moderate the exuberances of their members. The security agencies should make preemptive moves to douse the growing tension, while INEC, political parties and religious groups should embark on aggressive political education of the people to sensitize them to the expected political behavior. Nigerians must rise above religious, ethnic, gender or class biases. Buhari should not be seen as a Muslim candidate, neither should Jonathan be seen as a Christian candidate. Both of them are Nigerians seeking the people’s mandate.

We call on all stakeholders in the Nigerian project to join forces to crush the centrifugal forces pulling the nation in the opposite directions. Nigerians must say no to the manipulation of religion for political ends. We all have a duty to see elections as an opportunity for choosing who best can represent us and who has the wherewithal to lead us to the Promise Land.

February 11, 2013

February 11, 2012

February 11, 1990

The Catholic pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI announces his plans resign the papal office effective February 28th, citing failing health arising from advanced age. He was elected as pope on 19 April 2005 at the age of 78 in a papal conclave following the death of Pope John Paul II and was inaugurated on 24 April 2005. Benedict became the first pope to resign in 600 years.

Legendary pop singer Whitney Houston was found dead at a Beverly Hills, California, hotel, at the age of 48. Houston sold more than 170 million albums, singles and videos. But she also struggled with addiction problems over the years. Houston, whose hits included “The Greatest Love of All,” died on the eve of the 54th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.

Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid campaigner and African National Congress leader, was released from Victor Verster Prison after 27 years. Mandela walked through a prison gate to freedom, setting off joyous celebrations and violent clashes as blacks nationwide welcomed their leader back from jail into freedom. In freedom, Mandela emphatically reaffirmed his commitment to the ANC’s guerrilla campaign and called for increased pressure to end white-minority domination in the country. -

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

19

Health & Wellbeing Health sector strike worsened cancer situation –Oncologist 22

20

Cancer: WHO calls for stricter measures against tobacco firms

How malaria ruined my son’s life –Mother FRANKA OSAKWE

D

avid Sopuruchi Chibuzo, could have been a normal teenager but for the cerebral malaria attack that resulted in cerebral palsy (CP), a disorder which affected his muscle tone, movement and motor skills.

At 17, David still lives like a baby, depending on his parents and siblings to help him with all activities of life.

But he was not born this way, divulged David’s mum, Mrs. Christy Chibuzo. It all started in 1999, when he was just nine months old; he and his two siblings were all diagnosed with cerebral malaria but David’s case proved more severe.

“David was born hale and hearty on August 7, 1998. As at nine months, he had started to hold things to stand and move about the house like every normal baby.

But one Monday in May 1999, his two older siblings took ill and were later diagnosed to have cerebral malaria at Oredugba Specialist Hospital, Ikate, Surulere, Lagos”, she recalled.

That same day, the doctor in charge decided to place David on malaria treatment, so as to prevent him from being afflicted with cerebral malaria like his two brothers, Mrs. Chibuzo recalled.

“I obliged and they started giving him injections. By then, it was already late. That night, he started running temperature; if you put wet towel on him, it would dry. So on Wednesday morning, I reported this to the doctor and he said he was going to change his drugs. I agreed and told them that I will come for the drugs after taking my other two kids to Havannah Specialist Hospital.

“On the way, I discovered he was having the same experience his brothers had. By the time we got to Havannah, he couldn’t breathe again; so they took him straight to the theatre and placed him oxygen.

We started praying for his recovery, after a while he regained consciousness and was placed him on observation. After two days on oxygen, he started convulsing hard, but after 45 minutes God stopped the convulsion. Afterward, he entered into final coma that lasted for eight days. It was just by the grace of God that he survived.

“They brought surgeons from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) who took samples from his brain and spinal cord to check if it was meningitis. They did all sorts of tests after which they concluded it was CP.” Aside from his inability to help himself with anything, David’s case is worsened by recurring convulsions, a symptom associated with CP patients. Each time this happens, the family spends days or even weeks in the hospital, depending on the severity of the attack.

Going by the medical analysis carried out by doctors, David has got a good chance of recovery through a brain surgery. The brain surgery will work to completely eradicate the seizure attacks, leaving it with greater chance of correcting all the imbalances caused by the attacks.

As with the case of David, severe episode of cerebral malaria can result in cerebral palsy, epilepsy and other intellectual or physical disabilities.

Cerebral malaria results from an acute case of Plasmodium Falciparum malaria. Delay in treatment may result in rapid deterioration in the patient’s condition and in the

David

development of life-threatening complications such as cerebral palsy.

Many of those who survive an episode of severe malaria may suffer learning impairments or brain damage, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) World Malaria Report.

Latest report from the National Malaria Control Programme, NMCP, of the Federal Ministry of Health, states that malaria is responsible for 60 per cent outpatient visits to health facilities, 30 per cent childhood death, 25 per cent of death in children under one year and 11 per cent maternal death. Also, the financial loss due to malaria annually is estimated to be about 132 billion Naira, yet it is a treatable and completely evitable disease.

Although, the 2014 World

Malaria Report by WHO says that the number of annual malaria cases worldwide is actually decreasing, yet Nigeria remains one of Africa’s hardest-hit country, accounting for between 30 and 40 per cent of malaria deaths on the continent. About a quarter of all malaria cases in Africa occur in Nigerian rural villages, with pregnant women and their unborn children being the most affected.

In severe malaria intervention, WHO recommends intravenous administration of artesunate or

quinine where artesunate is not available. An oral dose of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) is given as soon as the child is able to take oral drug. It says also, that the prevention of malaria can be achieved through personal protection which entails reduction of frequency of mosquito bites or avoidance of exposure through the use of insect repellants, use of insecticide-impregnated bed nets (ITN), draining sites where mosquitoes lay their eggs and covering water channels where they breed.

20

Health & Wellbeing

Nutrition for Health

H

ypertension or high blood pressure may be described as an elevated blood pressure. Hypertension is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard. It impairs the pumping function of the heart and if untreated it can damage arteries and organs such as the heart, kidneys, brain, and eyes which can lead to heart and kidney disease, stroke, and blindness if uncontrolled.

It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and recorded as two numbers—systolic pressure (when the heart beats) over diastolic pressure (when the heart relaxes between beats).

According to Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan, blood pressure can be unhealthy even if it stays only slightly above the normal level of less than 120/80 mmHg. The more your blood pressure rises above normal, the greater the health risks.

High blood pressure often has

no warning signs. Once it occurs, it usually lasts a lifetime. Headache, unexplained tiredness, dizziness, impaired vision, failing memory, shortness of breath, pain over the heart and gastrointestinal disturbance are some of the symptoms.

There are however, different causes of hypertension. They are: cardiovascular disease, ranal disease, brain tumors, diseases of the ovaries, etc. Other predisposing factors include: stress, heredity, obesity, smoking, narrowing of the main blood vessels due to hormone secretions, etc.

Studies have shown that blood pressure can be lowered by having the right eating plan and a reduced sodium intake gives the biggest benefits and may help prevent the development of high blood pressure.

It is therefore necessary to maintain a normal body weight of Body Mass Index (BMI) of 18.5-24.9 and this could be achieved by being moderately physically active on most days of the week. Activities such as jogging, walking, swimming, etc, will help you both shed pounds and stay trim for the long

term. You can do an activity for 30 minutes at one time, or choose shorter periods of at least 10 minutes each. To avoid weight gain, try to total about 60 minutes per day.

Secondly, consume the right diet and observe the right food portions consumed. Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) recommends 7-8 daily servings of whole grains such as bread, brown rice, etc; 4-5 daily servings of vegetables such as broccoli, potatoes, green peas, etc; 4-5 daily servings of fruits such as bananas, apples, mangoes, etc; 2-3 daily servings low-fat or fatfree dairy products, 2 or fewer servings a day of lean meat, poultry, and fish; 4-5 servings per week of nuts, seeds, and legumes; 2-3 daily servings of fats and oils such as vegetable oil or soft margarine, lowfat mayonnaise, etc and less than 5 servings per week of sweets such as jam, etc.

It is also vital to follow a healthy eating plan, which includes foods low in sodium or salt. Processed foods make up most of the salt and sodium. They include baked goods (biscuits, cakes, breads, pastries), certain cereals, soy sauce, seasoned salts, monosodium glutamate (MSG), baking soda, and some ant-

acids. It is however, necessary to always read food labels to choose products lower in sodium. Look for the sodium content in milligrams and the Percent Daily Value. Aim for foods that are less than 5 percent of the Daily Value of sodium.

Foods with 20 percent or more Daily Value of sodium are considered high.

Consume minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium-rich foods. Potassium’s role in hypertension or high blood pressure is actually a result of a complex interplay with sodium, calcium and magnesium found in the blood of all living organisms.

Probiotic can cure diabetes, researchers claim

A

new study suggests that a probiotic pill - one containing live bacteria - can radically reduce blood glucose levels.

In experiments researchers discovered that using a pill containing common bacteria found in the human gut can shift the control of glucose levels from the pancreas to the upper intestine.

Professor John March, leading the research believed that this “rewiring” of the body could revolutionize treatment for diabetes - both Types 1 and 2 - and potentially one day offer the possibility of a cure.

He said: “If it works really well in people, it could be that they just take the pill and wouldn’t have to

do anything else to control their diabetes. It’s likely, though, that it will be used in conjunction with some other treatment.”

Diabetes occurs when the amount of glucose in a sufferer’s blood becomes too high because the body cannot use it properly.

This happens when the pancreas does not produce any insulin (Type 1), or not enough insulin to help glucose enter the body’s cells – or the insulin that is produced does not work properly, known as insulin resistance (Type 2).

The new study published in the journal Diabetes, suggests a manufactured probiotic pill could shift control of glucose levels away

from the pancreas - addressing both types of diabetes. , senior author Professor March and colleagues at Cornell University, New York, told how they had

R

The compound, which protects cells against damage and helps prevent age-related mental decline also mops up chemicals responsible for causing blood clots – the primary cause of coronary disease.

Experiments showed that giving older rats the compound led to apparent improvements in learning, memory and mood.

The research has now led to hope that the same could apply to humans.

Re s ve r at ro l , found in the skin of red

grapes and in some berries as well, has been widely touted for its potential to prevent heart disease.

But Professor Ashok Shetty, of Texas A&M University, believes it also has positive effects on the hippocampus, an area of the brain that is crucial to the thought processes.

Both humans and animals show a decline in cognitive capacity after middle age, so the findings published in the online journal Scientific Reports may have implications for treating memory loss in the elderly.

The research said resveratrol may even be able to help people afflicted with severe neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s, for which there is no cure.

Research suggests that the risk of stroke, a common consequence of high blood pressure, relates inversely with the amount of potassium in the diet. But be sure to get your potassium from food sources, not from supplements.

Many fruits and vegetables, some milk products, and fish are rich sources of potassium. And if you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation. Limit to no more than 2 drinks per day.

Bear in mind that if you are overweight or obese, even a small weight loss will help to lower your risks of developing high blood pressure and other serious health conditions!

SCIENCE

Compiled by Franka Osakwe

engineered a common strain of “friendly” human gut bacteria called Lactobacillus to secrete a peptide - a hormone that releases insulin in response to food.

Lactobacillus is a probiotic often used to prevent and treat diarrhoea, as well as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease

Red wine can help boost your memory say scientists

ed grapes have emerged as key in the battle to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, research shows.

Scientists have discovered that the fruit found in a daily glass of red wine and peanuts both contain a wonder anti-oxidant called resveratrol.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Dietary approach to prevent hypertension

Chizoba Benson chizobanwobu@yahoo.com 08120807588 (sms only)

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

and some skin disorders.

Over a period of 90 days, the research team ogave the modified probiotic in the form of a pill to a group of diabetic rats.

They then monitored its effects on blood glucose levels, comparing the outcomes with diabetic rats that did not receive it.

HIV drug slows spread of prostate cancer- research

A

DRUG used to treat HIV infection can “dramatically” slow the deadly spread of prostate cancer, new research has revealed.

The study published online in the Cancer Research journal demonstrates that the antiretroviral drug maraviroc can substantially curb the lethal spread of prostate cancer in mice with the disease.

Prostate cancer most commonly travels to the bones, leading to severe pain, disability and eventual death. But treatment with maraviroc reduced the spread, or metastasis, of prostate tumours to the bones, brain and other organs by 60 per cent in mice, the report explains.

One of the scientists, Dr Rich-

ard Pestell, from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, said the drug could move quickly through testing.

“Because this work shows we can dramatically reduce metastasis in pre-clinical models and because the drug is already... approved for HIV treatment, we may be able to test soon whether this drug can block metastasis in patients with prostate cancer,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

21

Cancer: WHO calls for stricter measures against tobacco firms MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

I

n its determination to reduce ailments and deaths arising from tobacco use worldwide, the World Health Organization, WHO, has called on nations to step up measures against tobacco companies. The agency estimated that eight million

people around the world die of tobacco-related diseases yearly, and that the trend would continue till 2030.

Coincidentally, cancer and tobacco kill about the same population yearly – eight million people, according to the WHO. The agency explained that at least 1.6 million, representing 20 percent of total deaths from can-

cer, are tobacco-related. It said further that researches had shown that tobacco is responsible for highest cancer burden and deaths.

In its message to commemorate this year’s World Cancer Day, the agency informed that the day helps nations to recall that “tobacco is the single biggest cause of cancer in the world and the leading cause of preventable

deaths.

“Every year, 8.2 million people die from cancer; at least 1.6 million or 20% of these are tobacco-related. In total, more than 6 million people will die this year from tobacco-related diseases including cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases and cancer,” it added. WHO said the world would later this month celebrate the 10th anniversary

of its Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) - the first intergovernmental treaty established to dramatically change tobacco control worldwide.

The agency maintained that since the pact came into force in February 2005, it had come up with a set of universal standards stating the dangers of tobacco and limiting its use in all forms, worldwide. It also urged nations to recommit to further reducing tobacco use to help guarantee tobacco-free world in the nearest future.

“The 10th anniversary of the WHO FCTC shows how coordinated and multisectoral national and international action in the area of tobacco control can de-normalize a risk-factor and move

the health agenda forward. It demonstrates that health can indeed persuade other sectors to take action, through taxes, graphic health warnings, legislation and marketing bans to save lives.

“But the war on tobacco is not over yet. We still expect 8 million people to be dying each year by 2030 – because they have smoked tobacco or have been exposed to second hand smoke. The use of alternative products such as water pipes, smokeless tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery systems are gaining in popularity and will need to be addressed through tobacco control measures. The illicit tobacco market still counts for 1 in every 10 cigarettes consumed globally.

Cleric advises FG to check deceptive advertisement of fake drugs CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

A boy suffering from cerebral palsy abandoned at Aye bus stop in Isolo area of Lagos, but later rescued and taken to a care home in Badagry, recently.

Philips partners Medical Credit Fund, Diamond Bank to grant finance access to clinics FRANKA OSAKWE

R

oyal Philips, a Netherlands-based diversified health and wellbeing company, Medical Credit Fund, a member of the Pharmaceutical Access Group and Diamond Bank Plc have formed a partnership to improve access to quality healthcare in Nigeria.

Acording to a Press release from Phillips recently, the partnership would enable small and medium-sized private clinics to acquire in-

novative medical technologies and services from Philips through the Diamond Mediloan Quality Care Program Loans.

The package, according to the statement is backed with business and medical quality assessments and training implemented by the Medical Credit Fund using the Safecare standards. Thus clinics will be able to expand and improve the quality of their services, giving more people access to quality healthcare, the statement further said.

“Most small and mediumsized private clinics in Ni-

geria cannot obtain financing from banks due to the perceived high investment risks. As a result, they are not able to invest in medical equipment, carry out necessary renovation works or recruit qualified personnel. At the same time these clinics serve more than half of the population in Nigeria, primarily low-income earners.

“Around the world, every day some 800 women die as a result of complications that arise during pregnancy or childbirth. Many of these problems can be prevented if identified in time. This is one

of the elements the Diamond Mediloan Quality Care Program addresses. |”Midwives can have access to mobile ultrasound equipment which enables them to carry out relatively straightforward but critical examinations during pregnancy. The mobile ultrasound equipment can also be taken to rural villages to screen women that are not able to reach the clinics. The clinics will also be eligible to obtain loans to acquire patient monitoring and X-ray systems from Philips for the examination and treatment of patients.”

Stakeholders harp on increased commitment to end female genital mutilation MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

M

ajor health institutions around the globe have called for increased commitment to ending female genital mutilation, FGM. More than 130 million girls and women in 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East where the practice is said to be concentrated have undergone some form of FGM with enormous impacts on their lives.

“FGM violates the human rights and undermines the health and well-being of some three million girls each year” said United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF; United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA; among other renown global health institutions in a statement made available to National Mirror recently by UNICEF Communication Consultant, Geoffrey Njoku, to commemorate this year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for

Female Genital Mutilation.

“Worldwide, we are seeing increasing commitment by communities and governments to eliminate FGM – but it is not enough. Today, as we mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, we call on all health workers — from midwives and nurses to obstetricians and gynaecologists — to mobilize against this dangerous, deeply harmful practice,” the institutions said.

They noted that the sup-

port of health workers in global effort to end FGM is critical, adding that frontline health workers have inside knowledge of the social dynamics in the communities they serve and the social norms that perpetuate FGM. They maintained that the workers can speed up the “rapidly declining support” for the practice because, according to the organizations, patients of the workers know and trust them in communities where they work.

T

he Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, Most Rev. Anthony Obinnahas advised the Federal Ministry of Health to intervene in the alleged deceptive advertisements made by quack health practitioners to save Nigerians who purchase such drugs from health complications.

Archbishop Obinna who spoke at the dedication of St. Thomas Aquinas, Catholic Church, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, (FUTO), last Saturday, said that quack health practitioners, particularly “those selling gonorrhoea and syphilis-related drugs have taken over the whole place prescribing drugs to unsuspecting public.

“I am calling on the Ministry of Health to intervene in the advertisement being made by quack health practitioners particularly the trado-medicine dealers as they have taken over the market, prescribing drugs without considering the implications on health of the people,” he stated.

He also condemned the rate at which ladies expose their bodies these days in the name of fashion, saying that such unnecessary exposure and indecent dressing cannot be worthy of children of God. “A child of Light must run away from everything associated with darkness, especially those things capable of cutting one off from the Grace of God.

“Why expose your body when one will have enough time in the mortuary to expose the body?” he asked.

The Archbishop further advised members of the Catholic Chaplaincy who would make use of the dedicated Chaplaincy, started by the late Prof. Celestine Onwuliri, to use it as a sacred place for prayers and not a place for holding meetings, conversations or reading.

“You don’t come here other than to give yourselves to the Lord so that He can bless you,” he said.

Speaking also, the Minister of state for Education, Prof. Viola Onwuliri thanked God that the Chaplaincy which was 95 per cent completed when her husband was the vice chancellor of FUTO, had finally been completed, adding that students and members of staff of the university who donated one per cent of their salary helped in no small measure to ensure that the structure was in place.

“When we came in June 2006, my late husband, Prof.

Celestine Onwuliri, who was the fifth substantive VC of FUTO, excavated the old, weak, uncompleted and abandoned foundation, and started afresh because he believed that only the best is good for the Lord.”

She disclosed that the late Prof. Onwuliri committed his personal and family resources, those of his friends and encouraged FUTO staff who cooperated by remitting a percentage of their monthly salary to the project.”

22

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health sector strike worsened cancer situation –Oncologist see lot of patients and we have good amount of cancer cases and it is increasing daily.

Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark the World Cancer Day last week, amidst astonishing report that 240 people die each day from the scourge. A consultant oncologist, Dr. Muhammad Habeebe divulged in this interview with FRANKA OSAKWE that this figure might have increased as a result of the health workers strike and other factors. Excerpts.

How would you access Nigeria’s fight against cancer?

There are efforts being made by government to fight cancer but more efforts is still needed to overcome the menace. There is much room for improvement.

One big setback we have is the fact that the resources at our disposal are very limited compared to the cancer population in the country.

For instance the population of Nigeria is an estimated 170million with an estimated 100,000 cancer cases yearly but there is only about 8-9 cancer centres available throughout the country with only about 4-5 that are functional, that is, in good working condition so you can see that the disparity is much.

Where are the cancer centres located?

LUTH is one of the centres, we also have the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan and others. What I mean by centres is government-owned hospitals or places that have the facilities and machinery as well as the professionals that can treat cancer.

What is your suggestion for improvement?

I am suggesting that we should have more cancer centres, more machines to treat cancer patients, more supportive machine to help the professionals treat and monitor the cancer. Therefore more resources should be put on it, and more attention should be paid on it.

The exorbitant cost of cancer treatment is said to deter people from seeking treatment. How do you think this can be solved?

You see, like HIV, the way we were able to bring down the scourge was by subsidizing the cost of HIV, so cancer should follow the same approach in subsidizing treatment because it is even more expensive to

What do you think is causing the increase?

We know that for now, we are diagnosing it more, we have more facilities and resources to diagnose so cases that were not detected before are now detectable .Secondly, there is behavioural change. We are more sedentary than our fore-fathers in terms of lifestyles. We are doing more of white collar jobs, less exercise and our eating habit has also changed. We are exposed to more pollution as a result of industrialization and this has increased the risk of having cancer.

manage cancer than to manage HIV. We also need to raise awareness so that we can have behavioral changes. People need to know that they have to go for screening, they need to know the risk factors of certain cancers, they need to accept that cancer is a reality and can happen to anyone.

With the new National Health Act, do you think there will be provision for cancer intervention?

Well, we have to wait and see. There are lots of laws that are not implemented in Nigeria so I cannot say anything now till I see what is happening.

This incessant strike by health workers, has it impacted on cancer treatment in any way?

Definitely it did. The hospitals were closed, even when there were skeletal services, it was not as if there was full services.

Can you describe how it has affected treatment?

When there is strike, there isn’t much treatment, you can’t use the machines, we can only do the little we can. But there is a great effect on treatment during the strike, we can’t give full treatment and the cancer patient is limited to skeletal treatment. It has a great effect because cancer is not an ailment that you postpone treatment. When you postpone the treatment, it becomes worse and can spread, so a lot of cancer patient were affected.

Which is the most common type of cancer and what is the prevalence rate?

Breast cancer is the most common, followed by cervical cancer. For statistics, I will say that in this clinic, almost all the cancer patients come in for breast cancer treatment.

I heard that men also have breast cancer?

How can cancer be prevented?

We have to do more enlightenment on behavioural change and more screening so we can catch it early and have better prognosis.

Is cancer an infectious disease?

It is largely not infectious but some behaves similar to infectious diseases – like human papilloma virus which can be transmitted sexually.

Dr. Habeebe

PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TO GO FOR SCREENING, THEY NEED TO KNOW THE RISK FACTORS

OF CERTAIN CANCERS, THEY NEED TO ACCEPT THAT CANCER IS A REALITY AND CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE Yes! For about 100 patients that have breast cancer, about one or two will be men. So about 1-2 percent of breast cancer case occur in men. Men can have breast cancer because they also have breast, even though it is rudimentary. You can have cancer in any part of your body including the breast.

What about Cervical cancer cases. Can it be treated and are the vaccines available?

It is available in Nigeria but it is very expensive although some organisations have started subsidizing the vaccine, there is still need for more awareness.

But the vaccine is recommended for 0-26 year-old if the person does not have human papilloma virus already, the person can be given but if the person is infect-

ed the vaccine will not treat it.

Since it is transmitted through sexual disease, According to W.H.O, 0-13 yearold girls should have free vaccination for life prevention. Do we have that in Nigeria?

In Nigeria it’s one thing to have a policy; it’s another issue to back it up. For now, there is no free cervical cancer vaccination in any hospital, the vaccine is being sold.

What is the prevalent rate of cancer in men?

We have more prostate cancer now than before. The prevalent rate of cancer yearly in Nigeria as I said earlier is about 100,000 new cases yearly. Here because LUTH is a referral centre, we

Can some other infection lead to cancer?

Definitely! For instance, HIV increases the risk of cancer, human papilloma virus increases the rate of cervical cancer and schistosomiasis haematobium which causes bloody urine increases bladder cancer risk.

However generally the cause of cancer is multi factorial.

It could be genetically predisposed. Exposure to chemical diet can lead to bladder cancer, exposure to chemical radiation can lead to multiple cancers and some psycho toxic drugs can cause cancer.

What are the challenges of cancer treatment in Nigeria?

The challenges basically are Ignorance and lack of funds. We need to enlighten people about malignancy, regular screening and also get big organisation to help in the funding.

According to WHO statistics, the Third World countries will be responsible for 70 percent of cancer cases. Nigeria has the largest population in the third world countries so our action will determine if the prediction will happen. It’s time we stopped being complacent.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

23

Arts Lounge

Polls: Ministry of Culture campaigns against violence

My first day on set was scary –Dada Omowunmi

26

25

Challenges confronting new authors in Nigeria Accepting the manuscripts of fresh authors in an economy bedeviled by dwindling incomes and poor reading culture could be a Herculean task, forcing many to resort to self-publishing.

Ngozi Emedolibe

T

he concept of having one’s ideas converted to a book is fascinating.

But for a new writer in Nigeria, having his work printed into a book can sometimes be challenging. The pathway, which is riddled with rejections by the few thriving publishing houses often leaves the budding talents frustrated, with a few daring ones venturing into self-publishing as the last resort. Although statistics are not available, this trend could mean that only about twenty percent of ideas which would have transformed into books make it to the shelves, leaving so many stories untold and buried.

The few that eventually get published also face the reality of being unevenly distributed; making such works available to a tiny fraction of its supposed audience.

While a few privileged new writers from Nigeria like Chibundu Onuzo, who got signed on by Farber in the United Kingdom, have had to travel abroad to imprint their names amongst publishers, the few publishing houses in Nigeria seem to be more comfortable with re-publishing works by Nigerian authors based abroad, although such proprietors of the publishing houses often acknowledge that the country is simmering with budding talents.

Why has self-publishing become the new haven for new writers in Nigeria? Nkem Okocha, who writes with the pseudonym Myne Whitman, it is the same old story of rejection by book publishers. According to her, “I decided to self-publish because I heard some good stories about the process and how it can be successful if you apply yourself. I had been discouraged earlier on

in my writing when I tried to pursue it after my first degree. I was rejected by the very few publishers we had in Nigeria in those days. So this time after several similar letters from publishers and agents, I decided on self-publishing since I had my full time to dedicate to it”, she says.

Her efforts have spawned two romance books: A Heart to Mend and A Love Rekindled.

But Myne Whitmna, who lives in the United States, obviously has made more inroads than Samuel Akponine, who publishes his books under BAS Creations as a self effort. According to this author of over four works of fiction, self-publishing becomes the way out when you want to have your works in print. “We belong to a generation which I will call disadvantaged in terms of publishing. With publishers finding it hard to survive, getting someone to publish an unknown author in Nigeria becomes an uphill task. I just knew I could not continue to wait in those circumstances. While it is a way out, it is also a very difficult option because with one’s lean resources, one is unable to spread the work the way it is supposed to be distributed.” A Lagos based writer, Henry Chukwuemeka Onyema in his essay: Nigeria Literature at Fifty: A Coat of Many Colours, reflected on self-publishing thus: “Yet, self-publishing is a problem for quality Nigerian literature. Obscurantism that has little to do with literary craft remains a strange addiction for many Nigerian writers, especially poets. The contemporary generation’s supposed affinity for ‘the pleasures of the flesh’ in their works remains a sore point with some of their literary elders and notable critics like Professor Charles Nnolim. Aesthetics remains a challenge.

Since the demise of the Macmillan Paceset-

Book shelf

ters series in Nigeria and writers like Cyprian Ekwensi and Kalu Okpi, only a few intrepid spirits are giving Nigerians what they deserve in the romance/thriller/ popular fiction genres. Nigerian literature deserves its own James Hadley Chase, Frederick Forsyth, Agatha Christie, Barbara Cartland, Tom Clancy and John Grisham.”

Although Nigeria towers above other African countries in terms of awards, having won a Nobel Prize in Literature, a Booker Man Prize, an Orange Prize, Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and a few Caine Prize winners, self-publishing can be a hindrance to more hauls in terms of awards.

According to Arts Lounge checks, most literary prizes have no recognition for selfpublished works. Caine Prize, for instance, accepts only published works sent by the publishers, a factor that is capable of excluding lots of credible works that could win awards. Another danger of self-publishing is the fact that lean resources always means lots of errors as a result of poor editing and often times distortion of facts of history especially in non-fiction genres.

This hurdle of finding well-rounded publishers has also become a spring board for numerous ‘emergency publishers’ who capitalise on covering the grounds the big publishers may not be covering.

Arts Lounge learnt that these publishers usually have recouping their investments at the back of their minds, and have often targeted young readers. “While the adults may

The royalty is low, but that is not as bad as the idea that you do not have that creative freedom that makes writing a delight.

not be reading much, they want their children to imbibe the culture of reading and this has given birth to some emergency publishers, who only publish works like story books often sold for one hundred naira.

Their market is also limited, and has not done much to boost interest in Literature,” averred a source.

Chijioke Okikeh, an aspiring writer told Arts Lounge how these publishers guard their writers to create only for their targeted audience. “The royalty is low, but that is not as bad as the idea that you do not have that creative freedom that makes writing a delight.

The way out of the present dilemma may be rooted in creating an enabling environment for the bold entrants into the new era publishing landscape in Nigeria like Farafina, Cassava Republic, and Kachifo, amongst others to begin to make profits, so that their budgets would begin to accommodate new writers. A tax holiday may not be a bad idea. A fiction reader, Max Ibegbu, told Arts Lounge, that fiction readers are usually not enthusiastic about reading fiction on digital format. “If it is an academic book, it could work. I do not see myself reading fiction with my tablet or phone. Fiction should come in very relaxed format and only the paper version can fill that vacuum.” The meaning is that the cost advantage this may avail the new fiction writer may add to nothing.

24

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

VOICES

My struggle with depression(2) Chimamanda Adichie

T

here is an overwhelming reluctance to move. A stolidness of spirit. I want to stay, to be, and if I must then only small movements are bearable. I switch off my phone, draw the shades, burrow in the dim stillness. I shy away from light and from love, and I am ashamed of this. I feel guilty about what I feel. I am unworthy of the people who care about me. I stew in self-recrimination. I am alone. Stop it, I say to myself. What is wrong with you?

But I don’t know how to stop it. I feel as if I am asking myself to return a stolen good that I have not in fact stolen.

In some of my family and friends, I sense confusion, and sometimes, suspicion. I am known to nurse a number of small eccentricities, and perhaps this is one. I avoid them, partly not to burden them with what I do not understand, and partly to shield myself from their bewilderment, while all the time, a terrible guilt chews me whole.

I hear their unasked question: Why can’t she just snap out of it? There is, in their reactions, an undertone of “choice”. I might not choose to be this way, but I can choose not to be this way. I understand their thinking because I, too, often think like them. Is this self-indulgence? Surely it cannot be so crippling if I am sentient enough to question it? Does the market woman in Nsukka have depression? When I cannot get out of bed in the morning, would she be able to, since she earns her living day by day?

The doctor says, about the high incidence of depression in creative people, “we don’t know why that is”. Her tone is flat, matter-of-fact, and I am grateful that it is free of fascination.

“Do you think anybody else in your family might have depression?” she asks.

Nobody else does. I tell her, a little defensively, about growing up in Nsukka, the small university campus, the tree-lined streets where I rode my bicycle. It is as if I want to exculpate my past. My childhood was happy. My family was close-knit. I was voted most popular girl in secondary school.

Yet I have memories of slow empty

Depressives are terrified of being alone.

But I enjoy being alone, so it cannot be depression days, of melancholy silence, of perplexed people asking what was wrong, and of feeling guilty and confused, because I had no reason. Everything was wrong and yet nothing was wrong.

I remember a gardener we had when I was a child. A wiry ex-soldier called Jomo.

A man full of stories for little children.

My brother and I followed him around as he watered the plants, asking him questions about plants and life, basking in his patience. But sometimes, he changed, became blank, barely spoke to anybody.

Perhaps he had depression. Later, I will wonder about African writers, how many

could be listed as well in this Roll of Depression, and if perhaps they, too, refuse to accept the name.

The doctor says, “I’d recommend therapy, and that you try anti-depressants. I know a good therapist.”

A therapist. I want to joke about it. I want to say that I am a strong Igbo woman, a strong Nigerian woman, a strong African woman, and we don’t do depression.

We don’t tell strangers our personal business. But the joke lies still and stale on my tongue. I feel defensive about the suggestion of a therapist, because it suggests a

Memorable Reads Who is your favourite author?

I’ve got quite a few really. But Wole Soyinka is up there. Chinua Achebe, John Grisham and Mario Puzo are also my ideal authors.

What book is the best from your perspective?

It is difficult to say. Chinua Achebe should be it for me. But I read all kinds of books; mostly books about filmmaking. I like Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’. I like ‘The Godfather’ by Mario Puzo and ‘The Man Died’ by Wole Soyinka.

What book initiated your interest in what you are doing today?

‘A Director Prepares: Seven Essays on Art and Theatre’.

How much do you spend on books an-

ERNEST BHABOR

Writer/ Director

nually?

I’m not sure. I really don’t have a budget for books. When I see, or hear about a good book I get it. I have a very extensive library - print and digital books.

If you decide to write a book what would be its theme?

I’m actually writing one at the moment. And it’s a fictional story based on my childhood and youth days in Nigeria. And I’m also considering writing some books about filmmaking down the road.

What has reading done in your life?

Reading is enlightenment.

cause that I do not know, a cause I need a stranger to reveal to me.

I remember the first book I read about depression, how I clung to parts that I could use to convince myself that I did not have depression. Depressives are terrified of being alone. But I enjoy being alone, so it cannot be depression. I don’t have drama, I have not ever felt the need to rant, to tear off clothes, to do something crazy.

So it cannot be depression, this strangeness. It cannot be the same kind of thing that made Virginia Woolf fill her pockets with stones and walk into a river. I stopped reading books about depression because their contradictions unsettled me. I was comforted by them, but I was also made anxious by them.

I am in denial about having depression, and it is a denial that I am not in denial about.

“I don’t want to see a therapist,” I say.

She looks at me, as if she is not surprised. “You won’t get better if you do nothing. Depression is an illness.”

It is impossible for me to think of this as I would any other illness. I want to impose it my own ideas of what an illness should be. In its lack of a complete explanation, it disappoints. No ebb and flow of hormones.

“I don’t want to take medicine either.

I’m worried about what it will do to my writing. I heard people turn into zombies.”

“If you had diabetes would you resist taking medicine?”

Suddenly I am angry with her. My prejudices about American healthcare system emerge: perhaps she just wants to bill more for my visit, or she has been bribed by a drug rep who markets antidepressants. Besides, American doctors overdiagnose.

“How can I possibly have PMDD and depression? So how am I supposed to know where one starts and the other stops?” I ask her, my tone heavy with blame. But even as I ask her, I feel dishonest, because I know. I know the difference between the mood swings that come with stomach cramps and the flatness that comes with nothing. *Adichie, is an award-winning Nigerian author.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

25

ARTISTE UNCENSORED

My first day on set was scary –Dada Omowunmi She is a bunch of talent, professionally delivering mind-blowing skills in acting. Meet Dada Omowunmi.

Olawale Oluwadahunsi

S

he is one of the most creative of the newest divas in Nollywood and has become a speeding train soon after she completed her degree in Creative Arts at the University of Lagos, and has since featured in several block buster movies and TV Series like ‘Tales of Love’, ‘Yes I Don’t’, ‘Moremi’, ‘Not Right’, ’Fear no Evil’, ‘The Antique’, ‘Ojuju’, ‘Public Property’, ‘The gods are Still not to blame’, ‘Tales of Eve’ (season 3),’Married to the Game’, ‘Tinsel ‘, just to mention a few.

Omowunmi claimed she has always loved the arts from her primary school days and she had this burning desires that was unquenchable, all she wanted to do was act, dance, and sing, which made her decide to study it more in the University.

“Although I have always had passion for what I’m doing but to me it’s not enough to be passionate about something. I believe in taking necessary steps to master my passion. So I have gone to school and I still take steps to learn more in front of the camera and behind it. I have always loved arts right from being in cultural troupes in primary and secondary school. Funny enough my very first play was in primary five, my dad told me a story about Everyman and when it was time to leave for secondary school I called my peers and gave them the idea, meaning to re-enact the story. I directed it then. Of course, there was no script but I put everyone through the little way I could and we had a good show” She relives her first time on a movie set, disclosing that it was shy, tensed and uncomfortable.

“The first time on a movie set was when I was the presenter for ‘Kids Alone’, the first TV reality show for kids. It was

produced by Fidelis Duker and being on set with a veteran like Bukky Wright who was the god-mother for the kids, I was so tensed. All eyes were on me. I didn’t quite understand why every crew member was there. All attention was on me. I felt as if I had the whole world staring at me. It was scary. I was shy and uncomfortable. Words failed me. I kept making mistakes out of so much rush of adrenaline. I had to excuse myself. I needed a bit of “Me” time.

I got to the ladies and I looked straight at myself in the mirror. I said “Wunmi, this is it. You will do this and be in front of people all through your life time. So the earlier you get used to it the better. I made myself realise that I could do it and when I got out and we rolled, it was a different ball game entirely. I blanked everyone out, got more comfortable with myself and shoot was brilliant” The Ogun State born presenter and voice over artiste has also proven to be a force to reckon with on stage as she has done several theatre performance including ‘Oya’, ‘For the Love of Country’, ‘Nigeria the Beautiful’, ‘Death and the Kings Horsemen’ and ‘Trials of Brother Jero’.

“I started featuring in stage productions right from when I was in school. I

believe in a

character,

I don’t

accept the role Honey mongers at Lokoja

Lidingo

Open Mic Night with Lolo

L

era and the deep and boisterous voiced Yoruba traditional ruler who was in his 50s.

Being a lady, I had to first learn to walk and talk like a man. I then took it higher by studying and emulating various mannerisms of kings. When we eventually staged the play, lecturers and students didn’t believe the king was not a man” Soft-spoken Omowunmi reveals that she enjoys acting because “it’s interesting when you stop being yourself and you enter someone else’s world” Is there any role she won’t accept?

The dark skinned actress reveals that the character determines her decision.

“Once I don’t believe in a c h a r a c t e r, I don’t accept the role”

Once I don’t

MIDWEEK JUMP olo is the host of the Open Mic Night where lyricists, poets, rappers, and those well-versed in spoken word performance to a live audience. Come experience and listen to great minds interpret the society, lay path to a better way for Nigeria or just talk about love in a heart wrenching way.

The event begins by 7pm on Thursday, 12th February, 2015 at Bogobiri, Ikoyi, Lagos State. Admission is free.

have been part of over 40 stage projects some of which include opera, mime, pantomime and dramatisation of poems.

Then, for screen I have been part of over 20 projects; movies, short films and series inclusive.

“I have a number of very challenging roles. For stage, the most excruciating was playing King Orodunni in the play titled Third world War. I was in year two then in school and at that point I was juggling between the play in school and an opera owned by a professional theatre company outside the school. How I successfully did both still baffles me because they were Plays that required two extreme sides of me.

I was b o t h the 16 year old soprano singing girl i n the op-

The Jaja Band at Bogobiri

J

oin Jaja and his band today, at the beautiful Bogobiri. That is a good way to relax after work or indulge in a weekly event during the week. They have a choice range of drinks and small

chops to enjoy while listening to the live band.

The event begins by 7pm today, 11th February, 2015 at Bogobiri, 9, Maitama Sule Street off

Awolowo

Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State. Admission is Free.

Femi Osofisan, writer of The Oriki of

26

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FAR AND NEAR

Polls: Ministry of Culture campaigns against violence

Joel Ajayi

T

he Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation and groups collectively known as United Nigeria Against Violence at Home and Abroad said they were ready to take the campaign against violence to all nooks and crannies of the country to ensure a violence-free exercise.

They disclosed this at media briefing in Abuja, calling on all Nigerians to shun violence before, during and after the forthcoming general election.

While Speaking during the event, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke called on Nigerians not to take the future Nigerians for granted but to raise their voices against violence that is alien to Nigeria.

He said: “This is a very timely initiative by Nigerians United Against Violence, a very important coalition of men and women with commitment to the future of Nigeria. Some people said 2015 will see the disintegration of Nigeria through violence in the cost of our electoral process. That should be an alarm bell in the mind of any Nigerians aspiring for any public position not to be an agent that will give credence to such a

Entreat crew members

Entreat soundtrack unveiled Olawale Oluwadahunsi

Edem Duke

change prediction.

“Nothing must come between unity of our people, the indivisibility of this nation and the protection of its territorial integrity. Politician should not allow their quest for public office lead to disintegration of Nigeria. We cannot afford a Nigeria up in flames; they should not forget that there must be a society before anybody can aspire to occupy public office.

“Over the years, violence had never been in the consciousness in the culture on the lexicon of the Nigerian politician.

We only see irregularities in the past elec-

tions but never in the recent few decades do we hear violence as a tool of accessing political office to serve the public.”

Speaking earlier, Director General of Save Nigeria Group, Mr. Kennedy Iyere, said Nigerians at home and in Diaspora are watching and they are joining forces to make Nigeria a safer place. “This is a simple way of saying we need to have a free and fair and violent-free election. It was on this backdrop, we agreed to have a peace march, where we shall mobilise millions of Nigerians from across all sectors and professions to be able demonstrates solidarity against violence”.

At 2nd Kannywood Awards in Abuja Regina Otokpa

P

opular Kannywood actor, Ali Nuhu and his counterpart, Nafisat Abdullahi, recently led a host of others to clinch awards for their relentless efforts at transforming the Hausa genre of the Nigerian movie industry during the second edition of Kannywood Awards held in Abuja.

Ali Nuhu and Nafisat Abdullahi won the awards for the Most Popular Actor and Most Popular Actress respectively, while Sadiq Sani Sadiq and Hadiza Gabor won the awards for the Best Actor and the Best Actress categories.

Other recipients honoured with merit awards during the night include Nigeria’s Vice President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Almakura and the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje among others.

Speaking at the occasion, the Director General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Chief Emeka Mba commended the partnership between Kannywood and MTN Nigeria, for successfully hosting the second edition of the awards.

He however called on other private companies to emulate the initiative of MTN believing that such initiatives would encourage stakeholders to recognise the importance of the industry to nation-building which

At Kannywood Award

could further enhance more commitment from government.

“I sincerely give kudos to MTN for this initiative to partner with Kannywood on this award. This is a boost to the industry and the practitioners, whose efforts are acknowledged in this amazing manner. By this gesture, we know the stakeholders will be encouraged to do more. It will be a great thing, if other companies can emulate this initiative,” he said.

Also speaking during the event, MTN’s Chief Marketing Officer, Bayo Adekanmbi, said the company would not relent in its effort to encourage its subscribers to get better at whatever they do. “This is what we preach

through our Be Better Campaign. It is our desire to see people get better in whatever they do.”

Bayo added that Kannywood Awards was a platform through which MTN impact on the lives of people through their passion, by creating excitement while adding value to their lives in many positive ways.

According to the founder and President of Kannywood Awards, Ahmad Mohammed Sarari the partnership with MTN since the inception of the award in 2013, had not only boosted the morale of the artistes but had encouraged and increased their level of commitment, creativity and passion.

I

t was gathering of A-list actors and the upcoming ones as playwright and stage manager, Michael Asuelime organised the unveiling of the soundtrack his first movie, Entreat, which took place at Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Although this is not the first time a movie production company would unveil its soundtrack, what makes the event quite unusual was that the film is still in its teething stage of featuring its cast unlike other companies that will unveil its soundtrack in the final stages of the movie. Also, the quality of the songs presented stood the event out.

While the guests that included media, movie people and players from corporate Nigeria waited for the unveiling, they were serenaded by the Perfect 4 String Quartet which did a good job of rendering contemporary and regular tunes to the delight of the guests.

The cast and crew that were unveiled for the movie included the producer, Grace Edwin-Okon; actors like Brian Okwara, Monalisa Chinda, Wale Ojo, Zainab Balogun, Kemi Lala Akindoju and the director’s biological son, Michael Asuelime Jr., among many others.

Some of the actors that were not present include Femi Jacobs, Osas Ighodalo and Sadiq Daba.

The theatre director, whose company has produced plays for over 15 years, told the story of how he felt when he travelled to the United States of America to see the black American filmmaker, Tyler Perry.

“He took me on a tour around his studio and told me how he started out producing and directing plays on stage before crossing to film,” Asuelime said, explaining that Perry’s story of humble beginnings is just like that of BP Vision Limited, which is now ready to do films the way they should be done.

Asuelime also explained that the project is also to discover new talents, which is why his company was introducing online auditions to give opportunity to young talented individuals.

According to him, those interested should log on to BP Vision’s Facebook page, like it, pick a monologue and upload 60 second video, get friends to also like the page and vote for a video.

Business Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Investors prefer money market to other markets for returns –Alaka

28

IT to drive manufacturing between 2015/2020, says report 31

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oil prices to remain low as politics takes shine off market 33

LCCI, textile manufacturers fault INEC’s shift of elections

ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

T

he Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, andNigerian Textile Manufacturers Association have described the postponement of the elections by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as undesirable for the economy.

The LCCI in a statement by the President of the Chamber, Alhaji Remi Bello, stated that the tempo of economic activities had expectedly decelerated since political transition periods are typically characterized by profound anxiety and uncertainty.

Bello stated: “Prolonging these conditions has adverse impact on the confidence of investors. Major investment decisions are difficult to take at times like these.

The tempo of economic activities has expectedly decelerated as a result of the impending elections.

Therefore the quicker these conditions are dispensed with, the better for investors.

“This is a major impact point of the election postponement - a prolongation of the suspense.

Investors need to have an idea of the direction of the country’s political and economic governance in order to manage policy and political risks of investments”, he added.

The LCCI boss further noted

that the postponement would inflict numerous micro level impacts on businesses as the shift of election dates had disrupted many plans, programmes, meetings, academic calendar, conferences, and important business decisions; locally and internationally.

He added that rescheduling of these activities and the attendant dislocations will come at a cost to investors and citizens alike.

On the impact of the election postponement on campaign budgets, Bello said it would put addi-

tional pressure on the campaign budgets of the political parties and the candidates for the various elective positions., thereby causing additional funding requirements to sustain the tempo of mobilization and service the campaign apparatus of the parties and the candidates.

According to the LCCI chieftain, this will take its toll on the finances of the candidates and the political parties, pointing out however this may be good news for the beneficiaries of such campaign spending – media houses,

logistics providers, printers of posters and banners, billboard providers, PR and Advert agencies and so on.

LCCI stated further: “The circumstances and sequence of events leading up to postponement is prone to suspicion and could undermine the credibility of the electoral process. The credibility of the electoral process is critical to the sustenance of political and social stability as well as economic progress of the country.

I

nsurance industry regulator, the National Insurance Commission ,NAICOM, has a new five-year road map spanning 20162020 for the development of the industry..

NAICOM, in a statement issued on Monday indicated that the aim of the new Plan was to consolidate the developments so far achieved, and that it planned to achieve the completion of ongoing regulatory reforms; collaborate with all stakeholders in the implementation of the reso-

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 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

L-R: Executive Sectary (NASME) Mr Eke Ubiji; Vice Chancellor Babcock University Prof. Kayode Makinde; Deputy Manager (S/D) Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, Mrs Christy Onabu; Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Nigerian NewsDirect, Dr Samuel Ibiyemi and Chairman International Energy Services, Dr Diran Fawibe during a Roundtable discussion entitled, Government Policies and Impact of Falling Oil prices on Business (Way forward for Investors) in Lagos, recently.

NAICOM unveils new 5-year Development Plan MESHACK IDEHEN

27

lutions reached at the 2014 insurance summit; while adopting the best practice and international supervision standards; as well as lessons learnt from other markets and industry reforms.

Director of Inspectorate at NAICOM, Mr. Barineka Thompson, said the new development plan, which is a follow-up to the first development plan rolled out in 2011, would also fundamentally re-shape the insurance industry, create strategic and operational challenges and opportunities for insurers.

He said NAICOM’s role was to facilitate the orderly conduct of

insurance business through appropriate regulation.

Thompson said it had also facilitated the ongoing transition to risk-based supervision, enhancement of solvency management framework including the consideration of solvency II equivalence and early warning system.

He said it would also engender the review and consolidation of insurance laws, adoption of uniform template for insurance reporting and consolidation of guidelines issued by the commission.

The other objectives, according to the insurance industry reg-

ulatory institution, are to transform the commission’s processes, people and systems, and optimise revenue collection and ensure an effective management of assets.

The Commission also stated that it had commenced an action to address identified gaps in the area of solvency framework, accounting and auditing practices in the industry, the viability of insurance companies, the enforcement of compulsory insurance, long-term investment instruments for annuities, consumer protection and industry tax challenges.

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

28

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Investors prefer money market to Former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Crossover Micro Finance Bank, Lagos, Reverend Wale Alaka is also a Mortgage Banker with a stint in real estate industry.

In this interview with SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE, he bares his mind on a wide range of financial and economic issues.

Excerpt.

What is your take on Nigeria’s mortgage sector? In your view, has the mortgage sector been complementing the efforts of real estate operators?

The mortgage sector like the nation’s financial system is largely undeveloped.

What do I mean by this? I am talking of the formal and informal sector of the financial sector. There are so many gaps within the financial system for new financial instruments to come into the market.

I am talking of both commercial banking and discount houses. The way to know the development of the financial system is by the instrument you see in the market. Like in oil sector, we have different kinds of instruments to operate. In Nigeria’s financial market, we don’t have all these. That is why I said, it is largely undeveloped. So, coming to the mortgage sector, it is symptomatic of the financial sector. They are largely undeveloped. In fact, they have not even scratched the potential of the sector. The major problem of the sector is product/offering range available in the industry. What we have is Federal Mortgage Bank, which is nonfunctional. It is virtually, not touching the needs of the market.

Can you say that Mortgage Banks as well as Primary Mortgage Institutions are performing their roles as catalysts in real estate sector?

The Federal Mortgage Bank OF Nigeria, FMBN, is supposed to create liquidity for mortgages based on the volume of the business. Nigeria has about 16 million housing deficits and so, they cannot cope in providing the instruments to meet up the nation’s housing deficits. Like in some northern states, some property companies collected loans without paying back and they still collect more. If somebody has not repaid the loans he borrowed, is he supposed to collect another one? As a result of this, the loans are sticky. So they have a lot of risk assets that are bad in their portfolio. So, they cannot easily create a secondary liquidity for the loans because the loans are bad. If you want to create a secondary market for the loan, your underlining assets must be first class. If they are not first class, nobody will buy into the assets and these are part of the challenges. Other reasons include nepotism, insincerity, and non-transparency; in their Risk Assets philosophy, hence they have a lot of bad debts in their portfolio.

Are there solutions in sight for Mortgage institutions in the country?

The way out is to re-engineer the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to be able to do the little it can because, it can’t do much. . To restore the sector to its past

glory, we must first clean the books. You will do what somebody, who collected such loan, will do. You foreclose it. Many of them are afraid to foreclose. When you foreclose, you are cleaning the books.

There are many things you need to do to foreclose the bad loans. You must foreclose because you can’t pay. You can foreclosure when you sell. You can subrogate and step into the shoes of the owner. You go through the process of liquidation to liquidate the loan. For instance, you have a property and you have not sold it, you can take it over and do the real commercial transactions to restore the property.

You can sell it at rock bottom prize or find a way out for the business to move. It is called subrogation.

Is recapitalisation not part of the re-engineering process that you suggested as a way out?

The answer is yes. But that is not enough. When you are talking of recapitalisation, you are talking about the Primary Mortgage Institutions, PMIs. Most of the PMIs hardly survive because they are not properly structured. The capital structure of any business must be okay.

Every transaction in life must have a balanced structure. If you are trading in money market, your capital structure must flow with it. If you are trading in capital market, you must also work out the structure along the line. If you are in money market, you need more short term liquidity than long term funds because you are at the short-end of the market.

But if you are going to stay long in the market, you need a long term capital than short term market. Most of the PMIs have short term capital than long term capital. So, they cannot function properly because their capital structure is not right. The PMIs don’t have the money. It is the commercial banks that have the money. We are talking of short term, medium and long term funds. The money available for business in any country cannot be different from the economy as a whole. The Nigerian economy doesn’t allow money to stay for too long.

Everybody is trading on short term basis. So, if you get money now, you put it in the bank for 20 percent interest. For how long would you allow your money to remain in the bank, so everybody is trading on money market than any other market? Even those that suppose to trade in long term market like the Pension Funds Administrators, PFAs, are still bringing money to the short-end of the market. The money for long term investment is there, but they are bringing it to the short-end of the market. The Insurance companies are also doing that. When you get premium, it suppose to be investment for long term,

Alaka

but the insurance companies also bring them to the short term market.

Are you sure the FMBN and PMIs have the financial muscle to bail out property investors?

They are not really helping the sector because they don’t have the money. The PMIs don’t have the capacity to do it. As everybody is competing for the short term fund, the commercial banks have bigger leverage than them. For instance, if First

Bank comes to you and said they need your deposit and the PMI’s also come to ask for the same deposit, which of them will you give your deposit? Is it not First Bank?

This is because the bank has bigger leverage than the PMI’s. Some of these PMI’s tell lies and say they have good financial profiles. They can only have the money, if the Federal Mortgage Bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN is serious and committed. The CBN we had

EVERYBODY IS TRADING ON SHORT TERM BASIS. SO, IF YOU GET MONEY NOW, YOU PUT IT IN THE BANK FOR 20 PERCENT INTEREST. FOR HOW LONG WOULD YOU ALLOW YOUR MONEY TO REMAIN IN

THE BANK, SO EVERYBODY IS TRADING ON MONEY MARKET THAN ANY OTHER MARKET?

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

29

other markets for returns –Alaka THERE IS NO DERIVATIVE FOR

THE MARKET.

THE

SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN DEVELOPED

AT ALL.

THEY ARE

MANAGING INTEREST RATES.

THEY ARE

MANAGING OTHER BANKING ISSUES

has been left undone. Just as it did in the aviation sector, the CBN should declare a state of emergency in the real estate sector due to huge benefits there.

The fear of many Nigerians is that mortgage facilities attract high interest rates.

How true is it?

The instrument to create low interest platform is not there. CBN has to deliberately create such instrument. Let me tell you, that there is no single property bond in Nigeria. There is no single derivative instrument in the nation’s financial system for property. Even in stock market, where are the derivatives for the market.

There is no derivative for the market.

The system has not been developed at all.

They are managing interest rates. They are managing other banking issues. All these are fine for the developmental aspects of the financial sector and that is why they cannot have 3 percent like their counterparts abroad. You can create a 3 percent property instrument for the purpose of mortgage. CBN can facilitate it.

The Federal Mortgage Bank was established for you and I. They created 6 percent for individuals and 10 percent for developers. It has been like that since. in the last 20 years, have left the roles as apex bank, concerning the developmental economy. We are in a developing economy and not a developed economy. You cannot behave like a CBN in UK. You must behave like a CBN in Africa because we have instruments that are yet to come out. CBN is like a catalyst. It must create an instrument that will help to develop the nation’s economy. Let me give you an instance, the CBN started the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. This is because CBN saw the need to develop the capital market. The founding staffs of the NSE were from the CBN. As they saw the need to develop the Commission, so also they came out to create the enabling instrument to start the market.

The CBN also midwife the inter-bank money market. They said, the instrument is needed in the interbank market and they came out to create such instrument.

It should also come out to create a longterm funding for mortgage banks. That aspect of the CBN developmental duties

How can we solve the nation’s housing deficits amid the growing population?

The federal and state governments have a role to play to reduce the nation’s housing deficit. They must declare a state of emergency to reduce the deficit People is looking at other ways beyond oil, to develop the economy. Let me tell you that real estate has the potential to change the face of Nigeria’s economy. If government decides to invest in the 17 million housing deficits, the resources coming from the sector will be bigger than that of oil. The direct and collateral income government will get from the sector will be huge. If out of the 17 million deficits, government decides to address 5 million deficits, providing houses at N5 million each, you can imagine the multiplier effect it will have on the economy. You will see the quantum of revenue coming from the sector. It runs in trillions. It is bigger than the revenue coming from oil sector. It will also reduce the employment rates. Tax will also be generated. In fact, it will be a sharp linear

curve. Government does not see the need for this. It is a big challenge. This cannot work alone.

Government should involve the private sector. The private sector is ready to be involved. One of the reasons why we don’t have liquidity for property development is due to lack of money. Anybody that comes out with property bond of N100 million today, it will be fully subscribed because the law compels them to invest in real estate instrument, not directly. The law says they must invest in property instrument.

They cannot say they will not invest.

You can imagine if you get the money at that rate from the PMI’s and plough it back into the system; you can see how much you can generate from it. As at today, the money waiting for real estate instrument is about N2 trillion. It is in pension fund.

As they are bailing out airlines, the CBN is giving them money; they should also fund the real estate sector because the deficit is 17 million and you want to target provision of houses for masses, you are also create employment for youths.

People are begging to work. Do you know what this means? Many artisans will be employed. There is great potential in real estate. Money is there and has not been tapped.

What is your take on the issue of land tenure system?

The land tenure system and issuance of Certificate of Occupancy are parts of the challenges affecting the real estate sector.

Anything you are doing, which does not accelerate the nation’s economy, is not worth it. It must accelerate the ability of people to acquire and sell their property.

The velocity of transaction from primary to tertiary levels must be accelerated. We can even have property exchange

like Nigerian Stock Exchange market.

If we have Nigerian Stock Exchange, we should also have Nigerian Property Exchange market. The same way stock exchange works is the same way property exchange will work. We can go round to do the valuation of estates in different areas. You do it sector by sector and have the ruling prices of different properties. You have the data base, go to the market and call property broker and give him the cost of each property and cost of transactions.

We don’t have them in Nigeria. We have it in abroad. If there is no such instrument, we can create it. If you have the exchange market, we can transfer such instruments like land, the C of O and other property instruments. There will be velocity of buying and selling land within 21 days. You can also use it to create enough revenue. If you can create an instrument that is acceptable within the short period of time, we can overcome the housing challenges in the country. People are not looking that way. From time immemorial, estate development has been quite challenging. Property business is very lucrative. It will always sell, if not now, later.

It is like bond. It appreciates and it will always be there. It is not about the right time to invest in property, but the portfolio you have. In a bad economy, people still gain and in good economy, people still lose money, so, it is the property investor that should know the portfolio to invest in. You should look at the portfolio and know the advantage of such portfolio. You cannot be afraid, because you can always adjust your portfolio. My submission is that CBN is not playing the developmental roles they suppose to play in the sector to be able to reduce the nation’s housing deficits.

30

Business News

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

‘Invoke CEMA provisions to curb import frauds’ FRANCIS EZEM

F

reight Forwarders under the aegis of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders NAAGAFF have blamed the worsening cases of import-related fraud and the attendant delay in cargo release on the failure of the Nigeria Customs Service to strictly enforce relevant sections of the Customs and Excise Management Act CEMA. Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, said recently while assessing the progress of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report PAAR, which is a component of the Destination Inspection scheme, that the greatest challenge faced by the regime was the low level of integrity of the importers and their agent.

Founder of the group, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, who spoke in Lagos, observed that strict enforcement of the relevant sections of the CEMA would bring to a final

stop all cases of import-related fraud.

According to him, sections 46, 47 and 48 of the Act, which is also the enabling legislation for the service address all forms of import -related fraud such as concealment, under-invoicing, overinvoicing, wrong classification, double classification, under-valuation and outright smuggling, among several others.

“These three sections of the Act prescribe five-year imprisonment without option of fine and forfeiture of the consignment or both for anyone that indulges in these and if the relevant government agencies invoke these sections of the law, cases of importrelated fraud will be drastically minimised”, he said.

He observed that humans, especially from this part of the world have the propensity to disobey the law, a development that makes heavy sanctions imperative for anyone caught so as to serve as a deterrent to others.

“The negative effects of non-

obedience to the laws of the land are enormous, especially in the port industry and so more often than not, the shippers and the final consumers of the imported goods at placed at the receiving end due to the attendant delays and high cost of doing business that come with such corrupt practices and delays in cargo delivery”, Aniebonam also argued.

He lamented that instead of strict enforcement of the extant laws, some agencies of the government connive with the importers, whose only language is that of profit to defraud the government, a development, he said calls for serious action.

The NAGAFF-boss, who is also a former Customs officer also noted that in addition to the CEMA, the 2006 Import Guidelines also empowers Customs to punish those who subvert the guideline and therefore called on the relevant government agencies, especially Customs to wield the big stick to checkmate all forms of import-related fraud.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Workers protest failed housing deals with NLC, Kriston-Lally OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

N

o fewer than 200 workers, who subscribed to the Nigeria Labour CongressKriston-Lally mass housing project, have protested the failure of the two parties to provide the housing units, two years after the payment.

The subscribers, who staged protest at the venues of NLC programmes in Abuja, recently alleged that NLC and its partner have defrauded in the housing deal, threatening that only refund of their payment could assuage them.

It would be recalled that the NLC had in 2013, entered partnership pact with Kriston-Lally, a private development firm to provide affordable housing units for Nigerian workers in the Federal Capital Territory.

Over 3,000 subscribers were said to have keyed into the project with initial down payment of 10 percent of the total cost, amounting to over N2.5 billion.

The NLC-Kriston Lally housing project was launched in May 2013 to build 300,000 housing

units for the Nigerian workers, promising that the first phase of 100,000 housing units would be delivered by December 2014.

But two years after, the project seems to have been stalled with accusations and counter accusations from both parties to the deal, a situation which is currently creating anxiety among the workers as many of them claimed they borrowed the money from the banks to pay their initial deposits.

Spokesperson for the protesting workers, Oluwole David told journalists that their grievances cut across workers in public and private sectors as most of them took loans from banks to key into the project.

He said over N4 billion initial installment was involved in the project to which they are seeking refund.

He said, “NLC in 2013 rolled out a publication, inviting Nigerian workers to subscribe to affordable mass housing scheme.

The project was oversubscribed because they painted it in such a way that every worker that saw the advert subscribed to it.’’

MoneyGram now covers 25,000 locations across Africa UDO ONYEKA

M L-R: Lawson Ovih, Tayo Adekunle; Alex Ojieriakhi and Hycent Afuah winners of “32” Samsung TV of the consolation prize of Super Cruise promo held at Ikeja City Mall today Monday.

oneyGram International, has announced that its agent network in Africa had now reached 25,000 locations, following a strategic expansion initiative across the continent.

Recent technology advances and new agent and sub-agent signings, including an agreement with the Mauritius Post Office to offer money transfer ser-

Banks rev up Customer Biometric Registration drive UDO ONYEKA

I

n an effort to reduce incidents of fraud and protect customer accounts from unauthorised access, banks under the aegis of the Bankers’ Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, have intensified enrolment of their customers on the Bank Verification Number, BVN. The CBN, while urging all bank customers to register for their BVN by June 2015, warned that any bank customer without a BVN would be deemed to have

inadequate know-your-customers, KYC, by that date.

BVN involves the registration of customers in the financial system using biometric technology making accounts more secure using unique identifiers such as fingerprint.

The project, which is an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in conjunction with the Bankers’ Committee, is aimed at protecting bank customers and further strengthening the Nigerian banking system.

It also seeks to address the safety of customers’ funds, avoid

losses through compromise of personal identification numbers and other criminal activities in the industry.

The project has been described as a ‘silver-bullet solution’ to many of the challenges in the banking industry. The BVN is a unique identifier for each bank customer across the financial industry, making it possible to build and track customer financial history and activity.

This will allow banks access to more reliable information that could inform decisions on customer loan and credit applica-

tions and other complex transactions.

In addition, banks are also now able to reduce identity fraud within the financial industry and increase accountability levels.

As part of efforts to encourage enrolment on the BVN, the CBN recently directed banks to only honour transactions over N100 million from customers with BVN from March 2015.

Such transactions according to the apex bank include but not limited to, money transfers, loans, and contingencies, among others.

vices at more than 100 locations, have contributed to achieving this company milestone.

“MoneyGram continues to grow throughout Africa as a result of forming strategic relationships with reputable companies, including banks, post offices and retailers, to bring added convenience and more choices for our customers,” says Herve Chomel, MoneyGram’s vice president of Africa.

“Remittances are an important part of economic development and financial inclusion throughout the region and are integral to providing household essentials, education and healthcare in many countries. We are excited to be a part of the region’s growth”, he further remarked.

Consumers have access to MoneyGram’s services in more than 50 African countries. In a series of recent successes, the company signed an agreement with First Bank of Nigeria’s subsidiaries in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia, and also renewed a master agreement with Standard Bank Group, one of Africa’s top banks. MoneyGram’s services are available at over 500 Standard Bank locations in South Africa and across 11 Southern and Eastern African countries.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

31

IT to drive manufacturing between 2015/2020, says report ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

T

he transformation that will take place in the manufacturing sector across the world will be largely driven by Information technology, IT. Specifically, in the years between 2015 and 2020, growth in manufacturing will depend on the IT. International Data Corporation report Manufacturing Insights report released recently asserts that the Internet of Things, IoT is on track to dramatically transform manufacturers’ products, services, and operations in 2015.

The latest report, titled “Perspective: The Internet of Things

Gains Momentum in Manufacturing in 2015,” details the primary applications of IoT in manufacturing as well as manufacturers’ current expectations, investment plans, and concerns.

According to IDC Manufacturing Insights, although there are many use cases for manufacturers, IoT applications essentially boil down to two for processes and products, which that by 2020 at least half of all corporate stand processes will have automated data acquisition; a quarter will have self-correction capabilities while onboard service revenue will double its share of total industry revenue.

The IDC’s 2014 Global Technology and Industry Research

Organisation IT Survey said that manufacturers especially have high expectations for the IoT’s impact on lowering operational costs adding that technology will become a core product competency.

Also an IoT investment is expected to yield advantages in retaining customers, attracting new customers, improving service and support, and differentiating from their competition.

Practice Director at IDC Manufacturing Insights and author of the report Kimberly Knickle, suggests, “As IoT provides the basis for an increasing amount of automated data acquisition, manufacturers will be able to adapt their processes and their products not

just for incremental improvements but also for more transformative purposes, including selfhealing or autonomous processes and capabilities that evolve into new business models.”

The report revealed that current investments in IoT that are unique to the manufacturing environment are taking place in three major initiatives namely, smart manufacturing and connected supply chains.

IDC in the study explained that smart manufacturing means applying IoT to the overall production process as well as individual assets, with outcomes that could increase production output, product quality, or operations and workforce safety and lower re-

source consumption.

While on the other hand connected products entails applying IoT to vehicles and industrial machinery, to impact product performance, including collecting detailed information on products in the field, remote diagnostics, remote maintenance when possible, and even remote operations, with product as a service as a new delivery model Future IDC Manufacturing Insights research is expected to identify more of the IT suppliers that are contributing to IoT investments in the manufacturing industry, detail the technology components in the most common use cases, as well as key considerations for those components.

IMF recognises Ecobank, others’ efforts on financial stability UDO ONYEKA

T Participants and members of the organized sector during a meeting in Lagos recently.

he IMF has recognised Ecobank and some other banks’ positive steps to avoid risks to the nation’s financial stability.

Currently, Ecobank has total assets value of over $23 billion.

The IMF, expressed this in its report titled “Pan-African Banks—Opportunities and Challenges for Cross-Border Oversight” published last week, which

Why FG approved N9.6bn for cook stoves –Minister OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

M

inister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam has defended the federal government’s approval of N9.6bn to purchase cook stoves for Nigerian women.

She said, the need to protect the lives of thousands of women, who die as a result of inhalation of smokes was responsible for the federal government’s gesture.

Apart from that, she noted that it would also help to prevent the incessant felling of trees, thereby

shielding the country from the unnecessary exposure to the negative effects of climate change.

Malam, who spoke recently at the sidelines of a meeting with the representatives of the World Bank and other development partners, was reacting against the background of criticisms that have been trailing the scheme since it was launched by the President last year.

The Minister said, the criticisms were needless giving the enormous challenges the mere act of cooking was posing to the nation.

She called on the stakeholders in the Nigeria Alliance for Clean Cook stoves to collaborate with government to entrench the culture of clean cooking in the country On how government would ensure fairness in the distribution of the cook stoves, the minister explained the stoves would be given to the First Lady of each state who will in turn share them among the rural women in their domains.

She stated, “The stoves will be given to the 36 state First Ladies to distribute according to how

they organize their things. They will also be given to faith based organizations, community based associations and any organized group.

“A committee has already been set up to monitor the distribution. This is a pilot scheme.

We are waiting for the stoves to come. I am the head of the committee and I will ensure it reaches the right people at the grassroots. We are targeting the rural poor because they are the ones that bear the brunt of cooking with firewood.’’

Dana Air crashes air fares for Valentine season travels OLUSEGUN KOIKI

D

ana Air has crashed its one-way ticket on Business Class to N27, 000 for valentine celebration.

Before now, a one-way ticket on its business class oscillates between N35, 000 and N50, 000.

The spokesman for the airline, Mr. Sam Ogbogoro in a

statement issued in Lagos said that with the unveiling of the special promotional ticket sales, its guests all over the country could enjoy premium comfort in business class with its online fares, which starts from N27, 000.00.

The Chief Commercial Officer of the airline, Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo, who unveiled the valentine promotional fares,

stated that the airline was keen to encourage its guests to travel for leisure and business in style and comfort this season, stressing that the initiative was part of the airline’s commitment to continually offer pocket friendly fares across its sales channels.

Mbanuzuo also noted that guests stand a chance to win complimentary flight tickets by

participating in the ongoing promotional social media activities on facebook and twitter pages of the airline.

He also used the opportunity to reiterate the preparedness of Dana Air to commence daily flight operations to Owerri in the coming weeks as part of its expansion drive to make its unique services readily available to all.

highlighted that the growth of pan-African banks is improving competition, driving innovation, supporting financial inclusion, and contributing to economic development and financial integration in Africa.

At the same time, the report said that the rising reach and complexity of these banks pose regulatory and supervisory challenges. The report contained a reference to the governance of Ecobank that referred to the period 2013-14.

According to a media statement signed by Andrew Kanyegirire, “IMF staff is aware that Ecobank has taken a number of important and appropriate steps to address these concerns to avoid risks to financial stability.

The recent news that Ecobank has raised equity capital for the group and announced an equity capital increase to meet regulatory capital requirements in Nigeria is further welcome steps in the right direction.”

The Bank’s Group Head, Corporate Communications,Richard Uku, reaffirmed the bank’s financial strength and strong governance as a systemically important banking group in Africa.

“As the IMF statement alluded to, in the last six months, Ecobank has raised approximately $1bn in combined equity and debt capital for its parent company and its business in Nigeria, the largest of the group’s affiliates.

He maintained that Ecobank is compliant with regulatory requirements, including those for liquidity and capital, across its network, adding that it continues to be supportive of regulatory reforms that make the African banking system safer, more transparent and more accountable.

32

Business News

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Air traffic engineers task FG on equipment, manpower devt OLUSEGUN KOIKI

T

he National Association of Air Traffic Engineers, NAAE, has called on the Federal Government to commence the replacement of old navigational aids in the country with better and improved technologies.

The association also challenged the government to recruit more technical personnel in the department in order to complement the existing workforce.

An online statement jointly signed by the President and Secretary of NAAE, Mr. Ebenezer Makanjuola and Mr. Francis Omeje respectively, urged the government to take advantage of technological revolution and advancement in global aviation community to deploy new Naviga-

tional Aids, NAVAIDS, with spare parts to replace the ageing ones.

NAAE however stated that NAVAIDS facilities deployed by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, still ranked among the best in class and operated in accordance with internationally recommended standard and procedures in the world, but said that replacement of some of the equipment would further boost operations and safety.

They pledged to continue to ensure the optional performance of the equipment irrespective of their locations in order to achieve credibility and reliability of the facilities and safety of the country’s airspace.

The Engineers recalled that government in the past few years continually embarked on massive deployment of NAVAIDS, noting

that as managers of the equipment, they remained serviceable, fully functional and reliable to the end users.

According to them, they were fully involved in skill deployment within available resources in ensuring the success of the ongoing Aeronautical Information Service automation project and controller Pilot Data link connection of NAMA. The engineers said the association was aware of misleading information perpetrated by some group of agitators aimed at frustrating government efforts in providing state of the art navigational facilities, adding that as much as every group has the right to demand, such demand should not be premised on the state of equipment.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

HSBC bank ‘helped clients dodge millions in tax’

B

anking giant HSBC helped wealthy clients across the world evade hundreds of millions of pounds worth of tax, the BBC has learned.

Panorama has seen accounts from 106,000 clients in 203 countries, leaked by whistleblower Herve Falciani in 2007.

The documents include details of almost 7,000 clients based in the UK. HSBC admitted that it was “accountable for past control failures.” But it said it has now “fundamentally changed”.

“We acknowledge that the compliance culture and standards of due diligence in HSBC’s Swiss private bank, as well as the industry in general, were significantly lower than they are today,” it added.

The bank now faces criminal investigations in the US, France, Belgium and Argentina, but not

in the UK, where HSBC is based.

HSBC said it is “co-operating with relevant authorities”.

Treasury minister David Gauke defended the government’s actions on tax avoidance in the House of Commons after Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood Shabana Mahmood tabled an urgent question.

He insisted that the Treasury approach has been “very successful”, saying it has sought prosecution for “serial tax evaders” and raised extra tax revenue.

Offshore accounts are not illegal, but many people use them to hide cash from the tax authorities. And while tax avoidance is perfectly legal, deliberately hiding money to evade tax is not.

The French authorities concluded in 2013 that 99.8 per cent of their citizens on the list were probably evading tax.

50th celebrations: KFC to give away family meal every month

G

Vocational students at the on-going third phase of the Economic Empowerment programme of the Lagos State Government yesterday.

HASAL MFB introduces zero COT on transactions

D

etermined to ensure that its customers continue to enjoy cost-efficient banking services, HASAL Microfinance Bank Limited has commenced the zero Commission on Turnover, COT, policy on all customers’ transactions with it.

The Board of the Bank last week after its meeting announced the zero COT policy, almost a year ahead of the 2016 deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria ,CBN, for all banks in the country to implement zero COT to enable customers have unhindered access to their money.

Briefing the media on the Bank’s decision on zero COT for its customers in Abuja, the Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Rogers Nwoke, said the reason for this move was in response to the request by customers to have

a bank that will enable them carry out high volume transactions without incurring costs.

According to the finance expert, the decision is also one of the ways the Board and management considered helpful to small business owners, self-employed persons as well as the larger society to enjoy the benefits of current and corporate accounts while enjoying zero COT. Nwoke is optimistic that the innovative banking measure, the first to be introduced by any MFB in the country, will pave a way for old and new customers of the bank to continue to carryout transactions without worrying about any COT or hidden charges.

He urged non-current account holders who are interested in operating such account but had restrained themselves in the past

due to COT charges to come to the bank and open their accounts as HASAL MFB is pioneering the zero COT in the MFB sub-sector of the banking industry.

He explained that all current accounts of the bank have been designed for the cost sensitive business or individual. According to him, account users will find current account attractive and well suited to meet their needs due to the nature of their operations.

The HASAL Bank Chief explained: “The introduction of the zero COT on transactions by our Bank is one of the ways being explored to demonstrate to them that we care about their businesses and that we are ready to remove all forms of constraints that may have hamper their access to financial services.

lobal food chain, KFC, has kick off a 12-month marketing push to commemorate 50 years since the fast food chain launched was launched in the UK. The first ad launched on Monday called “families”, features a foster child joining a family. And aims to capture the way a KFC can bring families together.

The second stage of the campaign is called ‘50Years of KFC’ and will include two additional spots promoting KFC’s Original Recipe and Zinger chicken.

The TV ads will encourage people to use social media to pledge what they would do for their favourite KFC, using the 50years of KFC hashtag.

The best suggestions will be

challenged to carry out their pledge for the chance to win one KFC meal a month to share with their loved ones for the next 50 years.

David Timm, the vice president of marketing at KFC, said: “This is a landmark year for KFC and gives us the opportunity to remind our fans why they love KFC and to also hopefully bring some new fans to the Colonel’s great tasting chicken.

“We are extremely proud of 50YearsOfKFC and families, which show the balance we’re trying to achieve through big, emotional brand campaigns that strike a closer connection with consumers, and celebrating our food, flavour and ingredients.”

EU probes fraud claim over Lyon-Turin rail project

T

he EU’s anti-fraud office, Olaf, has opened an investigation into the Lyon-Turin high-speed rail project, after Green MEPs alleged serious misspending.

Olaf said it would seek to “clarify whether any fraud or irregularity has occurred that can prejudice the EU’s financial interests”.

In 2012 the French Court of Auditors estimated that the project’s total cost would rise to 26bn, £19bn; $29bn.

Green MEPs complained to Olaf, calling the project a waste of public money.

In 2013 construction work began on a 57km ,35 mile tunnel through the Alps for the Lyon-

Turin line. The project - known as Tav (Treno Alta Velocita) - is behind schedule and there have been big demonstrations against it.

The European Commission has agreed to provide 40 per cent of the 8.5bn cost of the tunnel construction, the rest coming from France and Italy. Both countries have until 26 February to submit bids to the Commission for that EU funding, the Euractiv news website reports.

That EU funding will come out of a budget of 23.3bn for European transport infrastructure, earmarked for 2014-2020.

In a statement to the BBC, Olaf said there was no set termination date for the fraud investigation.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EnergyWeek Oil demand rise by 1.17m bpd in 2015 –OPEC

Lagos may become oil producing state 36

35

33

FG to fast-track access to power through embedded 37 generation

Oil prices to remain low as politics takes shine off market

Oil vessel

The prices of crude oil have remained low in market around the world, thereby causing stakeholders sleepless nights over the months. Analysis believe the situation may not change soon because of politics between producers and importers.

UDEME AKPAN reports.

M

any producing and exporting nations have strong interest in the volatile and highly speculative global oil market at least for some reasons.

First, high crude oil prices enable producers, including Nigeria and other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC to generate adequate foreign exchange for the execution of their budgets. Second, the successful implementation of such budgets on sustainable basis culminates in socio-economic transformation of the nations.

But the story is different for oil consumers. The consumers, including the United States that have since started commercial crude oil production seek relatively cheap oil regime for some reasons. First, the regime enables them to procure and stockpile commercial oil at lower cost. Second, this enables them to stimulate sustainable

development without expending much of their scarce resources.

Investigations showed it is these interests that inspire the two schools of thought or parties to initiates different strategic actions of plans all targeted at accomplishing their ambitions. For instance, a few days ago, the Secretary General of OPEC, Dr. Abdalla El-Badri predicted an unprecedented rise in crude oil prices. He said that

crude oil prices would hit as high as $200 per barrel in the future. “Now the prices are around $45-$55, and I think maybe they [have] reached the bottom and we [will] see some rebound very soon,” he disclosed.

He said the oil market is self-correcting as oil companies have made deep cuts to spending, which will eventually lead to lower production growth. The SecretaryGeneral said that, “if you don’t invest in

THE PRICES OF CRUDE OIL WHICH SHOWED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE ON TUESDAY LAST WEEK DROPPED AFTER THE UNITED STATES RELEASED DATA TO ILLUSTRATE THAT THE VOLATILE MARKET WAS OVER SUPPLIED

oil and gas, you will see more than $200” when it comes to future oil prices.”

Incidentally, his views coincided with that of the Executive Secretary, MOMAN, Mr. Femi Olawore, who stated that it is characteristic for the crude prices to rise and fall. “How soon, I cannot say. But when it rises, we should save into Sovereign Wealth Fund,” he said.

Olawore said policy makers should address the challenges of foreign exchange fluctuations to enable investors plan ahead. He said the government should look inward by halting what the country does not really need like importation of toothpicks and other items. Olawore called for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB in order to boost investment in the upstream sector. “If we can fix the CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

34

Energy Week

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oil prices to remain low as politics takes shine off market

Jonathan

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 power sector, patronage of diesel will drop, and price of diesel will also drop. Unless the downstream sector is fully deregulated, domestic price may not reflect current price at the international market, “he said.

But it did not last before it started to crash again apparently as a result of politics and speculation. The prices of crude oil which showed a significant increase on Tuesday last week dropped after the United States released data to illustrate that the volatile market was over supplied. The United States data showed that crude supplies grew more than expected last week and are sitting around 80-year highs.

Consequently, the U.S. crude oil for March delivery fell $3.26, or 6.2per cent, to $49.79 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent, the global benchmark, declined $2.34 or 4per cent, to $55.57 per barrel on ICE Futures Europe. This is mainly because the U.S. Energy Information Administration data showed that crude-oil supplies rose by 6.3 million barrels in the week ended Jan. 30 to 413.1 million barrels.

However, the low prices have affected the industry in many ways. For instance, stakeholders’ confidence in the outlook for the oil and gas industry has dropped from 65per cent to 28per cent in the last three months as a result of low prices, according to new research published by DNV GL. The pessimistic outlook is also reflected in capital expenditure (CAPEX) intentions, with those planning to increase CAPEX in the same period dropping from 40per cent to 12per cent and those planning to reduce headcount increasing from 26per cent to 47per cent. The findings which copy was made available to our Correspondent highlight those senior industry professionals are split over how to tackle the year ahead, according to DNV GL’s fifth annual research report on the outlook for the sector.

Those who are most confident about reaching their profit targets plan different cost-management measures, taking a longterm approach to riding out the storm, while those pessimistic about hitting their profit targets are more likely to take shortterm cost-cutting measures. Among the ‘profit confidents’1 67per cent intend to increase or maintain capital investment compared to 29per cent among ‘profit pes-

Alison-Madueke

Okonjo-Iweala

Emefiele

simists’ and 70per cent intend to bolster R&D spending compared to 40per cent of the pessimists.

When it comes to imposing strict cost controls, profit confidents have a greater focus than profit pessimists on improving workflow/work processes (45per cent vs 35per cent), a greater use of automation (11pe cent vs 1per cent) and the adoption of new IT technology (13per cent compared to 4per cent). The ‘profit pessimists’ are more likely to take cost-cutting measures such as reducing headcount (35per cent compared to 15per cent in the confident group).

Among respondents in North America, a third (33per cent) are confident about the year ahead, the most confident of any region, but this is still a significant drop from 93per cent the previous year. The biggest drop in confidence, however, is in Asia Pacific where 27per cent are confident about the outlook for 2015 compared to 89per cent the year before. The lowest confidence globally is reported in Europe (26per cent).

Elisabeth Torstad, CEO of DNV GL – Oil & Gas, said: “While the strong correlation between the oil price and confidence is expected, we need to take heed of lessons learned from previous downturns. She said, “The oil and gas sector faces a dilemma over balancing long-term growth or cutting back more sharply in response to short-term pressures. By taking a broader view, reducing complexity and standardising processes, materials and documentation, industry players can develop a longterm sustainable cost base to adjust to this lower-margin environment. “ “Tight schedules, high activity and complex projects have driven costs up over the last few years, but it is interesting to see that the most confident industry players are forging a different path to their less confident peers. They are showing counter-cyclical behaviour by investing during the downturn, which is positive for the long-term health of the industry,” she

said.

The outlook for the oil and gas industry in 2015 provides a timely assessment of industry confidence and priorities for the year ahead and is based on a global survey of more than 360 senior industry professionals and executives carried out during the week starting 19 January 2015. The report also includes 18 in-depth interviews with a range of experts, business leaders and analysts. The research has been compared with a previous survey carried out from October to November 2014 to monitor shifting sentiment during a period of falling barrel prices, as well as DNV GL’s 2014 industry outlook report.

The industry’s skills shortage – which has been the largest barrier to growth for the past two years – has fallen to tenth place (14per cent) jointly with geopolitical instability in key markets. Low oil prices are now the biggest barrier in 2015, cited by 68per cent of respondents. The weak global economy is second (35per cent), followed by uneconomic gas prices (20per cent) However, the situation may not change much in 2015. Global oil demand in 2015 is currently anticipated to rise by 1.17 mb/d; thus providing a little relieve that prices could leap in markets around the world.

OPEC that made this known in its report released yesterday however cautioned that developments need to be monitored closely, particularly following the sharp drop in crude oil prices seen in recent months.

The cartel said as prices drop, oil requirements are likely to respond positively, although this can be impacted by other factors. “For example, in 2008, prices fell sharply starting in the summer with the onset of the financial crisis and the global economic recession, which also led to deterioration in demand,.” It stated.

The cartel which noted that this time the sharp fall in prices has been mainly driven by excess supply stated that as a result, lower prices are likely to help to accelerate the pace of oil demand growth

this time.

“Other factors can also impact the degree to which any acceleration in demand takes place. In addition to economic growth, the adoption of energy policies and regulations can also influence oil requirements greatly. In 2015, required OPEC crude is projected at 29.2 mb/d, following an upward adjustment of 0.4 mb/d, “it noted.

It disclosed that the OPEC Reference Basket ended January down $15.08 or 25% to average $44.38/b, reaching its lowest value in six years as excess supply and weak demand continued to weigh on the crude oil market. The cartel stated that ICE Brent ended January at $49.76/b, down $13.51 from the previous month. Nymex WTI lost $11.96 to stand at $47.33/b. The Brent-WTI spread narrowed to $2.43/b.

“World economic growth for 2014 remains unchanged, while the decelerating trend in emerging and developing countries has led to a revision in the 2015 forecast to 3.4per cent from 3.6per cent. Global oil demand growth in 2014 is expected to be around 0.96 mb/d, broadly unchanged from last month’s report,” it said.

The development has attracted the comments of some stakeholders. For instance, the chairman of the roundtable, Dr. Diran Fawibe, explained that the fall in crude oil prices was affecting the country because the government focuses only on the oil and gas sector as main source of foreign exchange earnings. He suggested that if the government could focus more on non-oil and gas sector and other mineral resources like palm oil, cocoa and other mineral materials, the fall or increase in the prices of oil would not have any impact on Nigeria’s economy.

The representative of Muda Yusuf, the Director-General, Lagos Chamber Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Vincent Nwani, said that if the crude oil price continued to go south, there would be a huge fiscal problem in the economy. “If the crude price continues to drop, some state governments may find it difficult to pay salaries. But Nigeria may not be ready to diversify until say crude oil price falls to $10 per barrel. But I hope the country can take advantage of the drop in crude price to do things correctly by diversifying to other sectors,” he said.

BUT I HOPE THE COUNTRY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DROP IN CRUDE PRICE TO DO THINGS CORRECTLY BY DIVERSIFYING TO OTHER SECTORS

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

35

Oil demand to rise by 1.17m bpd in 2015 – OPEC

Basket ended January down $15.08 or 25% to average $44.38/b, reaching its lowest value in six years as excess supply and weak demand continued to weigh on the crude oil market.

The cartel stated that ICE Brent ended January at $49.76/b, down $13.51 from the previous month. Nymex WTI lost $11.96 to stand at $47.33/b. The Brent-WTI spread narrowed to $2.43/b.

“World economic growth for 2014 remains unchanged, while the decelerating trend in emerging and developing countries has led to a revision in the 2015 forecast to 3.4% from 3.6%.

OECD growth is unchanged at 1.8per cent for 2014 and 2.2per cent in 2015.

China’s 2015 growth forecast has been revised to 7.0per cent from 7.2per cent, while India’s positive trend has lifted the 2015 growth forecast from 5.8per cent to 6.0per cent,” it noted.

It stated that Russia’s 2015 growth forecast has been revised from 0% to show a contraction of 2.4per cent, while Brazil is

now expected to grow by 0.7per cent in 2015, compared to 1.0per cent previously.

“Global oil demand growth in 2014 is expected to be around 0.96 mb/d, broadly unchanged from last month’s report,” it said.

It stated that in 2015, world oil demand is projected to rise by 1.17 mb/d slightly higher than in the previous report, mainly to reflect expectations of an uptick in oil requirements in OECD Americas.

“Non-OPEC oil supply growth in 2014 has been revised up slightly to 1.99 mb/d. This revision was mostly driven by higher output in OECD, Brazil, Kazakhstan and China in 4Q14, partially offset by downward revisions from Azerbaijan, Other Asia Pacific, Australia and Mexico,” it said.

It disclosed that in 2015, non-OPEC oil supply is projected to grow by 0.85 mb/d, down 0.42 mb/d from the previous assessment.

“OPEC NGLs are forecast to grow by 0.20 mb/d to 6.03 mb/d in 2015. In January, OPEC crude production decreased by 53 tb/d to average 30.15 mb/d, according to secondary sources,” it said.

It stated that the product markets strengthened in the Atlantic Basin in January. Lower refinery runs supported light and middle distillate crack spreads in the US, while export opportunities lent additional support to the European market.

“In Asia, product markets strengthened slightly in January, as limited supplies of naphtha and fuel oil allowed margins to rise, despite the pressure of increasing gasoline and middle distillate supplies,” it stated.

(Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

The OPEC Reference Basket averaged $59.46/b in December, following a decline of $16.11 or 21per cent.

In annual terms, the Basket averaged $96.29/b in 2014, representing a decline of $9.58 from the previous year. ICE Brent in December plunged $16.36 to stand at $63.27/b, averaging $99.45/b for the year.

Nymex WTI lost $16.52 to stand at $59.29/b in December, for a yearly value of $92.97/b. The Brent-WTI spread stood at $3.98/b.

World economic growth for 2014 and 2015 remains unchanged from the previous month at 3.2per cent and 3.6percent, respectively.

The OECD growth estimate is unchanged at 1.8per cent for 2014, but the 2015 forecast has been revised to 2.2per cent from 2.1per cent. The forecasts for China and India remain unchanged at 7.2per cent and 5.8per cent in 2015, respectively.

Global oil demand is estimated to have grown by 0.95 mb/d in 2014, representing an upward revision of 20 tb/d from the previous month.

The adjustment mainly reflects betterthan-expected oil demand data from OECD America and China.

In 2015, world oil demand is anticipated to rise by 1.15 mb/d, following an upward revision of 30 tb/d due to expectations of higher oil requirements in OECD America and Other Asia.

Non-OPEC oil supply is estimated to have grown by 1.98 mb/d in 2014, following an upward revision of 260 tb/d from

STORIES: UDEME AKPAN

G

lobal oil demand in 2015 is currently anticipated to rise by 1.17 mb/d; thus providing a little relieve that prices could leap in markets around the world.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC that made this known in its report released yesterday however cautioned that developments need to be monitored closely, particularly following the sharp drop in crude oil prices seen in recent months.

The cartel said as prices drop, oil requirements are likely to respond positively, although this can be impacted by other factors.

“For example, in 2008, prices fell sharply starting in the summer with the onset of the financial crisis and the global economic recession, which also led to deterioration in demand,.” It stated.

The cartel which noted that this time the sharp fall in prices has been mainly driven by excess supply stated that as a result, lower prices are likely to help to accelerate the pace of oil demand growth this time.

“Other factors can also impact the degree to which any acceleration in demand takes place. In addition to economic growth, the adoption of energy policies and regulations can also influence oil requirements greatly,” it said.

It stated that OPEC which made this known in its latest report stated that demand for OPEC crude is estimated at 29.1 mb/d in 2014, unchanged from the last report.

“In 2015, required OPEC crude is projected at 29.2 mb/d, following an upward adjustment of 0.4 mb/d, “it noted.

It disclosed that the OPEC Reference

El-Badri

Daily basket price rises to $53.36 per barrel

T

he price of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC basket of 12 crudes stood at $53.36 per barrel on Friday, compared with $50.81 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The rise in prices was attributed to marginal increase in demand for crude oil in the volatile global oil market.

The price was far below the 2015 projections of many nations, including Nigeria that is expecting to generate $65 per barrel for execution of the nation’s budget.

The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider

Commodity

Units

Price

Change

% Change

Time(ET)

Crude Oil (WTI)

USD/bbl.

99.81

+0.35

+0.35%

10:56:22

Crude Oil (Brent)

USD/bbl.

107.14

+0.22

+0.21%

10:55:34

TOCOM Crude Oil

JPY/kl

65,590.00

+170.00

+0.26%

10:55:05

NYMEX Natural Gas

USD/MMBtu

4.30

-0.01

-0.28%

10:54:54

Source: Bloomberg

Source: Oilprice.com

the previous report, driven by higher than expected growth seen at the end of the year.

In 2015, non-OPEC oil supply is projected to grow by 1.28 mb/d, representing a downward revision of 80 tb/d from the previous report.

OPEC NGLs and non-conventional liquids are expected to average 6.03 mb/d in 2015, up from 5.83 mb/d in 2014. In December, OPEC crude oil production averaged 30.20 mb/d, according to secondary sources, an increase of 0.14 mb/d over the previous month.

Product markets in the Atlantic Basin weakened in December as margins were affected by the drop in the gasoline and middle distillates cracks amid an oversupply of gasoline in the region.

The Asian market experienced only a slight drop as increased distillate supplies were offset by winter seasonal demand and the positive performance at the top and bottom of the barrel.

36

Energy Week

Confidence in oil market outlook dips by over 37 %

S

takeholders’ confidence in the outlook for the oil and gas industry has dropped from 65 per cent to 28 per cent in the last three months as a result of low prices, according to new research published by DNV GL. The pessimistic outlook is also reflected in capital expenditure (CAPEX) intentions, with those planning to increase CAPEX in the same period dropping from 40 per cent to 12 per cent and those planning to reduce headcount increasing from 26 per cent to 47 per cent.

The findings which copy was made available to our Correspondent highlight those senior industry professionals are split over how to tackle the year ahead, according to DNV GL’s fifth annual research report on the outlook for the sector.

Those who are most confident about reaching their profit targets plan different cost-management measures, taking a long-term approach to riding out the storm, while those pessimistic about hitting their profit targets are more likely to take short-term cost-cutting measures.

Among the ‘profit confidents’1 67 per cent intend to increase or maintain capital investment compared to 29 per cent among ‘profit pessimists’ and 70 per cent intend to bolster R&D spending compared to 40 per cent of the pessimists.

When it comes to imposing strict cost controls, profit confidents have a greater focus than profit pessimists on improving workflow/work processes (45 per cent vs 35 per cent), a greater use of automation (11 pe cent vs 1 per cent) and the adoption of new IT technology (13 per cent compared to 4 per cent).

The ‘profit pessimists’ are more likely to take cost-cutting measures such as reducing headcount (35 per cent compared to 15per cent in the confident group).

Among respondents in North America, a third (33 per cent) are confident about the year ahead, the most confident of any region, but this is still a significant drop from 93 per cent the previous year.

The biggest drop in confidence, however, is in Asia Pacific where 27 per cent are confident about the outlook for 2015 compared to 89 per cent the year before. The lowest confidence globally is reported in Europe (26 per cent).

Elisabeth Tørstad, CEO of DNV GL – Oil & Gas, said: “While the strong correlation between the oil price and confidence is expected, we need to take heed of lessons learned from previous downturns.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Lagos may become oil producing state UDEME AKPAN

T

he prospect of Lagos becoming a major oil and gas producer brightens as Afren Plc makes significant progress in drilling at Oil Prospecting License, OPL 310.

The company stated in its report that, “Following the play opening discovery and successful drilling results at OPL 310, the Ogo-1 sidetrack has reached total depth and reservoir intervals came in high to prognosis, potentially indicating a larger structure than estimated post the drilling of Ogo-1.

“In addition, the syn-rift section has encountered a 280’ true vertical thickness gross hydrocarbon interval. Based on the positive results, the Partners are progressing with wireline data and testing of the sidetrack,” it said.

It disclosed that following the discovery of a significant light oil accumulation (216 ft of net stacked pay) at the Ogo-1 well, Afren and Partners Optimum Petroleum Development Ltd and Lekoil Limited commenced drilling on the planned Ogo sidetrack (Ogo-1ST).

The company said it has also started testing both the down-dip extension of the four-way dip closed structure at the Ogo discovery and a new play of stratigraphically trapped syn-rift sediments that pinch-out onto the basement high.

“The Ogo-1ST reached a total measured depth (TD) of 17,987 ft (12,050 ft true vertical depth) on 6 October. Based on Logging While Drilling (LWD) and mudlogging data (plus wireline data over the Turoni-

an reservoir), the well encountered hydrocarbon intervals in the same Turonian, Cenomanian and Albian reservoirs that were successfully drilled and logged at the Ogo-1 well,” it stated.

The company disclosed, “All of the reservoir intervals came in high to prognosis, potentially indicating a larger structure than estimated post the drilling of Ogo-1. The LWD and mudlogging data also indicate that the syn-rift section encountered a 280’ true vertical thickness gross hydrocarbon interval.”

It stated, “Partners are in the process of recovering the drill string from the well bore. Based on the positive results to date, the Partners believe that wireline data needs to be acquired over the Cenomanian, Albian and Synrift sections prior to selecting zones for testing.

The Chief Executive of Afren Plc, Mr. Osman Shahenshah said, “Our strong financial performance, with revenue of US$1.2 billion, is underpinned by a year-on-year increase in production of 18 per cent. We expect full year production to be at the upper end of guidance of 40,000 to 47,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

He said, “We continue to build an excellent exploration track record with more successful wells in Nigeria and the Kurdistan region of Iraq, notably the play opener south of Lagos.

Shahenshah said, “I am confident that with our track record of project delivery, exploration success and financial discipline, we are well placed to continue to realise significant value from our existing portfo-

lio and for our shareholders.”

The firm also stated that production operations continue to run smoothly at the Okoro field. Gross production at the field averaged 18,214 bopd in the period, representing a year-on-year increase of 17 per cent.

It stated that the Okoro-14 well, the early production well brought on-stream from the discovery in 2012, continues to produce at stabilised rates of approximately 4,800 bopd.

Afren plc stated that the Partners have commenced the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) and development plans for the fabrication of a new wellhead platform and production unit required for the full Okoro Further Field Development.

It stated that the Okoro Further Field Development Well Head Platform (WHP) will be a conventional four pile platform with a single piece jacket and deck capable of accommodating wireline and coil tubing units.

The firm stated, “The WHP will have 12 well slots capable of holding dual trees, which would enable the platform to host up to 24 wells.

The Okoro Further Field Development platform will be located close to the existing Okoro Main wellhead platform and the two will be bridge linked.

It stated that the Partners have decided after careful deliberation to install a new Mobile Offshore Production Unit (MOPU), as close as possible to the Okoro Further Field Development WHP which will be bridge linked.

The firm maintained that output

Egbert Imomoh

at the Ebok field averaged 35,102 bopd in the period, representing a year-on-year increase of 22 per cent.

It stated that during the period the Partners successfully drilled three production wells at the field, two from the North Fault Block (NFB) and one from the West Fault Block (WFB); the wells are producing at an average rate of approximately 3,925 bopd.

The firm stated that a water injector well will be spudded shortly to optimise and support the existing producing wells on the North Fault Block.

It stated, “The Central Fault Block Extension platform is expected to be installed in early 2014, and will target additional reservoirs in the Central Fault Block. The Partners are looking at development options for the NFB, which would likely involve the drilling of development wells from an extended WFB platform and with production achieved through to the existing MOPU.

Use more cooking gas, NNPC tells consumers UDEME AKPAN

T

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has called on consumers to use commercial quantity of cooking gas in order to encourage operators to invest in the business.

In a document made available to National Mirror, the Corporation stated that cooking as is clean

Cooking gas

and safer than other domestic sources of energy.

It stated that as part of efforts to reduce the pressure on kerosene consumption, the NNPC is refocusing its strategy to encourage and aggressively grow the consumption of LPG which provides a cleaner and cheaper energy alternative.

“NNPC’s footprint in the do-

mestic gas market has attained unprecedented growth. With the commissioning of the NPDC’s 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day Oredo gas processing facilities and the acquisition of the new assets, NPDC is now the biggest producer and supplier of gas into the domestic market, contributing over 400 million standard cubic feet of gas per day,” it noted.

The Corporation said that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, is being repositioned to become a medium sized independent Exploration and Production Company with a production capacity of at least 250,000 barrels per day by the year 2015.

“NPDC assets base has grown with the assignment of new oil mining leases stressing that the management under his watch is determined to further pursue new strategies to grow production to the target of 250,000 bpd by 2015 from the current level of 130,000bpd,” it noted.

The corporation said in line with the strategic direction to support the Federal Government

to increase national crude oil reserve and producibility to 40 billion and 4 million barrels per day, there is aggressive exploration campaign in offshore, onshore and the inland basins of Chad, Anambra, Benue, Bida and Sokoto Dahomey.

“We are as well carrying out infield developments which have resulted in increased reserve and with the intensified approach, including the expedited action on new projects like Egina etc the reserve and production targets is realizable,” it noted.

It stated that over 1,000 square kilometres of seismic data have been acquired in the Chad Basin in spite of the security situation in Borno State.

The Corporation noted that the revamping of the Corporation’s critical downstream facilities such as the refineries, depots, pipelines and jetties have remained the focus of the management stressing that these spirited efforts will ensure seamless supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Energy Week

FG to fast-track access to power through embedded generation CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

D

etermined to stabilise and improve on power generation in the country, Government is considering a fast way of solving lingering power supply shortage through embedded power.

The Deputy Director of Press in the ministry of power, Mr. Timothy Oyedeji, in a statement noted that

Nebo

the move is to ensure less emphasis would be on the national grid, while small cluster of end users and industries located in the same area can have power distributed to them from the excess produced in their localities.

Also, the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo said that even farmers can also benefit from embedded power.

He said, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is considering a type of intervention similar to the carbon credit scheme already developed in some countries, noting that as at now nothing is on ground as a form of incentive to those interested, as it is known in other climes.

Nebo assured that Government is desirous of encouraging those with excess power that could be used as embedded generation; such could be sold to the grid after clearance with appropriate Government agencies.

He denounced the unpatriotic

acts of pipeline vandals, describing their actions as pure sabotage, “these people seem to be against progress of their country, by the way they operate, it is clear that they are sophisticated and have clear understanding of the terrain, whenever we finish repair works, the vandals will strike immediately afterwards”.

He said Government is now set to use digital system to counter this menace, promising a robust synergy of all security agencies in the years ahead in tackling these criminals.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has rejected 15,000 substandard electricity meters as it moves to purge the sector of substandard meters and other materials.

Over 10,000 substandard meters were rejected for not having anti-energy-theft protection, thus capable of leading to high commercial and collection losses for the investors.

Another over five thousand me-

ters were rejected because they had terminal connections that were out of specifications.

The Managing Director, Electricity Management Services Limited, EMSL, Mr. Peter Ewesor who confirmed the development at the official commissioning of the Remodeled National Meter Test Station and opening of the Technical Inspectorate Service Field Office in Lagos yesterday said, ”Over ten thousand substandard meters have been rejected for not having anti-energy-theft protection. These types would have led to high commercial and collection losses for the investors.”

“We have rejected over five thousand meters having terminal connections that were out of specifications, this would have led to risk to workers and staff of the utility companies and possible burning of the meters on installations,’’ he said.

and breadth of the country to preach the gospel - that all Nigerians would soon have access to uninterrupted power supply, stressing that the concern of Mr. President for Rural Access to power would radically transform their social and economic lives.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Philip Aduda appealed to Federal Government and co-operative societies to come together in providing fund for projects like this, he also made a case for Nigerians to embrace embedded power operation in solving energy shortage in Nigeria.

Senator Aduda said Operation Light-up Rural Nigeria has turned the communities into a semi-city and urged oth-

er communities to cooperate and get license from Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) to do embedded power for them.

He also appealed to the Ministry to replicate these projects that are already located in AMAC and Bwari Area Councils, Kuje, Abuja, Kwali and Gwagwalada Area Councils of the FCT, Abuja.

Earlier, the Village Head of Shape Community, Mr. Yakubu Kuruzhi thanked President Goodluck Jonathan and the Ministry of Power for siting the project in his community, assuring that he would fully support the Transformation Agenda of the present administration, while praying for continuity of the regime.

Communities mark constant power supply

CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

D

urumi, Shape - Waru communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja came alive when residents rolled out the drums to celebrate one year of uninterrupted power supply.

The celebration became a reality following the success of the Operation Light-up Rural Nigeria (OLRN), a renewable energy initiative project of the Federal Ministry of Power to provide affordable and reliable access to electricity to rural dwellers through solar powered systems.

The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo while identifying with one of the communities in Shape, at this auspicious occasion, said the project is a true representation of the immediate and remarkable Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan Administration in the power sector.

He said the project is aimed at providing rural communities access to electricity because they are far from the grid.

The Minister was delighted to note that President Jonathan’s Reform Agenda in the Power Sector is to diversify Nigeria’s energy mix and provide access to electricity to a majority of Nigerians without easy access to the grid is on course,

and has been very successful.

Professor Nebo also solicited the assistance of wouldbe investors to come up with proposals of partnership with his Ministry in order to extend and expand access to electricity by majority of Nigerians residing in rural areas, who currently are not connected to the grid.

The Minister said since these communities were electrified last year various types of small and medium scale enterprises have been spurred like pharmacy, welding, card retailing shops, and all kinds of artisan businesses, boutiques, barbing and hairdressing salons to mention but a few.

The Minister emphasized that these businesses were practically non-existent before the provision of the solar project in the community, but have now stamped their presence.

Nebo further revealed that his Ministry has been receiving favourable reports from the local schools on the level of improvement in the students’ academic standard as a result of the provision of electricity as the pupils now have electricity to read in the night.

He also revealed that President Jonathan has directed them to go to every length

Transformer

37

SNEPCo donates audio-visual studio to UNILAG

T

raining of doctors has been made much easier at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, thanks to the provision of an ultra-modern audio-visual studio by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo).

The studio will be used to record lectures and helps to provide a more learning friendly platform, making it easier for students to access information around the world.

“The project is another demonstration of our commitment to quality education,” said SNEPCo’s Business Relations Manager, Ijere Kanu, as he represented the Managing Director of the company, Tony Attah at the commissioning of the facility on February 5.

“It is our tradition in SNEPCo to ensure that Nigerians – individuals and institutions – benefit from our presence, and together with our partners, we will continue to expand opportunities for students across Nigeria as part of our broader corporate sustainability programmes.”

In an address he sent to the occasion, Group General Manager, NAPIMS, Engr, Jonathan Okehs said: “We will continue to support projects that will affect the lives and future of the citizens of Nigeria positively just as the audio-visual studio we’re commissioning.”

The Provost of College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof.

Folashade Ogunshola, said: “A major goal in medical education is to improve teamwork and the love for lifelong learning. And research has shown that students cannot only learn by reading but also by audio-visual where they can interact and engage in intellectual discussions. This is where we need an ultra-modern audio-visual studio and we are grateful to SNEPCo and NAPIMS for helping to bring our dream to fruition.”

SNEPCo’s donation involves the provision of soundproof padding, high quality video and audio recorders, editing hardware and software, monitor, wireless microphones, speakers, air conditioners and general studio furniture.

SNEPCo also awards scholarships to Nigerian undergraduate and postgraduate students, and provides entrepreneurial and skillacquisition to promote self-employment among youths.

The College of Medicine at the University of Lagos has produced over 7000 medical, dental and allied health professionals in over 50 years of existence.

SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deep-water oil and gas production at the Bonga field, a project that increased Nigeria’s oil capacity by 10per cent when output began in 2005.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015 Energy Week Ghana’s revenue from Jubilee oil field FG to sanction substandard equipment manufacturers als should be of the right quality doubles CHIDI UGWU and specifications.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

38

G

hana has published its 2012 and 2013 EITI reports which illustrate increased revenue from the oil, gas and mining sectors.

The reports show the rising importance of the sectors to the economy, as their contributions to the state coffers grew by 35per cent since 2011.

Of the total US $1.3 billion extractives revenue in 2013 (6per cent of total government revenue, according to IMF statistics), the oil and gas sector contributed roughly two thirds, and mining a third.

Revenue from the oil and gas sector reached US $846 million in 2013.

This is almost double the revenue of 2011, where revenues amounted to US $444 million (and US $541 million in 2012). .Almost all production, 99per cent, comes from one project, the Jubilee oil field.

The main reason for the stark increase in revenues can be attributed to first time payments of corporate income tax from oil companies since oil production began in 2010.

Increases in royalties, carried and participating interests, and surface rentals further accounted for a higher total revenue figure in the oil and gas sector.

More oil was exported than was actually produced in 2012 and 2013 by over half a million barrels. This is because Ghana began exporting existing stocks whilst the prices were high.

The Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) represents the state interest in the sector and receives a share of the petroleum receipts from parliament for operations and investments in oil projects. Of the US $732 million allocated to GNPC between 2001 and 2013, 35% was spent on buying stakes in the Jubilee oil field.

Now that there are fewer new investment opportunities at the Jubilee field, GNPC is starting to invest more in other oil fields. Despite this, the company has US $142 million left on its account, and the Ghana EITI report recommends that GNPC publishes an investment plan to explain the use of these funds to the public.

In comparing government revenue figures and company payments, the report found a US $ 55 million discrepancy that needs resolving.

The Ghana Revenue Authority states having received US$ 55m from Anadarko WCTP Ltd in corporate income tax payments in 2013 while, the company did not report making such payment.

Mining revenue fell to US $424 million in 2013, down from a high of US $620 million in 2012. This drop was due in part to declining gold price, and depreciation of the Ghanaian Cedi. Gold accounts for nearly 90per cent of all mineral output in the country.

ABUJA

T

he Federal Government is set to enforce standard and safety control in production and installations of meters and other electrical equipments across the power sector value chain, Minister of State Power, Hon Mohammed Wakil has disclosed.

Speaking at the commissioning of the EMSL National Meter Testing Stations in Lagos, Wakil said “with the successful reform of generation, transmission and distribution sub-sectors, the administration is now focusing on delivery of safe and reliable electricity supply to Nigerians, through institutional technical inspectorate services.

‘We are set to enforce quality control and standard of electricity installations. We are resolved to enhance consumers and investors’ confidence and satisfaction through sustained inspection, testing and certification of electrical materials and equipment .Electricity materi-

The Minister declared that “ all categories of electrical installations, power systems and networks must be properly planned, designed and executed before use”, affirming that “gone are the days of sub- standard equipments and installations which compromised safety of Nigerians.

“More pointedly, manufacturers of fake power equipments are hereby put on notice. The long arm of law shall catch up with those endangering lives of innocent citizens. Nigerians not only want adequate power supply but also safety and reliability”, the Minister said.

Commending the management of the Electricity Management Services Limited, the minister said EMSL will enforce standard and safety control to safe stakeholders millions of naira arising from frequent replacement of bad/faulty meters, electrical materials/equipments.

Speaking earlier, the Managing

Pre-paid meter

Director of EMSL, Engr. Peter Ewesor described the occasion as a giant strides in the determination of President Goodluck Jonathan to deliver safe and reliable electricity to Nigerians.

“We are here to witness a landmark movement towards enforcement of standard and safety control through application of best prac-

Umusadege field produces 573,663 bpd UDEME AKPAN

T

he Umusadege field produced 573,663 barrels per day, bpd in December, according to data released by Mart Resources, Inc. The company disclosed in its report that the combined net delivery of oil from the Umusadege field through the Umugini pipeline and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited export pipeline totaled approximately 570,197 bbls in December 2014.

It maintained that the combined delivery of oil from the Umusadege field through the Umugini pipeline and NAOC export pipeline reached record daily gross volumes of approximately 24,000 bopd for several days in December 2014 and a record daily gross volume of approximately 29,000 bopd in late January 2015.

“Aggregate downtime during December 2014 totaled approximately 0.5 days. Calgary, Alberta – Mart Resources, Inc. and its

Oil rig

coventurers, Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Limited, Operator of the Umusadege field) and SunTrust Oil Company Limited are providing the following updates on Umusadege field production for December 2014 and other operations,” it noted.

It disclosed that Umusadege field production during December 2014 averaged 18,505 bopd resulting in total production of approximately 573,663 bbls for the month. Aggregate Umusadege field downtime during December 2014 was approximately 0.5 days.

“Although shutdowns of both the NAOC and Trans Forcados export pipelines were experienced during December 2014 due to operational interruptions for general pipeline repairs and maintenance, ongoing production from the Umusadege field was minimally affected due of the ability of the field operator to alternate production deliveries between the two export pipelines,” it stated.

It maintained that there were no full down days during the month. The average field production based on producing days was 18,841 bopd in December 2014.

“The combined net delivery of oil from the Umusadege field through the new Umugini pipeline and NAOC export pipeline totaled approximately 570,197 bbls in December 2014 before estimated pipeline and export facility losses, and approximately 491,148 bbls after deduction of combined pipeline and export facility losses estimated for December 2014 by Mart,” it maintained.

The company disclosed that the combined delivery of oil from the Umusadege field through the Umugini pipeline and NAOC export pipeline reached record daily gross volumes of approximately 24,000 bopd for several days in December 2014 and a record daily volume of approximately 29,000 bopd in late January 2015.

Total net crude oil deliveries into the NAOC export pipeline from the Umusadege field for December 2014 were approximately 295,392 bbls before pipeline losses.

Based upon the 12- month rolling average rate of pipeline and export facility losses from December 2013 to November 2014 of 17.46%, Mart estimates NAOC pipeline and Brass River export facility losses for December 2014 will be approximately 51,568 bbls.

Using this estimated pipeline and export facility loss volume,

tice,” he said.

He also said, “The remodeling and upgrade of this National Meter Testing Station (NMTS) and the opening of the Technical Inspectorate Services (TIS) Field office are both testimonies to the commitment of the administration for quality control in the power sector.”

Mart estimates that the total net crude deliveries into the NAOC export pipeline from the Umusadege field for December 2014 less estimated pipeline losses will be 243,824 bbls.

NAOC pipeline and export facility losses reported by NAOC and allocated to Mart and its coventurers for November 2014 were 24,105 bbls, or 8.2per cent of total crude oil deliveries into the export pipeline for that month.

NAOC pipeline and export facility losses allocated to Mart and its co-venturers by NAOC from January to November 2014 have averaged 17.0per cent of total crude oil deliveries into the export pipeline for 2014.

As previously announced, total net crude oil deliveries into the NAOC export pipeline from the Umusadege field for November 2014 were approximately 294,617 bbls.

Accordingly, after deducting the actual NAOC pipeline and export facility losses allocated for November 2014, the total net crude oil deliveries less losses for November 2014 were 270,512 bbls.

Mart previously estimated pipeline and export facility losses for November 2014 to be approximately 57,001 bbls, based upon the 12-month rolling average rate of pipeline and export facility losses of 19.35per cent between November 2013 and October 2014. December 2014 NAOC pipeline and export facility losses have not yet been reported by NAOC.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Industry & SMEs

39

BoI, NASENI strategise on SMEs’ mechanism ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

B

ank of Industry, BoI, in collaboration with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, is strategising a new support mechanism for SMEs to access credit from banks.

With this strategy, BoI is ready to finance procurement of new technologies provided by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI. BOI Managing Director, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, stated this at a meeting with the top management of NASENI, led by the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Muhammed Haruna.

Olaoluwa who emphasised the need to promote indigenous technology in the country, promised funding for any entrepreneur with a business proposal on how to turn NASENI’s technological innovations into viable business.

He said there was a direct correlation between technology and the nation’s development, maintaining events the world over had proven it beyond doubt that no nation could develop without

Aganga

BOI MD/CEO, Rasheed Olaoluwa

technology.

The BOI boss added that, “BoI will be prepared to support SMEs that are ready to patronise NASENI’s technology. We are also willing to collaborate with the agency on many of its products like the solar panel and agricultural processing machines.”

He further said, “A nation that wants to develop must pay attention to technology because it has been proven from the beginning of humanity that technolo-

gies control the economy.

“No matter how hard we try, unless we are able to achieve some form of independence in terms of technology, we are only scratching the surface.”

He said the bank’s role was to serve as an active link between centres of innovation such as NASENI with its affiliate institutes and industries, because BoI was seated at the centre of industrial development.

He urged NASENI to get its technol-

Analyst set agenda for SMEs in 2015

I

n view of dwindling economy and unpalatable business environment, a business analyst, Mrs. Adeola Ilori, the Founder and Managing Director of BizCom Solution Ventures, has highlighted five major goals which should be pursued by small business operators to be successful in 2015.

According to him, only few people use the new year as a chance to reflect or plan ahead, and deficiency in that aspect has been inflicting much on their businesses.

To be on a safer side, Ilori gave the following resolutions and the reasons for any small business to abide by them: Embrace failure There is a quote I like

by Thomas Edison who sums this up perfectly: ‘I have not failed, I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work’. This is so true. Never forget that success is the result of hard work, determination and learning from failure.

Without taking big decisions, small businesses stay small. So evaluate the last year but don’t be judgmental, rather view it as an opportunity to make the year ahead your most successful and prof-

itable yet.

Push your boundaries Last month our staff arrived at work to find a bungee jump in the car park. Every single person was, quite rightly, terrified at the prospect of launching themselves off a 175ft crane – myself included – but 121 of us took the plunge. Knees were shaking, palms were sweating and plenty of unmentionable words were uttered, but we did it.

It was only after the event that I got thinking about the wider benefits of doing something like this. Pretty much everyone that I spoke to said ‘I never thought I’d be able to do that’. But they did. It brought home to me that we’re actually capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for.

Obviously I’m not suggesting everyone should have a go at bungee jumping, but the same principle can be applied to your professional life so make this year the year you step outside your comfort zone. You might surprise yourself.

Ask your employees what could be done better As your representa-

tives on the front line they will have a good grasp of any issues which might need addressing. Have an open door policy, and make a point of knowing each and every one of your staff by name. This is not a gimmick. It is very important. From IT and client support to HR and the PAs – each has a vital role.

You, as a business, can only carry on successfully if everyone is on their A-game. There are so many firms where directors shut themselves away and rarely talk to staff, and why? An elevated sense of ego? Or a genuine lack of time? Either way, it is not doing their business any good. Good staffs are the lifeblood of any organisation so trust in your colleagues to help lead you in the right direction.

Be your own customer Customer service can make or break a company. You only have to look at the monumental (and often hugely damaging) power of review websites to see proof of that. So how would your company fare if you were a customer? What initial impression does your website, office or staff offer? Would

you shop/do business with your own company?

Be honest with yourself, there’s no point in lying.

It is better to address any issues now rather than sweep them under the carpet and have them trip you up later.

Wake up and don’t be a ‘sheeple’ According to Chinese astrology, 2015 is the year of the sheep. And whether you believe in that sort of thing or not, it raises a good question – are you leading or being led? Look at giants like Apple, Virgin and Ikea for example, and ask yourself what they have in common.

Each one has a strong identity that makes them stand out from the crowd.

Can you honestly say the same applies to you? Scrutinise other companies in your sector; see what sets you apart and then shout about it. Be bold and take risks. It is good to look at others for inspiration but never lose sight of your original vision and goal.

Obviously this is not an exhaustive list, reflect on your own business’ successes and challenges over the past year and start a new business year with a clear and renewed focus.

ogy products patented to be able to get the needed patronage and also derive revenues.

In his brief remarks, the Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Dr. Mohammed Haruna, expressed the readiness of the agency to avail willing entrepreneurs with its new products with a view to driving the nation’s industrialisation.

Haruna said NASENI had launched made-in-Nigeria motorcycles and tricycles and many other technologies which included cassava and grain processing machines and solar panel.

He said BoI’s support for the agency’s innovations would help increase its capacity to produce more.

According to him, the possible areas of collaboration expected from the bank include training and capacity development for new and existing SMEs. Haruna said the agency also needed the bank’s collaboration in the areas provision of appropriate technologies for entrepreneurs, indigenous industries, SMEs and industrial parks around the country.

Foreign investors target Nigeria for investment ABOLAJI ADEBAYO AND HANNAH AYANGBILE

N

ot less than 82 investors have shown interest to grape business opportunities in various aspects of economy available in Nigeria. The investors made their interest known recently at the first Building, Construction and Machinery Exhibition, BUILDMACEX, in Nigeria, organised by Atlantic Exhibition, an International exhibition organizer.

At the exhibition, foreign and local investors were gathered to showcase their products as well as deliberate on how to promote business in Nigeria.

Speaking at the just concluded exhibition, the Managing Director, Atlantic Exhibition, Mr. Ayodele Olugbade said the exhibition was aimed at providing an exciting platform for exchange of ideas, innovation, experience, and knowledge for interactions and partnership between the local and foreign investors especially in the machinery, building, and construction sector. He added that the use of international standard

to improve small and medium scale businesses would boost economic development in the country.

Olugbade, who noted that the larger percentage of the exhibitors came from Turkey while others were from Italy, USA, China and other countries, said the exhibition presented tremendous opportunity for stakeholders to justify their investments and improve their goal driven activities. He also said that the exhibition provided avenue for stakeholders to create lasting solution to constructions to prevent collapses that are rampant in the country.

“All around the world, lasting solutions are becoming rarer. I hope our intense three-day exhibition will make a difference and show that lasting solutions among business people are achievable.

“On this note, we certainly hope to further our goal of leading you to the right channel. Atlantic Exhibition will continue to provide an avenue to foster the migration of technology to Nigeria thereby enhancing her economic development,” he stated.

40

Cocktail

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Firefighters rescue horse stuck in bathtub

C

alifornia firefighters had an unusual day at the office on Wednesday, when they were called to rescue a horse from a bathtub.

Phantom, a 30-year-old Palomino/Appaloosa living in Orangevale, Calif., with her owner, was “dancing around” the bathtub that doubles as a food trough when she fell

in and couldn’t get back out.

In video of the rescue, firefighters push the tub to the side allowing Phantom to slip out.

“Many hands (and a few tools) got her back on her feet in just a few minutes,” the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department said in a Facebook post.

Oddities

Man lists ‘drug dealer’ as occupation on arrest report

A

man in South Florida arrested for multiple felony counts listed “drug dealer” as his occupation on an arrest report.

Robert Michael Phillips, 25, was apprehended Tuesday after he cut off an unmarked Palm Beach County Sheriff’s vehicle while riding in a stolen vehicle. Authorities trailed Phillips,

watching him engage in a drug transaction, before he fled from marked patrol cars.

Deputies say Phillips left his vehicle at one point, cutting through a hobby store where he barreled into a woman and dropped a loaded handgun. Authorities

China seizes 7,600 toilet papers with image of Hong Kong leader

A

uthorities in China seized 7,600 rolls of toilet paper and 20,000 tissues packets featuring an image of Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying from a factory on Friday.

Hong Kong’s Democratic Party was planning to sell the products at the Lunar New

Year fair, after already having sold 4,000 rolls last year. The toilet paper and tissues feature the leader’s face, some with the word “lying” on his face and others showing him with fangs.

The controversy comes after Hong Kong experienced major protests over a plan to al-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

low the public to vote for the city’s chief executive only after a committee screens out candidates not backed

by Beijing. Students and Occupy Central protesters had taken over many significant parts of Hong Kong for weeks in what came to be called the “Umbrella Revolution.”

Phillips

deployed a police dog and caught Phillips as he ran from the store’s back exit.

Phillips was in possession of crack cocaine, heroin, a weighing scale, hypodermic needles and $2,316 in cash. Records show he had been arrested over a dozen times and was convicted

seven times on felony counts -- including a slew of weapon violations and drug possession charges -- serving nearly nine months in prison between 2011 and 2012.

He is being held in Palm Beach County Jail on $242,000 bail.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Civil Service

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

41

Polls: FRSC warns against traffic violation CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

T

he Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi has warned that the Corps would not tolerate acts that could compromise safety of road users during the electioneering campaigns, The Corps Marshal stated this in Abuja

while addressing participants at the strategic session organised by the FRSC to review the performances of the Corps in the last year and setting strategic agenda for the 2015 operational activities.

While expressing satisfaction with the current level of road safety awareness in the country, the Corps Marshal condemned the attitudes of some people who un-

dermine traffic rules and regulations during electioneering campaigns by indulging in dangerous acts.

“Electioneering campaign period poses certain challenges to road safety in the country, as some people tend to capitalise on the political rallies to engage in acts such as overloading, speeding and road obstruction, thereby causing inconveniences

to other road users” he said.

According to him, “It is our collective responsibility to enlighten members of the public on this hazardous behaviour and punish violations, so that people can guide against the practices during the campaign rallies,” he stated.

Speaking further, the Corps Marshal informed that all Commands across the country have

been given specific instructions to check the excesses of motorists and other road users during the electioneering campaigns in order to make the roads free and safe for all.

Oyeyemi also reiterated the Corps’ commitment to sustain engagements through public enlightenment programmes, on non partisan basis with the participants and organisers of the rallies, so that people can realise that road traffic crashes don’t discriminate against anyone, and that it is only the living that can vote and be voted for.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2015 general elections

in Nigeria, March 28 and April 11, 2015 have scheduled for Presidential, National Assembly, Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections for which political rallies are being organised across the country to convince voters to vote for party candidates.

The rallies involve massive movement of people and vehicles which could cause negative traffic consequences, if safety measures are undermined. As the lead agency for road traffic management and administration in Nigeria, FRSC has the statutory responsibility to provide safer road environment for all road users in all circumstances, the Corps Marshal stated.

NTF trains 400 FCT secondary students on taekwondo skill JOEL A JAYI ABUJA

Chairman, Faskari Local Government Area, Alhaji Hassan Muhammad-Daudawa (right), presenting Educational Materials provided by the council to Malam Haruna Adamu-Yaro, Leader, Da’awa Group for preaching on Peaceful Coexistence and other Islamic Education in Faskari yesterday.

NEMA investigates alleged rape, child trafficking in IDPs camps

T

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it has constituted a committee to investigate allegations of attempted rape and child trafficking in some internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in the North-East.

A statement signed by Mr Sani Datti, NEMA’s Senior Information Officer, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, said that the move was in reaction to an online publication entitled ``Grim Tales of Rape, Child Trafficking in IDP camps’’.

According to the statement, the report was written by one International Centre for Investigating Reporting (icirnigeria.org), and republished by Premium Times, also an online based news organisation.

It stated that Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, the NEMA Director-General, had met with stakeholders in Abuja on Monday during which the committee was set up. According to the statement, the terms of reference of the panel which two weeks to conclude its investigations, include verification of the allegations

by the centre.

It is also expected to interact with all stakeholders, hold town hall meetings in all the camps mentioned in the report, interacting with the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, NEMA North-East Zonal office, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMAs), State Security Services (SSS), Red Cross, Arm, and the Police, among others.

Membership of the committee comprise representatives of the State Security Service, the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Red Cross Society and Office of the

National Security Adviser.

Other members from the National Human Rights Commission, National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons, Journalists against Disaster, NEMA, SEMAs in Borno, Adamawa, and Gombe, Civil Defense Corps and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

According to the statement, the NEMA directorgeneral urged the committee headed by Hajiya Bilkisu Abdullah, a Deputy Director with SSS, to work with utmost transparency and honesty.

FG bars civil servants from foreign training CONTINUED FROM 16 any change of data on the IPPIS Platform as they would be held personally liable for any information and /or falsification of such application.”

The Head of Service said further that, Information

on employee’s Date of Birth and Date of First Appointment, form part of the sensitive employee data variables on the IPPIS Platform and must therefore be handle with caution.

Mr. Kifasi further directed that all requests for

correction of Date of Birth and Date of First Appointment by Officers must be addressed to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. Adding that such requests must also be accompanied with employee’s personal files, containing

records of service and other relevant documents to buttress the claims and that such requests should be forwarded through letters duly endorsed by Directors of Human Resources Management (HRM) of their respective MDAs.

T

he Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) has agreed to collaborate with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Secondary Education Board to train over 400 secondary school student on taekwondo skill to develop taekwondo in the nation’s capital city.

The initiative facilitated by the Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF) will see taekwondo as part of the secondary school curriculum in the FCT. Founder of CCSF Chika Chukwumerije said the idea would see the NTF and the CCSF train about 400 students from four Government Secondary Schools (GSS) in the FCT, in taekwondo.“When we did our research, we found out that almost every private school had taekwondo but the public schools did not; I also found out that there are lots of bright students in government schools.“This made us to write an elaborate plan to the secondary education board;

they looked at it and said it will expand their curriculum, and that it was good they give it a trial.

“So, they approved it in four of the government secondary schools in Garki, Lugbe, Maitama and Wuse Zone 3.“The programme has been fully introduced in Garki and in Zone 3 and in the coming weeks Maitama and Lugbe will follow,’’ Chukwumerije said.

He said programme which would be launched in March in conjunction with the secondary education board was aimed to inspire the kids and interact with some international taekwondo athletes.

Chukwumerije also said that the target was to build a team CCSF and athletes that would represent the country at various international competitions.

The Olympic bronze medalist added that the initiative was part of the CCSF effort to develop the sport in the country following a successful takeoff of its zonal taekwondo programme tagged “inspire the zones’’.

42

Civil Service

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ALGON expresses commitment to ending joint account tussles OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

T

he state of uneasiness that characterises the relationship between the local government and the states government will soon be over as the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has expressed its readiness for amicable resolution of the controversies surrounding the issue of joint accounts involving both tiers of government.

The newly elected national chairman of ALGON Interim Management

Committee (IMC) and the present chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Micah Jiba, disclosed this in Abuja when he assumed office at the headquarters of the association.

Jiba who expressed optimism that resolving the logjam facing the association was not beyond control, said that the association had not foreclosed amicable resolution of the issue, noting that the association has a lot of responsibility ahead of the next month’s general election and called for peaceful

poll.

According to him, the ALGON remains stronger and united, as its members had buried forms of bitterness within their ranks and resolved to rebuild the association, noting that his focus would be to ensure collective participation of all members in decision making.

He also maintained that the new Interim Management Committee (IMC) leadership would run a broad-based administration that would be pragmatic within the period it would be in power.

He further stated that ALGON was working to see how it could sensitize the electorates at the grassroots, to ensure that they come out enmass to vote during the election, claiming that the association has a role to play in working towards the success of the general election.

It will be recall that Hon. Micah Jiba emerged as the national chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON)’s Interim Management Committee (IMC), while Hon. Wilson Chubby was also elected as his dep-

uty.

In a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting in Abuja at the weekend and endorsed by its former factional leaders, Hon. Emmanuel Loman and Hon. Sahabo Aliyu respectively,the union stressed that the decision became necessary to restore sanity and progress of the association and to also move the country forward.

According to a press release signed by the two factional chairmen, Hon. Emmanuel Loman and Hon. Sahabo Aliyu respectively,

the association agreed that it would be run by an Interim Management Committee (IMC) chaired by the incumbent Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Micah Jiba while Hon. Wilson Chubby deputizes him.

Other members include, Hon. Shittu Bamaiyi Yakmut who retained the post of General Secretary, while Hon. Emmanuel Loman and Hon. Sahabo Aliyu will serve as Vice Chairman (North – Central) and National Treasurer respectively.

FG, UNDP train 200 youths on technology tools CONTINUED FROM 16 In his address, the minister of youth development, Mr. Boni Haruna charged the youths to desist from unhealthy use of the social media which has the propensity to instigate violence across the country.

He lamented that the youths, forming about 45% of the electorate, had played more negative roles during past elections, to increase electoral violence witnessed at the time when compared to the few positive roles played by the youths .

Represented by Mr. Waziri Laminu, he called for positive use of the various forms of the social media in preaching messages of peace, development and creating platforms to foster national growth.

Haruna said:”the influence of the social media like twitter have been known to shift opinions, as such, I urge you all to ensure that whatever you are posting or tweeting, keep discouraging rather than encouraging violence. “you should invent and develop new ways of doing business politically, expanding your political frontiers with the help of the social media, encourage intellectual armies whose purpose is narrowed towards project god governance and imploring the legislators into passing bills that are sacred to our national growth”, he

advised.

The permanent secretary Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, in her remarks pointed out the objectives of the training which includes; spreading of peace messages during the general elections, dissemination of voter education messages and mobilization of youths through the online campaign ‘rock the vote Nigeria 2015’.

Represented by the Director planning research and policy analysis Mr. Babajide Oyelayo, she disclosed that the participants would apply lessons learnt on the field during and after the forth coming elections.

According to one of the participants, Iyabe Arome from Kogi state, the training which involves the move from analogue to technology usage during the elections was a welcome development in tune with electoral practices in developed parts of the world. “ if actually we the youths are looking for the change that we clamour for, then definitely we must send that message of peace and technological advancement to our colleagues out there. We cannot be part of the global society and be operating on analogue, the global world calls for technology advancement and that is what we the youths are calling for. I want to believe that it is a welcome development”.

Participants at a retreat organized for Directors of Institutes/Units and Heads of Departments/Units of the University of Ibadan in a group photograph at the Herbert R. Albrecht Conference Centre, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, yesterday.

NOA partners DGD on voter education …to mobilize 10m signatures for peaceful election

JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

A

s part of efforts to enlighten citizens on the forth coming general election, the National Orientation Agency NOA, in partnership with Democratic Governance for Development DGD, has organized a oneday training programme on voter education for the Agency’s 37 State Directorates including the FCT. Welcoming the participants at the event, the Director-General of NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri represented by the Director of Administration, Mr. Ado

Solomon charged the Directors to take advantage of new knowledge from the training to enrich the Agency’s voter sensitization and ensure the success of the NOA/DGD partnership.

He also commended the NOA State Directorates for their grassroots activities, which he said had always attracted development partners to the Agency.

“We want to thank you for choosing NOA as a partner for voter’s education in the present electioneering season, promising that funds from the donor Agency would be judiciously expended.”

In his remarks, the DGD Project Manager, Mr. John Abbah said that the donor agency was relying on NOA’s State Directorates for policy feedback and asked them to keep the records straight.

Abba stressed the need for NOA to execute projects on time, adding that a satisfactory financial statement on the project would also encourage more funding.

Subsequently, in a separate press conference on the need for a peaceful election; the government through the National Orientation Agency (NOA) said it had concluded

planned to mobilize at least 10 million signatures for peace, using its structures at the 774 Local Government Areas.

Director General of NOA maintained that the agency was partnering with corporate bodies, individual and the civil groups to sensitize people on the need to do the right thing. According to him, the campaign became imperative in view of reports received by the agency from its 36 states offices.

“Reports indicate palpable fear of the possibility of violence regardless of the outcome of the 2015 general elections.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

43

PDP on the verge of losing Niger to APC 45 DAYS TO GO

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Niger State suffered a major blow recently following the defection of the deputy governor, Hon. Ahmed Musa Ibeto, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, as part of the fallout of the December 8, 2014 gubernatorial primaries, in which he participated and lost.

Unable to bear the alleged injustice and humiliation meted out to him, he had to quit. Over 200 members, including some top notchers, also dumped the ruling party for the opposition over various grievances, along with him.

They include serving members of the National Assembly, members of state House of Assembly, former commissioners and former chairmen of local councils, former gubernatorial aspirants, among other party faithful in the state. And by implication, this may give the opposition more ground with elections only weeks away.

Recent developments that appeared to have sent jitters down the spine of the ruling PDP, pundits said, did not come as a surprise to many in the state considering the anger displayed by losers in the PDP gubernatorial primaries.

Immediately after results were announced, five aggrieved participants, including Ibeto, briefed newsmen and totally rejected the outcome of the primary, claiming that the exercise was conducted with disregards to the Electoral Law and the party’s constitution, as there was no levelplaying field. They fingered the governor as the harbinger of the crisis.

One of the aggrieved losers, Alhaji Hanafi Sudan, approached an Abuja High Court, seeking an order to compel PDP to give him certificate of return, instead of the winner, Hon. Umar Nasko, who polled 908 votes out 1,023 votes. The suit was however thrown out and Nasko’s victory upheld.

Though, Ibeto and his fellow losers told journalists that they will all remain in the PDP to seek legal means of resolving the issue by forwarding their complains to the national headquarters of the party in Abuja, but it appeared their grievances were not settled as political development on Monday the 19 of January had proved.

This is in spite of the visit by a PDP reconciliation team, led by the Vice Chairman, North Central zone, to iron out all grey areas with aggrieved members of the party to enable it face the battle ahead with a united front.

Evidence that all is not well within the ruling party first really came to the fore during the August/September, 2014 Niger East senatorial by-election, where, it locked horns with APC in a battle of supremacy in the zone, which has been in the grip of the ruling party, since 1999.

Though, the PDP was eventually declared winner, a victory that has been nullified by the court, it was a hard-won victory. Governor Babangida Aliyu admitted that it was the toughest battle in all his political history due to disunity and betrayal by party members. Sensing danger ahead, he warned of the need for the party to wake up and resolve

PRISCILLA DENNIS writes on the crises tearing apart Niger State Peoples Democratic Party, which if not quickly nipped in the bud, may undo the party in the forthcoming general elections.

Aliyu Babagida

Ibeto

MANY IN THE STATE ARE OF THE BELIEF THAT ...THE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT SEEMS VERY DICEY WITH THE PDP ON THE VERGE OF LOSING MORE MEMBERS TO THE OPPOSITION all issues that could be clog in the will of its progress in the forthcoming elections.

He said explained that political events during the by-election, forced him to carry out some analysis just to enable him trace why the election was a tough nut to crack, in spite of the provision of infrastructural facilities.

Announcing his defection publicly to journalists at his residence in Minna, on his way to receive the APC presidential candidate to flag off his campaign, Ibeto hinged the decision on the injustice he suffered, alongside other co-contestants during the primaries, which he described as flawed and stage-managed to favour a particular candidate.

Ibeto said: “The electoral process that threw up Alhaji Nasko as PDP gubernatorial candidates was not in accordance with PDP electoral guidelines and the constitution. It is true we are defecting to APC because the primary was conducted in abeyance to the PDP constitution.”

He said the decision to defect became inevitable when efforts by all aggrieved participants in the primaries to get PDP national headquarters to address the injustice met a brick wall, urging his supporters to be law abiding and not to engage in do-or-die.

And though, Governor Aliyu seem unperturbed by the massive wave of defection, especially that of his deputy, he said Ibeto would not be denied his rights and privileges as a result of his action, adding that politicians have the right to chose who they want to associate. He urged party supporters to remain calm as the PDP is the only party to beat in the state.

But, two days later, a media report claimed that Governor Aliyu was at the Hilltop country home of former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, to plead with him to help beg the defectors to return to the PDP. But Dr Aliyu debunked the report while speaking during a courtesy visit by Federation of Advocates for Fair, Credible and

Peaceful Election, led by elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, insisting that he has never at any point asked IBB to beg his deputy and aggrieved members to return.

His words: “It is not unusual to see politicians defecting during electioneering period and those who have defected have right to do so.”

He said he has gone beyond going to beg IBB or anyone over the defection saga, calling on politicians not to discriminate or victimise any one for making any decision, arguing that politics must be played without bitterness between all stakeholders.

He added: “Fighting within and outside party platforms should be discouraged, regardless of who wins, Nigerians must understand that unity of the country remains sacrosanct.”

However, a source within the party confided in National Mirror that unless something is done very soon to address members’ grievances, hundreds of PDP supporters may be leave again for the opposition party, over alleged coercion, imposition of candidates and injustice.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said: “The party is presently jittery as hundreds will also leave, this is besides, the over 200 that had already dump the PDP for the APC, especially over the outcome of the gubernatorial primaries that imposed a candidate on the people of the state. Many that contested the House of Assembly and House of Representatives seats were unable to return. They were schemed out. These problems need to be settled fast before the election.”

National Mirror also learnt that the immediate past PDP chairman, Dr. Abdulrahaman Enagi, had left; angered by the treatment he got from the party during the primaries. Enagi had resigned to contest the Niger South senatorial district primaries, but lost to Senator Zaynab Kure.

Efforts to get the new PDP chairman, Hon. Musa Maali, to comment on these po-

litical developments and what it portends for the party failed.

Governor Aliyu had on several occasions at open functions maintained that the party’s standard bearer, Alhaji Nasko remains the best choice and most qualified to continue with the policies and programmes of his administration.

Aliyu said Nasko is sellable and is the candidate to beat in the election, a position, National Mirror learnt, many PDP stalwarts seem uncomfortable with, especially in Niger South zone, where, it was gathered the party’s campaign train was booed on a number of times in some areas, as well as in other areas outside the zone.

Incidentally, Niger South produces bulk of the votes that has ensured the party continued to form government in the state.

Aliyus’ candidature in the Niger East senatorial district is also said not to be receiving the expected support with tribal sentiment already played up among the Gwari speaking people of the zone, who prefer one of their own to occupy the senatorial seat.

For example, political watchers noted that Aliyus’ adoption by the zonal PDP has proved the fears of the Gwaris, who had before the August/ September, 2014 by-election alleged that Senator Zagbayi was a stop-gap measure, only to be schemed out and denied the seat in order for Aliyu to actualise his aspiration as PDP’s sole candidate in the election. They are therefore, said to be bent on supporting one of their own, Barr David Umar of the opposition party next month.

While the third senatorial district has all the time being in firm grip of main opposition parties in the state as even witnessed today, but with the governorship seat zoned to the zone, perhaps, it may soften the heart of people of the area towards the ruling party in the election.

These among other issues, pundits noted, could be responsible for the disenchantment that have snow-ball into the mass defection of party faithful suffered by the PDP that needs to be resolve quickly as the election approaches to sway voters to its side.

It will be recalled that Ibeto was made APC leader in Niger State barely three days after defection at the inauguration of the state campaign team. He boasted that his new party will form government in all strata during the polls based on the goodwill it enjoys, across the state.

He assure that “we will deliver Niger State to our presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, and subsequently, win the governorship, the three senatorial seats, 10 House of Representatives, and the 27 seats of the state House of Assembly.”

However, many in the state are of the belief that though the political development seem very dicey with the PDP on the verge of losing more members to the opposition, the onus lies with its leadership, headed by Dr. Aliyu to use the party’s’ internal mechanism of crisis management to find lasting solution to the lingering problems bedeviling it and where necessary, re-strategise or re-align in order to nip in the bud, the raging tidal waves already threatening to sweep the party out of power.

44

Politics

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Shift in election dates necessary –Adams AYO ESAN

N

ational Coordinator of the pan Yoruba group, Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Otunba Gani Adams, has said that the shift in dates of elections was a matter of necessity.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, Adams said “the shift in dates is as a result of necessities for cogent reasons such as the

issues of security and adequate logistics for the exercise.”

He added: “Let me explain this, by reminding you of the fact that the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, distribution was just 66 per cent while the remaining 34 per cent were still to be given out to the electorate and when you realize the population of this unfortunate electorate, it is about 24 million eligible Nigerians.

“I was so sad with the

way the opposition handled the development. I just can’t imagine how comfortable they are that about 24 million Nigerians were to be disenfranchised; as a matter of fact, I won’t even be comfortable with 10,000 Nigerians not to talk of 24 million.

“Even if the 24 million disenfranchised Nigerians are not going to vote, the party that at the end of the day loses the election can hide behind the incident

to foment trouble after the exercise.

I watched the National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Muhammed saying it was just 22 local governments that were not given the PVCs and may not vote, forgetting that some states don’t have up to 22 local governments, you are unwittingly saying it doesn’t matter if about two states don’t participate in the election ex-

ercise.”

He said since the security chiefs declared that they couldn’t guarantee security of INEC’s ad-hoc staff and equipment how then will any sane person push for the exercise without the support of security chiefs?

He said the new dates for the elections still fall within the handover date of May 29, adding: “We still have more than three months to the handover of government; there is no

45 DAYS TO GO

need for them to be too anxious more than the umpire.

“Moreover, we have 27 political parties and 17 of them have declared that the election should be postponed and eight insisted that it be held, in as much as 17 has indicate interest in the shifting, it simply means majority of Nigerians have spoken.”

2015 polls: Group condemns politicians’ neglect of PWDs non-gover nmental organisation, NGO,which protects, promotes and safeguards the rights of persons with disabilities, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, CCD, has condemned the act of negligence of persons with disabilities by politicians in the ongoing electioneering process.

While addressing newsmen at a press conference, the executive director of CCD, David Anyaele, expressed worry over political parties across board and their candidates’ silence on issues of concern to Nigerians with disabilities.

He said: “Issues such as disability law, inclusive and accessible education, unhindered access to healthcare, vocational training, access to job opportunities, rehabilitation and integration of Nigerians with disabilities are of critical concern to PWDs and are missing in campaigns among politicians.”

CCD called on all political parties to tell their candidates to mainstream issues with PWDs into their campaigns, adding that it is surprised that INEC is careless in ensuring that adequate measure is taken

to create access to polling booths on equal bases with other citizens at the polling units.

It said: “The reliance on charity based approach to addressing issues of concern to persons with disabilities’ participation in the 2015 general elections is worrisome. This approach had affected their participation in the registration and it is weakening their desire to go for permanent voter cards, PVCs, collection centres as most of the venues are inaccessible to the physically challenged.”

Charging the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that polling units are placed in places accessible to PWDs such that they do not have to go through much stress before they can cast their votes, CCD implored security agencies to disclose their plans so as to enhance confidence during elections, stressing that assurance of adequate security will encourage Nigerians with disabilities and other vulnerable persons to go out and vote.

He also urged the entire populace to shun violence before, during and after elections, noting that violence causes disability, disability causes poverty and poverty causes untimely death.

AYO ESAN

Movement backs Jonathan’s re-election bid

AISHA TITILAYO

A

S

outh West Builders Movement, SWBM, has urged its members and other participants at its sensitization workshop on good governance, to ensure that they use their votes rightly and vote for the candidate who would guarantee the unity of the country.

SWBM leader, Hon. Babatunde Ereola, while addressing participants at the workshop held in Lagos hinted that the organization in the South West alone has over 2 million members and sympathisers who were assembled over the years, pointing out that the body in the region, has been mo-

Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun addressing party supporters at Oke Ara Egba Ward 2 during his ward-to-ward reelection campaign in Abeokuta South Local Government Area, yesterday.

Abia South: Ngwa monarchs endorse Abaribe as sole candidate OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

I

n an unprecedented move yesterday, traditional rulers of Ngwa ethnic nationality on the auspices of Ngwa Supreme Royal Fathers endorsed Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe as the sole senatorial candidate for Abia South senatorial district.

The traditional rulers through the Chairman of Abia Traditional Rulers Council, HRM, Eze Eberechi Dick, also conferred the revered title of ‘Ugo

bilising support for President Goodluck Jonathan and the need for him to win his re-election bid, in order for him to complete all the projects he has embarked upon, with specific reference to Benin-Ore road, Lagos-Ibadan express way and others nearing completion.

Ereola, a political leader

Ngwa II” on the senator who is gunning for his third term in the Senate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. It would be recalled that Nigeria’s first indigenous Speaker of the House of Representatives and senator in the Second Republic, late Senator Jaja Wachuku, was the only other Ngwa holder of that title of ‘Ugo Ngwa” for his political exploits.

At an enlarged meeting of the council in Obingwa, Abia State, the monarchs chorused that

in Osun State and a member of the 1988/89 Constituent Assembly revealed that the workshop followed the meeting which some of the leaders of the SWBM held in Abuja on January 28, on the way forward and the role SWBM would play in the presidential and other elections in the country.

Abaribe is not only a topmost and successful Ngwa politician, but one that has brought honour and respect to his people.

They said: “He will be the only senator representing Ngwa people in the next dispensation.

We are announcing here today that we are unanimously endorsing him as Oha Ngwa sole candidate.

For that reason we are directing our people to shun any opposition and troop out en mass to vote for him. We are confident that come March 28 victory will be his.

“Abaribe is our son who has internal love for Ngwa land and has made sacrifices for the political liberation of our people. He is also the most qualified now to receive the revered title reserved for our great sons and daughters in politics.

“Now is payback time and on this score, we are not only endorsing him

as our sole candidate but shall confer the title of ‘Ugo Ngwa II” on him as Ngwa’s foremost and fearless politician after the late Dr Wachuku.”

Accepting the tile, which installation ceremony would come at a later date; Abaribe said he was humbled by the endorsement of the royal fathers, which means that the whole Ngwa clan is with him all the way.

He gave a rundown of his political struggles and exploits for the political emancipation of the Ukwa-Ngwa, which spans through his days as a deputy governor and currently as a senator of the Federal Republic.

He said: “I am grateful for this honour, which to me is a true testament of the recognition of my humble contribution to the development of our land. I will not disappoint you. I will not disappoint our people.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

45

Naira exchanges at N200 to Dollar

...CBN vows to stabilise currency JOHNSON OKANLAWON WITH AGENCY REPORT

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is committed to sustaining a stable and orderly market, after a delay to a presidential election pushed the naira beyond 200 to the United States dollar for the first time.

The forex market was understandably nervous after the six-week delay to elections originally scheduled for February 14, but it was nothing to worry about, CBN’s spokesman, Mr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor said.

Okoroafor said the naira was under speculative attack, as there had been no fundamental change to

the economy to warrant the pressure on the currency.

The currency hit N200 to the dollar for the first time.

The weekend decision to postpone presidential elections by six weeks, combined with plummeting oil prices, have damaged investor sentiment towards the economy, driving the naira to a succession of lows despite central bank efforts to prop it up.

The naira fell sharply to a fresh low of 200 to the dollar, despite a central bank intervention.

It later firmed but ended at a record closing low of 199.90. The naira had closed at N196.50 on Mon-

day.

“Capital flight has picked up, reflecting investor uncertainty. The rise in (overnight) rates will increase day-to-day funding of private sector operations in the run-up to the elections. Both will result in slower growth in Q1,” said Angus Downie, head of economic research at Ecobank.

Citing security concerns, Nigeria’s electoral commission postponed the presidential election until March 28, unnerving foreign governments and investors.

The election pits incumbent Goodluck Jonathan against former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, in what is likely to be the most hotly contested poll since the end

Equities value dips by 0.8% JOHNSON OKANLAWON

E

quities market sustained its downward trend on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, 0.80 per cent to peg year to date return at 15.96 per cent.

The All Share Index dropped 0.80 per cent to close at 29,125.69 points, compared to the depreciation of 2.08 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 29,360.55 points.

Market capitalisation depreciated N78bn to close at N9.72trn, lower than the decline of N208bn recorded the preceding day to close at N9.79trn.

Analysts at Meristem Securities Limited, an investment firm, noted that the negative sentiment

ravaging the equities market may be as a result of the recent shift in general elections, as investors’ perception towards the stock market further deteriorates.

All sectorial indicies closed negative except the Alternative Securities Market that closed flat at 1,213.36 points.

The NSE 30-Index dropped 0.95 per cent to close at 1,304.95 points, while the Banking Index fell 1.37 per cent to close at 296.68 points.

The Insurance Index dipped 0.28 per cent to close at 140.57 points, while the Consumer Goods Index shed declined one per cent to close at 746.31 points.

The Oil and Gas Index

was dwon 1.93 per cent to close at 357.27 points, while the Lotus Islamic Index depreciated 0.31 per cent to close at 1,972.00 points.

The Industrial Index fell 0.14 per cent to close at 1,943.79 points.

Honeywee Plc led the gainers’ table with 14 kobo or 4.46 per cent to close at N3.28 per share, followed

by Transnational Express Plc with four kobo or 4.40 per cent to close at 95 kobo per share.

Dangote Sugar Plc rose 27 kobo or 3.92 per cent to close at N7.15 per share, while ETI Incorporation Plc added 50 kobo or 3.03 per cent to close at N17.00 per share.

RT Briscoe Plc was up two kobo or 32.33 per cent

uters had forecast wholesale inventories rising 0.2 per cent in December.

US financial markets were little moved by the data. US stocks were trading higher on hopes of a deal in Greece’s debt negotiations, while prices for Treasuries fell.

The dollar rose against a basket of currencies. Inventories are a key component of gross domestic product changes. The component that goes into the calculation of GDP - wholesale stocks excluding autos - nudged up 0.1 per cent.

The report, together with last week’s data showing a 0.3 per cent fall in manu-

facturing inventories in December, suggested the boost to GDP growth from restocking in the fourth quarter was probably not as large as initially thought.

The government estimated last month that inventories added 0.8 percentage point to the economy’s annualized 2.6 per cent growth pace in the fourth quarter.

Prior to yesterday inventories data, a larger-than-anticipated trade deficit in December had led economists to expect that fourth-quarter GDP growth could be lowered by as much as threetenths of a percentage point.

The government will publish its revised GDP growth

of army rule in 1999.

Naira liquidity dropped after dealers paid for forex and bonds purchased the previous day, when the interbank rate was 60 per cent.

The CBN soaked up liquidity through a N30bn open market operation and sold $199.9m at its twice-weekly forex auction at N168 on Monday.

Dealers said the cash to fund these purchases was withdrawn from the banking system on Tuesday.

The CBN has been intervening directly with dollar sales to lenders to support the local currency but not enough to quench demand, which it has attributed to speculation.

to close at 88 kobo per share.

On the flip side, NASCON Plc dropped 71 kobo or 9.40 per cent to close at N6.84 per share, while Forte Oil Plc shed N11.02 or five per cent to close at N209 per share.

International Breweries Plc was down N1.02 or 4.99 per cent to close at N19.41 per share, while Guaranty Trust Bank Plc depreciated N1.01 or 4.98 per cent to close at N19.29 per share.

Fidelity Bank Plc dipped six kobo or 4.96 per cent to close at N1.15 per share.

A total of 320.8 million shares valued at N4.14bn were traded in 4,116 deals.

Weak US wholesale stocks to cut Q4 growth estimate

T

he United States wholesale inventories barely rose in December, the latest suggestion that fourthquarter growth could be revised lower.

Still, the economic outlook remains bright, with other data yesterday showing a jump in job openings in December.

Wholesale inventories edged up 0.1 per cent as lower crude oil prices weighed on the value of petroleum stocks, the Commerce Department said. Stocks at wholesalers had increased by an unrevised 0.8 per cent in November.

Economists polled by Re-

estimate later this month.

The moderate pace of inventory accumulation, however, could be a boost to first-quarter growth, which also continues to be supported by a strengthening labor market.

In a separate report, the Labour Department said job openings surged to 5.03 million in December, the highest level since January 2001, from 4.85 million in November.

Employment growth is accelerating. Government data last Friday showed the economy added more than a million jobs over the past three months, a feat last achieved in late 1997.

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

$1

N192.50 Market indicators All-Share Index 29,125.69 points Market capitalisation 9.72trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

HONYFLOUR

3.14

3.28

0.14

4.46

TRANSEXPR

0.91

0.95

0.04

4.40

DANGSUGAR

6.88

7.15

0.27

3.92

ETI

16.50

17.00

0.50

3.03

RTBRISCOE

0.86

0.88

0.02

2.33

WAPIC

0.50

0.51

0.01

2.00

STERLNBANK

2.33

2.35

0.02

0.86

AFRIPRUD

2.75

2.77

0.02

0.73

VITAFOAM

3.41

3.42

0.01

0.29

HONYFLOUR

-

-

-

-

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

NASCON

7.55

6.84

-0.71

-9.40

FO

220.50

209.48

-11.02

-5.00

INTBREW

20.43

19.41

-1.02

-4.99

GUARANTY

20.30

19.29

-1.01

-4.98

FIDELITYBK

1.21

1.15

-0.06

-4.96

ASHAKACEM

20.24

19.24

-1.00

-4.94

VONO

1.02

0.97

-0.05

-4.90

IKEJAHOTEL

3.50

3.33

-0.17

-4.86

DANGFLOUR

4.38

4.17

-0.21

-4.79

TRANSCORP

2.68

2.56

-0.12

-4.48

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

1.51

96.80

15.49

96.95

15.38

15.10 27-APR-2017

2.21

99.05

15.59

99.20

15.50

16.00 29-JUN-2019

4.38

101.30

15.56

101.60

15.47

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.96

103.95

15.44

104.25

15.37

14.20 14-MAR-2024

9.09

94.05

15.43

94.35

15.37

10.00 23-JUL-2030

15.45 67.00

15.75

67.30

15.67

Closing Market Prices of February 10, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

7-May-15

11.30

11.64

6-Aug-15

13.90

14.95

21-Jan-16

14.10

16.33

NIBOR Tenor

Rate (%)

O/N

65.9600

1M

15.5705

3M

16.4186

6M

17.0817 The Fixings of February 10, 2015

46

Capital Market

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at February 10, 2015 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)

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

47

Community Mirror The elections were postponed not because they could not safely be held. They were postponed because the president feared that an election held on February14 would for him be an election lost.

APC National Leader – Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Police nab women for selling two months old baby Francis Ekpone ONITSHA

F

our women, three sellers and a buyer of a baby have reportedly been arrested by the Enugu State Police Command and are currently being held at the Ogidi Police Station, Idemili North Local Government Area.

The two-month old baby girl who was stolen from her mother at Nnewi, Anambra State, was said to have been sold for N625, 000 by an Enugu based woman, Nwanyibuife Ezeudu (Not real name).

Upon interrogation, the buyer said that she resolved to procure the baby girl because she needed

a female that would look after her when she would be old.

According to her, “I have a male child but I want a female that will look after me when I become old. The boy will not nurse me more than the girl”, she posited.

Asked if the husband was aware of the purchase of the baby she said, “He was aware and asked me to carry on”.

Confirming the arrest of the suspects, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of the Ogidi Police Station, Mr. Hassan Musa added that the baby was also recovered and that she is in Police custody while effort is being intensified to get the mother.

The DPO expressed satisfaction with the confessional statement of those arrested adding that two of the women that sold the baby based in Abatete and Onitsha.

“We had to move to Enugu to get the baby on arresting the buyer days after and now we are moving to Nnewi to know how the mother of the baby will feature”, he hinted.

The DPO reiterated the resolve of the Division to stop all illegal sales of babies in the area.

He disclosed that it was on a tip off that the police arrested the sellers while they were waiting for the buyer to come from Enugu, Enugu State.

Council boss calls for strict adherence to fuel price in communities R ichard N doma CALABAR

T

he Council Chairman for Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State, Hon. Butoru Rita Agbo Ayim, has charged operators of petrol stations within the ishibori, Akbakpa, Ekajuk, Nkum and Mbube communities to comply with the reduction of fuel price by the Federal Government or be made to face the wrath of the law.

The Council boss gave the warning in an interview while reacting to allegations that operators of petrol stations had refused to adhere to N87 per a litre pump price fixed by Federal Government.

The chairman further stated that the reduction of the fuel price was as a result of market failure in crude oil and advice filling station owners to adhere to the decision taken by the federal government over the reduction of fuel pump price per litre from N97 to N87 or face sanctions by the government.

Ayim however wondered why operators and owners of petrol stations operating

within these communities bluntly refused to abide by the decision to reduce the pump price of petroleum from N97 to N87 to make life meaningful to Nigerians.

The Ogoja Council boss lamented why transporters and vehicle owners around communities within Ogoja Local Government area were yet to enjoyed the reduction of pump price initiated by the government and charged the filling station owners to do something about it, or face sanction.

She inform the citizens in the communities that the announcement in the reduction of the pump price of premium motor spirit by ten naira was as a result of the crash in price of crude oil in the international market.

The council Chairman also advised the people of Ekajuk, Ishbori and other communities within Ogoja council area to see the postponement of the general election as a blessing in disguise that the postponement of the election was for the interest of Nigerian especially those who are yet to get their permanent voters card.

LG funds: Group drag Kano govt to court Resident of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government area of Lagos State, queueing for free kerosene in Lagos.

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Traders flay council boss on borehole in market Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

T

raders at the popular Chicken Market in Molete, Ibadan, have decried how the contractors sent by the Senator representing Oyo South senatorial district, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, to drill a borehole for the use of the market were chased away by the caretaker chairman of Ibadan South East local government area, Alhaji Abass Bolaji Najimudeen.

Spokesperson of the traders, Alhaja Sakirat Inaolaji, while speaking with journalists yesterday, said the traders who have been suffering from non availability of wa-

ter did not demand for any other thing other than a borehole that can serve as a source of drinkable water from all the politicians that have been coming to campaign in the market.

According to her, Lanlehin who is re-contesting under the platform of the Accord Party, visited the market last Thursday and promised to construct one for the market.

She said the Senator stood by his words by sending a firm that came with all their equipments to commence the project, only for them to see a team of policemen and some people led by the council boss who drove them away.

According to her, “We all like

what the present administration is doing in the state but the attitude of the Mapo council boss is not good enough, the present condition of the market is not hygienic enough and can lead to epidemic if urgent action is not taken and he came to denied us a saving measure.

“We think such important health related case should not be politicized, we told the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi when she came to campaign to us last Friday that we need a borehole at this market and she sincerely told us that such facility can only be provided by them after the elections and we appreciate her sincerity.

S

ome concerned citizens from the 44 local government areas of Kano State have dragged Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso to the Federal High Court, sitting in Kano.

The group said in a statement made available to newsmen that they took the action following alleged non disbursement of the local governments’ funds amounting to N255 billion.

The group said it was unconstitutional and illegal for the governor, whether by himself or through his officers, to withhold the local government funds.

They cited sections 162 subs (5), (6) and (7) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Re-

public of Nigeria as amended.

When the case came up for mention, the Presiding Judge, Justice Fatin Riman, adjourned the case until Feb. 5 to hear an application filed by the counsel to the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation.

The counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation was challenging the process of how his client was served.

The governor is the defendant alongside the AttorneyGeneral of the state, Kano State House of Assembly, Attorney General of the Federation, among others.

Other co-defendants in the case include: the Senate, House of Representatives and 44 local government councils in the state.

48

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Ndigbo installs eze in Ogun NGO to spend N140m on 3 transit camps for police community A H Ebere Ndukwu

is Royal Highness Eze (Prof.) Innocent Friday Okunamiri was recently installed the Ome Udo 1 of Ifo land by the Eze Ndigbo Ogun State and Ohaneze Ndigbo in the State with special concern from Ohaneze Ndigbo in Ifo Local Government Area of the State being his immediate domain.

In his address, Chairman Ohaneze Ndigbo, Ifo Local Government Council Area, Ogun State High Chief M. I. Nnadi described the occasion as historic and all-important in the life of Ndigbo in Ifo land being the first of its kind.

He disclosed that the search

for an Eze for Ndigbo in Ifo land began as soon as Eze Ndigbo of Ogun State Igwe Willy Okonkwo was installed in 2008, a search he said peaked in 2010 as all effort remained futile.

“However, by 2012, Ogbuefi Professor Okunamiri Innocent Friday (Dike Di ora nma home and abroad), gave his consent to the offer”, he said.

Chief Nnadi therefore called on Ndigbo in Ifo land to close ranks with their Eze to guard the stool accordingly.

In his acceptance speech the newly crowned Eze Udo Ifo, HRH I.F Okunamiri described the event as another public acknowledgment of his acceptance to give Ndigbo in Ifo a much desired purposeful leadership.

n NGO, the Police Stakeholders Assisted Project, POLICE-SAP, has concluded plans to build transit camps for the police in three states of the federation.

The Chairman of POLICESAP, Mr. Ifeanyi Nwankwo, who stated this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja, added that the project would cost N140 million.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Delta and two northern states would benefit from the initiative.

Nwankwo said FIOGRET Nig. Ltd. owned by Mr. Great Ogboru, the governorship candidate of Labour Party in Delta, had agreed to fund the project.

When completed, he said the camps would be used to accommodate Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Division-

He equally acknowledged his acquaintance with the task and associated challenges ahead praying God to be his strength.

Akin to the meaning of his royal title Ome udo ‘a man of peace’, testimonies abound as many say that another apt name for HRH Eze I.F. Okunamiri is indeed Man of Peace and generosity, Just as they attest to having benefitted from his kitty of peace and benevolence.

The event which savoured full backing of the Ogun State Government had people from the nook and crannies of the country as every culture and clime was overwhelmingly conspicuous giving credence to his cosmopolitan stature too.

al Crime Officers (DCOs) and Area Commanders posted to rural areas in the benefitting states.

He described the listed officers as the ``foot soldiers’’ of the Force, adding that they needed to be accommodated to avoid being compromised. ``During a tour of most police divisions across the country, we discovered that most DPOs and DCOs live in hotels or private homes of individuals. ``Once this is done, the officers’ hands are tied,’’ he said.

Nwankwo also said the org anisation would soon meet with the Police High Command to deter mine the two other states in the North that would benefit from the project.

VVF centre treats 215 patients in Kebbi

K

ebbi State Vesico Vaginal Festulae, VVF, Centre, BirninKebbi, has treated about 215 patients in the past 13 months.

The Medical Director of the centre and Festula Surgeon, Dr Abubakar Dakingari, disclosed this to the News Agency of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi.

Dakingari said that 190 patients were operated upon while 25 were treated with catheter.

HRH Eze I.F. Okunamiriri Eze Udo 1 of Ifo and his Ugwueze (Queen) Uzor on parade immediately after his coronation

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Ibolo Micheal, now wish to be known and addressed as Nwachukwu Micheal Chinedu.

All former document remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Gwong Joseph Christiana, now wish to be known and addressed as Kola-Taiwo Christiana Lyop. All former document remain valid.The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to confirm that the bearer of these names Kue Precious Kadilabari, Kue Kadilabari Precious, Precious Kpobari .H. Kue and Kue Precious K.H. refers to one and the same person.

All documents remain valid. Niger Delta University and the general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

FIRST BELIEVERS OF CHRIST HEALING DELIVERANCE MINISTRY

This is to inform the general public that the above named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1 Prophet Tersoo Andrew Awolowo 2 Pastor Mercy Nguemo Awolowo 3 Rev. Dr. Michael Awar Akaa

4 Pastor Silas Aondonenge Ieren

- Chairman - Sec - Member - Member

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: To propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ To heal the sick and bring them to Christ

Any objection to this registration should be sent to the registrarGeneral, Corporate Affair Commission, Plot 420, Tigirs Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja.

SIGNED: PASTOR MERCY NGUEMO AWOLOWO

He said the patients were victims of

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Arijovwode Emuobosa Precious, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Meme Emuobosa Precious. All former document remain valid.The general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

WE ARE ALIVE IN HIM OVERCOMERS MINISTRY

The general public is hereby notified that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act. CAP C 20 LFN 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Pastor Morakinyo Akinyemi Godman Pastor (Mrs.) Oluwatosin Mary Godman Pastor Olayinka Ayinde Omotola

Mr. Olayinka Yusuf

Mr. Roland Valentine Okoro

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

-General Overseer - Secretary/ Treasurer - Member - Member

1. To Propagate End-Time Message to the world.

2. To enrich people of God with God’s word concerning the second coming of Jesus Christ.

3. To overcome Challenges of the End-Time.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded within (28) twenty eight days of this publication to the Registrar – General, Corporate Affairs Commission.

SIGNED: OLATUNJI OSIKOYA ESQ, SOLICITOR 69, AYANGBUREN ROAD, IKORODU, LAGOS STATE (08035775881)

CHANGE OF NAME

AKPOMIEMIE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Akpomiemie Roseline Eriyodawhe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Emeka Roseline Eriyodawhe. All former documents remain valid LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Community Medicine Department, Ogbomosho and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as miss Falaja Aramide Abiola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeleke Aramide Abiola. All former documents remain valid and general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Onokerieva Stella Ewomazino now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olugbode Stella Ewomazino. All former documents remain valid NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Woyengitari Excellence Asalagha, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Woyengitari Excellence Lelei.

All former document remain valid.The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I Formerly known and addressed as Lasisi Olaitan Mufidat, now wish to be known and addressed as Oni Favour Olaitan. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

prolonged obstructive labour and genital mutilation. ``The centre treats patients free from within the country and neighbouring Benin and Niger Republics,” he said.

The director said women suffering VVF were from remote communities that lacked roads and well equipped healthcare.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Awofala Adeleke Joseph now wish to be known and addressed as Adeleke Joseph Olufala. All former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Alli Odunsi Ayoola Binta now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Taiwo Ayoola Binta. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Ministry of Education Science and Technology and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Musari Rashidat Olabisi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Shobowale Rashidat Olabisi All former document remain valid Ogun State SUBEB Abeokuta Ijebu Ode Local Government Education Authority and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Lorretta Amiaya Apenaere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Lorretta Amiaya Apenaere Osunkunle. All former document remain valid.The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ILOEGBUNAM: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Iloegbunam Chisom .E. now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oyilagu Chisom Euphemia. All former document remain valid.The general public should please take note.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

World News

Last American hostage with ISIS confirmed killed PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

N

iger’s parliament has voted to send troops to Nigeria to join the fight against militant Islamist group Boko Haram.

The vote took place after Boko Haram attacked a prison and detonated a car bomb on Monday in the town of Diffa, near Niger’s border with Nigeria.

MPs said parliament unanimously authorised deploying 750 soldiers with a regional force battling Boko Haram.

The Boko Haram has increasingly drawn in Nigeria’s neighbours.

On Saturday Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin agreed to establish a 7,800-strong force to fight the group.

Boko Haram launched its first attacks in Niger last week, and has vowed to create an Islamic state.

Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou, a Muslim, vowed to defeat Boko Haram.

“All the Nigeriens know that these guys are not Muslims. On the contrary, what they are doing is not helping Islam,” he said.

Chadian soldiers near the Nigerian town of Gamboru on 1

The prosecution gives the impression of unbridled activity. There were only 12 (sex) parties in total that is four per year over three years –Ex-IMF Chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn

50

Niger’s parliament approves troops to fight Boko Haram February 2015 Chad has already deployed troops to Nigeria Women who escaped a 2014 Boko Haram attack in Nigeria’s Adamawa state at a camp for displaced people, 31 January The conflict is said to have displaced at least 3.2 million people in Nigeria

The BBC’s reporter in the capital, Niamey, said many people are concerned about the growing threat posed by Boko Haram.

The authorities have imposed an overnight curfew in Diffa and have banned the use of motorcycles, a common mode of transport, to prevent infiltration by

the militants, he says.

A journalist in Diffa told a news agency that at least one person was killed and 15 wounded in Monday’s bomb blast at a market.

Suspected Boko Haram militants also hijacked a bus in northern Cameroon, abducting at least 20 people, residents said.

T

A

t least 12 people were killed and 30 others wounded yesterday when a moderate Islamist group clashed with Somali government troops in central Somalia, according to witnesses.

The clashes started when fighters with Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a attacked government bases in the town of Guri-El,

the outbreak is not yet under control. He said the goal is to reduce the number of new cases to zero.

“Good progress is being made, but the outbreak still represents a grave threat,” Nabarro said, “and we really hope that there will be no complacency in anybody involved in the response. We have to really work hard to get zero cases, zero transmissions.”

Health experts have cautioned West Africans against becoming complacent about the disease. The WHO recently said a single unsafe burial in Guinea last month caused 11 confirmed Ebola cases.

Those killed by the virus re-

A health care worker assists a colleague inside a USAID, funded Ebola clinic in Monrovia, Liberia, recently.

main contagious, and must be buried by workers in protective equipment.

A large-scale trial of two potential Ebola vaccines began earlier

this month in Liberia. Organizers of the study, led by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, aim to enlist a total of around 27,000 healthy men and women for the trial.

12 Killed in Islamist group attack on Somalia town about 400 kilometres north of the capital, Mogadishu.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a witness said government troops were driven out of the town. A VOA reporter in the area said locals told him the town is under the “full control”

of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a.

The group previously assisted the Somali government in fighting the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab. Tuesday’s attack followed a simmering dispute over Ahlu Sunna’s representation in local and national government.

ECOWAS stakeholders call for labour market-oriented educational system The Round Table of stakeholders of universities and leaders of the private sector from ECOWAS Member States has ended in Dakar, Senegal with the adoption of a roadmap for addressing youth unemployment, including through the review of educational systems and curricula to make them more labour marketoriented.

As part of its conclusions, the three-day meeting which ended on 7 February 2015 also recommended that employability should be the central focus of university reforms, while career services should be created in every institution of higher learning to coordinate the implementation of the new vision.

The participants also called for a paradigm shift on the certification of diplomas, qualifications and certificates in vocational training, as well as additional and supplementary training or “additional qualification,” which will serve as a preventive measure against prolonged unemployment or underemployment.

‘Rebels shell South Sudan oil town’

Niger is expected to contribute 750 soldiers towards the regional force

Sharp rise in Ebola deaths, infections –WHO he number of deaths from Ebola has risen to 9,152, a sharp increase following weeks in which the outbreak appeared to be weakening.

The death toll reported yesterday by the World Health Organization represents a jump of nearly 150 deaths since the agency’s last update three days earlier.

The WHO said the number of new cases climbed by 303, with 136 new cases in Liberia, 113 in Sierra Leone, and 54 in Guinea.

U.N. special envoy on Ebola, Dr. David Nabarro told reporters in Geneva the new numbers show

WORLD BULLETIN

The government denied the group’s request to have power as an Islamic entity, saying its members should seek power through their respective clans.

It also wants the group’s militia to be integrated into the national forces.

South Sudan’s government has accused rebels of shelling its positions in the oil town of Bentiu in breach of a ceasefire.

A UN spokeswoman told the BBC the violence was the most serious since a ceasefire was agreed on 1 February.

Loud explosions were heard in the town, where some 53,000 civilians are sheltering inside a UN camp, a news agency reports.

Aid workers have warned that the conflict could cause a famine.

South Sudan is the world’s newest state, gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.

Conflict broke out in 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his sacked deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup.

He denied the allegation, but then raised a rebel force to fight the government.

A pro-government soldier walks past burnt houses in Bentiu, on 12 January 2014 Bentiu has seen some of the worst conflict Riek Machar at an undisclosed location in South Sudan on 30 April 2014 Mr Machar denied accusations that he was plotting a coup, but then mobilised a rebel force The UN has about 8,500 peacekeepers in South Sudan.

50

World News

WORLD BULLETIN

Ukraine’s battles rage ahead of Minsk talks

F

ighting has surged in eastern Ukraine as government forces and pro-Russian rebels try to make gains ahead of expected peace talks tomorrow.

Rebels carried out rocket attacks on a key military base and a residential area in Kramatorsk, officials said, killing at least seven civilians.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s volunteer Azov battalion has launched an offensive against separatists around Mariupol.

More than 5,400 people have died since the conflict began last April.

The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany are due to meet in the Belarusian capital Minsk tomorrow to hammer out a peace deal after months of fighting.

Russia denies Western and Ukrainian accusations of sending troops and arms to support the rebels and has warned the West that sending arms to Ukraine would worsen the crisis.

US President Barack Obama said on Monday that he had not ruled out supplying “lethal defensive weapons” to Ukraine if diplomacy failed.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told parliament that the government’s military headquarters at Kramatorsk airfield had been shelled by rebels.

At least seven people were killed and 16 wounded when a residential area was also hit, the governmentcontrolled Donetsk regional administration said. Ten people were injured at the military base, it added.

Kramatorsk, some distance west of the current conflict zone, was the scene of major fighting until July, when pro-Russian separatists retreated.

Local authorities said the rockets were fired from the rebel-controlled Horlivka area, which is about 50km (30 miles) away from the city.

The separatists denied firing the rockets.

Julia Dzuba, a resident of Kramatorsk who caught the shelling on film as it neared the apartment she lives in with her young child, told the BBC: “I was online, reading news, and then I heard boom, boom!”

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Last American hostage with ISIS confirmed killed

K

ayla Mueller, a 26-year-old American woman held by Islamic State militants, has been confirmed dead, her parents and the Obama administration said yesterday.

The White House said that Mueller’s family received a private message from her captors over the weekend. The information in the message was authenticated by the U.S. intelligence community.

“We are heartbroken to share that we’ve received confirmation that Kayla Jean Mueller, has lost her life,” Carl and Marsha Mueller said in a statement. “Kayla was a compassionate and devoted humanitarian. She dedicated the whole of her young life to helping those in need of freedom, justice, and peace.”

President Barack Obama said that Mueller, who worked with Syrian refugees, “epitomized all

Kayla Mueller is shown after speaking to a group in Prescott, Arizona

that is good in our world.”

“No matter how long it takes, the United States will find and bring to justice the terrorists who are responsible for Kayla’s captiv-

ity and death,” the president said.

The Islamic State group said Friday that Mueller had died in a Jordanian airstrike.

Mueller was the only known

remaining U.S. hostage held by the Islamic State group. She was taken into captivity in August 2013 while leaving a hospital in Syria.

French court awards $2.1m in switched baby case

A

French court yesterday ordered a private clinic in Cannes to pay 400,000 euros ($450,000) each to two 20-yearold girls accidentally switched at birth — part of a 1.88 million-euro ($2.1 million) settlement with both their families.

The clinic’s lawyer, Sophie Chas, said she didn’t immediately know whether an appeal would be lodged against yesterday’s decision by the court in Grasse.

Chas said the court also ordered the Clinica Jourdan and an insurance company to pay 300,000 euros ($340,000) to each of three parents involved in the case and 60,000 euros ($68,000) each for three brothers and sisters involved.

“I am perfectly satisfied (with the ruling) because responsibility within the medical chain was acknowledged,” the lawyer for the victims, Gilbert Collard, said in a telephone interview.

When Sophie Serrano gave

Sophie Serrano, right, is kissed by her daughter Manon, yesterday

birth in July 1994, her baby girl was put into an incubator at the clinic. A nurse’s assistant accidentally handed that baby to the wrong mother, and the baby girl in the adjacent incubator was given

to Serrano.

Three years later, the girl named Manon Serrano had curly hair and olive-toned skin— unlike either Sophie or her companion.

Sophie Serrano’s companion left

her after village rumours spread that he may have not been the father. In 2004, DNA tests showed that Manon was not the daughter of either of them.

An investigation was launched and their biological child was located only 30 kilometres (19 miles) away.

Sophie Serrano, who raised Manon, expressed relief Tuesday that the error was at last acknowledged, allowing the families to have closure even though the girls years ago chose to remain with their non-biological mothers.

“It’s a relief. We have waited for this for so long,” she said on iTele TV station.

The other family involved in the case has chosen to remain anonymous.

The suit brought in 2010 by the two families also targeted two doctors and the nurse’s assistant who made the error but the court did not convict them.

I will proceed with speech to ‘Over 600 Russian troops US Congress, says Netanyahu start exercises in Crimea’

I

sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, fending off criticism at home and abroad, said yesterday he remained determined to speak before the U.S. Congress next month on Iran’s nuclear program.

“I’m going to the United States, not because I’m looking or asking for a confrontation

with the president of the United States, but because I must fulfill my commitment to speak on an issue that threatens our existence,” Netanyahu said in broadcast remarks.

“I intend to speak in Congress, because Congress might have an important and influential role on the nuclear deal with Iran,” he said.

M

ore than 600 Russian troops started exercises in Crimea, RIA news agency reported yesterday, a day before a summit on the Ukraine crisis in the Belarussian capital Minsk.

RIA quoted Russia’s Black Sea Fleet as saying that coastal defence units had started

exercises in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in March. They were using around 50 units of weaponry, it added.

The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany are expected to meet in Minsk on Wednesday to seek an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Wednesday February 11, 2015

51

FG releases Zobe dam to Katsina govt JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

F

ederal Government has given Katsina State the authority to assume full control over

the multi-billion naira Zobe dam.

Governor Ibrahim Shema, who stated this yesterday during an interactive session with Katsina elders and stakeholders, said authority over control of the

dam by the state government was approved three weeks ago by the Federal Government.

Zobe dam, located in Dutsinma Council Area, was conceived by General Olusegun Obasanjo’s mili-

tary administration in 1970, and completed in 1983 by Shehu Shagari’s government.

It has capacity to generate 177 million cubic meters or 171 billion litres of water, with the potential to

provide 8,000 hectares of irrigation and pipe-borne water supply to millions of people.

But the project has been under-utilised and abandoned even as members of the House of Representatives had some time last year probed the dam’s abandonment.

As a way of reviving the project and possibly see to its completion, the dam was handed over to the state government for full control.

Speaking on the issue, Shema said the state gov-

ernment had written to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in 2010 for the release of the dam.

He, however, said the next incoming administration would be responsible for handling matters relating to the dam as his tenure would expire in May this year.

The meeting saw some of the elders raising important national and state issues for discussion while suggestions were raised on how to move the state forward.

Olosoho chiefdom backs Al-Makura’s re-election IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

L-R: The District Head of Birshi, Alhaji Lawal Ahmad; Chief of Staff to Bauchi State/Grand Patron, Birshi Youth Movement for Peace, Alhaji Tanko Dutse and Divisional Police Officer, Yelwa Division, CSP Mohammed Rabo, marking Seven Years of Peaceful Coexistence and Sensitisation on Violence-Free Election in Bauchi, yesterday.

PHOTO:NAN

I’m still in charge —NECO boss PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

R

egistrar and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the National Examination Council, NECO, Professor Promise Nwachukwu Okpala, has said he was still head of the examination body despite calls from some quarters asking him to proceed on terminal leave.

Okpala stated this while briefing journalists at the council’s head office in Minna, saying that he had not proceeded on leave or handed over his position to anybody.

He said: “I am still at work; I have not gone on

leave. I still have the instrument granting me permission to continue to work.

Let me go through this instrument; on the 26th of January this year, I got a letter asking me to proceed on retirement leave with effect from January 12, 2015. I received the letter on the 26th of January, but it was dated 23rd January, 2015.”

According to him, a response to the letter came from the Ministry of Education, drawing attention of the ministry to the fact that he was not supposed to proceed on retirement leave, since he is not a civil servant, but a political appointee, based on a tenure appointment.

Opkala stated: “There was also another letter from the Federal Government and the board was also copied, interpreting that I am a political appointee, I am not a career person, I am on tenure appointment. And that I should stay until the expiration of my tenure.”

Aside this, he also stated that another letter from the same ministry dated 28th January, and signed again by the Permanent Secretary, was copied to the Minister of Education himself, the Board, and Director of Finance.

He said: “There was a meeting of Board and Management, and in that meeting on Thursday last

week, the letter that was dated 28th January was served to everybody. It was a full board and management meeting and the letter from the ministry says that I should continue with the work I am doing, they called my Director of Finance, gave him a copy of this same letter, and each of us stood up and pledged to work harmoniously with each other.

“What seems to be happening now is that they are still working on that letter of 23rd January. They are still parading it that I must go on leave, but I am still at work. Not because I want to sit tight, but it is because the letter asking me to continue work is still here.”

O

losoho chiefdom of Agwatashi district in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, yesterday threw its support behind the reelection bid of Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.

Consequent upon this, the chiefdom has assured the governor of their support in the next general elections.

Chairman of Obi Local Government Area, DSP Joshua Nmoza Agivo (rtd), spoke the minds of the people of the chiefdom on the occasion of installation and presentation of staff of office to Dr. Umar Abubakar Apeshi, as a second class chief with the title of Osoho of Olosoho by Governor Al-Makura at Agwatashi town.

The local government chairman gave reasons for the chiefdom’s support to the governor to include his laudable achievements in the area of provision of basic infrastructures such as

FRSC to assist crash victims, relatives get justice CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

F

ederal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has said arrangements have been put in place to aid victims of road traffic crashes and relatives of dead victims seek redress in the law courts.

The corps Public Education Officer, Imoh Etuk, who made the disclosure

noted that the move would serve as deterrence to drivers with penchant for violating traffic rules and regulations.

According to him, the organisation is worried by the high casualties recorded in road traffic crashes such as the three that resulted in 37 deaths in the past few days.

He called on motorists and all road users to comply with traffic rules and regulations.

“FRSC has concluded arrangements to aid injured victims of road traffic crashes and relatives of dead victims to seek redress and compensation in the law courts, to serve as deterrence to drivers with penchant for violating traffic rules and regulations.

A situation where multiple deaths are recorded due to carelessness and dereliction of drivers/owners of vehicles is totally unaccept-

ed,” the statement reads in part.

It would be recalled that the crash along Ilesha-Ife road on February 8, 2015, was linked to route violation, as the driver of a Toyota Hiace bus with registration No: KTG 334 YG was said to have left his lane and drove against traffic and had a head-on collision with an ash coloured Sienna bus with registration No: RSH 07 XX, resulting in

17 deaths and two seriously injured.

Similarly, the fatal crash in which 16 persons died and 49 others injured at Dogon Kuka in Damaturu on February 2, 2015, involving a luxury bus and a trailer, according to Etuk, was caused by speed limit violation, tyre burst and loss of control.

In the same vein, two people were killed at Askunni Bridge along Sokoto-Talata

construction of roads and renovation of general hospitals in the state.

He said the governor’s attention to the welfare of traditional rulers by creation of new chiefdoms and upgrading of already existing ones in the state has further endeared him to the people of the chiefdom.

He said: “We wish to place on records that your gesture is quite appreciated and will for long be remembered by the entire citizens of this chiefdom.

The local government boss however, appealed for the governor’s support to reconstruct a bridge between the road that links Agaza in Keana Local Government area of the state which was washed away by rain in August last year.

During the installation, Governor Al-makura appealed to citizens of the state to remain calm in the wake of the shift in the election time table in order to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a free, fair and acceptable election for Nigerians.

Mafara- Gusau road on February 3, 2015, when a Sharon bus crashed due to loss of control and injured six other persons.

According to FRSC, emerging trends revealed lane, speed limit violation and wrong use of vehicles such as using trucks to convey passengers or carrying passengers on overloaded truck were major causes of road traffic crashes on Nigerian roads.

52

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

CHANGE OF NAME

UKPEME: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ukpeme Brenda Johnson, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Ukpeme Brenda Uwakwe. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Lawal Ashabi Damilola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adeyiga Ashabi Damilola. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OLABANJI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Abisoye Olabanji Ogutuga now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Fadile Abisoye Ogutuga. All former documents remain valid. General public take note .

CHANGE OF NAME

ADESOJI: Formerly Known And Addressed As Miss Olajumoke Christiana Adesoji, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olajumoke Christiana Akeju. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

IMMAH: Formerly Known And Addressed As Miss Joy Adiya lmmah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Joy Adiya Orji.

All Former Documents Remain valid.

Assene Laborex Limited and the general public s take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Ibrahim Adeyemi Abududulahi, now wish to be known and addressed as Abrahim Adeyemi Daniel. All former documents remain valid General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

AZUBUIKE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nkechinyere Theresa Azubuike, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Chukwuemeka Theresa Nkechinyere. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

formerly known and addressed as Miss Olonitola Yemi Victoria now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adelusi Yemi Victoria. Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission.

All former documents remain valid and general public note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Salami Latifat Busayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Abdul-Jelili Latifat Busayo. All formal documents remain valid,Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission and general public note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKAFOR: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Okafor Virginia Ngozi, now wish to be known and addressed, wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Anidiobi Virginia Ngozi. All former documents remain valid. Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ANICHEBE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Anichebe Celestina Uzoama, now wish to be known and addressed, wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Iloh Celestina Uzoamaka. All former documents remain valid. Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

IHEKAIRE: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ihekaire Jennifer Obiageri, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nwaoku Jennifer Obiageri. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ORJI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nancy Chioma Orji now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nancy Chioma Onugha.

All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF FAMILY NAME

We the entire family of Pastor Fasuru Rufus Oluwafemi formerly known and addressed as (1) Pastor Fasuru Rufus Oluwafemi (2)Mrs Fasuru Emily Oladunni (3)Fasuru Isaac Opeyemi (4) Fasuru Timothy Oluwole (5)Fasuru Oluwayemisi Mary (6) Olajide Olajumoke Oluwadamilola, now wish to be known and addressed as (1) Pastor Oluwadare Rufus Oluwafemi (2)Mrs Oluwadare Emily Oladunni (3)Oluwadare isaac Opeyemi (4) Oluwadare Timothy Oluwole (5) Oluwadare Oluwayemisi Mary (6)Oluwadare Olajumoke Oluwadamilola. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

THAVE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Violet Nguemo Thave, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Violet Daniella Nguemo Tyokyaa.

All former documents remain valid. First Registrars Nigeria Limited and general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

‎OJO: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojo Titilade Stella, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Owoputi Titilade Stella.

All former documents remain valid general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Michael Bose Oyine, now wish to be addressed as Mrs Adano Bose Oyine. All former documents remain valid, First bank PLC and general public should please take note.

OLATUNJI: Formerly known and a addressed as Miss Adedayo Kike Olaoluwa now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Olatunji Kike Olaoluwa. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public that the Original Certificate of West African Examination Council (WAEC) May/June 2002 with the Examination Number 4280601/120 belonging to Badmus Fausat Mosunmola is missing.

Whoever finds it should Contact Badmus Fausat Mosunmola of No 25,Off Bola Ajibola Street,Asere and WAEC Office Abeokuta,Ogun State

Formerly known and addressed as Dr (Mrs) Afolabi Oluwatoyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Dr (Mrs) Afolabi-Jacob Oluwatoyin.All former documents remain valid.Federal University Of Agriculture, Abeokuta and General public take note

OkIKA: Formerly known and. addressed as Miss Okika Emilia Amuche, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Emilia Godwin Oharisi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Obi Esther Uchechukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Ndidigwe Esther. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Yusuf Nabahany Larubawa now wish to be known and addressed as Yusuf Ibraheem.

All former documents remain valid General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Adelarin Kehinde Janet now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olowoyeye Kehinde Janet. All former documents remain valid. Ilawe Local Government and general public should note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

ONIKOSI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Onikosi Adesola Fatimot, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adesoye Adesola Fatimot. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ADELAKUN: Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Adelakun Oluwaseun Ruth, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Doluwamu Oluwaseun Ruth. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EBIRIM: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ebirim Chinomso Nancy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs.Echeruo-Chidi Chinomso Nancy. All former documents remain valid. IMSU Owerri, NYSC and the general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Ibolo Micheal, now wish to be known and addressed as Nwachukwu Micheal Chinedu.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

DORISAMU: Formerly known and addressed as Mr. Dorisamu Sobowale James, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Doluwamu Sobowale James. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NDARAKE: I, formerly known and addressed as Samuel Ndarake James, now wish to be known and addressed as Samuel Israel James. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyebiyi Opeyemi Beatrice now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Aladesofi Opeyemi Beatrice. All formal documents remain valid. Ekiti State University and general public take note.

formerly known and addressed as Miss Daramola Toyin Precious. now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Akindele Toyin Precious All formal documents remain valid Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission Ado-Ekiti and general public note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Hanatu Maigida now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Hanatu Husseini. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, Formerly known and addressed as Lorine Nkem Ufeli, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Lorine Nkem Ufeli Lucky O. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

I, Formerly known and addressed as Uzoamaka Lynda Otuonye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uzoamaka Lynda Asanga . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Alowolodu Modupe Temilola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Faniran Olawale Modupe Temilola. All formal documents remain valid,Ekiti state hospital management board and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OBIEKEZIE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Obiekezie Ukamaka Maria - Gorathy, now wish to be known and addressed, wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Akpom Ukamaka Maria -Gorathy. All former documents remain valid. Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

UGWU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ugwu Adaeze Chiazagom, now wish to be known and addressed, wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Diloha Adaeze Chiazagom. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CENTRE FOR SOCIO-HUMAN ECONOMIC EDUCATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for Registration under part “C” of the companies and Allied matters act No 1, 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Prof. Sheriffdeen Adewale Tella 2. Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi 3. Mr. Jasiliu Aremu Kadiri

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1. To formulate and share economic ideas among members.

2. To assist less privileged people, with socio economic ideas.

3. To contribute to national discourse on education and socio economic issues.

4. To organize workshop with a view to analyse the impact of economy on the socio development.

5. To organize seminars, lectures and conferences for public enlightenment on issues relating to education and socio-economic development.

6. To give proper economic education to members of the association and other allied association, with a view to improve their economic focus.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: OLOLADE OGUNBANJO ESQ, OLOLADE OGUNBANJO & CO, 111, MOLIPA EXPRESS ROAD, ERINLU ROUNDABOUT, ADJACENT PEBBLES CARWASH, IJEBU-ODE, OGUN STATE.

CHANGE OF NAME

ONWU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Onwu Victoria Chinedum, now wish to be known and addressed, wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Iloputaife Victoria Chinedum. All former documents remain valid. Institute of Ecumenical Education Enugu, and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OGBU: Formerly known and addressed as Ogbu Malachy Kelechi, now wish to be known and addressed, wish to be known and addressed as Ogbu Malachi Kelechi.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

EGBO: Formerly known and addressed as Egbo Josephat, now wish to be known and addressed, wish to be known and addressed as Okoye Josephat. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

IGBOEKWU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Patricia Igboekwu .U. now wish to be known and addressed, wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Patricia Igwenagu.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE ACCESS TO GOOD HEALTH INITIATIVE The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Onyedibe Arthur Tobenna - Chairman 2. Michael Amalumilo - Secretary 3. Ada Esther Otugo - V-President 4. Apeh Richard - Member 5. Patrick Amalumilo - Member AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To improve accessible healthcare delivery on HIV/AIDs to vulnerable people in rural communities.

2. To sustain and improve availability of Healthcare commodities.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: MICHEAL AMALUMILO SECRETARY

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHANGE OF NAME

DARAMOLA: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Deborah Bosede Daramola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Bosede Deborah Fatoba. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Rowland Onun Ewa now wish to be known and addressed as Rowland Urekpeoghene Obruste. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

JIBOWO: Formerly known and addressed as Jibowo Amudat Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Olowosale Amudat Temitope. All former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Popoola Silifat Oladayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Popoola-Bello Zulfah Oladayo.

All former documents remain valid.

Ogun State Teaching Service Commission and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

OGUNFEYINMI: Formerly known and addressed as Ogunfeyinmi Blessing Olatunde, now wish to be known and addressed as Bamigboye Blessing Olatunde.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OZORO: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ozoro Charity Uzuazoraro, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogheneovo Charity Uzuazoraro. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AKA: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Aka Temitope Adebisi, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Alatishe Temitope Adebisi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Akodu Idowu Esther, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oluwasuyi Idowu Esther.All former documents remain valid.Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission and general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ICHEKOR: I, Formerly known and addressed as Helen Ichekor, now wish to be known and addressed as Helen Jokoh . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OBODO: Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Obodo Lovina Chizoba, now wish to be known and addressed, wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oweta Lovina Chizoba. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHUKWUEMEKA: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwamaka Chukwuemeka now wish to be known and addressed, wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nwamaka Arinze. All former documents remain valid.

Pharmacist Council of Nigeria, Enugu State Teaching Hospital Enugu, University of Nigeria Nsukka and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Linda Oluwanifemi Alabi now wish to be known and addressed as Linda Chinyere Abiazie. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Rosemary Offiong Udo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rosemary Emmanuel Ubonabasi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Fadare Esther Adenike, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Kuye Esther Adenike. All former documents remain valid.

Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Jumoke Bunmi FanilolaAkinwande now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Jumoke Bunmi Oyegbola. All former documents remain valid.General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

PARK: Formerly known and addressed as Park Titilola, now wish to be known and addressed as Yusuf Titilola.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Olawale Monisola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adebisi Monisola Christianah. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwoko Caroline Chinemerem, now wish to be known and addressed Mrs Ugochukwu Joy Chinemerem.

All former documents remain valid NYSC and the general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed AS Miss Ugwuegbulem Chidinma Eunice, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nwankire Chidinma Eunice. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as Olatunde Muyibat Abiodun, now wish to be known and addressed as Oloruntoba Muyiba Abiodun . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

IHEBIH: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ihebih Uchechi Euphemia, now wish to be known and addressed, wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ikegwuonu, Jude Uchechi Euphemia.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ADEYEMI: Formerly known and addressed as Adeyemi Sunday now wish to be known and addressed as Adeyinka Adedaraloye Adenuga.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

RIOLA HELP FOUNDATION

This is to inform the general public that the above named ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C Of The Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Afikode Olawunmi Ibironke 2. Adewuyi Olusegun Niyi 3. Akinlade Olakunle Olufemi

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

- President - Member - Member

1. To financially help the less privilege people 2. To promote education & skill acquisition geared toward the less privilege Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication

SIGNED BY: PRESIDENT

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

There will be progress in Nigeria football if the NFF is run like a company where everyone thinks profit –Former Nigeria international, Finidi George

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

53

Sport

Ayew, others in dollar rain 55

Golden Eaglets leave for Niger Thursday

Group A New Zealand Ukraine USA Myanmar

N

Group B Argentina Panama CAF 3 Austria Group C Qatar Colombia Portugal CAF 4 Group D Mexico CAF 2 Uruguay Serbia Group E CAF champion Brazil North Korea Hungary Group F Germany Fiji Uzbekistan Honduras

Kelechi Ihenacho is expected in the Flying Eagles team later

igeria U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets delegation of 21 players, 10 officials and a number of NFF administrative officials will depart Sokoto for Niamey on Thursday.

The NFF announced yesterday that Eaglets will stay at the Hotel Royale Palace, with their first two matches (against host Niger Republic and Guinea) at the Stade General Seyni Kountche, while the last match (against Zambia) will take place at the Stade Municipal, which has artificial turf.

Meanwhile, in its determination to ensure a very successful outing for the Golden Eaglets at the 11th African U-17 Championship in Niger Republic, the NFF has been actualising plans to make the team’s stay in that country comfortable.

As part of this strategy, NFF Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, was in Niamey, capital of Niger Republic last week to meet with prominent

personalities within the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and officials of the Embassy of Nigeria.

“I had meetings with the top officials of the LOC of the championship, including the President of LOC, General Secretary of FENIFOOT and the Head of Competitions. Our meetings centred on accommodation and transportation of Team Nigeria during the championship, as well as accreditation of the Nigeria delegation, ticketing and other logistics.

“I also met with the top people in the Embassy of Nigeria in Niamey, with particular emphasis on ticket issues.”

Sanusi also discussed with members of the LOC on the movement of the Nigeria team into Niger Republic.

“Since they are having their final training camp in Sokoto, we are making arrangements for them to move into Niamey by road, and I have intimated the organisers and we have finalised on security arrangement for the team.”

Flying Eagles may face Brazil, Argentina

...Coach Manu Garba upbeat EVEREST ONYEWUCHI SPORTS EDITOR

N

igeria’s under 20 National Football Team, Flying Eagles, may face either Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay or Portugal in the group stage of the FIFA U-20 World Cup holding in New Zealand in May. This reality emerged yesterday in Auckland, where the

draw for the championship was held at the SKYCITY Convention Centre, mapping out the first round challenge for each of the 24 teams involved.

Africa’s four representatives at the New Zealand tournament will emerge from the upcoming AYC in Senegal, where Nigeria, Zambia, South Africa, Ghana, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and host Senegal are the finalists.

Flying Eagles are in Group A with Cote d’Ivoire, Congo and the hosts, with the semi-finalists automatically qualifying for New Zealand.

If the Flying Eagles coached

by Manu Garba win the AYC, they will be the first team in Group E comprising Brazil, North Korea and Hungary. But if they finish second, they will play in Group D with Mexico,

Uruguay and Serbia.

Africa’s third team will feature in Group B with Argentina, Panama and Austria, while the continent’s fourth team will be paired with Qatar, Colombia and Portugal.

Going by yesterday’s draw, hosts New Zealand will take on Ukraine in the opening match on May 30, as FIFA gets ready to stage the 20th edition of the tournament in seven venues across New Zealand from May 30 to June 20, 2015.

Ahead the 19th AYC in Senegal, Coach Manu Garba is upbeat that Flying Eagles must pick a ticket to New Zealand.

Garba who guided Nigeria to a record fourth FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2013 remains confident about adding to the country’s six record African titles in Senegal.

“Our group seems tougher than the other group which has Ghana, Mali, Zambia and South Africa, but I believe we will qualify to the semi-finals along with Cote d’Ivoire,” said Manu last December after the draw in Cairo, Egypt.

“But this is not to say that all the eight teams are not good enough to win the competition.

We will expect no favours from any of them.”

54

Sports

Wednesday, February uary 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net www.nationalmirroronline ne.ne .ne et

Stadium tragedy: T he Egyptian Football Association (EFA) yesterday announced that it will compensate families of the victims who died in Sunday’s stampede in Cairo with $3, 500 each.

Nineteen football fans were killed as they tried to enter the stadium to watch Zamalek’s game against ENPPI when police tear gassed them outside the Air Defence Stadium.

The match went on and ended 1-1 despite the tragedy that ensued outside.

“We have decided to pay $65, 000 as compensation for the victims’ relatives while every family will get $3, 500,” an EFA statement said.

All league games have been indefinitely since the y suspended p tragedy gedy and an official three-day period riod of national mourning is currently being held.

Meanwhile, the EFA hass said that a decision on whether to resume the league gue will be made later this week. ek.

“There will be a meeting after eting the three days of mourning between ween the all concerned parties rties to discuss ss the possibility ility of resuming ming football activities,” ivities,” the statement tement added, stressing, essing, “The EFA urges A Egyptian yptian media to make sure re everything ything t h e y publish i s accucurate e to avoid oid any escalation ation of the current rrent situation.” n.”

Egypt FA set to compensate victims

T/tennis: Organisers hike prize for Lagos Tour

T

Scene of the riot at the Air Defence Stadium last Sunday

Guardiola targets ‘Barcelona style’

Guardiola

Quadri

B

a ayern Munich Coach, Pep Guardiola, wants P a return to “tiki-taka” football in the club’s assault on the Cha Champions League, even as the club inches towards its 25th German league title.

“We are not perfect and I know that. th We have to improve,” Guardiola Guardio said yesterday.

Under Unde Guardiola, Barcelona dominated Spanish football by domina winning 14 titles from 2008 until 2012, with the side’s fast-paced w passing, passing dubbed “tiki-taka”, to keep the th ball away from the opposition. position Bayern Bayer is now used to enjoying around 70 percent possesaro sion under Guardiola and the un club is eight points clear in the Bundesliga and cruising to a Bundesl third straight league title. str “We have to find our game and that tha is our goal for the next few games,” Guardiola added. gam “The key is less running and more play p , make the pass as quickly as possible.”

Mohammed

o attract more world class players to this year’s International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour tagged Lagos Open, the organisers have increased the prize money from $39, 000 (N7.8m) to $46, 000 (N9.2m).

Organisers said the events to be competed for have also been increased to six from four as players will compete in singles (men and women), doubles (men and women) as well as U-21 boys and girls.

The five-day competition, billed for the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos will hold from March 10 to 14, even as the ITTF ranking event will help players taking part amass points for their world rating in March.

According to the prospectus released

by ITTF on its website, Egypt’s Nabil Almamoon and Algeria’s Mounir Bessah have been named the Referee and Competition Manager respectively while Nigeria’s Oluranti Lajide is the Tournament Director.

Reigning ITTF Star Player, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri and Africa’s most decorated table tennis player, Segun Toriola, have confirmed their participation in the tournament while home-based stars like Kazeem Makanjuola, Hameed Adeyinka and Rashidat Ogundele will also compete.

More players from Africa and Europe have also signified their intention to be part of the championship, which has been entrenched in the ITTF calendar.

Previous editions of this Tour have been adjudged as among the best organized Pro Tour in the ITTF calendar.

ACL: Pillars get dollar lift ABDULGAFAR OLADIMEJI KANO

K

ano State Deputy Governor and Chairman of Kano Pillars FC’s Continental Committee, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has donated $10, 000 to players and officials of the club as they prepare for the Champions League first round clash with Malaika FC of Sudan this weekend.

Ganduje, who made

the donation during a visit to the team’s training session at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna yesterday, enjoined the players to acquit themselves well at the match scheduled for South Sudan capital, Juba.

“We want to inspire the team to stage a convincing display against Malaika while hoping that they will emerge victorious,” the deputy governor said.

Ganduje commended

the team’s performance during the recent training tour of Ghana, saying it had justified government’s confidence in the team.

“Our purpose is to encourage the players and officials to excel in this continental task,” he further said amidst applause from the team’s Technical Adviser, Okey Emodi, and captain Theophilus Afelokhai who spoke for the team in appreciation of the gesture.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

55

AFCON 2015 fallout:

Elephants receive rousing welcome home

Ayew

Ayew, others in

Captain Yaya Toure (r) and Cote d’Ivoire President Allasane Ouatarra gesture to the crowd at the reception in Abidjan yesterday

dollar rain

E

ach player in the Black Stars of Ghana squad will earn $25, 000 for finishing runners-up at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, President John Mahama announced yesterday.

The Black Stars came close to winning a fifth continental title but missed out to Cote d’Ivoire who triumphed 9-8 on penalties in last Sunday’s final.

Ghana was on the brink of early elimination at the tournament when it lost its opening Group C match to Senegal.

But the Stars shook off that slow start and won their remaining Group matches against Algeria and South to reach the knockout round where they clinically dispatched Guinea 3-0 in the quarter-final and replicated the scoreline against host Equatorial Guinea in the semi finals.

“We are grateful to the team and this is a team for the future and the sky we know will be the limit,” Mahama said after meeting with the players at the Flagstaff House in Accra yesterday.

The Ghanaian players had already pocketed $50, 000 each for reaching the final of the Nations Cup.

F

…Drogba

hails team

Drogba

ormer captain of Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, Didier Drogba, yesterday said he was speechless at seeing the team triumph over Ghana in the AFCON final on Sunday.

Drogba had watched the final game with family and friends on the television in London.

The Chelsea striker, who retired from international duties last summer after enjoying 106 caps for his country, was among the teams that played in two AFCON finals in 2006 and 2012 and lost to Egypt and Zambia respectively.

“The 36-year old Twitted yesterday: “Disappointed not to be part of this adventure, but happy and relieved that I left at the right time to allow you to grow!”

He also commended goalkeeper Boubacar Baryy who had endured criticisms over weakening performances in recent months and sat out on the bench before getting his chance to shine in the final.

“Critics made you grow to become a national hero,” Drogba further said.

M

ore than one million people poured to the streets of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire yesterday to celebrate the Elephants who triumphed over Black Stars of Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday.

The game ended 9-8 following a dramatic penalty shootout after a goalless full and extra time.

The victory put an end to a 23-year continental drought for the Ivoriens, whose first African crown was conquered in Senegal in 1992, also at the expense of the Black Stars.

Cote d’Ivoire President, Alassane Ouattara, had announced a paid public holiday on Monday to enable fans welcome back their heroes.

Captain Yaya Toure and his teammates arrived at Abidjan international airport in the mid-afternoon, before heading to a Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium packed to the brim for several hours in the company of Ouatarra.

It took the Elephants a couple of hours to make their way to the stadium with hundreds of thousands of fans packed along the road, before appearing with the precious trophy in front of a hysterical crowd.

WORLD RECORD

Largest rope Vol. 05 No. 1045

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

N150

A rope measuring 251 m (823 ft) long, with a diameter of 2.2 m (7 ft 2 in), was made from rice straw and was used for tug of war by citizens of Uiryeonggun, South Korea

Boko Haram: Dangers of foreign troops in Nigeria

T

he outside world, (African Union etc) is planning to send a force to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram, as the United Nations is telling us that Nigeria cannot fight Boko Haram alone. It does not mean that our military cannot fight and defeat Boko Haram. The problem is that our politicians have not demonstrated the expected unity of purpose and have decided out of narrow strategic thinking to blame the Federal Government instead of cooperating with it as is done in civilised societies when matters concern national defence and security.

This disunity has penetrated and weakened our fighting force, and served as force multiplier for the enemy.

As our political leaders and political class dance around the country in their colourful campaign regalia, I am not sure

Guest Columnist

Osisioma

B.C. Nwolise

they are aware of the full implications of what is developing in the external arena, and therefore, making vital strategic inputs to ensure that the plans being made by the international community work for our good not peril at last. I have not seen any strategic THINK TANK on ground on this issue which will generate the urgently needed political direction for our defence forces. If our political leaders know that we can handle Boko Haram alone, it is better; we do it now and keep away the foreign forces whose financiers and agenda we may never really know. If however, our leaders know that we cannot really do it alone, then Nigeria must ensure that the agenda of the force to be deployed fit into our national interest. If we do not do our strategic thinking and do our homework well, others will do it for us, and we may not like the outcome.

Our sovereignty, pride, and freedom as a people must not be tampered with; and we must not play into the hands of our enemies. Thus, while campaigning, dancing and gallivanting, our political leaders and political class must be thinking strategically, and be very vigilant to ensure that anything coming to “eat” Nigeria and Nigerians is stopped far away.

Those Nigerians who are welcoming the coming of foreign troops to fight Boko Haram should bear in mind that Patrice Lumumba of Congo, despite being the person that invited United Nations Peace

I WILL MOST HUMBLY ADVISE GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI AND HIS PARTY NOT TO BOYCOT THE SCHEDULED PRESIDENTIAL PUBLIC DEBATE Keepers, their presence led to his death, as European powers strategized for their diverse national interests that ran counter to the interests of the people and government of the Congo.

I therefore, hope that Boko Haram fighters will not pass through the coming African Union force to occupying Maiduguri and from there to Abuja. Are our politicians thinking strategically? Foreign (multinational) force being planned now to come to Nigeria is not coming because our troops are incapable. It is because our political class has lacked the patriotism, unity of purpose and humanity required of them to mobilise all Nigerians, to support the Jonathan government in the war against terror, appropriately equip and motivate our armed forces, and cater for our brothers and sisters who are at the forefront of Boko Haram’s onslaught. It is a shame.

Now, let’s come to public debate. This

debate is a vital ingredient of elections and elections constitute the heart or engine of democracy. I am glad our political leaders and political class big weights are at last though grudgingly coming to terms with the public debate process. It is a crucial aspect of electoral campaign, as it provides flag bearers the platform to sell themselves, their parties, and programes; and clear the air over any matter thrown up by the campaign. Debates give the voters clear opportunities to sift the “chaff ” from the “wheat”, and choose the right and capable leaders and representatives during election.

On these thoughts, I will most humbly advise General Muhammadu Buhari and his party not to boycot the scheduled presidential public debate. The Nigerian Electoral Debate Group (NEDG) and Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria have told the world that they are not partisan and have integrity that has been tested even outside Nigeria. If, however, the platform remains the problem despite the clarifications of NEDG and BON, let’s carry the debate to the Trenchard Hall of the University of Ibadan. I am very sure that the University’s iVice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, will be very ready and willing to support the Department of Political Science to offer the necessary neutral and exciting platform for the Presidential debate.

Finally, I trust and have firm belief in the indomitable, determined and unsupressible united Nigerian spirit that arises when we face great collective challenges as a people. Let us awake that spirit, suppress narrow self-interest and group interest to the national interest today and Boko Haram will run out of Africa, and Nigeria shall rise and shine again to the joy of Africans, for the good of humanity and to the glory of God. Concluded Professor Nwolise is of the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan and wrote via osynwolise50@ yahoo.com

Sport Extra

Politics: Hayatou to increase CAF age limit, eyes longer term

C

AF President, Issa Hayatou, is seeking to change the football body’s rules on agelimits for office bearers in order to continue in his well into the next decade.

CAF currently requires

officials who reach 70 to step down but a proposal to scrap the age-limit is to be placed before the CAF Congress in Cairo, Egypt scheduled for April 7 to 8.

“FIFA does not have any limits on age for its

committee members and CAF want to bring this in line with the world body,” CAF Executive Committee member and President of Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, said yesterday.

The proposed statute will enable Hayatou, who is 68 and already in his seventh term in power, to continue his leadership of African football well past 30 years.

His current mandate

ends in 2017 and he is seeking four more years until at least 2021, when he turns 75.

Hayatou has had few challengers for power in Africa since first winning election in 1988.

Hayatou

Printed and Published by Global Media Mirror Ltd: Head Office: Mirror House, 155/161 Broad Street, Lagos Tel: 07027107407, Abuja Office: NICON Insurance House, Second Floor, Central Business District Area, Abuja Tel: 08070428249, Advert hotline: 01-8446073, Port-Harcourt Office: Suite 115, NICON Hotel, 6, Benjamin Opara Street, Off Olusegun Obasanjo Rd, GRA Phaze 3, Phone: 07032323254 Email: mail@nationalmirroronline.net.

Editor: SEYI FASUGBA. All correspondence to PMB 10001, Marina, Lagos.

Printed simultaneously in Lagos, Abuja and Akure. ISSN 0794-232X.